Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_02_06_2020

THURSDAY 6th February, 2020

' No.105902

'My plan is to provide jobs for our youths' SEE PAGE 03

-President Granger says coalition plans to provide 10,000 jobs during Decade of Development

President David Granger greets enthusiastic supporters during the coalition’s rally at Diamond, East Bank Demerara Wednesday evening (Adrian Narine photo)

10 back home from China 02 PAGE

…quarantined, under ‘home monitoring’

Oil expert dismisses irresponsible Global Witness report

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Republic Bank plugs $3M into Pan-O-Rama PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

10 …quarantined, back home from China under ‘home monitoring’

By Navendra Seoraj THE Ministry of Public Health has confirmed that ten persons, who recently returned from China, are under “home monitoring,” as government continues to be vigilant at the ports of entry, in light of the Coronavirus outbreak in China and other countries.

This was confirmed by Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) Dr. Karen Boyle in an invited comment, on Wednesday.

Reports had surfaced that a Guyanese medical student returned to Guyana from China, via Suriname, on Tuesday, but Dr. Boyle said she was unaware that the person came from Suriname.

“I am not aware of that… someone, however, came in at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport last night and she is quarantined at home,” said the DCMO. This person added to the nine others who

have already been placed on home monitoring.

In explaining what home monitoring means, Dr. Boyle said: “they (the quarantined individuals) are required to stay at home and be isolated from the rest of their families…they are also required to use the necessary precautions and not leave home for 14 days.”

When asked if any of those persons showed symptoms of the Coronavirus, Dr. Boyle said all ten persons showed no symptoms, but just as a measure of caution, they have been placed under home monitoring until the 14-day incubation period is over.

According to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe

Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The outbreak started in the city of Wuhan in Hubei Providence, China, in December 2019. The source of the virus has not been confirmed. There is a world-wide effort by scientists to develop a vaccine.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, coughs, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

The novel Coronavirus has been detected in two countries in the Region of the Americas, but no case has been detected in the Caribbean-Sub Region of the Americas. “Let me assure the Guyanese pubic that all efforts to maintain vigilance and monitoring of the virus are in place,” Minister of Public Health, Volda Law-

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle

rence, said on Tuesday.

“We have put several measures in place and have increased surveillance at the country’s ports of entry with strengthened specialised training in all categories of workers,” she said.

The minister further indicated that the situation is being addressed at an Inter-Ministerial level with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) being the focal point.

Port health authorities at the main official points of entry have commenced screening of all travellers from high-risk countries, who will be monitored for

14 days by the MoPH officials as stipulated by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO). Among the menu of measures put in place by the MoPH officials was to conduct follow-up assessments via telephone calls and through daily visits over a two-week period on all persons who travelled from China to Guyana over the last month, to check on their state of health.

“While this virus started off in China, as a Region, we are flagging all high-risk countries,” Lawrence said.

In ensuring that Guyana remains safe from the disease,

the Guyana Government had also taken a step to close its Embassy in Beijing.

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), in view of the novel Coronavirus, has also stipulated that international vessels docking at the Port of Georgetown and Berbice, will be required to provide a crew list and their nationality; the vessel’s last port of call; and the shore leave of the crew within the last 21 days, to the administration.

“Ship crew who feel unwell, experience respiratory symptoms or feel feverish should inform the master of the ship immediately. The master of the ship should then contact his ship’s agent and make the necessary arrangements to seek medical attention,” said MARAD. Crew with recent travel history in Hubei, Wuhan, or with People’s Republic of China (PRC) passports will not be allowed entry into Guyana. Also, vessels that refuse to comply with the aforementioned instructions may be denied entry into the country’s waters.

Shuman, Bandhu, Leung will remain on candidates’ lists …GECOM Chair advises CHAIRMAN of the Guyana Elections Commission (GEOCM), Justice Claudette Singh, has decided that leaders of the United Republican Party (URP), the People’s Republic Party (PRP) and the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) will remain on their party’s list for the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

“The commission decided yesterday that they will remain on the list,” GECOM’s Public Relation Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, told News-Talk Radio Guyana 103.1 FM/ Demerara Waves Online News on Wednesday. The information comes some 16 days later after commissioners repeatedly reported that URP’s, Dr. Vishnu Bandhu; PRP’s, Dr. Valerie Leung and LPJ’s, Lennox Shuman, would be removed from their lists for making false declarations with regards to their dual citizenship.

However, a letter written

by Singh to Shuman’s lawyer, K. Juman-Yassin, dated February 5, 2020 was made public to the media by the LJP head on Wednesday. It was titled, ‘Removal of Candidate’s Name from Party’s List for Contesting General and Regional Elections 2020’ “Reference is made to previous correspondence on the above-mentioned subject ending with your letter dated February 5, 2020. I have to inform you that the commission, after considerable deliberations, decided that Mr. Shuman’s name would remain on his party’s list,” the GECOM Chair stated.

It is unknown what influenced the Chair’s decision. The three had signed Statutory Declaration Forms as candidates to contest of the upcoming Elections, but the report was that they possessed dual citizenship at the time.

To be signatory to the form

while a dual citizen is in breach of Articles 53 and 155 of the Constitution and makes a person liable to imprisonment for one year according to the Statutory Declaration Act, Chapter 5:09. Shuman and Leung had argued that from the time they put their signature to their renunciation forms, they were no longer dual citizens. The party leaders have also argued that GECOM does not have the right to remove a candidate from its list as the law empowers only the High Court to so do.

Dr. Bandhu’s renunciation certificate from American citizenship was dated January 16, 2020; Shuman’s renunciation certificate of Canadian citizenship was dated January 9, 2020 while Dr. Leung’s renunciation certificate of Canadian citizenship was dated January 21, 2020.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

‘My plan is to provide jobs for our youths’ ─President Granger says coalition plans to provide 10,000 jobs during Decade of Development

By Alva Solomon

PRESIDENT David Granger, on Wednesday evening, assured Guyanese youths that the APNU+AFC Coalition will ensure that the country’s youth benefit from a minimum of 10,000 jobs and career paths which his government will realise in the various economic initiatives during the Decade of Development.

President said that through the Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) initiative, 2500 young Guyanese were able to gain tangible benefits from the project. He also spoke about the government’s flagship programme, the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) initiative, which he noted has benefitted 3800 Guyanese, mainly youths in communities across the coun-

ing their careers. “We have to hand this country over to you,” the President said to the youths in the crowd, who responded with joyous applause as he made his remarks. The President re-assured the youths in the audience repeatedly, that young people can look forward to a career under a new APNU+AFC government postMarch 2020.He also noted that the APNU+AFC government will continue to invest in var-

is working to gain a majority in those regions at this year’s elections. “Guyana is witnessing the decline and fall of the PPP,” the President said, as he noted that Freedom House is suffering from a “serious leadership challenge” from inside and outside of the party.

The President said the APNU+AFC is building from strength to strength and he assured supporters that he will continue to provide the leadership the country desires.

This coalition supporter ensured he was present at the event

President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger joined several youths on stage at the Diamond Rally

The President was, at the time, addressing thousands of supporters of the coalition at the Diamond Market Tarmac, where the old and young gathered to listen to him and other officials present their plans for the Decade of Development, onward from 2020, should the coalition be re-elected to another term at next month’s elections.

The President told the jubilant crowd that his government has already created the path for job creation for the country’s youths through a series of initiatives. He listed the re-vitalisation of the Guyana Youth Corps as one such move.

He said that the Opposition Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) disbanded the National Service, leaving many persons, including school leavers, out in the cold. He told the gathering that the administration re-established the youth corps and according to him, 1000 young Guyanese will be trained annually by the institution over the next 10 years. “I will do what is right to ensure young people get training,” he said, as he noted the training centre at Kuru Kuru is already operational and bearing fruit.

As he listed the response by the government to addressing youth unemployment, the

try.

He said a “real leader” invests in education and programmes geared at developing the youths of the nation and he noted the various educational projects including the Five ‘B’s programme, in which 30 school buses provide free transportation to school children. He said over past four and a half years, his government spent $170B on education and will continue to spend more as it invests in education.

He also noted that institutions, such as the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), have provided a boost to many young Guyanese in kick-start-

ious education projects and he also hinted at removing the fee from public university education here.

As the President elaborated on the strength of the coalition, he told supporters that in 2015, the coalition received 61 per cent of the total votes for the Demerara-Mahaica Region, but he urged them to increase this figure to more than 75 per cent at next month’s elections, with an ultimate aim of 300,000 votes in the region.

“You the people are the ones who will determine what will happen to them [the PPP] on March 2,” the Head of State said. “Let us continue to

President David Granger as he addressed the crowd at the Diamond Market Tarmac on Wednesday night

control this region for the sake of the nation,” the President urged the coalition’s cheering supporters.

The President told supporters of the coalition that the PPP is at its weakest position and he noted that since the passing of the Late Former Presidents, Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan, the party’s fortunes have been going downhill.

Citing Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo as the main reason the PPP has been losing support since the 2001 elections, the President said that the coalition’s aim surrounds the development of Guyana.

He noted that in two other regions, East Berbice Corentyne and the Essequibo Islands West Demerara, the PPP’s support base has been dwindling since 2001 and according to the President, the APNU+AFC

A section of the large crowd at the rally at Diamond on Wednesday night (Adrian Narine photos)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2020

Court hearing involving Chinese citizen adjourned over coronavirus concerns

(TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) A High Court Judge was this morning forced to adjourn the hearing of a corruption case involving a 47-year-old Chinese woman, who was allowed to return Trinidad on Saturday, before this country’s 14-day travel restrictions over the ongoing global coronavirus outbreak, took effect.

Yan Fang Hong was scheduled to appear before High Court Judge Hayden St Clair-Douglas at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain yesterday morning for the continuation of her case for attempting to bribe a police officer in 2007.

However, when the case was called, St Clair-Douglas informed the court that because of international reports on the coronavirus he had instructed the Supreme Court Registrar to ask Hong’s attorneys for her not to attend.

St Clair-Douglas then adjourned the case to March 2.

Guardian Media understands that Hong, who has been on bail since being charged over a decade ago, was granted permission to return to China to spend Christmas with her children.

Before Hong left China, last Thursday, her local attorneys led by Rajiv Persad contacted the Immigration Division to find out whether she would be permitted to enter the country.

At the time, the immigration officials allegedly claimed that they had not received any official directive on the travel restrictions, which were announced by Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh at the post-Cabinet press briefing, last Thursday.

Hong arrived at the Piarco International Airport on a Caribbean Airlines flight from New York, around 9 pm on Saturday night.

Sources said that she was initially screened and cleared at the John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York before being allowed to board a connecting flight to Trinidad.

When the woman reportedly arrived in Trinidad, she was

screened once again and did not show any symptoms. She was then allowed to leave with one of her attorneys, who came to the airport to obtain documents, which would have been necessary if she (Hong) was denied entry and missed her scheduled court appearance before St Clair-Douglas.

Hong is facing a charge under the Prevention of Corruption Act for bribing a police officer on April 5, 2007.

Hong was at a casino in Princes Town, which she managed, when police raided the business for having 40 more gambling machines than permitted in its licence.

She allegedly offered a senior officer a $10,000 to forgo prosecuting the offence but was instead arrested and charged for corruption.

The maximum penalty for the offence is a $500,000 fine and 10 years in prison.

According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) situation report published on Tuesday, there are 20,630 confirmed cases globally.

Of the cases, 20,471 were confirmed in China with 2,788 serious cases and 425 deaths.

There have been 159 confirmed cases in 23 other countries with one resulting in death.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday February 6, 2020

‘Coalition reversed decline of education sector’

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-former teacher defends APNU+AFC’s investments in education

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANESE are now the beneficiaries of quality education which was made possible by the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition, said former Teacher, Joan-Ann Romascindo.

The education sector crumbled and struggled for 23 years, said Romascindo, who took the stage at APNU+AFC’s rally in Diamond, on Wednesday.

Over the past four years, the education sector has been “rekindled” by the coalition, which reversed the decline of the sector.

“The decline of education under the PPP was because of the minister who said no child left behind,” said Romasindo, as she cranked up the crowd of people who were clad in yellow and green. She said it didn’t take the coalition long to realise that the education sector had deteriorated. And, in an effort to improve the sector, the coalition invested billions of dollars into education.

The coalition was praised by Romascindo and the crowd, for embarking on a course to “re-educate” Guyanese. In recognising the investment and work of the coalition government, the former teacher said: “billions of dollars were spent on education because our leaders know the only way to have a developed country is to educate the people.”

Among the investments in education, particularly in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), was the $302M which was spent on the construction and rehabilitation of schools and its surroundings. Additionally, in 2017, children of Yarrowkabra, for the first time, were able to attend primary school in the village and, very soon, they will be able to attend secondary school in village, said Romascindo.

“Investments didn’t stop there... government saw it fit to extend the Peter’s Hall Primary School in 2019 and there has since been an increase in enrollment,” said the former teacher. As the crowd started to chant for more, Romascindo responded by saying President David Granger implemented the five Bs programme to ensure that children could attend school.

Progress has been widespread, said the former teacher, adding that education is “serious business” for the coalition. “It doesn’t stop there. Guyanese, come

2020, after the 2nd, government is going to reintroduce free university education,” said Romascindo, as she recalled when tertiary education was free under former President and Founder of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Forbes Burnham.

She said the coalition government is building on Burnham’s plans for the education sector and will soon ensure that there is free education from nursery to university.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was ac-

that many people could not and still cannot afford to attend university.

She, however, assured Guyanese that the future is bright for their children, grandchildren and future generations because President Granger has promised to make university education free again. Romascindo believes that the President will keep his promise because his wife, First Lady, Sandra Granger, has started the process of educating the nation by investing in STEM education and also in vocational

Former Teacher and Supporter of the APNU+AFC, Joanan Romasindo (Adrian Narine photo)

cused of changing Burnham’s policy and “crushing” the dreams of many persons by adding a price to university education. “The PPP/C said free education can’t happen because people will get smart and throw us out,” said Romascindo, adding

training.

Do you think the PPP will do that for you? She asked, as she further enquired what will the voters do come March 2, 2020.

“Who will be our President for the next five years?

Granger! Yes, Granger,” Ro-

A section of the massive crowd of APNU+AFC supporters at Diamond (Adrian Narine photo)

mascindo said, as she urged persons to “vote smart” and “vote right” for the coalition.

The former teacher strongly believes that President Granger is the right choice because his contender, Presidential Candidate of the PPP, Irfaan Ali is yet to even defend his academic qualifications. “Children will see this and think they could stay home and turn president, we don’t want that,” Romascindo asserted. In this regard, she said elections are serious business since it will determine the future of the country and its young people.

The coalition has proven its capabilities to develop the country. “With all of this, it is clear that we are voting solidly for the APNU+AFC, come March 2,” said Romasindo.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2020

Respecting Guyana’s first peoples – preserving Indigenous languages

AT the beginning of September 2015, which was the first Amerindian Heritage Month since Brigadier David Granger was elected to the presidency, His Excellency announced a rescue plan for Guyana’s fading Amerindian languages. While Guyana’s first peoples were, to an alarming extent, neglected by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime, whose officials often publicly insulted, and even physically threatened them, the David Granger administration to the admiration of Guyanese and foreigners alike, has vowed to ensure that Guyanese Indigenous peoples be given the recognition and respect that they deserve.

That recognition includes President Granger’s policy initiative to preserve Indigenous culture, including their languages. On that occasion in 2015, the president said, “The rich and diverse culture of our Indigenous peoples need to be safeguarded…Today, I wish to particularly express my hopes for indigenous languages in this republic.” Echoing the president’s position, Minister George Norton said that, “Preserving Guyana’s traditional knowledge, languages and practices, is preserving a part of what makes us a nation with a rich cultural heritage – it is a part of the national patrimony which we must pass to the generations to come. The effects of colonisation took its toll and eventually, much of what was indigenous, faded, however, we cannot allow the language and culture to die.” Minister Norton was, at that time, addressing a forum at the Umana Yana, in observance of

International Mother Languages Day and International Year of Indigenous Languages in September 2019.

The President’s initiative to preserve such languages is, in fact, not haphazard or ad hoc; it is, instead, a requirement of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana. Article 149G mandates that, “Indigenous peoples shall have the right to the protection, preservation and promulgation of their languages, cultural heritage and way of life. And, considering President Granger’s reverence for the constitution as part of his administration’s respect for the rule of law, His Excellency’s establishment of such a policy is not at all surprising.

Archaeological evidence proves that indigenous peoples have lived on this land, which is now named Guyana, for at least 12,000 years. Experts agree too, that originally, Indigenous peoples such as the Maiongkongs, Maopityans, Drios, Tarumas, Amaripas, and Pianoghottos lived here, but disappeared after colonisation. That mind-boggling fact alone makes Indigenous peoples special and unique in the diverse tapestry of Guyanese culture. Currently, nine Indigenous tribes live in Guyana, and many of them communicate in their various languages. Those languages are: Macushi, Akawaio, Wai-Wai, Arawak, Wapishana, Patamona, Warrau, Carib, and Arecuna. The names of the nine languages correspond to the names of the Indigenous tribes that use them.

Since President Granger announced his administration’s commitment, in line with the requirements of the constitution, much concrete progress has been made, not to mention

the resulting public attention that has been placed on the subject. After all, it is important to note that disappearance of a language has wide-reaching negative effects. When a language dies, so do the songs, stories, and insights of an entire culture. However, keeping an indigenous language alive allows communities to preserve knowledge acquired over the years, and fosters pride of ownership and connection with the native land. Such values are priceless.

Guyana is a country with a rich history which connects our past experiences and knowledge to our present, beautifully diverse tapestry. It is therefore in our national interest to preserve our cultural heritage. Government continues to make progress in the compilation of dictionaries of Indigenous languages. The David Granger administration carries broadcasts in Indigenous languages on stations that have been set up by the APNU+AFC government. Recently, for the first time, a debate in the Patamona language was hosted in Paramakatoi, Potaro-Siparuni, Region # Eight to bring the curtain down on activities in observance of 2019 which was designated as International Year of Indigenous Languages; and the progress continues.

As national and regional elections approach, all Guyanese--including Indigenous Guyanese--should reflect on the fact that much progress has been made in all aspects of national life. Guyana’s first peoples should resolve to ensure that such progress continues. Never again should Guyanese allow our first peoples to be neglected nor disrespected.

Global Witness report height of arrogance and disrespect for Guyanese Dear Editor: “YET whatever concerns Guyana may have about Venezuela’s border claims, Global Witness believes they do not justify Trotman’s signing of the 2016 Stabroek licence on the terms proposed. The deal was the largest in Guyanese history, and Trotman apparently rushed to sign it before the Liza 2 announcement despite soliciting advice from two experts who said he needed more information.” This is from the Global Witness Report.

If editor, this is not the height of arrogance and disrespect for the Guyanese people on the part of Global Witness, then I don’t know what is. This NGO is telling Guyana that whatever concerns we have about the Venezuela claim and its

intricacies for the development of our oil and gas industry, should not be a priority over getting the most money we could from Exxon. Global Witness wants/wanted Guyana to ignore its concerns and just go for the most money it could get. In my view this singular position taken

by Global Witness should discredit anything this organisation has to say. It’s like telling your daughter look don’t rush to marry this man who truly loves you and has proven it in his actions over time; look at marrying the other guy next door who has lots of money and ignore his threats of violence and invasion of our home if we don’t sell him our house.

I hope our political parties despite their quest to form the government after March 2, will stand together in debunking this Global

Witness nonsense being given such wide publicity.

Editor, allow me the space to debunk this preposterous position (quoted above) advanced by Global Witness, and I do so as someone who has closely followed and participated in numerous events that have analysed Venezuela’s internal politics, its relations with Guyana and the geopolitical landscape in relation to Guyana’s oil and gas discoveries. I am also doing so while in possession of some “usually reliable” intelligence gathered from key decision-makers in various places.

Global Witness speaks about a rush to sign an agreement. In my view that was necessary. Guyana needed first oil prior to the determination of its case at the International Court of Justice. This was just as

necessary as it was necessary for then President Janet Jagan to award Exxon licences for 600 blocks, when the law provided for only 60 to be awarded. It was critical back then to ensure that Guyana had a major US company like Exxon committed to operating in our maritime space claimed by Venezuela, and we had to make it attractive for Exxon to commit to investing in Guyana. I don’t know whether Mrs. Jagan had in her possession at that time any “intelligence” about the possible actions of Venezuela regarding Guyana, but I would assume she did and was advised to act quickly to ensure an American presence in that maritime area.

It is also important to remind Guyanese that in 2015 when Presidents Granger and Maduro met with UN Secretary-General Ban

Ki moon, Moon in his statement following the meeting spoke of developing the resources of the area for the mutual benefit of the two peoples. What exactly did he mean by that? The oil and gas are in Guyana’s maritime space and therefore the resource of the people of Guyana. This statement could not have been lost on President Granger and his team and I hope that it was based on the intelligence in its possession that the government rushed to sign an agreement with Exxon.

Global Witness and its acolytes are claiming that Guyana will lose 55 billion US dollars, but it seems lost on them that we could have lost everything. Editor, your newspaper has published letters from me in the past about this issue, including one back in 2016 in which I stated that Guyana’s oil was being counted as

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday February 6, 2020

Global Witness report height... part of Venezuela’s reserves by some leading Venezuelans in the US at a Council of the Americas forum.

The so-called Venezuelan government in exile counts Guyana’s oil and gas as part of the resources of Venezuela it could use to launch an economic recovery programme if and when it gains office.

It is being argued by some that then President Burnham did not pursue investment in the oil and gas industry because he could not get a fair deal. As far as I know, that is not true. The technology available at that time for offshore exploration and drilling rendered such activity not feasible and therefore development of our oil and gas sector was put on hold. At that time the Venezuelan claim did not “loom too large” in this consideration, since Burnham and then Venezuelan

president Carlos Andres Perez and by extension Guyana and Venezuela enjoyed very good if not excellent relations.

Another factor that must be taken into account is the geopolitical landscape and the role of oil and gas. The year 2016 saw the election of Donald Trump as president of the US. While the Guyana government may have signed the agreement with Exxon prior to Trump’s election, there was already a lot of speculation about the Trump/ Putin relationship, much of which has since led to the impeachment of Trump. This is a president who excluded all Americans from an Oval Office meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister. It cannot be lost on anyone that Putin is a dear friend of Maduro and that there is significant Russian involvement in Venezuela today, including in its oil

Irfaan Ali should be removed from PPP list of candidates

Dear Editor

CHARLES Ramson Jr, a member of the PPP, told Kaieteur News on February 5, 2020, that Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman should be removed from the APNU+AFC coalition candidates’ list because Global Witness, in a fake report that has been discredited internationally, speculated that Trotman negotiated a bad deal with ExxonMobil --- a deal that the PPP originally messed up!

However, the said Global Witness report itself renders Ramson a foolish, flatfooted liar with acute “foot in mouth disease.” The report states unequivocally that no one in the government of Guyana committed any wrongdoing. Yet, Ramson, who is prone to fabricating vacuous and garrulous newspaper commentary, sought to traffic in deceit.

I’m not surprised at Ramson’s dishonest assertion.

Lying and dishonesty are congenital character abnormalities that plague those in the upper echelon of the PPP. The party is infested with prevaricators and false pretenders. Ramson has such paucity of acumen that he failed to realise his hypocrisy and foot in mouth disease.

Raphael Trotman has made many entrances into courts over the years, but as an attorney at law, not as a criminal facing trial. Raphael Trotman has never been placed in the prisoners’ dock of the courts. But it is exactly in that very prisoners’ dock where prisoner Irfaan Ali stood as the magistrate read the 19 criminal charges against him, before he was released on bail. So how dare Ramson go there when his party’s “top man” is an alleged, bona fide fraudster?

PPP supporters should be aware that a person convicted of a crime is ineligible to be a candidate for president, and not waste their vote. I therefore call on the PPP to remove Irfaan Ali from its list of candidates for the March 2, 2020 general elections.

Regards Rickford Burke

and gas industry.

It used to be that nations interacted with one Washington, DC in the past… now it’s two. One cannot predict Washington as easily as in the past. Allow me editor, to refer to one recent development which though it may look and sound farfetched, may not be totally unrelated to the issue under

discussion here. This has to do with the operations of the Russian-owned bauxite company operating in Guyana and the unilateral approach it has taken to dealing with its Guyanese workforce.

I hope the geopolitical strategists in Guyana and more so in government are analyzing the contemptuous behaviour on the part of this

Russian company to determine whether its behaviour is not intended to provoke a situation that would serve as the occasion and not the cause for certain adjustments to the political/diplomatic relationship Russia currently maintains with Guyana and whether such adjustments may be linked to Russia/ Venezuela relations in the

FROM PAGE 6

context of Guyana’s growing oil discoveries. Further, such analysis may want to look into what might be the Trump position (as distinct from the US administration’s) on any possible Russia-inspired scenario that can have a negative impact on Guyana.

Regards Wesley Kirton

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OP-ED

By HRVP Josep Borrell & Head of UKTF, Michel Barnier

On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union. We lost a member of our family. It was a sad moment for us, for European citizens – and, indeed, for many British citizens.

Nevertheless, we have always respected the sovereign decision of 52% of the British electorate, and we now look forward to starting a new chapter in our relations.

Emotions aside, February 1 turned out to be historic but also undramatic. This is largely thanks to the Withdrawal Agreement that we negotiated with the UK, which enabled us to secure ‘an orderly Brexit’. One that – at least for now – minimises disruption for our citizens, businesses, public administrations – as well as for our international partners.

Under this agreement, the EU and the UK agreed on a transition period, until the end of 2020 at least, during which the UK will continue to participate in the EU’s Customs Union and Single Market, and to

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2020

Brexit: what does it mean for the European Union and our partners?

apply EU law, even if it is no longer a Member State. During this period, the UK will also continue to abide by the international agreements of the EU, as we made clear in a note verbale to our international partners.

So, with the transition period in place, there is a degree of continuity. This was not easy given the magnitude of the task. By leaving the Union, the UK automatically, mechanically, legally, leaves hundreds of international agreements concluded by, or, on behalf of, the Union, to the benefit of its Member States, on topics as different as trade, aviation, fisheries or civil nuclear cooperation.

We now have to build a new partnership between the EU and the UK. That work will start in a few weeks, as soon as the EU27 approve the negotiating mandate proposed by the European Commission, setting out our terms and ambitions for achieving the closest possible partnership with a country which will remain our ally, our partner and our friend. The EU and the UK are bound by history, by geography, culture, shared values and principles and a strong belief in

rules-based multilateralism. Our future partnership will reflect these links and shared beliefs. We want to go well beyond trade and keep working together on security and defence, areas where the UK has experiences and assets that are best used as part of a common effort. In a world of big challenges and change, of turmoil and transition, we must consult each other and cooperate, bilaterally and in key regional and global fora, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, NATO or the G20.

It is perhaps a cliché but the basic truth is that today’s global challenges – from climate change, to cybercrime, terrorism or inequality – require collective responses.

The more the UK is able to work in lockstep with the EU and together with partners around the world, the greater our chances of addressing these challenges effectively.

At the very core of the EU project is the idea that we are stronger together; that pooling our resources and initiatives is the best way of achieving common goals. Brexit does not change this, and we will continue to take this project forward as 27. Together,

the 27 Member States will continue to form a single market of 450 million citizens and more than 20 million businesses.

Together, we remain the largest trading bloc in the world. Together, at 27, we are still the world’s largest development aid donor. Our partners can be sure that we will stay true to an ambitious, outward-looking agenda – be it on trade and investment, on climate action and digital, on connectivity, on security and counter-terrorism, on human rights and democracy, or on defence and foreign policy. We will continue to live up to our commitments. We will continue to stand by the agreements that link us to our international partners such as the Economic Partnership Agreement [EPA] with Guyana and we will continue to develop multilateral cooperation frameworks around the world. The European Union will continue to be a partner you can trust. A steadfast defender of rulesbased multilateralism, working with our partners to make the world more secure and fair.

Freddie Kissoon is being misled by the PPP Dear Editor THERE are times when, as human beings, we allow ourselves to be misguided – either directly or indirectly-- by others who sometimes do not have our best interests at heart. Freddie Kissoon wrote that he’s had to ‘defend’ me from some obviously misguided folks who perceived me to be a ‘racist’ because of my political stances.

Yet, I’m sure that these very people who Freddie alleged spoke to him are unaware of the fact that both my paternal and maternal families comprise all ethnic groups in Guyana, mainly Portuguese, East Indian, Amerindian and African.

Not to mention the fact that all of my beautiful children are mixed, and all have East Indian grandmothers and great grandmothers.

So, when I sit around my family table or peruse our photo albums, or attend weddings, birthday parties or other sorts of get-togethers, it’s really difficult for any sane person to describe me as a ‘racist’. After all, none of these people about whom Freddie spoke know more of the Hindu culture than I do,

have ever read the Bhagwan Gita as many times as I have, and can sing old Indian songs better than I. That aside, I have also had to defend Freddie and have tried to convince folks that he too is not a racist, and that he’s not using (or attempting to use) Africans for political mileage, or for security purposes. Sadly, many folks still aren’t convinced even after my intervention on the issue.

In fact, I have had cause to call Freddie on one occasion about an alleged confrontation with one of his neighbours, who happens to be African Guyanese, who claimed that ‘Mr. Freddie Kissoon’ referred to her in colourful language and derogatory manner. Of course, Freddie denied the accusation levelled against him, and the matter died a natural death. Moving away from the issue of whether I’m a ‘racist’ or not, I would like to thank Mr. Kissoon for ‘defending’ me, and people should note that once my friend Lord Kissoon seh no, well then it’s no, and story done.

However, it’s ironic that when Freddie and I would visit a particular video/music shop on Camp Street, he would go into the En-

glish section to purchase movies and songs, and I’d enter the Indian section to do the same. Now, on the subject of Kissoon’s misinformation and lies, as peddled by his long-time friend and former Minister of Finance, Sasenarine Kowlessar, under the corrupt and brutal PPP regime, Freddie writes: “I met former Finance Minister (an old friend when we were student contemporaries at UG and one of Guyana’s most modest ministers in its entire history), Sasenarine Kowlessar. Sase told me that the Ministry of Finance currently employs only African staff.

He said it was not multi-racial when he was minister. Do I believe him? Don’t I have a right to my opinion? Yes, I believe him.” And here we go, without a shred of evidence, Freddie took his friend’s word as the gospel truth and published that level of falsehood and butcher type of journalism in order to suit his political agenda during this campaign season. Sadly, instead of researching the truth and confronting his friend about the lies, Freddie has allowed his emotions to take on the path of being mischievous and dishonest on this

particular issue.

After reading Kissoon’s article and have noticed his glaring praises for that former incompetent Minister of Finance, who may not have much respect for African folk, and at one point during his tenure may have, by virtue of his position, used the police on several occasions to arrest a woman and her husband in Kitty as a result of a property dispute with his female friend, my impression of this very PPP friend of Kissoon is that whatever is said, I’d take with a grain of salt. So, having done my own research, I found that Kissoon is unfortunately peddling a dangerous lie on behalf of Kowlessar.

The facts are based on my research: (1) Since 2015, not a single person from the PPP regime has had his/her employment terminated by the Hon. Minister of Finance Winston Jordan. (2) 95% of the Minister’s staff are non-African Guyanese, including his two secretaries, office assistant and even the cleaner. (3) The wife of the notorious former PPP Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee still works there, and the son of former PPP Minister

of Trade and Tourism, the late Michael Shree Chan, was hired after being dismissed from another agency. So, I wonder where is the evidence and why would Freddie Kissoon allow himself to be used like a doormat by certain PPP buffoons (disguised as his friends) to peddle misinformation and further an obviously racist agenda against this current government and the Minister of Finance. Unfortunately, I do see signs of a personal agenda by both Freddie and his PPP friends to make both the Minister of Finance and the government appear to be racist in the form of employment. Surely, there’s no truth to substantiate these blatant lies by Freddie and what was supposedly told to him by Kowlessar. Freddie, take my advice: your slip is showing and so are your emotions and personal agenda. And, by the way, I’ll respond to you on the issue of why you should not vote for Lenox Shuman. Wrong bang bro, wrong bang.

Regards Mark Benschop

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday February 6, 2020

Gov’t opens new round of anti-money laundering risk assessment

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…AG says growing economy a breeding ground for criminals

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA’S emerging oil and gas sector will spur “significant growth” in the local economy, but while this development is positive for the country, the Attorney General (AG), Basil Williams, believes that the authorities have to be watchful since a growing economy is a breeding ground for criminals.

As Guyana undergoes its second Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (ML/TF) National Risk Assessment (NRA), the AG said the country must be cognisant of the additional risks and vulnerabilities. This second round of NRA being conducted for a period of 10 months – from December, 2019 to September, 2020, is in keeping with the World Bank’s recommended three-phase process.

The assessment will allow the country to identify emerging money laundering and terrorist financing threats and vulnerabilities.

“Embarking on a second NRA is timely for Guyana as we are now an oil-producing nation. This new sector will change our financial landscape and in fact the landscape is already being changed. For instance, there has been an increase in business and investment and our economy is continually growing.

“While this development is a positive for Guyana, we must remain vigilant as a growing economy brings with it additional risks as it is a breeding ground for criminals. As an oil producing nation, Guyana will experience great transformational benefits.

“Therefore, it behooves us, in keeping with our international obligations, to protect the country from exploitation by criminal elements, to assess what exactly our risks are in relation to the oil and gas industry,” said AG Williams during his remarks at a World Bank-sponsored workshop on the NRA, at the Marriott Hotel, on Wednesday.

Overall, this second NRA exercise is relevant as Guyana is preparing for its Fourth Round Mutual Evaluation by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023. In 2023 Guyana will have to demonstrate, in addition to having the laws and institutions in place, that the country is also effective in mitigating ML/TF/PF risks.

Accordingly, this exercise will enable the relevant authorities to assess the implementation measures taken by key stakeholders to address deficiencies identified by the first NRA and allow the country to commence addressing any new vulnerabilities and threats ahead of its scheduled mutual evaluation.

NEW AREAS “In an effort to ensure that we are addressing our risks, threats and vulnerability in a comprehensive manner, this new NRA will explore some new areas that were not previously assessed in the first NRA. “These are the ML/TF risk associated with proliferation financing,

dering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act and other Acts.

Additionally, the Anti-Terrorism and Other Related Activities Act, State Assets Recovery Act, Witness Protection Act, Protected Disclosures (Whistleblower) Act, and the Integrity Commission (Amendment) Act, were passed.

“Our institutional frameworks were also enhanced through the establishment of the State Assets Recove r y A section of the participants and invitees at the opening ceremony of the workshop

illegal wildlife trade, virtual assets and the oil and gas sector. By addressing these new areas, Guyana will be taking a proactive approach in protecting her frontiers from criminal elements,” said AG Williams.

Looking to the future, the AG advised persons that they must not underestimate the level of environmental crime and the harmful effects, which criminal activity in this area can cause to the country.

He said the natural resources, unique fauna and flora, may be subject to irreparable harm and exploitation.

And, in that regard, the NRA is expected take into account the level of threats towards the wildlife trade and the use of the proceeds of this trade, whether as profit, or to further finance other criminal intentions, including but not limited to corruption by public officials.

Addressing the risks and implementing appropriate measures in this area will ensure that environmental rule of law prevails.

Further to this, he said: “we also have to face the reality that virtual assets will play a big role in the future. It has been shown that the use of virtual currency has facilitated money laundering through exploitation and trafficking of the worst kind, including human and organ trafficking, due to the difficulty in tracing some virtual currencies back to their original source.”

Additionally, understanding proliferation financing risks will improve Guyana’s awareness of this illicit activity and strengthen the country’s ability to respond.

“We cannot afford to be caught sleeping where the creation or transportation of weapons of mass destruction by states and non-state actors are concerned,” Williams advised.

Government’s efforts to improve resilience against money laundering and terrorism financing started when the first NRA was conducted in 2017.

The institutional systems in place during the years 2012-2016 were assessed during the first NRA.

the persons participating in the Working Group.

Further, government has constantly been training persons and building capacity which has enabled the relevant and supervisory authorities to efficiently execute their mandate.

Additionally, Guyana can now boast of having several trained CFTAF Assessors who are now equipped with the requisite knowledge to competently advise their organisations on the necessary measures to implement, to successfully combat ML/TF/PF. There has also been financial investigation and countering the financing of terrorism training, through the assistance of donor partners such as the European Union and the World Bank, as well as the CFATF. The success of government’s efforts was recently recognised when Transparency International, in its 2019 report, noted that Guyana had significantly improved in its Corruption Perception Index, reaching its highest score in history.

This, Williams said, is a significant achievement as it demonstrates this government’s commitment and success at fighting corruption.

Despite the successes, the AG encouraged persons to be cognisant that society is changing rapidly.

“We must be cognisant that our society is continually changing and evolving and for this reason a second NRA i s

The results of the first NRA showed that Guyana had a lot of work to do, especially having been referred to the CFATF/ ICRG process in 2011.

According to AG Williams, the results of the Attorney General Basil Williams, SC first NRA, in sumspeaks with World Banks representative, mary, showed that the Mr. Klaudijo Stroligo, at the opening of the overall money launderthree-day workshop ing risk for Guyana was rated as high.

“Regarding the terrorist financing risk, the threat level was Attorney rated as medium as there is legislative General, framework in place to identify, report Agency and existing Basil Williams and investigate terrorist financing,” institutions were addresses the said the AG, adding that the national strengthened,” said gathering vulnerability to money laundering was Williams.

Government rated “medium-high”.

The assessment also established had also constithat the attorneys-at-law, accountants, tuted the National trust company service providers, Coordination Comhouse/great estate agents, used car/ mittee for money spare parts dealers, and friendly so- laundering, terrorist cieties/registered charities have very financing and prohigh money laundering vulnerability liferation financing, which conducted outratings. critAG William’s said illicit drug traf- reach through the length ical,” ficking, gold smuggling, corruption and breadth of Guyana.

The working group comprises said Wiland organised crime were rampant in representatives from both the public liams.

Guyana.

A comprehensive NRA allows However, since coming into of- and private sectors. There are persons fice, the coalition government has from a large cross section of agencies, government to lay the foundation for taken a stand against corruption and including the Attorney General’s implementing mitigating measures President David Granger gave a high Chambers, the State Assets Recovery based on a risk-based approach. level commitment to the Financial Ac- Agency, the Customs Anti-Narcotics However, risks are not static as the tion Task Force (FATF), to ensure that Unit, the Financial Intelligence Unit; complexity and scope of financial Guyana complies with its obligations. the Guyana Revenue Authority; the crimes evolve almost daily as a result The AG said Guyana has made Guyana Geology and Mines Com- of new technologies, products and the significant progress in addressing the mission, the Bank of Guyana and the emergence of new sectors.

“Government, in this regard, is strategic AML/CFT deficiencies that Department of Cooperatives.

There are also persons from the heavily committed to protecting its were identified by the FATF. As a result, government was able banks and financial inclusion entities citizens, and will take necessary acto come off the infamous FATF list of as well as the trust and insurance tions to ensure that Guyana remains non-compliant countries and success- sectors. Owing to the importance and a safe and stable society,” said Wilfully exit the third round of mutual intensity of the group’s work, the liams, noting that work on the NRA Attorney General’s Chambers and will ensure the continued integrity evaluations.

Accordingly, several amendments the Ministry of Legal Affairs will be of the local financial system. were made to the Anti-Money Laun- seeking to provide a small stipend to

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

Gov’t wants peaceful elections with timely results …Harmon tells Carter Center

DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon has told representatives of The Carter Center that the government is interested in free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in which results are declared in a timely manner allowing the country to continue upwards in its development.

He made the position known to a team from the Center, on Wednesday, which is in Guyana as part of the contingent of international observers for the upcoming General and Regional Elections. The team was headed by Field Office Director of the International Election Observation Mission, Carlos Valenzuela; Legal Analyst, Anne Marlborough and Deputy Field Office Director, Nicholas Jahr.

According to the release from the Ministry of the Presidency, Valenzuela informed Harmon that the team has already met with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), and the government.

Legal Analyst, Anne Marlborough; Field Office Director, International Election Observation Mission, Carlos Valenzuela; Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon and Deputy Field Office Director of The Carter Center, Nicholas Jahr at the Ministry of the Presidency today. (MOPT photo)

They will soon be meeting with political parties once its leadership arrives in the country with the aim of understanding their views on the elections preparations, electoral process and current challenges.

In welcoming the team, Harmon explained that free, fair and credible elections

are a part of a democratic process which influences the development of a country. In this regard, he stated: “The government has done all that is humanly possible over the past year to have the Elections Commission adequately equipped and provided with all the necessary resources, without any interference

from government to ensure that free, fair and credible elections are held.”

Harmon also said that while some persons seek to cast aspersions on the work of the Commission, the government is confident that it can and will deliver a credible process to the people of Guyana.

“We have depended on GECOM to regulate themselves without giving any directions and we have provided all the resources that they need to carry out their work. We are most confident that the Commission can deliver free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

Harmon noted the gov-

ernment’s hope that the elections results can be declared in a timely and efficient manner, according to the prescriptions of the law, so that the nation’s business can continue as soon as possible post elections. On the question of post-elections violence, the Director General said government is hopeful that this will not take place since there is no place for such violence in the country Guyana is becoming. “There is too much going for Guyana right now, too much positive developments for us to return to that place,” he said.

“Any post-elections violence will take us back decades and we don’t want that. We do not subscribe to it. We have too much to lose as a country if we go back to that abyss.” Meanwhile, Valenzuela said the team is not here to find faults in the Commission or to criticise anyone but to ensure confidence-building in the citizenry and to ensure they are confident in the results that would emerge at the end of the process.

Shuman claims Canadian citizenship relinquished before Nomination Day PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lenox Shuman, though not presenting any evidence, said his Canadian citizenship was renounced on January 9, 2020 – one day before Nomination Day. During a press conference at the LJP’s Kingston Office, Shuman explained that he applied to the Canadian High Commission on December 11, 2019 to have his citizenship renounced – a process that came to an end on January 9, 2020.

“Yesterday I received a copy of the document that was certified by Her Excellency, the Canadian High Commissioner, that stated that the process was complete and that I had successfully relinquished my Canadian citizenship as of January 9, 2020. That document is lodged at GECOM,” Shuman told reporters.

Shuman’s pronouncement on this matter comes weeks after commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had informed the press that Shuman and two other presidential candidates had been removed from their parties’ Lists of Candidates due to their citizenship status.

All candidates are required to sign a Statutory Declaration, indicating that, among other things, they are not citizens of another country. Article 155 of the Constitution states: “(1) No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who – (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

Presidential candidate for the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lenox Shuman (Adrian Narine photo)

It was alleged that Shuman fraudulently signed the Statutory Declaration but on Tuesday, he maintained that he is no longer a Canadian citizen, and is therefore eligible to contest the General and Regional Elections as a candidate.

Although presidential candidates for two other parties were named by GECOM commissioners to have been removed from their lists due to their dual-citizenship status, Shuman is adamant that his party is being targeted

by partisan members of the commission.

According to him, LJP is being targeted because it poses the greatest threat to the two major parties – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition.

“Vishnu Bandhu contested elections for how many years, and how many seats did he win? Ms. Leung is coming in and she’s trying to run a religious party, we’re in a secular state, how many seats do you think she will win? LJP represents a voting block of 52,600 people and right now both parties want us out, and why do you think that is?” he reasoned.

Shuman is adamant that the GECOM does not possess the legal power to remove neither himself nor any other candidate from their lists. He claims that the commissioners made statements that do not reflect any decision made by GECOM. “GECOM never made any decision to remove Lenox Shuman from any list, all they did was simply asked [sic] for clarification on some personal information and the way the letter was worded was to give cause or reason.

There was nothing that says Lenox Shuman you are ousted or all of these colourful words that were used in the media. When I spoke to Madam Chair [person] her position was very clear that that is not a decision that is made

by GECOM,” Shuman stated.

Meanwhile, People’s Republic Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Dr. Valerie Leung, has also refuted claims that she

breached the Constitution or the electoral laws of Guyana, when she submitted her signed Statutory Declaration to GECOM as a candidate for the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

The PRP presidential candidate said on January 8, 2020 – two days before Nomination Day – she had signed the necessary documents to renounce her Canadian citizenship, which made her no longer a citizen of Canada as of that date.

The presidential candidates of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), United Republican Party (URP) and People’s Republic Party (PRP) respectively had signed sworn declarations while being holders of dual-citizenship. It was reported that three presidential hopefuls, Lenox Shuman, Vishnu Bandhu and Dr. Valerie Leung, were disqualified by GECOM. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Yolanda Ward, had said in an earlier interview that the names were not “struck off,” but side-lined after they were identified as dual citizens. The commission had taken the decision to grant these potential candidates a grace period to explain the reason for their “false” declarations. “They have until the January 31 to come forward and defend themselves,” Ward had said

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday February 6, 2020

President accredits diplomats from Belgium, Sierra Leone and Portugal

PRESIDENT David Granger accepted letters of credence from High Commissioner of Sierra Leone, Ambassadors of the Portuguese Republic and the Kingdom of Belgium, on Wednesday, on which occasion the three diplomats pledged their countries’ support to strengthening ties with Guyana.

The accreditation ceremonies were held at the Ministry of the Presidency and were also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings.

In his remarks to Ambassador designate of the Kingdom of Belgium, Hugo Verbist, the President noted that the two countries have enjoyed friendly relations since they established diplomatic ties on June 10, 1971. He stated that while Guyana and Belgium are very different in demography, geography, history and culture, they share a commitment to the protection of human rights and international cooperation.

“I am confident that our two countries will strengthen our relationship and seek to collaborate in fields of mutual interest such as food production, technology and renewable energy development. I wish you every success during your tenure as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” the President said.

For his part, Ambassador Verbist pointed out that Guyana’s future is undoubtedly bright with its emergence into the oil and gas industry and Belgium is willing to support the country in meeting its objectives in the ways it can. He commended Guyana on its key role in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and congratulated the country on its recent assumption of Chairmanship of the Group of 77 (G77) and China.

Ambassador Verbist noted that Belgium, as a member of the European Union (EU), is also proud to be in support of the EU Observer Mission presently assisting Guyana with the observation of its upcoming General and Regional Elections. Addressing High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai, President Granger, pointed to diplomatic relations established on October 25, 1974 and the similarities between the two countries.

One such is Sierra Leone’s National Development Plan – Education for Development: 2019-2023 targeting human capital development which can be compared to Guyana’s Decade of Development: 20202030 plan which highlights education as a pillar of human development. “Guyana welcomes the opportunity to explore areas of cooperation in the protection of the environment, agriculture

and mining. We look forward to sharing experiences in creating sustainable economies through the development of our human resources, preserving peace and improving the quality of life of our people,” the President said. “I look forward with your appointment as High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Guyana to deepen our existing ties and expand our cooperation.”

Meanwhile, High Commissioner Wai said that Sierra Leone and Guyana have long-standing historical con-

and social development. The descendants of the Madeirenses are true Guyanese who continue to build out multi-cultural nation.”

He expressed his hope that the ambassador’s appointment would advance increased cooperation in the fields of culture and renewable energy. In his remarks to the President, Ambassador Amaro said that the two countries are in an excellent position to cooperate as they not only share over a century of ties through the arrival of Portuguese immigrants

Ambassador of Belgium to Guyana, Mr. Hugo Verbist, lays a wreath at the Independence Arch following his accreditation ceremony (MoTP photo)

nections through the shipment of enslaved Africans from West Africa, which has contributed to some one third of the country being of African descent.

The High Commissioner also pointed out that the two countries share a common creole vernacular, culture and traditions, while they both are English-speaking countries and advocate for sustainable development, human rights, democracy and international peace. He commended Guyana’s commitment to regional integration in the Caribbean and stated that Sierra Leone looks forward to collaboration in the areas of tourism, agriculture, mining, education and energy. In accepting letters of credence from Ambassador designate of the Portuguese Republic, Carlos Amaro, President Granger highlighted that the two countries have over 40 years of established diplomatic ties beginning on December 5, 1978.

The President said: “Guyana and Portugal share rich ancestral and historical ties of over 185 years of immigration and integration in our society.

The contributions of Portuguese who came here from the island of Madeira have left a lasting legacy on our nation’s economic, intellectual, political

to Guyana, but Portuguese people are entwined within the six races of Guyana.

With its special focus on the sustainable use of oceans, seas and maritime resources, he stated that the Portuguese Republic looks forward to working along with Guyana to advance the cause. He indicated that his country also has interest in cooperating with Guyana in the areas of renewable energy, tourism, infrastructure and other business opportunities. To the three diplomats, President Granger equally highlighted the importance of Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), which will prepare the country to respond more effectively to challenges posed by global warming and rising sea levels.

He expressed that climate change represents a threat to the economies and environment of each country, as he gave example of the deadly wildfires in central and southern Portugal and its impact on human economic activity. With Guyana’s efforts towards becoming a ‘green’ state, he called on the countries to join in by advocating for positive action on global issues, the promotion of renewable energy and the adoption of practical measures to ensure climate adaptation.

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(From left): Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings; Ambassador Carlos Amaro; President David Granger, and other officials at the Ministry of the Presidency, following the accreditation ceremony (MoTP photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

AG holds talks with representatives of EU observer mission CHIEF Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission, Urmas Paet, and other members of the Mission, on Wednesday, held what was deemed as a satisfactory meeting with the Attorney General (AG), Basil Williams, at his Carmichael Street Office.

The meeting was held for the Mission to consult with the AG on the legal framework governing the elections and lead up to the elections, as well as to discuss court matters pertaining to the elections.

Accompanying Paet were Deputy Chief Observer, Alexander Matus, and Legal Analyst of the Mission, Dorota Ryza. “The meeting was a good one, satisfactory,” Matus said on exiting the over one-hour forum.

More on the meeting is expected to be expounded upon on Thursday when Paet is expected to officially launch the observation mission at a press conference at the Marriott Hotel. It was on Tuesday that the Mission deployed a team of 14 European Union (EU) observers for longterm observation of Guyana’s General and Regional Elections, which is set for March 2. The observers will be stationed at respective bases across Guyana for coverage of all 10 administrative regions.

The long-term observers will be deployed for six weeks across the country, while the short-term observers will be deployed shortly before, during and after Elections Day. “All 14 long-term observers are very experienced. They come from 13 different EU Member States and

Policy Forum, GOA Foundation representatives meet Trotman

Rahul Basu exchanges a handshake with Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

MIKE McCormack of Policy Forum Guyana (PFG) and Research Director of India’s GOA Foundation, Rahul Basu, on Wednesday, met with and updated Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman on GOA’s projects and approach to development and management of natural resources.

Basu shared the organisation’s proposed approach for the management of Guyana’s wealth with Minister Trotman, who expressed his appreciation for the visit and update.

Basu is in Guyana on the invitation of Policy Forum Guyana to speak at a public lecture and engage Guyanese on the proposed approach.

The Goa Foundation is the best known of Goa's environmental action groups.

Founded in 1986 by a group of Goan environmentalists each fighting individual environmental battles, the organisation today holds influence with the judiciary, government and the general public, having persisted with its environment agenda for nearly two decades.

Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission, Urmas Paet (left), meets with Attorney General, Basil Williams (right). Accompanying Paet were Deputy Chief Observer, Alexander Matus, (second from left) and Legal Analyst of the Mission, Dorota Ryza (Elvin Croker photo)

Norway. In the last three days, they received extensive training about the electoral, political, legal, media, security and logistics aspects of their work in the field,” Matus had said on Tuesday.

From the Mission, a core team of nine analysts will be based in Georgetown along with 20 short-term observers and possible diplomats accredited to the diplomatic missions of Guyana. Matus said that Guyanese can expect these officials to be the “eyes and ears” of the mission who will report periodically to the

core team in Georgetown to help the EU observer team to make informed decisions about the electoral process. The observer mission will also be having meetings with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and other elections stakeholders such as political parties, civil society organisations and religious authorities. While the mission will not be reporting to GECOM, it will be making its step-by-step findings available to the public.

Blue Martini murder…

Convict to appeal conviction and sentence SHAWN Harris called ‘Shawny,’ who was sentenced to life imprisonment, is moving to the Court of Appeal to challenge his conviction and sentence.

In January 2020, Harris was sentenced by High Court Judge Justice Jo-Ann Barlow after a 12-member jury found him guilty of the capital offence of murder. It was alleged that on February 5,2017, he killed Sunil Singh called ‘Grey' at the Blue Martini nightclub in Owen Street, Kitty.

Harris was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years.

According to reports, patrol ranks went to the Blue Martini nightclub and closed the club about 02:45hrs on February 5, 2017, after which they left.

However, shortly after, according to Charles Valenzuela, an employee of the nightspot, three men arrived and wanted to enter the club.

At that point in time, the young man informed them that the club was closed and that resulted in an argument, during which one of the men stabbed Valenzuela to his left arm.

Singh, who was present at the time, intervened and was trying to make peace

Shawn Harris called ‘Shawny’

when the suspect dealt Singh a ‘lash’ to his head.

Singh then reportedly ran north into Railway Street, Kitty, and was pursued by his attacker, who caught up with him and stabbed him several times.

Both Singh and Valenzuela were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Singh was pronounced dead; Valenzuela was treated and sent away.

In 2016, Harris was released from prison after serving a sentence for drug trafficking.

He had also served time for the Bank of Baroda robbery committed at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, on January 22, 2016.

NCC distances self from Global Witness report THE National Coordinating Coalition Inc. (NCC) has distanced itself from the Global Witness [GW] report on Guyana’s oil contract with ExxonMobil, stating that no representative of its over 30-civil-society-member organisations had been contacted for the company’s investigation.

“Considering the impact such a report can have on our citizens, particularly in the light of the upcoming elections, GW in their concern for the interest of the Guyanese people must be keenly aware of the effects such a report can have,” the NCC said in a release on Wednesday.

“NCC therefore wish to state emphatically that neither this organisation nor any representative of our 30+ civil society member organisations was contacted by GW in the compilation of their ‘objective’ report.”

The NCC also stated that it took note of the fact that GW indicated in its report the need for processes which involve meaningful and transparent engagement with civil society. It stated that the NCC is therefore taking the opportunity to express its intent as the voice of its own constituents as Guyana moves forward in the petroleum sector.

The Coordinating Coalition explained: “The NCC and its members have a long history of bridging the society’s ethnic and political divides and of working successfully and collaboratively with governments, past and present, on urgent socio-economic issues regardless of ethnicities, religion and political affiliation of the peoples we serve.

We are cognisant of our limitations due to inadequate resources, and those we serve are equally limited, or have little or no capabilities to voice their concerns. This challenge allows those with the resources to shape a biased narrative, while claiming to be the representative voice of civil society.”

The NCC also stated that it will build on past successes and lessons learned and remains fully capable of engaging meaningfully with government and private sector jointly on matters related to the management of Guyana’s oil resources.

Correction

Reference is made to one of our lead stories in Wednesday edition regarding the National Toshaos Council.

We are retracting the headline to read ‘Make informed choices’ …NTC Chairman Nicholas Fredericks…hails efforts to bridging information gap” Guyana Chronicle regrets the misleading headline that was published.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

Jagdeo rallies Enterprise supporters

…promises to criminalise non-disclosure of oil receipts ADDRESSING a gathering at a public meeting held on Monday night at Enterprise, on the East of Coast Demerara, the People Progressive Party Civic (PPP\C) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, accused the APNU+AFC Government of selling out to the world's largest publicly-traded international oil and gas company, ExxonMobil.

“APNU stuck us with a contract where very little comes to our people… $55B we will lose and I don’t know whether that figure is accurate but I know for sure that now that when Guyanese are working for $72,000 offshore 28 days 12 hour shifts, a foreigner is getting nearly $2M, $10,000 US for the same sort of work and that is not right and the PPP\C will change that,” he stated.

Jagdeo was basing his comments on the highly-discredited Global Witness report. Jagdeo further noted, that under a PPP/C government, no foreign entity will trump Guyana for its own resources, “no foreign company under the PPP will come and take advantage of us, this oil belongs to all of our people, it must be spent in Georgetown, right here in Enterprise, in Paramakatoi, wherever our people live they must see their lives improve because the oil belongs to us.”

He added that, all of the surplus from the oil and gas sector must not go to the foreign company, because there is more need for jobs, better education, and better healthcare facilities and also for infrastructural development. “The oil belongs to us, all of it can’t go to the foreign companies, our people have to get more jobs, they have to get more income from this sector, we

have to spend this money on education, on the best quality healthcare for our people, fix the streets and street lights …that is how we need to utilise our resources and not get them into the pockets of corrupt cronies,” he stated.

Despite Jagdeo’s criticisms, Norway-based Rystad Energy, said by the year 2030, Guyana’s total annual oil revenues can approach $30B within 10 years and could send the country’s GDP “skyrocketing.” One day after watchdog body, Global Witness, said Guyana stood to lose US$55B

ago. Rystad Energy added that,” offshore oil production is expected to grow rapidly in the years to come and will generate unprecedented revenues for the Guyana Government.”

“Since the initial discovery in 2015 of the giant Liza oil field in the prolific Stabroek Block, Guyana has discovered more than eight billion barrels of oil resources,” Sonya Boodoo, Vice-President of Upstream Research at Rystad Energy, said.

Boodoo said that with Liza field being on stream as of December 2019 and more development in other

General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, addressing the gathering at Enterprise on the East Coast of Demerara on Monday night

ties in Guyana’s offshore sector. It was noted that under the country’s fiscal regime, these companies assume all risks during the exploration phase, which explains the negative freecash flow (FCF) seen thus far. In future, the firm said, these costs – including both investments and operational expenses – will grow as new development projects are approved and new fields are brought on stream. “At the peak, the annual costs are expected to reach around $8B.”

A section of the crowd gathered at the meeting

from the 2016 negotiations on the Production Sharing Agreement on the Stabroek Block, Rystad Energy said that the average government take for Guyana is around 60 per cent in the range of mature producer, Brazil.

The research firm stated that with a population of around 80,000, Guyana’s economic fortunes are poised for a major transformation after its first oil development commenced production just six weeks

fields, the country’s rising oil revenues will make a huge difference in the continued development of the country. She said that in order for Guyana to realise the full potential of these resources, a stable regulatory and fiscal environment will be a key factor. The firm forecasts that Guyana’s oil production could reach 1.2 million barrels per day by the end of the decade, lifting total annual oil revenues to about $28B, assuming an

oil price of about $65 per barrel.

According to Rystad Energy, while government income is projected at a mere $270M in 2020, this, “is forecast to grow rapidly and could reach nearly $10B annually within a decade.” The firm explained that Guyana’s gross domestic product (GDP) currently stands at about $3.7B. Between 2015 and 2019, oil and gas companies invested around $8.1B in exploration and development activi-

CRIMINALISE Meanwhile, Jagdeo repeated that in order to promote transparency in the oil and gas sector, a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government will criminalise the non-disclosure of receipts from oil companies to the government, which will result in jail for the Minister of Finance.

“Any money coming from oil companies to the government, if it is not gazetted within three months and notified to the Parliament, then the minister of finance can go to jail for an extended period and that will be passed in legislation,” Jagdeo said. He

continued: “That tells all Guyanese at the end of the year or any point in the year, we can know how much money we collected over the year from the oil companies and anything outside of that forces the political directorate or the people who are managing, including the minister, can go to jail for it.”

He urged his supporters not to be misled. “A lot of our people were misled and we cannot allow that to happen…we have the numbers to win the elections, but we can’t take it for granted we have to make sure that every single person turns out, we not taking anything for granted,” he stated.

He urged his supporters, both young and old, to go out on March 2 and exercise their constitutional right and vote. Jagdeo stated that although they may be bright in colours and numbers at political meetings and rallies, it is important that persons cast their ballot to ensure the re-instatement of a PPP/C government.

Man remanded for fatally stabbing twin brother

A 44-year-old who fatally stabbed his twin brother during an argument, was on Wednesday remanded to prison for manslaughter.

Edley Kennedy Jacobs appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at the Diamond/Golden Grove

Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Edley on February 2, 2020, at Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara, unlawfully killed his brother Winford Jacobs.

The defendant was

Edley Kennedy Jacobs

remanded to prison until March 3, 2020.

According to reports, on the day in question, Edley, his child’s mother and his brother were walking on the Soesdyke public road after imbibing alcohol.

It is alleged that an argument ensued between

Winford and Edley, which quickly turned into a physical confrontation.

Winford reportedly attacked Edley with a bottle.

Edley, who was armed with a knife, dealt Winford two stabs about his body after which he (Winford) collapsed on the said public

road.

Winford was found lying on the southern parapet of the Soesdyke public road; he was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Edley was subsequently arrested and charged.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

Oil expert dismisses Global Witness report as ‘opportunistic, irresponsible’ OIL consultant and Fellow of Chatham House, Dr. Valerie Marcel, has joined the list of agencies or expert individuals who have condemned the recent Global Witness report on Guyana’s oil contract with ExxonMobil as “opportunistic” and “fraught with disinformation”.

Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a world-leading policy institute which assists governments and societies with analysing major international issues and current affairs. It is an independent institute with no allegiance to any government or political body.

Meanwhile, Dr. Marcel has advised governments in sub-Saharan Africa, the East-

ern Mediterranean, South America and the Caribbean on petroleum sector policy and governance. She is the author of ‘Oil Titans: National Oil Companies in the Middle East’ and recent publications include ‘The Cost of An Emerging National Oil Company’, the most read Chatham House paper in 2016.

Making serval points on the report ‘Signed Away’, Dr. Marcel first stated that the time at which such a document was released must be seriously considered as it comes at a crucial point of what has been termed as the “mother of all elections” for Guyana. “Just two weeks ahead of a crucial election it is opportunistic, irresponsible and ultimately destructive

to throw this bomb into the fray,” she stated on her social media on Wednesday.

“This election matters particularly because it's the first following oil discoveries; it is a tense election that pits the incumbent coalition government with majority Afro-Guyanese base against the historically long-in-power Indo-Guyanese party. It will decide who gets to rule with the sudden influx of production revenues. This election matters.” Secondly, the Chatham House Fellow also highlighted that the report is riddled with innuendo for which Global Witness sought to save itself from future damage by stating multiple times that it had no evidence to for its claims.

The organisation theo-

Oil consultant and Fellow of Chatham House, Dr. Valerie Marcel (Oil and Gas Council photo)

rised that Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, who signed the Exxon deal in June 2016, may have been compromised based on a “lavish” meeting with ExxonMobil prior to the signing.

However, the same article stated at one point “Global

Witness is not suggesting that Trotman’s Texas trip violates U.S. or Guyanese anti-corruption laws” and, at another, “Global Witness does not have evidence that Trotman was unduly influenced by his lavish Exxon meeting.”

Dr. Marcel pointed out: “This report is irresponsible because it's not even-handed in its treatment of the two licence negotiations by the Granger government and by the previous government. In a context fraught with disinformation and innuendo, this report adds fuel to the fire, but does not provide clarity. It insinuates conflicts of interest with regards to Minister Trotman but does not demonstrate them. It argues a trip to Houston (unethically) paid for by Exxon caused Trotman to negotiate poorly.

That's pretty unconvincing.

Global Witness should have stuck with an assessment of the deal itself.”

The expert didn’t end there but went on to criticize the investigative company of pointing out “Exxon's heavy-handed techniques” but failing to “deliver the goods in terms of proving how Exxon exerted excessive pressure”.

Just on Tuesday, the Government of Guyana also rejected a recent report by international investigative company, Global Witness, as “baseless”, “sensationalist” and “agenda-driven.” It stated that Global Witness contradicted itself in its own report, being unable to establish any corruption or malpractice whatsoever on the part of government or any of its officials. Reiterating where the country stands, the government assured that it entered into a fair agreement for the people of Guyana.

Republic Bank plugs $3M into Pan-O-Rama

Ms Jonelle Dummett, Acting Manager, Communications Department of Republic Bank Limited; Minister of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr George Norton, along with the Mashramani Coordinator Andrew Tyndall during the presentation of three million dollars to fund the Pan-O-Rama Steel Pan Competition

AS Guyana gears up to celebrate its 50th Republic Anniversary, Republic Bank Guyana Limited (RBL) on Wednesday morning presented the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport with a cheque for $3M to sponsor one of the most highly anticipated events of the Mashramani season, Pan-O-Rama.

Minister of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton, expressed immense pleasure at the handing-over ceremony held in the ministry’s boardroom.

“I am indeed happy to have the Republic Bank Guyana limited making this

continued commitment to pan music in Guyana; it has been 12 years since they have been doing this; there is no doubt that it has contributed significantly to what I might refer to as the revival of pan music in Guyana… we are looking forward for a bigger and better pan celebration for this golden jubilee and this only so possible because of the unwavering support from Republic Bank sponsorship and on behalf of the government I want to thank Republic bank.,” he noted.

Minister Norton added that the ministry recently concluded a workshop, where 11 young Guyanese—including a female participant--- had

the opportunity to make their own steel pans; The minister further stated that some 20 steel pans were donated to schools across the country and there have been a significant number of entries in the band category for this year’s competition.

The event, which will be a two-day extravaganza, will see performances from various bands, including solos and duos, competing for the top prize.

On February 13 at the Theatre Guild, the Pan Minors will have their competition, and on Feb 16, the large bands will take over the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for their competition.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited records $1.1B profit in first quarter 2019/2020 THE local banking industry continues to flourish and testimony to this is Republic Bank Guyana’s first-quarter profit of $1.1 billion.

Following up on its overall profit of $3.8 billion for 2019, the company recorded an after-tax profit of $1,117,000,000 for the first quarter of the financial year 2019/2020. This represented an increase of $161 million or 16 per cent when compared to the corresponding period last year.

Added to the “significant improvement” in profits, the bank, in a notice, said its total assets grew by $20 billion or 11.6 per cent and customers’ deposits also grew by $14.8 billion or by 10 per cent yearon-year.

“As we move forward, your bank will continue to explore the various opportunities that present themselves and remain optimistic that our objectives for the year will be achieved,” said Chairman of Republic Bank, Nigel Baptiste.

Late last year, the bank was heavily criticised by its customers because of “inefficient” services which were being offered by the bank, especially since its transition to a new banking platform.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan was reported as saying: “the situation has to do with their (Republic Bank) IT (Information Technology) systems and not a lack of money… the issues is the ability to get the money on time and in a manner that other banks are offering a service.”

Republic Bank had transitioned to its new banking platform on November 4, 2019. The company, in a press statement subsequent to its transition, had said: “as with the introduction of any new system, we are experiencing some challenges. We recognise the impact to our service delivery and wish to assure you, our valued customers and stakeholders, that we are committed to resolving these challenges in the shortest timeframe possible.”

Baptiste, in apologising to customers, said: “we take this opportunity to again apologise to our valued stockholders and clients for the inconvenience experienced during our recent IT conversion and thank you for your continued patience and support.”

In 2018, the bank achieved a profit after tax of $3.1 billion, compared to $2.7 billion in 2017. Accord-

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Republic Bank, Nigel Baptiste

ing to the bank’s 2018 annual report, apart from the normal banking operations which accounted for $2,951.4 million, the increase was due to an extraordinary gain realised from the sale of a fixed asset.

Former Managing Director of Republic Bank Guyana Ltd, Richard Sammy, in his report, had said against a challenging external environment, the bank focused on improving its operational efficiency by aggressively managing costs, restructuring workflow processes and reviewing systems and procedures.

Baptiste had also said in 2018 that, as Guyana prepares for first oil in 2020, Republic Bank is committed to supporting this emerging sector as well as Government-led initiatives to diversify some of the traditional sectors of the economy. International Oil and Gas companies are committed to further exploration which will require mobilisation of both foreign and local resources.

“This is expected to bolster positive relationships with small and medium enterprises and further enhance prospects and perspectives of Guyana’s natural resource potential,” said Baptiste. Republic Bank, he said, remains committed to the long term sustainable development of the financial sector through enabling greater access to affordable financing options across all segments, improved deployment of technological solutions and meeting the market at the point of need, while at the same time supporting opportunities for economic growth.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

Labour Department to verify payments to RUSAL/BCGI workers

THE Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) has claimed that it has already paid terminated workers, including all their benefits.

The Department of Labour (DoL) will be writing the company for a spreadsheet of the breakdown of the payments to independently verify that the amounts paid are what they are supposed to be.

The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU), however, maintains, notwithstanding the termination, the issue of wages and salaries still remains to be addressed, regarding retroactive payment to the workers.

GBGWU General-Secretary, Lincoln Lewis

This was the latest update coming out a meeting held last Wednesday, between represen-

tatives from the company and the union at the DoL Brickdam Office. Representing the company at the meeting were BCGI Managing Director, Gennadii Derevyanko, and Executive, Vladimir Permyakov.

Outside of a call for documentation to verify monies paid over to the workers, the department continued its push for the reinstatement of the 326 employees terminated, who were fired without notice.

In Guyana, the law requires employers to give employees two weeks to one months’ notice before they are terminated; in lieu of this notice, the employer is mandated to pay the employees one

The blockage across a section of the Berbice River at Ladernsville

month’s salary.

“We inquired whether they were paid their severance and other benefits; we were advised that all outstanding benefits were paid over to the workers, that is, one month’s notice, all severance and annual leave. They are to submit to us the breakdown so that we can calculate and verify that the terminal benefits are accurate,” Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, informed at a media briefing after the meeting.

NOT MUCH ACCOMPLISHED Outside of the meeting, GBGWU General-Secretary, Lincoln Lewis, believed the meeting did not accomplish much.

“We are still far away, very far away. The matter we came here to discuss is the matter it seems no one wants to put on the table. I’m talking about negotiations; they’re talking about the unblocking of the river. This issue is not about the blockage of the river, this issue is the violation of the Collective Labour Agreement, violation of the Laws of Guyana,” an impassioned Lewis conveyed.

A subsidiary of Russian aluminum giant RUSAL, BCGI, has been re-engaging the attention of the DoL since last month when they laid off 142 workers on January 23, then another 146 on January 30. On February 2, RUSAL officially announced that it had terminated 326 workers and was suspending its Guyana operations in Upper Demerara-Upper Kwakwani.

Following the firing of the 142 workers, some workers blocked a point of the Berbice River, effectively blocking the company from transporting bauxite and materials from its Kurubuka mines.

On exiting the meeting, the company’s representatives declined to comment.

However, Ogle related that at the meeting, they once again called for the unblocking of the river, with the possibility of restarting operations at their Kurubuka Mines in Region 10.

POSITIVE SIGN “They cannot make the decision; they said they have to consult with their superiors

in Russia as to the proposals put forward to them. As a sign of good will, the management has said that if the union would [encourage workers to unblock the river] they will consider re-employing,” Ogle informed.

However, with severance and other benefits paid, there is no guarantee the unionised workers will be re-employed by the company. Even with re-employment, they will be entering the company as new employees.

The workers are remaining steadfast in their fight for what they believe is right.

“We will agree, as a union, to facilitate, the process in having the river unblocked but a number of things have to be satisfied. Negotiations is not you get everything and walk away. You have to address these things. When they’ve finished discussing [salaries and wages] there will have to be retroactivity. As such, the people who were sent home, on termination, their terminal benefit will have to be adjusted right away, nobody wants to talk about that,” Lewis said.

The union and the company have spent the past year trying to agree on a new CLA, inclusive of an agreement on increases in wage and salaries for workers. In August 2019, the union asked for the wages and salaries negotiations to be dealt with separately.

The negotiations hit an impasse when the company made a final offer of a six per cent increase and the union called for a minimum of eight per cent, to rectify what they said is a disparity between what workers at BCGI are being paid, against what equivalent workers at other bauxite companies in Guyana are offered.

On August 24, the union wrote the DoL asking for the commencement of conciliation, the next step in collective labour bargaining.

The union has since been asking for the conciliation to be declared deadlocked and for the discussions to move to arbitration.

A process whereby an independent tribunal makes a decision on the matter and both sides are bound to the decision.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

Minister Trotman welcomes new President and CEO of Guyana Goldfields Inc. MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, on Wednesday, welcomed new CEO of Guyana Goldfields Inc., Mr. Alan Pangbourne to Guyana.

Mr. Pangbourne was joined by Mr. Perry Holloway, Senior Vice-President,

Strategy and Corporate Affairs and Mr. Peter Benny, Director, Corporate Office and Compliance.

A press release from the Ministry of Natural Resources said that Minister Trotman was especially interested in the company’s future development plans

since the Aurora Mine is an important contributor to gold production in Guyana.

“In response, the team shared the company’s plans to advance work with their underground mining project, and are presently working with relevant government agencies to ensure that all

Minister speaking with officials of Guyana Goldfields Inc.

necessary processes are completed expeditiously,” the release said.

Minister Trotman also noted that the government views Aurora Gold Mines (AGM), Guyana Goldfields Inc.’s local subsidiary, as a strategic partner and therefore wished the company to return to full strength; whilst committing to providing necessary support.

Mr. Pangbourne was appointed to President and CEO of Guyana Goldfields Inc. on January 1, 2020.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Pangbourne joined the Board of Directors as an independent Director in May 2019. He brings more than 35 years of experience in the mining industry, including open-pit and underground operations to the company.

Batson gets 43 years for attempted murder, robberies CORT Batson, 24, who was found guilty of attempted murder, robbery under arms and discharging a loaded firearm with intent to harm, was sentenced to 43 years imprisonment by Justice Simone Ramlall at the Berbice Assizes on Wednesday.

State Prosecutrix, Seeta Bishundial, had earlier led the evidence of several witnesses, including attempted murder victim, Wilfred Manns; robbery victims, Banesha Shirkissoon, and Samuel Fernandez. The collective evidence convinced the 12-member jury, resulting in a unanimous guilty verdict.

Last month, Batson faced another trial where he pleaded not guilty to three counts of robbery under arms and attempted murder. But the trial was aborted after a juror was involved in an accident and another had a challenge remaining on the panel.

Consequently, the defence and the State agreed it would be difficult to proceed with 10 jurors.

Batson is also accused of robberies committed on two Rose Hall Town money-changers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

Rotary Club of Georgetown facilitates medical outreach THE Rotary Club of Georgetown facilitated a medical outreach at the Blake Primary School on Sunday February 2, 2020. The outreach, which catered to 200 adults and children from the East Bank Essequibo, provided health care in the areas of paediatric, optometry, gynaecology, and cardiology, as well as general checkup including blood pressure and glucose testing.

In a press release, the organisation related that, “The goals of this outreach were to provide health care by professionals for free, to improve the primary health of the community outside of Georgetown by promoting health literacy, healthier lifestyles, and general well-being.”

The medical team related that a general observation from the medical team is that many residents from that area suffer

from hypertension (high blood pressure), a non-communicable disease, which is of concern in the Caribbean Region.

The Rotary Club stated that it will make it its duty to execute, on a regular

Rotarians, Doctors & Volunteers.

basis, medical outreaches throughout Guyana.

Rotary is an international non-profit organisation comprising business and professional persons united in service to the community, under the

Some of the persons who benefitted from the Rotary Club of Georgetown’s Medical Outreach. motto, “Service above Self.’

Rotary’s service is focused in six broad categories being: Disease Prevention and Treatment, Water and Sanitation,

Maternal and Child Health, Basic Education and Literacy, Peace and Conflict Resolution and Economics and Community Development.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

Gov’t working assiduously to improve living conditions for all

--prime minister tells Sophia residents WITH 25 days to go before Guyanese go to the polls,the APNU+AFC coalition continues to make a strong case for re-election for another five years.

At a public meeting in Plum Park, Sophia, on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo told a large crowd that the government has been working assiduously to ensure that living conditions for the general populace are significantly improved.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo made the point that the previous administration’s dictatorial and authoritative style of leadership was meant to keep the Guyanese people in bondage.

Since the coming together of six parties to form a coalition in 2011, the country has seen a representation of all the ethnic and cultural groups in Guyana.

If national unity is to be achieved, then the country must never go back to one-party rule.

“One-party dictatorship, one-party authoritarian rule, we must never go back to one-party rule that is cor-

rupt”, Nagamootoo told the crowd.

The coalition is confident of victory come March 2nd because according to Nagamootoo, there is no match for President Granger in the opposition.

However, the prime minister urged the residents that victory is not assured if they do not exercise their constitutional right and go out and vote. This was a message that was given by the previous speakers at Tuesday’s rally.

While emphasising the need to be vigilant against evil-doers, Nagamootoo cautioned against the naysayers who will say on polling day that there is no need to vote because the coalition has already secured a victory.

“That the APNU+AFC done win already, well we ain’t win already, we know we will win, but we have to win in order to say we have won it,” the prime minister was quoted as saying to the crowd.

On polling day, Guyanese need to mobilise each other and vote, considering that we must be free of hin-

drances such as alcohol and the feeling of being tired because they would have engaged in rivalry.

The prime minister made the point that the government has been working tirelessly and has done things that have never been done before in the history of Guyana , all to ensure that Guyanese will have a brighter future.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo trumpeted that no government in its first term has ever decided to give pensioners the right to a free driver’s licence and to remove people from the income tax bracket.

He told the crowd that in the government’s second term, if you are working for $700,000 to $1,000,000 dollars a year, you won’t have to pay income tax, “We kept our promises to you that we will reduce the vat,[the] vampire tax that was introduced to you

by Jagdeo; we reduced it by two per cent.”

The residents were reminded of the reduction of tolls for the Berbice bridge and the other promises made

Prime Minister Nagamootoo addressing public meeting at Plum Park, Sophia

by the government prior to its assumption in 2015, that have been fulfilled and should be used as a point of reference while exercising their constitutional right to vote in this year’s elections.

CASH GRANTS FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN When the previous administration had implemented the transfer of a $10,000 cash grant to parents of schoolchildren, it was perceived that it was not carefully thought out.

But the prime minister, addressing the issue, said that the government favours a cash transfer, but it has

to be worked out to benefit school-aged children.

The government had announced that there will be cash grant for parents with schoolchildren; hence, Nagamootoo assured that it will be worked out.

“These are not empty promises, because what we are doing is to ensure that our children benefit from a first-class, world- class education.”

He made the point that everywhere that has been touched by the clean hands of this government has seen improvement.

More Developments in the near future

There are plans to build a modern four-lane bridge across the Demerara River to ease traffic congestion along the East Bank corridor.

There are also plans to build a new road from Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara to Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara.

Plans are also on stream to build a bridge across the Corentyne River.

“We need the road to create jobs, and that is why President Granger announced that those former sugar workers who want to do crop cultivation in the sugar belt, they will be provided with land to do agriculture, because the opposition is exploiting the situation with the sugar industry to divide us, to tell Indo- Guyanese that they are been penalised by this government,” Nagamootoo said.

“The government has a vision and plan for all Guyanese, thus all that is needed to be done is to stay focused, because there is the assurance of a happy future.

GYEITI and Department of Energy to collaborate on oil trading information AS the Government of Guyana pushes to enhance transparency in the governance of the natural resources sector, the Department of Energy and the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI) will be collaborating for the sharing of information with regards to the trading of Guyana’s oil.

A joint communique from the Department of Energy and the GYEITI Secretariat said that Guyana, as a new oil producing country and also a member EITI, is required to adhere to the requirement in the EITI 2019 Standard which speaks to transparency in First Trades in Oil. As such, the local EITI body is mandated to collect the required information on the first trades in oil from the Department of Energy along with other government agencies as necessary.

Some of the information required Information required for the completion of the

L-R: Dr. Rudy Jadoopat, Mr. Brian Gittens, Mr. Wallace Ng-See-Quan, Mr. Peter Dillon, Mr. Mike McCormack, Ms. Joanna Simmons, Dr. Mark Bynoe and Ms.Diane Barker

First Trades in Oil Report include: 1. Name of the seller 2. Name of the buyer 3. Oil quality grade 4. Oil quantity 5. Date of sale 6. Revenues received 7. Official selling price 8. Payment date 9.

Payment account 10. Type of state-owned oil sold e.g. profit oil 11. Contract number

12. Invoice number 13. Beneficial owners of buyer 14.

Load port, terminal and depot among other details.

“The GYEITI will receive data and information on the oil and gas sector, including on Guyana’s first trades in oil from the Department of Energy, the Ministry of Finance,

Guyana Geology & Mines Commission, the Petroleum Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Revenue Authority, National Insurance Scheme, and other government agencies which are recipients of revenues from entities operating in the Oil & Gas sector as per

EITI Requirements,” the joint statement said.

It said the meeting between GYEITI and DE agreed that the two entities will collaborate and share relevant data and information, legally permissible, to support the ongoing effort to increase transparency and ac-

countability in the extractive industries and contribute to improved governance of Guyana’s Oil, Gas, Mineral and other Natural Resources.

“The Department of Energy and the GYEITI committed to continuing their collaboration to ensure that compliance, transparency and accountability are resident within the country’s burgeoning oil and gas sector for the benefit of the people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Joint Communique, Issued by Department of Energy, MOTP and Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI),” the statement said.

GYEITI is a small unit within the Ministry of Natural Resources with a mandate to administer Guyana’s activities as a member of the EITI international body. The body has coordinated the publishing of Guyana’s first EITI report in April 2019. The second report is due this year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

National Mashramani Competition…

Region Four schools rock NCC with electrifying performances –– Hope, LBI, Ann’s Grove Secondary Schools to represent region at national competition IT was a kaleidoscope of colours on Tuesday at the National Cultural Centre as students from various secondary schools in Region Four commanded the stage with their performances as they all vied for a spot in the upcoming national competition.

Dacia Martin, a teacher of Hope Secondary School, expressed immense pleasure as her students were one of the first group of dancers to cop a spot in the national competition, winning the first prize in the (14-18) legend and tradition category with their captivating performance.

Martin, who also choreographed the students’ dance routine, noted that she is very proud of her students and is eager to take the journey to the national stage with her talented performers.

“I feel extremely proud working with this group of students; I have been motivating them physically to do their best and I must say it has paid off and I’m

extremely proud.”

The students who were overwhelmed with joy and excitement, noted that they will take all their energy to the national stage and work even harder to take back another first-place trophy to their school.

Meanwhile, the Diamond Secondary School placed second and Ann’s Grove Secondary followed in third place.

Additionally, Friendship Secondary left their mark as they copped two first-place prizes in the interpretive and religious-belief categories.

Ms. Sharisa Joseph, a teacher attached to the school noted that the experience was a bitter-sweet moment filled with anxiety and excitement.

She added that it was a little challenging during practice and managing costumes and other aspects of the students’ performances; however the school was triumphant, winning not one, but two first-place trophies.

Plaisance Secondary placed second in the inter-

pretive category, followed

by Beterverwagting Secondary in third place. Meanwhile, Ann’s Grove Secondary placed second in the Religious Belief category, while Annandale Secondary placed third in the same category.

Additionally, in the HipHop category, La Bonne Intention (LBI) Secondary students took the stage by

storm with their electrifying dance routine, winning the first-place prize and trumping Hope Secondary in the category.

In the end, Ann’s Grove Secondary walked away with the winning trophies in the masquerade category, followed by Golden Grove Secondary and Lancaster Secondary.

A student of the Hope Secondary School receives the first-place trophy on behalf of her school and dance mates

Students of the Friendship Primary School during their performance at the National Cultural Centre

Dwayne Rogers of Ann’s Grove Secondary receiving his first-place trophy for his solo flouncer performance

Students of Plaisance Secondary School during their colourful performance at the National Cultural Centre

Students of Friendship Secondary School during their breathtaking performance called ‘through the gates of heaven’ at the National Cultural Centre on Tuesday. (Photos by Delano Williams)

Students of Ann’s Grove Secondary receive their first-place trophy for their masquerade performance (Photos by Delano Williams)

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Taylor century pushes New Zealand to win over India

(REUTERS) - ROSS Taylor and stand-in captain Tom Latham combined in a 138-run stand to guide New Zealand to a morale-boosting four-wicket victory over India in the first oneday international in Hamilton yesterday.

Taylor chalked up his 21st century with an unbeaten 109 while Latham, deputising for the injured Kane Williamson, weighed in with 69 as the hosts chased down India’s imposing 3474, passing the target with almost two overs to spare.

Victory was not without a scare, however. New Zealand lost three quick wickets as they approached the target, raising fears of a repeat of their capitulation in the Twenty20 series, when they threw away winning positions in the last three games to slump to a 5-0 defeat.

But Mitchell Santner held his nerve, finishing on 12 not out as New Zealand ended an eight-game losing streak, having also

succumbed 3-0 in their Test series in Australia.

India’s massive total was built on Shreyas Iyer’s maiden one-day international

century. Dropped on eight, 11 and 83, he went on to score 103 and shared in century-stands with both Virat Kohli (51) and KL Rahul (88

not out).

The win released some pressure on Gary Stead and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) after the coach was granted

Ross Taylor led the chase with his 20th ODI century (Getty Images)

a week’s leave from the team to rest, leaving bowling coach Shane Jurgensen in charge for the three-match ODI series.

The move had been criticised by several former players, with NZC forced to explain the decision yesterday.

“Player and support staff workload is a big issue in international cricket,” NZC Chief Executive David White told reporters.

“We lost our last coach Mike Hesson to workload issues,” he added in reference to Hesson’s sudden resignation in 2018. “We want to make this role sustainable going forward and that’s why Gary is having a week off.”

White said the decision had been made more than six months ago and that Stead has always been reluctant to take a break.

“The man works very, very hard; so as managers we must manage his workload or we will have burnout,” White added.

Hero CPL viewership increased by 56% in 2019 to 312 million THE HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw another increase in viewership numbers during the 2019 season as the vibrant and exciting T20 league continues to grow in stature and reputation.

The total viewership, combining broadcast and digital, was 312 million – an increase of 56% from 2018. Viewership for the tournament has increased every season over the event’s seven-year history.

The tournament, which took place between September 4 and October 12 last year, featured 34 men’s matches and two women’s exhibition games and took place in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago.

The tournament was shown on television, with major broadcast deals in a several countries, and was also streamed on Facebook and Twitter. This meant that no

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matter where you were in the world, you were able to watch The Biggest Party in Sport. This commitment to digital innovation has been key to the success of the tournament and the league will be looking to increase its digital footprint in 2020 with more platforms for fans to enjoy the action.

Damien O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer of Hero CPL, said: “We are immensely proud of the CPL, and we are delighted to see it get bigger each year. The fact that we are able to release such fantastic viewership figures is a further testament to the way this tournament has grown and become firmly established as one of the world’s premier sporting events.

“We are already working hard on the 2020 edition of the CPL and we are really looking forward to even more fans tuning in this year.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

Four schools benefit from Education and Public Telecommunications ministries’ football donation

CHARLESTOWN Secondary School, Annandale Secondary School, Mackenzie High School and the Dr Desrey Fox-Caesar Secondary School were the recipients of a quantity of football gear and equipment yesterday, compliments of the Ministry of Education, through a partnership with the Ministry of Public Telecommunications.

Minister of Education, Dr the Hon. Nicolette Henry; Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton; president of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde; officers of the Unit of Allied Arts, as well as students and teachers of the receiving schools were all present at the ceremony which was held at the Ministry of Education (MoE) ground on Carifesta Avenue.

According to Minister Henry, football provides maximum physical exercise and like any sport it also provides many health benefits for children.

“It’s a physically demanding game that offers an opportunity for players to improve their speed, agility, strength, hand-eye coordination and overall cardiovascular endurance,” Minister Henry noted.

She said that the Ministry is cognizant that providing academics is merely a percentage of creating the ideal student, but opportunities for a healthy lifestyle, morals, values and discipline are extremely important.

Noting that the Government of Guyana is adamant that young people must be given the best opportunities to develop their potentials, Minister Henry also pointed out that “the decade of development aims at more than socio-economic improvements but entails holistic development for all Guyanese.”

Meanwhile, Minister Norton related that while the government is pushing education as its main agenda, the administration has recognised the importance of sports and the benefits of promoting a society of healthier and better rounded individuals.

As such, he added that investments in sports are always worthy. Further, he said that it is the government’s intention and his Ministry’s mandate to improve and enhance sports infrastructure throughout the country.

“In addition to our new synthetic tracks being constructed in Berbice and Linden we have also invested heavily and will continue to invest in the development of sports grounds and playfields in almost every community. We want to ensure that our children and youths have the facilities they need to not only be physically active and have fun, but to also prepare and practise for competitions that will propel any professional sports aspirations they may have,” Minister Norton said.

President of GFF, Wayne Forde, in his remarks said that the federation has realised that the best return on football investment is in the school environment. He told the gathering that when schoolchildren are given an opportunity to play sports, they learn to respect rules, play in a team setting, to win, to lose, and other life skills to become a productive adult.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday, February 6, 2020)

COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK

BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500)

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ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Courtney Walsh-26 wickets (2) Mutiah Muralitharan-34 wickets TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) What are the best ODI bowling figures by a WI against SL to date?

(2) What are the best ODI bowling figures by a SL against the WI to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

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We can’t afford to have our best players not being out on the park - Adams

By Clifton Ross CRICKET West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams called for players to focus more on raising their fitness levels, following the recent omissions of the in-form duo of Shimron Hetmyer and Evin Lewis ahead of the upcoming Sri Lanka series.

Both Lewis and Hetmyer were left out of the Windies squad who will travel to Sri Lanka in a few days, following the pair of left-handers failing to attain the new required fitness level marks.

CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, said the board will be placing more emphasis on player fitness

Adams, a former West Indies captain/wicketkeeper, told Chronicle Sport during his visit to Guyana yesterday ahead of Round 4’s Jaguars/Scorpions bout; that the new fitness standards will make players more durable and match-fit in the future, as CWI seeks to raise the standards of fitness across the region.

“There has always been a fitness policy implemented by the board; players have been aware that this aspect of the policy would have been implemented with some of them expecting it sooner. The only difference is that going back to about September 2018, the board decided to tie in the fitness standards for selection,” said Adams.

A veteran of 127 ODIs and 54 Tests during the 90s, Adams confirmed that the new mark of the YO-YO fitness test is a minimum of 40. That score, according to Adams is the CWI’s benchmark for selection but he added that players can set personal targets as he wants to see the Yo-Yo Tests yielding scores of 50 or more in the future.

“We wanted to make sure that everything was in place in terms of transparency. It’s unfortunate that some players have not met the minimal standards indicated to them, but hopefully we can get them up to that standard as soon as possible,” stated the director.

Despite higher fitness standards being implemented these days, Adams said the response, however, has been great throughout the region as most of the Caribbean players are now statistically above the required level and that’s something the CWI expects more of.

He closed by referencing Test batsman John Campbell who scored runs in Ireland but was unable to meet the fitness requirements needed to perform at the highest level and as such was omitted from the team. This strategy according to Adams is crucial as it outlines the importance of remaining fit as well as in playing form.

“We can’t afford to have our best players not being out on the park, so I’m looking forward to seeing these lads keep their fitness levels where it should be and make sure that we can keep them on the park longer,” Adams ended.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

Ace Warriors survive GYO in drawn two-day cricket ACE WARRIORS were able to hold on for a draw over the weekend in their Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) two-day Noble House Seafoods second-division battle against home team Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO).

On Saturday, GYO had batted first and scored 272-7 before they declared. Darshan Persaud led the attack with 61 (7x4, 1x6) not out, while Chris Deonarine scored 51 (8x4, 1x6) and Joshua Ramsammy 46.

Bowling for Ace Warriors Mark Cumberbatch claimed 3-44.

The visitors did not find their footing in the middle as Demeter Cameron grabbed 5-23 to help restrict the side to 81. Divesh Ramjattan supported with 2-9.

After a late start on Sunday (due to early morning rain seeping onto

Divesh Ramjattan took 3-24 in the second innings for GYO

the pitch), GYO looked to build on their 191-run lead.

Led by Jason Sinclair, the home team paced themselves to 225-6 to extend their lead to 416 runs. The wicket-keeping batsman Sinclair led the second innings with 101 unbeaten runs (17x4, 1x6), while Deonarine added his second half-century with an even 50.

Bowling for Ace Warriors, D. Lall took 3-40.

The visitors were then tasked with keeping their wickets intact for the remaining overs and they barely did, given that they were struggling on 128-9 from 39 overs when play ended.

N. White led the way with 40, while Cumberbatch made an unbeaten 30.

Bowling for GYO, Ramjattan finished with 3-24, while Cameron took 2-14.

Magnum Mash Cup Round-of-16 starts tonight FOLLOWING the conclusion of the round-robin section, the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue will be the battleground this evening when the round-of-16 elimination section kicks off with several mouthwatering matchups.

The evening will commence at 19:00hrs with Spartacus against Broad Street, with Sophia opposing Ansa McAl All-Stars at 19:30hrs and Bent Street locking horns with Mocha from 20:00hrs.

Sparta Boss will then take centrestage against Kingston at 20:30hrs, while Gold is Money engage Alexander Village at 21:00hrs and Leopold Street tackle Avo-

cado Ballers from 21:30hrs.

In the final two encounters, Albouystown challenge Back Circle at 22:00hrs and Future Stars battle Rio AllStars from 22:30hrs.

Meanwhile, Sparta Boss, Sophia, Future Stars and Bent Street maintained their respective unbeaten records following wins in the final group round at the same venue on Tuesday.

Sparta Boss dismantled Bad-a-Yard 6-1. Keifer Brandt recorded a hat-trick in the sixth, eighth and 10th minutes, while Sheldon Shepherd, Gregory Richardson and Dennis Edwards netted in the third, fourth and seventh minutes respectively.

For the losers, Selassie Rutherford scored in the fifth

minute.

Similarly, Bent Street crushed North-East La Penitence 3-0. Jermaine Beckles, Colin Nelson and William Europe scored in the 11th, 14th and 16th minutes respectively. On the other hand, Sophia defeated Broad Street 5-3.

Dwayne Lowe recorded a helmet-trick in the fourth, seventh, ninth and 12th minute adding an own goal in the fourth minute.

Akeem Sam bagged a brace in the third and eighth minute for the loser, while Ryan Dowding netted in the fifth minute.

Similarly, Future Stars blanked Alexander Village 2-0. Kenard Simon and Daniel Ross were on target in

the fifth and 11th minutes respectively. In other results, Albouystown upset Gold is Money 1-0, while Avocado Ballers downed Showstoppers 2-0.

Also, Stabroek Ballers defeated Belfield Warriors 1-0, while Kingston ousted Island All-Stars via walkover. The quarterfinal section will commence on Saturday, February 8.

Winners of the event will pocket $700 000 and the championship trophy, while the second-place side will collect $400 000 and the respective accolade. On the other hand, the thirdand fourth-place units will receive $200 000 and $100 000 respectively and the corresponding trophy.

Returning Reifer credits Smith, bowlers for fantastic job

By Clifton Ross RETURNING Guyana Jaguars star all-rounder Raymon Reifer lauded the clinical approach taken by the bowlers so far, urging his fellow batsmen to show more application ahead of today’s 4th round clash at Providence versus the Jamaica Scorpions.

The Barbados-born Reifer, one of the Jags key players and pieces to the championship franchise, missed the last round which saw the champs reclaim their number one spot, after trouncing Trinidad Red Force by 219 runs in their Providence backyard.

The left-arm seamer was under concussion-alert following a hit to the head during the second round versus his countrymen, Barbados Pride. After remaining in Barbados for observation after being struck, the Windies Test player, upon being named in the 13-man squad in place of Ronaldo Alimohamed, called for more diligence in both departments.

He added that the champs should stick to their current fundamental blueprint with regard to overpowering the Scorpions.

“I don’t think we need to change a lot in order to get that edge over the Scorpions. We just need to continue playing the good brand of cricket we have been playing and let the result take care of itself,” said Reifer.

Round 3 was a memorable match for the champs as they got back to their winning ways after losing to Barbados the previous round.

Spinner Veerasammy Permaul snapped up 7 wickets and crossed the 500-wicket mark in his first-class career, while newbie pacer Niall Smith showed immense hostility

during his 6-wicket haul.

Regarding the bowling effort to date, the all-rounder hailed his fellow bowlers while singling out Smith as diamond for the Jaguars.

“Smithy is a brilliant find for us, that extra bit of pace gives us the edge especially in crunch time when you need wickets.

But I think all in all, the bowling unit has been doing well over the years.

But Smith coming in now is a really good addition to the team”.

Although the champs have a number of 50-plus scores in their camp, no batsman has managed to convert into triple digits, prompting not only the batting coach Shiv Chanderpaul to call for a more responsible approach, but now Reifer, a batsman himself, further stressing the importance of converting starts.

“I think we (the batsmen) are losing concentration. When you get to a fifty or a good run mark the guys need to keep it in the back of their minds, focus and try to achieve the three-figure score,” said Reifer.

Meanwhile, the table-leaders, Guyana, will be keen on tightening their grip on the rest of the competition by extending their lead, while taking advantage of today’s opponents Scorpions, who are currently last on the table.

Guyana Jaguar squad for Round 4- Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Vishaul Singh, Leon Johnson, Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Devendra Bishoo, Tevin Imlach, Veerasammy Permaul, Keon Joseph, Niall Smith.

• Shivnarine Chanderpaul - Manager/Assistant coach • Esaun Crandon - Head coach • Neil Barry Jr -Physiotherapist

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 6, 2020

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Fitness Express, Samuel Hardy main sponsors of Mr Linden Classic/Novices Bodybuilding LEADING supplements provider Fitness Express and Samuel Hardy of Linden are the main sponsors of this month’s Mr Linden Classic and Novices Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, which are jointly set for the LICHAS Hall in Linden.

The events, set for next Saturday (February 15), are the first on the calendar for the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF).

According to the federation’s president, Keavon Bess, he is elated with the support.

In a comment, he thanked both Mr Jamie McDonald from Fitness Express and Mr Hardy for their contributions.

So far, some 25 athletes, both males and females, have confirmed

their participation for the competitions.

In an effort to spread the sport across the country, Bess feels that the Mr Linden Classic is a positive

step.

“The Mr Linden Classic will also share the stage with the Novices Championship. That’s a new competition to boost the

interest of the sport in Linden.”

The event is scheduled to start at 19:00hrs and price of admission is $1 000.

After the two competi-

Jamie McDonald (left) from Fitness Express hands over an undisclosed amount to president of the GBBFF, Keavon Bess

Samuel Hardy (right) of Linden is also a main sponsor of next Saturday’s competition

2020 PCL Regional 4-Day Round 4

Fudadin backs Scorpions to bring the sting against defending champs

By Clifton Ross

ASSAD Fudadin, Jamaica Scorpions opener, said he’s thrilled to be back home and playing on his erstwhile home ground, as his team seek an uprising when they tackle the defending champs at Providence as today’s 4th Round bowls off.

An ex-Guyana Jaguars/ West Indies Test batsman, Fudadin told Chronicle Sport on the eve of Round 4’s battle that he and his team were poised as they prepare to compete with the champs over the next four days.

The stylish left-hander, who was one of the seniors in the Jaguars side during their early years of success, then took his skills to Jamaica where he has been one of the key batsmen in the Scorpions franchise in both formats over the past few seasons.

Upon his return to familiar territory, the Berbician said he was ecstatic to have another knock on his old

Jamaican Scorpions batsman Assad Fudadin said he was pleased to be back home playing cricket on his home ground (Clifton Ross photo)

turf. “Honestly it’s always good to be home, I’m happy to be here again because I haven’t played in a while on this ground. So right now I’m just looking forward for another opportunity to showcase my talent out here”.

The Scorpions have endured a mixed season so far, playing well as a team but lacking the killer edge needed to pull off big wins against strong teams. Speaking on the approach needed against the red-hot champs, Fudadin stated that his team just need to get a couple of wins under their belt and he believes that they can be a formidable force against the Jaguars.

“I would say we need to focus on batting, bowling and fielding, we need to be a bit more patient and I think we could stand a chance once we’re a little more patient and thoughtful as we try to execute. It’s hard to lose two good players (Rovman Powell and Brandon King Windies duties), but the replacement guys are capable

tions, the executives have planned a similar event for Berbice.

At a date to be announced, the GBBFF will host an Intermediate Cham-

of doing the job and we have full confidence in them.”

Fudadin added.

A slightly weakened Jamaican team could be easy picking for Guyana who wrapped up a clinical thrashing of the-then No.1, Trinidad Red Force. However, the Guyanese was adamant that they have learnt much and will be keen on enforcing their lessons going forward.

“I’m not going to say things haven’t gone well, because we had two good games and we have been playing very good cricket. I think we just need to string together a few wins now. We were a bit off against Barbados but there were also some positives coming out of that that we can take into this match,” ended the opener.

Meanwhile, the visitors engaged in a healthy net session yesterday afternoon at Providence as they looked to get themselves fine-tuned ahead of today’s start to the round, which is scheduled to bowl off from 10:00hrs.

pionship and the Mr Berbice Classic.

Additionally, the highly anticipated Senior Championships, which will see the country’s top bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts battle for the Mr Guyana, Mr Physique and Ms Bikini titles, will be held in July this year.

At least one international trip is also planned for 2020.

The GBBFF will field a team to the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships which is set for Colombia later this year. While the athletes compete on stage, a few officials will represent the federation at the CAC Congress, with the objective of presenting a bid to host the popular event in 2022.

Hand-in-Hand on board for National Circuit Racing championship Round 1 LOCAL Insurance Company Hand-in-Hand has joined the list of sponsors for the upcoming first round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) National Race of Champions.

The company yesterday handed over sponsorship to GMR&SC ahead of the February 16 event billed for the South Dakota Circuit.

In presenting the cheque, the company’s representative, Aneesa Khan, conveyed the company’s enthusiasm for being on board with motorsport for another event.

In an invited comment, committee member Motlilall Deodass welcomed the return of the company for another year of motorsport.

“We are glad to once again have the support of one of the largest insurance providers in Guyana, Hand-in-Hand, whose support means a lot to us,” he added.

The company’s sponsorship comes just a day after fast food giant KFC confirmed a yearly sponsorship of all events under the GMR&SC. The first round of the National Race of champions takes place on February 16 and is expected to see some of the top drivers and riders back in action.

Action is expected in both the Street and Sport Tuner classes as well as Groups two through four.

There is also expected to be superbike action with the club set to release its race programme later this week.

Four schools benefit from 27 Education and Public Telecommunications ministries’ football donation

Minister of Education, Dr. the Hon. Nicolette Henry, and Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton, took time out for a light moment with the team in their new football uniforms

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Returning Reifer credits Smith, bowlers for fantastic job

Hand-in-Hand on board for National Circuit 31 Racing championship Round 1

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Hand-In-Hand representative Aneesa Khan hands over the sponsorship cheque to GMR&SC’s Cheryl Gonzalves

Guyana Jaguars all-rounder Raymon Reifer leaves the nets after a good session yesterday, following his return to the side for today’s Round 4 match (Clifton Ross photo)

We can’t afford to have our best players not being out on 29 the park - Adams

CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020