Guyana chronicle epaper 10 23 2016

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Leprosy patients battle stigma, discrimination ‒ gov't to step up awareness as new cases pick up

Cured not cursed Page XVIII

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“Everywhere you turn, you go to the market, people does look at you and turn up their face, and walk away. I was in a bus one day, and a guy look at me and seh you is a alligator, and he just pass me and went down to the back of the bus, and when he come out, he turn and tell the conductor look at that man like he get AIDS,” Daniels said as he broke down in tears.

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Daniel – one of the many Guyanese who have been cured from Leprosy. However due to the severity of the disease, he has shortened fingers and toes.

As part of their military training in Open Country Warfare (OCW), Officer Cadets of Standard Officers Course #49 and Aspirants on the Leader Sergeant Course #3 successfully completed EXERCISE TRIPFLARE, in the savannahs of the Colonel John Clarke Military School, at Tacama last week.

During the Exercise, the participants engaged in learning the strategies and tactics of OCW, including Map Reading and Navigation, battle formations, and the siting and building of defensive positions. Deputy Chief of Staff, Colonel Patrick West, and Commanding Officer Training Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Julius Skeete, visited the exercise area and observed some demonstrations by the troops. (GDF photo)

‒ aeroplane, helicopter proposed to boost border security, combat narco-trade

More ‘choppers’ for GDF Page 3

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Businessmen arrested SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

…as police seize guns, ammo, marijuana in raids FIVE persons have been arrested, and a number of guns, ammunition and marijuana have been seized in separate police raids conducted between Friday night and Saturday morning.

A police release detailed that at about 18:30h on Friday, an alert member of the Rural Constabulary in the community of Wismar, Linden observed a 32-year-old male from Bartica carrying several bags and acting in a suspicious manner. A search was conducted on the suspect and a number of spent shells and live ammuni-

tion were found in his possession. These include six empty cartridges (casing), 31 spent .32 and 9 mm shells, and 21 live .32 and 9mm rounds.

And at about 23:30h on Friday, ranks arrested a 69-year-old businessman of South Turkeyen, ECD at his place of business after 410 grams of cannabis were found on his premises.

Additionally, a 41-year-old driver of Palmyra, East Berbice, was arrested early on Saturday morning with an unlicensed handgun and 13 rounds of ammunition. According to the police release, an alert police patrol spotted the suspect driving his motor car on the Palmyra Public Road at about 01:30h. Upon seeing the patrol, the suspect attempted to speed away, but was intercepted and searched; and the police found on his person the 9mm pistol and ammunition.

Also, on Saturday, ranks acting on information conducted a search in a shop at Black Water Backdam, Konawaruk River, and found an unlicensed .32 revolver

Firearm and ammunition found in ‘F’ Division

with three matching rounds and three spent shells. A 56-year-old businessman of Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD, who claimed ownership, is in custody.

Meanwhile, a 60-year-old male of Prashad Nagar, Georgetown was early Saturday morning taken into custody, after in excess of fifty-two pounds of compressed cannabis were found in his house. Ranks, acting on information received, went to the suspect’s house and conducted a search, unearthing 13 taped parcels of the illegal substance, weighing 24kg.

Firearm and ammunition found in ‘B’ Division

Cannabis found at Prashad Nagar, Georgetown

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More ‘choppers’ for GDF SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

‒ aeroplane, helicopter proposed to boost border security, combat narco-trade

By Alva Solomon THE surveillance capacity of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will be boosted with the expected acquisition of new fixed and rotor wing aircraft in 2017 and the possible establishment of additional bases across the country.

This is in keeping with the advancement of its national mandate, which among other things include combating the narcotics trade.

The GDF currently operates two helicopters, the GDF One and GDF Two; while its Bell 412 helicopter has for months been unserviceable.

In addition, the GDF operates several fixed wing aircraft.

However, in the 2017 National Budget, the army’s submissions to the Finance Ministry include funding for the acquisition of additional rotor wing aircraft, models whose capabilities are said to be significantly advanced, as compared to the current Bell 206 helicopters on the army’s roster.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier George Lewis, said a think-tank has been operationalised regarding the identification of threats. He elaborated that a number of suggestions have been put to the Defence Board and the Government; and according to him, there has been agreement that several of the

identified suggestions would be applied. He informed that the suggestions have been included in the 2017 National Budget, which is expected to be presented in December

by Finance Minister Winston Jordon. “What we don’t know as yet is how much of it we would get,” Lewis noted.

He said that boats for the Coast Guard and rotor wing and fixed wing aircraft for the Air Corps are among the resources identified and put forward for approval in the budget.

METAL SHARK VESSELS The Chief-of-Staff also pointed out that the army recently acquired two additional Metal Shark-branded boats, and a team from the manufacturer is currently in Guyana training Coast Guard personnel to operate the vessels.

“They will be launched shortly,” he said, noting that the boats would be used offshore Guyana in a role limited to their maritime capability. The boats would primarily be used in riverine areas, and would aid in curtailing the trade of illicit drugs, among other maritime interdiction operations, he revealed.

He also said there is need for another coastal vessel to complement the Coast Guards’ Essequibo base, and plans to this effect are in the pipeline.

GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier George Lewis, taking the oath of office earlier this month

NARCO FIGHT Lewis acknowledged that the army had, in recent times, adopted a stronger role in combating the trade of illicit drugs. He said there is knowledge of pick-up and drop-off activities by those involved in the drug trade; and according to him, detection by the military is limited by the absence of surveillance radar and other equipment which are designed to identify such illegal operations.

He noted, however, that the human resource factor plays a key role in the drug fight, and stressed that improvement of intelligence by the GDF in those areas would

impact the occurrence of those activities. To this end, he called on the citizenry to alert the authorities, including the GDF, of any suspicious/illegal activity ongoing within their environs.

The veteran of 35 years, who assumed leadership of the GDF in October following the retirement of Brigadier General Mark Phillips, is settling into his role as head of the GDF. Since assuming the role of Chief-of-Staff, he has identified a number of areas which require additional attention, among which is the availability of resources for effective border security -- the primary mandate of the military.

There are three army units that manage the land aspect of border security: namely, First Infantry Battalion, Second Infantry Battalion, and Coastal Battalion.

The Chief-of-Staff said the other units within the GDF play a supporting role to those three units “in order to ensure that we achieve our mission”.

Noting that Guyana is a vast country, he said there are limited fixed locations; and in order to bridge the gap regarding the effective provision of border security, patrols are undertaken by boat, foot and vehicles.

“The greatest challenge would be resources, adequate

resources. It is utopian; what we try to do is to utilise the resources that we have to maintain border security,” he said.

He said Guyana has no surveillance radar, thus the airspace may be violated by criminal elements. He referred to an incident in which a twin-engine Cessna which allegedly originated in Colombia was discovered on September 13 hidden in the Region Nine village of Yupukari.

Lewis informed that an assessment is being undertaken regarding the improvement of the GDF, and as part of that move, an army base was established and made operational in recent years at Makapa, in the Cuyuni. He said the reason behind establishment of that facility was grounded in the thinking that there was no military facility in the county of Essequibo between Eteringbang on the Guyana/Venezuela border and Mabaruma in the North West District. Lewis said assessment which is ongoing may result in additional army bases being set up across the country, or existing facilities being relocated. He said the move may result in an increase in the number of troops at those facilities, and consequently an improvement of the resources allocated to those areas.

A major breakthrough ‒ PSC applauds Guyana’s removal from FATF radar

By Svetlana Marshall GUYANA’s removal from the ongoing global Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance process is a major breakthrough, and the Government ought to be applauded, executive member of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Dookhoo, said on Saturday.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) declared on Friday that it would no longer have Guyana under its ongoing global AML/ CFT compliance process as a result of the significant progress the country has made in addressing its AML/CFT

deficiencies.

In responding to this new development, Dookhoo said: “This is a major breakthrough for Guyana.” He noted that companies within the private sector would now be in a better position to conduct international transactions with ease.

The PSC executive member said although the country is still being monitored by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), the Private Sector is comforted by the fact that permission has been granted for Guyana to exit the FATF Review List.

This decision was made during the just concluded plenary meeting in Paris, which was attended by Attorney

General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams.

“We welcome this achievement, and we congratulate the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Mr. Basil Williams; but it is not over. We must keep working to develop a clean image for Guyana,” Dookhoo said.

President David Granger had met last month with a high-profile team from FATF’s International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG), which was here to conduct an on-site visit to assess Guyana’s progress in bringing itself into compliance with the requirements of the FATF and CFATF. The team had included CFATF Executive Director Calvin

Wilson; America’s Regional Review Group (ARRG) Assessor, Gonzalo Gonzalez de Lara; FATF’s Senior Policy Analyst, Kevin Vandergrift; and CFATF’s Financial Advisor, Roger Hernandez. A report on that assessment was presented at the Paris meeting during which Guyana was cleared.

Since coming to office in May 2015, the coalition Government has taken steps to ensure the country’s financial systems become fully compliant with AML/CFT regulations. Among the steps taken are appointment of a director and deputy director for the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and making the Special Organised Crime

Unit (SOCU) functional.

Additionally, an Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act is in place, along with other related legislation governing supervisory bodies, financial institutions, law enforcement, and foreign affairs.

The National Assembly

had, in May, passed the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill of 2016. In 2015, it had also passed the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill; the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill Nos. 1 and 2; and the AML/CFT Regulations, all in keeping with recommendations made by FATF and CFATF.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Trump outlines plan for first 100 days [BBC] - DONALD Trump, lagging behind Hillary Clinton in polls, has outlined what he would do in his first 100 days were he to become US president. With 17 days until the election, much of the recent focus has been on controversies linked to his campaign.

But in a speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, he sought to highlight changes he would introduce. Among them were restrictions on lobbyists and a renegotiation on trade and climate change deals. Mrs Clinton and running mate Tim Kaine

are also appearing at events on Saturday in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state in the race for the White House. Mr Trump’s advisers indicated before his speech that the measures announced would serve as the focus for the remaining two weeks of his campaign.

Among the key details he announced were: restrictions on White House officials becoming lobbyists after they leave office; term limits for members of Congress; the cancellation of all payments to UN climate change programmes and the redeployment of those funds to

Donald Trump

fix US infrastructure; the start of the process of “removing the more than two million criminal, illegal immigrants” - and the denial of visa-free travel to countries who refused to take back their citizens.

The speech was one of the most detailed by Mr Trump during his candidacy, and also touched on matters of security, economy and trade. He said the country was facing a “fork in the road” over its future. While some polls have shown he has eaten into Mrs Clinton’s lead over the past week, after the third presidential debate, she is

still leading him in a number of the key swing states.

Before his speech, Mr Trump again attacked leading media outlets and suggested they were biased against him. He vowed to break up media conglomerates, saying he would scrap the rumoured purchase of the Time Warner company, the owner of CNN,

by AT&T. However, those comments were made outside of his main speech, and it was not clear if they were being put forward as policy.

Mr Trump also said he would sue every woman who

has accused him of sexual assault or inappropriate behaviour as soon as his presidential campaign was over. Ten women have come forward to accuse him of inappropriate behaviour, in the weeks after a video emerged of him boasting of groping women and kissing them.

“Every woman lied when they came forward to hurt my campaign,” he told the audience in Gettysburg. He said the media was fabricating stories to make him “look as bad and dangerous as possible”.

Air strikes, fighting break Russian-declared ceasefire in Syria [REUTERS] - FIERCE fighting and air strikes broke the third day of a four-day unilateral Russian

ceasefire in the divided Syrian city of Aleppo on Saturday, a monitor said.

The first Syrian or Russian air strikes on Aleppo since Russia began the pause in hostilities on Thursday hit a key front line in the city’s southwest, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Clashes and shelling which had continued throughout the day on front lines intensified late in the day, a witness and the Observatory said. Air strikes had continued to target areas outside the city throughout the ceasefire. Russia has

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been announcing daily that it will abide by the next day of the series of daytime ceasefires, which it said it called to allow civilians and rebels to leave the besieged city, but no announcement was made on Saturday.

There have been nighttime clashes as each day of the ceasefire has ended, but Saturday saw much fiercer fighting plus the first air strikes. Aleppo was Syria’s most populous city before the war, but is now divided into government- and rebel-held areas. Intense bombardment has reduced the rebel-held east of the city to ruins. Once

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again, no medical evacuations or aid deliveries to rebel-held areas were possible on Saturday, the United Nations said.

Rebels did not accept the ceasefire, which they say does nothing to alleviate the situation of those who choose to remain in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, and believe it is part of a government policy to purge cities of political opponents. The Syrian army and Russia had called on residents and rebels in eastern Aleppo to leave through designated corridors and depart for other insurgent-held districts under a promise of

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safe travel, but very few rebels or civilians appeared to have left.

“Nobody has left through the corridors. The small number of people which who tried to leave were faced with shelling around the (corridor area) and could not leave,” said Zakaria Malahifji, a rebel official with the Fastaqim group, which is present in the city. Syrian state media says rebels have been preventing civilians from leaving east Aleppo. Pro-government channels broadcast footage of ambulances and green buses parked at empty reception points in government-held Aleppo, said to be waiting for civilians and fighters from the city’s east.

Besieged east Aleppo

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has not received United Nations assistance since early July and rebel groups have said they are preparing an attack to try to break through the government siege. The United Nations had hoped that the ceasefires would allow medical evacuations and aid deliveries, but said a lack of security guarantees had prevented aid workers from taking advantage of the pause in bombing.

“The U.N. remains hopeful that parties will provide all necessary guarantees and is actively working to that end,” U.N. humanitarian spokesman Jens Laerke said. He said humanitarian workers were ready to proceed as soon as conditions allowed.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Venezuela Government accused of ‘coup’ [BBC] – THE Venezuelan opposition have accused the government of staging a coup by blocking their drive to hold a referendum on removing President Nicolas Maduro from office. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles called for nationwide protests next week.

Election officials had suspended a petition needed to organise the referendum. The move halted the recall vote that polls said the government would lose.

Henrique Capriles said the coup “had been carried out against all Venezuelans”.

He said in the protests, called for Wednesday, “we

will take Venezuela from end to end. The whole people will be mobilized to restore constitutional order.”

Earlier the opposition said a court order had barred eight of them from leaving the country.

Reasons for the ban were not given but the council had said fraud had been reported in the referendum process. The opposition had planned to secure the required signatures for the recall vote next week.

Another of the banned leaders, opposition coalition leader Jesus Torrealba, said: “It’s gratuitous aggression. We are the majority, in the street and in

Congress.

“They cannot postpone the change that the country is demanding.”

The opposition controls the country’s Congress but says Mr Maduro has power over key institutions such as the electoral authorities and the courts. The government has accused the opposition of inventing names on the first of two petitions required to endorse the recall vote.

Mr Maduro said there had been “a gigantic fraud”, adding: “Their cheating is coming out.”

Diosdado Cabello, also of Mr Maduro’s Socialist Party, said: “We hope jus-

J’cans among 3 held in Curacao ganja bust [JAMAICA OBSERVER] - TWO Jamaicans were arrested after a major drug bust in Curacao, the Curacao Chronicle is reporting.

A dash-patrol aircraft of that country’s Coast Guard reportedly discovered, at 40 nautical miles northwest of the island, a suspicious go-fast boat this week. The Curacao Chronicle reported that the team sent boats from both Curacao and Aruba to inspect the suspected vessel.

The Coast Guard officers reportedly

found three crewmembers on the boat — two Jamaicans and a Dutch citizen who resides in Curacao. The officers also found a considerable quantity of drugs.

The boat and its crew were reportedly transferred to the Coast Guard in Parera, after which the crew was handed over to the police.

The Curacao Chronicle reported that after further inspection, officers found that there were 32 bales of marijuana with a total weight of 398 kilos.

Henrique Capriles is the Governor of Miranda and a former presidential candidate. tice will be served and that those responsible for this swindle will be detained.”

The decision to suspend the referendum process came despite intense international pressure on President Maduro from the US and other Latin American countries to allow it to go ahead.

Mexico arrests ex-police chief linked to student disappearances [REUTERS] - MEXICO has arrested a former police chief at the heart of an investigation into the disappearance and likely massacre of 43 trainee teachers in the southwestern city of Iguala two years ago, security officials said on Friday.

Felipe Flores was chief of police in Iguala when the students disappeared on the night of Sept. 26, 2014. He was one of the people most likely to know what happened to the students, according to experts on the case, which hugely embarrassed the government.

Flores, who had been a fugitive for two years, was arrested while visiting his wife in Iguala, national security commissioner Renato Sales told a news conference.

According to the government’s initial findings, the 43 were abducted by corrupt police in Iguala and handed over to a drug cartel, which mistook them for members of a rival gang. Then, the government said, they were murdered, incinerated and ground up, and their remains dumped in a nearby river.

So far, the remains of only one of the 43 students have been definitively identified. The parents of the missing are still pressuring the government hard for answers.

A group of international experts who reviewed the evidence sharply criticized the government’s version of events, helping to dent the credibility of President Enrique Pena Nieto.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Sunday Editor

Neil Marks

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

Editorial

Building a road system GUYANA has emerged from a plantation society wherein roads were primarily designed for industrialization -- to move products and provide service; not for a growing population or use of transportation.

Outside of few exceptions: such as the Demerara Harbour Bridge, Canje Bridge, Soesdyke/Linden highway, Berbice and Demerara roads, which had taken all of the aforesaid into consideration with an eye to ensure future development, roads were built with a mind-set of just moving products from point A to point B. A modern road system factors in considerations like safety of vehicle occupants; minimising property damage and bodily harm; noise barriers; hazards; multiple types of vehicles; proximity to homes and vulnerable institutions; movement of people; conditions such as run-off or standing water, including trenches and rivers. Understanding these require the study of communities, indigenous geography, human habits, and future development.

News that an overpass road and pedestrian walkover are soon to be built on the East Bank Demerara are steps in the right direction, and represent the first of its kind here. Infrastructural development sparks ideas and brings new development and opportunities for jobs, entrepreneurship/commerce, timely movement, and so forth. In building an overpass, engineering feasibility is expected to examine issues such as flooding and water lodging, which can affect the foundation. An overpass may require a complete foundation, and this would require technical inputs such as soil analyses; civil engineering to determine required strength of the foundation -- whether the ground is stable, given that our coastland is sand and the foundation can shift.

Study could also aid in assessing durability and longevity, where the concern will be only about upkeep and maintenance. We can look at other societies and see how this is done. For instance, in the structure, would the choice be steel versus concrete, where the former is flexible and the latter can break and be prone to internal cracking that leads to failure, fatigue and collapse?

We have to build a road system that can withstand our climatic conditions, such as water/flood, heat, and wind. Anything that is elevated would have to factor in irrigation, as run-off water has to be properly directed to minimise flooding; the structure from sinking; impeding traffic; creating bodily harm, and millions of dollars in property damage.

Road network development in our society is limited to intersection with traffic lights, circles, overpass and bridges; and should be discussed and evaluated from economic, ecological, and social perspectives as to feasibility, and not merely to satisfy an immediate need. It is not unfair

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Together, we will find the best path forward

FOLLOWING on Barama Company Ltd’s decision not to renew the forest concession, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Forestry Commission will continue to engage Barama’s management, whilst working in tandem with the Ministry of Social Protection and the workers representatives, to address a myriad of issues that arise from relinquishment of the 1.6 million hectare forest concession.

Any plan going forward will have to take into account the welfare of workers and the obliga-

tions Barama was obliged to perform under the now expired agreement.

Many of these, as can be imagined, cannot be brought to an abrupt end.

It is in moments such as these, of change and transition, that stakeholders have to work to make the process as smooth as possible by avoiding panic, knee-jerk reactions, or “one upmanship” tactics.

Whilst the Government is disappointed by the action of Barama in making statements about workers being laid off even before the relevant entities have met to map the way forward, and is

yet unable to find a rational reason why this precipitous action was taken, nevertheless it will continue to provide mature responses and direction by engaging all stakeholders objectively and in good faith.

The Government expects that Barama likewise, and other stakeholders, will be committed to beneficial talks and will avoid brinkmanship as all can agree that this is a slippery slope one should consider carefully before embarking on.

The various stakeholders will meet in a few days’ time to begin

the process of defining the way forward for the workers, the company, the forest concession, and the dwellers and users of the concession, including miners. In the coming weeks, as the minister responsible, I will personally hold meetings with the workers at the Barama sites at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara and Buckhall, Essequibo.

Together, we will find the best path forward.

Yours faithfully, RAPHAEL TROTMAN Minister of Natural Resources

GPL,GTT must improve services Dear Editor, THERE is an old Greek philosophy which states: Whom the gods may wish to destroy, they run them mad first.

It appears to me that these two godly powerhouses in the nation, that the people, in their personal lives; e.g. in education, industry and commerce, depend upon, are in constant conspiracy to run us mad.

In modern civilisation, the supply of electricity, along with internet and a reliable telephone service

are paramount for decent survival and development of a country. Guyanese based overseas, visitors and investors, would have a serious dilemma adjusting to our primitive service by these two giant entities.

Both of them have no respect for their customers. They are sluggish in responding to emergencies and at times, as I am proving in a matter with GPL, may be involved in an eternal conspiracy to defraud the customer. The same GPL will install a prepaid meter and the contractors/employees

to say the traffic light system is in dire need of overhaul. The present structure leads to chaos and confusion in stopping and parking; and the presence of slow-moving vehicles, aka donkey carts, pedestrians and animals, in the flow of traffic pose threats to life, limbs and economy. An updated light system could come after proper study of the traffic flow, peak and off-peak periods, flow between primary and secondary roads to determine interval that lights should be red or green on the main road to accommodate secondary roads.

We can also look at the creation of circular roads, which allow traffic to go in four different directions without the use of a light, and still with the mind-set of a primary or secondary road.

Many of our roads weren’t built for the present volume of traffic, load and modern vehicles. With so many more vehicles -- including heavy-duty ones -- not catered for, the structures are cracking. Roads are constantly being resurfaced,

will not remove the postpaid meter that was there. This may be due to an attempt to blackmail and defraud the customer at a later date. Or it may merely be due to incompetence and not human error, for GPL employees are more interested, in my opinion, in conspiracies and frauds against customers.

As it stands at the moment, I am personally involved in a matter where some GPL contractors/employees/former employees, were involved in trying to defraud me and my company at a property we managed in

Canje Street, Campbelville.

They were arrested in a sting operation coordinated by my company and the police. My understanding is that to date, they have not been charged.

Also, I do believe that the police did not conduct a thorough investigation by canvassing the area to build a bigger case and by failing to publish the photographs in the newspapers to invite others who may have been defrauded or attempts were made to defraud them.

In fairness to GTT, I must state that they have See page 7

and there are more casualties due to speeding and proximity of the roads to the homes; and this area, too, is deserving of attention. Some societies build roads where the concrete or gravel is poured within a structure, rather than be the structure -- which ensures rigidity and keeping of form. Our boundaries to the road tend to be trenches, and the roads tend to crack or change their shape, making it hazardous for users.

In some areas, as a result of repairs that have seen years of packing dirt, it is difficult for the disabled and elderly to get in and out of their homes. A modern system would factor in loads -- which means building with a foundation and barrier, so that the shape would be maintained and repairs and maintenance would be less expensive in the long run.

There has to be a sustainable method behind everything that is done, and we need a road system that can accommodate and withstand at least double the amount of traffic we have in the next twenty years.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Sugar industry at the edge Dear Editor, PLEASE permit me once more to share my sentiments to the various missives in your newspaper on the sugar industry and its future.

As I have written many times before on this and will say again, that Guysuco needs to act and act now or face the consequences.

I have said and will continue to say that Guysuco needs to cut the benefits being given to the managers in this crippling industry. The corporation cannot sustain its operation but yet treat managers as if they are grinding the cane and producing the sugar.

What is so hard to cut those benefits from the managers?. But it seems that Guysuco is bigger than the companies in the U.S., which was running at a loss and had to cut staff and salaries, all because they were not making a profit.

Guysuco behaves as if they are making a profit, so they are entitled to give the managers those benefits as the profit rises. HELL NO. The taxpayers are the ones that are feeling the burden of it all. Billions and I say BILLIONS of taxpayers’ dollars are going down the drain because Guysuco has been going down the drain for years.

In response to my letter that was published on

the14th October, 2016 in the Kaieteur News, a senior official of Guysuco had the guts to reply in favour of the managers’ benefits and more over justify why they deserve such on the 18th October, 2016.

The writer Audreyanna Thomas, who writes on behalf of Guysuco, admits that things were not done how they were supposed to be done in the corporation over the past years, meaning when the PPP was in power. She also admits that there is a lot of evidence to prove that there was mismanagement in Guysuco over those years. She admits a lot of things were done to hamper Guysuco in the past. In my view, all that was done by the PPP to ensure that they maintained the sugar workers as their supporters by blinding them about the truth of the sugar industry and where it is heading. So Guysuco was mismanaged over the years that the PPP was in power, period.

But what stunts me, is when the writer went on to say that “Guysuco wishes to state that the Estate Managers are the real heroes in the corporation”.

This is total nonsense, because real heroes won’t want to suck the sweat of the sugar workers. Sugar workers are the heroes, they are the ones that ensure that there is cane to

produce sugar not the big paid managers that suck the workers’ blood for their benefits that they are enjoying. Mostly many of them are pensioners.

She said that “Estate Managers are required to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week”.

Well, Guysuco is losing it because lots of workers in Guyana work around the clock and seven days a week without those benefits. Take a look at the police, the fire service, the doctors, the ambulance drivers and many others that are working to ensure that their entities’ mandates and duties are being fulfilled. Some of those workers hardly take home 50% of Guysuco managers’ salaries or benefits. So it’s nonsense to say they are heroes. Maybe the PPP made them Mismanagement Heroes and they are still there today as such for the PPP. Guysuco is almost 89 BILLION DOLLARS in debt, but yet management does not want to cut the benefits of its managers.

What a shame to see that although the industry is at the edge, management is playing a vital role and part of ensuring it is overboard.

Why would any manager of a failing corporation wants to maintain those benefits?. So, I want to say to Guysuco this, “Don’t fly

high when the jet is almost in the grave”. Cut the managers benefits now or else there will be less days for them to work and earn for their families. If the managers are the real heroes as Guysuco is claiming, let all the managers give up one month of their salary and benefits for the workers.

By doing this they can be deemed heroes. I am sure that none of them would want to.

GAWU has contributed to the falling of the sugar industry. Over the past two years GAWU has called almost 300 strikes for political gains, not for workers’ benefits. GAWU over the past two decades never fought the fight for sugar workers. Why would they do that now?. You be the judges as to what is the aim of this thing called GAWU. NAACIE General Secretary Mr. Kenneth Joseph in a missive to kaietuer news dated 19th October, 2016 admits that Guysuco is at the edge with his letter under the caption, “NAACIE Says That Sugar Is At The Cross Roads”. But yet the union that represents the sugar workers in the field finds it hard to say the truth.

The truth is that if GAWU is to tell the workers the TRUTH, then the PPP would lose many supporters. Because the PPP’s

dictator leader Bharrat Jadgeo admits that the PPP must take blame for the state of the sugar industry, Kaieteur news 21st October, 2016.

The PPP has failed the sugar workers and today wants to play as if they care. Over the years of the PPP, they took away several benefits from the workers. They closed down estates without consultations.

They managed GAWU from Freedom House and tells the union what to do.

Why over the 23 years rule of the PPP, they did not give workers raise of pay as they deserved when the industry was doing well? Today, the PPP is saying that the workers deserve raise of pay. What a surprise from the dictators of the PPP?. I call on the PPP’s former Presidents, Ministers and MPs, give up one month of your salaries and benefits for the workers’ cause.

I agree that sugar workers deserve better wages. Where will the money come from?.

Will the government continue to use the taxpayers’ money to ensure that this industry eats out its resources? The government must now come out and face the workers and tell them about the state of the industry. Where it is going?. How long will they continue to give those huge sums of money to bail out the industry?.

The Minister of Agriculture needs to come out and face the workers in village meetings and stop being in office. It is high time that workers know what’s happening.

It is time for us to face the workers and tell them where the industry was when APNU+AFC came into government.

I know that His Excellency is trying his best to ensure that all is being done for the sugar workers, so that they can have the good life. I call on His Excellency, the Prime Minister and the Minister of State to ensure that face the sugar workers village meetings be put in place, so that workers can be educated on what’s happening.

Brothers and sisters in the industry, you need to understand that the industry is going and must try to help the government to bring some sort of solution for the future. Sit and think of what form of diversification will benefit you and your families for a better future. Not all is lost, let’s work together for a brighter future through diversification.

Guysuco is at the edge, waiting to fall overboard into the pit.

not to be proactive in just merely setting up customers or trying to inconvenience their lives.

GPL, as a result of its monopoly, is like one big beast that survives on the flesh and blood of those it needs to survive… its customers!

They are always looking and visiting certain people with a hope to drive fear and terror into their hearts, and create ludicrous charges and claims against them to improve on their money-garnering possibilities.

I wish to state that this is the one time where I tend to agree with Mr. Freddie Kissoon, columnist of Kaiteur News, who had stated that: GPL is one organisation which will help to bring down the current coalition government. Please note that the previous sentence was an indirect quote.

It is my view that GPL, like all businesses, needs to honour its honourable customers. This writer has had many problems with GPL that it hurts his heart. For a man who always tries to live in dignity and honour, GPL, on more than one occasion, has tried to create embarrassment and to eke money out of me wrongfully. As the

big carnivore, despite being given evidence and facts, it refused to accept and continues to drink human blood in this country.

I know the chairman, Mr. Robert Badal, as a person of principle and dignity. I invite him to select professional person/persons to sit and listen to all my matters, some of which are in the courts, which I had to resort to, and others.

I really do hope to see a change soon. It has been too long.

GPL,GTT must improve ...

From page 6

never been involved in any case of fraud, but their bureaucracy, obviously, is too humongous and it appears that they have a tendency of losing control due to the monopoly or semi monopoly that they enjoy, similar to that of GPL. GPL has scant regard for its customers. It is always a nightmare to visit their offices for anything.

The constant blackouts of GPL, is definitely in my

opinion, an attempt to discourage support of the coalition government. Also, I do believe that their inconsistency, bureaucratic corruption and confusion, along with fraudulent schemes against people, point to this fact.

The constant blackouts have become a nightmare for people in industry and commerce. Students have to revert to old-style hand lamps and wall lamps and in some cases rechargeable lamps.

This is an unfair and burdensome reality, particularly for

persons struggling to make ends meet.

In reference to GPL and the arrest of their fraudulent contractors/employees, to date, they have not approached us for any information. It is the opinion of this writer that they should be happy when citizens help them capture bandits within their authority, and should work closely with the people, with the customers and the police. I expect GPL to be much more proactive against their employees and

ABEL SEETARAM APNU+AFC Regional Councilor Region Five.

Sincerely, ROSHAN KHAN CEO/FOUNDER RK’S SECURITY SERVICES

Hope not lost 8

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

‒ says Trotman, as Barama announces closure

THOUGH disappointed with Barama’s recent announcement that hundreds of persons will become jobless after its closure, Government will continue to engage the logging company in conjunction with other authorities to address the plethora of issues that have since arisen.

On Thursday, the Natural Resources Ministry announced that Barama Company Limited has opted not to renew its Forest Concession Agreement which expired on October 15, 2016 after a period of 25 years.

The company has since indicated that more than 500 persons will become redundant.

But Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said all hope has not been lost.

He said his ministry along with the Guyana Forestry Commission will continue to engage the management of Barama while working in tandem with the Social Protection Ministry, and the workers’ representatives to address the myriad of issues that has since arisen from the relinquishing of the 1.6 million hectare forest concession.

“Any plan going forward will have to take into account the welfare

of workers and obligations Barama was obliged to perform under the now expired agreement,” he assured in a ‘Letter to the Editor’ on Saturday, noting that these obligations cannot be brought to an abrupt end.

Minister Trotman said while undergoing changes and transitions, it is key for stakeholders to facilitate a smooth process, thereby avoiding panic, knee-jerk reactions or “one upmanship” tactics.

“Whilst the Government is disappointed by the action of Barama in making statements about workers being laid off even before the relevant entities have met to map the way forward, and is yet unable to find a rational reason why this precipitous action was taken, nevertheless it will continue to provide mature responses, and direction, by engaging all stakeholders objectively and in good faith,” Minister Trotman said.

Similarly, Government expects that the logging company and other stakeholders will remain committed to beneficial talks and will avoid brinkmanship.

In the coming days, all the key stakeholders are expected to meet to begin the process of defining the way forward for the work-

ers, the company, the forest concession and the dwellers and users of the concession, including miners.

“In the coming weeks, as minister responsible, I will personally hold meetings with the workers at the Barama sites at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara and Buckhall, Essequibo.

Together, we will find the best path forward,” Minister Trotman reassured.

Barama, communicating its decision to the ministry, said it has concluded that it is no longer viable to continue in the forestry operations here in view of prevailing global prices.

The ministry had subsequently said that the decision by the company presents an opportunity for the ministry to engage in a stocktaking exercise, whereby the Government can objectively assess the value of the standing forest through its contribution to the ecosystem while simultaneously examining the value of the past 25 years to the people of Guyana.

“Such an exercise would be pivotal in decision-making as it relates to economic empowerment and development of sustainable livelihoods of present and future generations. Following the review, the Guyana Forestry Commission will shortly

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and senior functionaries of Barama Company Limited at its Buck Hall concession back in 2015. During that visit, the minister was briefed on the company’s operations, expansion plans and impact on Guyana’s economy

be making a determination about the future allocation of the Barama concession,” the ministry stated.

While thanking Barama, the Natural Resources Ministry disclosed that it will engage the company

in further discussions on its stated interest in the continuation of the added-value activities.

Two to be charged for Herstelling murder Two persons are on Monday expected to be charged with robbery/murder in relation to the killing of a father of one by bandits when they stormed a Herstelling, East Bank Demerara home on Thursday last, police say.

Police have arrested a 21-year-old man, who is renting the lower flat of the two-storey house where the robbery occurred, and a close relative of the dead man.

The two were identified on Saturday during a police ID parade.

Abdool Ameer Subrati, 43, of Lot 21 Back Street, Peter’s Hall, EBD, succumbed to injuries sustained in the attack while undergoing surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

Last Thursday, five armed bandits stormed the home of a relative of Subrati’s, where three overseas-based Guyanese were staying. Subrati reportedly resisted the bandits and was shot to the neck. This news-

Dead: Abdool Ameer Subrati

paper understands that the bullet ricocheted to his spine and punctured his lung in the process.

“This robbery/murder at Herstelling will be solved….

A law enforcement process that was just concluded…we have been able to solve this case. The disturbing thing about this robbery/murder is that people who you thought were trusted are involved.

They dined, confabulated with them every day, and had a close relationship with

the person involved,” acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine told reporters on Saturday.

Reports are that Subrati’s brother, wife and daughter arrived in Guyana on Tuesday last, and had planned a family reunion at the Herstelling property. Shortly after guests left, the five bandits, two of whom were armed, pounced on the family. The gunmen, hiding in a bathroom in the back yard, escaped on foot with the visitors’ passports, money, jewellery and other personal items.

A relative said that before the robbery occurred, the tenant and his wife, who lived in the lower flat, packed their belongings and moved out.

“After the robbery, they came back to check and see what happened. When we come back from the hospital, we see them here. This man does have all sort of thieves and drug smokers coming to him,” the relative said.

9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Too much discrimination and stigmatisation ‒ regional advocate decries treatment of sex workers

By Svetlana Marshall

INSTITUTIONALISED discrimination is one of the many barriers preventing sex workers from accessing HIV prevention tools and education, according to CoChair of the Caribbean Sex Workers Coalition, Marlon Taylor.

Taylor spoke to Guyana Chronicle while attending the Caribbean Sex Work Coalition SWIT (Sex Worker Implementation Tool) meeting held at the Tower Hotel recently. That meeting, which attracted approximately 20 sex workers from Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Suriname and Antigua, was held with the strong backing of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV & AIDS (PANCAP).

In alluding to the challenges facing sex workers in the Caribbean, Taylor contended that institutionalised discrimination is embraced

by Governments that fail to amend legislation that criminalise sex work and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

“In doing so, what you do is basically send your sex workers’ population under and away from essential services to operate. The systems that exist within countries

create their own discrimination,” he explained.

Taylor pointed out that the limited access to condoms in Antigua forces sex workers to wash and reuse condoms; while sex workers and persons within the LGBT community in Trinidad and Tobago who are affected by HIV/AIDS are required to identify themselves as sex workers before having prioritised access to the antiretroviral therapy.

“It is discrimination! It is stigmatizing, and it is distasteful,” the co-chair lamented.

Taylor said it is time Governments amend their laws to include the LGBT community and sex workers, who continue to be sidelined for far too long. “Although the laws against prostitution don’t have teeth or gum to bite, because they are there, it makes it much harder for sex workers,” he said.

SHY AWAY Taylor said that due to the stigma and discrimination associated with sex work, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), many sex workers shy away from accessing medication.

“Because of the stigma and discrimination that is associated with being a sex worker, (they) don’t do sex

Co-Chair of the Caribbean Sex Workers Coalition, Marlon Taylor, sits alongside the Chairperson, Miriam Edwards

work within their own area; and so they do sex work away from easy access to health care, easy access to condoms and lubricants. So they go into the interior, they go into other parishes to do sex work; and in these areas where they do sex work, there is no access to any health services whatsoever,” he explained.

He added that the locations of some clinics also pose a barrier. “Here, in Guyana, the treatment site is right at the roadside, and everybody who wants to know everybody’s business can just go to the treatment site and sit in the yard and know who is

going for what,” he posited.

The Caribbean Sex Workers Coalition is calling for all-inclusive health centres.

“Where I am from, there is an organization -- Jamaica Aids Support -- that has an all-inclusive clinic; so you come to the doctor for anything, and everybody is seen with the same one, two, three steps, so there is no separation of the services being offered,” he posited.

NET-MAPPING Meanwhile, PANCAP through its Knowledge for Health (K4Health) Project, has engaged the partici-

Robbery of Banks DIH delivery truck was staged – Top Cop INVESTIGATIONS into an alleged armed robbery committed on Wednesday last on a Banks DIH delivery truck have revealed that that robbery was staged, acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine has revealed.

At a press conference held on Saturday, the Top Cop said, “In essence, this was a staged robbery. The driver in particular, who (was) in collusion with criminal elements, staged that robbery, (wherein) $985,000 in cash was stolen.”

Truck driver Trevor

Thom, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, had told the police that the robbery occurred at about 19:00hrs on the Beterverwagting Public Road, East Coast Demerara. He claimed that he and two porters were robbed of a sum of money by three males, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

The employees of Banks DIH Limited alleged that they were in the company’s vehicle, proceeding west when they were intercepted by a dark-coloured motor car which suddenly stopped in front of their vehicle,

they were carrying, after which the men placed a piece of cloth over the faces of the occupants of the truck, causing them to lose consciousness.

They claimed that, at about 20:30hrs, they woke up in the back of the truck, bound with duct tape, and were subsequently freed by a passer-by who heard them banging on the walls Acting Police Commissioner of the truck. Their David Ramnarine location then was causing theirs to do likethe Enmore Railway wise. The men then exited Embankment, East Coast their car, approached the Demerara.

Banks vehicle and relieved The driver remains in the occupants of the cash police custody.

pants in a ‘net-mapping’ activity to determine how stigma and discrimination affect their ability to advocate for human rights, access to HIV prevention and care, and HIV/AIDS education.

According to Sarah Fohl, Knowledge Man agement Advisor for the K4Health project, ‘net-mapping is a knowledge management tool that allows participants to determine the relationships, actors, barriers, and opportunities within their communities that significantly affect their lives’.

The Knowledge Management Advisor further explained that the net-mapping exercise allows participants to work together and identify barriers and opportunities to adequately access condoms and education about safe sex and HIV/AIDS. Knowledge Management Coordinator of the K4Health, Dr. Shanti Singh-Anthony, who also implemented the net-mapping activity, stated: “Sex workers face a tremendous amount of discrimination because of their line of work. It was important for the participants of the workshop to clearly identify what prevents them from gaining sufficient knowledge on HIV/AIDS as well as prevention tools, so that advocates can identify solutions to remove these barriers with the aim of eliminating the spread of AIDS.” Miriam Edwards, Cochair and Coordinator of the Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC), said the exercise was vital for sex workers and leaders of sex worker-led groups to fully understand the importance of their role in reducing discrimination, in order to consistently access HIV/AIDS prevention tools and education.

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Towards a Good Life in a Green Economy

Global environmental governance ‒ in the context of Guyana’s ‘green’ economy (Part II)

THE United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the anchor global environmental organisation. Its programme generally focuses on “helping states meet the challenges of environmental governance” through goals such as sound science and decision-making, international cooperation, national development planning and international policy setting and technical assistance.

UNEP also offers support in strengthening laws and institutions in order to promote sustainable national and regional development (UNEP 2016).

Contextualising UNEP’s goals within Guyana’s ‘green’ economy space, I see a role for the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) in partnering with UNEP towards the goal of sound science and decision-making to bridge the science gap between Guyana and the rest of the world.

Further, professionals such as farmers, miners, fishermen and agro-foresters who use land, water and the forests to produce most of Guyana’s jobs must be able to access sound science and technical assistance from IAST relevant to the greening of Guyana’s economy.

SCI-TECH HUB IAST must, therfore, become a science and technology hub between UNEP and Guyana.

Hence, the coordinating of UNEP’s goals of international cooperation and national development planning will have to fall under the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of the Presidency for effectiveness, especially since it is now clear that the President of Guyana is the Minister of the Environment.

It should be clear also, that both vertical and horizontal integration of all actions relating to these goals and agencies responsible therefor, would be essential to ensuring the integration of environmental sustainability into national development policies, and the adoption of new international environmental laws and standards into Guyana’s environmental regime.

As Mazi puts it, UNEP, as the

Mr. Gary A. R. Best is a retired Rear Admiral and former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force. He is an Attorney at Law and is the Presidential Advisor on the Environment. He is a PhD. candidate at the University of the West Indies. He holds a BSc in Nautical Science (Brazil) and Masters Degrees from the University of the West Indies and the University of London. He is also an alumnus of the National Defence University and the Harvard Kennedy School.

His research areas include climate change governance, climate change finance, international relations and environmental law.

main body administering multilateral environmental agreements, was challenged by the increasing number of new agreements and institutions formation. In Mazi’s view, this led to institutional fragmentation and loss of policy coherence in the work of the United Nations; a situation not unlike Guyana’s current environmental regime, but one which has begun to improve under the newly formed Department of the Environment.

Further, Mazi posits that instead of organisational reforms, which are effective in resolving specific environmental problems, resort should be towards institutional changes such as changes in structures of rights, rules and decision making processes to guide actors in relation to issues like climate change and bio-diversity.

CALL FOR REFORM According to Young, however, UNEP has largely been ineffective, with some even calling for reform. However, Young believes that there is a call for environmental reform of the structure of international organisations that deal with environmental issues.

In this regard, proposals include the strengthening of UNEP with universal membership, a secure budget, and the establishment of a United Nations Environment Organisation. Some have even called for the establishment of a World Environmental Organisation similar to the World Trade Organisation.

Of note also is the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development Issue Brief # 4 (UNEP 2011) which informs that the Nairobi-Helsinki Outcome speaks to the upgrading of UNEP, and the possible establishment of a specialised agency such as a World Environment Organisation.

Upgrading UNEP to a specialised agency allows for autonomy and independent financing, along with treaty and convention-making powers. Current and future multilateral environmental agreements would then be negotiated under one agency, and all the present and future secretariats could possibly unite under one specialised agency.

I believe that such a transition would redound to the benefit of Guyana’s ‘green’ economy pathway, assuming, of course, that fiscal and technology transfer barriers are eliminated, or, at best, significantly reduced.

UNLIKELY CHANGE There is a view that reform in UNEP is unlikely to result in changes in the systems of rights, rules and decision-making procedures. Though institutional reform is indeed important, the functions of institutions are more critical and should be resolved before reform is contemplated (Young). Ford, who posits that current global environmental governance mechanisms leave out social grassroots movements, supports this view. In addition, where grassroots movements might be influential, co-option obtains to assimilate them into mainstream thinking.

Even though nongovernmental organisations criticise the orthodox approach to environment and sustainable development, it is difficult to measure to what extent such criticism affect the orthodoxy of approach, when they are, in fact, designed by powerful states.

Greening Guyana’s economy

must therefore anticipate and mitigate orthodoxies driven by poweful states through mechanisms such as wide stakeholder and targeted consultations, deliberative democracy, grievance mechanisms, and environmental justice.

Mainstream thinking, in Guyana’s context, must be a reflection of the wishes of the populace, evidenced through transparent methods such as open meaniful consultations.

Compliance and dispute settlement are particular challenges to global environmental governance. In fact, UNEP-introduced guidelines on compliance with, and enforcement of, multilateral agreements, which were adopted, are advisory and non-binding, and do not alter obligations (UNEP).

However, Crossen poignantly adds that even though compliance rates are high, the environment is deteriorating rapidly. He advocates the imposition of more onerous obligations in multilateral environmental agreements, and stressed that the creation of strong, legitimate enforcement systems will move the process beyond compliance to issues of effectiveness.

BE VIGILANT However, Guyana must be vigilant in not not accepting increased onerous environmental standards that are beyond its capabiities, but also disproportionate to its historical contribution to climate change.

Brunnée importantly notes that the majority of environmental law is made within a treaty-based system, where consent is the trigger for the creation of legal obligations and, at the same time, the factor consent makes consensus difficult. Notwithstanding difficulties relating to compliance, grassroots citizens and non-governmental orginasational involvement in international environmental agreements was boosted by the 2001 Aarhus Convention,

which allows for the auditing of the state’s obligations to international environmental agreements (Kravchenko).

Aarhus allows citizen-state interaction, which enhances environmental democracy.

The citizens of Guyana, beyond the articles locted in the Guyana Constitution, can therefore rely on the Aarhus Convention to drive monitoring compliance of national environmental governance systems. In this context, I refer to the agencies such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, The Guyana Forestry Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of Climate Change and the Department of Environment.

Citizens’ advocacy and vigilance represents a potent tool in enabling environmental democracy.

Guyana should also ensure that its trade polices and laws do not conflict with environment law.

This goes to the issue of harmonisation and integration of trade and environment laws in Guyana, in order to ensure that our trade policies do not conflict with our environmental policies.

However, at the international level, there seems to be some conflict between trade and environmental law, which will impact Guyana if we are not vigilant.

Whereas World Trade Organisation officials sit in on multilateral environmental agreement negotiations, the opposite is not permissible. In this regard, environmental nongovernmental organisations have accused the global trading regimes of not assessing the impact of trade policies on the environment (Eckersley).

A good area of environmental research concentration would be conflicts between trade and environmental law.

As we travel along the path of a ‘green’ economy as the main driver towards a ‘green’ state, it must be forever clear in our minds that environmental governance, both at the international and national levels, is critical to the sustainable development of our natural capital, and the promised good life for this and future generations.

Comments can be sent to: towardsagoodlife@gmail.com

11

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

What’s new?

SINCE Britain has left the European Union, there has been a raging debate about its consequences for Britain, Europe and beyond.

This is understandable, given Britain’s and Europe’s centrality to the global economic system, in particular global capitalism.

Here in the Anglophone Caribbean, there have also been debates in some circles about the potential impact of ‘Brexit’, as it has come to be known, on the region as a whole, and on its individual member-states.

Again, given the fact that these are former British colonies, and in light of the fact that over the years they have forged significant trade ties with Britain and by extension the EU, such debates are not surprising.

NO IGNORING BREXIT There is almost a consensus that, as a region, the CARICOM group of countries cannot ignore Brexit; it is a development that is simultaneously far away from home, and close to the Caribbean socio-economic and political reality.

Just as there was much anxiety when Britain joined the EU back in the 1973, there is invariably a great degree of anxiety as she leaves the regional grouping.

This reinforces the late Lloyd Best’s thesis that the Caribbean political economy is largely driven by external forces; that our independence, which Antigua and Barbuda celebrates this week, has not been able to dismantle that structural truism.

In a sense, we are again reliving

the anxiety of post-plantationhood.

My simple question is: What’s new?

Back in the 1970s, it was Antigua’s calypso icon, King Short Shirt, who best articulated the Antiguan and Caribbean anxiety in his classic piece, European Common Market.

Short Shirt’s calypso speculated that Britain’s joining the “European Club” was not good for the Caribbean, from whom she had gained much wealth during the period of slavery and colonialism. He viewed it as an abandonment of a region, which was the height of ungratefulness, and cautioned that the Caribbean’s embracment of the EU was tantamount to “buying pig in bag”.

For ‘Short Shirt’, Britain may prosper, “but the whole West Indies guh suffer.” The calypsonian articulated the crux of the problem in the context of the combination of the wanton rape of Caribbean resources, and what he saw as the abandonment of the region.

‘You control us during the Slavery Everything we had you take for free Then you stayed on one more hundred years When you left us we were all tears We had nothing left for ourselves Only dust you leave on top of our shelves You rob us blind Leave us in the mud Now you gone and join the European Club’

ITS IMPLICATIONS The Anglophone Caribbean has to confront a few cold, hard facts about the implications of Brexit.

First, Britain’s exit means that it would have no official trade agreements with any country, including the ones in the Caribbean. Second, although the region’s trade agreements with the EU would remain intact, the fact that its entrance to the EU market was via Britain’s market creates a big problem.

Third, EU aid to the region is likely to be reduced, since Britain’s contribution to the EU would cease.

Fourth, given the fact that Britain would have to negotiate new agreements, there is much speculation that the Caribbean may not be very high on that agenda.

Fifth, if Brexit leads to a slowdown of the British economy, there could be immediate and direct consequences for the economies of the region, particularly in the area of tourism.

Prime Minister Gonsalves has argued that while the potential consequences for the Caribbean are real, the region should not panic; it should, instead, use the opportunity to forge new approaches.

I share that perspective. By now, the Caribbean should be conditioned to deal with these sudden twists and turns in the global political economy, which calypsonian-philosopher, David Rudder, has contended “don’t need islands no more.”

LESSONS THEREIN Having said the above, I think

‘Together Possible’ THE vision behind the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is very direct: build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. WWF wants to protect the environment and its inhabitants and believes in the “Together Possible” motto.

One of the most important objectives of WWF-Gui-

anas’ work in Guyana is that of preserving the biodiversity of the Guiana Shield with a people-centred approach, at all levels and in different ways.

Through empowerment and education; through programmes and projects (such as the Opt-In Readiness Project that was launched on Monday, October 17, 2016

‒ Reflections on the potential impact of Brexit on the Anglophone Caribbean

with the NRDDB in Annai, North Rupununi); through sustainable resource use; and through conservation practices that ensure our wildlife, ecosystems, and ecosystem services are protected and perpetuated.

This is why WWF-Guianas and its local office in Guyana have always been partnering with the Govern-

there are lessons to be learned from Brexit, from a Caribbean standpoint. The biggest lesson, to my mind, is the acknowledgment that Globalisation, as an end in itself, has run its course; or, simply put, has failed.

It has become clear that what we in the Caribbean have always known is now becoming clear to the so-called ‘First World’: That the benefits of Globalisation, like that of its chief sponsor, Global Capitalism, are not equitably distributed.

Professor Rex Nettleford had quite perceptively described globalisation as, “A new designation for an old obscenity.”

Not unexpectedly, the rejection of Globalization has led to the rise again of Economic Nationalism.

We in the Caribbean have to pay keen attention to this tendency.

Our own integration movement has been hampered by this tension between Island Nationalism and Regional Imperatives, with the former frequently holding the balance.

The relative sloth at advancing the CSME, and the hesitancy regarding the CCJ are vivid examples of this phenomenon. I believe that Jamaica’s skepticism about CARICOM whenever the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) assumes office is a real threat to Caribbean Integration.

This is an area of our regional discourse that, out of respect for the Jamaican people, has been stifled.

But, we have to confront it head-on.

The second related lesson we can learn from Brexit is the role of national fear. Clearly, the majority

ment, international partners, agencies, local NGOs, local and indigenous communities, civil society and other stakeholders to spearhead a coordinated effort towards a true Green Development for our country.

The Guiana Shield, of which Guyana is a fundamental part, is in fact the most intact forested region on earth and its status of “special eco-region” is acknowledged all over the world.

As His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, Pres-

of ‘Brits’ harbour a healthy fear of the “other” manifested as anti-immigration. This is a sore area for us in the Caribbean. Despite our shared history of bondage, and shared heritage forged in resistance against that bondage, we are simultaneously one of the most fragmented peoples.

It is often that tension between Island Nationalism and Caribbean Nationalism that tend to shape our response to regional solidarity. We know only too well about our struggle with inter-island migration.

THE REALITY Finally, as Professor Wendy Grenade of Cave Hill, UWI has pointed out, Brexit is partly the result of the crisis of market capitalism itself, whereby countries want the migration of capital and cheap labour, but not the human beings whose labour is critical to the process.

In the Caribbean, at the level of policy and intellectual discourse, we have more and more surrendered to the capitalist model of Structural Adjustment, to the point where countries construct IMF-like programmes without being formally instructed to do so by the IMF. This is something that we have to look at afresh.

More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube channel, Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

ident of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana said a few months ago at the IVth International Congress on Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield, “the Shield plays an essential role in the survival of Planet Earth.”

Of course, this fundamental intention is achievable only as a result of effective plans, concrete actions and through information and knowledge-sharing. And thanks to the active involvement of all Guyanese people.

We are thus especially

happy to announce that every second and fourth Sunday each month, right here in the Guyana Chronicle Sunday Edition, you will be able to read and understand more about WWF-Guianas and its work in the Guiana Shield Region and specifically in Guyana on climate change, conservation, and wildlife.

Because remember: #TogetherPossible Follow WWF-Guianas on Facebook also: www. facebook.com/WWFGuianas.org

12

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Looking at the environment

‒ through action in a ‘green’ economy LAST week’s article, which began conversation on putting the Green Economy into action, dealt with the Sustainable Development pillar.

It was argued how this can be looked at in the form of developing a national programme, using indigenous resources that would create employment/jobs and economic opportunities for Guyanese.

This week, attention is being paid to the environment. The Environment in a Green Economy speaks to protecting the health and welfare of humankind through prudent ecology and vegetation management.

There are various areas within the environment that need to be tackled, by developing programmes to address the deficiencies that exist therein.

On July 14, 2010, the Government of Guyana ratified the Cartagena Convention, which brings to an end the building of septic tanks in communities. These are to be replaced by sewage systems, which will facilitate the processing of waste at treatment plants that will see its conversion into inputs for the creation of organic fertiliser, and the water derived therefrom to be used in farms.

The Convention also precludes the dumping of human waste in the Atlantic and rivers. Also, as Guyana pursues the extraction of crude oil from the Atlantic, the Convention stipulates that waste derived

from such activities cannot be dumped in the waters; that it has to be brought to shore and be processed.

The Georgetown sewage system is outdated and overloaded, and continues dumping waste in the Atlantic. This needs to be tackled with some degree of urgency.

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council can put in place a new or modified sewage system, and utilise treatment plants to bring Guyana into compliance with the Cartagena Convention.

A NEW THINKING Treatment plants can be placed at various locations to meet the city’s needs. But achieving the aforesaid will require new thinking by the Council that would bring about clear understanding of the necessity for such approach, and how a programme can be conceptualised and developed around it.

Quite recently, during discussions with a member of the Council, the issue of Cevon’s Waste Management establishing a treatment plant on Mandela Avenue came up. Several reasons were given by the councillor why such a plant cannot operate from the location at reference; and, with all due respect to him, it became clear that he has no idea what he was talking about.

Treatment plants are presently operating in Guyana. In the 1960s, when the Guyana

Trades Union Congress’ Housing Scheme, Tucville, was established, it was constructed with a treatment plant to manage the community’s human waste.

This plant is situated at the area known as Turning Point, and is still operational.

Treatment plants are common in communities across the world. Buddy’s International Hotel and the Marriott Hotel have their own treatment plants, and the same can be said for many major hotels in the Caribbean.

In Barbados, there is a sewage system dedicated to transfering the water from these plants around the island. That water is sold to farmers, who, in turn, utilise it in their farms.

There may be reservations about treatment plants being located in residential areas, as in the case of Mandela Avenue, on the notion that because human waste carries a stench, it will stink up the environment.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. The way a treatment plant is constructed, stench is not noticeable in the atmosphere.

Had many who pass by Turning Point or visit the Marriott and Buddy’s not been told that there were treatment plants present, they would not have known that, given the absence of a stench and threat to the fresh air/atmosphere.

BACK TO THE TABLE It is hoped our city fathers and mothers can return to the horseshoe table from a position of knowledge and examine the progressive step being taken by a local business

to bring Guyana into compliance with the Cartagena Convention, its role in addressing the nation’s public health, and the government’s push for a ‘green’ economy.

In the tourism sector, the call for cruise ships to visit Guyana cannot, and will not, materialise until these vessels are assured that their waste can be properly dumped and processed.

The movement and disposing of solid waste requires new approaches. No longer can waste be dumped into a hole and be covered over with dirt. An eye on environmental consciousness requires putting systems in place to avoid fires and other hazards, for instance, from the gas that emanates from solid waste landfill sites. In a ‘green’ economy, mechanisms are put in place to extract, process, and reuse said gas for domestic purposes.

Also, the thousands of discarded tyres cannot, and should not, be disposed of by throwing them in the dump. Compliance requires that they are disposed of in a manner that meets acceptable international standards.

Managing this waste can also create a new industry for remoulding/re-treading said tyres where possible.

In looking at the environment within the confines of a ‘green’ economy, it offers wide opportunities for improvement in our health standards, and creating what is considered “green jobs”.

Come next week, the discussion on this pillar will continue.

New lawyer admitted to the Bar

By Michel Outridge Newly qualified lawyer Diane Barker was last Thursday admitted to the bar before Justice Sandra Kurtzious, after Attorney-at-Law Leslie Sobers presented her petition in the High Court.

In her admission remarks, Barker informed the court that she would strive to uphold the tenets of the noble profession, and hopefully her quality of work would one day lead to improvement of the jurisprudence in Guyana.

“In all the challenges I faced during this journey, I learnt that God was the driving force that propelled me to arrive at my destination.

It is (because of) that belief that I have viewed nothing

as a struggle, but (as) an experience to shape me into the strong woman I strive every day to become,” she said.

Barker also thanked her relatives and friends for their unconditional love and support during her journey.

The newly-admitted lawyer was born in Georgetown to Randolph and Ederle Barker. After completing her primary education, she attended the Covent Garden Secondary School and completed her secondary education. In 1997, she was one of 10 persons selected by the Government of Guyana, in collaboration with the University of Guyana and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to pursue training in Court Reporting.

She was trained to operate the stenographic machine to take verbatim notes of judges summing up in the courts of Guyana.

After completing her training in 1999, Diane worked at the Supreme Court of Judicature as a trained Court Reporter, and during this period, her passion and love for the law was birthed.

In her quest to pursue higher education, Barker attended the University of Guyana and read for a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB). She completed the programme in 2006, and passed with credit.

On completion of the programme, Barker was offered a place at the Hugh Wooding Law School, but due to financial constraints, she was

unable to accept that offer.

Between 2006 and 2014, she worked at the Chambers of Moore, Harmon Sobers and Gaskin as a Legal Research Assistant and a Legal Clerk, where she gained a wealth of experience in the law.

In her quest to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming an Attorney, Barker wrote the entrance exam offered by the Council of Legal Education for entry into Hugh Wooding Law School, and was successful. She then proceeded to Trinidad and Tobago to commence reading for her Legal Education Certificate, which she was awarded on September 2, 2016.

Barker is the mother of two children and is an ardent Christian.

Diane Barker and her children with Justice Sandra Kurtzious following her admittance to the Bar

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Ramnarine dismisses ‘firearm selling’ allegations

By Rabindra Rooplall ACTING Police Commissioner David Ramnarine has refuted allegations of being corrupt and biased in the issuing of firearm licences, contending that he has never approved a riffle for anyone unless it has first been approved by the Firearm Licensing Board.

Addressing reporters at the Police Public Relations Office at Eve Leary, Ramnarine said there is a lot of loose talk about selling firearm licence.

“Let’s launch an investigation; let’s not launch an investigation 10 years ago about what happened, or five years ago about what happened; let’s launch an investigation starting this year. Let me make it more explicit: let’s launch it from the 1st July this year,” the acting top cop said.

He challenged the authorities to launch the investigation to inquire who is behind making firearm licences a business.

“I saw on a certain website that I am selling firearm

licence daily, and I’m making millions of dollars…. I was not the one who granted firearm licences to a known drug trafficker who skipped the United States, came to this country and set up himself; and he has dozens of firearm licences,” Ramnarine said.

He added: “I am the one who refused to entertain an application from a relative of a known drug kingpin who requested additional firearm licences.”

Ramnarine said that, during his stewardship as

The coconut industry ‒ standing, but not in Guyana yet running

By Margaret Burke “OVER the next ten years, the Guyana coconut industry will demonstrate consistent growth rates, rising from severe underdevelopment to becoming a fully integrated economic partner at national, regional and global levels.”

COCONUTS, coconuts: an old name with new meaning. In fact, concerns were expressed at the ongoing Guyana Coconut Festival, being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Center at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, not only about the actual aging coconut trees, but also about the mostly aging farmers of this particular industry; and presenters and debates have so far been very passionate over the last two days as they look at the way forward for the industry.

The stakeholders include the Government of Guyana, University of Guyana, NAREI, CARDI, APCC, ITC, Brazil, Mexico, Suriname, Jamaica, the National Stakeholders Platform, as well as farmers from the Pomeroon and others.

ROAD MAP The major aim of this conference is to construct a roadmap which would ensure that this industry is not only sustainable, but is moving in the right direction. Thus some of the main topics included marketing, production and processing, research and development,

finance, and other support agencies.

Because of the decline in trade of traditional plantation crops in countries such as Guyana, the National Stakeholder Platform (NSP) has mounted a search for a turnaround with other approaches. And with tremendous amount of work put into planning and executing such a conference, there may have been in some cases some amount of astonishment at the abundance of information which has thus far been disseminated.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY The coconut sector in Guyana has been experiencing rising demand for non-traditional coconut products, especially all natural coconut water and virgin coconut oil. This is in the face of insufficient supplies of coconuts to meet demands for bottling and processing as well as for the international market; aged trees; pests and diseases; a fragmented supply chain, which is in the absence of supply chain management; and also the absence of a developed governance structure to address these issues.

In addition, it has been discovered that several main value added streams have emerged, and these include: the coconut food chain, alternative dairy food, and vegetable market -- which has grown some 25-30% per year from 2009 to 2014.

Additionally, there has

been a coconut ‘sports drink’ chain launched in early 2000s and grown to US$1.36 billion in 2014. It is projected to reach $US4 billion in 2019.

Then there is the coconut chemicals chain: crude coconut oil, oleo-chemicals, cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceuticals, detergents, biodiesel. It has been noted that there is an increasing trend to consume natural over synthetic fatty alcohols in personal care and cosmetic markets. Hence, 45-50 percent of global consumption of coconut oil is concentrated here.

There is also the ever-increasing demand for the coconut by-products of shell & husk.

The general agreement is that the roadmap would address these and other issues which are confronting the coconut industry as it relates to Guyana.

GLOBAL MARKET – TAKING ADVANTAGE Coconut products such as coconut oil, copra and other basic coconut products have to now contend with market demand for ‘naturalness’ in cosmetics and personal care products, which include shampoos and conditioners, skin and hair creams, among others; as well as various types of detergents on the markets, made by companies that emphasise the ‘soft’ yet powerful use of the coconut oil.

Turn to page 20 ►

acting Police Commissioner, he refused many applications and also refused granting firearm upgrades.

“I have carefully considered whatever I have granted with the authority vested in me as the acting Commissioner of Police. Those security services that really need additional firearm licences, I have been in deep and regular consultation with the subject minister on almost all of these occasions, and I have been assured that my actions are above board,” Ramnarine explained.

Former GDF Chief-ofStaff, Brigadier (rtd) Mark Phillips, on Friday said incidents of gun-related crime in the country are at their highest, and he has ranked the issue as the most pressing matter facing society.

Phillips, who retired as Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) earlier this month, was at the time

addressing a security forum and expo organised by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) at Duke Lodge in Kingston, Georgetown.

“I place at number one (the issue of) violent crime, because notwithstanding the crime statistics that speaks to a reduction in crime, it is my firm belief as a citizen of Guyana that the high incidence of gun-related crimes is today the most pressing problem in the Guyanese society,” Phillips told the gathering of heads of private security firm, among other stakeholders.

The Guyana Police Force had earlier this month reported a 21 per cent decline in serious crimes at the end of September, but Phillips reiterated his position while speaking as a citizen.

“I am simply stating that citizen security is the measure of state security; since

the extent to which the people of Guyana can live in freedom and safety is the extent to which the state is secure,” Phillips added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Security is creating a special ‘firearm management system’ that would assist agencies in determining the legality of a firearm holder, since such persons would be listed in a database of registered gun holders.

The firearm management system would also provide a paper trail on how a gun was acquired, since it would show the steps that were taken all the way to the Firearm Licensing Board.

The Commissioner of Police and divisional commanders, who are the first set of authorities to be approached in the licensing process, would help review licences to determine whether or not they should be renewed.

14

Guyana working to empower young girls SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

‒ utilising 2016 CHDR recommendations THE Government of Guyana (GoG) is working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to ensure that policies are inclusive to provide a better future for young girls, since securing the future of the country’s young girls means addressing poverty in all its forms.

According to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities’ (UNFPA’s) State of the World Population 2016 Report, there are 7,000 ten-year-old girls in Guyana.

These girls are the future of the country, but they are also at a vulnerable point in their lives.

The UNFPA has undertaken to secure a better future for girls worldwide through the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In the Caribbean, women and young girls are vulnerable to poverty and inequality, according to the UNDP’s 2016 Caribbean Human De-

velopment Report (CHDR).

The report estimates that 18.6 per cent of Guyana’s population is indigent.

Regional Adviser at the UNDP, Kenroy Roach, believes that addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality is inessential to secure a bright future, particularly for young girls.

“We believe that you need to improve women and youths’ -- young women in particular -- access to services as a way of removing or improving their health outcomes and improving the health challenges they see later in life,” Roach told the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Guyana, meanwhile, has been making strides in addressing inequality. The CHDR noted that Guyana is an outstanding example for the Caribbean in its effort to reduce inequality, with 31.3 per cent of seats in Parliament being held by women. But, the CHDR not-

ed, ensuring greater female participation in the labour force remains a challenge for the country.

For younger girls, ineffective school systems, teenage pregnancy and violence are the risk factors that make them vulnerable.

Roach told GINA that it is important that “protective factors” are part of “public policies to protect youth, but in particular young girls”.

Despite the country’s gross national income, Guyana was credited by the CHDR for better-than-expected performance in the areas of child nutrition, infant mortality, and average schooling rates; primary school dropout rate and gross secondary school matriculation. These are positive indicators for the future of Guyana’s young girls.

Government ministers and stakeholders had earlier this year held a round-table discussion to develop programmes particularly geared

UNDP Regional Advisor Kenroy Roach

towards young people and young adults.

Guyana still has to improve on its maternal mortality, youth unemployment and teenage pregnancy rates, the report indicated.

Roach noted that Guyana and the wider Caribbean can

rely on the tools made available by the UNDP to “help the life chances of young women”.

“We’re looking at what extent sectorial planning -- whether it’s in education, it’s in health, it’s in infrastructure -- how those plans

are connected to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals); which targets of the SDGs they are connected to; and then what are the gaps. Importantly, what are the structural, what are the policy, what the programmatic gaps that exist; and then UNDP supports governments in developing the policies and programmes to fill those gaps,” Roach explained.

To secure the future of young girls and address their challenges, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has said, comprehensive polices buttressed by a sustainable economic base are needed.

Government has been working to ensure that its policies are inclusive of all vulnerable groups. The CHDR noted that Guyana’s economy has registered positive economic growth over the last 10 years.

Guyana is one of the 193 countries that have pledged to achieve, over the next 15 years, the 17 SDGs which underpin the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

1000+ buildings destroyed by fire in past year

By Alva Solomon BETWEEN 2015 and this present time, more than 1000 buildings have been razed by fire; and Guyana Fire Service Divisional Commander Compton Sparman has called for enforcement of the requisite fire laws, mainly the building code.

Speaking at the opening of a security forum organised by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Friday afternoon at the Duke Lodge in Kingston, Georgetown, Sparman noted that “we need to have a better focus on fire prevention”, and said that enforcement of the law is lacking.

Sparman said the Fire Prevention Act, Chapter 22:01, which was established many years ago, remains unchanged, except that fines have been revised. He noted that he and other senior fire officials have advocated for the Fire Safety Occupancy

Code, known as the building code, to be enforced.

“I think it is time for the Fire Safety and Building Occupancy Code to be enforced to protect ourselves,” he told the gathering.

According to Sparman, there are systems, such as sprinkler systems and high-risers among others, which are seen as mandatory in other jurisdictions when engineering works are considered for the construction of a building.

“Engineering starts with safety,” he said, noting that if the structure is not sound, one cannot have a proper building. He said that dead load and superimposed load, among other issues, are considered in other jurisdictions.

However, in Guyana, when the building plans for businesses reach the Fire Service, construction of the building is almost complete.

NO CHECKS AND BALANCES “As such, there are no

the agency responsible for the maintenance of fire hydrants.

“We are trying to work with GWI to ensure some of the hydrants have been repaired and working,” Sparman said.

He noted that the main problem lies with the water pressure being low. The senior fire officer explained that most of the fire hydrants were designed for domestic purposes, and it would take 10 to 15 minutes to divert the water before “jetting” of the fire hoses can take place. “So it’s a lot of things that face the Fire Service,” he said.

Firefighters battling the October 10 blaze at Gafoors’ Houston Complex

checks and balances,” he said, noting that the Fire Service has to then give recommendations for the construction of something that is already completed. “Those things are lacking because the laws do not permit us,”

he said.

Sparman noted that only the issuance of a safety certificate leads to some amount of enforcement, but this is usually done in the form of advice.

Regarding fire prevention

moves in the City, he called for more cohesion between the relevant stakeholders.

“Firefighting is a skill that needs collaboration of agencies,” he said. To this end, he noted the role of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) as

‘A THREAT’ Sparman identified Regent Street as a “threat” regarding areas which are susceptible to fire.

“Regent Street is a threat by itself,” he said, adding that the insurance premiums are high, and this is directly related to the proximity of the buildings, which has led to some Turn to page 15 ►

15

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

‘Humble’ Persaud admitted to the Bar During her two years at School of the Nations, Ms. Persaud interned at Deborah Kumar’s Chambers, and volunteered at a local pet clinic for her ‘A’ level project.

On completion of sixth form, she entered the University of Guyana and read for a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, and on successful completion of the programme, she was offered a place at the Hugh

Wooding Law School after writing the entrance exam in 2013; but she took a oneyear deferral, during which she successfully read for an MBA through the Australian Institute of Business.

The new attorney will be doing a Master’s in Maritime Law through the London University’s international programme next month.

1000+ buildings...

New attorney Nekeisha Persaud is flanked by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan, Attorney Juman Yassin and her parents at the High Court

By Michel Outridge NEW lawyer Nekeisha Persaud has been admitted to the Bar after her petition, presented by Attorney K. Juman Yassin, was accepted

by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan at the High Court.

In response to her acceptance, the young lady said she was “humbled and privileged” to stand as the newest member of the legal fraternity. “It has been quite a journey; but de-

spite the academic obstacles, I have triumphed and learnt that God is always here.

“Today I give him thanks, as without Him today could not be possible. He continues to be my source of strength and inspiration. In this moment, I wish to reflect on a passage from First Corinthians 15:10:‘By the grace of God, I am what I am’.” She said.

Ms. Persaud thanked Justice Harnanan for taking the

time to hear and grant her petition, and noted that she has endeavoured to live up to the standards expected of her. She credited her success to her parents’ unconditional love, financial support, and devotion during her time of need.

Ms Nekeisha Persaud graduated from law school on October 1, 2016; and on October 16, she also graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration, managing

to obtain a distinction in her final MBA project.

Ms. Persaud is the daughter of Ramcoomar Persaud, also known as “Pete”, and Ushia Persaud. A highflier, she attended the School of the Nation’s Sixth Form, from where she obtained ‘A’ level passes in Psychology, Business and Law through the Cambridge University external programme. Notably, she received a prize for her performance in ‘A’ Level Law.

insurance premiums being tripled.

Sparman pointed out that the closest canals to access water in the event of a fire are at North and South Roads.

He appealed to the business community to partner with the Fire Service on its cause. “We had over 1000 buildings which went up in flames between last year and now, mostly domestic (buildings),” he said, as he appealed to the business community for support in enforcing the laws, improving engineering measures and disseminating education on better fire prevention practices.

From page 14

Over the years, a number of fires have reduced homes across the country to rubble.

Many of those fires are said to be electrical in origin.

In the commercial sector, several fires have left businessmen counting heavy losses, the most recent being the October 10 Gafoors fire, which is being investigated as a suspected arson. This most recent fire has hit the Houston, East Bank Demerara business entity with millions in losses six months after a major conflagration ravaged 60 per cent of its structure, leaving billions in losses.

16

Agriculture has big role to play

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

–– in curbing greenhouse gas emissions, say FAO THE pledge to eradicate hunger and poverty must go hand in hand with rapid transformations of farming and food systems to cope with a warmer world, the FAO has said in its latest report.

Agriculture, including forestry, fisheries and livestock production, generate around a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture must both contribute more to combating climate change while bracing to overcome its impacts, according to The State of Food and Agriculture 2016.

“There is no doubt climate change affects food security,” FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said while presenting the report.

“What climate change does is to bring back uncertainties from the time we were all hunter gatherers. We cannot assure any more that we will have the harvest we have planted.”

That uncertainty also translates into volatile food prices, he noted. “Everybody is paying for that, not only those suffering from droughts,” Graziano da Silva said.

FAO warns that a “business as usual” approach could put millions more people at risk of hunger compared to a future without climate change. Most affected would be populations in poor areas in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia, especially those who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Future food security in many countries will worsen if no action is taken today.

Overhauling farming and food systems will be complex

due to the vast number of stakeholders involved, the multiplicity of farming and food processing systems, and differences in ecosystems.

Yet, efforts must begin in earnest now as the adverse impacts of climate change will only worsen with time, the report emphasizes.

“The benefits of adaptation outweigh the costs of

ference of the Parties in Morocco starting November 7.

The FAO report underscores that success in transforming food and agriculture systems will largely depend on urgently supporting smallholders in adapting to climate change.

Developing countries are home to around half a billion smallholder farm families

A farmer in Tanzania uses hay to help mulch and prevent soil erosion inaction by very wide margins,” emphasized Graziano da Silva.

TIME FOR ACTION “2016 should be about putting commitments into action,” urged Graziano da Silva, noting the international community last year agreed to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris climate agreement, about to come into force.

Agriculture will be high on the agenda at the 22nd Con-

who produce food and other agricultural products in greatly varying agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions.

Solutions have to be tailored to those conditions; there is no one-size-fits-all fix.

The FAO report describes alternative, economically viable ways of helping smallholders to adapt and making the livelihoods of rural populations — often the most exposed to the downside risks of climate change - more resilient.

The report provides evidence that adoption of ‘climate-smart’ practices, such as the use of nitrogen-efficient and heat-tolerant crop varieties, zero-tillage and integrated soil fertility management would boost productivity and farmers’ incomes. Widespread adoption of nitrogen-efficient practices alone would reduce the number of people at risk of undernourishment by more than 100 million, the report estimates.

It also identifies avenues to lower emission intensity from agriculture. Water-conserving alternatives to the flooding of rice paddies for example, can slash methane emissions by 45 percent, while emissions from the livestock sector can be reduced by up to 41 percent through the adoption of more efficient practices.

FAO’s road map also identifies policies and financing opportunities for the sustainable intensification of agriculture.

WAY FORWARD Negative global effects of climate change are already being felt in some cereal crop yields,. Climate change will likely lead to a loss of nutritional content of some foods, such as declining zinc, iron and protein counts in staple cereals, and trigger new health issues — including diarrhoea for humans and an array of transboundary animal diseases.

Beyond 2030, according to scientific evidence, negative pressures on food production will be increasingly felt everywhere. Until then, adverse impacts of higher temperatures are sharply skewed

towards developing countries, pointing to dimmer prospects for their food self-sufficiency.

Helping smallholders adapt to climate change risks is critical for global poverty reduction and food security.

Close attention should be paid to removing obstacles they may face and fostering an enabling environment for individual, joint and collective action, according to the report.

FAO urges policy makers to identify and remove such barriers. These obstacles can include input subsidies that promote unsustainable farming practices, poorly aligned incentives and inadequate access to markets, credit, extension services and social protection programmes, and often disadvantage women, who make up to 43 percent of the agricultural labour force.

The report stresses that more climate finance is needed to fund developing countries’ actions on climate change. International public finance for climate change adaptation and mitigation

is growing and, while still relatively small, can act as a catalyst to leverage larger flows of public and private investments. More climate finance needs to flow to sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry to fund the large-scale transformation and the development of climate-smart food production systems. Adaptation and mitigation of climate change must occur in tandem.

Without action, agriculture will continue to be a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. But by adopting climate-smart practices and increasing the capacity of soils and forests to sequester carbon, emissions can be reduced while stepping up food production to feed the world’s growing population, the report said. Food systems can further contribute by minimizing food losses and waste, as well as by promoting healthier diets that also leave a lighter environmental footprint.

Republic Bank launches ‘Deals on Wheels’ promotion REPUBLIC Bank Guyana Limited has added new features to its ‘Deal on Wheels’ Christmas Promotion.

During a promotion launch at the Giftland Mall at Turkeyen on Saturday, Marketing and Communications Manager Michelle Johnson said persons will be able to access car loans and have an extra year to make the repayment.

Some of the vehicles on display The event brought together approximately 25 auto industry stakeholders including the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority, automobile dealers and insurance companies with the aim of educating the general public on what they need to know about automobile ownership.

Visitors had the opportunity to obtain key information on every aspect of owning a motor vehicle, obtaining a driver’s licence, financing, purchase and accessorising, registration and insurance coverage. Vehicles for both retail and small business use were also on show to allow the public and potential buyers to view and inspect.

17

A journey to Cursima SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

––where the ministerial guide gets lost in the forest

TRAVELLING through Guyana’s jungle is never easy so we rely on guides.

Usually, they are inhabitants of these areas. But, what happens when the guide gets lost?

A short while back, Minister within the Ministry of

sure that this remote village receives its share of the national pie.

Located many miles from the closest village, Whitewater, Cursima is home to about eight families who speak only Warrau, their native language.

long ride.

The next stage of the journey would see the coastlanders testing their legs as they were called on to hike up a mountain. Hiking was not on the agenda for the team when they left Georgetown. But, if they intended

it before, Minister Lowe began to feel that something was not quite right.

In a jungle, one is never quite sure of these things.

HORRIFIED On enquiring how much further they would have to go to reach their destination, the team was horrified to hear that they were lost. Lost?

For almost two hours they had been walking aimlessly, trying to find their way back on the correct path as the rain poured. After much praying and hoping and getting quite agitated, the guide was able to lead them to a small clearing along the bank of the creek they were looking for. There they met a few people from whom they were able to borrow a boat for the journey up the creek and into

up the creek to meet them.

Bags and people were transferred over the tree, to the other boat, and the journey continued. It was a damp but excited team that reached Cursima.

Probably feeling like Columbus, the coastlanders were humbled by the warmth of the welcome they received.

According to the village elders, it was the first time, since the establishment of the village some 70 years ago, that a Government official would visit their village.

For Minister Lowe, it was not just about reaching a village. She learnt that the children and adults had never attended school. Their babies were born at home and ailments were treated with traditional medicines.

having English taught in their village.

“I want to go get crayons and pencils and books, all sorts of things. I think we will have fun teaching English as a second language to these Warrau citizens of ours. … We have a challenge there and we need to look into it as quickly as we can just to make sure that we have all our citizens on our radar so that we know how we are going to help them to enjoy this good life that we want everyone to enjoy,” Minister Lowe told GINA. The visit to the village, Minister Lowe said was due to a promise she made to herself to reach out to all the Indigenous people and provide assistance in whatever way possible, through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

On her visit, Minister

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valarie Garrido-Lowe in discussion with residents of Cursima Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, set out to visit Cursima, a small satellite community in Region One. During the 2015 Regional and General Elections, the minister had heard about the community and had promised to visit. She was intent on keeping her promise.

Her intention was to make

To get to the village, the minister and team were being guided by Toshao of Whitewater, Elroy Antonio, the one person they knew who had visited the village before.

Setting out from Whitewater by truck, the team would travel overland through dense forest. Tossed and tumbled every which way, they endured the hour

to get to their desired destination, then it just had to get done.

Just when they were about to take a rest, the rain came. They say rain in the jungle is not like rain on the coast. It is colder. With no shelter available, the hardy team continued to trudge on.

Whether it was a sixth sense or some tree that looked like she had passed Some of the shoes Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valarie Garrido-Lowe distributed to the residents

Cursima residents were happy to see Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valarie Garrido-Lowe and her team

Cursima.

Minister Lowe and her team journeyed up the shallow creek, through the rain with a sigh of relief. Huddled under meager coverings and not knowing where they were headed, the team would face an even greater challenge.

A huge tree had fallen across the creek blocking their path. Should they turn back at this point? Not an option for Minister Lowe!

Sitting in their boat, contemplating possible options in the absence of a chainsaw, the rest of the team was just about to protest when help arrived. A group of people from the village had come

UNHEARD OF Electricity, potable water, telephones, gas stoves were unheard of. Shoes were a scarcity. All the things usually taken for granted by the visiting team were either luxuries or just simply did not exist for the people of Cursima. They exist on what they hunt and catch in the creek.

With that, the minister pledged to give the indigenous people living there the opportunity to learn the English language. What got the minister excited was the response from the villagers to the suggestion of

Lowe distributed food supplies, shoes and clothing to the residents of Cursma.

Getting to village is only one half of the journey, the other half is getting back.

Now that the place was dark, one could only imagine what went through the minds of the minister and her team after stumbling upon so many obstacles on their journey to the village.

However, the residents of Cursima offered to lend assistance, which the minister and her team quickly accepted. With the help of the villagers, the journey was much shorter and much more pleasant, without rain.

18

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

GWI distributes filters to residents of Kamarang …in light of outbreak of diarrhoea THE community of Kamarang and its surrounding areas on Friday received a total of 15 filters from the Guyana Water Incorporated to assist in the purification of drinking water in light of reports of an outbreak of diarrhoea there.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities with re-

sponsibility for water, Dawn Hastings, led a team of officials into the community to assess the water situation, provide technical assistance and a temporary solution in the form of Lifesaver filters.

The team included GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles; Executive Director of Project Im-

plementation & Partnership Building, Ramchand Jailal; and Regional Manager Osei Manifold and a representative from the Basic Needs Trust Fund among others. The regional executive officer was also a part of the team and assisted in the distribution of filters to the communities.

In a release, GWI said the filters were distributed to Warawatta village, Kamarang Primary and Nursery

schools, Kako village, the Upper Mazaruni, Kamarang District Hospital and Quebanang Primary School.

While presenting the filters to village representatives, Dr. Van West-Charles explained that they will serve as an immediate preventive measure to the diarrhoea outbreak. He also assured the villagers of GWI’s commitment to evaluate the area with the aim of installing wells to serve their long-term needs.

Dr. Van West-Charles also indicated his plan to fulfil His Excellency President David Granger’s call for equity between the coastland and hinterland. “I see no reason why you shouldn’t have equal access to potable water”, he said.

Responding to questions posed by the managing director about their usual source of water, some villagers ex-

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings, presents a filter to Dr. Amitraj Persaud of the Upper Mazaruni, Kamarang District Hospital in the presence of GWI’s Managing Director Dr. Richard Van West-Charles (left) and Dr. Lakshmi Narain (second right)

GWI officials load a boat with the filters to take to the communities

GWI’s Executive Director of Project Implementation & Partnership Building, Ramchand Jailal (right) hands over a Lifesaver filter to Mr. Reid, an elderly resident of Warawatta

plained that they use water from a creek, while others use from a pond for drinking. The children, they said, use from the river too when they are playing and become dehydrated. The residents therefore requested that all communities get access to the wells that are expected to be drilled, since in the past the well catered to only one section of the community.

The residents of Warawatta also noted that the well there has been nonfunctional for some three years. GWI has committed to servicing the well and carrying out maintenance works to bring it back into operation.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

GWI distributes filters...

In Quebanang, GWI’s technical personnel which consisted of electricians, engineers and a laboratory technician, assisted in reactivating the water supply system that was out of service for quite some time. This was done by repairing the community’s photovoltaic system, also known as a solar PV power system. It is designed to supply usable solar power, which ensures the functioning of their water system.

Meanwhile, Minister Hastings told residents that

the visit to the community forms part of her ministry’s commitment to ensuring comfortable and safe livelihoods for all communities.

She reiterated that the filters

GWI officials look on as a resident tries using a filter for the first time

will bring relief to the communities of Region Seven, as it can even be used to convert the water from the river into potable drinking water. Mr. Jailal and Mr. Manifold of

GWI demonstrated to the villagers how the filters are used and can be cleaned.

The intervention into the community comes on the heels of reports of an

From page 18

outbreak of diarrhoea and according to Dr. Lakshmi Narain of the Upper Mazaruni, Kamarang District Hospital, almost all of the cases seen at the re-

gion’s hospital were affected by water-borne illnesses.

GWI will be revisiting the Region Seven areas to determine the best suited sites for the drilling of wells.

GWI’s Managing Director Dr. Richard Van West-Charles hands over filters to Toshao of Kamarang/Warawatta Ms. Norma Thomas, as Minister within the Ministry of Communities Dawn Hastings (second left), GWI officials and residents look on

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

The coconut industry...

The NSP, with full agreement from stakeholders present, noted: “We need to get organized; we need to form strategic commercial alliances (public and private); we need a strategy,” and a strategy is quickly being formulated, which at the end of the summit should make them as well as the rest of Guyana proud.

The NSP has stated that its vision is: Over the next ten years, the Guyana coconut industry will demonstrate consistent growth rates, rising from severe underdevelopment to become a fully integrated economic partner at national, regional and global levels.

Along with this, its stated mission is: To promote the development of the coconut value chain in Guyana, with a balance between industrial production and

small scale production and with effective contributions from all stakeholders, including farmers, processors, marketers and government support institutions The Guyana Coconut Festival is therefore not just about festivities; it is about serious business: having dreams and visions, and then waking with the intent to make reality out of them.

And so it is expected that at the conclusion of this ‘grand festival -- with all the eating and the drinking, the singing and the dancing -- the talking part will bear fruit such as that of the coconut, which might be ready to be put into the processing chambers.

At the forum, therefore, the stakeholders are coming up with the “development of a business plan for the sector, and profitability stud-

ies to support commercially driven development and value addition; consolidation of a sector demand and supply plan, and the improvement of access to finance and promotion of innovative schemes that respond to the needs of the sector.”

But the people who have come from far and near are mostly there with very serious objectives, and so far have shown that they will be able to deliver. Therefore, they have added to their plan additional methods which should aid the business of cultivating coconut in an efficient manner.

So, the “improvement of research for availability and multiplication of right varieties for planting; promotion of better farming practices and extension services, to increase productivity and improve pest and disease management; improvement of the organization of coconut supplies through an industry alliance between stakeholders; and promotion of organization, planning, information flows and policy support” are other areas up for discussion and enactment.

If the key stakeholders have their way -- and they really should -- then the plan is that before full implementation, surveys of markets and current operations of NSP producers will commence with assistance from ITC. There would also be focus on development of pioneers and innovators (agripreneurs) into secure product value chains; the development of secure value

From page 13

chains for selected products, and the building of a multiplier effect model from work with pioneers.

ENTERPRISES Enterprises will include: Original Juices coconut water at Charity, Pomeroon; Roosters Farm - new coconut water factory at Land of Plenty, Essequibo Coast; Ideal Life Virgin coconut oil at Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast; HenvilFarms Coconut water at Marlborough, Pomeroon River; and also the Pomeroon Oil Mill at Charity, Essequibo Coast.

IMPROVEMENT SOLUTIONS Key areas of consideration will be to: improve cost savings; recycle coconut husk waste into peat and compost; corrected factory extension plans to avoid ineffective design & flow; improve productivity & efficiency; reduce oil settling time with extra sieving and use of wider surface area and shallower bins; reduce rework and error by eliminating unrolling labels for date code stamping; improve delivery; reorganise work area to improve material flow and reduce cycle time; transportation and motion; improve quality; improve control and cleanliness of coconut cutting and processing area; and also reduce exposure time and control environment for perishable coconut products.

These are some of the considerations discussed and agreed on so far in the effort to find solutions for the overall improvement of the coconut industry in Guyana, even as the Guyana Coconut Festival approaches its end.

Sunday, October 23, 2016 - 12:00 hrs Monday, October 24, 2016 - 13:00 hrs Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - 14:00 hrs

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Wenger’s bitter-sweet 67th birthday as Arsenal lead league

By Ian Chadband

LONDON-(Reuters)-Arsene Wenger endured a bitter-sweet 67th birthday yesterday as his Arsenal side went to the top of the Premier League but missed a golden opportunity by only eking out a goalless draw with struggling Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium.

Liverpool were later just 10 minutes away from overhauling Arsenal but a late goal from West Bromwich Albion at Anfield meant that a 2-1 victory for Juergen Klopp’s men still could not stop the Londoners remaining at the summit on goal difference.

Earlier, Tottenham Hotspur spurned the chance to have their own short spell at the top as they were held 0-0 by Bournemouth in the day’s early match while maintaining the season’s only unbeaten Premier League record at Dean Court.

With life increasingly congested in the fight for the title, Liverpool were left the most satisfied as their win puts them on 20 points alongside Arsenal, who have a superior goal difference of one.

Manchester City, who started Saturday as leaders on 19 points, could return to the top today when they host South-

ampton. Spurs, in fourth place, also have 19 with just a point separating the top quartet.

Liverpool ensured there

Arsernal manager Arsene Wenger was no hangover from Monday’s disappointing draw with Manchester United, Klopp’s vibrant side lighting up Anfield this time with first-half goals from Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho.

Yet just when they were in sight of heading the table on the strength of having scored one goal more than Arsenal, Albion provided some nerves in the final few minutes by scoring through Gareth McAuley.

Arsenal, the league’s form side after a six-match winning

run, dominated possession against Boro, who are just above the relegation zone in 17th, yet could easily have lost to the side struggling just above the relegation zone.

The home keeper Petr Cech was forced to make key saves from Gaston Ramirez’s header, twice from Adama Traore and also Alvaro Negredo.

“They had chances but our goalkeeper saved us today. Petr Cech had a good performance in decisive phases,” Wenger conceded.

As for not landing the gift he had hoped for, he smiled in a BBC interview: “At least you can have a drink on your birthday. When you win you deserve it. When you don’t, you need it!”

Spurs found it “tough” in a frantic game at buoyant Bournemouth, according to their manager Mauricio Pochettino, who reckoned this was exactly the kind of game they would have to win if they were to be real title contenders.

As the battle to succeed Leicester City boiled up, the champions themselves finally found some decent domestic form with manager Claudio Ranieri describing their 3-1 win over Crystal Palace as their best performance of the season.

He was relieved that they have now won more Premier League than Champions League points after translating their European form to their faltering domestic campaign.

Ahmed Musa, Leicester’s 16 million-pound ($19.6 million)summer signing, scored his first goal for the club and Shinji Okazaki and Christian Fuchs struck after the break to stretch the Foxes’ unbeaten home run to 20 games.

Everton’s push towards the top of the table, though, was halted rudely at Turf Moor where a 90th-minute winner from Scott Arfield gave Burnley a 2-1 win in a game the Toffees’ boss Ronald Koeman was convinced they should have won.

He was not the only manager bemoaning his luck with Sunderland’s under-pressure David Moyes adamant that his side had lost to a late, late offside goal in a 1-0 defeat at West Ham United.

Winston Reid had struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time to leave Moyes’ men mired on just two points.

Sunderland are three points adrift of Swansea City, who created the best chances but ended up drawing 0-0 with Watford in manager Bob Bradley’s first game in charge at the Liberty Stadium.

GCB/NSSCL League

Singh’s 158 annihilates Lusignan Secondary … Charlestown, Christ Church, Mae’s, and Soesdyke in winners’ row

RAJENDRA Singh’s brutal century for President’s College laid the foundation for a massive win over Lusignan Secondary in an East Coast Demerara fixture of the 2016 edition of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary Schools Cricket

RAJENDRA SINGH League (NSSCL) on Friday..

At Enterprise Cricket ground: Rajendra Singh’s blistering unbeaten 158 was the architect of President’s College mammoth score of 294-1 off just 25 overs.

Singh pummelled the Lusignan bowlers, smashing 14 fours and seven sixes as he and David Wilson, who helped himself to 79 including

six fours and one six, shared a partnership of 224.

Lusignan, in reply, could barely manage 82 before being bowled out in 16.3 overs.

Dequan France made 34 out of that total. Keeron Samaroo and Krishna Surujpaul had three wickets each for President’s College.

In Georgetown Zone: Charlestown registered an impressive 10-wicket victory over Dolphin Secondary at GNIC ground. Batting first, Dolphin Secondary limped to 86-9 off 25 overs. Shemar Yearwood and Jonathan Barton were the only batsmen to reach double figures making 17 and 11 respectively. Bowling for Charlestown, Tathesh Shivrattan took 2-8 and Jamal Michael had 2-14.

In reply, the Charlestown batsmen made light work of their target racing to 86 without loss in just 6.2 overs.

Jamal Michael rounded off a good all-round performance scoring 41 not out while Negus Walters supported well with 16.

At DCC ground: Christ Church Secondary posted a challenging 186-4 in 30 overs which was enough to give them an easy 91-run victory over St Mary’s High. Alphius Bookie led the way for Christ Church with 48 while Aaron

Beharry made 43 not out and Trevane Wilkinson contributed 20. Bowling for St Mary’s, Akeem Christmas, Andrew Andries and Alex Rogers took one wicket apiece.

St Mary’s High were then dismissed for 95 in 18.2

DAVID WILSON overs as Renaldo Mohamed ran through the batting order snatching 6-27. Aaron Beharry also was among the wickets with 2-11.

At GCC ground: Mae’s Secondary overpowered Queenstown Secondary by 69 runs. Batting first, Mae’s Secondary, participating for the first time in the competition, finished on 136/7 off 23

overs. Jonathan Fuilay made 26. Bowling for Queenstown Secondary, Akel Fraser and David McGarrell had 2-17 each while Sanjay Ragabeer took 2-26.

Queenstown Secondary then folded for 67 as Ushardeva Balgobin had superb time with the ball, bagging 5-10.

Koseem Amos took 2-12 to complement the bowling.

Meanwhile, in an East Bank Demerara fixture played at the Everest ground, Soesdyke Secondary squeezed past Houston by one wicket in a tense match. Batting first, Houston Secondary got to 102-6 in 14.3 overs with Jeremiah Scott top-scoring with 41.

Bowling for Soesdyke, John Blair had 2-17.

Soesdyke then held their nerves towards the end of the chase to finish on 106-9 in 14.3 overs as Ithmar Barker made 21. Ram Mangar took 3-12, Damion Inniss 2-20 and Jeremiah Scott claimed 2-27 bowling for a spirited, but in the end dejected Houston team.

The NSSCL continues tomorrow with three matches scheduled for GCC, DCC and GNIC. South Ruimveldt take on Lodge High School at GCC, Ascension play Carmel High at DCC while School of the Nation battle Richard Ishmael at GNIC ground.

Guyana sweep IGG athletics with 373 points

By Tamica Garnett WITH Kenisha Phillips and Compton Caesar taking the sprint double, and Joanna Archer ruling in the middle distance,were just some of the outstanding performances that Guyana put together to take a huge win over Suriname in the athletics competition of the Inter Guiana “Goodwill” Games, which almost came a premature end last evening after an embarrassing spate of blackouts at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora.

With all the events completed,Guyana ended with 373 points, while Suriname only managed to put together 253 points, leaving Guyana to end as the undisputable winners of the competition; defending their title and continuing their dominance of the event.

But it was no wonder that Guyana emerged the winner, since the Guyanese athletes rarely gave any leeway to their Dutch counterparts, dominating event after event in the two-day competition which began yesterday.

Phillips, Caesar and Archer, all in their inaugural appearance at the games, copped two gold medals apiece in the individual event and also went on to assist in the relay wins.

Phillips clocked 11.98 seconds to take her first medal in the 100m on day-one,then she returned yesterday to dominate the 200m. She did so in a time of 24.93 seconds.

Also on day-one she was part of the 4x100m relay team that clocked 49.63 seconds for the win. Ceasar took the 100m in 10.57 seconds, and the 200m in 21.70 seconds. Archer won the 800m in 2:23.74s, and the 1500m in 5:23.14s.

Some veterans to the competition, like Avon Samuels, were also determined not to finish this competition empty-handed. For her efforts she ruled the women’s 400m event with a time of 58.09 seconds.

Chantoba Bright,after a year of clearing just over 6m,dipped under the mark but still took the win in the girls’ long jump with a distance of 5.77m.

Other Guyanese medal winners included Tabitha Bowman in the girls’ 3000m (11:49.00s), Odwin Tudor who won the boys’ 1500m (4:11.92s) and 5000m (16:01.05s), Anfernee Headecker in the boys’ 800m (1:58.44s).

Suriname clobbers ...

From back page five fouls,and within a minute he added another to give Suriname a 2-1 lead.

As though the flood gates were opened,Stefano McDonald blasted to David’s left from the Penalty mark within seconds to give the Dutch a half time 3-1 lead and the writing was on the wall.

In the second period the Surinamese continued their dominance as they poured in goal after goal while the Guyanese muffed 3 opportunities from the Penalty mark as Coach Challus McKinnon wrung the many changes in an attempt to stop the rampaging young Dutchmen.

Nazario Doesburg’s four goals spearheaded the Dutch onslaught in the final half while there was one a piece for Elyah Pengel, Alphonso Gelton, Denilson Joekoe and Gillaume Strooker.

The trio who failed to convert Guyana’s penalties in the second-half were:Jeremy Garrett, O’Dell Gulliver and Collyer Daniels.

Coach McKinnon, while stating that he was disappointed with the result added that he was pleased with how the team played up to a point and is expecting the team to improve in the other two games today and possibly score a win.

The two sides meet again this morning at CASH, beginning at 09:00hrs and then at 13:00hrs in the afternoon.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

GTT to the rescue!

THE Guyana Telephone Telegraph company (GTT) on Friday pledged to continue its support of hockey this year by recommitting an age-old deal for the annual National Indoor Championships.

The most prestigious local indoor hockey Championship dates back to 2000 with the competition being held every year except for 2002, when there was a seasonal disruption and 2011 when the facility was being renovated.

During a brief ceremony at its Hadfield Street canteen, GTT handed over an undisclosed sponsorship value to the event with Public Relations Officer (PRO) Allison Parker expressing the company’s commitment to sport.

Meanwhile, Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) president Philip Fernandes gave an overview of the 2016 edition.

“The Championships once again will be held at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue from October 31 to November 5 when the national champions in all senior divisions - men

Company sponsors National indoor hockey League

President of the Guyana Hockey Board Philip Fernandes collects the sponsorship cheque from GTT Public Relations Officer Allison Parker.

1st division, women’s and men’s 2nd division - will be crowned.”

The PEPSI Hikers were the men’s 1st Division champions back in the inaugural tournament and enter this year’s edition as two-time defending champions. They boast the best winning records in regional competition

and will once again be led by stalwarts Devin Munroe and Captain Robert France.

However, their toughest competition is likely to come from the record championship holders,Bounty GCC, with seven trophies to their name, and three-time winners Old Fort.

GCC’s dynamic duo of Kevin Spencer and Orland Semple help to make their club a threat in this competition while the outstanding Aderemi Simon and skilful Jason De Santos keep Old Fort in the running.

The first-ever GTT ladies champions, the now defunct Western Dragons of Uitvlugt,

live on in their lone remaining representative, Ulrica Sutherland, who represents Pizza Hut GCC and their record ten championship victories over the years.

The Pizza Hut ladies enter as strong favourites this year,boasting an unprecedented seven-year winning streak. Prolific

Fired-up Stokes puts England in command (REUTERS)-An inspired Ben Stokes revived England with ball and bat on the third day against Bangladesh on Saturday to put the visitors firmly in control of the opening test in Chittagong.

Stokes produced a brilliant effort to complete figures of 4-26 on a pitch largely unresponsive to pace bowling, triggering a batting collapse as Bangladesh were dismissed for 248 to give England a

BEN STOKES

first-innings lead of 45. `Stokes then walked in to bat with England tottering on 46 for four in the second innings and propped up his team with a fighting 85.

At stumps, England had reached 228 for eight for an overall lead of 273. Chris Woakes (11) and Stuart Broad were unbeaten at the crease.

Scoring runs was becoming increasingly difficult on the spinning track at

the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and England suffered early losses in their second innings.

The touring side were in dire straits at 62 for five but Stokes added 127 for the sixth wicket with Jonny Bairstow (47), hitting six fours and three sixes before he fell lbw to Shakib Al Hasan.

Left-arm spinner Shakib (5-79) picked up his 15th five-wicket haul in tests, making amends for playing a rash shot to get out in the morning.

Shakib (31) also claimed the wickets of Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.

E a r l i e r, t h e h o s t s looked as if they would get their noses in front when they resumed on 221 for five but England needed just over an hour to bundle them out.

Shakib danced out to Moeen’s off-spin on the second delivery of the day but was nowhere near the ball and was stumped by yards.

Stokes swung the ball, adding the wickets of debutant Sabbir Rahman,

Mehedi and Kamrul Islam to his tally.

Moeen finished with

3-75 as Bangladesh lost their last six wickets for 27 runs

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings 293 (M. Ali 68, J. Bairstow 52; M. Hasan 6-80) Bangladesh 1st innings (Overnight: 221-5) T. Iqbal c Bairstow b Batty 78 I. Kayes b Ali 21 M. Haque c Stokes b Ali 0 Mahmudullah c Root b Rashid 38 M. Rahim c Bairstow b Stokes 48 S. Al Hasan st Bairstow b Ali 31 Sh. Islam c Broad b Rashid 2 Sa. Rahman c Cook b Stokes 19 M. Hasan lbw b Stokes 1 T. Islam not out 3 K. Rabbi b Stokes 0 Extras (b-2 lb-4 w-1) 7 Total (all out, 86 overs) 248 Fall of wickets: 1-29 I. Kayes,2-29 M. Haque,3-119 Mahmudullah,4-163 T. Iqbal,5-221 M. Rahim,6-221 S. Al Hasan,7-238 Sh. Islam,8-239 M. Hasan,9-248 Sa. Rahman,10-248 K. Rabbi Bowling:S. Broad 8 - 2 - 12 – 0,G. Batty 17 - 1 - 51 – 1, C. Woakes 7 - 2 - 15 - 0(w-1),A. Rashid 16 - 1 - 58 – 2, M. Ali 22 - 4 - 75 – 3, B. Stokes 14 - 5 - 26 – 4, J. Root 2 - 0 - 5 – 0.

ENGLAND 2nd innings A. Cook c Mahmudullah b M. Hasan 12 B. Duckett c M. Haque b Al Hasan 15 J. Root lbw b Al Hasan 1 G. Ballance c Kayes b T. Islam 9 M. Ali c Rahim b Al Hasan 14 B. Stokes lbw b Al Hasan 85 J. Bairstow b Rabbi 47 C. Woakes not out 11 A. Rashid lbw b Al Hasan 9 S. Broad not out 10 Extras (b-2 lb-8 pen-5) 15 Total (for 8 wickets, 76 overs) 228 Fall of wickets: 1-26 A. Cook,2-27 J. Root,3-28 B. Duckett,4-46 G. Ballance,5-62 M. Ali,6-189 J. Bairstow,7-197 B. Stokes,8-213 A. Rashid To bat: G. Batty Bowling: M. Hasan 18 - 1 - 54 – 1, S. Al Hasan 31 - 7 - 79 – 5, T. Islam 15 - 2 - 40 – 1, K. Rabbi 8 - 0 - 24 – 1, Mahmudullah 1 - 0 - 6 – 0, Sh. Islam 3 - 0 - 10 – 0.

strikers Sonia Jardine and Kerensa Fernandes are likely to energise the crowd and strike fear in the minds of opponents with their usual goal-scoring prowess.

The Hikers ladies will be led by recent Lucozade MVP, Marisha Fernandes, with fellow national Maria Munroe and the exciting young talent of Nicole Eastman in support.

The Old Fort Shooting Stars have been improving with each outing and have grown into genuine contenders for the tournament mostly through the pace and skill of Minsodia Culpepper and athleticism of goalkeeper Sarafina Phillips.

The Spartans are a young side eager to improve on their recent outings and feature the new emerging talent of strikers Sarah Klautky and Abosaide Cadogan.

Matches begin on Monday, October 31 at 17:00hrs and competition runs until the evening of Saturday, November 5.

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Aintree 08:40 hrs No Comment 09:10 hrs Kerrow 09:45 hrs Forgotten Gold 10:15 hrs Born Survivor 10:50 hrs God’s Own 11:25 hrs Beggars Cross 12:00 hrs Ilovemints WINCANTON 08:50 hrs Linguine 09:25 hrs On Demand 09:55 hrs Boa Island 10:30 hrs I’m In Charge 11:05 hrs Bagad Bihoue 11:40 hrs Courtlands Prince IRISH RACING TIPS Leopardstown 08:30 hrs Key To My Heart 09:00 hrs Clongowes 09:35 hrs Zawraq 10:05 hrs Making Light 10:40 hrs Perfect Storm 11:15 hrs The Moore Factor 11:50 hrs Pivot Bridge 12:20 hrs Crocodile Shoes SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Scottsville 08:15 hrs Courageous King 08:50 hrs Dance City Queen 09:25 hrs Roy’s Marciano 10:05 hrs Piano Man 10:40 hrs A Womens Way 11:15 hrs Semonkong

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Digicel partners Evolution Cycle Club for 5th Cancer Awareness race C A N C E R Aw a r e n e s s Month has again benefitted from a major boost with mobile service provider Digicel partnering Evolution Cycle Club for the 5th Edition of their Cancer Awareness race, set for October 30.

Featuring seven categories of racers including juniors, seniors, novices, Mountain bikers, ladies and Veterans over-45 and under-45, the event will see the top wheelsmen in action.

According to Marketing Manager,Jacqueline James,the company has moved from making the event limited only to breast cancer awareness to include awareness of all types of cancer, adding that they are dedicating this ride to one specific employee.

“One such person is our very own, to which I want to dedicate the entire activity which is the Digicel cancer awareness cycle race;and this is to Sharon Khan. She has been an inspiration to all of us here at Digicel and this is one way of us(rewarding) her for her dedication and passion.”

“Digicel will match the total figure that we get at the

… to match registration money

From L-R Digicel communications officer Louanna Abrams, defending champion Raynauth Jeffrey, Digicel marketing manager Jacquiline James and Evolution Cycle Club’s secretary and president Andrew Arjoon and Keith Fernandes,respectively (Stephan Sookram Photo) end of the day once persons register and this money will be donated to the Guyana Cancer society on behalf of all the cyclists and the staff of Digicel,” she added.

The first race of the day at 8:00am will see the ladies, novices and mountain bikers in a four lap affair around the National Park, commencing from Irving Street, proceeding to JB Singh Highway then to Carifesta Ave, Camp streets, Thomaslands and back to the start/finish line.

The main event will see the seniors; juniors and veterans (both over-45 and under-45) take the stage. The seniors and juniors will have 30 laps to duke it out while the veterans will have to round the national park 18 times.

“We expect anywhere in excess of 70 cyclists because it is a race that people look forward too, ” President of Evolution Cycle Club,Keith Fernandes,said while encouraging fair competition among

the riders.

Last year ’s champion,Raynauth Jeffrey,will have his hands full but is confident of a repeat, saying, “I’m ready for a next victory.”

The winner of the feature event will cart of $250,000 dollars while second place will take home $200,000, third place $150,000, fourth place $80,000 and fifth place $20,000. (Stephan Sookram)

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to release autobiography ‘Pryceless Journey’ TWO-time Olympic gold medallist, Ambassador Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, is to publish her tell-all autobiography this year, detailing her many struggles and obstacles along her path to becoming an Olympic champion.

Titled, ‘Pryceless Journey’, the soul-searching testimony reveals very personal and sensitive information, involving feelings of emotional upheaval, as well as success tips in overcoming personal challenges.

Teaming up with veteran journalist, Ian Boyne, host of Television Jamaica’s long-standing personality programme – Profile – Fraser-Pryce says ‘Pryceless Journey’ will demonstrate the power of positive thinking, diligent application and resilience.

“I am normally a shy and very private person, so some things told in this book will be revealed for the first time, even to some of my closest friends.” she hinted.

“But I thought it was important to show people that anyone can achieve his or her dreams, no matter the limitations people place on you, or the doubts they voice about you. I want people to read this book and be inspired by my personal determination that led to my Olympic success and realise you can accomplish your goals, no matter where you are from.”

Fraser-Pryce also revealed that testimony to her Christian faith was also a major motivation for the book.

“I want people to know how much

my relationship with Christ has influenced my life and achievements. I want to bear witness.” she said.

In ‘Pryceless Journey’, she also speaks openly and fully for the very first time about her relationship with her husband, Jason, whom she credits for a

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce lot of her success on and off the track.

The book also sheds light on the Olympic champion’s injury-plagued year leading up to her experience at the Rio 2016 Olympics and how she dealt with the disappointment of failing to achieve her goal of becoming the first person to win three successive 100m Olympic gold medals.

It also details what happened that

night after the race and what she said to her fellow Jamaican competitors, including her teammate Elaine Thompson, prior to the crucial and defining race.

“Working with Shelly-Ann on this project has been one of the highlights of my career,” said Ian Boyne, who conducted interviews with Fraser-Pryce over a nearly one-year period.

“Shelly-Ann is a truly remarkable athlete and human being. She is the complete package.”

Boyne says he left each interview session with her feeling “energised, exhilarated and inspired”. He says his introductory chapter titled ‘An Appreciation’ gives a behind-the-scenes peek of those interview sessions and “my personal assessment of this great champion”.

‘Pryceless Journey’ will be released locally by Pelican Publishers with international release to be negotiated and finalised.

“We don’t document enough on the personal experiences of outstanding Jamaicans, and this book will address that deficit. In Shelly-Ann’s case, her journey prior to Olympic history in 2008, right through to now,” Boyne said.

The Government of Jamaica has announced its intention to erect a statue in Shelly-Ann’s honour in time for the 55th Independence Celebrations next year.

Later this month, she will also be the recipient of the award of the Honorary Doctorate from the University of The West Indies. (Sportsmax.com)

Suriname seal female volleyball title with 3-0 win over Guyana SURINAME’s female volleyball team virtually sealed their claim to the volleyball title when they disposed of Guyana in three straight sets yesterday at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The win yesterday followed on the heels of the Dutch team’s 3-0 win in their opening encounter against the hosts (Guyana) on Friday.Suriname now lead 2-0 with one game to go.

After winning the first best-of- three game on Friday, the Surinamese lasses returned yesterday and won by a similar margin, but not before having to stave off a strong challenge from the Guyanese players, who, although outmatched in terms of height and experience as a unit, put up a fight and restored some amount of pride, much to the delight of the few supporters who were on hand urging them on.

In the end, the Surinamese won in three straight sets 25-5, 25-21, 25-8. This margin of victory follows on the heels of the Dutch side’s 3-0 win over the Guyanese on Friday, when the visitors won 25-12, 25-12, 25-13.

Yesterday’s match saw the locals making improvements on their set plays and defence (blocking),but the height advantage they (Suriname) enjoyed was the determining factor in the final result.

Apart from that, it appeared as though the local girls were not gelling and in addition there were some technical mistakes on their part which caused them to lose at least three points during the second set which they were poised to win when the score was 18-15 in Suriname’s favour.

The final match today will be of academic interest only since Suriname hold an unassailable lead in the 3-match series.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s male team was poised to seal victory in the men’s category last evening at the same venue where they were slated to play their second match of the best of three series.

Having won the first match on Friday by a 3-0 margin (25-14, 25-17, 25-10),the locals would have been looking to close off the visitors in the best of three series last evening.

Since the introduction of volleyball in the Games, Guyana has never lost against their Dutch counterparts and was a very confident bunch going into last evening’s second match.

Final matches in the male and female categories will both conclude today at the same venue with Guyana’sfemales opposing their Dutch counterparts from 13:00hrs and the males playing from 15:00hrs.

Final submissions in Russell hearing due next month AFTER five sittings spanning almost a month, presentation of evidence was completed Friday at the hearing convened by the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel into the allegation that West Indies cricketer Andre Russell violated a whereabouts clause.

It is expected that proceedings will be completed on Thursday, November 17, the day on which final submissions are to be heard from each legal team.

The stenographer is expected to submit the transcript of the evidence provided throughout the hearing to both sides on or by Monday, October 24.

The parties have also agreed that each side’s written submissions are to be filed by 4:00 pm on Monday, November 7…

While explaining the challenges of updating his whereabouts, Russell appeared to make an impassioned plea for understanding. He explained that he normally gets help to submit his whereabouts and was not educated at any point on how to do it.

He continued that, as a professional cricketer who adheres to JADCO’s system, it was never his intention to “abandon” the process of filing whereabouts.

Russell also indicated that he felt that being a part of the international testing pool would negate any instance of him missing JADCO-organised tests.

29

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

CMRC Super Stock championship 2016 …

GBA steps One title, three Vieiras up activity

By Stephan Sookram

THE ongoing ‘love affair’in the 2016 Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing (CMRC) Super-Stock Championship will come to an end in Guyana in just over three weeks.

The affair for the title will see current holder and defending champion Elliot Vieira, his cousin and current point leader Matthew and another cousin,Stephen,and it could could have bitter repercussions come November 13 as only one can emerge champion.

And while they are relatives off the track,when they are aboard their respective motor-cycles on race day, it’s an ‘every man for himself’ race with no holds barred.

Current leader Matthew is in the pole position to win the title,having a total of 166 points from three legs, (30 points from Jamaica, 75 from Trinidad and 61 from Barbados).

According to the Caribbean Motor Racing Association (CMRA), the body that manages the CMRC, in the event that there are 4 rounds to the championships in one

calendar year, riders will score points from their best 9 finishes. Each round consists of three races.

Points are awarded using the Formula 1 scoring

cally secure his maiden title.

However, should he finish behind Stephen in all three races, he would fall seven points short of the title. Stephen has 122 points from two

Matthew finishing outside the scoring region and Stephen finishing third or lower on all three occasions.

With a total of 93 points, the addition of three wins,

Just like in the super-stock Championship, Matthew Vieira leads Stephen Vieira in the second race of the CMRC round-two at the Wallerfield in Trinidad earlier this year. (Gerrard Wilson photo) system (25 points for 1st, 18 for 2nd, 15 for 3rd, 12 for 4th, 10 for 5th, 8 for 6th, 6 for 7th, 4 for 8th, 2 for 9th and 1 for 10th) and Matthew has the possibility of increasing his points following a torrid Jamaica leg in which he only scored 30 points (12, 18 and 0).

With a total of 75 points on offer, in the best case scenario, Matthew could move his points to 211 if he wins all three races and will automati-

legs (68 in Jamaica and 54 in Trinidad) and will increase his points once he finishes in the top 10 at South Dakota.

At most, all Matthew needs to do is to finish first in one race and higher than third in the other two to carry home the title.

For the defending champion Elliot, things are much more complicated.

His retaining the title is dependent firstly on him winning all three races with

(75) points would push Elliot up to 168 and three third place finishes will only add 45 to Stephen’s 122, taking him to 176, a point behind the defending champion.

All in all,when the dust settles one of the Vieiras will be crowned champion.

As to which one it will be, fans will need to turn out to the South Dakota Racing Circuit on November 13 for the Final round of the 2016 Seaboard Marine CMRC.

Jeffrey Webb accomplice pleads guilty A Florida businessman pleaded guilty in New York to conspiracy charges Thursday in a scheme to pay bribes to high-ranking soccer officials in exchange for media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments and matches.

Aaron Davidson, 45, entered the plea in Brooklyn federal court. Sentencing before U.S. District Judge Pamela K. Chen was set for April 24, when Davidson could face decades in prison. As part of his plea, he agreed to forfeit more than a half-million dollars.

Davidson was arrested last year in the FIFA probe after prosecutors said soccer officials accepted $150 million in bribes over a 24year period in exchange for rigging bids for lucrative

marketing rights.

Davidson ran a Miami-based marketing firm.

Former FIFA Vice-president and CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb He was arrested along with more than a dozen other people in a case prosecuted

in the United States on the grounds that illegal payments used U.S. banks and those involved conducted meetings in the United States.

Prosecutors said Davidson negotiated and agreed to make bribe payments totaling more than US$14 million, executing multiple criminal schemes, including the agreement to pay bribes to Jeffrey Webb, former FIFA Vice-President and CONCACAF President.

The government said the bribes were paid to secure lucrative media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments and matches for his company, Traffic USA, and its business partners.

Prosecutors said those sports events included FIFA

World Cup qualifiers, the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League, among others.

The government said its investigation continues.

“I knew that Mr. Webb was using his position of authority and trust to enrich himself personally, and I understood that he was doing so without the knowledge of the organisations he represented or was affiliated with,” said Davidson.

Davidson also said he helped pay a US$10-million bribe to Webb so a company his organisation had an interest in could get rights to the Copa America Centenario.

Webb was arrested in May of 2015 and pleaded guilty in November of the same year.(Sportsmax. com)

-referees for One Star exam in Barbados

WHILE most sporting associations will be slowing down their activities at the end of the year, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) would be stepping up their’s.

The GBA will be hosting the Terrence Alli National Open tournament this weekend at the National Gymnasium.

The three-day event would be followed by encampment of approximately 16 boxers . In November a team of six boxers, two coaches and three referee/judges will travel to Suriname for an international competition there.

Early in December the association is scheduled to send 13 boxers, three coaches and five referee/judges to the Caribbean Development tournament in Barbados. All five referees will sit a One Star exam while in Barbados.

“It will be a bit hectic over the N a t i o n a l h e a v y w e i g h t next two months champion Jason ‘AK 47’ for some of our Barker boxers and officials as there is heightened activity,” GBA president Steve Ninvalle stated. “They are all important in the development of boxers and officials but most critical for me is the certification of the referees. It is my personal hope that all five can return home as certified One Star.”

The referee/judges will officiate at the Caribbean Development tournament. GBA Technical Director Terrence Poole has been charged with leading a team to select the six boxers for the competition in Suriname.

The GBA recently accepted an invitation to participate in the November 26 competition and president of the Suriname Boxing Association,Remie Burke,is due in Guyana next week for final discussion.

Meanwhile, the Republican Gym is expected to spring a surprise on current National Champion Gym the Guyana Defence Force.

The Republican will be led by reigning national heavyweight champion Jason `AK 47’ Barker who recently returned with a gold medal from a Tri-Nation tournament in Barbados.

The three-day Terrence Alli National Open tournament will commence on Friday at the National Gymnasium and conclude on Sunday. The GBA has scheduled a fund raising take-away lunch for the last day of the competition.

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat. U-17 League

Grove thump Diamond; Soesdyke edge Agricola in 7-goal thriller WHEN competition in the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Intra Association Under-17 League continued yesterday at the Grove Playfield, Grove Hi Tech thumped Diamond United 5-0,while Soesdyke Falcons edged Agricola Red Triangle 4-3 in an exciting battle.

Diamond was no match for the home team who were

minute after also setting up the opening goal that was scored by Jammassi Benjamin from a Padmore corner.

While only fielding 8-players, Diamond United still provided some stiff opposition for Grove who got their fourth and fifth goals from Jacob Garnet (49th) and Syshem Chisholm in the 50th minute.

The opening match of

the Khan clan that prevailed over their counterparts from Agricola who had taken the lead in the 7th minute.

Isaiah Moore had sent Agricola on their way but that lead was soon nullified when Captain Tyrone Khan scored from a corner kick,with Agricola’s goalkeeper Anthony Ifill misjudging the take and stepping over the goal line with the Soeasdyke Falcons goal scorers from right: Raymond Khan, Tyrone Khan, Tyrell Khan and Shawn Samnauth

Grove Hi Tech score their first goal against Diamond, thanks to Jammassi Benjamin. led to victory by their Captain, National Under-17 defender Kevin Padmore,who scored in the 4th and 42nd

the double-header provided end-to-end action from start-to-finish and it was the lads from Soesdyke, led by

ball tightly in his grasp.

Khan’s brother Tyrell sent his side into the lead with a beautifully taken

free-kick that curled into the far corner from a sideon angle on the right side of goal in the 28th minute.

It was a lead that the Soesdyke team defended up until the 67th minute when Agricola drew level on account of a Yupas Murray goal.

Agricola once again took the lead two minutes later when David Correia tucked his shot into the back of the nets as custodian Deyonta Grant-Stuart paid for his lack of judgment. As the minutes

COURTS/Petra/ Pee-Wee football round 3

Big wins for St Angela’s, St Pius ROUND three of the COURTS/Petra/ Pee-Wee football tournament yielded big results for St Angela’s and St Pius schools at Banks DIH Thirst Park,yesterday.

In the first game, St Angela’s easily got past Tucville 6-0 who failed to produce even a consolation goal.

Omarie Nelson was on target for St Angela’s in the 2nd and th minutes 27 while Seon Cato’s brace (8th and 26th)along with Dexter Farrell (13th) and Antonio McArthur (29th) ,all scored for the winners.The game between Success elementary and School of the Nations ended goalless.

Game three which was between Comenius Primary and F.E. Pollard saw one goal being scored by the latter through Bryan Wharton in the 11th minute while the South Ruimveldt vs St Stephen’s game finished 2-1 Antonio Lietch (11th) and Saleem Rameshwar (12th) scored back-to-back strikes for the South side while Omali Xavier’s 7th minute goal was all that St. Stephens could manage.

St Pius dominated Maes 5-0 in game five with a brace each from Kaden Wellington (9th and 13th) and Dwayne Baptiste (15th and 22nd )along with Deshale Humphrey’s 5th minute strike while Winfer Gardens won via walkover from Smith Memorial.

Redeemer Primary and Rama Krishna played to a goal-less stalemate while Stella Maris could do very little to stop St Agnes who won 1-0, complements of Amos Bayley (6th) St Margaret’s had a hard-fought 2-0 win over J.E. Burnham with goals from Mickelle Andrews in the 7th and 27th min while Marian Academy drew with North Georgetown 1-1.

Marian Academy scored through Nicholas Verwey in the 1st minute with North Georgetown equalising through Shaquan

ticked away, it seemed as if the match was petering out to a draw but constant offensive work from Soesdyke brought them the equalizing and then the winning goal.

Raymond Khan,cousin of Tyrone and Tyrell,netted the third goal to even things up again in the 73rd minute before the winning goal was fired into the back of the net by Shannon Samnauth;a fierce right foot shot to the far post within the box in the 77th minute.

One match is slated

for today with Herstelling Raiders coming up against Kuru Kururu Warriors from 10:00hrs at the same venue.

On the East Coast of Demerara at the Golden Grove ground, Victoria Kings will play Bachelors Adventure from 13:00hrs while Buxton United will oppose BV Triumph United from 15:00hrs.

One match is also slated for the Den Amstel ground on the West Coast of Demerara with the home team down to play Eagles United from 12:00hrs.

Sunderland match unwanted 110-year milestone (REUTERS)-Sunderland became the first top-flight club in more than 100 years to fail to register a win in any of their first nine league games in two successive seasons when they suffered a 1-0 defeat by West Ham United yesterday.

Winston Reid’s goal deep into stoppage time was the latest blow for Davis Moyes’s side who have managed just two draws from their opening nine matches.

Bury, in 1906, were the last club to suffer two such dreadful starts to a top-flight season.

Sunderland can take heart in the fact that Bury escaped relegation, but so far there is precious little evidence to suggest they can pull off the sort of recovery they managed last season when Sam Allardyce was installed as manager in January.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday October 23, 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:

Part of the action in Yesterday’s third round of the Courts/Petra/ Pee-Wee football competition( Delano Williams Photo) Walters in the 15th.

Tyrese Hart (40th) inspired St Gabriel’s 1-0 win over St. Ambrose while West Ruimveldt had Kevin Mentis (18th) on target when they beat Enterprise 1-0

(1) 203 runs (2) 10 wickets

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many Pakistanis have now scored triple-centuries in Tests?

(2) How many Tests Pakistani Yasir Shah has taken to capture 100 wickets?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 23, 2016

Windies squander advantage after losing late wickets on Day 2 … pacer Shannon Gabriel takes career-best five for 96

ABU DHABI: West Indies lost two late wickets to hand the initiative to Pakistan on the second day of the second Test in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

West Indies had defied Pakistan’s bowlers well until the 44th over with the score 106 for 2, but they then lost Marlon Samuels (30) and Kraigg Brathwaite (21) in the space of three balls without adding any further runs.

Nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo and Jermaine Blackwood were yet to score as West Indies trail Pakistan’s first innings total of 452 by 346 runs with six wickets intact.

Darren Bravo, who made 87 and 116 in the first Test in Dubai, made an attractive 43 but his dismissal left Pakistan in a dominant position.

A late collapse hit the West Indies hard as Samuels edged fast bowler Rahat Ali to slip before Brathwaite was run out

by Misbah-ul-Haq’s throw after setting off for a quick single.

Bravo, who opened the innings after Brathwaite was off the field when Pakistan were batting and could not come in at the start, helped the tourists reach 27 without loss at the tea interval.

But in the third over after tea Rahat gave Pakistan the breakthrough when he trapped Leon Johnson leg-be-

from Pakistan players.

Misbah reviewed the decision and television replays resulted in Bravo being sent

Pacer Shannon Gabriel is thrilled to see a decision go in his favour on the second day in Abu Dhabi. fore for 12.

Bravo and Brathwaite took the score to 65 before drama unfolded involving English umpire Michael Gough as two of his decisions were overturned on referral.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah struck Bravo on his back pad as the left-hander tried to pull a short ball but Gough turned down a vociferous appeal

on his way trapped leg-before for 43.

The very next ball Shah trapped Samuels in front of his stumps and Gough raised his finger, only for a review to grant the batsman a reprieve as replays showed he had hit the ball.

Misbah falls short Earlier, Pakistan skipper Misbah missed out on his

11th Test century by just four runs, but Sarfraz Ahmed (56) and Mohammad Nawaz (25) added 70 for the seventh wicket to ensure Pakistan crossed the 450-mark.

Shannon Gabriel, who took a career best five for 96, had dismissed Misbah in the first session before bowling Ahmed soon after lunch.

He dismissed Zulfiqar Babar for nought to wrap up the innings.

“There is not much for the bowlers in the pitch so it’s great to get five wickets and I am very happy,” said Gabriel, following his first Test five-wicket haul.

Sohail Khan hit five boundaries before he became one of three victims for Jason Holder, who finished with 3-47.

Pakistan had resumed the day on 304-4 in the hope that Misbah and nightwatchman Shah would survive the second new ball which the West Indies took at the start of play.

Shah was fortunate to escape a leg-before review off Holder but Misbah was not so lucky as he was dismissed in the next over.

Misbah missed an inswinging delivery which hit him in front of the wicket, with umpire Gough raising his finger. The Pakistani skipper reluctantly reviewed the decision but without success.

Shah was the next to go as he pulled Holder straight to square-leg fielder Bishoo after scoring 23.

Ahmed paced his innings well, hitting six boundaries in his 59-ball knock, as Pakistan compiled an imposing first-innings score. Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test -- a day-night affair played with a pink ball -- by 56 runs.

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN 1st innings (overnight 304 for four) Sami Aslam b Bishoo 6 Azhar Ali b Gabriel 0 Asad Shafiq b Gabriel 68 Younis Khan c Chase b Brathwaite 127 Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Gabriel 96 Yasir Shah c Bishoo b Holder 23 Sarfraz Ahmed b Gabriel 56 Mohammad Nawaz b Holder 25 Sohail Khan c Johnson b Holder 26 Zulfiqar Babar c wkp Hope b Gabriel 0 Rahat Ali not out 0 Extras (b1, lb15, nb9) 25 TOTAL (all out, 119.1 overs) 452 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-42, 3-129, 4-304, 5-332, 6-342, 7-412, 8-430, 9-452, 10-452.

Bowling: Gabriel 23.1-1-96-5 (nb9), Cummins 20-1-65-0, Holder 22-847-3, Bishoo 26-0-112-1, Chase 19-1-80-0, Brathwaite 9-0-36-1.

WEST INDIES 1st innings L Johnson lbw b Rahat Ali 12 D Bravo lbw b Yasir Shah 43 K Brathwaite run out 21 M Samuels c Sami Aslam b Rahat Ali 30 D Bishoo not out 0 J Blackwood not out 0 TOTAL (4 wkts, 45 overs) 106 To bat: R Chase, +S Hope, *J Holder, M Cummins, S Gabriel.

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-65, 3-106, 4-106.

Bowling: Rahat Ali 12-6-31-2, Sohail Khan 9-3-16-0, Zulfiqar Babar 11-1-29-0, Asad Shafiq 1-0-2-0, Yasir Shah 12-5-28-1.

Umpires: M Gough, R Illingworth; TV – P Reiffel

Suriname females end series early -while shattered backboard postpones male game

By Daniel Haynes DESPITE their intensity and tenacity, the Guyana female basketball team lost their second game in the best-of-three series against Suriname as the Inter Guiana Games (IGG) continued yesterday. Guyana had a strong showing in the game, being able to trade blows but fatigue and foul trouble saw the home side losing in the final quarter of the game.

The first quarter saw Guyana starting the game with energy and jumping to a quick 7-6 lead behind Jada Mohan’s hot start. It was good ball movement and good shot selection which also contributed to the hot start. However,as the quarter went on Suriname weathered the storm and surged back to finish the quarter with a 4-point lead with the scores reading 11-15.

The second quarter saw

both teams struggling to score against the opposing team’s defense. It was a quarter filled with turnovers on both side.

For Guyana,Jada Mohan’s foul trouble kept her on the bench as she already had three fouls in the first half. It was Makeda Rogers and Kennesha Leacock who contributed to the offence

in this quarter. However,Guyana still trailed 19-24 at the half.

The second half saw Guyana resuming the fight to even up the series, but could not overcome the lead that Suriname kept building.

More foul trouble woes for Guyana saw them lose Demelza Nicholas who fouled out.

Two bright spots in the offence were Tandika Bouyea and Ruth Sanmoogan,who came off the bench to give a boost to the scoring,while the latter added a defensive presence. Leacock and Mohan continued their play but failed to convert on attempts and Suriname finished the game off.

Action from the female match-up (Daniel Haynes photos)

The shattered backboard For Guyana, Leacock finished with 13 points, with Mohan scoring 11 and Bouyea adding 6. On the Surinamese side, almost every player scored, with Joleen Nyman topscoring with 14 points.

In the male encounter, a much anticipated match-up was cut short before it could begin as Surinamese player Donyell Samson shattered the backboard in warm-up in a failed dunk attempt.

The decision was then made

between the two teams to play the match this morning at 10:00hrs. This means that Guyana will fight for game two and if they win would have to play a deciding third game ..

The cause of the shattered backboard is suspected to be the ring being too tight,causing the shattering of the glass. The change in schedule also means Table Tennis will be played at the Gymnasium at 10:00hrs.

Windies squander advantage; losing late wickets on Day 2

See story on page 31

Guyana sweep IGG athletics with 373 points See story on page 26

A jubilant Guyana IGG athletics team as they celebrate last night at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora

Suriname clobbers Guyana 11-1 at IGG FUTSAL

By Ras Wadada GUYANA’S U-19 FUTSAL team suffered a most humiliating defeat when the 2016 Inter Guiana Games (IGG) continued yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

The 11-1 thrashing by Suriname in the 5-a-side version of the ‘Beautiful Game’ proved that the Guyanese lacked the experience of playing on wood surface and in a much smaller area,even though they held their own in the opening minutes of the one-hour encounter during which time Goalkeeper Bobby David brilliantly and consistently denied the visitors more goals.

Guyana took the lead after 7 minutes of play thanks to Douquan Wilson, but it was the home side’s only moment of joy as Suriname quickly took charge after finding a way to beat David. Terence Aroeman equalised from the Penalty mark in the 17th minute after Guyana accumulated Part of the action in the Guyana /Suriname FUTSAL clash at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

See page 26

Guyana’s outstanding goalkeeper Bobby David and goal scorer Doquan Wilson.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2016