Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_01_09_2019

THURSDAY 9th January, 2020

' No.105874

‘We Must Win Region Five’ ––President tells massive Hopetown rally

SEE PAGES 02&03

––says time to end PPP “political problem” in the region –– confirms that Ramjattan is Prime Ministerial candidate

President David Granger and the APNU+AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan soak up the love from supporters at the coalition’s Hopetown, Region Five rally (Adrian Narine photo)

GECOM swears in returning officers

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Guyana to re-apply for FAA Category 1 rating

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No tampering at GECOM –says chair

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 9, 2020

Ramjattan to be Prime Minister

––President Granger confirms PRESIDENT David Granger has confirmed that Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan , will be his Prime Minister once the coalition is re-elected on March 2, 2020.

The President made the announcement on Wednesday, in front of thousands of supporters at a rally in Hopetown, Region Five. “You’ve heard from my Prime Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, about the statistics of how this region has been developing, the hospitals, the roads, the bridges, the infrastructure,” President Granger said, referencing the remarks made

by Ramjattan who spoke before him.

He later added: “Khemraj

and I have signed on the dotted line. Khemraj Ramjattan will be my Prime Minister.”

Back in June 2019, Ramjattan was elected by the AFC to run as the prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming General and Regional elections. This was following a motion tabled and carried at the party’s National Conference and Elections held at St. Paul’s Retreat Centre, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

Ramjattan won by a landslide over contesting candidate Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. Earlier that day, Ramjattan was declared leader of the party while Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman was elected Chairman.

Catherine Hughes, the Public Telecommunications Minister, was elected ViceChair. Ramjattan currently serves as Second Vice President and Minister of Public Security. He is an Attorney at Law and Co-founder of the AFC. He first became a member of the National Assembly in 1992 and while he was formerly a member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), left the party to jointly form the AFC in 2005. While the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the AFC contested the 2011 General elections separately, in 2015, they formed a coalition winning 33 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly.

APNU+AFC prime ministerial candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan (Adrian Narine photo)

Guyana to re-apply for FAA Category 1 rating

By Alva Solomon ACCORDING to the FAA, in order to maintain a Cat-

egory one rating, countries with air carriers that fly to the United States must adhere to the safety stan-

dards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the United Nations’ technical agency

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson sits alongside Junior Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, as they address reporters on Wednesday (Carl Croker photo)

for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

In 2002, Guyana was downgraded to a Category two rating as the country failed to meet the required rating but once all goes well, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) will, in the coming months, re-apply for the coveted rating.

On Wednesday, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma, told reporters at a press conference at the ministry’s head office at Wights Lane, that as part of projections for 2020, on-site inspections will be done by the GCAA this month.

He said after this is completed, Guyana will re-apply to the FAA for the rating.

Guyana scored in excess of 66 per cent at the last audit. “I believe they can do

it,” Sharma said, noting that the new target is 89 per cent.

“Reaching this level Guyana will achieve category one status,” he said. With a Category-one rating, the US authorities will permit direct flights from Guyana, an issue which persons have complained about on numerous occasions.

For travellers, having to disembark while in-transit in another territory can be an exhausting process.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, told reporters that the government is not contemplating granting flag-carrier status to Caribbean Airlines (CAL) although he noted the “faithful” service the carrier has provided to Guyanese. He said it is a question of value for money, noting that granting of the status “is a complicated issue.”

Patterson also addressed the issue of ticket pricing.

He said he had an engagement with the travel agents in Guyana some three months ago, and they listed their challenges. He said they urged that he meet with the airlines operating here and this also materialised.

Patterson said that the travel agents recommended a system to be implemented where the airlines must notify government before they hike their prices. He said there have been complaints about price increases noting that in other countries, such as Trinidad and Tobago, there is a notification process.

He said that the travel agents have noted that the process “brings stability” and according to Patterson, he will further investigate the issue.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 9, 2020

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‘We Must Win Region Five’ ―President tells massive Hopetown rally

―says time to end PPP “political problem” in the region

By Lisa Hamilton THE A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) lost Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) in the 2015 elections by less than 4,000 votes and President David Granger said that come March 2020 Guyanese must not let this happen again.

Residents of Region Five, came out in their hundreds on Wednesday, were ready for the Head of State’s message in which he promised that the “backward” mentality of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would never rule again if they stuck with the coalition.

In his message at the Hopetown Community Centre Ground, President Granger pointed out that the Region has a “political problem” called the PPP which has sought to divide Guyanese by race over the years.

FIX THE PROBLEM However, he called on the people to fix the problem with their votes on March 2, so that the Region can build on its strengths to become a true “agriculture powerhouse”. “You have population of 50,000 Amerindians, Africans, Indians. You can go places with the right leadership but we have a political problem in this Region and the political problem is the PPP/C and we have to solve this problem on March 2nd,” he said.

The coalition leader told his supporters that the APNU+AFC’s vision is not to see Region Five be viewed as a “passage way” from one region to the next but as the country’s food basket.

He noted that the region produces 40 per cent of the rice in the entire country and 20 per cent of Guyana’s sugar.

He stated that while the PPP wants to create the impression that the government is

afraid to speak about sugar, the coalition has not closed the Blairmont Factory and has promised to keep sugar going in the region. This is even as it works to diversify poorly-performing sugar estates in other parts to ensure a viable future.

DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL The President reminded Mahaica-Berbice residents that the government has always fought for and acted towards their development in ways the Opposition overlooked or intentionally bypassed. These he listed as the Opposition’s attempt to raise the Berbice Bridge toll; previously poor drainage and irrigation systems and the non-cooperation of the Region’s Chairman to create a sense of stymied progress in the Region.

Presenting the audience with a verbal questionnaire, the President asked: “You want another Phantom

Squad? You want another Skeldon Factory? You want another fiber optic cable? You want another Pharaoh?”

To his questions, the hundreds waved their APNUAFC flags and screamed “No!” The coalition leader said that while his government is committed to democratic elections, the PPP is led by a man who believes in a “backdoor entrance” and has “his eye on the oil”.

However, pouring cold water on any intentions, he warned the crowd that while the individual smells victory he is making a “bad mistake” because they are up against a six-party coalition.

Describing himself as a “mild mannered man”, the Head of State reminded that, unlike the PPP, he never told supporters to chase political persons out of any region and such negative language would not be promoted by any good leader. He urged: “Let us not be abusive; let us be friends.

Let us listen to them and let

us use reason to triumph over ignorance; Let us use good to triumph over evil; let us use progress to triumph over backwardness.”

NEW OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE In his address to the mass, APNUAFC Prime Ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan stated plainly that the PPP represents the “worst choice for Guyana” and must remain exactly where they are if Guyana is to properly progress.

He said that while the PPP wants the Region to remain fastened in the “cane cutting” culture, the coalition government sees nothing wrong with the occupation but wants to give Guyanese all possible opportunities for their development. “We want to wean people away from cane cutting. That is what the PPP wants! We’re not saying anything bad about cane cutting but if we have President David Granger delivers a message of hope to the gathering (Adrian Narine photo)

President David Granger and his wife, First Lady Sandra Granger arrive at the Hopetown Community Centre Ground on Wednesday by way of helicopter for the Mahaica-Berbice APNU+AFC political rally (Adrian Narine photo) Calypso presentation by two-time chutney champion, Bunty Singh (Adrian Narine photo)

Thousands turn out to hear the message of their coalition leaders (Adrian Narine photo)

an opportunity to make them technologists and scientists and engineers we will wean them away, don’t stop that progress,” he said.

Noting such efforts already embarked upon, Ramjattan pointed to the construction of the Early Childhood Development Centre in Ithaca Village, West Bank Berbice which invests in children from the very beginning. He noted the presence of 40 new medical technologists in the Mahaica-Berbice Region which eliminates the need for patients to travel all the way to Georgetown; the new Mahiacony Secondary science laboratory and the $214M Abary sluice and the over $460M spent to repair sea defences to prevent floods.

Ramjattan affirmed that the coalition’s four year of service outshines the PPP’s “23 years of blunders” and citizens have a responsibility to make a critical decision for their future on March 2, 2020. To the people he described President Granger as “dependable, a man of integrity and a man you can trust” and the coalition government as the only leadership and the party which has a home for everyone in Guyana. “I want to tell you this, this coalition is here to stay a long, long time,” Ramjattan said.

“We have to choose in this election and we have to make it clear what we’re choosing. It is between this coalition government led

by President David Granger who is both properly qualified and certified and who has led this tremendous development thus far or you can go for an arrogant PPP government led by Irfaan Ali whose qualification we don’t know a thing about.”

This was the APNU+AFC’s second political rally with the first being held at the D’Urban Park in Georgetown on January 3, 2020. Both rallies pulled massive crowds. The coalition has planned some 16 rallies for the campaign season- the next one scheduled for New Amsterdam, Region Six on Saturday, January 11, 2020.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 09, 2020

Trump: Iran ‘standing down’ after missile strikes (BBC) US President Donald Trump has said Iran “appears to be standing down” after it targeted air bases housing US forces in Iraq, in a televised address from the White House.

Mr Trump said no US or Iraqi lives were lost in the attacks and the bases suffered only minimal damage.

The Irbil and Al Asad bases were attacked early on Wednesday local time.

Iran said it acted in retaliation after the assassination of top Iranian General Qasem

Several missiles landed away from the bases

Soleimani last week.

The US drone strike target-

ing him and Iran-backed militia figures in the Iraqi capital Baghdad was a major escalation amid already deteriorating relations between Iran and the US. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described the missile attacks as a “slap in the face” for the US and called for an end to the American presence in the Middle East.

What did Mr Trump say?

He has previously threatened military action against Iran if it were to target US personnel and bases, but he did not announce any military action,

saying Iran’s attack had caused no casualties. “No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime,” he said.

“Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned,” he added.

He also said that “American strength, both military and economic, is the best deterrent”.

“The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it.”

Mr Trump also said the US

would immediately impose additional financial and economic sanctions on Iran, which would remain until it “changed its behaviour”.

“Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism,” he said.

“The civilised world must send a clear and unified message to the Iranian regime.

Your campaign of terror, murder and mayhem will not be tolerated any more.

It will not be allowed to go forward.”

Iran missile attack: Did Tehran intentionally avoid US casualties?

(BBC) In the early hours of 8 January, Iran launched attacks on Iraqi bases housing US forces in retaliation for a US drone strike in Baghdad last Friday that killed a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani.

But despite furious warnings from Tehran that the US would pay a significant price for that killing - no-one was hurt by the retaliatory attack, according to US President Donald Trump.

So did Iran intentionally avoid causing casualties?

What did Iran and the US say? A statement from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said “tens of surface-to-surface missiles” were launched early on Wednesday “to crush the occupied air base of terrorist and aggressor army of the US in Al Asad”, the hub for American military operations in western Iraq.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which is close to the IRGC, reported that Fateh-313 and

Qiam missiles were used in the attack , and that US forces failed to intercept them because they were equipped with cluster warheads. The warheads also caused “tens of explosions” at Al Asad, it said.

The US defence department said Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles that targeted at least two Iraqi military bases - al-Asad and Irbil, in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region.

But Mr Trump said US forces suffered no casualties as a result of the Iranian missile attacks, and that the bases sustained “only minimal damage”. In a televised statement, he credited “the precautions taken, the dispersal of forces, and an early warning system that worked very well”, and declared: “Iran appears to be standing down.”

What did the missiles actually hit? Iraq’s military, which also reported no casualties, said the country was hit by 22 missiles between 01:45 and 02:15 on Wednesday (22:45-23:15 GMT on Tuesday). It said 17 missiles were fired towards Al

Asad air base.

Satellite photographs taken by the commercial company Planet Labs for the Middlebury Institute of International Studies showed what appeared to be at least five destroyed structures at Al Asad. David Schmerler, an analyst at the Middlebury Institute, told NPR: “Some of the locations struck look like the missiles hit dead centre.”

But it was clear that some of the weapons did not hit the bases. Two of the missiles aimed at Al Asad fell in the Hitan area, west of the town of Hit, and did not explode, according to the Iraqi military.

THURSDAY JANUARY 9, 2020 - 04:30hrs & 14:30hrs

Wednesday January 08, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 09, 2020

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Petroleum Spill In Rockfort, East Kingston – NEPA (JAMAICA GLEANER) The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) says it received a report from Rubis Energy Jamaica Limited about a pollution spill at its Rockfort

facility in East Kingston.

NEPA says Rubis reported on Tuesday afternoon that there was a release of petroleum products, which entered the terrestrial and marine environment.

The agency says a technical team was subsequently deployed by the agency to investigate the incident.

It says during the team’s visit to the facility, the recovery of the spilled product had

commenced and containment booms deployed in the marine environment.

The agency says it will continue to monitor the situation to ensure restoration of ambient conditions in the

affected area.

The public is being advised to proceed with caution within the impacted area until further notice.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on

WhatsApp at 1-876-4990169, email us at editors@ gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.

Get More Inmates To Flip On Crooks, DPP Urges (JAMAICA GLEANER) With witness absence cited as a key cause behind the prosecution’s cases crumbling, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn has called for the ramping up of a campaign to get more inmates to plea-bargain, a win-win for the individual and State.

According to Llewellyn, the relevant section of the Plea Negotiations and Agreement was first utilised in the trial of Tesha Miller, who was last month found guilty of accessory before and after the fact to the 2008 murder of Douglas Chambers, former chairman of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company.

Section 20 of the act states: “A convicted person who is serving a sentence and wishes to assist the prosecutor, may enter into post-sentence negotiations and agreements with a

Puisne judge, Justice Georgiana Fraser, inspecting a guard of honour in front of the Supreme Court on King Street, downtown Kingston, yesterday. The occasion was the opening ceremony of the Hilary term for the Home Circuit Court.

view to a reduction in sentence or other benefit.”

During the Miller trial, which began on November 13, 2019, a self-proclaimed member of the Spanish Town-based Clansman Gang, who was serving a life sentence for murder with eligibility for parole after 16 years, entered into a plea deal with the prosecution that saw a reduction of his sentence to a fixed term of 10 years. It was the first time that a prisoner was using that section of the legislation, Llewellyn said.

“Just in case any of my learned friends have amnesia, I would hope that the authorities at the Ministry of Justice, the custodes, and perhaps the Jamaica Information Service and any other entity that is engaged in public education, reach into the prisons and to educate inmates of this particular section,

Venezuela’s Maduro seeks oil contract changes with congressional shakeup: lawmakers (REUTERS) Venezuela’s ruling Socialist Party hopes legislators it recently declared to be in charge of congress will approve changes to ownership of some crucial state oil assets, five opposition lawmakers said on Wednesday.

Pro-government legislators on Sunday declared little-known politician Luis Parra as the head of congress after troops blocked opposition lawmakers from backing Juan Guaido for a second term. The defiant legislators responded by proclaiming the session null and re-elected him anyway.

Maduro wants the Socialist-backed legislators to make legal new investments by oil companies from allied countries, such as Russia, who have seen the opposition-run congress as a liability to cutting new deals.

The shift would allow for a scheme in which investors holding Venezuela’s defaulted bonds would be able to swap them for ownership stakes in the fields and recoup the debt they are owed by producing oil, said Angel Alvarado, who sits on the opposition-held National Assembly’s finance commission.

Bondholders who participate in such a swap could risk running afoul of U.S. sanctions, which broadly prohibit financial deals with the Venezuelan government.

Venezuelan law requires that the National Assembly must approve any changes to the ownership structure of the OPEC nation’s joint ventures with private companies.

The opposition, which holds a majority, opposes economic reforms that could help Presi-

dent Nicolas Maduro hold onto power.

“Parra was put there to try to approve these oil deals,” said Jose Guerra, who also sits on the finance commission.

Russia is the only county that has backed Parra. The United States, European Union, and most Latin American countries still recognize Guaido as head of parliament.

That has led lawmakers to believe Russia, whose state oil company Rosneft is among the

largest investors in Venezuela’s oil sector, could benefit from the new deals.

“These deals need National Assembly approval, and that’s why Russia’s move is suspicious,” Alvarado told reporters.

“Russia could increase its stakes in the fields,” he added, without providing evidence for the claim.

A spokesman for Parra did not respond to a request for comment.

which would be to their benefit once they choose to assist the investigators or prosecutors,” she said.

The DPP was speaking at the opening of the Hilary term at the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston, where it was revealed that there are 989 cases currently before the court.

Of that number, there are 551 murder cases, while 303 account for sexual offences. This compares with the corresponding period last year when there were 996 cases, 556 for murder and 333 for sexual offences.

Attempted murder, capital murder, manslaughter and other breaches of the Offences Against the Person Act account for the remainder of cases.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 09, 2020

Diversity and National Unity AS WE begin the New Year and prepare to celebrate our 50th Republic Anniversary, it is a good time to reflect on our condition as a diverse society.

As uncomfortable as it is to discuss ethnicity and race, our ethnic diversity compels us to keep that discourse open.

Our ethnic diversity is a function of our evolution as a society from the first encounters between the Europeans and the Amerindians.

The Africans would later be brought against their will to bear the burdens of the most anti-human system in the history of humanity -- slavery. The dynamics of that slave system would continue

to have an overpowering effect on the shaping of our collective identity.

By the time our East Indian, Chinese and Portuguese ‘brethren and sistren’ arrived in the mid-nineteenth century, the nation had begun to take shape. Emancipation brought freedom from plantation slavery, but it also marked the beginning of a new form of servitude, called colonialism. It is into this state of affairs that the indentured labourers were brought. Their experiences were, in many respects, not much different from what slaves experienced in their social relations on the plantations.

In fact, colonialism con-

tinued the dehumanisation of enslavement without the formal architecture of slavery. During colonial rule, our various ethnic groups were forced to seek and find common ground in their quest to combat the consequences of being subjects. This movement for unity, however, was not a seamless exercise.

It was constantly interrupted by the direct and indirect divide-and-rule interventions of the colonizers. But in the end, it was the inter-ethnic solidarity of our various groups that brought us to self-rule in the 1950s.

But before we could attain independence, the movement split again; this time with disastrous conse-

quences. It is to our credit, however, that 50 years into our independence, we are still together as a single nation. This represents a victory for the unity impulse, first forged during the anti-colonial struggle. It has not been an easy road, for the forces of division are constantly at work.

The biggest obstacle to a more comprehensive unity has been our party politics, which has not been able to accommodate the dictates of the politically united system.

From 1961 to the present, we have articulated the need for a government of national unity, but have not been able to effectively translate that to anything concrete. Yet,

we must continue to work towards that reality in both word and deed.

The coming to power of a coalition has understandably raised hopes that we are closer to such a government.

The merging of six political entities in the coalition presents a model to the nation.

In a real sense, the working people of the country would want a system of governance that guarantees security for all groups. They understand the relationship between polarisation and poverty; that our economic development as a nation is tied to our united purpose.

We are lucky to have a president who is prepared to walk the walk on this

matter. We obviously need constitutional change in order to enshrine the unity principle in our rules and laws. But those would mean little if our people do not demonstrate without a doubt that they are on board. The ball is in the court of our leaders, and they must step up to the plate and put their partisan prejudices aside in the interest of the nation. But we, the people, must pressure our leaders to bow to the inevitable and release our nation into the community of diverse countries that dare to confront their internal divisions.

GuySuCo must cooperate for the revival of sugar, rather than being obdurate

Dear Editor

This most recent statement from GuySuCo that ‘’The industry will continue to face challenges to achieving reliability in the factories if operation capital investments continue to be delayed”, contained in Demerarawaves January 03 news story captioned,” GuySuCo calls for release of funds as production falls to 90,000 tonnes” begs the question as to the sugar corporation’s understanding that it is functioning in an entirely different environment in so far as its status as an industrial concern capable of producing sugar at compet-

itive market prices at this time, and whether it has the extant capability of meeting production targets because of its obsolete production machinery.

GuySuCo absolutely cannot lay claim to its former pre-eminence, a fact that had been long evident before its bankrupted state was finally forced into the open by the defeat of the PPP/C, which kept it alive with tax payers’ money, for its purely selfish political ends. This was the kind of abuse of the nation’s tax payers that the PPP/C party wanted continued, for their anti-national ends.

It is its highly indebted state, which has caused the

intervention of the coalition government to mount a rescue and salvaging operation, because of its socio-economic importance to the nation, spells that the corporation, in all reasonableness has to be functioning under an entirely different set of rules, since it is the state through the NICIL/SPU under the astute leadership of Colvin Heath-London that has had to secure and guarantee a $30B performance bond for its mechanical rejuvenation and expansion into a diversification of production pathway.

GuySuCo should also be reminded, as it has clearly been expressly told to its managers - that its continued

access to this sum is green lighted, on the presentation of a spending plan, since this has been a major factor of the Bank that agreed to lend. The fact that it has not received any further tranches, apart from the first of $7, 420,759,568, some of which sum it was reported, had been spent on items not in the lending agreement, is because it infracted the principles of the agreement. It should be reminded that the bank had ordered access to the Bond be stopped because of the latter non-adherence by the corporation.

What is at play here, is a corporation, still steep in the old colonial culture of privi-

lege, not willing to accept its severe financially stricken condition; refusing to subject itself to guidance by NICIL/ SPU, its latter entity of supervisory control, and continuing to resist its attempts to restructure both its management and operations, thus giving sugar a better chance at surviving a crises, which its senior managers silently watched mounting, without as much as a public shout, before the frantic “We are broke” on the very first day of the coalition government taking office.

Therefore, to still be stating that its rules, precludes it from reporting to another agency, with

regards how it spends finances earmarked for its restructuring, explains its obduracy; blinkered thinking, and a decrepit mindset that continues hindering the recovery process. Surely, GuySuCo should accept that its best course of action is to work with the SPU for its eventual revival, for giving sugar a second chance; but not to act in a manner that is clearly inimical to the best interests of the future of sugar.

Regards Aditya Panday

Our concern is with the management of the gold sector and the GGDMA’s attitude to rights and responsibilities Dear Editor The letter appearing in last Friday’s edition (Jan 4th) from myself as Convenor of the Policy Forum Guyana (PFG)sought to challenge

the position adopted by the Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) with respect to upcoming elections.

To the extent that that posture was articulated by

Mr. Andron Alphonso, the new President of the GGDMA, he was referred to in the letter.

PFG’s aim is to stimulate a much-needed debate over the scandalously compla-

cent approach to depletion of Guyana’s natural assets in general. Our concern is with the management of the gold sector and the GGDMA’s attitude to rights and responsibilities, not the role

of Mr. Alphonso or his family. While anyone is free to comment on any aspect of the issue, reducing it to personalities will not advance the debate that Guyana really needs.

Regards Mike McCormack Convenor Policy Forum Guyana

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 09, 2020

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The PPP's politics of lies and distration is not a winning strategy

Dear Editor

I write in response to a Stabroek News article dated January 5, 2020 and captioned, “PPP/C asks cops to probe alleged attack on campaigners in Sophia – Laing Avenue incident being investigated.”

The article notes that the PPP/C wrote a letter to the top cop, requesting an investigation of their claim. It was also stated, in the said article that “PPP/C member Anil Nandlall reported that the attack occurred in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on the afternoon of January 2nd and implicated “known PNC/APNU activist,” Lurlene Nestor, who has since denied the accusations...” I believe the insertion of my name in this PPP fabrication of lies, was intentionally done to besmirch my character and good name. It is unfortunate that Stabroek News would repeat this lie or associate me with the Sophia fabrication, even though it noted that I had already refute this blatant attack on the people of Sophia”. Editor, permit me to address this unfortunate attack on the people of Sophia and myself. For starters, it is true that I am a “known PNC/ APNU activist. It is also true that I have been publicly attacked by the PPP regime many times, some of these attacks have been made public. During the 2006 elections campaign, a PPP supporter on the Corentyne Coast came out on his porch with a shotgun and discharged his firearm into the air as a warning to myself and some young people who were campaigning in the area. He was adamant that we do not put any poster on the lantern post on the street next to his premises. We left the area in peace. As it [is]related to the present campaign, it is true that a team of Pro-APNU campaigners “The Campaign Readiers”, including myself, were campaigning in Sophia on January 2, 2020. A big push of our campaign was to invite people to the APNU/ AFC campaign launch that was scheduled for Friday January, 3rd. What are untrue are the allegations of attack on PPP campaigners.

This kind of “politics of fabrication” has always been in the PPP playbook.

Though they are experts of this kind of “sewer politics”, it is telling that they did not take the time to seamlessly stitch their falsities together. Allow me, therefore, to expose the blatant mendacities in their story. Firstly, let me turn your attention to an article in the Guyana Standard, dated January 4, 2020 and captioned “PPP activists say they were attacked in Sophia while announcing campaign launch; Nandlall writes Top Cop asking for

investigation.” In that article it was alleged that PPP activists were attacked while driving through Sophia and making announcements. This is the same fabrication noted in the January 4, 2020 article, but what was strikingly different was that there was no mention of my name, quite suspicious! The PPP and their friends decided to insert my name into the January 5 article because I exposed their lies, as soon as they made it public. It is clear that my push back in defense of the people of Sophia against the PPP’s fabrication of lies, which I consider to be also a racist attack, caught the PPP with their pants down.

They were unaware that I was also in Sophia on January 2, 2020 and they did not anticipate that their lies were going to be exposed. I, therefore, want to go on the record to state exactly what I saw. My campaign team and I were working in Sophia on January 2nd. We went into the area with a truck and a music set to announce the launch of the APNU/AFC campaign.

There were also other vehicles involved in this exercise. Once we arrived into the area, we came off the truck and took to the streets, to engage with every voter and knock on every door.

The residents of Sophia were extremely excited and supportive of our efforts. Many came out and joined the campaign, some turned off the stove, and decided that they will cook later, to join us. I saw mothers and fathers picked up their children and put them in vehicles and joined our effort, the people were excited. Our presence in Sophia aroused a deep sense of support from the people. It was a very exciting day; many danced and walked the street as they called out their neighbors to join the “caravan of excitement.” A number of videos and photos of our activities are already in the public domain.

However, while campaigning in C-Field, I saw a small truck with people in red tops driving along the D-Field road, so we were separated by a trench. Some members of our campaign team were already on the last cross street as the truck was driving along D-Field; they were not close by. The truck was driving at a reasonable speed, so that a trail of red dust was behind. I learned that the truck was carrying PPP supporters, when a member of our team said “I think that is the PPP in here too”. I could not recognize anyone on the truck since I was too far away from the vehicle and it would have been impossible for anyone on the truck to see me. The point is, we were a field away from each other. My information is that the people in Sophia rejected the PPP message and did not respond to them in an encouraging way. While campaigning in the area, many residents talked about the work the coalition did to improve the lives of residents

in the area; video footage [were] also made public.

They speak about the roads, schools etc. They were visibly upset at the PPP, who they claimed did nothing for them, had the “nerve” to ask for their votes. According to some residence, all the PPP gave them was death squad. Many claimed that “the PPP death squad killed many of their youths,” they named some of those killed by the phantom squad. Many became emotional about the whole death squad situation. I encourage them to stay resolute in their support for the coalition and to encourage others to do so. From my vantage point, at no time did I see anyone attack the PPP campaigners as the truck was traversing D-Field. Clearly, the PPP was rejected by the people, who had no time to listen to any of the party’s propaganda. In fact, I learned that the members of the PPP campaign team did not disembark the vehicle. In their allegations, the PPP talked about some street being blocked and they were unable to get through. Let me state that I saw a tire and wood across a street we were on, it appeared that some were playing a game of cricket or football so I did not think much of it, since this kind of thing happens all the time in communities around Guyana.

Like the PPP campaign truck, we also used another corner since we did not bother to wait for the boys to remove the materials. We used another street and continued along with our campaign. It is folly to think that any of the campaign teams were locked in or out, as there were other ways to get to where we wanted to go. It would be foolish for anyone to regard this as some kind of attack. I certainly do not think we were attacked because we diverted through another street. The point is, the PPP’s message was rejected by the residence of Sophia! There is a difference between reject and attack. Two days ago, I called on the PPP to share any video of photos of the attacks they speak of. I ask them to specifically produce any evidence of me either attacking or encouraging anyone to attack their campaigners in Sophia.

I also call on any person who was on the PPP truck and claim to have seen me, attack them, to come forward. To date, no one has come forward and no photos, video nor any shred of evidence to support this barefaced invention was produced.

I am appalled that the PPP would stoop this low to try to elicit political sympathy for its dismal political standing. The PPP’s baseless attack against me is done out of fear for its political future. Their attacks against me are indicative of a shameless, wicked and coward party. I am not sure what the PPP hopes to benefit by conjuring up lies against me!

People are not stupid! I have

been around the local political landscape for more than two decades and the people know me!

They know what I stand for! I appreciate those in the PPP and others who have reached out to me to let me know that they do not believe the lies being pedalled against me. I am happy that some in the PPP still consider decency and truth good character traits. I don’t know if Anil Nandlall’s association with this fabricated article is an attempt by him to become relevant before Nomination Day! He should by now come to grips with the fact that Irfaan Ali is the PPP’s candidate, the General Secretary said it umpteen times, the man got the most votes. So Nandall should be satisfied that his name will be on the list Nominations Day, but not as the presidential candidate. So, him trying to make himself relevant by perpetuating lies will not help to change the Irfaan reality! Editor, please allow me to also say something about the Laing Avenue incident, of which video footage from the PPP surfaced. On December 31, 2019, the “APNU’s Caravan of Excitement” was out in South Georgetown.

Laing Avenue was one of those areas where we campaigned.

Like every community we visited, the residents came out in their numbers and indicated their strong support for the coalition government. They danced the streets and reiterated their commitments to the government. Several video footages and photos are already in the public domain. One woman came out and blurted out “I is a born PNC, Burnham shake me hand nuff time”. I met a group of youngsters sitting under a shed; I asked them if they were registered to vote and they promptly answered “who can stop we auntie” one of them immediately got up and took his ID card from his back pocket.

We talked for a while be-

fore they joined in and walked the streets with us. The people of Laing Avenue are energised.

However, there are many who are still affected by the killings and mayhem the death squad perpetrated on their community, their friends and family. I spoke to a resident who claimed that he was good friends with George Bacchus and his brother. As he began to speak of their past friendship, tears settled in his eyes as he said “to kill them man in dem bed, because dem talking the truth…, how I could vote fuh PPP.” His comments struck me and his emotional fragility was surprising because he seemed like a strong person but when he spoke, I felt his pain. Another woman came out and asked “how we can vote for the PPP, wah dem do fuh we.” These were the kinds of unprovoked sentiments we constantly heard, particularly in South Georgetown. Let me state clearly, I have been involved in national politics, and political campaigning for a long time, I have never been accused of, supported or condoned attacks on political rivals. I believe in democracy in all its forms. I do not condone what I saw in the Laing Avenue video. However, I know that the residents of Laing Avenue are hurting like so many other communities in South Georgetown. There is a deep-seated anger and pain that people continue to suffer because of what they went through under the PPP, when the death squad reigned.

This fact we cannot take for granted. While not attempting to excuse unwarranted behaviour, I believe that before we rush to condemn the residence of Laing Avenue, we should also understand context. What did the PPP’s intelligence tell them about South Georgetown?

And were there some kind of overt or covert effort by the PPP to elicit a reaction like we saw in the video? Was there

some element of provocation, whether implicit or explicitly done to get the reactions we saw in the video footage? If the PPP can tell a boldfaced lie against me, then I believe it can do anything to attempt to gain political sympathy or advance its divisive mission. I hope the investigation will provide answers to these questions.

I would hope that the PPP would rethink its strategy of “fabrication of truths” and division. This strategy will backfire and may create more mayhem than any of us can imagine.

Campaigning on lies is definitely not a winning strategy. I would also hope that the Opposition Leader will also take the high ground and take back his “chase them out” comments.

When he made this reckless and irresponsible comment, I called it out and asked that he recant his words, to date he had not done so. Today, I call again on Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to publicly recant his call to PPP supporters to chase out the president and government officials from their communities. Failing to do this may cause even more confrontation later on. The words of our leaders, matter! They matter even more in this heightened political environment. Let me close by saying that those who have no credibility, integrity or character may have problem trying to attack those who have. I will define my character every time! The politics of distraction will not stop me! My hope is that good sense prevails on all sides, and parties are able to campaign freely across the length and breadth of Guyana. Let democracy work! As Dr. Jagan said in his 1992 political campaign, “One Love!”

Regards Lurlene Nestor

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 9, 2020

Hopetown supporters upbeat about APNU+AFC victory

By Vishani Ragobeer

AS the incumbent coalition government, A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) took its elections campaign to Hopetown, in Region Five, citizens shared why they believed the coalition will offer continued progress if reelected.

For Desiree Adams, an elderly resident of Region Five, the incumbent government had done much to improve the infrastructure in the region She also related that the David ‘G’ buses, given to communities as part of President David Granger’s 5Bs initiative, had been a huge relief for parents in the Region.

If there was one area she believed the government could direct some more focus to in the region, it would be to provide a specialised school for children with disabilities.

“We out here to support the coalition because it’s ‘Forward ever, Backward Never’,” supporter Best Kelly said. At the rally at Hopetown, Kelly was quite the energetic supporter of the government, and praised President Granger profusely.

However, he contended that

if given another term in office, the coalition government should work on providing more house lots for Guyanese. According to him, many “poor people” in Guyana would be grateful to own their own homes.

Orin Arthur, a supporter who travelled from Buxton to attend the rally, told the Guyana Chronicle that he supported the coalition government because it was one that was diverse and inclusive.

“I support the coalition because they do not look out for just (African) people, they look out for everybody... they are a diverse government that looks after everyone’s needs,” Arthur said. According to him, the incumbent coalition should receive another term in office because they are leaders that are “very balanced”. Karen Hamilton, another supporter, said that she was confident that the coalition government, led by President Granger was the “best” political party to lead Guyana into its next phase of development. President Granger, in his New Year’s address, announced the launch of a Decade of Development: 2020-2029,

which is a ten-year plan that will accelerate the country’s four transformative processes – the ‘green state’, the ‘digital state’, the ‘petroleum state’ and an education nation.

Specifically, on creating this “education nation”, Hamilton opined that the government should do more work in communities where there was a high number of school absenteeism, once reelected. She also noted that the coalition should focus more on improving security for citizens. In this vein, another supporter, Bernadette Johnson, shared her view that the government could also create more jobs for young people, and school dropouts.

The Hopetown centre ground was filled with supporters dressed in their green and yellow and wellequipped with their flags and rags. Not all of the supporters present there, however, were from Region Five or even the nearby Region Four.

Harryram Samlall travelled all the way from Region Three to show his support for the coalition.

The man, who is a Councillor of the Parika/Mora Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), said that

Husband shocked

ROBIN Hakim, the husband of Subrina “Priya” Nandram, 26, who, along wither her boyfriend, Kevin Singh, 26, was found dead in a room at Aracari Resort last Sunday, said he was unaware she was in a serious relationship with someone else.

Police have since ruled the deaths as murder /suicide. The pair had been in a relationship for the past two years. Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, Hakim, 30, said he got married to Nandram when she was only 13; he was 17 at the time. He said they had minor disagreements and claimed they were never separated.

According to Hakim, he left Guyana some three years ago to seek a better life for himself and family. In fact, he insisted that he spoke with Subrina daily and last did so on the day before she died.

He said he was planning to bring his family, including Subrina, with him overseas, in June. This message, he believed, might have been the cause of his wife’s death, when her boyfriend became aware that she never separated from him.

Hakim said he called his wife’s phone countless times on Sunday but received no answer. However on Sunday evening, he received a call that “Priya is dead” and since then, he constantly breaks down in tears.

Earlier in the week, he spoke at length with Sabrina and told her to keep their sons, ages five and seven with her and get a transfer to let them attend school in Berbice until they join him in June.

The last conversation between Nandram and her husband

But they decided against the move as it would be difficult for the children; hence, she left to take them back to his parents’ home on

he believed that the government was working in the interest of Guyanese and should be given at least another term to advance its plans. In his region, he mentioned that the Parika market was in need of a ‘facelift’, as does the frequented transport stelling.

However, he said, “I think they have it (revamping

sive one”, and similarly opined that it should be given another term in office Bernadette Johnson

Harryram Samlall

Best Kelly

Orin Arthur

these) high on the agenda for 2020.” Alshazie Ramlakan, another NDC councillor from Region Three who travelled to Mahaica-Berbice to show her support, highlighted that she believed that the government was a “progres-

Karen Hamilton

to continue the work it had started.

Desiree Adams

-- unaware wife in murder/suicide was in another relationship the East Coast of Demerara.

“I have always loved Priya and still do. I never know she was with someone… I can’t believe this happen to my wife… I was expecting her to go back to Berbice on Saturday… even after all this, I still love her. I always will,” he told GuySabrina Nandram ana Chronicle.

Hakim said he was unaware that his wife was seeing someone and even thought of marrying the person.

However, he said in November last, he was aware that Kevin had visited his wife’s parents and asked for her hand in marriage.

ANGRY AND HURT “Since the time we been together, I never hit or hurt her, not even a slap and for her to die like this she did not deserve it. I am so angry and hurt since I heard the news that she is dead and now to hear that this guy killed her; it makes me worse and confused,” the young father said.

According to Subrina’s mother, Sabita Singh, her daughter did not indicate to her she was still in contact with her husband or they were still together. She said if she knew, she

would not have allowed her daughter to be in another relationship.

“Priya never tell me that she does speak with him or that they still together. As far as I know, since he left she tell me like them separate like two years now and she with this other boy. If only she had talk to me, this relationship that she had with Kevin would have never happen,” the mother said.

The woman also expressed disappointment over the way Singh family had been saying they did not know her daughter or of the relationship. They had come to her home in November to ask for her hand in marriage.

Sabita believes that “Kevin” premeditated the act, and her daughter walked into the trap.

On Tuesday when she spoke with the Guyana Chronicle, she was confident that her daughter would never end her life. The lifeless bodies of Singh and Subrina were discovered in a bathtub at Aracari Hotel and Resort, Region Three on Sunday.

Based on initial reports, the deaths were suspected to have been a case of murder/ suicide. A post mortem conducted on the bodies on Wednesday concluded that Nandram died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and manual strangulation. She was also beaten. Singh, according to the post mortem, died from pesticide poisoning.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday January 9, 2020

Autopsies confirm murder-suicide at Aracari Resort THE autopies performed on the bodies found in a hotel room at the Aracari Resort, last Sunday, have confirmed that murder-suicide was the cause. The evidence concluded that Kevin Singh murdered his married partner, Subrina Nandram, by beating and strangling her, before ingesting poison and then drowning himself in the bathtub.

For 25-year-old Nandram, a mother of two and who last resided on the Corentyne, the cause of death has been given as “asphyxiation due to manual strangulation compounded by blunt trauma to the head”, while for twenty-six-year-old Singh, of Lot 18 Triumph Village, East coast Demerara, the cause of death was given as “asphyxiation due to drowning, compounded with ingestion of pesticide poisoning”.

The post-mortem examination was conducted on the two bodies on Wednesday, by government pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, at the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour on the West Bank of Demerara, and the evidence presented itself. Singh’s body was identified by his brother, and Nandram’s by her

brother.

Following the post-mortem, both bodies were handed over to their respective families for burial. The couple had checked into the hotel at 15:38hrs on Saturday, and Singh was last heard from at 12:00hrs on Sunday when he spoke to hotel management. Respective family members of the couple had last heard from them on Saturday. Subsequently, the bodies were discovered late Sunday evening.

A container with what is suspected to be an agricultural chemical was also found in the room. The police had also initially said that the bodies bore no marks of violence. It is alleged that the couple was in a relationship for at least six months, notwithstanding Nandram being married, by religious rites, to another man. Singh is said to have spent time with Nandram at her home in Berbice over the Christmas period, and Nandram is said to have introduced him to her children as their stepfather.

Mother of Nandram’s spouse, Prano Chinoolall, who is also guardian of Nandram’s two sons, had shared, however, that to the best of her knowledge, Nandram and her

husband had never separated, and her son has been continuously sending money to support his wife and children.

“They not married legal but, yes, they married, they married about eight to seven years now, big wedding; me son and she nah left,” Chinolall had related. Following the post-mortem, Chinolall said she is not surprised by the conclusion as she had suspected, since the bodies were first discovered, that Nandram did not commit suicide.

“Yes, he kill her, I know he kill her. I am so upset with how she get her death because is he kill she, is not she kill she self, and she die and left two kids,” Chinolall expressed.

Chinolall, who lives in Mon Repos, a short distance from Singh’s residence, said she had heard rumours that her daughter-in-law was being unfaithful to Singh, but got no substantial answers from Nandram when she confronted her in the past. “I was hearing it for a long time, but I didn’t say anything because I am the mother-in-law and I don’t want to make problem with people when I keep asking her, very simple, she nah give an answer,” Chinolall had explained.

Medical, non-medical issues addressed during MoPH’s open day AS part of an effort to directly ad- have a hearing and to have their matters that as a great grandmother of a child dress the concerns of Guyanese, the to address…remember those matters living with a disability, she expends Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) might have affected a few people or just at least $5,000 to get her grandson to hosted an open-day exercise which one person, so it was a good opportunity school on a daily basis. attracted many persons, who not only for them to find redress for the issues Another senior citizen, Joseph Earle, raised concerns about medical prob- affecting them.” said he was accompanying his nephew lems, but also used the opportunity to The minister said her inwho is a lament non-medical issues. tent is to set aside a specific person “Many persons either do not un- day in every quarter of the living derstand the system or they have issues year for the ministry to engage with diswith matters to be done for them…for persons directly; the activity ability, to instance, some persons would have gone will be decentralised and not engage privately for medical attention and they be specific to only GeorgeMinister do not have the wherewithal to continue town.

Lawrence with that and then heard they cannot go Minister Lawrence said on a matto the public system…we met with them the ministry’s aim, after the ter which and clarified those issues,” said Minister upcoming elections in March, has been of Public Health, Volda Lawrence in an will be to branch out to difpersistent invited comment on the sidelines of the ferent regions in order to hear over the open-day exeryears.

Senior Citizen Mortha cise in the minis“We Aaron (Vishani Ragobeer try’s compound came here photo) on Wednesday. because In addition we are to the minister, confident present at the about the response open-day exerwe are to receive cise were offifrom the minister, cials from variwho I believe is an ous departments effective member within the public of the government,” health ministry. said Earle.

A group of persons engaging Minister of Public Health, Volda The widespread He believes the Lawrence about their concerns (Vishani Ragobeer photo) representation ministry’s openfrom the minisday initiative is one try gave persons which should be repan opportunity to ensure their issues and and address the concerns of every licated by other ministries since it gives concerns were thoroughly addressed.

Guyanese. the ordinary citizen an opportunity to Minister Lawrence reiterated that As the ministry mulls expansion of have his/her concerns effectively adthe concerns were diverse, noting: the activity, persons have already wel- dressed. “we have had several persons, who comed the initiative and said it was benIn emphasising his satisfaction raised issues related to the Ministry of eficial to them in more ways than one. with the exercise and with the work Public Health and other ministries… I A senior citizen, Mortha Aaron, who of the government, Earle said: “I dispatched letters introducing them to travelled from Wismar, Linden, had an believe that the ministry and many ministers, transferred matters for the om- opportunity to advocate for transporta- other ministries have been delivering budsman, and heard about issues related tion for children living with disabilities, for the public…it is unfortunate that to NIS and matters pertaining to labour. to attend school. their time has been hampered by “I am very happy I was able to “These lil children are living with incredible and disruptive actions, but address those concerns…even staff of disabilities, so I am looking for govern- I believe if they are to get a second the ministry visited…so the open day ment to provide transportation for them term, the delivery for the public would was really an opportunity to let people to attend school,” said Aaron. She added be outstanding.”

Post-mortem result found that Sabrina Nandram died from strangulation

She last saw Nandram on Saturday, when Nandram returned her two sons to Chinolall in Mon Repos.

Though Nandram lived in Berbice, Chinolall explained that the two children have been residing with her, in Mon Repos, for approximately three years now. Nandram had collected them for the Christmas vacation and was returning them on Saturday.

Chinolall explained that when the children returned, they related that Singh had spent the Christmas holiday with their mother, so she again confronted Nandram, on Saturday, over a telephone call, about her affair with Singh. However, Nandram

Post-mortem result found that Kevin Singh died after ingesting poison and then drowning himself

refused to respond to the allegations.

Family members for Singh had initially shared that they were unaware of why he would want to kill himself. Singh was last seen by his family on Saturday, when he told them that he was on his way to purchase a new vehicle, while departing in his brother’s vehicle which he had borrowed.

The family had become aware of Singh’s relationship with Nandram indirectly, some six months ago. “I would see Whatsapp status with the two of them, that is how I got to know who the person is,” Ravin, Singh’s brother, had explained.

Works on UG/Sophia road to commence shortly – Minister Patterson THE commencement of work on the UG road leading into Sophia is a ‘Top Priority for 2020.’ This was the statement made by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson. He stated that there were restorative works done on the roads sometime in 2018 and explained that vehicular traffic, especially large, heavy-duty trucks caused the slippages that played a part in bringing the road to its current state, which he explained is still in a somewhat useable state.

Minister Patterson who was speaking at a press briefing at his office on January 8, 2019, stated that the road had been on the agenda to be redone since 2018, but explained that due to several surrounding circumstances those works were put on hold until such a time that would be appropriate.

“The works to be completed on the UG road are a priority; one of the main challenges we had to consider was GWI doing some extensive work in the area, they are currently completing some pipe work you could probably still see them laying it down now, so there is no use of us revetting that road and GWI still would have to disrupt that to do their work; so we decided against commencing the project there and we looked at Middleton Street which faces the same issue” Minister Patterson stated.

Additionally, he stated that both sides of the road would have to be done simultaneously and this had posed a slight challenge for the ministry in terms of allocation of funds to get that completed, since the need to have the works completed came post-oil.

Minister Patterson stated that for completion of the road, the plan that has been drawn up is going to implement the use of a concrete drainage system instead of the natural drain.

This move, he explained, is pivotal to stopping the slippage that results in the roads being badly damaged. He however explained that it has been noted through extensive research that implementation of the concrete drainage system would not create a problem in the flow of the water.

“As you know, there was a Dutch team from Delft University and they did a drainage mapping of the entire Georgetown; with that mapping they calculated drainage and water flows and those things like that, so all we have to do is ensure that whatever we put back is the required volume, so that’s done already; the works will not affect drainage at all, it would probably improve drainage.

When it’s completed it will be easier to maintain the drainage systems,” Patterson stated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 9, 2020

GECOM swears in returning officers WITH the exception of Region Five, the district returning officers for the upcoming March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections were officially sworn in on Wednesday at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Three ballot officers for the discipline services were also sworn in. They took their oath of office on Wednesday at GECOM’s Headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown.

Those appointed are Trevor Harris for District One; Roxanne Smith for District Two; Mohanlall Jagdeo for District Three; Clairmont Mongo for District Four; Savitri Mangar for District Six; Glendon Fredricks for District Seven; Dwayne Marco for District Eight; John Abraham for District Nine; and Rensford Alleyne for District 10.

The ballot officers are Roxanne Ramdyhaw Lewi for the Guyana Defence Force; Nardeo Persaud for the Guyana Police Force; and Onicia Byneo for the Guyana Prison Service.

The returning officers have a variety of functions pertaining to the elections and will transmit the official results to GECOM for each of their regions following polling.

GECOM Chair, Justice (ret’d), Claudette Singh told the returning officers that they will be under scrutiny and their duties and actions must be done with integrity and impartiality.

“Bear in mind at all times that you are serving your country, and you must do so with the utmost care and diligence in serving,” she told the returning officers.

“If there is a problem, try to resolve it

and I dare say, the wider world, expects an excellent performance in your duties.”

For the ballot officer, the CEO said they will fulfil their duties between seven to 10 days prior to elections.

“The commission will uphold the conduct of those elections as prescribed in the law and all the subsequent activities that are required to ensure that those votes of those ranks are sorted, and are dispatched to the localities of those officers in those services,” Lowenfield said.

He told the gathering of returning officers that their tasks start immediately and a detailed briefing will be provided on what is required in execution of their appointments.

GECOM Chair Justice (ret’d), Claudette Singh, and Chief Election Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield (seated at centre), with the returning officers for the upcoming General and Regional Elections

in the best way you can, do not wait for things to escalate because things can get very nasty at times,” the chair added.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, said the swearing-in of the returning officers was in keeping with the commission’s work as the nation gears up for elections.

The returning officers swore to execute their duties as prescribed in the Representation of the People’s Act 103.

Teen charged with murder of destitute A TEENAGER of Springlands Corriverton was, on Wednesday, remanded to prison for the murder of Lochand Persaud Kamaldeo called “Tyie”, a well-known destitute from the Upper Corentyne area.

Dave Jacobs, 19, appeared at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate, Alex Moore, to answer the charge of murder. He was unrepresented and was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

It is alleged that Jacobs, on January 3, at around 22:30hrs in the vicinity of the Skeldon Market, stabbed Kamaldeo to the chest following an argument over who gets to sleep on a market stand by the roadside.

The matter was adjourned until February 20, 2020 and transferred to the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile, a post-mortem performed on Tuesday listed the cause of death as perforation to the heart and lungs due to a stab wound on the left side of Kamaldeo’s chest.

The deceased, who has no fixed place of abode, has been living on the streets for the past three years and would often

Murder accused: Dave Jacobs

sleep on stalls at the Skeldon Market. He has been working as a labourer in the area doing odd jobs to make a living since his return from Canada several years ago.

The accused is also said to be homeless, having moved from Mckenzie Linden some time ago and does odd jobs for a living. An argument had erupted between the men over who had rights to sleep on the particular stand on the fateful night. A scuffle ensued and Kamaldeo was stabbed in the chest.

According to police sources, Jacobs was arrested and confessed to stabbing the deceased. He, however, claimed the knife belonged to the deceased who tried to use it on him and he took it away and stabbed him instead.

The CEO said the returning officer must treat every elector in a fair, impartial and transparent manner.

“That is an absolute neces- GECOM Chair, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, and Chief Elections sity, the nation Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield (seated), with the ballot officers for the Disciplined Services

Full Sail University reaches out to local students THE Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida is offering Guyanese students the opportunity to explore careers in the non-traditional areas of arts, media and technology.

Alumnus of the University, Sandra Lizama, is currently in Guyana engaging students from various schools on the programmes and scholarship opportunities available for Guyanese students at Full Sail.

“This trip is really to bring awareness not only to Full Sail but awareness to careers in other fields,” Lizama told Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday.

The woman, who has also been in other Caribbean countries, related that from her experiences in these countries, she found that many persons still gravitate towards careers in traditional fields such as medicine, law and business.

However, she stressed that there are a myriad of other career areas and fields that people can tap into. Full Sail specifically focus on arts, media and technology, and the relationship of business in these fields.

While in Guyana, Lizama will be delivering presentations at the Mae’s Secondary School, Georgetown International Academy (GIA) and School of the Nations. She has also engaged students from

the Marian Academy and the Bishops’ High School.

Presentations at those schools will cover all the programmes offered at the university, which include computer animation, visualisation and simulation, game design, media and communication, among others.

“Outside of the core academic subjects… there are a lot of opportunities (at Full Sail) as well, that add to one’s portfolio or work experience,” she related.

Giving an example of this, she shared that the students on campus are able to engage with WWE NXT, often referred to simply as NXT (a brand of the US based professional wrestling promotion WWE).

Production for NXT is done monthly on the university, and she related that students from sport media and marketing, business, and others, are able to gain practical experience.

Lizama related that because of this practical component, students hoping to return to Guyana and establish businesses would be able to build a reputable network beforehand and would not be “starting from scratch”.

Local musician, Gavin Mendonca had the opportunity to visit the university and

Alumnus of Full Sail University, Sandra Lizama

engage with a sizeable group of students on the creole rock genre he is pioneering. Though just being there for a short period, he posited that the environment itself is one which is conducive for creatives.

Meanwhile, Lizama noted that there are scholarships available to Guyanese students and anyone interested can contact her at sandra.lizama@ fullsail.com The Full Sail representative is encouraging anyone to reach out to her for more information, guidance on the application process or even to help introduce these non-traditional areas of study and careers to parents.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday January 9, 2020

Auditor General ignores MoPI’s suggestions regarding CJIA audit

A SPECIAL audit of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion project is being stalled by the Auditor General’s refusal to entertain suggestions by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure regarding the conceptualisation and initial moves prior to the fruition of the project.

On Wednesday , Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, told reporters at a press conference at the ministry’s boardroom at Wights Lane that in July last year, the ministry was notified by the Office of the Auditor General that the unit planned to conduct a special audit of the US$150M airport project.

Patterson said on July, 28, 2019 the ministry, through the Permanent Secretary, suggested the incorporation of several pieces of information which he noted will provide the ministry with more clarity regarding the project.

He said the suggestions would have also provided information on “lessons learned” from the undertaking.

The questions included, when a decision was made to undertake the expansion; where were the funds obtained to conduct a feasibility study for the project; the existence of a pre-feasibility report; whether an environmental report was done; how did China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) know about the project; was protocol followed on advertisement of the project and who represented the government at the bargaining table.

The ministry also suggested to the audit unit to find out what was the determining factor for government approaching the China Exim Bank for funding for the project; the National Tender and Procurement Administration’s justification for approval for sole-sourcing of the project; the examination of the technical studies required prior to the

GECOM Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, has blasted an article from online news outlet, Inews, titled “tampering of NRR at GECOM” as sensational, noting that such media reports are poor.

The article noted that the PPP received information that there is currently ongoing at GECOM’s Secretariat, an exercise whereby “adjustments” are being made to data on the National Register of Registrants (NRR) using unverified information generated from the truncated house-to-house registration exercise.

The article stated that this exercise is being conducted by Melanie Marshall, the controversial Returning Officer of Region Four, who deliberately made herself unavailable to receive the PPP’s request for a recount of votes in Region Four at the 2015 National and Regional Elections.

“This tampering with the NRR by GECOM’s staff

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, sits next to Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma, as the latter addresses the media (Carl Croker photo)

signing of the contract for the project, as well as information on the consultation of stakeholders.

“We thought that these are just a few pertinent questions if you are going to do a special audit,” Patterson said.

While noting that Auditor General, Deodat Sharma has a penchant for speaking to the media regarding the ministry, Patterson said the official has not responded to the suggestions made by the authorities.

Back in 2011, days before the regional and general elections that year, reports from the press in Jamaica gave light to the secret signing of a contract between the Bharrat Jagdeo administration and the Chinese firm.

Guyanese were later told details

about the project while the Jagdeo administration defended its actions. Subsequently, Donald Ramotar was elected President; he later turned the sod for the commencement of the controversial project.

After the APNU+AFC assumed office in 2015, it halted the project and following modifications, it recommenced.

At the press conference on Wednesday, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma, noted that project is 93 per cent completed.

He said it is likely to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2020.

He said works to the runway, as well as works to the terminal facilities are among the remaining tasks on the contractor’s agenda.

Efforts being made to produce ID cards for new registrants – GECOM CEO GUYANA Elections Commission (GECOM) will be making efforts to ensure ID cards are produced for those persons who would have recently registered in the house-tohouse registration and claims and objection period.

This is according to Chief Election Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, who was at the time speaking to reporters following the swearing-in of returning officers on Wednesday at GECOM’s Headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown.

He said this is expected to be done prior to elections day and will be for new registrants only, or persons whose information was updated that resulted in name change or spelling.

“In the event that those persons or all other electors for some reason or the other cannot locate their ID cards, then the law makes provision for voting to be done by an elector at his or her division to where he is listed with the use of an ID or passport,” Lowenfield explained.

The CEO said GECOM is very prepared for the prescribed date and time for elections in 2020 and all the respective statutory activities are

No tampering at GECOM – Says chair

GECOM CEO, Keith Lowenfield

being done.

He said on Friday 10, which is Nomination Day, parties will present themselves in order to satisfy the requirement to be placed on the ballot.

“Once the commission is satisfied, then we move on to the production of

those ballots, our ballot production is done outside of the jurisdiction along with our statement if poll and tally sheets etcetera,” Lowenfield said.

He said GECOM is on stream and engagements will be made with the ranks of the Discipline Service.

Currently, he said GECOM had published and posted the Revised List of Electors on GECOM’s buildings in all divisions and sub-divisions countrywide.

“I am pleading with all electors to have an opportunity to go and check those lists to ensure your particulars as mentioned is correct, that is to say that your name is correctly spelt and the address as listed in the revised list is also correct, if for some reason that there is an error contained in your checking, you are asked to go to the nearest returning officers office and the registration officer’s office with your pink slip or the triplicate copy of whatever transaction you would have done so that the commissioner of registration can do that correction,” the CEO said.

There are approximately 2,351 polling stations.

GECOM Chair Justice (Ret’d), Claudette Singh

is not only unlawful, but it is clearly intended to cause chaos and confusion on elections day by facilitating duplicate voting, permitting unqualified persons to vote and preventing qualified persons from voting. So for example, if a person’s name or address is changed on the NRR, it is that change that will appear in the Official List of Electors (OLE), which in turn will require the voter to vote at a different location from where he/she is residing, or being prevented from voting altogether. This may result in violence, mayhem and public disorder on elections day,” the Inew article stated.

At GECOM’s Headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown, on Monday, the chair noted that during the elections season, it appears as if some media outlets embrace sensational reportage.

“No one is tampering with the National Register of Registrants (NRR) at GECOM… what is being done is in the house-to-house process we discovered that there were three categories of persons, persons who were already registered, all those persons that were previously registered, these are not new registrants. These persons’ name would appear on the preliminary list, because the preliminary list was extracted from the National Register of Registrants Data Base (NRRDB),” the GECOM chair said.

She explained that persons on the Revised List of Electors (RLE) are the persons whose names appear on the preliminary list.

“Now from the house-to-house registration, you will find that there were persons who were previously registered. Those persons made no changes or anything, they went back to their old addresses, they remain on the preliminary list, but there were others although they were on the preliminary list they made some changes,” Justice (Ret’d) Singh said.

She continued: “For example, they had some new addresses and some persons might have been married and changed their names – that is currently being addressed. There were persons whose names appeared on the RLE, for example persons like me, who changed my address since the last house-to-house [registration]. My name would have appeared on the RLE at the old address, well GECOM always uses the latest registration transaction so that is being done to update the process, so there is no tampering, no one is tampering”

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ECD road, CJIA expansion projects almost complete SEVERAL major projects being undertaken by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, including the East Coast Demerara road expansion project, are nearing completion.

At the same time, once re-elected, the government will ensure that the new Demerara Harbour Bridge project as well as the East Coast Demerara-East Bank Demerara (ECD-EBD) bypass road projects are completed by 2022.

On Wednesday, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, told members of the media at the ministry’s boardroom that the road expansion project, which is being undertaken by China

Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) was 93% completed.

He said the government received approval for use of the undisbursed sums from the China Exim bank which is financing the project and according to Patterson, those sums will go towards further expansion of the road.

He told reporters that the road works will now go all the way to Mahaica and, according to him, a team from the ministry had already examined the scope of works.

“My team has already done a design,” he said. He said that the works will continue from Belfield all the way to the junction of the Mahaica Old Road/New Road. Pat-

terson also informed those present that a roundabout will be built at that junction.

He said the ministry plans to undertake further expansion of the roadway east until Rosignol. It was noted too that funding for the design of that aspect of the work had already been approved through the Kuwait fund.

On Wednesday, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma told the media that the CJIA expansion project was expected to be completed within the first quarter of this year. Sharma said that the project was 93% completed.”For the

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 9, 2020

…new DHB, ECDEBD bypass slated for 2022 completion

building aspect , we can say , 100% of it is being utilised,” he said.

He said other parts of the airport, including immigration and duty free areas had been handed over to the authorities. He noted that the runway and other minor kinks were being ironed out.

Meanwhile, Minister Patterson told reporters that the “main ingredients “ for the ECD-EBD road link were on the table and, according to him, if all goes the way of the APNU+AFC come March 2, 2020, that project will materialize and will be completed by 2022.

The Guyana Government, through a loan provided by the Government of India, entered into

an agreement for the ECD –EBD road linkage project.

On Wednesday, Patterson said that studies had been completed as well as a final design for the project; the latter, he noted was being reviewed. The feasibility study for the road bypass was submitted by the Consultant- RITES Limited – a Government of India enterprise to the ministry in September 2018.

Minister Patterson also spoke about the new Demerara Harbour bridge which he noted will come to fruition under the APNU+AFC administration post March 2020. Patterson gave a 2022 completion date for that project.

Convicted rapist challenges sentence AFTER being sentenced to a total of 85 years in prison for four counts of rape, Jegede Hodge is challenging his conviction and sentence at the Court of Appeal.

Jegede, 48, was sentenced in December 2019, by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall, at the Georgetown High Court.

The first indictment stated that, between May 1, 2014 and May 31, 2014, in the county of Demerara, Hodge engaged in sexual penetration with a 13-year-old girl, a child who lived in the same house as he. He was sentenced to 18 years on that charge.

The second indictment stated that between September 1, 2014 and September 31, 2014, in the county of Demerara, Hodge engaged in sexual penetration with the same teen again. He was sentenced to 20 years on that charge.

The third indictment stated that between January 1, 2015, and January 31, 2015, in the county of Demerara, Hodge engaged in sexual penetration with the victim, when she was 14 years old.

He was sentenced to 22 years on that charge.

Lastly, the fourth indictment stated that, between

September 1, 2017, and September 31, 2017, in the county on Demerara, Hodge engaged in sexual penetration with the child, when she was 16 years old. He was sentenced to 25 years on that charge.

Justice Morris-Ramlall ordered that Hodge’s sentences run concurrently, which meant that he will only serve 25 years behind bars. Hodge was also ordered to undergo counselling.

Hodge’s attorneys, George Thomas and Everton Singh-Lammy, moved to the appeal court and filed an appeal to challenge their

client’s conviction and sentence.

One of the grounds of the appeal was that the sentence was unfair, too severe and excessive.

Another ground stated that the counsel for Hodge, during trial at the High Court, failed to adequately mitigate the sentence.

A date is yet to be set for hearing at the Appeal Court.

The victim in her impact statement explained that the first time she was raped by Hodge, she wanted to commit suicide and began cutting herself.

However, on the sec-

Conviction and sentence of two murder accused challenged ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Lyndon Amsterdam has moved to the Appeal court to challenge the conviction and sentence handed down on two of his clients, who are currently serving life imprisonment on a joint murder charge.

Alvin Kissoon, formerly of Caneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara, and Calvin King, formerly of Savage Street, North East La Penitence were, in December 2019, sentenced

by High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon, after being found guilty by a 12-member jury.

They were found guilty of the indictment which read that, on January 18, 2013, at Lethem, they murdered Christopher John Friday in the course of, or, in the furtherance of, a robbery.

In addition to their sentence, the Judge ordered that the men serve 32 years behind bars before any consideration for parole.

Attorneys-at-law Amsterdam is contending that the trial judge, during the summation of

the evidence to the jury, posited several rhetorical questions to the jury which had an effect of leading them (the jury) to conclude that Kissoon and King were guilty of the offence of murder.

It was also contended that the trial Judge, in the summing up of the evidence, was not fair.

Finally, the trial judge misled the jury as to the elements and law, with regards to joint enterprise and acting in concert, in the indictment, alleging a felony/murder.

According to reports, the two accused committed the crime at the Lethem Post Office where they torched several safes and stole 9.82M on January 18, 2013. The men tied up Friday, who was a security guard, beat him and, as a result, he died.

During the investigation, the two accused were intercepted at a police stop point with some of the money, and a number of Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T) phone cards.

Calvin King (Hides Face) and Alvin Kissoon

Calvin King

ond occasion, when she was raped by Hodge, she told her friends and begged them not to tell anybody.

She recalled being picked up from school by Hodge who took her to different locations and raped her.

The victim stressed that at one time her brother saw what Hodge was doing to her, and he became traumatized.

Persons in the village also knew what Hodge was doing and would harass her.

Nevertheless, according to the victim, what hurt the most was her mother taking Hodge’s side and not her own daughter’s. The mother still

Jegede Hodge shares a close bond with Hodge.

Hodge, during his address to the court, begged for leniency and apologised for the hurt he caused.

However, in his statement to the probation officer, Hodge stressed the victim fabricated the story and was forced by her father to do so.

1,273 workplace complaints lodged at Labour Dept. in 2019 - 886 investigated and closed THE Ministry of Social Protection’s Department of Labour has investigated and closed 886 of the 1,273 workplace complaints it received in 2019.

This was disclosed by Minister with responsibility for Labour, Hon. Keith Scott, in an interview with DPI. “The closure of those investigation yields a recovery of $45M, which would have been otherwise denied the complainants. The closure also resulted in complainants being awarded leave with pay which were hitherto being denied,” the minister explained.

He added that the investigations served as a learning experience for employers and employees who were unaware of the extent of the labour laws. “We urge the public to report any workplace incidents or matters because it will also put these organisations on the record for thorough investigation and inspection. There are several methods designed to promote employer’s compliance with the labour laws,” Minister Scott said.

Every workplace inspection will entail an examination of the physical environment, wages book, leave with pay records, and reviews of the terms and conditions of employment to ensure conformity with the norms and practices.

“For 2019, a total of 1441 inspections spanning the entire spectrum of industrial activities were conducted, with all infractions of the labour laws highlighted to the employers who took remedial action to promote compliance,” the minister noted. He said the labour department would be even more active this year with the oil and gas industry coming on stream. According to the minister, there will be extensive and frequent examinations of contracts, workers’ rights, health and safety, and the introduction of trade unions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 9, 2020

Guyana sympathises with Australia as bushfires cause massive destruction …renews calls for the mitigation of global warming

PRESIDENT David Granger, on behalf of Guyana, expressed condolences to the people of Australia for the loss of lives and destruction caused by continued bushfires in southeast of the country. At the time, the Head of State was receiving Letters of Credence from the Non-Resident High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Australia to Guyana, Bruce Lendon, at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Caused mainly by drought and extreme heat, bushfires are wreaking havoc in Australia. Reports suggest that since September, 2019, 23 people have been killed in the bushfires including three volunteer firefighters. An estimated 480 million animals have been killed since bushfires started in New South Wales last September.

President Granger said, as climate change threatens human habitation everywhere, global efforts must be accelerated to mitigate its impact.

“Guyana, itself, is a low-lying coastal State and is threatened by global warming and rising sea levels along its Atlantic Coast.

Guyana, also, as part of the Guiana Shield, is aware of recent fires in the Amazon Region of neighbouring Brazil.

These adverse and extreme

environmental events highlight the need for immediate and decisive global responses to protect the environment and humanity,” he said.

Guyana and Australia, he stated, share a common interest in the preservation and protection of the environment. “We look forward to future collaboration as our states combat the adverse consequences of climate change,” he told the Non-Resident High Commissioner.

Noting that Guyana is on the path to becoming a ‘green state,’ President Granger said the country will see an increased emphasis on the protection of the environment, the preservation of its biodiversity, the promotion of the generation of energy from renewable sources and the adoption of practical measures to ensure climate adaptation.

With High Commissioner Lendon’s appointment, the Head of State anticipates that the two countries will continue to strengthen their relations and advance bilateral cooperation in the field of environmental protection and human development.

“Guyana is appreciative of the support it has received from the Government of Australia, particularly through the: Community and Economic Project: Empowering

President David Granger and Non-Resident High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Australia to Guyana, Bruce Lendon, flanked by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings (extreme left), and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Charlene Phoenix (extreme right). Also captured in the photo is an Australian official (Photo by Elvin Croker)

Indigenous Communities for Sustainable Development in Guyana; and the Direct Aid Program of Australia which provided critical assistance in improving water, sanitation and health in Indigenous communities. This assistance continues to provide food security to over 36,000 Venezuelan migrants who have entered Guyana,” President Granger said.

Meanwhile, High Com-

missioner Lendon, in his remarks, congratulated Guyana on its remarkable oil discoveries. He said the production of oil and gas would have transformative impact on the country’s economy. With Australia having a wealth of experience in mining and oil and gas production, High Commissioner Lendon said that country is opened to offering assistance.

Prior to his accreditation

on Wednesday, High Commissioner Lendon called on Foreign Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings, at her office in Georgetown. Minister Cummings was also present during the accreditation ceremony.

During his tenure, the Australian Diplomat said he intends to work closely with the Government of Guyana to identify future areas of partnership.

Guyana and Australia established diplomatic ties on May 14th, 1973. Their relations are founded on the principles of mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for treaties and international law and the maintenance of international peace and security.

Minister of State, US Ambassador hold talks MINISTER of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams, on Wednesday, met with the United States (US) Ambassador to Guyana, Mrs. Sarah-Ann Lynch, at her office at the Ministry of the Presidency.

During the meeting, Ambassador Lynch informed the State Minister that her visit was primarily to brief her on the United States’ work with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), particularly in the area of voter and civic education, which was highlighted by the commission as an area where assistance is needed, as well as the US’ participation as election observers for the March 2, 2020, Regional and General Elections.

Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams shares a light moment with United States Ambassador to Guyana, Mrs. Sarah-Ann Lynch, during a courtesy call at the Ministry of the Presidency

Additionally, Ambassador Lynch explained that currently a team from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is currently on the ground working with GECOM with respect to voter and civic education and raising voter awareness. Minister Hastings-Williams welcomed the aid to GECOM, noting that the government is committed to holding free and fair elections. She noted that one way of ensuring credible elections is by including both local and international observers.

“I am happy that USAID is on board to support GECOM… Transparency and accountability is number one on the govern-

ment's agenda and that is why we continue to invite and accept international and local observers to assist where they can so that we can work together to eliminate the negatives…

As a government, we emphasise no violence should be encouraged. We want it [elections] to be done in a peaceful manner,” she said.

USAID and the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities through Tetra Tech ARD recently held a workshop on voter education for persons with disabilities titled ‘Voting Rights: Ensuring Access for Persons with Disabilities’.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 09, 2020

APNU+AFC Unity rally in People’s National Congress (PNC) Regional Secretary in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Carol Smith-Joseph speaks to the crowd President David Granger urges Region Five to make the right decision on March 2, 2020

Vice-Chairman of the Union/Naarstigheid Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Vinceroy Jordan speaks to the crowd on youth development President David Granger and APNU-AFC, PM candidate Khemraj Ramjattan celebrate and dance with supporters

Mahaica-Berbice residents listen to the message of President David Granger

Local soca artiste Vanilla with her

President David Granger; his wife, First Lady, Sandra Granger and APNU-AFC Prime Ministerial l Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan stand at attention for the National Anthem

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 09, 2020

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n Hopetown, Region Five

impresses the audience r vocals

Calypso presentations by two-time chutney champion, Bunty Singh APNU-AFC PM Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan makes a point to the audience

APNU-AFC supporters on their way to the Mahaica-Berbice rally at the Hopetown Ground on Wednesday

Dance performances on stage

Former MP, Jennifer Wade outlines the works of the government in the region

APNU-AFC Prime ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan embraces a government supporter

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 9, 2020

Importance of connectivity, internet access examined -during meeting with U.S. Senator and Telecoms Minister

THE importance of connectivity and easy access to the internet were topics on the agenda during a meeting among a visiting U.S. Senator representing the district of Virginia, Richard Black, his U.S. colleagues and Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes.

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, Senator Black was accompanied by Guyana-born Mayor of Purcellville, Virginia, Kwasi Fraser and four technology and business specialists, during a courtesy call to Minister Hughes, on Tuesday.

“The visitors enjoyed a lively discussion with Minister Hughes on the absolute importance of connectivity and easy access to the Inter-

net to the development of a country,” said the ministry.

This subject is the forte of Guyana-born Ian G. Hall, who is now President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ATISS, a global company that specialises in IT security, data analytics, and policy and strategy development. He has worked as a consultant to the United States Department of Defence and joined the Senator's delegation to Guyana.

Data Architect and Cloud Technologist, Darren Culbreath, was also a member of the delegation, as was George Mallon of Mallon Oil, and Kirk D. Mitchell, a global procurement specialist.

According to the Ministry of Public Telecommunications’ website, the ministry was created in January 2016

and its first order of business was to assess and analyse the capacity of the then fouryear-old fibre optic cable in Georgetown, and the LTE network along the coastland from Berbice to the Essequibo Coast.

The pace stepped up in the latter part of 2016 when the ministry began to connect every secondary school within reach of the networks.

At the end of that year, the computer laboratories at 101 secondary schools on the coast and in the hinterland had been connected.

Simultaneously, building on the initiative of President David Granger, the ministry converted the previous OLPF into the One Laptop Per Teacher initiative. The schedule for distribution in Regions One to 10 and other specifics were designed and

managed by the Ministry of Education.

“We are also creating jobs, avenues for our citizens who possess skills in ICT to earn. MoPT staged one Hackathon in 2016. The three similar events planned for 2017/8 should generate additional tech-based public service programmes and applications that will make our citizens’ lives easier and safer, e.g. the ability to apply for passports or birth certificates from post offices or ICT hubs in their communities,” said the ministry.

The ministry said concrete plans are in place to increase broadband and expand internet connectivity in Kwakwani, Bushlot Village, Linden, Bartica, the Essequibo Islands, the North West district and far inland regions.

GTA engaged in training & licensing Businesses for Tourism Sector With Guyana now being named one of the top tourism destinations for 2020, Guyanese business persons and entrepreneurs are set to benefit from higher levels of income. Many of these entrepreneurs have been making strides to enhance their services and their capacity to fulfil the needs of their various consumers.

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) has implemented several strategies, inclusive of training activities, to ensure business persons are well equipped to benefit from the growing levels of business that will be experienced from the growing tourism sector.

Director of the GTA, Brian Mullis, in an invited comment, told the Guyana Chronicle that the GTA is making a concerted effort to help small businesses to better service the growing tourism sector. He stated that there have been several systems implemented since 2019.

Mullis noted that, “792 business persons were trained by the GTA in 2019 showing a 100 per cent increase over 2018, which included 27 master trainers who were trained to lead trainings, a 500 per cent increase over 2018.” He pointed out that such training was done in an effort to help those businesses transition for better quality and standards. The training activities took place over 56 training sessions throughout Guyana's primary tourism circuits.

Further, he explained that, in addition to the training, the GTA had been moving to assist businesses to be documented. “Here at the GTA we are also helping businesses get licensed in order to meet international safety and quality standards. Since undertaking this we have documented a 107 per cent increase in the number of licensed businesses over the number licensed in 2018 with 159 businesses now actively in the process of getting licensed.”

In addition, Mullis stated that the GTA has established a partnership with Airbnb Experiences to increase the number of unique tourism experiences offered by individuals and small businesses, and has secured a grant in collaboration with Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) and Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) to develop and implement standardized tourism curriculum for frontline staff in tourism and hospitality.

Man accused of larceny granted bail CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, granted a 32-year-old miner $15,000 bail on a larceny charge.

Glendon Moses of Dazzle Scheme, East Coast Demerara, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charge, when it was read to him.

It is alleged that, on December 29, 2019 at Status Hotel, he stole a phone charger valued $10,000, a phone valued at $180,000, a hand sanitizer valued $500 and $180,000 cash, property of Hollister Hooper.

Police prosecutor made no objections to bail being granted to Moses and told the court that, on the day in question, Moses and Hooper booked a room at the hotel for three days. Around 11:30 hours the said day, Hooper left the room with a

female friend. When Hooper returned later in the day, the receptionist informed him that Moses had checked out.

Hooper was given a key to access the room and it was then that Hooper noticed that the articles were missing.

The matter was reported at the City Constabulary.

The prosecutor added that, on January 4, 2020, Moses was arrested in the City Hall Compound, after he tried to escape from a group of men who were chasing him.

A search was then conducted on his person and the said phone was found in his possession. He was arrested and later charged.

Magistrate McLennan released Moses on $15,000 bail and adjourned the matter until January 28, 2020.

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West Indies Regional 4-day championship

Guyana Jaguars open title defence against Hurricanes today ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Bowling stocks look strong for the moment, so it will all be about the batsmen to finalise the cast for the West Indies Test squad in the New Year when the 2019-20 West Indies Championship opens today.

With seven Tests on the cards for West Indies this year when they resume their participation in the ICC Test Championship, this season’s West Indies Championship presents a perfect opportunity for a number of hopefuls to advance their case.

The winner of the Championship also holds intrigue with defending champions Guyana Jaguars seeking to become the first regional first-class side to complete six successive titles.

Among the strong contenders are Barbados Pride, the runners-up to the Jaguars in each of those title-winning seasons, and Leeward Islands Hurricanes, one of the main challengers last season before they stumbled late in the season.

Darren Bravo and John Campbell, two top-order West Indies left-handed batsmen, have been made captains of Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Jamaica Scorpions respectively, for the first time in their playing careers.

Red Force, Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes, also under new leadership with emerging batsman Kavem Hodge being appointed captain, are hoping these decisions could help to spark a revival in their fortunes.

Hurricanes vs Jaguars at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua Hurricanes and Jaguars have provided plenty of intrigue during their matches in the previous five seasons.

Jaguars hold the edge with five wins out of the 10 matches contested, including two wins out of the three times they have played at this venue.

But Hurricanes have two valuable wins during the same

period on which they can draw to give them confidence that they can repel the challenge of the Jags.

They completed the highest successful fourth-innings chase in the West Indies first-class competition three seasons ago and won a feisty battle in the final round last season on the Jaguars’ home soil, a rarity in recent years.

One of the players to watch in this contest will be Hurricanes pacer Sheeno Berridge. He made a big impact during the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup this past November and will want to make further strides in the four-day format.

Two other uncapped players looking to step up will be former West Indies Under-19 World Cup hero Keacy Carty of Hurricanes and Jaguars opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of former West Indies left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whose solid batting at the top of the order has not gone unnoticed.

Two personal milestones appear within reach in the match for two Jaguars players. Christopher Barnwell has scored 1 971 Championship runs and needs 29 more for 2 000; and West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo has taken 241 wickets and needs nine for 250.

Squads: HURRICANES: Jahmar Hamilton (captain), Colin Archibald, Sheeno Berridge, Quinton Boatswain, Keacy Carty, Nino Henry, Montcin Hodge, Damion Jacobs, Amir Jangoo, Jaison Peters, Kieran Powell, Jacques Taylor, Devon Thomas JAGUARS: Leon Johnson (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tevin Imlach, Keon Joseph, Veerasammy Permaul, Raymon Reifer, Kevin Sinclair, Vishaul Singh, Nial Smith In other fixtures today, Red Force take on Scorpions at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad, and Volcanoes against Pride at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, St Vincent.

Joanna Archer is now a ‘Red Raider’ … Guyanese 800m specialist makes switch from Monroe College to Texas Tech University

By Rawle Toney GUYANA’S Joanna Archer has recently moved from competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) with Monroe College, to the ‘big leagues’ in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with Texas Tech University.

The 19-year-old moved to Monroe College in the Fall of 2018 from West Demerara Secondary, after cementing herself as one of the best 800m athletes, not only in Guyana, but the Caribbean.

After her stellar career competing at the junior collegiate institution, Archer announced via her Social Media platform on Facebook, that she’s heading to Texas.

Speaking with Chronicle Sport from New York, Archer said she’s excited to wrap-up her final semester at Monroe College where in the end, she’ll earn her Associate Degree in Criminal Justice, and move on to Texas Tech University to read for her degree in Criminology and a

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minor in Journalism (Communication Studies).

The 2019 Carifta Games 800m silver medallist, pointed out that her coaches are happy with the progress that she has made since migrating to the US, and are looking forward to seeing what she will do in the NCAA. Looking ahead, apart from focussing on making an impact on the track and field programme at Texas Tech, Archer said she’s working towards qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games, adding “it would take a miracle for me to qualify for 2020.”

Updated on January 6 this year, the IAAF announced that the qualifying standard time for the women’s 800m for the Tokyo Olympics is one minute, 59.50 seconds (1:59.50); Archer’s personal best in the distance is 2:10.1.

Archer said she’s also looking forward to representing her country this year, starting with the South American U-23 Championships which is scheduled to be hosted in Guyana.

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er’, Texas Tech University is considered one of the top

schools on the NCAA track and field circuit.

Liverpool’s Mane named African Footballer-of-the-Year (REUTERS) - Sadio Mane was named African Footballer-of-the-Year for 2019 on Tuesday after winning the Champions League with Liverpool and leading Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Mane, 27, wins the award for the first time after finishing runner-up to his Liverpool team mate Mohamed Salah of Egypt in 2017 and 2018. He was third in 2016.

He is only the second Senegalese to win the award after El Hadji Diouf, who was the winner in 2001 and after joining Liverpool in 2002.

“Football is my job, I love it. I am really happy and proud to win this award,” Mane said.

“I would like to thank all the Senegalese people, they always push me. I must also 11:20 hrs Hurricane Arcadio 11:55 hrs Stolen Silver Chelmsford City 12:00 hrs Haddaf 12:30 hrs Roca Magica 13:00 hrs Parknacilla 13:30 hrs Agent Shiftwell 14:00 hrs Homesick Boy 14:30 hrs Brigand 15:00 hrs Bright Melody Irish Racing Tips Clonmel 08:20 hrs Getaway Gorgeous

thank my (Senegal) coach, Aliou Cisse and Liverpool, all my team mates there.”

Mane finished ahead of Riyad Mahrez and Salah in a poll of national team coaches and captains, and was handed his award at the Confederation of African Football’s annual gala in Hurgada, Egypt.

It is the second successive year that the top three are all from English clubs and only the third time since the award was introduced that the leading trio all play in the same league.

In 1991, the top three all came from French clubs.

Mahrez, 28, captained Algeria to Africa Cup of Nations success in July and won the Premier League with Manchester City. He was African Footballer-ofthe-Year in 2016.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 9, 2020

‘Mind-blowing’ Marnus a by-product of Australia’s dark days

By Nick Mulvenney

SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Many Australians might still struggle to pronounce his surname but they certainly know who Marnus Labuschagne is after the 25-year-old smashed 896 runs in five Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand over the home summer.

The irrepressible righthander finished with an average of 112 for the five matches after a double century, two 150s, one century and three half-centuries in eight innings.

His run tally was the best for an Australian in a five-Test summer Down Under - bettering superlative efforts from Neil Harvey and Donald Bradman among others - and only nine runs short of Englishman Wally Hammond’s 91-year-old record. “ W h a t h e ’s d o n e i s mind-blowing, really,” coach Justin Langer told reporters yesterday.

“It’s a great credit to him; it’s a great credit to his mental and physical endurance.

“It’s a great credit to his

humility that he’s been able to remain so grounded through it. Marnus loves it so much he’d do it for nothing and those are the guys you love having around the group.”

in the United Arab Emirates in October 2018, Australia’s first after the tainted tour of South Africa.

He hardly set the world alight batting down the order

The 25-year-old Marnus Labuschagne smashed 896 runs in five Tests.

But for the one-year bans handed to Steve Smith and David Warner for their parts in the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering scandal, however, Labuschagne might still be in Queensland waiting for his chance to play Test cricket.

Born in South Africa but raised in Brisbane from the age of 10, Labuschagne was a surprise selection for the series against Pakistan

in his first two Tests and was a controversial call-up for the fourth Test against India that sealed Australia’s first home series defeat to Asian opposition.

Those were dark times for Australian cricket but captain Tim Paine said opportunities given to the likes of Labuschagne had been as important to the team’s resurgence as the return from suspension of Smith and Warner.

“We spoke a lot about it last year, of there being a silver lining about what has happened,” Paine told reporters after Australia sealed an emphatic 3-0 sweep of New Zealand on Monday.

“The guys who got the opportunity to play Test cricket who probably wouldn’t have.

One of them is man-of-theseries and has scored the most (Test) runs (in 2019).”

That was Labuschagne, of course, with his 1 104 runs at 64.94 over the calendar year sending him clear of every other Test batsman.

Next up for Labuschagne is Australia’s tour of India in the 50-overs format, where he will be looking to win his first one-day international cap.

“It’s going to be great opportunity,” he said. “I just love the journey and it’s lot of fun to be a part of the Australian set-up.”

23

Anderson ruled out of final two South Africa Tests with rib injury BOWLER James Anderson has been ruled out of the final two Tests of England’s tour of South Africa with a rib injury.

Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker, picked up the injury during the second Test on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old bowled only two overs after lunch on the final day as England won to level the series at 1-1.

Scans have revealed the extent of the injury and he is now out of the third Test which starts on January 16 and the fourth Test a week later.

Anderson only returned to action after four months out with a calf injury in the first Test in South Africa, which started on Boxing Day. He missed four of the five Ashes Tests last summer, and the Test against Ireland in July, with the injury.

The Lancashire bowler has taken nine wickets so far against South Africa, the most by an England bowler, including seven in the second Test in Cape Town.

After taking 5-40 in the first innings at Newlands - his 28th five-wicket haul in Tests - he said “age is irrelevant” and that he was “desperate to prove my place in the team”.

England are hopeful pace bowler Jofra Archer, who missed the second Test with a sore elbow, will be fit for the third Test in Port Elizabeth.

Somerset bowler Craig Overton will remain in South Africa as cover for Anderson. (BBC Sport)

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 9, 2020

TOGO NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM ATTACK

Survivors remember machine gun ambush, 10 years on

By Matthew Kenyon BBC Sport

ON January 8, 2010, the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola was just days away.

“I was in the province of Cabinda, preparing to cover Group B for the BBC World Service, and was also charged with handing over the BBC African Footballer-of-the-Year trophy to the newly-crowned Ivory Coast winners’ captain Didier Drogba.

As the day wore on, unconfirmed reports of a shooting, apparently involving the Togo national team, started coming through. The detail was sketchy, but it was clear that something serious had happened.

Just how serious was spelt out when I encountered the squad, walking back to their hotel in Cabinda City!

Asking to speak to someone, I was immediately told the team spokesman would be their best-known player - then Manchester City star Emmanuel Adebayor.

When he sat down to speak, he gave horrifying details of an attack which left two members of the Togo delegation dead and resulted in life-changing injuries to a number of others.

Revisiting that interview, and hearing from other squad members 10 years on, here is the story of an assault which made global headlines, and its aftermath.

The days, leading up to the 2010 Nations Cup, saw Togo’s squad in good spirits. They were back at the tournament after missing out in 2008 and were preparing to take on a group featuring some of the biggest names in African football - Drogba’s Ivory Coast and Michael Essien’s Ghana were drawn in the same pool.

Togo’s pre-tournament camp was set for Pointe Noir in the Republic of Congo, just over 100km from where their group games were to be played, in the Angolan city of Cabinda.

Cabinda is separate from the rest of Angola, and rather than fly over their destination to the capital Luanda and then fly back north again, Togo chose to drive. It was a decision that was to have fatal consequences.

After a relaxing evening the night before - some had even been out on the town to the annoyance of their coaches - the squad travelled to the border. There was a carefree atmosphere on the bus, with players laughing and joking among themselves - a group of talented young men, pre-

paring for one of the high points of their careers.

At the border they were joined by Angolan security forces, who were to escort them through the forest - an area known as a base for groups calling for the region’s independence from Angola - to Cabinda city. The squad didn’t pay much attention to their arrival. Soon they would be fighting for the lives of everyone on the Togo team bus.

The small convoy moved off from the border, and onto the road through the forest.

Looking back 10 years, midfielder Junior Senaya recalls that journey, and the moment everything changed.

unfolding.

He recalls assistant coach Amelete Abalo calling out that he had been shot - the 54-yearold was one of those to die in the attack. He remembers an unnamed team-mate who had military training calling for a weapon, so that he could fight back.

The team weren’t able to escape from the shooting because the bus driver - Mario Adjoua - had also been grievously wounded at the start of the assault.

The convoy was forced to halt, and a vicious firefight broke out between the attackers and the security forces. Memories of how long it lasted vary,

Adebayor and his Togo team-mates arrived back n Togo’s capital, Lome on January 11

“We were all enjoying, after we had crossed the border.

Some of us were busy listening to music. I remember after 15 minutes of driving we heard a gunshot in the forest - we all laughed, made a joke. Then at the same time it was followed by intense shooting.”

The first casualties were inflicted before anyone even had a chance to realise what was going on.

Senaya remembers Togo’s media officer, Stanislas Ocloo, was standing to take video footage of their arrival in Angola at the moment of the attack. He was shot and killed.

Another player who remembers all too clearly those frantic moments is goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale. His life was transformed in just a few seconds, as he realised that he too had been hit.

“I heard the sound of a machine gun,” he says, “and at the very moment I wanted to move to hide, it was as if I was nailed to the seat.

“That is when I saw myself - both my belly and my back were bleeding. That’s when I began to panic. I said: ‘I’ve been hit, help me, help me, I want to see my daughter, my son. I don’t want to die here.’”

Even as he dealt with his own injuries, and fear, Obilale was able to absorb and detail the horror of what was

but everyone agrees it was at least 30 minutes.

Adebayor talked about the intensity of the longest half hour of his life.

“It’s not like one or two guys shooting one or two times on our bus,” he told me in the safety of the team hotel a few hours after the attack.

“We have been in the middle of that for 30 minutes or even a little bit more. Our bus has been stopped and people have been shooting at our bus for 30 minutes. Can you imagine? To be honest it’s one of the worst experiences I will ever have in my life.

“Without the security then I would not be here talking to you. Maybe you could talk to my dead body.”

Accounts of how it all came to an end vary - Adebayor described a fleet of 4x4 vehicles arriving to take the squad away even as shooting was still coming from the forest, whilst Senaya recalls silence.

But they were eventually all taken to hospital on the outskirts of Cabinda City, where those unscathed helped carry their dead and injured colleagues inside.

“Those are the times that you realise what is happening really, when I took one of the players into the hospital,” Adebayor said.

“When I came out, I saw all the players, and everyone

was crying, everyone was talking about their family, calling people, calling their mum, crying on the phone.

“I think that was the worst moment of this day, because you could see people telling their last words, because they thought they would be dead.”

Shortly after that the squad were essentially left alone, with just a couple of local officials with them.

With dead and injured friends and colleagues in the hospital, they had to walk the short distance to their hotel compound, without any security whatsoever.

That’s where I came across them, and I walked with the

which had never accepted the decision of the former colonial power, Portugal, to integrate Cabinda into Angola in the late 1950s.

There were several factions of the body, and which one was responsible has always been contentious - but it was clear from very early on that this was no attempted robbery.

Another question lay in the presence of the Angolan security that travelled with the team. If Togo were not authorised to drive to Cabinda, why and how did they come to have an escort? And was it the militarised escort which prompted the attack?

None of these questions

A billboard pays tribute to assistant coach Amalete Abalo and media officer Stanislas Ocloo

team as they went back to their accommodation.

All four teams in the group were staying in the same compound and Kolo Toure and a couple of other Ivorians came to offer condolences and find out what had happened - rumours had already spread.

The survivors then sat down to eat - it was late in the evening by this point and they hadn’t had anything since the start of the day.

It was a sombre and silent meal, but afterwards Adebayor, with eloquence and anger, told the BBC what happened.

The news of the attack made global headlines, and where 24 hours earlier I had been able to walk in, simply wearing tournament accreditation, the next day heavy paramilitary security surrounded the hotel complex.

Officials, government ministers and representatives of the Confederation of African Football flew in from Angola’s capital Luanda, with questions raging about what had happened, who was responsible, and why - in apparent contravention of tournament rules - Togo had decided to drive instead of fly.

Shortly after the attack there was a claim of responsibility from the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda, a separatist group

have clear answers, even 10 years on - and at the time the most immediate issue for the players was to absorb what had happened to them and decide what to do next.

For several days it was unclear to those of us watching from the outside what would happen.

Rumours suggested there was a split between those in the camp who wanted to continue with the tournament and those who wanted to go home.

In the end, the decision was taken by the Togolese authorities in Lome, who called the squad home to attend the funerals of those who died and take part in ceremonies of national mourning - a decision which later prompted a short-lived ban from the Confederation of African Football, for alleged “government interference” in football.

A few days after their terrifying experience, Togo’s Sparrowhawks swept out of their hotel complex in another heavily armed convoy, this time heading towards Cabinda’s airport, and left.

But the consequences of what happened would not be easily left behind for anyone who had been caught up in the assault.

Two people had died and a number of others had been seriously wounded - the worst being the goalkeeper, Obilale.

Initially it was reported that he too had died. That wasn’t true, but he had suffered grave damage to his spine, intestines, liver and bladder, and was transferred to hospital in South Africa, to begin a gruelling recovery.

In the years since, he has faced eight major operations and has had to rebuild his life, physically and emotionally.

“I’ve done a lot of things, and I’m glad I’ve done them.

I went back to school, took exams, worked and have written a book,” he says now.

For a long time he worked with children with special needs, helping them through the medium of football, and he has now set up his own organisation to continue that work.

Obilale lost his livelihood and almost his life - in Cabinda and it is striking that he says that it is only since the change in leadership at the Confederation of African Football in 2017, when current president Ahmad ousted Issa Hayatou, that he has had any meaningful contact with the continental governing body.

On Tuesday night he was given a special award by Caf, 10 years on from Cabinda, recognising his achievement in his recovery, and what he does now to help others.

Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o was the host in Hurghada, and he is one of several former players who have provided consistent support. Others are his former captain Adebayor and Ghana’s Ayew brothers - Andre Ayew and his brother Rahim were part of the Black Stars squad who played in Cabinda in 2010.

Even those who were physically unharmed faced significant challenges in the wake of the attack.

Junior Senaya, a player who had helped take Togo to their remarkable first World Cup in Germany in 2006, was only 25 when it all unfolded, but his football career effectively ended that day.

“It was psychologically catastrophic, it turned (things) upside down,” he says now.

“I really could not recover ... I found no reason at all to play football at my club because psychologically I was shocked.”

He is now studying for his coaching badges.

It lasted a matter of half an hour, maybe a little more.

Why and how it happened is still the subject of some dispute.

But no one can deny the human cost of that short bus trip in Cabinda, 10 years ago.

d Kayo. antas GUYANA ODI CHRONICLE Thursday, January 9, 2020 20 uad: Aarhton Agar, , Pat CumHandscomb, d, Marnus ane Richhort, Steve arc, Ashton rner, Adam

Watershed series emboldens Aussies in 50-over return

Virat Kohli, ikhar Dha, Shreyas dey, Kedar Pant (wickam Dube, Yuzvendra Yadav, Narit Bumrah, Mohammed

AN Australian side, fuelled by last year’s watershed se-

and later compounded by 12-month bans to Warner and Smith, as England adopted a radically more brazen strategy.

But Finch and coach Justin Langer, who will miss the upcoming tour as his assistant Andrew McDonald takes the reins, are confident their style has been vindicated and early signs suggest it is set to remain in place for the 2023 World Cup in India. a sixth 50-over crown at Edgbaston in July.

“I think we had the right game plan for the World Cup, Consecutive defeats in their final two games soured a cam- it worked for the last 12 months,” said Finch. “It seemed to paign that had, until then, gone largely to script. Emboldened work really well. We just didn’t execute on that semi-final day. by a 3-2 comeback series triumph in India, they lost just once “We lost early wickets and we always had our backs in their first eight games. against the wall.

Captain Aaron Finch, whose return “The top four getting hundreds and taking wickets to form in that Indian campaign folin the Power Play – that’s never going to change. That lowing a difficult stretch, mirrored the goes without saying – you can’t get to those massive overall turnaround of his team and he totals or chase down big scores if you don’t have the believes his side are well-equipped to foundation of a top four getting a really significant defeat Virat Kohli’s men on their home score. patch.

“The fundamentals of the game don’t “It just gives us confidence that our change. I can’t imagine it (Australia’s ODI game plan in those conditions is good strategy) changing a huge amount. enough,” Finch said ahead of his departure “You can tinker with combinations and today. structures and the way you go about different “What can happen when you play in phases of the game, but all in all it’s pretty the subcontinent is: you start to doubt your similar.” game plan because they’re so dominant Australia’s first game is on Tuesday and when they get on top. will be live on Fox Cricket and Kayo.

“India or Pakistan or Sri Lanka Australia Qantas ODI Tour of India 2020 - they can make you start doubting Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton yourself.

Agar, Alex Carey (v-c), Pat Cummins (v-c), Peter “Knowing that our game plan is good Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschaenough and knowing that our skills are gne, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Steve Smith, good enough to beat India in India. That Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, Australia ODI captain gives us a lot of confidence going there.”

Adam Zampa Aaron Finch That series win over a strong Indian India squad: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, side came without leading lights Steve Smith, David Warner Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, and Mitchell Starc, who have all returned for the upcoming Kedar Jadhav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, week-long series featuring games in Mumbai, Rajkot and Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Navdeep Bengaluru.

Saini, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami.

Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins are also in an AustraFirst ODI: January 14, Mumbai (D/N) (Fox & Kayo) lian side that’s close to full strength.

Second ODI: January 17, Rajkot (D/N) (Fox & Kayo) Australia’s approach to batting in ODIs came under the Third ODI: January 19, Bengaluru (D/N) (Fox & microscope during a miserable run of form that begun in 2016 Kayo)

Aaron Finch

anuaryries 14,victory in India, will head back to cricket’s epicentre ox & Kayo) confident they can re-ascend to the top of the world in January 17, one-day cricket. x & Kayo)Australia’s three-game tour of India will mark the first January time the beaten World Cup semi-finalists have played an ODI D/N) since (Fox champions England emphatically ended their hopes of

25

Lazio fined after fans racially insult Balotelli

MILAN, Italy (Reuters) - Serie A club Lazio have been fined 20 000 euros (£16,975.57) after their fans were found to have racially insulted Brescia forward Mario Balotelli during Sunday’s match in the latest incident of racism which has plagued Italian football.

Serie A’s disciplinary tribunal said in a statement that further investigations were taking place to identify exactly where among the visiting Lazio fans the chanting came from and that Lazio had been asked to help the police identify those responsible.

Lazio won 2-1 after Balotelli, who has been subjected to discrimination throughout his career, had opened the scoring for hosts Brescia.

The Serie A statement said that fans “sang a chorus of racial discrimination against a player of the opposing team i n

the 21st and 29th minutes of the first half” as well as other insults.

It said the referee interrupted the match after half an hour and an announcement was made asking for the chanting to stop.

Balotelli, who was seen complaining to the referee about the chanting during the match, said “shame on you” in an Instagram message to the Lazio fans after the game. Lazio disassociated itself from the fans abusing Balotelli.

The tribunal also handed a two-match suspension to Sassuolo substitute Domenico Berardi after he was sent off at the end of his team’s controversial 2-1 defeat at Genoa. Sassuolo complained that the move which led to Genoa’s winning goal began with a foul on Berardi.

The tribunal said that Berardi “vehemently confronted an assistant, addressing severely disrespectful expressions to the match officials” in the tunnel after the match.

SPAL were fined 10 000 euros after some fruit peel was thrown from the crowd and “hit the referee without causing any injury” during their match at home to Verona.

Brescia’s Mario Balotelli reacts after scoring their first goal (REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo/File photo)

Federer, Nadal and Serena to play in exhibition to raise funds for bushfire relief (REUTERS) - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams are among a number of players who will feature in an exhibition match ahead of this month’s Australian Open to raise funds for bushfire relief efforts, organisers announced yesterday.

Hundreds of fires have scorched more than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land - an area the size of South Korea - killing 26 people and an estimated 500 million animals, and destroying over 1 000 homes.

All funds raised from the two-and-a-half hour event on January 15 at

Rod Laver Arena - called AO Rally for Relief - will

be donated to the relief cause with tickets priced

at A$54 ($37.09).

“This unprecedented

From left: Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal

bushfire crisis is devastating people, properties, communities, livestock and animals across the country and our hearts go out to all those affected,” Tennis Australia CEO and tournament Director Craig Tiley said in a statement here “We felt it was vital we use all our events across the summer to make a meaningful contribution to help these people and communities rebuild their lives.

“The response from the tennis community ... has been overwhelming. The world’s top players, boasting many Grand Slam titles between them, have committed to AO Rally for

Relief.”

The event is part of the Aces for Bushfire Relief programme, in which Tennis Australia is donating $A100 for every ace served at the ATP Cup in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. Many players have also pledged individually, with French Open champion Ash Barty donating her Brisbane International prize money to the cause.

Nick Kyrgios promised to donate A$200 for every ace he serves this month while NBA great Dirk Nowitzki said he would match the Australian’s donation.

The Australian Open begins January 20.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 9, 2020

Spin ace Permaul on course to 500 first-class wickets

By Clifton Ross JAGUARS bowling wizard Veerasammy Permaul could be the next Guyanese spinner to achieve 500 firstclass wickets, thus joining an elite panel of legends to achieve such a feat.

With 486 wickets from his 113 Regional 4-Day games played, to date, the 30-year-old is among the leading bowlers in the Region and one of the most successful spinners to come from Guyana.

Heading into today’s start of the 2020 Regional 4-Day tournament, Permaul could easily break the 500-wicket mark, given his customary knack of taking a number of wickets, coupled with his personal record his 26 5-wicket and 5 10-wicket career hauls.

The out-of-favour Windies Test/ODI bowler ended a modest last season with 42 wickets from the

10 rounds played, wickets second overall behind and could leading wicket-taker be another Rakeem Cornwall (54).

Guyanese to end With just 14 needed to with a career 500 victims reach 500 wickets, it is before he hangs up the likely that the former boots.

Guyana skipper could Going into the archives join the ranks of some of the spin-bowling legends, of Guyana and West however, Permaul has Indies’ most legendary even managed to eclipse bowlers in no time. former Guyana and WinThe Berbician is dies off-spinner Clyde already miles ahead Butts. of the contemporary Butts, who played spin duo of Neil Mc7 Tests for the West Garrell and Mahendra Indies in the 80s, Nagamootoo, both of snapped up 348 whom represented Guywickets at the Reana and West Indies with gional first- class much pride and level.

Guyana Jaguars left-arm spinner Veerasammy passion during the D e Permaul is just 14 shy of 500 first-class wickets.

90s into the 2000s. spite his Nagamootoo, annual Already Guyana’s most the leg-spinner ended with successful spinner within returns of 40 wickets or 370 wickets from his 102 the last 5 years, Permaul’s more, dating back to the 1st class matches played rampage over the past few last 5 seasons, the former while McGarrell, a left-arm seasons has also allowed Windies Test spinner now spinner, similar to Permaul, him to surpass spin-part- eyes elite company as he ended with just 276 wickets ner in Devendra Bishoo, approaches the magical 500 from 84 games. who currently sits on 382 tally. Should he reach his

…will join elite ranks including Hooper, Harper, Gibbs

landmark, Permaul will sit among the likes of Carl Hooper, Lance Gibbs and Roger Harper as the other spinners to have 500 or more wickets at that level.

H o o p e r, a f o r m e r G u y a n a a n d Wi n d i e s all-rounder, yielded 555 1st class wickets from his right-arm off-break when he ended his career. Harper, Guyana’s ex-captain and one of the premier limited overs off-spinners during the 80s, ended with 146 international wickets; 46 from Test and 100 from ODIs. Harper, the current Windies Chief Selector captured 567 wickets from his 200 games played. Meanwhile Gibbs, arguably Guyana’s greatest spinner and the first bowler to reach 300 Test wickets, wreaked havoc

during his days in operation as he bagged a whopping 1 024 wickets by the time his playing days were over in the 70s.

Outside of the legends, Jamaica Scorpion’s Nikita Miller (538 wickets) and former Windies and Windward Volcanoes off-spinner Shane Shillingford (572 wickets) who was banned from bowling domestically in January of 2019 for illegal action; are the only two active spinners leading Permaul with regard to wickets taken.

Meanwhile, given Permaul’s youth and being one of the fittest players in the Jaguars squad and Caribbean, it is likely that the Guyanese spin ace will find himself in the 500 Club by the end of the 2020 first-class season.

Bravo to lead T&T Red Force in Green blow for Thunder as Regiomal 4-Day opener today spinner’s action is ruled illegal PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad his way back to West Indies to help fire West Indies

SYDNEY Thunder were jolted yesterday when spinner Chris Green was suspended from bowling for at least 90 days in

Cricket Australia competitions due to an illegal delivery action.

Green was withdrawn from the Thunder team hours before the Big Bash League clash with the Melbourne Stars at the MCG. Cricket Australia said Green was reported by umpires Nathan Johnstone and Mike Graham-Smith and third umpire Paul Wilson after a BBL match against the Stars at Sydney Showground Stadium on Thursday, January 2.

His off-spin action was tested on Sunday at the National Cricket Centre

Sydney Thunder off-spinner Chris Green

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday January 9, 2020)

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: Clifford Roach-122 (vs ENG, Barbados, 1930) Roy Fredericks-105 (vs ENG, The Oval, 1973) TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) Who is the first WI to take a Test match hattrick?

(2) Who is the first & only Guyanese to take a Test match hattrick?

(1) (2)

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

near Brisbane, and Cricket Australia said results came through yesterday and were relayed to Green and the Thunder.

In a media statement, Cricket Australia said: “Green will be unable to bowl for a minimum of 90 days in Cricket Australia-run competitions, effective immediately. He will be permitted to play as a batter should the Thunder or Cricket NSW desire and can also play premier cricket (including bowl) under the supervision and with the consent of Cricket NSW during his suspension.

“After the 90-day suspension has elapsed, Green will be eligible to undergo testing once again with a view to returning to bowling.”

As well as his Thunder commitments, Green has signed up for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is due to head to England to captain the Birmingham Bears in the domestic T20 Blast later this year.

Thunder coach Shane Bond backed Green, saying: “He’s an important part of our future and the club will support him through this process.”

(CMC) - West Indies lefthander Darren Bravo will lead Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in their opening match of the Regional FourDay Championship against Jamaica Scorpions starting here today.

The 30-year-old replaces leg-spinner Imran Khan who oversaw Red Force’s Super50 Cup campaign last November but has been sidelined with injury for the opening round.

Chief selector Tony Gray said Bravo was an ideal choice to fill the leadership role, especially with his “immense knowledge of the tactical part of the game”.

“Bravo obviously has shown the propensity as a leader and I think he was absolutely brilliant in the North/ South (domestic) game, with North eventually winning by eight wickets,” Gray said.

“The West Indies selectors recognised his leadership qualities in giving him the opportunity to lead the President’s XI and they won by three wickets against an international side, so he has shown that commitment and he has shown leadership qualities on and off the field.”

He added: “He has immense knowledge of the tactical part of the game which was particularly shown when North played South, which led the selectors to name his as captain for the season.”

Bravo is a veteran of 54 Tests and 110 One-Day Internationals but is working

colours after being dropped Emerging Players to a stunlast September due to a poor ning title triumph, has been run of form. included as wicketkeeper.

He plundered 481 runs in U n c a p p e d Te r r a n c e the recent Super50 Cup and Hinds has also been called his 70 against Ireland last Sat- up along with fellow pacer urday in Bridgetown proved Uthman Muhammad, 30, instrumental in the President’s who played his only two XI win. first-class matches five years Bravo said his main ago. responsibility would be to SQUAD – Darren inspire the young batting Bravo (captain), Jeremy group in what he expected to Solozano, Kyle Hope, Isabe a challenging campaign. iah Rajah, Joshua Da Silva, “It is a great privilege and Khesan Yannick Ottley, honour to captain Trinidad and Yannic Cariah, Akeal HoTobago national senior team sein, Imran Khan, Terand I think there have been a rance Hinds, Uthman Mulot of players who have done hammad, Odean Smith, well for T&T as captain and Bryan Charles, Keagan I will be looking forward to Simmons. following in their footsteps,” said Bravo.

“It is just a matter of going out there and taking full responsibility for the batting unit, being the most senior batter on the team, and try to help the youngsters as much as possible. I know it will be a difficult one, but I am looking forward to it and I am sure I will enjoy it.”

All-rounder Yannick Ottley will serve as Bravo’s deputy in a squad missing key players like experienced batsman Jason Mohammad and fast bowler Anderson Phillip, who snatched 16 wickets during the Super50 Cup. Joshua Da Silva, who averaged 44 in the Super50 West Indies left-hander Darren Bravo

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 9, 2020

27

Mr Linden Classic and Novice to flex off bodybuilding in 2020 THE Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) will flex off its 2020 season next month in Linden.

According to president of the federation, Keavon Bess: “This year we will add several competitions to our local roster and to start that off, we will be introducing the Mr Linden Classic, which would share the stage with the Novices Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship on February 15, 2020.”

Bess, who highlighted his federation’s plan via social media, added that the event is scheduled to be held at the Lichas Hall.

After the two competitions, executives have planned a similar event for Berbice, but this time it will be an Intermediate Championship and the Mr Berbice Classic.

Additionally, the highly anticipated Mr Guyana, Mr Physique and Ms Bikini (Senior Championships) are set for July this year.

Bess noted that bodybuilders would also aim to

excel on the international stage. He said that Guyana

would send two teams to Colombia at the Central

The likes of Carlos Petterson Grifith (left), Mr Guyana Marlon Bennett (centre), Derran Harris (second from right at back) and Caerus Cipriani (right) will have their eyes on the 2020 Mr Guyana title

Buoyant Joseph avoiding numbers g ame after match-winning spell BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – better myself … to be the very best I can be.”

Fresh from his match-winning Manof-the-Match performance, Alzarri Joseph, says he is not putting any limits on his fledgling career as he seeks to make full use of his potential.

The 23-year-old pacer took four for 32 off 10 overs in a Man-of-the-Match performance as West Indies pulled off a comfortable five-wicket win over Ireland in the first One-Day International at Kensington Oval on Tuesday.

Playing his 23rd ODI, the Antiguan recorded his best figures in the Caribbean and the second best of his career, behind the five for 56 he took at the Oval against England back in September, 2017.

It was also the second time he took four-for at Kensington Oval – following his four for 76 against England three years ago.

“I don’t want to set numbers on my career; I don’t want to set limits. What happens if you set targets and numbers and then you don’t reach them?” Joseph said.

“My goal is to take as many wickets as I can, to win as many matches as I can for West Indies, to improve, to get better … to always

He continued: “I’m feeling good about my performance today. I put in some really good work on the training ground and I worked really hard on the last tour of India so I got some reward today.

“I’m not sure if I was back to top pace, or anything like that … that’s not my main focus at the moment. My main focus is consistency every time I bowl, to be on top of length and line.”

Joseph entered the attack first-change after Ireland opted for first knock, and his first spell broke the back of the visitors’ batting.

He was well supported by leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr, who took two wickets from his 10 overs, and had an economy rate of just three runs per over, in his first match for West Indies on home soil.

Left to chase just 181 for victory, the Windies were carried by Evin Lewis who played a number of breathtaking shots in a sizzling run-a-ball 99 not out. He struck 13 boundaries and two leg-side sixes – both coming in one over for pacer Mark Adair.

There was drama at the end as Lewis missed out on a six by mere inches, which would have taken him to his third ODI century.

“I must say very well played to Evin, the way he went about the chase was great to see. We were Man-of-the-Match Alzarri Joseph sends down a delivery during his all hoping that he got to the four-wicket haul in the opening hundred,” JoODI against Ireland on Tuesday seph noted.

(Photo courtesy CWI Media)

American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships.

One team to participate on stage and the other to represent the federation at the CAC Congress, with the objective of presenting a bid to host the illustrious event in 2022.

“It’s gonna be a great year for the sport of bodybuilding in Guyana.”

Last year Mr Guyana was won by Marlon Bennett after former five-time champion Kerwin Clarke had opted to focus solely on international competitions.

Clarke himself had earned a gold medal in the light middleweight division at the 2019 CAC Championships, while former Mr Physique Yannick Grimes had won a bronze in his category.

As last year, the 2020 Mr Physique battle is also expected to be heated with the Grimes vs Emmerson Campbell clash, while competitors such as former Mr Physique Novices winners:

Tariq Dakhil and Delroy Phillips and Renaldo Caldeira and Johnathan Jeffrey will also look to excel.

Bennett is no sure win this year; especially if former multi-CAC champion Sylvan Gardner, who won the U-154 pound battle at Stage of Champions IV, decides to compete.

Also turning back time last year was Lindon ‘Muscles’ Burnett, who was impressive at Stage of Champions in the U-176 division before winning the middleweight category at the Clinton Sammy Classic in T&T last November.

Some of the other big names expected to own the stage this year are Caerus Cipriani, Carlos Petterson Grifith, Derran Harris and Julio Sinclair.

Rosanna Fung was a dominant force in the Ms Bikini category last year, but a number of outstanding competitors have been dormant and if they return, it should make for an exciting female battle.

T&T playing style in need of change: head coach Fenwick

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – their worst patch of form in recent New Trinidad and Tobago head coach, history, the only success being a 15-0 Terry Fenwick, has criticised the play- crushing of minnows Anguilla last ing style of the national team and says November. a change is imperative if they are to The run of form resulted in the sacking improve results. of Dennis Lawrence last month and Fen“I think the past administration was wick, who signed a two-year deal as the playing a style of football that clearly replacement, said an overhaul was now doesn’t work and sticks out like a sore necessary to move the national programme thumb, based on the results that we’ve forward. seen,” the Englishman said in his first Importantly, he said there would be media session earlier this week following phased introduction of new players to his appointment last month. freshen up the squad.

“I’ve got to change that. We’ve got to “In time, I want to be bringing some start playing a style of football that suits new faces out there, give them a chance, the players that we’ve got. And we’ve got give them a run … I will select the best some terrific players; we need now to play players for the team,” he explained. to their strengths.

“Teams around the world have got “We are blessed with some fantastic a core of senior, good example players, footballers, but unless you put the foot- not necessarily (because of) what they do ballers together in a system of play that on the field – although they are all suits them, you lose games and that’s good players – it’s how they help what we’ve had. these youngsters off the field.”

“Some teams get beaten by He added: “I will need playing the wrong style of football. a core of players of that (You have to) play to what your sort of calibre and (with strengths are and then that will pull a) feeling for this country. you through.”

And over time we will T&T will attempt to once again introduce youngsters. We rebuild their profile under the former will push them through, England defender, after experiwe will get them into proencing a wretched run last grammes that work year. and make They went 14 our differmatches withent levels out a single successwin to mark ful.”

New T&T head coach Terry Fenwick

West West Indies Indies Regional Regional 4-day championship

Fashback!

CWI of Cricket, Cricket, Jimmy Jimmy CWI Director Director of Adams, GCB Secretary, Secretary, Adams, and and GCB Anand pose with with the the Anand Sanasie, Sanasie, pose champion Guyana Jaguars Jaguars champion teamteam- Guyana at in 2019 2019 at Providence Providence in

Guyana Jaguars open title defence against Hurricanes today 22 PAGE

Joanna Archer is Liverpool’s Mane 22 Liverpool’s 22 now a ‘Red Raider’ named African named … Guyanese 800m Footballer-of-the-Year specialist makes Footballer-of-the-Year PAGE PAGE

switch from Monroe College to Texas Tech University

Senegal’sSadio SadioMane Manereceives receivesthe themen’s men’splayer-of-the-year player-of-the-yearaward. award.

Senegal’s (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh) (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

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Joanna Archer Archer in in action action for for Monroe Monroe College College Joanna

TOGO NATIONAL NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOOTBALL TEAM ATTACK TOGO

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Survivors remember machine gun ambush, 10 years on Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 32 43-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 52 04, 2 2 7- 52 16. Fax:2 2 7- 52 08

THURSDAY, JANUARY THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 9, 2020 2020