Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_01_03_2020

FRIDAY 3rd January, 2020

' No.105868

Tullow in third

oil strike

SEE STORY ON PAGE 03

Two boys and two girls were safely welcomed into the new year at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Wednesday morning.

The first baby to be delivered was a boy via C-Section. He was then followed by a girl, then another boy and girl respectively. All three were delivered by natural birth. Paying the mothers and their babies an early visit was Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

Bosai halts

The Right to Vote Independently

wash-plant operation ‌as EPA fines company, issues cease order for polluting Kara Kara creek 02 PAGE

---PWDs present recommendations to 03 GECOM for 2020 elections PAGE

New $85M bridge at Kumaka completed ‌two new Region One schools to be 12 commissioned on Monday PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

Bosai halts wash-plant operation ‌as EPA fines company, issues cease order for polluting Kara Kara creek -company seeking corrective solutions to problem

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE Bosai Mineral Group Guyana (BMGG) has temporarily halted its washplant operation, following a cease order by the Environmental Protect Agency (EPA), following a notification that bauxite sedimentation from the company's tailings pond is being discharged into the Kara Kara creek, causing discolouration and a high turbidity level. The company was fined $1,066,000 by the EPA, and will resume operation when the situation is corrected.

This was confirmed by EPA's Executive Director Dr. Vincent Adams. Adams related to this newspaper that the investigation has been completed and that is what effected the fine. While it is unfortunate that the creek has already been polluted, Adams said that the EPA is working now with Bosai on remedial action, to ensure it does not occur again. A team is expected to visit Linden on Friday (today), to have a firsthand look at the engineering designs for a new tailings pond, to be presented

by Bosai. He said EPA is not only interested in what is placed on paper but on how effective the designs will be, in the actual fields.

When this publication contacted Bosai's Senior Technical Service Coordinator, Wainewright Bethune, he explained that the company is in compliance with all environmental regulations and procedures, as stipulated by EPA and is hoping to resume operations within the next three weeks, since the general operation of the company is grossly affected by the situation, though none

of the other departments have stopped working.

Adams, however, said he cannot comment on a definitive timeline when it will be resolved, until the designs and demonstration of use, are put to EPA after the field visit. "Each activity will have a timeline attached to same to determine if it would work in the real," Adams related.

Bethune explained that since the company installed the dust collectors to significantly reduce air pollution, with little or no dust being emitted into the air, the dust is now being pumped into the tailings pond and far from the company's expectation, it is not settling as quickly as expected. When the bauxite is washed in the company's plant, it is transported into

expected to be.

Bosai, however, is seeking several engineering solutions to the issue, as Bethune

it will have a longer route to travel to the pond, so that there can be more settlement of the particles. Bosai is also

EPA Executive Director Dr. Vincent Adams

Bosai's Waignwright Bethune

company is only operating one kiln since the cease order and is relying on stock-pile in the plant itself, which he averaged; will only last two weeks the most.

While the EPA Linden branch has participated in the investigation, the municipality's environmental department at the Linden Mayor and Town Council was not aware of the problem. Environmental Officer, Miss Annetta Humphrey, related that the department is limited as a result of resources and is trying its best to keep from individuals to companies, compliant with environmental laws and regulations. In addition to Bosai's pollution, she related that the department would have received several complaints of

The Kara Kara Creek

the tailings pond, where it is expected to settle and only the clear water should be discharged into the creek and other water bodies. The finer particles pumped into the pond needed some residence time to settle, but apparently this was not as effective as

said multiple things must be done to get the situation under control. Bosai is currently doing a survey to determine whether the dike where the operation is done, should be elevated. It is also being considered whether the discharge should be rechanneled so that

looking at creating a network of dams or dikes, so that the flow of the settlement can be constricted. Bethune is hoping that this situation is remedied earliest since there is presently not enough wash ore to go to the kiln for further processing. The

persons and business owners polluting the creek, which is a main water source in the Kara Kara community.

Persons would dispose garbage, wash items such as fish and even their vehicles with mechanical problems in the creek. Humphrey said that the

Department is not omni-present and cannot monitor every situation but with what it has, does the best it could. For the cases they would have become cognisant of, they would have dealt with same and have even served notices, etc. to those found culpable.

Residents of Kara Kara have also expressed their disappointment in the way the creek has been subject to pollution in recent years.

"The creek is our life here, it breathes life into this community, all the way up to Speightland, it is used for transportation, domestic purposes, people fish here every day and people coming here and do all sorts of things," resident George Lorrimor said. Recently as well, the creek has been deemed one of Linden's tourism gems and has been utilised for water sporting activities by tourism based companies.

Vice Chairman of the Environmental Committee, Councillor Yanick Graham, said that while it is unfortunate that creek was polluted as a result of the discharge, he is happy that Bosai has been compliant with the EPA and is hoping that the situation is remedied earliest so that the water body will not be further polluted. He is also calling on all companies operating in the municipality to carefully inspect their operations to ensure they are not culpable in any way, in polluting the environment, especially those dealing with the discharge of waste material. Graham said that the committee, in collaboration with the Environmental Department, will be more proactive in monitoring companies and their operations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

Tullow in third oil strike

UK-BASED Tullow Oil has announced an oil discovery in the Kanuku Block offshore Guyana on Thursday at the Carapa-One Well, but the find is below the company’s pre-drill estimates.

The Carapa prospect was initially estimated as a 200-million-barrel cretaceous target but the well drilled encountered approximately four metres of “good quality oil”.

This is compared to Tullow’s finds in the Orinduik Block at the Jethro-One Well which encountered 55 metres and the Joe-One Well which encountered 14 metres of net oil pay in high-quality oil bearing sandstone reservoirs of lower tertiary age and upper tertiary age respectively.

It can also be compared to ExxonMobil’s discoveries in the Stabroek Block at locations such as the Tilapia-One Well which encountered 93 metres or Exxon’s encountered well reported , the Pacora-One Well which met 20 metres – both of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir.

On Thursday, Bloomberg

reported that Tullow’s shares fell as much as 20 per cent as the recent news adds to the doubt surrounding the company’s commercial viability of previous discoveries in Guyana which were found to contain heavy oil. “Expectations were high going into this,” said David Round, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets. “There will be a level of disappointment about the size.”

The company did not have a good 2019 as its stock

Tullow’s Chief Operating Officer, Mark MacFarlane (Tullow Oil photo)

declined 64 per cent and both its Chief Executive Officer and Exploration Chief stepped down. In a release, Tullow’s Chief Operating Officer, Mark MacFarlane, said that the result shines light on previous unknowns and will positively impact the company moving forward.

“The Carapa-One result is an important exploration outcome with positive implications for both the Kanuku and Orinduik blocks.

While net pay and reservoir

The location of the Carapa-One Well

The Right to Vote Independently ---PWDs present recommendations to GECOM for 2020 elections

By Lisa Hamilton TO make the March 2020 Elections more accessible to persons with disabilities (PWDs), the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPWDs) has recommended that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) utilise tactile templates.

Tactile templates are used in many countries in the world to allow blind or visually impaired persons to vote independently. They can be placed over the ballot paper and are made with round cut-out holes and lines which indicate the sequence of candidates.

On Thursday, GCOPWDs Programme Coordinator, Ganesh Singh, said that there must be an end to the possible strategy whereby political parties volunteer to transport PWDs to polling booths on elections day for a favorable vote in return. “As it is right now, blind persons are able to vote either of two ways: proxy or accompanied.

Neither method allows for independent voting. With this method, a blind person who chooses to would be able to vote independently,”

development at this location are below our pre-drill estimates, we are encouraged to find good quality oil which proves the extension of the prolific Cretaceous play into our acreage. We will now integrate the results of the three exploration wells drilled in these adjacent licences into our Guyana and Suriname geological and geophysical models before deciding the future work programme,” he said.

Preliminary results of

Singh said.

He stated that in 2015, tactile templates were printed and placed at polling stations but they were not used as they were produced very late and polling agents were not trained to utilize or assist with the process. Singh is positive that the Commission, which has thus far been receptive, can implement the same for 2020.

The means of voting was among a list of several other recommendations put forward to the Commission by the Council in December 2019. The recommendations also advocated for video instructions on the voting process to be made available at all polling stations to cater for those deaf or hearing impaired. This, the Council noted, should be complemented with a sign language interpreter or someone equipped to communicate using basic sign language to assist if further challenges arise.

“The Guyana Elections Commission should provide adequate training to all polling day staff and other GECOM officials to effectively interact and communicate with voters with disabilities. Persons with disabilities should be integrally

Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPWDs)

involved in this training process. GECOM should ensure that all public sensitization materials and productions are accessible to PWDs,” the document insisted.

It also emphasized that GECOM’s personnel should conduct sensitization sessions with the members of the various PWD organisations to educate them on the voting process. When it comes to physical accessibility, the Council has recommended that polling stations be at ground level and the building be equipped with either permanent or portable ramps. This is to ensure barrier-free access to persons using wheelchairs, persons with other forms of physical

disabilities and the elderly.

Singh understands that it would be financially taxing on GECOM at this time to install thousands of ramps at all polling stations so he has instead proposed, for the short term ,“curbside voting”.

The Council also suggested “curbside voting” could be facilitated in instances where the polling station is unavoidably inaccessible to someone with a physical disability. “This is where the scrutineers, the presiding officers and a few other persons – whoever is needed --- can bring the ballot box in a portable cubicle downstairs to the ground floor where a wheelchair user might be and they can vote there,” he said. In the future, the GCOPWDs wants to see these recommendations be placed in stone through the amendment of existing legislation or new legislations which guarantees an electoral process that is inclusive and accessible to all PWDs. Singh said that quite a number of PWDs exercise their right to vote and these measures would increase the ability of many more to do so.

drilling, wireline logging, pressure testing and sampling of reservoir fluid indicate the discovery of oil in Upper Cretaceous age sandstone reservoirs.

Meanwhile, rig site testing indicated that the oil is 27 degrees API with sulphur content of less than one per cent. Tullow will later present a detailed laboratory analysis of the oil quality.

Tullow stated that the Carapa oil discovery suggests the extension of the cretaceous oil play from the Stabroek licence southwards into the Kanuku licence.

The Valaris EXL II jack-up rig drilled the Carapa-One well to a total depth of 3,290 metres in 68 metres of water and the well will now be plugged and abandoned. In 2018, Tullow increased its equity share in the Kanuku licence from 30 per cent to 37.5 per cent through a farm-in deal with Repsol. Repsol is the operator of the Kanuku Block and also hold a 37.5 per cent stake while Total E&P Guyana B.V. holds the remaining 25 per cent.

Over 92,000 tonnes of sugar sold in 2019 -GuySuCo to move ahead with plans to expand this year

THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), despite recording a production shortfall in 2019, managed to sell some 92,246 tonnes of sugar on the local, regional and international markets.

The corporation said it encountered various challenges throughout the year but the three operational estates, which are the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates, were able to produce a total of 90,246 tonnes of sugar in 2019. According to GuySuCo, 46,651 tonnes were produced at Albion Estate, 23,325 tonnes at Blairmont Estate and 20,270 tonnes at the Uitvlugt Estate.

The production, however, represented an underachievement of 17,000 tonnes from the estimated second crop production objective. The second crop production was closed on December 21, 2019 but 1,981 hectares could not be harvested and will be carried over to the first crop of this year. The shortfall was as a result of in excess of 80,000 tonnes of cane from Albion, 60,000 tonnes of cane from Blairmont and 11,000 tonnes of cane from Uitvlugt, not

being harvested.

GuySuCo said the shortfall has been the consequence of major mechanical failures in the Albion and Uitvlugt factories and from the latter half of October 2019, increasing industrial unrest in which Blairmont was most affected.

Adverse weather from the last week of November also influenced the progress of harvesting.

“The sugar industry will continue to face challenges to achieving reliability in the factories if operation capital investments continue to be delayed. However, on a more positive note, the productivity of cane fields continued to improve as reflected by cane yields that exceeded the crop estimate on all estates,” said GuySuCo. Despite the foreseen adversities and the incurred challenges, GuySuCo still anticipates the expansion of its operations in the year 2020, with planned improvements in the fields and factories, as well as the commencement of preparatory works for the installation of a cogeneration plant at Albion Estate. This TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

Motorcyclist dies after crashing into signboard

– three others injured in another accident THREE days after arriving into the country to usher in the New Year with his family, Hemraj Bhojram, 24, lost his life after he crashed into a billboard around 22:00hrs on Wednesday.

Bhojram of Number 67 Village, East Berbice, Corentyne was riding a motorcycle bearing a trade plate, at a fast rate of speed on the Number 69 Village Public Road when he reportedly lost control while negotiating a turn and crashed into a wooden signboard on the northern side of the road.

He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to the police, the motorcycle was proceeding south along the eastern side of the road and while

the quality of the road, the housing and communities close to the road, the width and all of those things went into that,” Brutus said.

In a separate incident, at around 03:30hrs on New

Dead: Bhojram Hemraj

in the process of negotiating a left turn, the driver lost control and collided with a wooden and metal sign board located on the northern grass parapet.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, the young man’s sister, Trisha Toolsie, said her brother returned from Trinidad on December 30 to spend time with his

The wrecked car after the Crabwood Creek accident

family for the New Year.

Amid tears, she said her brother was a very kind and joyful person who loved and cared for his siblings and parents, and his death came as a shock to them. His mother was too emotional to speak with the media.

The motorcycle was only bought two weeks ago.

Bhojram was on his first ride with the motorcycle for the day when the incident occurred. Reports are the young man rode the motorcycle no more than four times since it was bought.

At the time of his demise, he was said to be returning home from a village away, having left home half hour prior. Meanwhile, Regional Commander, Calvin Brutus, is appealing to road users to use the road with care.

“Road users we need to pay attention to the rules of the road. There is an established speed limit in different zones and this was done based on analysis done by engineers who had the speed limits fixed to that rate because of the general circumstances surrounding

The motorcycle that Hemraj was riding

Year’s Day, a driver, who was speeding, slammed into a utility pole on the Crabwood Creek Public Road. The driver and the two occupants of the vehicle

Over 92,000 ... is anticipated to support the supply of power to the East Berbice region.

WHITE SUGAR In addition to the impending development, the corporation also recorded some successes in 2019, when together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they successfully paved the way for the protection of white sugar produced in CARICOM by securing the commitment of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) for the application of the Common External Tariff to all non-regional sugars.

The feasibility study for the Plantation White Sugar Project was completed and

Friday, January 03, 2020 –– 10:30

escaped without life-threatening injuries.

According to reports, Seeram Ramdatt, 22, the driver of the car, which bore registration PNN7976, was speeding along the roadway around 03:30hrs on Wednesday morning when the car flipped after crossing the Black Water Bridge.

It then slammed into a Guyana Power and Light pole some 200 feet away.

Ramdatt, who was driving the vehicle without the permission of the owner, fled the scene while the two other occupants of the car, Keron Phillips, 32, and Ramnand Kishwar, 45, all of whom are from Crabwood Creek, were picked-up in a semi-conscious condition and taken to the Skeldon Hospital.

Their conditions were listed as stable. The driver was arrested later in the day and subsequently admitted a patient at the said hospital. Police are investigating the incident.

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the project was found to be feasible. The corporation has commenced preparations to embark on this new venture in 2020. The addition of Plantation White Sugar and ‘A’ grade molasses for the production of genuine Demerara Rum to the Corporation’s line of value-added products will see an increase in revenues both regionally and internationally for the corporation and all of Guyana.

In November last year, it was reported that GuySuCo intends to construct a white sugar plant with the aim of producing some 55,000 tonnes of white sugar per annum. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Harold Davis, had said the plan for the project has been in existence since 2017 and it has been updated to reflect new circumstances.

According to the GuySuCo chief, the corporation envisages that by 2025 it would be producing some 160,000 tonnes of white sugar. He said there are positive signs and already their returns in the fields are above what has been anticipated, though he cautioned that efforts must be sustained to realise the goals set.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

The CCJ: A brief review of 2018-2019 Appeals from Guyana Guyana has accounted for 54% of the cases heard by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) during the period August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019.

THE CCJ, which is situated in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, has a Bench of seven judges presided over by CCJ President, the Honourable Justice Adrian Saunders.

The Court has an Original and an Appellate jurisdiction and is effectively, therefore, two courts in one.

In its Original Jurisdiction, it is an international court with exclusive jurisdiction to interpret and apply the rules set out in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) and to decide disputes arising under it.

In its Appellate Jurisdiction, the CCJ is the final court of appeal for criminal and civil matters for those countries in the Caribbean that alter their national Constitutions to enable the CCJ to perform that role. At present, four states access the Court in its Appellate Jurisdiction, these being Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Guyana.

However, by signing and ratifying the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice, Member States of the Community have demonstrated a commitment to making the CCJ their final court of appeal.

The 2018-2019 year saw a 15% increase, above the previous year, in the number of matters filed, with 2 (5%) cases filed from Dominica, 4 (11%) cases from Belize, 11 (30%) cases from Barbados and 20 (54%) cases from Guyana.

Applications for Special Leave represented a 92% increase over 2017-2018, while the number of Notices of Appeal fell by approximately 37%.

Some of the judgements issued by the CCJ in the 20182019 judicial year for Guyana ranged from appeals concerning three matters filed relating to a No Confidence Motion, the case concerning the constitutionality of the appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission and the challenge of the Cross-dressing law.

Among the appeals were the following: Political Activist Christopher Ram had brought an appeal to the CCJ against the Attorney General, the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon & Guyana Elections Commission; Bharrat Jagdeo (in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition) v The Attorney General, Dr Barton Scotland, Joseph Harmon & Guyana Elections Commission; Charrandas Persaud vs Compton Herbert Reid, Dr Barton Scotland, the Attorney General, Bharrat Jagdeo, Joseph Harmon & Guyana Elections Commission.

These appeals concerned three matters filed relating to a No Confidence Motion that was passed by a margin of 33-32 against the Government

of Guyana, in the National Assembly, on 21 December 2018.

The Motion was tabled under Article 106(6) of the Guyana Constitution.

In one matter, a private citizen challenged the success of the Motion, on the ground that the vote of Mr Persaud, the Government member of the Assembly who voted with the Opposition, was invalid because Mr Persaud’s dual citizenship disqualified him, according to Article 155 of the Constitution, from being elected to the National Assembly.

Also, the Attorney General contended that a majority of all elected members of the Assembly, for the purposes of Article 106(6), was half of the members plus one, which would require 34 votes.

In another matter, another private citizen sought declarations that the Motion was properly passed by the 33 votes and that national and regional elections were required no later than March 21, 2019.

The Chief Justice found that the vote of Charrandass Persaud, a Member of Parliament was not invalid.

However, the Court of Appeal, by a majority, reversed the ruling of the Chief Justice that 33 votes were sufficient to pass the Motion – and, instead, agreed with the argument of the Attorney General.

The CCJ consolidated the three appeals and rejected the submissions of the Attorney General Basil Williams, which contended that Article 106 did not apply to motions of no confidence and that only a government member could move a motion of confidence.

A majority of the CCJ agreed with the courts below that Mr Persaud’s vote could not be treated as invalid, as his election could only have been challenged by an election petition brought per the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act. Hon. Justice Winston Anderson, of the CCJ, was of the view that there were circumstances where the 28-day limitation imposed by that Act might be disregarded, though he conceded that such circumstances were not entirely clear and required further thought.

The CCJ also held that, in an odd-number Assembly, all that was required was to determine whether the Motion had garnered “a majority of all the elected members.” In this case, that was 33 votes.

Thus, the CCJ held that the motion was properly passed and that the provisions of Article 106(6) and (7) were accordingly triggered Following the delivery of the Court’s judgement in the Consolidated No Confidence Appeals, the CCJ received written submissions from the parties, on what consequential orders should be made.

In considering the appropriate order, the Court stated that while it was the function of the judiciary to interpret the Constitution, the provisions

of Article 106(6) and 106(7) of the Guyana Constitution required no gloss by the Court to render them intelligible and workable.

Thus, the Court held that the passage of the No Confidence Motion required the resignation of the Cabinet, including the President, but that the Government remains in office as a ‘caretaker’ government until the holding of fresh elections within three months,

This case concerned the constitutionality of the appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), who was appointed by the President of Guyana pursuant to the proviso of Article 161(2) of the Constitution. Article 161(2) required the Leader of the Opposition to submit a list of six nominees who were not unacceptable to President David Granger.

Before the President’s ap-

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

or such longer period as determined by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all elected members of the National Assembly.

Therefore, the Court found that a general election should have been held by March 21, 2019, but that the filing of the proceedings in January, effectively placed matters on pause, which was lifted when the Court rendered its decision on 18 June 2019.

The Court did not consider it right for the Court to specify a date on or by which elections must be held, as that responsibility was vested by the Constitution in the various constitutional actors, who were bound by the unambiguous provisions of the Constitution.

Another case highlighted was the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) executive secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha vs the Attorney General of Guyana and the Chairman of the Elections Commission.

pointment of Justice Patterson as the Chairman, the Leader of the Opposition had submitted three separate lists, each containing six nominees.

However, the President rejected the three lists and utilised the proviso.

In determining whether the correct process was followed, the Court considered the drafting history of Article 161(2) and found that, before the current version of Article 161(2), the President had the unilateral power to appoint the Chairman of the GECOM. This unilateral process was later replaced by an inclusive one which required the participation of the Leader of the Opposition.

The CCJ had noted that the Constitution was silent on the approach to be taken and so the Court decided that the most sensible approach to operationalising the Article was for the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo and the

President to communicate with each other in good faith on, and perhaps even meet to discuss, eligible candidates for the position of Chairman before a list is formally submitted.

The aim of such discussions should be to agree to the names of six persons who fit the stated eligibility requirements and who were not unacceptable to the President.

The Court was also of the view that the employment of the double negative ‘not unacceptable’, signalled that onus was placed on the President not to find a nominee unacceptable merely because the nominee was not a choice the President would have himself made. In those circumstances, the Court found that the process used to appoint the Chairman was flawed and did not comport with the constitutional requirements.

Following the delivery of the Court’s judgement on the constitutionality of the appointment of the Chairman of the GECOM, the Court received written submissions from the parties on what consequential orders should be made.

The Court found that due to the Chairman’s resignation since the delivery of the judgement, the need for consequential orders and directions in the case became largely unnecessary.

However, the Court emphasised that it was of the greatest public importance that the President and the Leader of the Opposition embark upon and conclude the process of appointing a new Chairman especially in light of the Court’s decision in the no confidence motion cases that the motion was validly passed, thereby triggering the need for fresh general elections.

The Court ultimately declared the appointment was void.

Another major case was the appellants Quincy Mc

Ewan, Seon Clarke, Joseph Fraser, Seyon Persaud vs The Attorney General of Guyana.

The appellants, who identified as transgender persons, were convicted and punished for crossdressing in public for an improper purpose, contrary to section 153(1)(xlvii) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act. The appellants subsequently brought a constitutional challenge to this law. Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal denied the challenge and rejected the argument that the section was too vague and uncertain to be enforceable.

The courts decided that it was the “improper purpose” that grounded the criminalisation of cross-dressing in public.

On appeal to the CCJ, the Court examined the historical context surrounding section 153, enacted in Guyana in 1893, as part of the vagrancy laws of the post-emancipation era. It was noted that many of those laws were struck down as being in violation of the rule of law. The Court considered the effect on Section 153 of the savings law clause, which protected existing laws from declarations of constitutionality.

In striking down the section, the Court noted that law and society were dynamic, not static. A Constitution must be read as a whole and Courts should be astute to avoid hindrances that would deter them from interpreting the Constitution in a manner faithful to its essence and its underlying spirit.

Section 153(1)(xlvii) could, therefore, not be saved if it ran afoul of the Constitution. The Court allowed the appeal, declaring that the impugned section violated the appellants’ right to equality, non-discrimination and freedom of expression and that section 153(1)(xlvii) was unconstitutionally vague and offended the rule of law.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 03, 2020

The APNU+AFC Campaign Launch TODAY, one of the leading contestants at the upcoming national and regional elections, the APNU+AFC Coalition, launches its campaign. In what promises to be a grand affair, the coalition of six parties would reintroduce itself to the electorate and, perhaps, lay before them the platform on which it intends to campaign. As we have editorialised before, these elections are expected to be the most important in the country’s post-colonial history. It comes on the heels of First Oil, a development that could transform Guyana into a First World country. It, therefore, matters who governs at this critical juncture.

The Coalition has been in office these past four and a half years—a testing period in our country’s independence journey. It took office after the now opposition PPP had held power for almost twenty-three uninterrupted years. As happens with governments which monopolise power for long periods, the regime developed a life of its own and came to believe that its hold on the government was divinely ordained. Consequently, it took the country to the edge of disaster.

The lines that separated government from the State and the State from the criminal underground were completely obliterated, or what Professor Clive Thomas dubbed “the crimilisation

of the State.” By the time the Coalition took office in May 2015, the very foundations of the State and society had been shaken to its core.

People had lost confidence in government as a custodian of the overarching values that bind the nation together.

The nation had lost its way as ethnic dominance and authoritarianism ruled supreme.

It took the unprecedented collective efforts of a diverse group of parties and leadership to sway a majority of the electorate to put a halt to the dysfunction.

The process began in 2011 with the formation of the A Partnership for National Unity which comprised the People’s National Congress (PNC), the National Front

Alliance (NFA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP), the Justice for All Party (JFAP) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). This formation quickly caught the imagination of enough voters and breathed new life into the alienated electorate. In the meantime, the newly formed Alliance for Change (AFC) had made its presence felt by making significant inroads into the traditional support base of the PPP. The convergence of these two developments led to the wresting of the parliamentary majority from the PPP in 2011, which in turn reduced the PPP to a minority government. Acting in unison, the AFC and APNU curtailed the PPP’s dominance that even-

tually caused fresh elections to be held earlier than expected. This time, the APNU and the AFC entered into a pre-election arrangement that saw them contesting the 2015 elections as a single entity called the Coalition. The Coalition won the election and the rest is history.

The same Coalition now returns to the electorate asking for a second term. Ultimately, it is the voters who will make the final decision.

But many observers have made the case for a second term. They have cited among other things the level of stability that has characterized the country’s political life.

Some have pointed to the respect for civil liberties and the reduction of official cor-

ruption. Still others have argued with much justification that President Granger has re-legitimized the presidency in the eyes of the wider electorate, So, as the supporters of the Coalition assemble at the Jubilee Park today, there would be much to celebrate. It is the signal that the race is well and truly on. The country would be listening keenly to the platform declarations even as some celebrate. Will the Coalition ultimately triumph? The chances seem very good, but they still have to make their case to those who are the final judges.

GGDMA’S power-drunk election strategy Dear Editor, IN his inaugural statement, newly-elected President of the Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Andron Alphonso, at the end of November, openly challenged miners to use their electoral clout to determine the result of the next election. “We are the swing vote,” he announced, claiming over 100,000 people are directly or indirectly involved with mining. He pledged to fight “tooth and nail’ to protect the future of the industry against policies that will be detrimental to, or result in the ‘desolation’ of the industry.

Drawing attention to being the youngest GGDMA President in many years, he committed to recruiting more youth into the ranks of the GGDMA, stating: “We need the next generation to step up and … have meaningful participation in the direction in which this Association is going. That is something that we’re definitely going to be working on, to bring that younger element into the Association.”

He maintained silence over the fact that the environmental ‘desolation’ generated by his industry puts him at odds with the majority of the

generation he hopes to recruit.

The inter-generational narrative focuses attention on the phenomenal cost of gold-mining to both the Guyanese population and the environment. According to ancient doctrines in many cultural traditions, natural resources, including rivers, fresh air, beaches, minerals and all manner of bio-diversity, known as ‘commons’, belong to all the population communally. Not only do they belong to everyone, but the term ‘everyone’ includes future generations.

The current generation are trustees for these natural assets to which future generations have the same ownership rights. The Constitution of Guyana recognises this principle as well as the links between inheritance and the environment: “The right of inheritance is guaranteed” (Art.20) and “The State shall protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures” (Art. 149 J (2) Over the past forty years, the current generation has transformed the perception of commons, i.e. publicly-shared inherited assets into commodities to be bought and sold for private gain. The terminology we normally employ to discuss

extractive assets e.g. ‘windfall profits’ deflects us away from the more accurate term of ‘depletion of assets’. This encourages us to see the wealth generated from the sale of oil, gas or gold, as pure profit.

We never count the losses. Nor do we ensure that the assets irrevocably lost are replaced by assets of equal value to the present and future generations.

In the Guyanese context, gold-mining has been, far and away, the largest contributor to squandering the shared inheritance that mineral wealth ought to represent. According to official sources, a total of 11.1million.ozs of gold have been extracted from Guyana in the 40-year period from 1980-2019.

Based on yearly average prices over this period, the total value of gold extracted was valued at US$7.4B, or G$1.5 trillion.

Confronted with resources of this magnitude, the only morally relevant question is: What tangible benefits does the current generation of Guyanese enjoy as a result of this enormous fire-sale of their assets.

Is there a well-funded insurance or pension scheme for miners? Is there a well-appointed housing scheme built by the industry comparable to extra-nuclear housing scheme

for sugar workers? Do children of gold-miners routinely receive bursaries to take them through college and university studies? To say nothing of what the industry has not given back to the larger society.

As for the future generation, their bequest from mining is more readily counted in terms of decimated forests and polluted rivers.

Were the cost of environmental restoration factored into the above statistics, the cost to the society would double. Would the GGDMA consider funding an institute to promote alternative technology to the use of mercury or to finance a restoration programme? The “toothand-nail” pledge would suggest not.

The President of the GGDMA’s reference to the ‘100,000 people associated with the industry’ also disguises accumulation of vast areas under mining licences by a mere handful of very large but misleadingly termed ‘medium-scale’ local miners who hold thousands of acres under mining licences, land lorded out to others.

The policies the GGDMA are committed to protecting are neither capitalist nor socialist economics, but more akin to looting. On the one hand, there is a constant clamour for subsidies and privileges

from the government to insulate this privileged group from the real costs of extraction, and on the other, they denounce reasonable regulation of the industry that protect the assets of those same citizens, all the while engaging in widespread tax avoidance.

The posture adopted by the GGDMA with respect to the upcoming elections, viewed through the lens of the biblical parable of the prodigal son, would have the son return home after squandering the assets bequeathed by his father, not to humbly beg forgiveness, but to bully the father into giving him the assets that belong to his brothers. Were the younger generation indeed ‘to step up’ and assert the “meaningful participation” that Mr. Alphonso is looking for, the upsurge of climate-concerned youth we have witnessed this year suggest the GGDMA might be in for a surprise.

Respectfully, Mike McCormack Policy Forum Guyana

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 03, 2020

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It is disconcerting when a presidential candidate feels the need to stress that he is his own man

Dear Editor,

Who is this bloke GHK Lall?

Why on the first day of the year he would be so harsh on Irfaan Ali? Poor Irfaan can’t catch a breath.

If it is not Prime News questioning his hard-earned qualifications, it is the magistrates having him lumbering up court steps to answer some 19 criminal charges. You would have thought that one cardiac stress test for the poor chap, up those stairs would have taken care of that. When will he see the proverbial silver lining?

The GHK Lall drama started like this, at least that is what I was told. Unexpectedly, in the middle of a busy Robb Street, GHK Lall announced his presence by making this lung bursting announcement, “Ali does not have what it takes.” Can GHK Lall be for real? Has he seen Irfaan recently? Mate, listen to me and listen to me carefully. Irfaan’s clothes is under

more pressure than GECOM. What more do you expect of the poor chap? And that was not all, this GHK Lall fella was clearly on a mission. Look at the site he chose to announce this abhorrent statement.

Not on the lawns of State House; not on Parade Ground or even at Freedom House. This guy chose to make the now infamous comments standing at the Stabroek “want a piece of that 75%” Newspaper letter box. Just permit me to shine some light on the meaning of this “want a piece of that 75%.” Anand, the Stabroek guy, was recently arm- in-arm with Glenn, where they were brainstorming nefarious means of making more millions. Glenn reassuringly looked at Anand and said, “We are in this together.” With that encouragement, Anand demanded a 25% increase in the price of his tabloid newspaper.

To hoodwink the masses, he claimed that he is now ef-

fectively a vagrant, after only receiving 35% of the total State ‘ads’ for 2019. Mind you, he received the highest percentage of State ‘ads’ for all printed media. But what astute and deceptive Anand is keeping more secretive than Donald Trump’s tax return, is how many millions Stabroek News earned from private ‘ads’ and the US100/year/person Online subscription. We all know that he must be making massive profits, but like Ali Baba and the 40 thieves, he wants more.

He wants a massive slice of the poor Public Servants 75%. Now you get it?

Back to the political punching bag and Canada excluded, Irfaan. Well, folks have been complaining that for over a year, Jagdeo hid Irfaan away like a secret boyfriend. Bharrat, with no regards for Irfaan’s feelings, flatly said that Irfaan is his puppet, and he can do with him whatever he wishes. Clearly, things can’t get more emas-

culating and dehumanising for Bharrat’s echokinesis and echolalic parrot. So the very people, clearly frustrated, are saying that Irfaan is more silent than a church mouse. Some are taking their complaining to biblical proportions, claiming that they can’t see the wind, but at least they can hear it. Neither is possible with Bharrat’s malleable puppet. Seriously speaking, for those complaining of wind and sound, I am not sure how they would deal with that wind if it is to come from Irfaan. Anyway, let’s be objective folks. What you are basing your complaint on is true for the corresponding period last year, but definitely not today. Let’s look at the hard facts. In January 2018, Irfaan was completely mute. He was saying absolutely nothing. He was just stood like a rabbit in the headlight. This was until the world-renowned speech therapist, Bharrat Jagdeo, intervened.

Now after a year of complete silence, Irfaan has made great

progress, where he can now say a complete sentence.“I am no Jagdeo’s puppet.”

It is very disconcerting when a Presidential candidate feels the need to stress that he is his own man; that he is not anyone’s puppet.

To me, that highlights an inherent weakness and personality flaw that cannot be remedied in two months. Why else would the majority of Guyana share that view? There must be a reason or multiple reasons.

Unfortunately, saying that he is not Jagdeo’s puppet will not take those legitimate concerns away. The removal of that stain requires more actions than words. That will never happen, since Jagdeo is not known to be the type to use vanishing cream.

Therefore, unfortunately, that defacing mark will forever be there.

Finally, I’ve done some research on Irfaan’s medical condition: Selective mutism.

The prognosis is apparently very good, once a multidisciplinary team approach is adapted. Clearly that is part of the management plan, since Jagdeo, in a recent interview, stated that he is aiming for Irfaan to master the two-sentence stage by March 3. When questioned what would those two sentences be, Jagdeo said, “Mr. Granger, President elect, congratulation on your resounding election win. I look forward to working with you as part of the opposition.”

That was the first truth Jagdeo said in 28yrs. Happy New Year to all the readers.

Limit the ethanol consumption. It is not going anywhere, you can’t finish it, but most importantly, you have to work tomorrow.

Regards, Dr. Mark Devonish

It would take more than four years to reverse two decades of decay and build trust and honesty Dear Editor, THE Guyana Times’ top story for Saturday, December 28, 2019, read, “Guyana’s Gov’t service most corrupt in Caribbean” – IDB. That article got me to thinking. So, you took over this car from someone. The previous

driver had it for 23 years. After four years in your care, an evaluation revealed that the car is the most corroded and dysfunctional in the neighbourhood.

Admittedly, you have to take responsibility for any deterioration that occurred while the car was in your care. But,

what does the evaluation say about the person (people) in whose care that car was for the 23 years prior to your assuming responsibility for it?

I read that back in 2012, “Guyana [was the] most corrupt country in the English-speaking Caribbean,” (KN, Dec 06,

2012). And in 2014 “Guyana [was] perceived as the most corrupt country in CARICOM,” (DW, December 3, 2014). Editor, it would take more than four years to reverse two decades of decay and build trust and honesty. **That’s not an excuse. That’s

reality. It also requires a collective effort from all and sundry: Politicians, priests, pastors, parliamentarians, people in the private and public sectors, to take responsibility for the role we play(ed) in fostering the menace, as well as to make a personal

commitment to help curb all forms and manifestations of corruption.

Regards, Remington Nelson

We need justice for Ryan Taylor Dear Editor, I RECENTLY lost my son, Ryan Taylor, a geologist who was employed by Troy Resources. He was working the night shift (6 am to 6pm) at Hicks Pitt in Region Seven on October 8, 2019, when the incident occurred. He was on duty.

I raised my son on my own from a tender age: Four months. Our life was no easy one, and this resulted in him leaving school at a young age to assist with the household. My son had worked at several companies before Troy Resources to ensure he was capable of taking care of his responsibilities. He leaves to mourn three young children (aged five, eight, and 12), his siblings, grandmother, myself and other family and friends. It breaks my heart to know that the children that he worked tirelessly under dangerous, strenuous, demeaning and deplorable conditions to care for to the best of his ability are now without the dad they have grown used to.

He had constantly complained

about the unacceptable and ridiculous conditions that they were forced to work under. These are the conditions that our locals are working under with some foreign companies, namely Troy Resources. It was said to me that my son was outspoken, and that at several meetings, he would lament on these conditions to those who were in charge, and nothing was ever done to remedy the conditions. He was the one that had to die, simply because he wanted to legally earn a dollar to take care of his family and loved ones. My son had been a law-abiding citizen all the days of his life, and I beg for an investigation into his death. I do think I deserve that much as a citizen of Guyana.

It was reported to me that on the morning of his death, he was removed from one site that he was working at and then taken to this new site (Hicks Pitt). While there with his supervisors awaiting further instructions, he mentioned to the supervisors that the wall that they were on felt as though it was shaking. And before he could have said

anything else, the wall collapsed, and he was covered. His brother, who was also employed with Troy Resources, was never asked to work an extra day before. However, at this time, he was asked to work an extra day. On this day, he was awaken to the news of his brother’s death. He was asked to bring his lifeless body out from the mine. When we looked at the videos and pictures, we have observed that the area my son was taken to work was poorly lit. Employees also said that there was only one step in the pit, and for the height of the wall, at least two steps should have been there.

This alone tells us that the company was negligent. This ordeal does not sit well with my family and I. When we enquired about an official report on the alleged accident, we were told that it is not ready. It has been two months since this incident occurred.

Again, my family and I wish for a thorough investigation to be carried out. We would greatly appreciate this.

I do believe we deserve this much as Guyanese citizens.

I have been lenient with Troy Resources. I have reached out to them on several occasions for answers into my son’s death, and also for them to discuss how they plan to assist us through compensation. And to this day, I have not been given a word as to when and what they plan to do.

They, Troy Resources, would have assisted with his burial. However, this death was sudden and unexpected.

None of us was prepared for this neither emotionally nor financially. I am now frustrated, as the bills and other expenses are overwhelming, and I am finding it extremely difficult to cope.

His children and I have lost a major support from our lives, and it seems as though we have been forgotten. I met with the CEO of the company, Ken Nelson, on November 8, 2019, and he has promised to intervene and come to a settlement, but to date, I have heard nothing from him. Whenever I call the company, I am being told by the Human Resources Manager that she cannot give any answers, since she has not received any word from Mr.

Nelson.

I am now a tired and frustrated citizen of Guyana. I feel as though I have been cheated of what I rightfully deserve. This ordeal is just way more than I have expected it to be.

I am kindly asking you to assist my family and I as we fight this battle for justice to be served for the late Ryan Arthur Taylor, only 33 years old when he died. A father that was vibrant and full of energy and potential, a law-abiding and role model citizen. A kind-hearted and willing son that stood out from many others.

We have grieved in silence for far too long, and the time has now come for us to speak up and be heard, for we are being taken advantage of. Please assist us as we plead for justice to be served.

Regards, June Ann Taylor Mother of the late Ryan Arthur Taylor

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 03, 2020

Ten-Pow has not resigned --- engaged in G77 and China Chairmanship Transition

THE Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations (UN) has debunked media claims that Guyana’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UN, Rudolph Michael TenPow, has resigned.

In November 2019, Guyana was elected to serve as the 2020 Chair for the Group of 77 (G77) and China, formed in 1964 to provide a forum for developing nations to promote their economic interests.

A release from the mission facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that TenPow is actively engaged in the preparations for the transition.

The false rumor surfaced around the period that questions

Guyana’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UN, Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow

were raised about Guyana’s abstinence from voting on the

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which is related to the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.

“Arrangements for the transition to the new Chair have been progressing smoothly both at the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations in New York, which is headed by Ambassador Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow, and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where a secretariat has been established to provide support and oversight for the chairmanship. Contrary to recent allegations in the local media, Ambassador Ten-Pow has not resigned his post as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and is fully engaged in

preparations for the transition,” the document said.

Guyana will succeed the State of Palestine as Chair of the Group on January 1, 2020 for a one-year term. It first served as Chair of the G77 and China in 1999.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the decision by the G77 and China to elect Guyana to serve as its chair in 2020 is a demonstration of strong support for and confidence in Guyana.

“It reflects our full engagement in the work of the United Nations and is testimony to the standing that Guyana currently enjoys among its peers in the organisation and in the broader international community,” the release indicated.

With 134 Member States, the Group of 77 and China is the largest coalition of developing countries in the international system.

It serves as a platform for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, as well as to promote South-South cooperation for development.

According to Guyana’s UN Permanent Mission, in 2020 the G-77 and China will represent the interests of its members in negotiations on a range of issues on the global development agenda, including climate change, financing for

development, and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The release stated: “The 2030 agenda includes the Sustainable Development Goals, with which our national development plan, the Green State Development Strategy, has been fully aligned. Guyana’s Chairmanship of the G-77 and China in 2020 will also coincide with observances to mark the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the convening of the Third South Summit in Kampala, Uganda, and the commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the Co-operative Republic.”

Teen remanded on wounding charge

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Thursday, January 2, 2020, remanded a 17-year-old to the Juvenile holding center on a wounding charge.

The teen appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charge, when it was read to him.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on December 24, 2019, at 4 Miles Port Kaituma, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Keon Hutson with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.

According to information, the incident occurred over a 14-year-old girl. On the day in

question, about 22:00hours, the accused was talking with the virtual complainant’s (VC’s) girlfriend (the 14-year-old girl), when he and his friend walked up to them.

The VC enquired why the accused was talking to his girlfriend. The VC picked up a piece of wood and dealt the

accused several lashes about his body. The accused then ran to a nearby shop and contacted his friend who armed himself with a cutlass and returned to the VC and his friend.

The four had a scuffle and the accused took a piece of broken bottle and stabbed the VC to his face, while, his friend

stabbed the VC’s friend, then made good their escape.

The VC and his friend were rushed to the Port Kaituma hospital where his friend was pronounced dead on arrival.

The VC was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and was treated.

The matter was reported

and the teen was arrested, while his friend was nowhere to be found.

Magistrate McLennan remanded the teen to the Juvenile holding center until January 3, 2020.

Rice farmer succumbs after beaten with iron bar TWO persons are in Police custody after they allegedly beat a Black Bush Polder rice farmer to death with an iron bar on Monday.

Dead is 36-year old Chanderpaul Dhoman called “Jack”, of Lot 28 Johanna North, BBP. According to information received, at around 20:00hrs

on December 30, in First Street, Johanna, Dhoman was riding his bicycle when he noticed the suspects, who were identified as Berthrum Ramnauth 33, called “Corn curl”, and Deoraj Narine 44, called “Davo”, were imbibing with others in a yard.

The rice farmer stopped and informed the men that their

goats were grazing in his rice field destroying it in the process. The complaint led to an argument between the men. Moments later the duo left the yard and confronted Dhoman who was still on the street and dealt him a blow to his head with an iron bar. Not satisfied, the men also beat and kicked the father of four

about his body until he became unconscious. The men fled the scene but were arrested shortly after. The rice farmer was picked up and

taken to the Mibicuri Hospital and due to the extent of the injuries to his head, he was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital

and then to the Georgetown Public Hospital. While on life support in the intensive care unit, he succumbed on Wednesday.

GTT employee spread Christmas cheer

Tiffany Greene hands over the AC units to GPHC Pediatric Unit Junior Supervisor, Shivani Ramdehol

CHRISTMAS 2019 would be no different for a young mother and daughter as their tradition every year is to spread Christmas cheer to indigent children and families in their community.

Just days before Christmas, GTT’s Tiffany Greene and her seven-year-old daughter donated two Air Condition (AC) units to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) Paediatric Ward as means to bring ease and comfort to patients in a section of the pediatric ward.

Greene explained that it was during GTT’s Social Activities Committee (SAC) annual Pinktober visit to the ward in October that she observed one section was without AC units.

It was then she had the nudge

to invest in her 2019 Christmas giveback. “The heat was stifling and knew I had to do something to make these children and their parents more comfortable,” Tiffany said.

“Children aged 28 days to 13 years would be kept in this unit with their parents during hospital stays for days or months; as a mother, I felt compelled to do more for these children,” she added.

Receiving the units on behalf of the GPHC’s Pediatric Unit was Junior Supervisor, Shivani Ramdehol, who expressed gratitude for the donation while stating that she was happy Greene displayed “such kindness”. Ramdehol noted that the donation was even more impactful since the hos-

pital had requested donations of an air conditioning unit from several businesses and organisations and did not receive any response. Greene, who is a sales representative in GTT’s Sales and Distribution Department and a member of the GTT’s Social Activities Committee, said this is not the first time she has made donations during the Christmas season. “Every year me and my daughter would distribute presents and this year was no different. We also distributed toys to the children at my church on Christmas morning before opening our own presents. This is what Christmas is about and I hope gestures like this encourage others to giveback in whatever way they can,” Greene said.

Commending the sales representative was GTT Public Relations Manager, Jasmin Harris, who said, “GTT is happy to have employees who are able to go above and beyond to touch lives, not only at GTT through the excellent work done, but also those who make positive impacts in their communities.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 03, 2020

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Expectations for 2020

A new year has just begun; a new decade has just begun; but for many Guyanese, 2020 is a year of so much more. Many contend that it is a beacon of hope and could potentially be the watershed year of Guyana’s development.

According to the Executive Chef at the Pergola Restaurant in the Courtyard Mall, Kester Robinson, Guyana’s status as an oil-producing nation is something that brings a lot of “excitement” for him and his fellow countryfolk.

“You see the Facebook posts and you see everybody is gearing up for oil… I’m excited as well because I see lots of changes that will occur, I see lots of foreign investors, a lot of persons re-migrating back to Guyana – which is good,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

Adding to these sentiments was Sasenarine Ramnarine, who said, “I think oil will be a plus for Guyana because it is an additional natural resource and with that we will have more revenue and it’ll be better for all Guyanese,”

particular that is going to garner revenues for Guyana because of the global recognition the country has

“Regardless of whoever is in power, whichever party wins or loses, we all have to work together as Guyanese people because without us… there won’t be any development and there won’t be any Guyana that we can feel proud of,” Robinson stressed.

This need for Guyanese to work together in the interest

Former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran

However, he opined that the newfound natural resource must be managed well and those responsible for managing the oil must be held accountable. Only then, he contended, will the revenues garnered be able to benefit all Guyanese.

But while there is much focus on the oil and gas industry, Robinson noted that come 2020, the country should not lose sight of the goal of promoting holistic development. In so doing, Kester noted that his sector – i.e., the hospitality sector – is one area where he believes requires a bit more attention.

He reasoned that tourism is going to be one sector in

Republic. It is expected that the ‘Celebration after hard work’, or Mashramani as it is better known, will be a grand celebration. Cognisant of this, Glasgow reminded that it is only through “hard work” that Guyana will achieve that great destiny alluded to in the nation’s national motto.

Former Speaker of the National Assembly and Presidential Candidate of the newly-formed political party, A New and United Guyana

Kester Robinson

been receiving recently as an eco-tourism destination. As such, he posited that the service industry needs to continuously improve its standards.

“I want people to get excited and feel good when they come to the restaurant, or that when they go to a hotel, or any place that provides service, they feel warmth and welcomed,” he related.

And, as the country also prepares for Regional and General elections come March 2, he emphasised that Guyanese must not let racism divide the nation, and that persons must be respectful of each citizen’s political views.

in the interest of the country.

“Let us unite and face 2020 with confidence in the expectation that all Guyanese will work together for a better Guyana, to overcome the challenges and embrace the hope,” he said.

One young woman, Ashleigh Gray, also shared her view that the development of the petroleum sector in 2020 also signals that Guyana will be “stepping up”.

For her, she is hopeful that this New Year will bring prosperity to the country and to all Guyanese. She

Sasenarine Ramnarine

of developing the nation was also emphasised by Esther Glasgow.

“We are one people (and) one nation, heading towards one destiny, so we need to stop this racism, and hate, and worrying about who’s there (in government). We need to support whoever is there and work towards the betterment of our country,” the woman affirmed.

This year, 2020, Guyana will also be observing 50 years as a Cooperative

Ashleigh Gray

(ANUG), Ralph Ramkarran, acknowledged that “important developments” will take place this year. “Elections on March 2 will offer challenges (but) the production of oil will offer hope,” he said.

In spite of these two seemingly opposite occurrences, the former speaker, in a video address to Guyanese, encouraged all citizens to work alongside one another,

Esther Glasgow

however stressed that this prosperity will be tainted, in 2020 and in the years ahead, unless Guyanese make the conscious decision to “stick as one”. Resultantly, she encouraged all Guyanese to remember this as the country heads into the ‘elections season’.

CTO says 2019 has been a good year for regional tourism BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Tuesday described 2019 as “a varied year, which both highlighted the strengths in Caribbean tourism and its inherent weaknesses”.

In a New Year’s message, CTO acting Secretary General, Neil Walters, said the sector’s strengths were evident in the significant growth rates experienced by most Caribbean countries. He said despite contraction in some larger destinations, such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean experienced an overall 6.1 per cent level of growth in visitor arrivals during the first nine months of the year.

“It is noteworthy that the

growth rates of those countries affected by the 2017 hurricanes were substantial, in some cases up to triple-digit levels. This level of recovery speaks volumes about the commitment of the Caribbean to this industry which has become the lifeblood of several countries.”

Walter said that when Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 hurricane swept through the Bahamas, the destruction “was a further wake-up call to us in the region that the climatic changes are here and likely irreversible.

“It is our responsibility to create resilience in not only the tourism sector, but all sectors of our economies and by extension all sections of our societies. We continue to commiserate with our brothers and sisters in The Bahamas on the loss of life and

property experienced as a result of Dorian.”

Walters said that the cruise sector has also had a strong showing in 2019 with a 5.8 per cent growth rate for the first three quarters. “Implicit in this growth of cruise visits is the fact that as occurred in 2018, there has been consistent growth of cruise visits in each quarter of 2019, albeit at rates which are lower than those experienced in 2018.” The CTO official said that towards the end of 2019, the organization announced restructuring plans adding ”it is our intention to emerge from this process with a revised structure which more adequately serves the needs of all our members.

“The Caribbean tourism sector is ending 2019 in a po-

sition of which all of us can be proud, having seen an overall reversal of the position at the end of 2018. As we look to 2020, we should not rest on our laurels, but continue to work to sustain the growth which was realized this year. “At the same time, we must remember that we live in a volatile climatic region which while providing the palate for amazing experiences for our visitors, must always be respected and considered in our planning and development.”

Walter said that in the new year, the CTO will continue with the theme of the ‘Year of Festivals’ as it recognised that it was all but impossible for it to fully embrace the rich culture of the Caribbean in one 12 month period. “This year we hope to move even further along the

path of integrating our festivals and other cultural events into the tourism product in all our countries. We recognize that not only do these aspects of our individual countries distinguish us from each other, but they also hold significant potential in the quest to attract even more visitors to our shores. “What is also becoming clearer to us is that we have not begun to fully and responsibly harness the power of our culture and heritage in defining who we are, and this is critical as we seek to offer authentic experiences which benefit both the visitor and the communities in which these experiences exist.”

Walters said that given the results recorded so far in 2019, “it is our expectation that 2020 will, all things being equal, be

another year of growth, likely at a rate slightly lower for both stayover arrivals and cruse visits. “One way that we can arrest the reduction in growth – or even maintain growth at current levels – is to embrace the value of speaking with one voice, ONE CARIBBEAN, to the rest of the world.

“To this end, it is our expectation that one of the outcomes of the restructuring of the CTO will be a new way of speaking with one voice to the rest of the travelling world, thereby pooling our limited resources to become a stronger force for the maintenance and growth of the market share which the Caribbean, the most tourism-dependent region, values.,” he added.

Linden New Year’s fire leaves five homeless THE celebration of a new year was shortened on Thursday afternoon, when a family of five, residing in the Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar Linden, lost everything they owned, when a fire completely destroyed their home.

The two-storey house was gutted by fire that ripped through its walls in a matter of minutes and while the Linden Fire Service promptly responded, unfortunately nothing was saved. This left patriarch of the home, Keion Hope, so dis-

traught and lost for words, that he was unable to speak to the media or fire officials to relate what might have caused the fire. He was not at home at the time of the fire, but his wife, three children and two elderly relatives visiting from overseas were able to escape the blaze.

The wife said she was burning garbage at the time and the children were playing in the lower flat while the elderly couple was upstairs. The fire occurred at around 13:00hrs.

No one was engaged in any

activity that might have resulted in a fire.

Hope was able to relate what his estimated loss is, stating, “the house was fully furnished, it have everything in it.” One neighbour related to the Guyana Chronicle that the blaze suddenly started and all she saw was smoke and screams of fire.

“Them in get to save nothing, nothing, nothing, what a tragedy for the new year, three children, where will they go, I wish I could help them but I can’t.” The family is seeking

refuge at relatives.

Fire fighters said it was too early to ascertain what caused of the fire. A few moments after quelling the blaze, they were summoned to another fire in Amelia’s Ward, but no property was burnt, since they managed to put the fire out before it spread to the nearby houses. This is the second house to be burnt in Wismar, Linden in a matter of weeks.

The two-story Wisroc house that was destroyed by fire

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 03, 2020

Child rapist gets 20 years behind bars

JUSTICE Brassington Reynolds, on Old Year’s Day, imposed a 20-year sentence on Tyrone Ramgolam, 44, after a mixed jury found him guilty of raping a minor.

Ramgolam was indicted for the offence of rape of a girl child under the age of 16.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence. State Prosecutrix, Seeta Bishundyal, reminded the court that the offence was committed at the home of the victim, a place where she should have been safe and secure.

The now convicted rapist was a visitor when he violated the child and maintained his innocence.

“He robbed the girl of her childhood and acted like a criminal. Your Honour, let the sentence send a strong message to those who might be like-minded, “Bishundyal said. Probation and Welfare Officer attached to the Ministry of Social Services, Judith Van Kennie, in her report said Ramgolam lost his father when he was very young and became a school dropout thereafter and remained unemployed.

His daily basic needs were met by neighbours and siblings.

According to the report, Ramgolam claimed that his sibling wanted him out of the house and had made the false

allegation against him.

He denied being a trouble-maker or a user of foul language when under the influence of alcohol.

According to him, he shared a loving relationship with the victim as they play together. However, Van Kennie noted that the victim was always fearful when visitors came to their house and would withdraw from their company.

The probation officer told the court that the mother had reported the incident to the police after the child reported it to her.

Prior to sentencing, Ramgolam said, “I am sorry.” Justice Brassington

Reynolds noted the manner in which the offence was committed and the fact that the rapist maintained his innocence up until he was about to be sentenced, even after being found guilty.

Ramgolam had no previous brushes with the law; however, he was a school dropout and could be a victim of his own domestic circumstances, the judge observed.

“But you are a big man and have your own sense. I hope you benefit from counselling and hope you reflect on your actions while in prison,” the judge told the convict.

Meanwhile, Mohan Dharbali, 32, also called “Rakish”

of Cumberland, East Canje, was sentenced to nine years in prison after he pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

He confessed to lashing fellow villager, Fazal Hussain, with a piece of wood to the head on February 7, 2017.

According to the victim, he was at a ‘wake house’ when the accused came and inquired the reason he was there.

Consequently, he was cuffed about his body and lashed to the head. As a result, he lost consciousness and was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Hussain is deaf in his left ear as a result of injuries he received. Probation and

Social Services Officer, Lisa-Ann Tucker, said Dharbali was raised by a stepfather after his biological father died.

At age of 14, he went to work as a porter with an uncle at Calabash Creek in the Canje River.

In 2012, he was sentenced for break and enter and larceny. As a child, he was often left unsupervised. The accused said he was sorry for his action but claimed that on the day in question, Hussain attacked him and he had acted in self-defence.

National Parks now have bicycle patrols …PAC denies claims by Kissoon of official interference in removal of his bicycle

THE Protected Areas Commission (PAC) has announced that its National Park Bike Patrols have been in full operation since October 2019 and citizens can expect to feel more secure when utilising the facilities.

The bicycles were purchased, along with handheld radios, and patrols are conducted both at the National Park and the Botanical Gardens, PAC said in a release on Thursday while responding to a December 29, 2019 article by columnist Freddie Kissoon alleging that President David Granger and Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon, are responsible for the removal of his bicycle from the National Park’s premises. “The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) strongly denies an accusation made by Kaieteur News columnist, Mr. Freddie Kissoon,

The PAC Security Manager (centre) and two security guards with the bikes used for patrolling the National Park.

that President David Granger and Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon, are responsible for the removal of his bicycle from the National Park’s premises,” the release

read.

In his column, published on December 29, 2019, Mr. Kissoon wrote: “When the PPP was in power, no bigwig in that government ordered the National Park authorities

to stop me leaving my bicycle in the park. Because of my criticism of APNU+AFC, I was asked to remove it.

The letter was arrogant with threats of legal action. All of this for a bicycle left in the park for the past 15 years.

I complained to Dr. Raquel Thomas, the board chairman and Ms. Ndibi Schwiers, head of the Department of Environment. I was ignored.

I believe either Joe Harmon or David Granger is behind this.”

“The PAC is making it pellucid that the Commission is a semi-autonomous agency, and neither President Granger nor Mr. Harmon interferes with its day-to-day operations or management.”

Further, PAC said the issue surrounding Mr. Kissoon parking his bicycle in the National Park is a longstanding one. Mr. Kissoon’s bicycle cannot be accommodated in the main security building

of the National Park and the security manager had, in October 2018, asked him to remove same citing impending security changes.

After refusing to do so, PAC Commissioner Ms. Denise Fraser had, on July 17, 2019, written to Mr. Kissoon formally requesting that he remove his bicycle from the main security building as it was a security breach and was hampering new measures that were put in place to regularize security operations at the PAC/National Parks Commission (NPC) locations countrywide.

Additionally, the PAC informed Mr. Kissoon that the building in which he claimed to have stored his bicycle for years (without official permission) now houses bicycles for the Park’s security patrols, along with other valuable equipment and is therefore now fully secured to pre-

vent unauthorised persons gaining access. The PAC is managed by a Board of Directors, comprising technical experts, which oversees its operations in keeping with the Protected Areas Act. This Act gives the PAC the mandate to establish, manage, maintain, promote and expand the National Protected Areas System, including the urban parks.

The PAC is also pleased to inform the public that its National Park Bike Patrols have been in full operation since October 2019 and citizens can expect to feel more secure when utilizing the facilities. The bicycles were purchased along with handheld radios, and patrols are conducted both at the National Park and the Botanical Gardens.

House-keeper accused of stealing freed THIRTY-FOUR-year-old Donetta Rajkumar, who was on trial for stealing from the home of Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency, Simona Broomes, was, on Thursday, January 02, 2020,

freed from the charge.

Rajkumar, who was the house-keeper of Minster Broomes, who is responsible for Youth Affairs, was freed by Magistrate Annette Singh, after her attorney, Everton Singh-Lammy,

made a no-case submission.

The attorney contended that there was insufficient evidence for his client to lead a defence and called for the charge to be dismissed.

The Magistrate ruled in the lawyer’s favour and

Rajkumar was freed from the charge.

Rajkumar was on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for stealing approximately $195,000, property of Simona Broomes, between March 6

and 7, 2019, at Lodge Housing Scheme.

The prosecutor had contended that, during the period in question, Rajkumar was alone in the house conducting her duties when the money went

missing. She was said to be the only one with access to the drawer where the money was being kept at that time.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

DHBC automated tollcollection system soon CITIZENS who traverse the Demerara Harbour Bridge daily are closer, this year, to having access to an automated toll-collection system with Phase One of the project for completion next month.

Phase One deals with testing and implementation at toll booths and is funded through some $5.5M of the Corporation’s toll revenue.

Phase Two will include gradual, wide-scale installation to the vehicles of interested persons.

Speaking with this newspaper on Thursday, Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) Electrical Engineer, Andre Crowder, said that things are moving ahead smoothly. The automated toll-collection system, already installed at the various toll booths at the bridge, will save commuters time and increases data management for the Bridge Management.

The last time the Guyana Chronicle did an update, the DHBC was about to begin the process of testing the system by implementing it with its eight charge-companies.

The new system utilises Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), a form of wireless communication which uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects.

Almost 10,000 vehicles traverse the Demerara Harbour Bridge daily and this would mean an instantaneous process of producing a ticket

where drivers simply drive up to the toll booth, collect their tickets and continue on their way.

Drivers can even pass through the toll booth without stopping, as an electronic receipt of their payment will be accessible on line. “The first part will be finished by February. We’ve already implemented it at the booths

tions; has an online means of making payments; reduces the likeliness of errors and the amount of cash stored at the booths.

Added to this, the DHBC will collaborate with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) so that information captured can be compared in the authority’s database to capture

Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) Electrical Engineer, Andre Crowder, shows the new system in a toll booth

and we’re just doing some other testing before we actually roll out to the public which could be some time later in the year,” Crowder said.

Toll booth operators will have the option of utilising the cash-based system for drivers without the RFID tag, or any driver who simply wishes to pay with cash. The new software presents fewer op-

illegal vehicular activities, which could also be shared with the police for greater security. The automated toll-collection system was birthed after the DHBC realised that it must utilize innovative ways to deal with its challenges related to poor server connection, power outages, over pressured toll booth operators, a decade-old system and human error.

Teen remanded on wounding charge CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Thursday, January 2, 2020, remanded a 17-year-old to the Juvenile holding center on a wounding charge.

The teen appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charge, when it was read to him.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on December 24, 2019, at 4 Miles Port Kaituma, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Keon Hutson with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.

According to information, the incident occurred over a 14-year-old girl. On

the day in question, about 22:00hours, the accused was talking with the virtual complainant’s (VC’s) girlfriend (the 14-yearold girl), when he and his friend walked up to them.

The VC enquired why the accused was talking to his girlfriend. The VC picked up a piece of wood and dealt the accused several lashes about his body.

The accused then ran to a nearby shop and contacted his friend who armed himself with a cutlass and returned to the VC and his friend.

The four had a scuffle and the accused took a piece of broken bottle and stabbed the VC to his face,

while, his friend stabbed the VC’s friend, then made good their escape.

The VC and his friend were rushed to the Port Kaituma hospital where his friend was pronounced dead on arrival. The VC was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and was treated.

The matter was reported and the teen was arrested, while his friend was nowhere to be found.

Magistrate McLennan remanded the teen to the Juvenile holding center until January 3, 2020.

The RFID tag which is scanned by a machine placed above the toll booths

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

Works to Kumaka Bridge completed …two new Region 1 schools to be commissioned on Monday

CONSTRUCTION works to a key bridge at Kumaka in the Mabaruma sub-region have been completed and the structure is expected to be commissioned soon.

The $85M structure replaces another structure which was said to be the root cause of flooding in the Barabina Hill community at Mabaruma.

Regional Executive Officer (REO), Randolph Storm, told the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday that the structure has been completed and is being “cured” for a few days. Reports are that the 60foot bridge will be commissioned sometime this month.

The bridge is a critical

The newly-constructed bridge at Kumaka in the Mabaruma sub-region

link in the area and several years ago, the wooden structure was replaced by a concrete bridge which was built without a conduit for the water from a nearby creek to pass. The new structure was built on a steel frame while concrete works were subsequently undertaken.

Meanwhile, Storm noted that a number of projects are being fine-tuned for commissioning soon. These include the Canal Bank Primary school at Port Kaituma as well as another school at White Water Village.

Both schools are expected to be commissioned on Monday by the Ministry of Education.

Over 92,000 tonnes of sugar sold in 2019 -GuySuCo to move ahead with plans to expand this year THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), despite recording a production shortfall in 2019, managed to sell some 92,246 tonnes of sugar on the local, regional and international markets.

The corporation said it encountered various challenges throughout the year but the three operational estates, which are the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates, were able to produce a total of 90,246 tonnes of sugar in 2019. According to GuySuCo, 46,651 tonnes were produced at Albion Estate, 23,325 tonnes at Blairmont Estate and 20,270 tonnes at the Uitvlugt Estate.

The production, however, represented an underachievement of 17,000 tonnes from the estimated second crop production objective. The second crop production was closed on December 21, 2019 but 1,981 hectares could not be harvested and will be carried over to the first crop of this year. The shortfall was as a result of in excess of 80,000 tonnes of cane from Albion, 60,000 tonnes of cane from Blairmont and 11,000 tonnes of cane from Uitvlugt, not being harvested.

GuySuCo said the shortfall has been the consequence of major mechanical failures in the Albion and Uitvlugt factories and from the latter half of October 2019, increasing industrial unrest in

which Blairmont was most affected. Adverse weather from the last week of November also influenced the progress of harvesting.

“The sugar industry will continue to face challenges to achieving reliability in the factories if operation capital investments continue to be delayed. However, on a more positive note, the productivity of cane fields continued to improve as reflected by cane yields that exceeded the crop estimate on all estates,” said GuySuCo. Despite the foreseen adversities and the incurred challenges, GuySuCo still anticipates the expansion of its operations in the year 2020, with planned improvements in the fields and factories, as well as the commencement of preparatory works for the installation of a cogeneration plant at Albion Estate. This is anticipated to support the supply of power to the East Berbice region.

WHITE SUGAR In addition to the impending development, the corporation also recorded some successes in 2019, when together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they successfully paved the way for the protection of white sugar produced in CARICOM by securing the commitment of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) for the

application of the Common External Tariff to all non-regional sugars.

The feasibility study for the Plantation White Sugar Project was completed and the project was found to be feasible. The corporation has commenced preparations to embark on this new venture in 2020. The addition of Plantation White Sugar and ‘A’ grade molasses for the production of genuine Demerara Rum to the Corporation’s line of value-added products will see an increase in revenues both regionally and internationally for the corporation and all of Guyana.

In November last year, it was reported that GuySuCo intends to construct a white sugar plant with the aim of producing some 55,000 tonnes of white sugar per annum. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Harold Davis, had said the plan for the project has been in existence since 2017 and it has been updated to reflect new circumstances.

According to the GuySuCo chief, the corporation envisages that by 2025 it would be producing some 160,000 tonnes of white sugar. He said there are positive signs and already their returns in the fields are above what has been anticipated, though he cautioned that efforts must be sustained to realise the goals set.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

Painter killed in motorcycle crash His wife for the past 39 years, Sumintra Sahadeo, said she last spoke to her husband on Old Year’s Day when they visited the market and he decided to assist a few friends in painting a building.

Dead: Donald Mootoo

A 59-year-old motorcyclist was killed on New Year’s Day after crashing into a median on the Montrose Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Donald Mootoo, a painter of 13 Bissoon Street, South Better Hope, ECD Enquiries disclosed that Mootoo was riding motorcycle CH 7540 which was proceeding west along the northern driving lane on the southern carriageway of the road when the rider, in attempting a right turn, lost control and collided with the median at the centre of the road.

His body was flung onto a light pole in the centre of the road and he sustained severe injuries as a result of the impact, including severed lower limbs.

He was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Bandits rob policeman TWO bandits robbed a policeman on America and Longden Streets, Georgetown of cash and his cell phone on New Year’s Day. Reports indicate that the cop was walking along Longden Street when he was confronted by the bandits in the vicinity of a store called “Fazia”. One of the perpetrators pointed a long knife at his stomach while the other took away his cellular phone and cash.

They both escaped on foot.

Meanwhile, on Old Year’s Day, a 22-year-old painter of East Ruimveldt Back Circle was robbed by two bandits of his gold chain, cell phone and cash in East La Penitence, Georgetown.

Reports indicate that the painter was walking north over the East La Penitence Bridge heading towards Freeman Street, when he passed the robbers sitting on the bridge.

“As he passed them, one of the suspects held on to his neck from behind and snatch off the gold chain from around his neck. The man resisted and the other robber lashed him to his forehead with a hand gun. The man then stayed still and the robbers searched his pants pockets,” one eyewitness said.

The bandits then made good their escape.

“At 03:00hrs on New Year’s Day someone from the village visited me and said he suspected my husband was involved in an accident. When I went to the hospital, it was true and he

was dead,” she lamented.

She explained that her husband has two motorcycles and was never involved in an accident previously but was shocked to learn of his death while riding.

The motorcycle in the aftermath of the crash

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

‘Don’t ignore green’

-- says T&T economist, hails GSDS as a good developmental strategy

By Vishani Ragobeer TRINIDADIAN Economist, Dr. Roger Hosein, has urged all Guyanese to focus on safeguarding the long-term renewable energy security of the country despite now becoming an

oil-producing nation.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle recently, the economist noted when a country begins garnering revenues from an oil and gas industry, there is a tendency to “ignore green” and “ignore renewable (energy)”. Instead, he

highlighted, fossil fuel consumption is increased, facilitated by fossil fuel subsidies.

“Guyana has to be careful of going exactly the route that it does not want to go,” Dr. Hosein said, adding: “This will require academia in Guyana, civil society and

the media to continuously lobby and keep the State in order so that they do not pursue interventions that compromise the long-term renewable energy security of Guyana as compared to its non-renewable energy security.”

Dr. Hosein is no stranger to Guyana’s developing petroleum industry. In fact, over the past few years, he has made several presentations in Guyana where he outlined projections for Guyana’s economic growth and cautioned that Guyana should not neglect certain key areas such as its non-energy sector.

In July 2018, he also co-authored an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) publication titled: “The Dutch Disease Phenomenon and Lessons for Guyana: Trinidad and Tobago’s Experience.”

GOOD STRATEGY The economist, who is also a senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), indicated that he was familiar with President David Granger’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) and opined that it is a “good strategy”.

The GSDS is premised on sustainable utilisation of the country’s natural resource wealth to support economic resilience and building human capital. As articulated

by President Granger, the GSDS aims to promote sustained economic prosperity, environmental security and the social well-being of Guyanese.

Further explaining the role in this developmental strategy for Guyana was former executive director of Conservation International Guyana, Dr. David Singh, who spoke with the Guyana Chronicle earlier this year.

“The GSDS is government’s means by which it frames the discussion around how do you develop an economy with a future,” he said.

“One of the things it’s built on, is that it seeks to provide a mechanism by which Guyana’s new-found oil wealth will be used towards what is essentially a sustainable development agenda for the country,” he continued.

With this in mind, however, Dr. Hosein stressed that Guyana must not make the mistake of “ignoring green” when these oil revenues start

Trinidadian Economist, Dr. Roger Hosein

to flow.

The production of the commercial crude historically began on December 20, 2019, in the Liza-One field of the Stabroek Block, months ahead of the March 2020 timeline.

The output from this first phase is expected to reach capacity of 120,000 gross barrels of oil per day (bdp), utilising the Liza Destiny floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, and the first cargo is set to be sold within several weeks.

The current estimated discovered recoverable resources from the Stabroek Block are more than six billion oil equivalent barrels.

By 2025, it is expected that Guyana will produce at least 750,000 barrels a day.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could grow 86 per cent in 2020 but cautioned that this forecast may be subject to large revisions, where even small changes to the projected oil output in 2020 could potentially result in major changes in the overall economic performance.

A recent World Oil report, however, noted that with these current projected operation outcomes, “Guyana, with a population of less than 800,000, may end up producing more crude per person than any other country in the world.”

This means, ceteris paribus, Guyana may be one of the richer countries in the world, on a per capita basis.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 03, 2020

15

Scenes from Old Year’s Night celebrations --Carl Croker photographs

Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams with his wife and popular businessman, Brian Tiwari at Palm Court

Director-General, Joseph Harmon with company at Palm Court

Bishop Francis Alleyne preaching to a packed auditorium at the Brickdam Cathedral

Chinese nationals celebrating the New Year at the Marriott Hotel

Elder Charles ministering to worshipers at the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church on Church and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown

Fireworks lit up the night sky at Stabroek Market

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

Better transportation for elderly, disabled

IF you are a regular commuter on the roadways in Guyana you probably have travelled in a mini-bus, and saw a conductor or driver hurrying an elderly or disabled person to either get on or off a bus; some may have even refused to pick them up.

Eletha Ainsworth, an elderly woman of Cove and John who depends primarily on public transportation to get about her monthly errands, expressed displeasure over the treatment she receives while travelling.

Mrs Ainsworth uses a cane for support as she has a bad knee; she says “whenever they [conductors] see me with my stick, they don’t stop for me.”

The few that do stop are often impatient and rude, “always rushing, they never wait for us to have a seat, they just drive off, which result in us being jilted back and front, causing pain and when it’s time for us to get off at our destination, they’re always saying push yah body granny,” she explained.

She also complained about the loud and vulgar music that is often blasting through the speakers of the mini-buses.

Shelia Glasgow, an 85-year-old woman of Bel-

pose a threat to the current mini-bus operators or privately owned bus companies such as Knight Rider.

Simultaneously, a system should be in place to provide better transportation for the elderly and disabled.

The Guyana Chronicle spoke with President of the Minibus Association, Eon Andrews, who stressed that a system should be implemented to provide the disabled and elderly with transportation as he has had several complains from citizens;

roadways.

However, the United Minibus Association, along with the Ministry of Business and Social Protection, has been hosting road safety workshops and training sessions to produce better drivers on the roads of Guyana.

He noted that persons who attended the training sessions are expected to graduate in October of this year.

Mr Andrews also noted that mini-bus drivers and

A 'big bus' of the past

field, recalled a time when she was younger and would travel in the comfort of big buses; she added that a system should be implemented to provide transportation not only for the elderly, but also disabled persons.

“However, this is not always the case; they are a few mini-bus drivers and conductors who are considerate and kind, realising that they too will get old one day,” she stated.

Several other elderly persons complained about the speeding and overloading of the mini-buses. Many of

them prefer to stay at home because of the unsafe feeling while travelling.

In the early 1960s, big buses were the most popular mode of transportation, throughout Guyana. However, today modern mini-buses like ‘Pit bulls and R-Zs’ dominate the roadways of Guyana. Many of these are privately owned and operated by young men, who have little to no respect for passengers, especially the elderly and disabled.

This newspaper interviewed several elderly per-

Pitbull buses that now dominate the roadways

sons, who recollected the time when they would travel in the comfort of big buses and would welcome the re-introduction of these buses for their transportation.

While this may seem like an excellent initiative, it can

however, the introduction of big buses will pose a threat to the mini-bus association.

He added that Guyanese first have to eradicate the culture of having inexperienced and unlicensed drivers on the

conductors are expected to be respectable and display patience, not only to the elderly or disabled, but to every passenger that enters their minibus.

UG to host second diaspora conference from May-June -emphasis to be placed on emerging business, indigenous, women and youth leaders

AFTER a successful run in 2017, the University of Guyana (UG) will be hosting the second Diaspora Conference from May 28 to June 1, 2020.

The conference, which was scheduled for 2019, was postponed and will be held this year, said the university in a press statement on Thursday.

According to UG, the theme of the conference will be “Investing in Guyana’s emerging business, indigenous, women and youth leaders.” The university said the theme was chosen in recognition of the need for all Guyanese at home and abroad to work together with inclusion, tolerance and cooperation for national and regional growth and development.

“UG remains committed to diaspora engagement and facilitating a positive enabling environment and discussion on ways in which Guyanese can best work together to accomplish joint goals towards creating prosperity for all our

people,” said the institution.

The conference will, as such, feature a mixture of academic and non-academic experiences and will host a number of panels, forums, roundtables and multimedia presentations on key thematic areas.

To meet the challenge of diaspora engagement and to ensure the strategic integrity and sustainability of the university’s diaspora project, UG has appointed Dr. Melissa Ifill, Lecturer in History at the University of Guyana, and Dr. Wazir Mohamed, a member of the diaspora and Associate Professor of Sociology at Indiana University East, as Co-Chairs of the conference.

In addition, Gillian Williams (Toronto), Chet Bolling (Moscow), Lear Matthews (New York), Brandon Cheong (Toronto), Adeti DeJesus (Guyana), Melissa Bess (UG), Arlene McLean (UG), Denise Braam (UG) and Ms. Leisa Somrah (UG), will play key

roles in the planning of the event. The university’s Transition Management Committee (TMC) will maintain oversight of the project.

“The University of Guyana specifically values and welcomes the support from the diaspora, state and non-state actors, government, the private sector, civil society, the public at home and abroad, and all stakeholders as it builds out the project of diaspora engagement, since it is a well-docu-

mented fact that Diaspora engagement is one of the major building blocks for national development,” said UG. Submissions and registrations will be accepted from January 30, 2020 at UG’s “conferences website”- www. uog.edu/conference -and also on the diaspora conferences dedicated website https://diaspora-entrepreneurship.uog. edu.gy/. Interested persons could also email: ugdiasporaconfernces@uog,edu,gy or

call: 592-222-3583.

UG is Guyana’s sole national higher education institution. It was established in April 1963 with the following Mission: “to discover, generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the service of the community, the nation, and of all mankind within an atmosphere of academic freedom that allows for free and critical enquiry.”

The University offers cer-

tificate, diploma, associate degree, undergraduate degree, graduate (post-graduate) degree, and professional degree programmes.

These programmes are delivered through seven Faculties and one School, each of which is headed by a Dean: Agriculture and Forestry; Earth and Environmental Studies; Education and Humanities; Engineering and Technology, Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, Health Sciences, Natural Sciences; and Social Sciences.

More than 116 under-graduate and post-graduate programmes are available, including Computer Science, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Studies, Forestry, Urban Planning and Management, Tourism Studies, Education, Creative Arts, Economics, Law, Medicine, Optometry, Supply Chain Management and Nursing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, January 03, 2020

17

‘Don’t neglect agriculture for oil’ -- experts urge

By Gabriella Chapman WHILE many are in high spirits that oil will significantly boost the country’s economy and improve the standard of living of Guyanese, others are hoping that agriculture will not be put on the backburner.

Among them is Dr. Elroy Charles, Head of Department (HoD) of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

He said that, at the university level, greater efforts will be made to keep the agriculture sector relevant.

“Agriculture has been the backbone of Guyana’s economy all the time until we found oil. It has always been one of the main contributors to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The main pillar on which Guyana’s economy is geared because of the fact that it also employs a large sector of our people. Rice, sugar and fishery always attract lots of employment,” Dr. Charles said.

He said some years ago, agriculture became second when mining took over and now with the emergence of oil, this is the time to ensure that agriculture still remains at least in the top three of economic activities.

He said there was such a wide scope in agriculture, that, if developed properly, it could remain as a top producing and incoming earning sector.

“One area we should definitely develop is agro-processing. More work has to be done to improve the standards of our products to reach the international market. The Guyana School of Agriculture did a lot of training and the government facilitated many training [programmes] through GSA on agro-processing. But we need to work on food safety, we need labs to ensure that we do the quality testing and ensuring that we reach the standards.

That’s not in place at the present moment, so as a result of that, a lot of those agro-processing is done in small scale. But there’s a lot of scope there,” Dr. Charles said.

“Once we have our labs and the Food Safety Bill in place, then we hope that we can move in that direction of agro-processing so that can become a major contributor besides the production. In addition, we have recently added coconut as another main crop and so coconut actually is becoming the number three crop in Guyana for its production. We produce nuts, water, and oil, but it has to be shipped to Trinidad or

Head of Department (HoD) of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus, Dr. Elroy Charles

Dominican Republic to produce these processed products because we have issues with labs, testing for microbial, and food safety issues. We have the potential to produce agro-processed products with better taste and more nutritious value, but we have to up our game where packaging is concerned so that we can compete with the other territories that are sending things to Guyana,” he added.

BREAD BASKET OF THE CARIBBEAN In April of 2019, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Assistant Director General, Dr. Julio Berdegue, had said Guyana can be the solution to the Caribbean’s food import problem, but only if the country realises its “production potential”.

He said the Caribbean faced an enormous problem of a food import bill which was growing every year for the past 30-35 years. Right now, the Caribbean was spending US $4.5B each year to buy food that can be grown in the sub-region.

“Guyana is a fundamental part of the solution to this problem. Few other countries in the Caribbean have the production potential of Guyana,” he said.

In this regard, Dr. Charles said that indeed Guyana had the advantage over other Caribbean countries, and that was due to the fact that Guyana has fresh water system and large swaths of areas that can be cultivated for agriculture.

“We have large pool of fresh water for agri production, and we have the space. Many Caribbean countries don’t have that. Volcanic Caribbean territories have very nutrient rich soil, but the space for production is lacking. But as much as we have land space, most of those are nutrient-poor soils.

Large areas of Guyana have white and brown sand, sand has little to no nutrients. Our loamy soils are in patches, and the clay soils that we have are the ones we are doing the sugar and rice on. They are located on the coastal belt, and at certain times when there is flooding, it can impact our own production,” he said.

The Research Station at the Faculty of Agriculture

The gasifier at the Faculty of Agriculture which is used for electricity and the production of bio char

A painting, done by students, on the faculty building

WHAT THE UNIVERSITY IS DOING Given the aforementioned, HoD Charles said that was where he believed the university comes into play.

“How do we then utilise these soils in order to expand agri production. This is where I think the university comes into play for training, for extension service and for research. We hope that students leaving our

premises have competencies in order to be able to utilise any landmass to grow any crop that you want. The whole idea that crops are grown on arable soils only is a thing of the past,” he said. The doctor explained the different branches of agriculture which utilise different media of production, such as hydroponics and aquaponics.

“The reality is that the university is forced to go into an

area where it seeks to train our graduates in order to utilise the resources that are available to us, so that we can be able to grow crops and compete internationally. And one of the things this university, especially the Faculty of Agriculture is pushing, is bio char. Bio char is a sort of soil organic amendment. It basically is anaerobic burning of biomass material, which is wood, wood

shaving, bagasse, grass and so on. It helps the soil to retain the nutrients instead of being leached and washed out. That activated carbon from the bio char enables the soil to retain nutrients, and even moisture; it enables the soil to have a better property, to allow for plant growth,” Dr. Charles explained.

That, he said, was already tested in the university’s research work, and he believed that it can be the solution to increase local production.

“I’m saying for us to utilise that large swath of white sand areas, the opportunity is that we have to use organic amendment for those soils. Bio char offers a better opportunity for utilisation and it lasts for years, maintaining nutrients to grow anything you want. And this is the direction in which the faculty of agriculture has been pushing for the last five years. Now we have a kiln and a gasifier. The gasifier is used for electricity but the byproduct it produces is bio char, and that basically will be used. And we are pushing for research work to be done in our sandy areas on our sandy soils, so that we can show the benefit of such use,” he further noted.

Additionally, he said another organic amendment the university had tested was vermicomposting. Vermicomposting, he explained, was the use of organic matter and earthworm and transforming organic matter into humus.

There were many solutions to the defects in Guyana’s agri sector, he noted, and the university was ensuring that the students were equipped with the knowledge to transform the sector. However, Dr. Charles said what would be best was if the graduates could be offered low interest loans to put to work what they have learnt at the university.

Because of the many different branches of agriculture and the wide potential it has, he said that it would be impossible to cover everything in one conversation session. However, it can be concluded that potential existed for Guyana to be rated highly for its agriculture production.

“Agriculture career is wide. There are so many different people involved to make it work and we have seen a slight increase in the population of students coming into agriculture. Our classes are filled. In essence what we want is larger space and labs at our university.

The demand will be greater for employees because different agencies are coming into the picture so there is greater demand for skillset, and we have the potential to compete,” he posited.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 3, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 03, 2020

Marlon Jacobs The evolution of

By Gabriella Chapman

MANY may have heard the name Marlon Jacobs, or the alias he goes by, ‘Freedom Boss’, after having successfully executed several events locally, regionally, and internationally.

In an interview with ‘The Buzz’, the local celebrity shared his story on his rise to stardom.

The 26-year-old said that he had always been notorious in school, both locally and in the US. But he made well of his school popularity.

“I grew up on the East Coast, in BV with granny, and then I migrated to the US when I was 14… In school, I was very well known as either the class clown, or the guy that’s always in trouble; the bad guy, or the guy that always gets the blame for things, even when I’m not there,” Jacobs said.

However, the idea of getting into promotion sprung from his popularity, and his need for a source of income in college.

“I didn’t envision myself being a promoter. In fact, my mother wouldn’t send me to school, if I had told her I wanted to be a promoter.

But I wanted to be an electrical engineer. When I was in Guyana, I was in the ‘Tech’ stream at St. Joseph High. So when I migrated, I continued along that path, and I went to get my degree in that,” Jacobs said.

Promotion just came by mistake, he added. “Surviving college was tough for me, because I didn’t get the support from mommy and daddy.

So I just had to make ends meet while I was in school. So, being popular, I just felt like I could have kept some parties and raise funds to go to school. And that’s exactly what I did. I made a lot of money, and that put me through school. So, the burden on my mom at that time, because

she had five kids, she didn’t feel that with me, ‘cause I was supporting myself through school.”

Jacobs said he started doing events while he was in College in the US, and then his events grew so big that he started doing events at other schools in the area.

“I kept doing it, and it was profitable for me,” he said.

Even though he adopted the promotion business, Jacobs completed his Upstate New York College years, and graduated with his degree in

Freshman year in College

Marlon Jacobs in his younger days Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

HIS GUYANA DEBUT Even though Jacobs is Guyanese, because he was residing in the US, all his events were done there.

However, in 2014, he decided, with the help of some of his local St. Joseph High friends, to host an event in Guyana.

“When I was in college, I did the events by myself, or sometimes with my roommates who were Jamaicans. And my friend here in Guyana, Allistair, called me and said that I have to do some events here.

So we teamed up and got the venture, and threw our first party; ‘Freedom’ at Club Monaco in May 2014.

And then we formed the promotion company. It was named after the party: ‘Freedom Family’, Jacobs said.

Since 2014, the team, as well as Marlon as an individual, would host events throughout the year for local patrons. He then went on to hosting the events in other Caribbean countries, and of course, continued in the US, where he first started.

When asked what it is about him that attracts much support at his events, the young promoter said that he believes it is because he is down to earth and approachable.

“I treat people like people, so they naturally

gravitate to me. People just love me, and I feel like it’s because I’m very charismatic. And that draws people to me. Also, if I promise you gold, I will give you gold; not silver. So people feel secure and happy to support me, because I always come through with my promises at my events,” he told ‘The Buzz’.

THE CHALLENGES Although Jacobs’ business has been viewed as a quite successful one, he said that he’s faced a lot of challenges.

“At one point, I couldn’t get a sponsor in Guyana, and that was a major challenge.

Also, friends, family and people who I would expect to support me weren’t supporting me. But one that really got to me was when I create strategies and invest in promotion and persons sabotaging by pulling down my banners and not playing my ‘ad’ on the radio. But that really pushed him to create even more creative strategies, and find ways to get the word out by himself. “I started his own radio show on 6 Vibes radio in New York called ‘Spill the Tea’, and I got really popular from that. And I think that’s where my international support got bigger,” he shared.

Additionally, he said that he tries to ensure that his events are unique, and appeal to the people, to attract a large attendance.

“When I was going to school, I got a lot of zeros for plagiarism. I had a lot of papers I had to write over. So I learnt my lesson since then. So I believe in being origiSEE PAGE 21

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 03, 2020

‘Pageantry is important to tourism... support from country is vital’ --Miss World Guyana 2019

JOYLYN Conway, Miss World Guyana 2019, has recently returned home after representing the country in the National Competition in London.

In a quick interview with

‘The Buzz’, the queen recollected her experience as one that was unlike any other.

“It’s not a pageant; it’s a competition, or sometimes they would coin the term festival.

It allows a young woman to

learn so much. It allows her, via the experiences, to evolve into a better version of herself; a more well-rounded individual.

And I’ve seen that in myself,” Conway said.

Given her experience of

evolution after venturing into the world of pageantry, she said “My message to young people out there, especially young girls, is don’t fear what you don’t know, like I feared this once upon a time. Embrace the unknown; embrace the unfamiliar, because you have no idea what it will teach you.

And the Miss World Competi-

Miss World Guyana 2019 Joylyn Conway at her welcome home event at Cara Lodge

Joylyn Conway sticking cake with her family and main support system (Photos by Carl Croker)

tion is one that teaches you so much; it is one that enforces young women being beauties, but yet those that have a purpose as well. Beauty with a Purpose; and that is seen through the Beauty with a Purpose projects, as it has been seen through mine in Stem Girl Glow,” she said vehemently.

Even though Conway’s participation in the Miss World Competition transformed her life, she said that more ‘country support’ would have made more possible.

“With the support of your country, it means the world.

With the support of your government, it means the world.

My journey was not an easy one, because I didn’t have a lot of my country’s support.

I know we could have done a lot better, and I’ve seen it through the past years- not just my year alone. I’ve seen it through queens this year from Guyana, and I know we can do a lot, But I think our country needs to be educated, and to see that it is not just a girl going up to be all about the glitz and the glam, and about what catches the eye, but she is going out there to represent Guyana, to wave high the Golden Arrowhead, to share our culture with all the rest of

the world. That is important; that is vital. It is important to tourism as well, and I think our country should want to be a part of that, should want to rally behind her to get her to that title... And so Guyana needs to be behind the queens moving forward-- It can be in terms of sponsorship, it can be in terms of a simple sharing on Facebook,” the queen said.

In fact, she shared that in the Miss World competition, there is an aspect called Social Media, where one share is a vote.

“Downloading an app called Mobstar, and just liking one post is a vote. As simple as that. But again, our people need to be educated. They need to see people in high places supporting those young ladies because if they don’t they don’t see why they need to do it as well,” she said.

And most queens are successful, because they have the entire country rallying behind her to support, she added.

“So my message to Guyana on a whole is to support these young girls; support the queens, because the journey out there is not an easy one,” she said.

Now that Conway has returned to Guyana, she said she will continue working with her ‘Beauty With a Purpose’

project that was created for the pageant. In fact, she said that she wants to change it up to include both boys and girls.

“The first thing I would like to do with regards to Miss World is establish my own foundation. A STEM Glow foundation... not a STEM Girl Glow foundation, because if you say STEM Girl Glow, you just limit it to girls, and the guys need to glow as well.

And so generalise it for the entire Guyanese population, and hopefully the world. Also, continue my studies, and give back to my community more; my students, because I’ve been away from my job for a while. I’m a lecturer. And as well work along with the Miss World Guyana organisation, because I firmly believe that regardless of what your experiences are with whoever it is, wherever it is your civil duty to come back home and share your experiences to help your country. Like I said, get closer to the title. So, I’m here as well to help the Miss World Guyana 2020 candidates, and the other years, because this journey means a lot to me. It is more than this crown and this sash. It’s who I am; it’s what I love doing. My work is not done, it has just begun,” Queen Joylyn said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 03, 2020

G.O.A.T set for next weekend at 704 GREATEST Of All Time, abbreviated G.O.A.T, has grown to be one the most anticipated birthday celebration in Guyana, and it’s 2020 return is slated for January 11, at 704.

This party and concept was created and hosted by Marlon Jacobs some years ago to celebrate his birthday.

The young promoter said he came up with the concept because he wanted to have a birthday celebration, where all the persons that were born in January could come and celebrate with him, and bring along their friends and family to celebrate too.

The evolution of...

FROM PAGE 19

nal, being creative, brainstorming.

I go with what’s trending, and what people like. I’m inspired by what the people want, because they’re the ones who have to support. So all my events, I always want it to be out of the box,” Jacobs said.

ADVICE TO YOUTHS The young promoter said that a lot of youths run away with the wrong idea of how to get by in life, especially when they are from a poor background. Many fall through the school system and come out of school with nothing.

But, he said, while he, too, was not rich, and didn’t get the monetary support from his family, his homework and assignments were always on time. His grandmother’s advice, he said, has always stuck with him. And he believes that persons should have the same mindset.

“One [bit of] advice my grandma gave me was you don’t have anything to inherit from your mom and dad, so you gotta work for yours. So I always take that with me wherever I go, and I do what I have to do for me,” he said.

To this end, his advice to youths is “First, you have to work on your mindset. Second, you got to be yourself. Third, you can’t be easily influenced by friends; you gotta learn to make your own decisions. When you figure that part out, you figure yourself on a whole. But when it comes to going out there and creating the opportunities for yourself, you have to have a strategy, and you have to know exactly what you

Marlon and friends in 2014 when the first local event was hosted

want to do, and what you’re going out there to do. Over time, you have to get to know yourself and what you want; and you have to be willing to make sacrifices and take risks. Don’t make anything break you. I started with zero, and now I’m living comfortably.

Also, you can’t be afraid to start over. Many times you may fail, but always try again. Pride kills.

Sometimes you have to put your pride aside, and do what you have to do to get what you want. And when you get there, celebrate.”

PLANS FOR 2020 With his popularity and many success stories in several countries, Jacobs said that he believes that he can work on the Guyanese music industry, and that is his new plan for 2020.

His events throughout the

year, he said, will remain the same, but he would like to incorporate Guyanese artistes and take them to other countries where he has his events so that they can help to promote Guyana.

However, he said that for that to happen, the artistes have to be original and they must have a Guyanese sound.

“I think with our local artistes, most of them lack originality. And some of them are singing other people’s songs proudly. But you don’t go to Jamaica and hear a Jamaican singing Guyanese songs, or hear a Jamaican trying to talk like a Guyanese. So, in 2020, I’d like to give more artistes exposure, but they have to walk Guyanese, talk Guyanese and showcase our country wherever they are,” he said.

“And goat, that’s the sign for Capricorn, so it’s not just the Greatest Of All Time, that’s the representation of all Capricorns.

A lot of people gravitate to that, and I have hundreds of Capricorns who would come with their friends, and their family to have a great time...

This year, it is being held at 704. I think that is a small venue, but we will make it work,” Jacobs said.

Ticket prices and location have not yet been released, but the promoter has already started to build the momentum through his social media promotions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 3, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 3, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 03, 2020

Opara’s lone strike enough for GDF to win GFF Super 16 title

A 57TH minute beauty from eventual tournament MVP, Benjamin Opara, was all it took for Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to claim the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super 16 title, when the curtain

came down on the annual year-end football tournament on New Year’s Day. Played in front of an almost-packed Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, the clash between the

Guyanese get chance to pay final respects to batting legend Butcher GUYANESE from all walks of life will be afforded a chance to pay their final respects to former Guyana and West Indies batting great Basil Butcher with the arrangements for his funeral being announced.

According to a Facebook post from his son Basil Butcher (Jr), viewing of the body will take place on Wednesday, January 15 at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground, Linden between 14:00hrs and 16:00hrs. This will be followed by a wake at the same venue from 19:00hrs.

The following day, Thursday, January 16, a funeral service will be held at Christ Church Parish on Waterloo Street, Georgetown, starting at 10.00hrs.

Butcher’s remains will be cremated at the Good Hope Crematorium, East Coast Demerara, following the service.

Meanwhile, another burial service is also planned for the St Joseph’s Anglican Church, Port Mourant, Corentyne Berbice on Friday, January 17, starting at 11:30hrs.

There has been an outpouring of grief since the passing of the batting star on December 16, 2019 in Florida following a prolonged illness.

Among those paying tributes were the Government of Guyana, Cricket West Indies (CWI), Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and another Guyanese icon Sir Clive Lloyd.

Minister of Social Cohesion Dr George Norton said the passing of Butcher came “at a time when Guyana is gearing up to celebrate its 50th Republic Anniversary and his contributions to Guyanese society become even more significant.”

According to CWI president Ricky Skerritt, “the name Basil Butcher is forever etched on the honours board at Lord’s cricket ground, as one of a select group of players who have scored a Test Hundred at Lord’s”.

“Cricket West Indies would like to extend sincere condolences to Basil’s wife, Valerie Pamela Butcher, children Brian, Bruce, Basil Jr, Blossom and the extended Butcher family.

“It is with great sadness that CWI has learnt of the passing of the West Indies batting legend.

He later became part of a prolific West Indies batting lineup, that excited world cricket and brought great joy and pride to Guyanese and West Indian people everywhere.”

In its tribute, the GCB said, “Basil Fitzherbert Butcher was clearly a great son of our soil and has contributed tremendously to the cricket structure and development of Guyana’s cricket. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time, as we share their pain and grief. May his soul rest in eternal peace!”

BCB president Hilbert Foster hailed the late Butcher for his overall contributions to Berbice, Guyana and West Indies cricket. In the official release, the BCB said Butcher’s death will leave an irreplaceable void in the fraternity.

“The BCB salutes the memory of this great and legendary man, who would always have a special place in our heart and those who had the joy of seeing him bat during his career.

“He was inducted into our Hall of Fame and is a deserved member of our all-time Berbice XI and received our highest award – ‘The Tribute to Heroes. Sympathies to the family of the late Basil Butcher and we wish to assure them that we share their grief.”

Foster said he is aiming to rename parts of Port Mourant Cricket Club ground after five of their first marquee West Indian players – Butcher, John Trim, Ivan Madray, Joe Solomon and Rohan Kanhai.

Former Guyana West Indies skipper Sir Clive Lloyd spoke of Butcher thus: “He was very dependable … very reliable … very calm and an excellent player against all bowling – pace and spin. You could say in many ways he was Mr Dependable of that era in our cricket.

It was like the golden era when we had several cricketers from Guyana in the West Indies team – Rohan Kanhai, Joe Solomon, Lance Gibbs and Basil joined them to make it four.”

Born in Port Mourant, Berbice, Guyana, on September 3, 1933, to his Barbadian (St Phillip) father, Ethelbert Butcher, and Guyanese mother, Matilda Butcher, Basil was the eldest and only boy, with six sisters.

The 86-year-old Butcher eventually went on to play 44 Tests for the Windies back in the 1950s and 60s, registering seven centuries and 16 half-centuries. His solid batting average of 43.11 in Tests was highlighted by his 209 not out at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

In 169 first-class matches, the legendary Berbician scored 11 628 runs at the high average of 49.90 with 31 centuries and 54 fifties.

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Army and Fruta Conquerors lived up to all the pregame hype and excitement the two sides promised.

Coached by Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson the Camp Ayanganna-based side dazzled the crowd with their first touch, unselfishness and how much they were able to keep the star-studded Fruta Conquerors at bay for 90+ minutes and were able to come out on top with a 1-0 scoreline.

“That goal is something we’ve been practising all the time. The night before, right at that same ground, we spent about two hours running those plays and if nothing else, I was happy that the players did exactly as we practised and executed when the opportunity came along,” Wilson told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview as he reflected on GDF’s win.

The goal, scored by Opara, was something out of a coach’s text book – GDF’s run started in the midfield, flat and accurate passes as if the players were being controlled by one of the world’s top ‘FIFA 20’ on PlayStation 4. So sweet was the play, that even the Fru-

ta Conquerors supporters couldn’t resist applauding.

Fruta Conquerors created a few chances of their own, but, resolute defending and good goalkeeping ensured that the Army went on to claim the tournament’s $2M winners’ purse.

Wilson told Chronicle Sport that the win on Wednesday over Fruta Conquerors is “a win for the sport in Guyana, it’s for the development of the game and for all the coaches and people/players who struggle in this sport in Guyana.

“It’s for the Army, the organisation and the team.

This job is never easy and I hope they (the Army) use it as a turning point in showing that we can achieve things once we commit to working hard and staying disciplined.”

Meanwhile, Orin Yarde netted a hat-trick to help Santos secure a 3-2 win over Guyana Police Force (GPF) in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats and had to be decided in extra time.

Trayon Bobb and William Europe were the scorers for Police.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 03, 2020

Enmore CCCC captain voted Sport Personality -of-the-Year

winners: Club captain Bheemraj Ramkelawan (second right) with awardees … Jainarine, Hassan rewarded for Some of the award Amir Khan (left), Satesh Jainarine (second left) and Imran Hassan. outstanding performances with ball, bat

FOR his performance as captain on and off the field, Bheemraj Ramkelawan won the Sport Personality-of-the-Year award when the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) held its annual award ceremony on Sunday at the community centre’s auditorium.

Ramkelawan was recognised for his contribution in promoting and developing cricket in Enmore. He was hailed for promoting a positive image of the club and for having an unblemished record as captain in 2019.

Life Member of the Club, Taajnauth Jadunauth, in delivering brief remarks to the gathering of cricketers, special invitees and well-wishers, said it is “heartening” to see a large number of young players now attached to the East Coast Demerara club.

He credited Club captain Bheemraj Ramkelawan and his executives for keeping the club active by opening its door to new members.

“Under the leadership of your current captain and chairman, progress is being made. Players please do not, out of anger, out of dissatisfaction, walk away from this club. Problems will be there; solutions are always there,” Jadunauth noted.

The former Chairman of the Club urged the players to integrate their academics with their cricketing exploits, thereby allowing

them to become well-rounded.

“Some people will tell you, you can’t study and play at the same time, well I have studied and played at the times. Sports stimulate the brain; if you engage in sports you are stimulating your own brain, but nothing in sports and nothing in life will be achieved unless you indulge in proper discipline,” Jadunauth advised.

Meanwhile, in an effort to attract new members, Ramkelawan stated that persons below the age of 15 would be given free membership. He also highlighted that the club plans to embark on its second overseas tour next year and the destination would be decided after the AGM in January 2020.

Several awards were presented to the cricketers and off-spinner Satesh Jainarine and dominant opening batsman Imran Hassan won four of them.

The occasion marked the sixth time such a ceremony has been held since the club’s resuscitation in 2013.

Jainarine finished with the most wickets, 37 during the season, which resulted in several match-winning performances. His best effort (another award) was 5-22 against Cotton Tree cricket team.

Hassan finished as the team’s leading runs-scorer. His 551 runs were scored at an

Bravo to lead President’s XI against Irish

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Darren Bravo has been named to lead a Cricket West Indies (CWI) President’s XI side to face Ireland in a 50-overs warmup match here starting tomorrow.

The left-hander headlines the 13-man squad which includes rookie West Indies speedsters Oshane Thomas and Romario Shepherd, and former Test and one-day opener Kieran Powell.

Bravo is seeking a comeback to international cricket after being dropped for the recent tours of Afghanistan and India due to poor form.

He returned to West Indies colours in November, 2018 following a well-publicised spat with former CWI president Dave Cameron, but struggled to recapture his form across all formats and averaged 13 from five Tests, 22 from 16 One-Day Internationals and 17 from eight T20

Darren Bravo Internationals.

However, he plundered 481 runs at an average of 96 during last November’s Super50 Cup, to again catch the attention of selectors.

Shepherd, meanwhile, who was on Wednesday also named in the ODI squad for the first two matches against Ireland next week, will have the chance for crucial match practice while Thomas will get the opportunity to im-

press selectors after missing the recent tours of the subcontinent.

The left-handed Powell, a veteran of 40 Tests and 46 ODIs, was axed a year ago due to declining form but found his touch in the recent Super50 with 524 runs at an average of 58 with two hundreds.

Pacer Sheeno Berridge, who topped the Super50 wickets tally with 23, has been rewarded with a place in the squad as has fast bowler Akeem Jordan who finished with 16 wickets.

The fixture will be staged at Three Ws Oval, UWI Cave Hill Campus starting at 09:00hrs.

SQUAD – Darren Bravo (captain), Sunil Ambris, Sheeno Berridge, Nkrumah Bonner, Dennis Bulli, Joshua DaSilva, Justin Greaves, Akeem Jordan, Brandon King, Yannick Ottley, Kieran Powell, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas.

average of 46.

In partnership with club captain Ramkelawan at the top, the duo combined for 950 runs, accounting for 30% of the team’s total in the season. Hassan also registered two of the best batting performances - 87 not out against Cane Grove SC in a T20 match and 84 against Berbice Police in an eight-over game.

Amir Khan was also voted best all-rounder.

In 10 games, he scored 236 runs and picked up 26 wickets. Special mention was made of Yuvraj Dyal, who had 248 runs and 31 wickets in 20 matches.

The most improved player was Navindra Gobin. Batting low in the order, Gobin scored 377 runs - a high strike rate during the past year.

His performances were crucial to ECCCC being on the verge of entering three finals.

The best U-15 player was Sohail Gangaram. A Chinaman bowler, Gangaram took 4-15 against Fairfield in the RUBiS U-15 competition.

Another youngster, Chaitram Balgobin, was also impressive and was named the Most Promising Young Player. Balgobin played a match-winning knock in just his second game for the senior team, helping his side to the semi-finals of the 100-Ball competition.

Meanwhile Rudolph Singh Sr was named Supporter-of-the-Year. Singh attended over

75% of matches during 2019. Special mention was also made of Mr Gobin and Uncle Nar. Deolall Rajkumar was also awarded for being the Best Curator by the Guyana Cricket Board for 2019; Balgobin for making the Guyana Under-17 team; and Ravi Etwaroo of Cricket Zone USA for his selfless contribution to the development of cricket at the club.

During 2019, Shameer Shahib was nominated to be the club’s latest Honorary Life Member.

He will be presented with the award at the Banks Beer 100-Ball final this month.

Some of the sponsors and well-wishers, who contributed to the success of the club included Ravi Etwaroo of USA, Kumar Ramotar of Canada, Zaheer Mohamed - Kaieteur News, Brandon Corlette – Guyana Times, Romario Samaroo of Stabroek News, Avenash Ramzan- News Room, Jamal Mohamed of Jamal Grocery Store, Jailall Deodass- Motor Trend Auto, Banks DIH Limited, Rajin of Rajin Auto Paint, Raj of Raj’s Sports Bar, Anil Persaud, Sir Deoraj Nauth, Roberto Lall of Ray’s One Stop, Uncle Nar, Radesh Furniture Establishment, Romesh of Kissoon’s Construction Services, Javed of Boodram Bakery, Star Sports, Looknauth Lumber Yard, Rishi’s Barber Shop, Lens Variety Store and Johil Mining Company.

Brathwaite to lead strong Pride unit in opener BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite leads a strong 13-man squad for Barbados Pride’s opening match of the Regional FourDay Championship against Windward Islands Volcanoes next month.

The squad announced New Year’s Eve includes three other current Test players in batsman Shamarh Brooks, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, along with Ashley Nurse and Jonathan Carter who have both played one-day cricket for West Indies.

Brathwaite is coming off a lean year for West Indies where he averaged just 16 from six Tests, and will be hoping to regain his form during the first class campaign.

Brooks, meanwhile, is coming off a maiden Test

Barbados Pride captain Kraigg Brathwaite hundred against Afghanistan last month while Dowrich and Warrican also turned in decent performances in that match.

All-rounder Kyle Mayers, who returned to the Pride lineup for the first time in seven years for last month’s Super50, is also included in the squad.

The 27-year-old spent the last several seasons rep-

resenting Windward Islands Volcanoes but missed last year’s campaign.

Selectors have also included talented fast-bowling all-rounder Justin Greaves and speedster Keon Harding who are fresh from helping West Indies Emerging Players to the capture of the Super50 title.

Greaves hit three half-centuries during the competition while Harding was impressive in claiming 18 wickets.

Pride face Volcanoes at Arnos Vale in Kingstown from January 9-12.

SQUAD – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich, Dominic Drakes, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Ashley Nurse, Tevyn Walcott, Jomel Warrican.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 03, 2020

Former NBA Commissioner Stern dies at 77 made league ‘truly global brand’

Holder rested for first two Ireland ODIs

By Frank Pingue (REUTERS) - Former National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner David Stern, who oversaw explosive growth in the popularity of the game during his 30-year tenure, died on Wednesday at the age of 77, the league said.

Stern, the NBA’s longest-serving commissioner before being succeeded by Adam Silver on February 1, 2014, had been in serious condition after emergency surgery on December 12 in New York following a sudden brain hemorrhage.

“Every member of the NBA family is the beneficiary of David’s vision, generosity and inspiration,” Silver, who worked with Stern for 22 years, said in a statement.

“Because of David, NBA is a truly global brand.”

Under Stern, NBA experienced extraordinary growth, with seven new franchises - including expansion to Canada in 1995 - a more than 30-fold increase in revenue, a dramatic gain in national TV exposure and the launch of the Women’s National Basketball Association and NBA Development League.

He also had a role in many other initiatives that helped shape the league, including a drug policy, salary-cap system and dress code.

“Without David Stern, NBA would not be what it is today,” former Chicago Bulls superstar and current Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan said in a statement.

“He guided the league through turbulent times and grew the league into an international phenomenon.”

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell remembered Stern as “a driving force in sports for decades”.

TRANSFORMED NBA Stern’s greatest accomplishment as commissioner is widely considered to be the way he transformed the NBA, once largely an unknown commodity outside the United States, into a globally televised powerhouse.

Under Stern’s leadership, the league opened 13 global NBA offices and became in 1990 the first U.S. professional sports league to stage a

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder

In this June 18, 1996, file photo, Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan, left, receives NBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophy from Commissioner David Stern during a ceremony in Chicago. regular-season game outside North America, when Phoenix Suns played Utah Jazz in Japan.

“David Stern was the most important non-player/non-coach who ever passed through the NBA and it’s not really close,” Bill Simmons, broadcaster and author of “The Book of Basketball: The NBA,” said on Twitter.

“David Stern earned and deserved inclusion in our land of giants,” the National Basketball Players Association added in a statement.

Current Los Angeles Lakers star, LeBron James, a three-time NBA champion, praised Stern for changing the lives of so many young adults, and “more importantly your vision to make our game become worldwide, a vision only you could make happen.”

Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 years with the Boston Celtics long before Stern became commissioner, said in a tweet: “He changed so many lives. David was a great innovator and made the game we love what it is today. This is a horrible loss.”

Another retired NBA star, Shaquille O’Neal, called Stern: “The best commissioner to ever do it.”

“We lost a legend,” said Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki, a 14-time all-star with the Dallas Mavericks.

SPECIAL MOMENTS

Asked to name his most cherished courtside moment, Stern, in a 2014 interview with the New York Times, pointed to a photograph of him presenting Magic Johnson with the most valuable player trophy at the 1992 All-Star Game, months after Johnson retired from the Los Angeles Lakers on disclosing he had contracted the virus that causes AIDS. The 1992 ‘Dream Team’ - the first U.S. Olympic men’s basketball squad to include active players from the NBA - was another special moment.

“This much-maligned group of players and sport, on the march to the gold medal stand, being feted like a combination of the Bolshoi, the Philharmonic and the Beatles,” Stern said.

Johnson remembered that journey on Wednesday: “When David allowed me to play in the 1992 All Star Game in Orlando and then play for the Olympic Dream Team, we were able to change the world,” he said on Twitter.

Stern also presided over four NBA lockouts, including two that resulted in shortened seasons in 1998-99 and 2011.

Stern, who had remained affiliated with the NBA and held the title of commissioner emeritus, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.

Dottin, Taylor, Mohammed make ESPN team of the decade DESPITE having a torrid time of international cricket over the last year and a half, three women from the West Indies side have still been picked as part of this decade’s best XI, according to ESPN. Stafanie Taylor, who scored the most One-Day International runs and is one of the three highest run-scorers in the World in T20 Internationals over the course of the decade, was a shoo-in, while all-rounding legend from the region, Deandra Dottin, also had no equal.

As a bowler, Anisa Mohammed has been the standout spinner this decade and so has also taken her place in the XI. Taylor, according to ESPN, is joined at the top of the order by New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, while at number three, Australia’s Meg Lanning was a sure pick. At four in the batting line-up comes Indian great, Mithali Raj, who averaged 55.31 in ODIs this decade and 37.18 in T20Is. England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor is set to walk at five in the team of the decade, while Australia’s Ellyse Perry and Dottin prop up the rest of the middle order.

The specialist bowlers in the side are made up of Shagnim Ismail, England veteran Anya Shrubsole, Mohammed and South Africa’s Dane van Niekerk.

This decade, Taylor scored 3993 runs at an average of 45.89, which included four centuries and 32 half-centuries. In T20Is, the 28-year-old

From left: Deandra Dottin, Anisa Mohammed and Stafanie Taylor West Indies captain managed 2639 runs at an average of 35.66 including 14 half-centuries.

Dottin’s all-round cricket has been impressive. She scored 2349 runs in ODIs this decade while taking 64 wickets. In T20Is the all-rounder was just as impressive, scoring 2175 runs while taking 58 wickets.

Mohammed has been the standout bowler this decade, taking an incredible 142 wickets in ODIs over the period. In 2011, for instance, the offspinner managed to remove 37 scalps from just 13 games. She has taken five or more wickets on three occasions since 2010.

In T20Is, where batters reign supreme, Mohammed was also brilliant, bagging 102 wickets with best figures of 5/12. She took five or more wickets twice in the period and had four for nine in 2010 and 2011.(Sportsmax).

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Former One-Day International captain Jason Holder has been rested for the first two ODIs of the three-match series against Ireland starting next week, as selectors move to manage his “heavy workload”.

The fast bowling all-rounder is the only change to the Kieron Pollard-led squad which went down to India last month on the subcontinent, and chief selector Roger Harper said Wednesday Holder’s engagement in all three formats meant it was important he was afforded the opportunity “to recharge his batteries”.

“The decision was taken to rest Jason due to the heavy workload he has had over the last year,” Harper explained.

“With an important year ahead for West Indies cricket, we saw this as the best opportunity to give him a break to recharge his batteries and refresh his mind so he could be ready to perform at his best as our Test captain throughout 2020, as the number one-ranked all-rounder in Test cricket and an important member of the team in the white ball formats.”

Holder led West Indies in ODIs for 4-½ years but was sacked following the series defeat to India in the Caribbean last August, which came in the wake of the Windies dismal campaign at the World Cup earlier in the year.

He retained his spot in the side and also forced his way into the Twenty20 squad, after presiding over Barbados Tridents’ capture of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title last October.

The 28-year-old has continued in charge of the Test side and has emerged as the world’s leading all-rounder in the format, where he averages 32 with the bat and 26 with the ball.

Last year, Holder played five of West Indies’ six Tests, 27 of his side’s 28 ODIs and nine of their 12 T20s.

Meanwhile, selectors have resisted the temptation to make changes and have kept faith with the remainder of the squad despite the recent series loss to India which marked their 10th straight series defeat to the subcontinental powerhouses.

There was no recall for left-handers Darren Bravo or Kieran Powell in spite of their heavy scoring in last November’s Regional Super50, with fast bowler Oshane Thomas also overlooked despite his 17 wickets for Jamaica.

Harper said despite the recent result against India, the Windies had exhibited qualities which suggested that improvements were being made.

“The Afghanistan and Indian series told me that the team is making very positive strides,” he pointed out.

“Winning the ODIs against Afghanistan, our first ODI series win for five years, followed by the very competitive performance in against India is testament to that. The team demonstrated a determination to compete and gave it every effort.

“Against India the batting was consistent and while the bowling had its moments, it is clear that we have to improve our ‘death’ bowling. However, the fact that the team played in such an organised and competitive manner consistently augurs well going forward.”

West Indies will face an Ireland side which has beaten them only once in 10 meetings but Harper labelled the series a “must win”.

“This series against Ireland offers us the opportunity to build on the performances in India, build confidence as a team and for individual players,” he stressed.

“Just like the series against Afghanistan, the Ireland series is an important one for us, one we must win.”

SQUAD – Kieron Pollard (captain), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 03, 2020

Friendship ‘needle’ Golden Grove to win 592 Inter-Village Football title AMID the fireworks which beautified the sky and the celebrations which enveloped the venue, Friendship, the sister village of the more famous Buxton Community, were crowned the inaugural 592 Inter-Village Football Champions, defeating Golden Grove 1-0 on Wednesday night.

Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams and WPA member Dr. David Hinds were among the dignitaries who made the trip to the Golden Grove Community Centre to witness the compelling match, which was decided by a moment of individual brilliance.

The man of the hour was the diminutive Dillon Wright, who decided the eventual outcome in front of a mammoth crowd of thousands from villages throughout the East Coast Demerara corridor.

Following the pageantries Wright evoked a contrast of emotions from the gathering as he found the back of the net in the 21st minute.

Given his stature it was the unlikeliest of conversions as Wright escaped his marker and directed his powerful header past the goalkeeper, following a cross into the box, sending Friendship faithful into frenzy.

The aforesaid conversion sealed the $500 000 and championship trophy package for the eventual

winners. On the other hand, the runners-up pocketed $200 000.

Eon Havercome, Tournament Coordinator, in a post-tournament comment said, “We could not have envisioned or asked for a better final for the inaugural edition of the tournament. The competition has exceeded all expectations and has solidified itself as a platform and staple for the future within the East Coast Demerara realm. Once again I have to thank the fans and the teams for their unwavering support of the event.”

According to Havercome, “Who would have expected that in the inaugural edition and as relative newcomers in this realm, the turnout and support would be so monumental?

“It simply shows that football in the East Coast region especially among the villages is truly alive.

Without the fans and the players and the corporate support this would not have been a reality and an eventual success. The 592 Inter-Village Football Festival is here to stay.”

He further revealed that the official presentation of team and individual prizes will take place in the

The newly crowned inaugural 592 Inter-Village Football Champions Friendship in celebratory mode following their 1-0 win over home side Golden Grove in the grand finale on January 1. following week, adding that individual prizes will be awarded for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, the MVP of the final, Best Goalkeeper of the tournament and Best Goalkeeper of the final.

Meanwhile in the third-place playoff, Beterverwagting (BV) edged Paradise 2-1. Omari Glasgow and Akin Curry scored in the 14th and 71st minutes respectively. For the losers, Emmanuel Evans netted

Test opener Campbell poised to lead Scorpions KNGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – West Indies Test opener John Campbell has been recommended to lead Jamaica Scorpions in the Regional four-day championship bowling off next week.

The 26-year-old’s name was put forward by head coach Andre Coley and chief selector, Junior Bennett, and is now awaiting ratification by the Scorpions board.

Once the recommendation is upheld, Campbell will replace Paul Palmer who averaged 19 last season and subsequently turned out for Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners in the Super50 Cup last November.

Palmer has not been named in the 13man squad to face Trinidad and Tobago Red Force from January 9-12 in Port of Spain.

Campbell has played six Tests following his debut against England last year January, managing to strike up a decent partnership with vice-captain

Kraigg Brathwaite at the top of the order.

A veteran of 62 first class matches, he is the only current West Indies player in the squad which includes out-of-favour batsmen Jermaine Blackwood and Rovman Powell.

Blackwood scored 465 runs last season and belatedly featured in the second Test against India in Kingston last September when he became West Indies’ first-ever concussion substitute by replacing Darren Bravo in the second innings.

Powell, meanwhile, who led Scorpions during the recent Super50 and averaged 58 with two hundreds, has been ignored for the captaincy.

Batsman Alwyn Williams, with a single first class appearance, and uncapped left-arm spinner Patrick Harty, have been named in the squad.

Scorpions finished one from bottom of the six-team standings last sea-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday November 21, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) 4 (2) 8 (1) (2)

Today’s Quiz:

How many players made their WI T20 International debut in 2019?

How many players have now captained the WI in T2o Internationals?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

son after managing just three wins in 10 outings.

SQUAD – John Campbell, Alwyn Williams, Jermaine Blackwood, Assad Fudadin, Nkrumah Bonner, Rovman Powell, Denis Smith, Aldaine

Thomas, Dennis Bulolson Gordon, Green, Patrick Marquino M

li, NichDerval Harty,

West Indies left-hander John Campbell.

in the 69th minute.

Due to the outcome, BV pocketed $150 000 and a trophy while Paradise walked away with $100 000 and the respective trophy Some of the major sponsors of the tournament included Bakewell Guyana Incorporated, ExxonMobil, NSC, Flavours Boss and Colin Talbot Construction Services.

Tropical Woods and Wood Products sponsors inaugural golf tourney SATESH Tewari, GM of Tropical Woods and Wood Products, is pleased to partner with Lusignan Golf Club in launching his inaugural tournament on the first Saturday of 2020 (tomorrow). With the grounds in great condition, golfers would be delighted to start the year on a bright note with this exciting tournament.

Tropical Woods and Wood Products of Lot D, Area C, Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, Tel: +592-2208063/+592-643-9771 and Email: keshgy@yahoo.com, has been in the business of processing rough and dressed hardwoods for the local market for over 16 years, and has in recent times generously supported wood-product requirements of the Lusignan Golf Club.

Saturday’s tournament will be played under the Medal-play format, and may be played either in Flights or in a non-Flight system, depending on the number of participants.

In the Flights system, all golfers are traditionally grouped into at least 3 Flights – handicap 0-9, 10-18, and 19-28/36, or a slight variation of these. In the non-Flight system handicaps 0-36 are played without any grouping.

Prizes will be awarded to the 1st to 3rd Best Net scorers.

Dudamel resigns as Venezuelan national team coach

By Andrew Downie

(REUTERS) - Rafael Dudamel left his post as coach of the Venezuelan national team on Thursday, saying his relationship with officials had deteriorated to the point that it was better to resign.

“I think this is the best thing for the national side,” Dudamel, who had been in charge of the team for almost four years, wrote on his social media account.

“I am leaving the position so that a new coach can enjoy the working conditions that were no longer available to me.”

The former goalkeeper had disagreed publicly with his bosses and had already

threatened to resign.

The 46-year-old, who coached Venezuela’s under-17 and under-20 teams before taking over as head coach in 2016, leaves the Vinotinto on a high after securing wins over Argentina and the United States.

His successor will have the task of guiding the team in the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, which kick off in March.

Dudamel did not say where he is headed but media reports in both Venezuela and Brazil said he was joining Atletico Mineiro.

The Brazilian club is anxious for a fresh start after another disappointing season. Atletico finished 13th in the Brazilian first di-

Rafael Dudamel vision last year and have not won the Minas Gerais state championship since 2017.

Dudamel’s only pervious club experience was with Venezuelan sides Estudiantes and Deportivo Lara.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday January 03, 2020

UDFA Christmas championship

Topp XX capture title, $700 000 after 3-1 penalty shootout against Coomacka

By Joe Chapman TOPP XX captured their sixth year-end Christmas football championship, which is their first under the auspices of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA), in a taut match which ended with a heart-throbbing penalty shootout victory over Coomacka. in front of a packed Mackenzie Sports Club on New Year’s night.

It was a fitting finale and in the end Topp XX returned to the podium after Coomacka had placed themselves in Linden’s soccer lore. After some giant-killing performances of the top two seeds in this championship, Net Rockers and Botofago finally choked in front of the biggest crowd After the deciding penalty shootout win, as if it was prophetic, Topp XX coach Troy ‘Boy Blue’ Nelson told Chronicle Sport: ”We just started 2020 and pattern Topp XX’s name. We are out of the 20teens and this is Topp XX’s time. “ Both sides had shown some nervousness in getting their feet on the ground early as the crowd swelled for the big clash. As early as the fourth minute, Coomacka, with a majority fan base of spectators who travelled from the south of Linden, got an early shot to goal.

They took the game to their opponents whose pedigree certainly did not scare the Coomacka side.

Knowing that this Topp XX side were seeking rebirth of their championship label of some ten years ago, Topp XX sent a free kick that forced a save by Coomacka’s acrobatic goalkeeper Kellon Major in the 14th minute of play then three minutes later one by the sharp-shooting Travis Waterton was just wide on the right side of his citadel.

In the 32nd minute, Topp XX again got an outside shot towards the goal which was well taken by Major in goal.

However, Coomacka found the back of the net in a brilliant effort down the left flank as Wheatland Thom darted into the area and unleashed a ‘wicked’ flat shot that gave Topp XX goalkeeper Gregory Hinds not much of a chance to save. The score read 1-0 at halftime for the team from the Mines in front of an ecstatic crowd.

With that lead Coomacka continued to harass their better known rivals and constantly took the game to them, but 15 minutes into the second half Topp XX knotted the scores through their fast-moving forward Shawn ‘Dash’ Daniels, who was there to make the best of a chance in the second half for a 1-1 score-line.

Nigel Hinds hands over the winning trophy to coach Troy ‘Boy Blue’ Nelson after Topp XX captured the UDFA Christmas football championship on New Year’s Night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Now on even keel, the game continued to be a tough encounter as both sides played to the end of 90 minutes without troubling the score sheet and even extra period of play could not break the deadlock.

It was the more level-headed Topp XX, with three brilliant saves from their goalkeeper from the first shot he got that allowed them a 3-1 victory in the end from the penalty spot shootout.

Topp XX goalkeeper Gregory Hinds when asked about his thinking going into the penalty shoot-out affirmed: “I was confident as I have been constantly practising and training and I know I could handle myself in such situations.”

Earlier in the evening, Botofago showed why they are the higher ranked club when they humbled Haynes and Lewis Winners Connection 5-1, after conceding the first goal as early as the 2nd minute of play.

Jamal Haynes first tied the scores at 1-1 one minute before the first half ended. Then Botofago took the lead in the 67th minute through Floyd Headley, Ranic Velloza in the 73rd minute and another in the 74th minute through Jashawn Moore for a 4-1 tally.

Winners reduced that through a goal by Marmalaque Davidson in the 78th minute but another by Jamal Haynes, his second, in the 89th minute ensured the Botofago walk away with the third place prize by a 5-2 margin.

Nigel Hinds of Nigel Hinds Financial Services made the presentation of the Trophy Stall trophy and $700 000 in cash to Troy Nelcon of Topp XX and Topp XX goalkeeper Gregory Hinds was also adjudged the Most Valuable Player and collected the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, reportedly worth some $250 000 compliments of Nigel Hinds Financial Services.

Only Viv stood between Greenidge and all-time greatness: Holding BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Fast bowling icon Michael Holding believes only the sheer genius of Sir Vivian Richards prevented Gordon Greenidge from becoming the quintessential batsman of his generation.

Greenidge was recently honoured with a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year list for his “services to cricket and the development of sport” and Holding, who played alongside the legendary opener, said there was never any doubt about the Barbadian’s immense status.

“Gordon was a great player,” Holding said in tribute to Greenidge during an interview on the popular cricket radio show, Mason and Guest.

“He had one bad tour that I can remember and that was the first time he went to Australia in 1975-76 when he wasn’t the

only one, but since then he just blossomed and became a great player.

“If it hadn’t been for Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, everyone would’ve been talking about Gordon Greenidge.”

Greenidge, considered one of the finest technicians of the game, gathered 7 558 runs at an av­er­age of 44 with 19 cen­turies.

He struck a cen­tu­ry in ei­ther in­ning of the 1976 Old Traf­ ford Test, lashed two dou­ble hun­dreds on the 1984 tour of Eng­l and, and was a member of the West Indies side which won the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979.

Sir Viv, widely considered the most dominant batsmen of his era, amassed 8 540 runs with 24 hundreds at an average of 50.

His career-best 291 at the

Oval in 1976 was one of two double hundreds on a tour when he thrice reached triple figures in a record aggregate of 829 runs. An imperious 138 in the 1979 World Cup final at Lord’s handed West Indies a historic second straight title.

Holding said of all the great innings by Greenidge, the one performance which had remained with him was the 226 at Kensington Oval in Barbados in 1991, when on the cusp of his 40th birthday he carved out a defiant double hundred against Australia.

“I can remember one (innings) when he really applied himself greatly in Barbados when people were saying he had gone past his prime and he made a (double century) in that Test match,” Holding recalled.

“Gordon has played so

many great innings and of course with his opening partner Dessie Haynes, they built so many foundations for West Indies in the past.”

Holding, now a well-respected, international television broadcaster, also praised legendary former captain Clive Lloyd who also received a knighthood for his “ser­vices to crick­et”.

“He was captain for almost all of my Test matches. I played perhaps one or two series after Lloyd retired so he was my captain for most of my career, and I looked upon him pretty much as a father figure and I think most people thought of him as my cricketing father,” Holding pointed out.

“I remember once when I was still a youngster, he called my house in Jamaica … and my father answered the phone

Sir Gordon Greenidge (inset) found himself overshadowed by the genius of Sir Vivian Richards. and shouted to me ‘Mikey, your father’s on the line’.”

The Jamaican added: “Clive Lloyd was a great leader. When you look at the team that Clive Lloyd had, everybody would say ‘oh, he had so much talent’.

He’s not the only one that has had talented cricketers under

him but he knew exactly how to get the best out of his players.

“He was a father figure to most of the players, people looked up to him, he respected the players, the players respected him and so that’s why we had so much of a great team.”

Foo half-century highlights opening day for Adams’ XI JONATHAN Foo stroked a classy half-century as Anthony Adams XI ended day one of their second 2-day practice match against Leon Johnson’s XI, in a strong position heading into the final day.

The second and final practice game before the January 9 start of the Regional 4-Day tournament was reduced by a day compared to the first match which lasted three days at Providence.

When bails were lifted, Johnson’s XI were firmly placed on 85-1, trailing by 159 runs. Windies lefthander Chandrapaul Hemraj cruised to 46 not out with four fours and two sixes, sharing a second-wicket stand of 79 with his skipper Johnson, who made 23 not out with 2 fours.

Opener Tevin Imlach was the only Adams’ XI wicket to fall, trapped leg-before-wicket for one run by Ronaldo Alimohamed.

It was a good bowling outing for Johnson’s men

as left-arm pacer Raymond Reifer started with 3 for 18, getting his rhythm going ahead of the season.

Spin twins Kevin Sinclair 3-35 and Veerasammy Permaul 2-72 offered much support to the seamer, as the Adams’ XI ended on 244 all out in their first innings.

Fresh off some Regional Super50 form, Foo batted for more than 100 minutes for his 60 with 5 fours and added 57 for the 6th wicket with all-rounder Ronaldo Alimohamed who hit 4 fours and two sixes in his 39.

Raymon Perez scored 46 and Akshaya Persaud chipped in with 32 to help take their team to a solid first-innings total.

Batting first under good sunshine, Trevon Griffith looked feisty as usual, smashing four fours and a six in his 24, before falling to the skill of Reifer who had him caught by Permaul.

Jonathan Foo oozed class during his first innings half-century Griffith’s aggression and Perez’s class mixed well as the Adams’ XI lost their first wicket for 55 runs.

Perez looked fluent and seemed to continue from his second innings in the last game where he made 40, but was knocked over by seamer Chris Barnwell for 46 with quadruple fours and a pair of maximums.

Persaud stroked five fours as it looked like a good score was on his cards before the experienced arm of Devendra Bishoo caused some disturbance

to his wicket.

Permaul then got into the action, with his long-time buddy Bishoo, as he bowled Kemol Savory for 4 before trapping Ricardo Adams lbw for 3.

Foo carried his bat and eventually reached his milestone before he eventually lost his wicket which then saw the tail being exposed.

The final day’s play bowls off at 09:30hrs today. (Clifton Ross)

Opara’s lone strike enough for GDF to win GFF Super 16 title PAGE

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GDF FC celebrating their 1 – 0 GFF Super 16 finals win over Fruta Conquerors at the GFC Ground on New Year’s Day.

Chronicle Sport photographer Delano Williams captured part of the action between GDF and Fruta Conquerors in the GFF Super 16 Final on New Year’s Day

Basil Butcher

Guyanese get chance to

pay final respects to batting legend Butcher Former NBA Commissioner Stern dies at 77 made league ‘truly global brand’ 29 PAGE

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 03, 2020