Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_02_09_2019

9th February, 2020

Book reviews

The President and the Constitution 17

'

PAGE

No.105905

Do the right thing and resign

...calls mount for PPP candidate to resign from Integrity Commission Integrity

…Gov't MPs raise issue of conflict of interest …Jagdeo, Irfaan on new list of defaulters

SEE PAGE 03

Pandit Rabindranauth Persaud

National cyclist killed on Rupert Craig Highway -- former chief-of-staff in police custody

SEE PAGE 19

'Wounds still fresh' …Barticans reminded of February 2008 mass murder 12 …as former Bartica deputy mayor warns Guyanese against PPP PAGE

PPP Ramson Jr lied on Chris Gayle …cricketer demands retraction, threatens lawsuit 02 PAGE

HUNDREDS of North Rupununi residents last Friday attended the historic commissioning of the hinterland’s first ever technical institute.

The $130M Hinterland Green Enterprise Centre is located in the same compound as the Bina Hill Youth Learning Centre in Annai, and boasts eight classrooms; a modern computer and science laboratory; a large auditorium; and a lecture room. The facility can accommodate as many as 120 students at any one time. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said in his opening remarks that the institute will address the high demand for skills training in the hinterland, whilst simultaneously promoting training that aligns along a path of sustainable development.

2

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

PPP Ramson Jr lied on Chris Gayle …cricketer demands retraction, threatens lawsuit CRICKET great, Christopher Gayle, has demanded a retraction and apology from PPP candidate, Charles Ramson Jr, who at party meeting recently, alleged that the Jamaican star was owed some US$50,000 by the PNCR. In the letter dated February 4, 2020, Gayle, through his Attorney, Roysdale Forde, stated that on January 30, 2020, Ramson, during a PPP/C meeting in Albertown, Georgetown, made a number of slanderous statements. Ramson, during the meeting, alleged that the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) had promised the international cricketer, who hails from Jamaica, US$50,000 for his visit to

PPP candidate, Charles Ramson Jr

Linden when it celebrated its 62nd Anniversary in October, 2019. Ramson reportedly told the PPP/C supporters that Gayle was trying to get the outstanding sum owed to him.

Gayle rejected Ramson’s statements, noting through his lawyer, that they were entirely false.

“As you are aware, my client is an internationally-recognised personality and cricketer, and has carefully protected his brand and reputation especially by refusing to engage in public relations activities at the request of political parties.

The statements made by you are not only totally false and untrue, but seems calculated to subject my client to ridicule and portray him as

being paid by a political party in Guyana to engage in work on its behalf,” Forde stated in the letter.

It was noted that Gayle engages in a number of business ventures in Guyana such as the promotion of a number of entertainment activities, and the statements uttered by Ramson are “injurious” to the financial success of his business ventures. The damage, Forde, noted is not limited to Guyana but has long-term implications.

“I am instructed by my client to demand that you do issue a retraction of your statements within 24 (Twenty-Four) hours of the receipt of this letter,” Forde told Ramson.

URP leader gets green light to contest polls THE United Republican Party's presidential candidate, Dr Vishnu Bandhu,

has been given the green light by the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) to lead his party in the upcoming March 2 elections as its Presidential candidate, the party said in a release.

The controversy surrounding United Republican Party’s [URP’s] presidential candidate, Dr. Vishnu Bandhu's legal right to lead the URP into the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections has been put to rest by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

GECOM, in a letter to the URP presidential candidate, advised him that his name will remain on the party’s list of candidates. In a release, Dr. Bandhu and the URP believe that the Guyanese electorate has been given peace of mind now that he has been given the green light to lead the Third Force into the elections. The party’s presidential candidate has been

URP presidential candidate, Dr Vishnu Bandhu

resolute that his timing in relinquishing his allegiance to the United States of America (USA) was done within the legal framework under the constitution of Guyana.

The URP leader is of the opinion that the media have involved the subject in sensational reporting and has misled the electorate when they reported that he was dis-

qualified and his name would be removed from the list.

“GECOM had never issued a definitive statement on the matter until February 5, 2020, which stated categorically that Dr. Bandhu will remain a candidate on the URP list.

The media had speculated all along that the removal was imminent. The party believes that the commissioners sitting on the GECOM board fueled the media with assumptions that were misleading.”

The United Republican Party (URP) is of the opinion that their, the URP’s, absence contesting the General and Regional Elections is, in essence, the absence of a Third Force. The party believes that the electorate needs an alternative to the two major political parties that have led the country for the past 5 decades. The party is elated that their presidential candidate remains on the list of candidates.

Bandits burglarised home of pensioners TWO pensioners, who reside at Lot 1 John’s Settlement, East Berbice, Corentyne, were left in a traumatised state after four armed bandits broke into their home and demanded the couple hand over all their cash and valuables.

The incident occurred between Friday around 18:30hrs and Saturday 02:30hrs.

TURN TO PAGE

03

The home of the couple who were robbed

3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Do the right thing and resign ...calls mount for PPP candidate to resign from Integrity Commission Integrity …Gov't MPs raise issue of conflict of interest …matter to be discussed by body next week

By Alva Solomon Chairman of the Integrity Commission, former Magistrate, Kumar Doraisami, says at next week’s meeting of the body he intends to inform commissioner Pandit Rabindranath Persaud that once one steps into the political limelight, “by convention “one is expected to resign from the public position.

Doraisami told the Guyana Chronicle that only last week, Persaud informed him that he was selected by the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) as a regional candidate for that party to contest this year’s regional and general elections.

According to the chair, Persaud said nothing to him on the subject at the commis-

sion’s meeting on January 8, 2020. “So I said, did you know about that before the meeting and he said no,”Doraisami said.

Doraisami said he told Persaud that he would need to check the Integrity Commission Act on the subject because in his (Doraisami) opinion, it would appear to be a conflict of interest.

The chair said he perused the act but found nothing regarding a conflict of interest. ”However, it is my belief once you take a political stand, people’s perception would be that you are biased,” the former magistrate said.

The chairman said that at next week’s statutory meeting, he will not ask Persaud to resign, but rather he will point out the public’ per-

ception on the subject. He noted that once a commissioner moves from a neutral organisation to one that has a political bias, then he/she should resign.

He noted too, if any official or member of the public issue a complaint, then the necessary steps would have to be taken. ”The public has spoken out, the Attorney General has spoken on the issue so we will have to see a way forward,” Doraisami said.

Doraisami said Persaud has served the commission well and according to him, the commission has been undertaking its mandate without interference. He explained that neither Persaud nor any commissioner is privy to any declarations made by public officials. He said that if any

Pandit Rabindranauth Persaud

commissioner requires any information, that information has to be requested and processed through the chairman’s office.

In an interview with the

Guyana Chronicle last week Attorney General, Basil Williams noted that persons who sit on the commission, must be without reproach, even as he alluded to Persaud being on the PPP’s list. “Right now there is a Commissioner of the Integrity Commission who is on the PPP list. Obviously, that Commissioner would be prejudice,” he told this newspaper.

In June 2017, the Integrity Commission (Amendment of the Code of Conduct) Order 2017 was gazetted by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

In keeping with the 10 Principles of Public Life – accountability, dignity, diligence, duty, honour, integrity, loyalty, objectivity, responsibility and transparency – the order addressed issues of bribes, discrimination, gifts, conflict of interest, use of official influence, handling of classified information, use of public prop-

erty, sexual misconduct and entertainment.

The expansion of the existing Code of Conduct, the Prime Minister had explained, will bring the Act in line with the legislation governing the State Asset Recovery Unit and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which states that employees of these state agencies must declare their assets in accordance with the Schedule II of the State Asset Recovery Act. The Integrity Commission Act was assented to on September 24, 1997.

The Act provides for the appointment of a chairman to head the Commission, not less than two and not more than four other members of the Commission, a secretary to oversee the day-to-day work of the Commission, and other officers for the proper functioning of the Commission.

Jagdeo, Ali among public officials who fail to file 2018 asset declarations ….Integrity Commission chair says body not into politicking OPPOSITION Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, and Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, are among several public officials who have failed to file declarations with the Integrity Commission for the period July 2017-June 2018.

In a list which was published in the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday, Jagdeo and Ali are among several former Members of Parliament who failed the file declarations during the period mentioned. PPP candidates, Dr. Frank Anthony, Priya

Manickchand, Nigel Dharamlall, Harry Gill, Pauline Sukhai and Clement Rohee, are among the delinquents on the list.

The names of several government officials, including Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon and Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence also appeared on the list.

The commission also published the names of several officials who failed to file

Bandits burglarised ...

Masked with a cloth over their faces and armed with a gun, a cutlass and two shears, the men cut through a zinc in the roof to gain entry into the one-storey wooden and concrete house.

According to information received, the owner, Patricia Mohabir, 64, and her husband, Ramrattan Mohabir, were awoken by a loud noise in the living room area and as they got up to check, they noticed a big hole in the roof.

At that point in time they were confronted by the bandits. The bandit who was armed with the gun pointed it to the husband and urged that they remain quiet

as they made their demands.

During the ordeal, the bandits ransacked the house and took $200,000 in cash, approximately $200,000 worth in jewellery and a cellphone.

declarations for the period July 2018-June 2019. That list gained traction in various news reports last weekend when only the names of only government officials were published in the Official Gazette.

Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Former Magistrate Kumar Doraisami, told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday that persons are of the belief that the body is “politicking” regarding the publication of the names last weekend. However, he noted last December a decision was made not to publish the

FROM PAGE

02

The robbers escaped on foot. The couple sells poultry feed for a living.

One suspect has been arrested as police continue their investigation.

names of delinquent officials until January this year, since the body wanted to exhaust its ability to ensure the officials filed their declarations.

Unfortunately, the chairman said, most of those persons whose names were published last week, are persons who hold positions within the government. “We don’t work based on the whims and fancies of people out there, we comply with

Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Kumar Doraisami

the Act, it is just unfortunate that we have an elections next month,” Doraisami said.

He said that some persons have taken the necessary steps to file their declarations since the publication of their names.

The chairman said that some persons are not “taking the commission serious enough,” even as he pointed out that the entity derives from the United Nations’ conventions to fight corruption.

4

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Coronavirus: Five Brits in French ski chalet catch virus (BBC) Five Britons have tested positive for coronavirus in eastern France, the French health minister has confirmed.

Four adults and a child were diagnosed with the virus after coming into contact with a British national who recently returned from Singapore.

The man returned to the UK

on 28 January before being diagnosed with the virus himself on Thursday.

Meanwhile a final repatriation flight with over 200 British passengers has left Wuhan, the centre of the outbreak.

The flight is due to land in the UK in the early hours of Sunday morning.

In France, the five Britons with the coronavirus - who were staying in the same ski chalet - are not in a serious condition, French officials said.

But the authorities are closing two schools next week, both of which are attended by the child with the virus, a nine-year-

The group shared this chalet in the French Alpine ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie

old boy who lives in the ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie with his family.

There have been almost 35,000 cases of the coronavirus globally, mostly in China. The latest infection is thought to stem from a man who became the UK’s third confirmed case when he tested positive on his return to Brighton.

The Briton had stayed in Singapore on a business trip from 20 to 23 January, the French health ministry said.

He arrived at Contamines-Montjoie, in Haute-Savoie, on 24 January for a four-day stay, before returning to En-

gland on 28 January.

On his return to the UK, he is thought to have isolated himself at his Brighton home and called the NHS 111 number.

After a positive test, he was taken to St Thomas’ Hospital in London where he is being treated.

Public Health England also advised a student at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy in Brighton to self-isolate for 14 days, as part of their investigation into the same case of coronavirus. The school said it had been advised by health authorities that there was no need to close.

The Brighton man told UK authorities that he had visited a chalet in Contamines-Montjoie, prompting French officials to take the 11 Britons staying there to hospitals in Lyon, Saint-Etienne and Grenoble on Friday night.

The chalet has two apartments where two families were staying. A British couple and their three children, who are now resident in France, lived in one. The mother is in the UK at the moment and has been contacted.

Seven of their friends were staying in the other apartment.

Those with the virus are the father of the family resident in France and his nine-year-old son, as well as three members of the visiting family.

The nine-year-old boy attends the local school and has French classes at another school in St-Gervais. Both schools will be shut next week, and parents are being asked to keep their children under observation.

A crisis unit has been set up as a result of the new cases.

It comes as four members of the same British family were admitted to hospital in Majorca after contact with a coronavirus carrier.

They are being tested at the University Hospital of Son Espases in Palma.

The British family said

they had been in contact with a person who recently tested positive for the virus in France, the government in Spain’s Balearic Islands said.

Meanwhile, a British man transferred from a cruise ship off the coast of Japan on Friday after testing positive for the virus is said to be feeling well and in good spirits.

Alan Steele, from Wolverhampton, on his honeymoon with his wife Wendy, was among 61 people to be taken off the ship for hospital treatment.

She has been in telephone contact with her husband, and said in a Facebook post on Saturday that he was still feeling healthy.

What’s happening globally?

The majority of confirmed cases worldwide are in mainland China, where the total stands at 34,598.

On Saturday, the death toll rose to 723 in China, including one American in Wuhan. A Japanese man also died in Wuhan with symptoms consistent with the virus.

Outside China, 288 cases have been confirmed in 24 countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with one fatality in the Philippines.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 09, 2020 - 05:30hrs

Saturday February 8, 2020

01 08 10 11 19 25 12

February 7, 2020

B

8

02, 07, 09, 20, 24

2, 5, 9

5, 5, 5

01, 02, 07, 14, 15

10 12 18 21

5

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

‘I have a plan…’

PRESIDENT David Granger outlined some of his plans, which will be realised before the end of the Decade of Development (2020 – 2029). He discussed these plans with the people of the East Bank Demerara, at a recent APNU+AFC rally held at Diamond.

At this rally, the President told the people that he had a plan to educate and equip the young people of Guyana for jobs; a plan to end squatting, where every Guyanese must have a proper roof over their heads and their children grown up in clean, decent households.

He stated that the APNU+AFC government had inherited 178 squatter settlements from the previous administration, which his government intends to regularise. In this regard, he said that a National Squatter Regularisation Commission, as well as a State Land Resettlement Commission, agreed to by Cabinet, would be put in place by March 15, 2020.

YOUTH E MPOWERMENT “Other than food, clothing and shelter, education is the most important thing you can give to your children,” he said, adding that this is why he launched the Public Education Transportation Service, where from zero free transportation before 2015, the children now have 40 buses on the roads to provide free transportation to take them to and from schools; 12 boats in the rivers – Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo – Pomeroon and Canje; as well as 5000 bicycles. President Granger also spoke of the Public Education Nutrition Service (school feeding ser-

vice), which he said has been doing a great good for many children.

“I have a plan to provide jobs for our young people,” President David Granger iterated. He stated that the Guyana National Service (GNS) was disbanded as soon as the previous government went into office. Young people, he said, depended on the GNS for training and employment.

The GNS was established in 1971 as a public service organisation, with a paramilitary component. It was, however, disbanded in 2000.

After entering office in 2015, the President Granger-led Coalition of the APNU+AFC launched the National Youth Corps at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, where children can be proud of their own campus, he said. He said that 1,000 young people from across the country will receive training with the opportunity to gain employment. These young people are between the ages of 16 and 35 and are being allowed to become involved various training programmes and initiatives under the government.

“We are going to deal with the problem of youth unemployment in this country. Young people had nowhere to go when the PPP scrapped the National Service. We have now estab-

lished the Guyana Youth Corps and we will train 1,000 young people every year for the next 10 years – 10,000 young people are going to be trained by the Guyana Youth Corps,” President Granger stated.

YOUNG PEOPLE CAMPUS He said that his government created the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED), where 2,500 young people have gotten jobs; the government also launched the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS).

These HEYS students are given grants to help them start-up businesses and so far under the APNU+AFC Administration 3,800 young people were able to start their own businesses.

REAL LEADER The President stated that it demand real leaders to set up the youth initiatives that he has done. These are in an effort to prepare the young people of the nation for good employment, adding that he has also recreated the National Cadet Corps for students in secondary schools, emphasising that good leaders create outlets for young people to gain training, employment and development.

Additionally, the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) has also been playing a pivotal role in the development of

young people, having some 8,000 of them trained so far and ready for employment.

“Young people you don’t have anything to fear from the APNU+AFC. We have to hand this country (over) to you and we want you to be educated and employed. So we have a plan and the plan is working; young people can look forward to having a long

and satisfied career in business; in self-development under the APNU+AFC Government,” President Granger said.

The government of the APNU+AFC Coalition has, up to now, matched mouth with money. So far GYD$150B has already been invested in education. In addition, President Grang-

er has taken it as a personal crusade to encourage young people, as well as their parents, to ensure that they take advantage of education, saying that this is the only way they can be certain of good jobs, which can then be translated into a good life.

6

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Standing against Global Witness FROM the time it was announced almost five years ago that Guyana had discovered oil and gas, the long knives came out with a vengeance. It is as if they were just waiting for the opportunity to torpedo the nation’s chances of joining the elite group of countries that benefit from the riches that come from oil and gas. Suddenly, everyone with a pen and a microphone became experts on the industry. They came from all directions with tales of gloom and doom.

They arrogated to themselves the role of lecturing Guyanese on how dangerous it is to be an oil-producing nation. Despite evidence to the contrary, they have kept up the drumbeat that Guyana was shortchanged by the team that negotiated the contracts on our behalf. And now they have been joined by a foreign group called Global Witness which this past week released what is nothing short of a nasty piece of political propaganda aimed at undermining the coming elections.

The relentlessness of the naysayers gives the impression that ne-

gotiating the perfect oil contract is the easiest undertaking. Not once have they stopped to discuss the geopolitical context in which all this has been taking place. Guyana is a small, newly independent nation with little clout in a world that is hostile to such countries. There are objective circumstances that placed Guyana at a disadvantage as it sought to hammer out deals with Exxon Mobil and other foreign oil companies. Any honest commentator would know that countries such as Guyana are vulnerable in such a world; they have little or no leverage when they sit across the table from the giant multi-national corporations.

Every country would want the most favourable contractual arrangements for itself—the best contract, the largest signing bonus, a large local content and a bigger slice of the profits. But there are often factors that stand in the way of such ambitions. As Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo recently pointed out, our border controversy with Venezuela was a pivotal consideration in the negotiations. It is no secret that having multinational

corporations from the powerful countries of the world in Guyana is a big deterrence to Venezuelan aggression. The peddlers of doom and gloom completely ignore that factor. In a real sense, the threat of Venezuelan aggression lessened any potential leverage Guyana might have had. That is just a fact that ought not to be ignored.

This publication has no problems with citizens and groups advocating in the public space for the best contracts for Guyana. We also respect the rights of citizens to criticise their government’s handling of negotiations with foreign companies. But to hang your government on the cross with little regard for the factors outside of their control is unacceptable. There can be no doubt that multinational corporations take advantage of the inherent weaknesses of nations.

After all, their major concern is filling their pockets with the least risk and with as few liabilities as possible. To turn around and blame your country for its failure to overcome these tremendous hurdles reeks of arrogance and dishonesty.

This past week we have been

inundated with a report from a foreign group, Global Witness.

Any objective analysis of the report would show a clear and present intent to place the government in very bad light. The timing of the report on the eve of elections is little short of interference in the domestic affairs of the country.

Whatever the merits of the report, it is downright unethical to disparage one of the major contestants in the election. It is not surprising that the major opposition has pounced on the report and seeks to portray it as the unbridled truth. Many Guyanese are therefore justified in making a linkage between Global Witness and the local opposition.

Perception is often close to reality.

We hold no brief for the current government. But as a national publication we have to draw the line between principle and cheap politicking. Try as we may, it is difficult not to conclude that the criticisms of the government’s handling of the oil contracts is not driven by narrow partisan interests.

As we prepare to celebrate 50 years of republicanism, one shudders at the thought that there are still forc-

es in this country that are aligned to external destabilisation of the national interest. Further, we are appalled that there are others who still view national reality exclusively through the lens of party.

This is indeed one of the debilitating aspects of our national psyche that must be altered if we are to maintain our national integrity.

It is against that background that we urge citizens to take a stand against this chorus of doom and look on the brighter side. Guyana is on the brink of a socio-economic revolution that if handled properly could move us out of the doldrums of post-colonial limbo. Let us defend our sovereignty against those who still see us Third World peoples with little capacity for transformation. With oil and gas pumping out of our country, the potential for better far outstrips the negative vibes that emanate from the mouths of the disgruntled few and their cohorts beyond our shores.

Irfaan’s struggle for acceptance Dear Editor, IRFAAN wants us to vote for him. He wants to be the next President of Guyana. He points to his experience in government and his educational qualifications, the latest of which is a Ph.D. secured from the University of the West Indies. Additionally, he is under the tutelage and management of ex-President, Bharrat Jagdeo, to mitigate the risks of Irfaan’s inexperience. To top it off, they hired the retired ex-Army chief for the PM job as the token Black candidate for the PPP. Let’s unpack what is being sold to us and separate fact from fiction. The fact is,

Irfaan is a smart and experienced politician by Guyana’s standards. He has been in politics since he was a teenager in the PPP’s youth wing and served as a minister for a number of years. The fiction is he did not earn those fancy degrees he is claiming. He was not good enough to make it through the University of Guyana’s undergraduate programme which is far more credible that any dubious schools he presented. There is a claim of a degree from a UK university, but the name on the degree is for a different person and there is no presentation of transcripts for completed courses leading up to this degree. He presented certificates from some rural Indian training institutes that

are many notches below UG in terms of academic standards.

Then the Ph.D. obtained from UWI on the strength of the thesis submitted, who depended on his professor to vouch for its authenticity.

If not, we can all buy Ph.D. theses online from India and China and get doctorates from UWI. In light of the circumstance, Ali’s supervising professor should come forward and at least make a statement to defend the integrity of the institution and vouch for his hard work to earn the doctorate.

It’s safe to say that not many people believe him except the blind PPP loyalists and the naive who believe that the ethics of UWI

and UG academic staff are beyond reproach. PPP supporters are being asked to look the other way because of tribal loyalty to the party, whereby you are either with us or against us. he is our boy and we have to support the party. This is a tribal political arena where you are either with us or against us. If you are part of the tribe, you will lie and conspire in our quest for power. If you are a loyal member of the PPP tribe, you change the subject and talk about APNU or some past alleged racism by the PNC against Indians.

Then there is the other issue that Jagdeo runs the PPP and he has alienated many other capable young leaders who were arguably

more qualified to lead the party. These leaders are being guilted by tribal loyalty to tow the party line but are burning with anger that Ali was selected ahead of them.

The house is divided and they know that Ali was picked because he fits Jagdeo’s mould perfectly and is likely easier to control.

Imagine if Ali had simply continued to finish his first degree at the University of Guyana and then pointed to his experience and accomplishments, instead of weaving this intricate web of lies and deceit. Now we have to deal with an intricate web of lies and deceit concocted over many decades and all driven by Irfaan’s struggle for acceptance over his entire

career.

It’s about trust, integrity, and authenticity and Ali fails on all three and the man has no shame. And that is what is bothering many PPP voters who still value their integrity and why many are considering either sitting out this election, or casting their vote elsewhere out of protest on election day. The PPP is not the party it used to be and the tribe is deeply divided.

Best regards, Govind Hinds, PhD

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

7

8

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

FROM PAGE

06

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

BUSINESS AND BIG BUCKS ON Friday, Minister Cathy Hughes and I were travelling from the Annai airstrip to Bina Hill in the North Rupununi. As we passed a row of trees at the head of the trail, we simultaneously shouted aloud, “Jamoon!”

The trees were heavily laden with dark bunches of jamoon. They were irresistible. On our way out, through the exotic resort of an old friend, Colin Edwards, I tasted one of the tiny, dark fruits.

It was succulent. I was joined

by Minister Nicolette Henry, and we literally plundered the lower branches of a tree under which large patches of the fruit had dropped and were rotting on the grass.

COMMON PLIGHT Over the decades, this has been the common plight of Guyanese farmers who have endured hardships from lack of markets and processing facilities. This is now slowly changing. There is a profitable internal market for fresh fruits with the Guyana Government alone buying yearly in excess of $2 billion in fruit juices for distribution to schoolchildren. Locally registered companies supply the boxed juices, which invariably come from imported concentrates. Together

with Ministers Holder and Gaskin, I had visited DDL’s juice-processing plant. The Tropical Orchard Products Company, “Topco,” after which the juice is named, had a limited operation and only a small number of farmers were supplying fruits to the plant. Many lacked transportation and, besides, the price was never right for their produce. They left their fruits to fall and rot. DDL had promised to help farmers and it has since injected some US$4 billion to boost fruitjuice processing, as well as to produce pasteurised milk.

BIG BUCKS There are big bucks in large-scale cultivation of carambola, passion fruit, cherry, jamoon, guava, mango, pineapples, etc. To protect this business from suffering the fate of jamoon in Annai or guavas in the Canal Polders, there is need for storage and processing facilities. On Friday, the Guyana Chronicle reported the Caribbean Marketing Enterprises Inc. (CMEI) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd, (NICIL), have concluded negotiations for a giant cold-storage bond at the Wales estate. Former sugar workers whom President Granger assured of

plots of land for agricultural purposes, would eventually cash in on the big bucks from storage, processing and export of Guyana’s fruits and vegetables. The Caribbean alone annually imports some US$10 billion of “foreign” fruits and vegetables to feed its tourism industry.

It appears that Guyana is gearing for big exports by air as we have aviation history when a jumbo Atlas Air cargo aircraft last week landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). The Boeing 747-400 which landed here with ballot papers from Canada, has a maximum take-off weight of 800,000 lbs.

NOT DOING BADLY Businesses, some with banks as their subsidiaries, have not been doing badly in Guyana. The mega-business, Banks DIH Limited, has recorded a 7.9% increase in its 2019 third-party revenue, raking in $32.9 billion compared to $30.5 billion in 2018. Citizens Bank Guyana Inc., a 51%-owned subsidiary of Banks, registered revenue of $3.422 billion in 2019 compared with $3.160 billion the previous year. Profit after tax for the bank was $955.3 million compared to $602.3 million in 2018

Understanding Energy

New resource estimates, production figures point to strong growth

THE past several weeks has seen a series of signals that Guyana’s future oil production could be even more extensive than previously believed. News of new finds, updated resource estimates and predictions of record revenues have triggered widespread excitement despite ongoing elections-season controversy.

In early January, Exxon announced a new find at the Uaru well and released new estimates that placed Guyana’s recoverable resource base at more than eight billion barrels of oil equivalent, an increase of two billion barrels from the previous estimate.

The new resource estimates place us in the company of some of the industry’s most established players like Angola, which has around 8.2 billion barrels, and well

above major producers like Mexico and Norway which each have around seven billion.

This estimate does not even include the most recent 16th discovery made last month at Uaru. Most of the new oil estimate comes from finds over the last few months made at Tripletail and Mako to the south of the Liza One well, where production is already underway. With new estimates like these, it’s worth looking into how they’re determined.

The distinction between reserves and resources is an important one. Resources indicates how much oil exists that could potentially be recovered. It’s a difficult number to estimate precisely but it follows predictable trends—rising with new discoveries and new technologies for extraction, falling

with production and depletion. Reserves, on the other hand, indicate how much oil can be economically extracted at current oil or gas prices.

That means proved reserve estimates rise and fall based on global commodity prices and how costly the oil will be to extract.

Just because oil resources are found, it doesn’t always mean they’re commercially viable. Tullow Oil is currently reevaluating the commercial potential of their finds on the Orinduik Block, after the resources turned out to be lower quality heavy oil, which is more costly to extract.

The wells on the Stabroek Block have mainly been high-quality oil so far, with varying percentages of gas. These too can be TURN TO PAGE

10

The other mega-company, DDL, reported after-tax profits of $1.2 billion midyear 2019. The group’s profit before tax for 2018 stood at $4.3 billion compared to $3.5 billion in the previous year.

Its subsidiary, DEMERARA Bank Limited, has recorded a profit of $2.1 billion for the financial year which ended in September, 2019. The profit reflects an increase of 6.7 per cent over 2018. In addition, according to the bank’s audited financial results, the company recorded a gross profit of $3.3 billion.

“This is the highest dividend payment in the history of the bank,” Founder and Chairman Dr. Yesu Persaud observed.

The Trinidad-based Republic Bank Limited has recorded a profit of $5.974 billion before taxation for their

financial year which ended on September 30, 2019. According to the bank’s annual report of 2019, it recorded a “satisfactory performance” which was buoyed by Guyana’s expanding business sector, competitive financial environment and expectations of economic growth.

Profit after taxation amounted to $3.84 billion representing a 22.7% increase over 2018. Surprisingly and in spite of tough laws in place to prohibit smoking in public places, the Demerara Tobacco Company (DEMTOCO) recorded profits of $1.3 billion. And this was for the first half of 2019.

The big companies and their banks are obviously thriving in Guyana, and though they expect an improved business environment, they continue to invest

9

and to expand. One such business group which has demonstrated confidence in Guyana, is the B.K Group of Companies. During 20182019 it made a US$10 million investment into its quarry operations. Like fruits, Guyana has an abundance of sand, boulders and stones.

Guyana needs more enterprising entrepreneurs and progressive farmers who could make use of available opportunities by investing in business that could bring them the big bucks.

The APNU+AFC Coalition Government has restored stability and promoted confidence in Guyana. It has declared as a policy partnership among the state, business and labour, which collectively must work for a better Guyana.

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

ON Tuesday, February 4th, my social media accounts were inundated with excitable and flashy posts and comments. Everybody was sharing a report

by Global Witness which purportedly documented the Government of Guyana signing away the nation’s newly discovered precious resource. It created the kind of public excitement that normally comes along with government scandals of volcanic proportions.

Thankfully, my father taught me at a tender age about the importance of reading and having a critical mind. He counselled me to guard against being a vessel for misinformation and disinformation designed to fulfil wicked agendas and enterprises.

We live in the age of the disinformation wars; this advice has proven priceless.

It is inexcusable in the time of Google and access to the internet for persons to be taken for an easy ride. It is against this backdrop that I proceeded to the source of all the hype. I downloaded a copy of the report and made a physical copy so I could use my marker and pen to highlight important notes and information.

By the time I got to page three, it became clear to me that this was a massive communication hatchet job and an attempt at a public

relations coup d’état just 27 days from Guyana’s regional and national elections. Reading and having a critical mind have come to my rescue.

CLINICAL MODERN-DAY METHODS OF DISINFORMATION First, Global Witness employed the classic modern-day methods of disinformation. They released a Facebook video about the report which, to date, has received 1.2k reactions, 388 comments, 1k shares and 162k views. This video became the main focal point of everything; nobody focused on the 28-page report. Global Witness and their cohorts are fully aware of the fact that some on Facebook will never read the report, the coloured screens are always chosen over the bland black and white pages. The video appeared on the timeline of Guyanese on this social media platform, you can pay for this and the algorithms will allow the video to pop up on the pages of those whose interest may be piqued by this content. The main message in the video was two-fold; the contract between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil is bad and must be renegotiated and the people of Guyana stand to lose US$50 billion for 40 years. They used this short Facebook video as the main arsenal in their campaign. This is the

THE IMPORTANCE OF READING AND HAVING A CRITICAL MIND: THE GLOBAL WITNESS REPORT

typical modern-day method of communication warfare.

Once viewed by so many persons, the content is accepted as fact, despite the report expressing extreme caution about the highly doubtful suggested US$55 billion in losses. The truth remains buried in the report because it is not sensational enough.

THE REPORT AND THE HIGHLY SPECULATIVE US$55 BILLION IN LOSSES Apart from the report using cautionary language and stating repeatedly that they found no evidence of corruption by the Government of Guyana, the main nucleus remained, the online headline which screamed, ‘Signed Away: How Exxon’s Deal Deprived Guyana of up to US$55 Billion.’ Global Witness requested a financial analysis from Open Oil on how much Guyana would lose through the deal with Exxon. The Berlin-based entity specialises in this form of analysis and was given clear parameters on which to produce this assessment.

They returned with the financial verdict but issued an inescapable caution which was de-emphasised by the London, Washington D.C and Brussels-based agency which was founded in 1993 . They warned in pellucid language that ‘Open Oil’s analysis focuses solely on economic factors and not

geopolitical or other strategic considerations.’ There is a reason Open Oil issued this call to view this figure with skepticism. They know they were being asked to assess ‘government take’ from an oil contract with a country in a border controversy since 1899. During the signing of the 2016 agreement with Exxon, Venezuela was in an angry mood and manifested a militaristic posture. We must not forget, President Maduro issued a decree creating the Atlantic Coast of Venezuela. He was coming for our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). How could this clear and present danger be excluded from a financial conversation on this oil contract with Exxon? Such exclusion can only be driven by sinister motives.

In its report, ‘How much Guyana will lose out on in Stabroek?’, Johnny West and Open Oil appealed for circumspection, ‘Although industry experts regularly publish estimates for government takes, caution should be expressed about the limitations of knowledge. Lack of access to data, and to the full text of contracts, mean that both often have to be estimated rather than known with any precision’. Further, the 28-page report, under ‘Assumptions and the Paris Climate Change Agreement’, provides ‘four critical assumptions’ on which the

highly doubtful US$55 billion is based. It essentially argues that this figure is not written in stone and cannot be used as a basis for financial truth, it is shaky as a flag.

However, here is the thing and the problem which truth faces in the era of technology, the disinformation on the US$55 billion of losses has been crystallised as a fact, enabled by a sensational video and only those who read and possess a critical mind can discern, this is the sad reality of modern-day disinformation wars. Global Witness will raise their glasses and say mission accomplished and rejoice in the fact that nobody reads. They are sadly mistaken, because Guyanese do read and cannot be played so easily.

THE DISINFORMATION WARS An important aspect of critical thinking is receiving information and asking yourself who is providing this information and for what purpose. This can save you from being pawns in somebody’s war. The Global Witness report is another saga in the oil-interest wars.

These wars have been going on for decades and Guyana has now become a proxy in this battle. Global Witness receives its funding from grants made by foundations, governments and charities. Its main benefactor is the Open Society

Institute, which is funded by business magnate George Soros. George Soros is one of the world’s wealthiest philanthropists, he is worth US$8.3 billion. Mr Soros has committed his resources to fight for freedom of speech, accountable governments and just and equal societies. The Hungarian-born founder of the Open Society Foundation has donated over US$32 billion to fighting for the various causes he supports globally. This is no attack on Mr Soros, his work and contributions have done much for the human cause.

He has been a thorn in the side of Exxon and other oil companies. This may not be Guyana’s fight but with our discoveries, we cannot escape being dragged into the disinformation wars. The thinking mind must understand the larger context of the Global Witness report.

What is the main purpose of the report and who benefits from this report? Let this be your guide. The release of the report is strategically designed to whip Guyanese public opinion against Exxon and bring public pressure to bear.

Welcome to the big stage Guyana, having a critical mind has never been more important for citizens of the republic.

Understanding Energy

New resource estimates, production figures point to strong....

difficult to immediately calculate. Careful analysis is necessary to determine what the most efficient commercial use of associated gas is—whether reinjecting it to help increase oil production or, if there are substantial quantities, potentially piping it to shore.

Explorers are keen to see the pace of discovery continue. By the end of 2020, there will be at least five drillships operating in the Stabroek Block alone, drilling more production wells and exploring new areas that geologists and geophysicists suspect might contain oil.

There are also exploration

efforts ongoing on several blocks surrounding the Stabroek. Across the maritime border in Suriname, Apache and Total hit oil last month at the Maka-One prospect and have identified several more prospects on Block 58.

Here in Guyana, Repsol is revaluating drilling in the Kanuku Block after a find in January which was not commercially viable. Tullow is also evaluating next steps with its partners, Total and Eco Atlantic, in the Orinduik Block where it previously struck oil. Deepwater drilling comes with high cost and risk, but the general state of excitement among drillers

remains with hope that there may well be a lot more oil to be found off Guyana’s coast.

Just last week, Norwegian energy analyst, Rystad Energy, dove deeper into what these larger reserves could mean for Guyana in terms of opportunity and government revenue.

Since costs are still being recouped by the drillers, government income is projected to be around US$270M this year. But that’s on track for rapid growth and Rystad predicts Guyana’s total annual oil revenues will hit nearly US$30B within 10 years.

Rystad estimates that our total oil production could be

1.2 million barrels per day by 2030. These predictions assume an average $65 price per barrel of oil.

Rystad also noted in its research that the fiscal regime and production sharing contract were “In line with other emerging oil and gas countries,” with Guyana having an overall government take of 60 per cent. The analysts did expect that new production contracts for new blocks would have higher government take, now that the initial investments have been made to de-risk the area.

Between 2015 and 2019, oil companies invested around US$8B in explora-

tion and development activities in Guyana. With the current production sharing agreements, the companies took on all the risk that came with this money – if the wells had turned out to be dry, they would have had to absorb those losses completely.

Since oil was found, the companies will be able to recoup those costs from production.

Sonya Boodoo, Vice-President of Upstream Research at Rystad Energy, cautioned that for Guyana to realise the full revenues, a “stable regulatory and fiscal environment will be a key factor.” Much of our success so far has been because of the

FROM PAGE

09

unusually smooth and rapid transition from discovery to production that companies have been able to achieve here.

Maintaining that kind of investment-friendly environment long term will be critical for Guyana. All future estimates include oil production from projects on the Stabroek Block and other parts of Guyana’s offshore territory that haven’t been built or fully explored yet. That’s why it’s so important that responsible development continue to proceed at a steady pace.

11

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

‘You can trust President Granger to deliver’ -- Mervyn Williams tells large Bartica rally

By Gabriella Chapman BARTICANS turned the Bartica Community Centre Ground into a sea of green and yellow when the APNU+AFC elections rally rolled in the green town on Friday night.

And just before the presidential address, adviser to the Minister of Indigenous People's Affairs, Mervyn Williams, urged the gathering to place their trust in President David Granger because of the unprecedented developments Region Seven and Bartica have experienced in the last four years.

He said the President is a servant of the most high and with a supportive First Lady by his side, he can competently serve the people of Guyana.

Barticans were reminded of the many crimes and murders that were experienced under the previous administration, particularly the Bartica massacre that claimed 13 lives in February of 2008.

"In 10 years, over 1400 people were murdered while Dr Doom (Jagdeo) was hiding from the crime that he brought to Guyana. But you can trust President Granger based on his records, for I tell you tonight that not one single extrajudicial murder took place in the last four and a half years. Our President has made our country safer.

You can trust him with your security," Williams said.

The people were also reminded that under President

Granger's leadership, there were many infrastructural, health care and educational developments in Region Seven.

"Roads in region were fixed, connecting Bartica with Issano landing and Mahdia. Never fixed in 23 years but fixed in four. We built new roads in Region Seven; it links Kamarang, Waramadong and Kako. We never had that before but we got it in four. We built new primary schools in Kamarang, in Paurima and Kako, in Imbaimadai, in Iteringbang. We're building a special needs school for special needs children right here in Bartica. Science lab, home economics department and dormitory built at Waramadong. Doctors quarters in Isseneru, Imbaimadai and Kamarang. Ambulance on the road and ambulance on the water and there are 26 young people training to be community health workers," he further informed.

In addition to the tangible developments, Williams said the Opposition is claiming that the coalition did nothing for the hinterland communities, particularly the indigenous people.

LUDICROUS This, he said, is ludicrous since the evidence shows the transformation of the lives of the people as well as the community in which they reside.

"The only President to ever appoint a vice-president

Best devastated, wants no special treatment FORMER Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Rear Admiral and Attorney at Law, Gary Best, said he desires no special treatment and expressed how devastated he is after his vehicle crashed into former national cyclist, Jude Bentley, early Saturday morning.

Best communicated his feelings through Rickford Burke. Burke wrote in a letter to the press that, on Saturday, there was an unfortunate accident on the Rupert Craig Highway. “A vehicle driven by former Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Rear Admiral and Attorney at Law, Gary Best, collided with famous cycle champion, Jude Bentley, causing Mr. Bentley's death.”

Burke said he spoke with Rear Admiral Best whom, he said, is “devastated.” “He is co-operating fully with the police. The investigation is proceeding according to the law and police protocols that govern such accidents. No special treatment is being accorded to Rear Admiral Best and neither does he wish such treatment,” Burke wrote.

Burke said Best regrets this most tragic and horrific accident, and has asked that he expresses his deep sorrow at the passing of Mr. Jude Bentley -- a national hero, talented sportsman, and extraordinary role model to the young people of Guyana. “Rear Admiral Best expresses sincere condolences to Mr. Bentley's family and friends, and will continue to keep them in his prayers,” Burke wrote.

of Indigenous extraction was David Granger. No other president in this country's history ever appointed four indigenous people as ministers of government, five indigenous Members of Parliament, which accounts for 15 per cent of the parliamentary seats," he pointed out.

Adding, too, that under the flagship programme, Hinterland Employment and Youth Services (HEYS), the government invested $2B in the development and training of youths in the hinterland.

"We have trained over 4,000 hinterland youths and they have established 2,500

We have done it before and will do it again," Williams exclaimed.

He noted that it is on the coalition's agenda to continue investing in youths, postMarch 2.

"In second term he will invest $3B in HEYS programme, training another 4,000 young people and the investment in Region Seven is likely to amount to $325M… He (Granger) has delivered and will continue to deliver because we will reelect him. When he says he is married, you can trust him because the evidence is there.

When he says he is qualified,

Mervyn Williams

A section of the gathering at the Bartica Community Centre Ground on Friday night

small businesses and are employing people… Region Seven benefited from an investment of $205M in HEYS, touching 25 villages.

you can trust him because the evidence is there. When he says he will improve education delivery, you can trust him because the results speak

for itself. When he says he can improve health care, look at Bartica hospital," Williams told the gathering.

The people were raving

with excitement as every speaker graced the stage.

They were treated with an after-show after the formal programme concluded.

12

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

‘Wounds still fresh’ …Barticans reminded of February 2008 mass murder …former Bartica deputy mayor warns Guyanese against PPP

By Svetlana Marshall WARNING that the future of the nation’s children is at stake, Bartica’s former Deputy Mayor, Kamala Persaud, said Guyana should never return to the dark days of mass murders compounded by poor health, education and utility services.

Persaud was among speakers who addressed a huge rally held by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) at the Bartica Sports Centre on Friday.

Turning back the pages of history, Persaud, in an electrifying speech, said Bartica, in February, 2008, was “raped” of its pride and dignity, when a criminal gang descended on the then village, killing a total of 12 Guyanese. The wounds, she said, remain fresh in the minds of residents.

“My cousin lost her only son and many of us across Guyana, lost our sons and daughters to senseless killings under the PPP/C government. We will never forget

those days because we still cry bitter tears,” Persaud said.

Between 2000 and 2008, during the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) 23-year reign in office, there were three massacres: Lusignan, where 11 people were killed; Bartica where another 12 were killed, and at Lindo Creek, where eight miners were shot, battered and set afire. During that period, Guyanese also witnessed a number of extra-judicial killings.

The former Deputy Mayor said since the APNU+AFC Government took office in 2015, the safety and security of the nation have significantly improved.

Turning her attention to the water sector, Persaud reported that many communities within the CuyuniMazaruni District (Region Seven) had little to no access to potable water. The situation, she posited, was the same for other parts of the country. She pointed out that Karrau is among communities that now have access to potable water.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in its 2019 Human Development Report, disclosed that 96 per cent of the 750,000 people living Guyana has access to potable water.

Barticans suffered as a result.

“The Bartica Hospital was in a deplorable state, we were losing lives because they did not have adequate equipment, and I can tell you proudly here today, that that has changed. From four doctors,

President David Granger and First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, being escorted by officials of Bartica, including Mayor, Gifford Marshall (Delano Williams photos)

The health sector, prior to May 2015, was poorly managed, the APNU+AFC Candidate told the multitude of supporters, noting that

Bartica Hospital now has 16 doctors,” she said to cheers, and the blowing of horns.

Advanced medical services are now being offered

at the Bartica Regional Hospital, she further reported, noting that safe deliveries are now being done at the facility. In the education sector, Persaud said the Public Education Transportation Service (PETS) has brought much relief to school children and their parents. Under PETS, a programme initiated

by President David Granger, buses, boats and bicycles are distributed across the country to ensure that students are safely, and within a timely manner, transported to their schools.

“This visionary leader understood what this nation truly needed. We don’t need a $50,000 handout when is elections time to bribe you the parents,” the former Deputy Mayor said as she applauded President Granger for investing significantly in the education sector.

For her, the greatest achievement of the APNU+AFC Administration was its ability to foster unity in the country. According to her, the country is more unified under this administration.

Former Deputy Mayor of Bartica, Kamala Persaud addressing the rally

Based on the APNU+AFC’s track record, Persaud lobbied for all of Bartica, and the rest of Guyana, to vote resoundingly for the coalition on March 2, 2020 when General and Regional Elections are expected to be held. “We must continue to ensure that the persons who deprived us of development stay out,” she told the APNU+AFC supporters, even as she invited the PPP/C supporters to join the coalition.

For her, the PPP/C cares less about the people of Guyana, and is more interested in “power, perks and privileges.”

13

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Health workers welcome solar power at Pomeroon health facilities DURING 2019, health centres and health posts along the Pomeroon River received solar panels which ensured electricity is provided to the respective buildings. At least five facilities were provided with solar power at a cost of $22.9M. The health workers at these facilities welcomed this significant intervention and relayed how this has impacted healthcare delivery in their respective communities.

In Kabakaburi, midwife

solar power.

D’Aguiar explained that, “since the solar panels have been there, we were able to catch up with [inoculating] our children because we are now

The Siriki Health Post, one of the health facilities which had solar panels installed Vanessa D’Aguiar, Midwife, Siriki Health Post

Yolinda Roberts, Midwife, Kabakaburi Health Centre

Yolinda Roberts said that this means an improvement in health services for the village. “We haven’t had any light since 2012 and it’s only recently we received the solar [panels] and it is beneficial to

Leah Domingo, Community Health Worker, Karawab Health Post

Solar powered batteries which help to power the health facilities

the community and other areas like Karawab, St. Monica’s and Abrams Creek. We would have deliveries during the nights, dressings and suturing to be done and we appreciate having the solar panels which provide light,” Roberts said.

At Karwab, which is considered the last village south along the Pomeroon River from Charity, Community Health Worker, Leah Domingo, noted that the new installation of solar power is a great help to the midwife who works there.

“Since the solar [panels] have been installed, we have benefitted from it. Most importantly we are getting light.

Before we used lamps and the midwife had to use torchlight but now, we have good light…,” Domingo said.

Over at the Siriki health post, long-serving midwife, Vanessa D’Aguiar, regards the children and the vaccination programme at large, to be the overall beneficiaries of having

able to store our own vaccines.

Normally we would travel to Charity, uplift our vaccines but sometimes we don’t catch the children and we would have to return the vaccines to Charity.

But, now, having solar power, we can keep it in a fridge and when we see the children, we will give them the vaccine.”

These sentiments were echoed in other villages as the main concern was the storage of vaccines. Also, maternity cases, which are not required for referral can be effectively monitored by midwives at any given time and if there is a need for delivery, that can also be facilitated.

The installation of these solar panels formed part of the Pomeroon-Supenaam’s 2019 work programme to modernise health service delivery in far-flung and hinterland communities. Other villages to have benefitted include Hackney and Wakapau. (DPI)

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

15

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Sol now authorised distributor of Mobil lubricants

PETROLEUM marketing company, Sol Guyana Incorporated, last Friday night, celebrated a new partnership with ExxonMobil when they entered a Lubricants Distribution Agreement to become the official and authorised distributor for Mobil lubricants in Guyana and 11 other countries.

At the launching ceremony held at the Marriott Hotel, Sol General Manager, Liz Wyatt, noted that while the partnership is new, Sol has long had a positive relationship with the ExxonMobil brand across many of their markets “It is an exciting day for the Sol team as we usher in a new era and the beginning of what I know will be a longstanding alliance between two well-loved brands,” Wyatt expressed.

The Mobil lubricants will be replacing Shell lubricants as the primary lubricants distributed by Sol in the 12 markets and will cater for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles

and industrial applications.

Outside of Guyana, the other countries include Anguilla, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Maarten.

“Adding the well-known and well-loved Mobil brand to our lubricants segment is simply an extension of our already-strong and successful working relationship. The quality of the Mobil brand speaks for itself and we look forward to seeing where this new step takes us,” Wyatt conveyed.

Wyatt expressed thanks to Exxon Mobil for coming on board with the partnership.

Similar sentiments of gratitude were expressed by Exxon Mobil Mexico, Caribbean and Central America Distributor Sales Director, Rogelio Spindola, when he delivered remarks on behalf of his company.

“I would like to take a moment to thank Sol for

the trust they have placed in us and our products. I am pleased that we have joined forces with such an important and committed group in the Region to provide state-of-the-art lubrication solutions for Guyana and the Caribbean,” Spindola

expressed.

Spindola shared with the audience some of the many types of lubricants and oils that will be on offer through the line, including the Mobil one for passenger vehicles.

At the event, three lucky attendees were given a

chance to win door prizes of cases of some of the lubricants while Sol Lubricants Sales Executive, Nigel Dodson, announced that registered attendees would be afforded a one-off five per cent discount valid until February 14.

Sol Guyana Inc. General Manager, Liz Wyatt

Some of the attendees at Friday’s launch check out some of the Exxon lubricants that will be available through Sol (Adrian Narine photos)

Exxon Mobil Mexico, Caribbean and Central America Distributor Sales Director, Rogelio Spindola

Rose Hall man ‘busted’ with cocaine POLICE attached to the Whim Police Station in ‘B’ Division, Region Six, have arrested a trader who was found with a quantity of crack cocaine hidden in his toilet.

The item weighing approxi-

mately 30.5 grammes was found concealed in the toilet after police carried out a search at his Sharple Street, Rose Hall Town home on Friday afternoon.

The 53-year-old man, who was

reportedly on the radar of detectives for some time, is said to be a supplier of the illicit drug.

An investigation into the ‘bust’ is underway. Overtime, the police have been making

positive impact in the eradication of drugs of any type from society, targeting and destroying thousands of acres of ganja cultivation in addition to raiding drugs houses.

The drug that was seized by the police

Phillips talks up re-introduction of bonus for disciplined services ….tells Port Kaituma supporters PPP/C will reverse taxes PRIME Ministerial candidate of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Brigadier Mark Phillips, has endorsed the party’s promise to reintroduce bonuses for the disciplined services and reverse taxation on fuel and other mining equipment.

Brigadier Phillips, during an address at a public meeting in Port Kaituma, Region One, urged residents to throw their support behind the party, as it will ensure there is development for all.

“This is a border region, I served 36 years in the military, I’ve been defending Guyana keeping Guyana safe for 36 years and I tell you I respect the soldiers and the police who are deployed and are working here, when you vote for the PPP/C you are also voting to improve the defence and security of Guyana,” Phillips underscored.

Voting for the PPP/C, Phillips added, will ensure that the Guyana Police Force [GPF] and other disciplined

forces are modernised and equipped to better serve and protect the people of Guyana.

“We voting to make the Guyana Defence Force better, I know they are hurting and I tell them when they vote on the 2nd March, you voting to return the bonus to the police, to the prison, to the firemen and to the defence forces and I know many of you will benefit from that because many of you have families working in the defence forces,” he stated.

Phillips related that the PPP/C has a five-year plan which will return Port Kaituma and the entire region to the “glorious state” it once was before 2015, when the current government took office. The PPP/C, he stated, will start by reversing the taxation on fuel and mining equipment to ensure that residents in Region One are spending less and earning more.

“We have to get you back in mining… between 19922015 this place has developed

Brigadier Mark Phillips, The Peoples Progressive Party Prime Ministerial Candidate

into a powerhouse now I’m hearing that nothing much as happening again, the PPP/C will remove the tax on fuel to get you back in mining, the PPP/C will remove the tax on mining equipment,” Phillips noted.

Brigadier Phillips also told supporters that it is because of the PPP/C’s plan to restore democracy and development in Guyana that motivated him to come out of retirement and support the party.

“I only retired three

years ago and I have decided to come out of retirement to assist Irfaan Ali who will be the next president of Guyana, comrades I think hard and long and then I decided to support the PPP/C because the PPP/C has a plan for Guyana…It is not a plan for a decade or a decade of development, we aren’t put nothing on the air, we put everything on paper in simple English language that you could read, we have a plan and that is why I’m supporting the PPP/C,” Phillips told those gathered. He urged PPP/C supporters not to be brainwashed by promises and propaganda that may be said on the opposing party’s campaign trail, “We are the party to be reckoned with…don’t be distracted, support the PPP/C, we want Region One to be won by the PPP/C, so we winning the general and the regional elections because come March 2, the storm will be over,” Phillips noted.

16

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

35 Region 10 residents receive land titles from NICIL

-900 residents regularised to date IT was a ‘dream come through’ for 35 Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) residents who received their land titles from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), on Friday.

According to a press statement from NICIL, the recipients, who are mainly from the Coomacka area, expressed satisfaction after receiving their land titles at the Watooka Guest House. The residents all paid $33,000 each for their land.

Among those present at the handing over ceremony were Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell; Former A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament (MP), Jermaine Figueira and officials of NICIL. Figueira congratulated the residents on becoming landowners and congratulated NICIL on the gesture, noting that NICIL and its team saw it equally important

that President David Granger’s promise of a good life is achieved by all Guyanese.

He said, one component of the good life is land ownership, and residents of Coomacka, for decades, have been waiting tirelessly and impatiently for the titles to the properties that they were occupying for up to 40 years.

“We know the wait was very long and you had endured a lot and many of you wanted to use the ownership of the land to access a loan to create increased development where you are and we are very happy that NICIL would have embarked on a regularisation programme within Region 10,” said Figueira, adding that so far 900 residents have been regularised and a number of them have received their land titles.

The recent distribution of land titles was a continuation or the regularisation programme which has been ongoing across Region 10, especially in the Mining Town of Linden. According to Figueira, persons in Block

22 and Amelia’s Ward have also felt the benefits of the programme.

Although NICIL was credited for the programme, the former MP said the initiative started after Mayor Arrindell had approached NICIL to regularise several residents who were living in the West Watooka Hill area.

Regularisation will soon start in the Wisroc area.

“We are very proud of the work being done by NICL in a number of these areas, so I would like to extend sincere thanks to Mr. Heath-London for his leadership and significant assistance from him and his team for the assistance given, as today another set of residents will be beneficiaries of ownership of land,” he declared.

Figueira said he is confident that, like him and other residents, the mayor is also pleased with the enormous work that has been done within Linden and the rest of Region 10 by NICIL. He reminded the landowners of the numerous con-

township.

“I am very grateful and thankful for the collaboration and I think that is one of the

Former A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament (MP), Jermaine Figueira

tributions that NICIL has made to the region over the past few years, declaring that NICIL had brought significant and continuous development for both residents and visitors to Region 10.

Arrindell, in her remarks, also congratulated the landowners, urging them to preserve their land, while contributing in their own way to the continued development of the region. She said her council is very grateful for the work that NICIL has and continues to do within her

Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell

greatest things that NICIL and the municipality have been able to achieve. I am happy to be part of Coomacka as Coomacka is part of my heart.”

“With the land titles that you received today, you can now go to the banks and develop those lands that you have received and this is the kind of development that we want in this region. So congratulations and please return to your communities

so that you can continue to develop your communities,” Arrindell said.

NICIL’s Properties Officer, Tyrone Peters, congratulated the residents and urged them to take excellent care of their land. He reminded all in attendance that this is yet another exercise that NICIL will be continuing. The agency, he said, is committed and dedicated to ensuring that residents can benefit from the lands that are available.

He reassured them that NICIL’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Colvin Heath-London, is committed and dedicated to ensuring that more residents can benefit from land. The recipients expressed sincere thanks to NICIL, stressing that the government agency, with the relevant support from the Government of Guyana, have certainly granted them the desire of their hearts, which is to own a plot of land.

PUC probed over 700 complaints against utility companies in 2019 -commission to increase presence across the country in the coming months MORE persons have been utilising the services of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and testimony to this was the fact that the commission received 715 complaints against utility companies, in 2019.

Complaints are usually made to the PUC by customers who, in some cases, have sought to rectify an issue with a particular utility company and did not get satisfaction.

“For 2019, we had 363 complaints against GTT, 262 against GPL, 86 against GWI and four against Digicel,” said PUC’s Complaints Manager, Destra Bourne, during a press briefing at the PUC’s head office, on Friday.

The complaints against those companies ranged from disconnection and reconnection of services to allegations of tampering, billing, transfer of service, among other things. The commission was able to address some of those complaints, but others are yet to be resolved or dealt with.

Despite not being able

to address every complaint, Bourne said: “each complaint is deemed important…we try to resolve those complaints in the shortest possible time.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Chairperson of the PUC, Dela Britton, who also said, every complaint, no matter how small, is treated with the same urgency.

“We treat every complaint as though it is the highest level because it impacts your quality of service as a consumer…it also impacts the operations of the particular utility so there is no degree of severity in an individual complaint, they are all treated with the same priority,” said Britton, adding that all complaints are carefully scrutinised.

Speaking about the process of dealing with complaints, Britton said when a complaint is received about a particular utility company, it is sent to that company with a stated timeframe within which the company must respond.

PUC Chairperson, Dela Britton

In some cases, there is redress and persons get refunded or their service is reconnected. It was reported that approximately $25.7M was refunded by Guyana Power & Light (GPL); $2.2M by Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GTT) and $341,378

by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), in September, 2019.

There are, however, cases where the complaints are resolved without the utility company being liable for the fault. And, one such case is meter tampering.

With persons recognis-

ing the benefits of the PUC, there has been an increase in the number of complaints and Britton said complaints are even received on a daily basis.

The PUC believes that more persons can, however, be reached. And, in an effort to ensure every Guyanese is able to report an issue, the commission will be deploying more officers to various regions across the country.

“We want to deploy more persons across the country so that we can have more investigatory officers…we will do this through an in-

ternship programme with the University of Guyana and the technical institutes,” said Britton.

The internship is expected to be successful because the students/former students will have the expertise in Chemistry and other “solution-based” disciplines.

Britton said the PUC is already in discussion with the various institutions, which will have to find ways of including the internship programme into their existing, formal curriculum.

The commission hopes to start the programme next month. Also, as part of the commission’s expansion programme, a new office will be opened on Monday at Henrietta Road, on the Essequibo Coast. This will be the PUC’s fourth office.

With the new office in place, the commission will be able to better assess the quality of services offered by utility companies in Essequibo and will relieve the burden of persons having

to travel to Georgetown to lodge a complaint. “For the year 2019, there were four complaints for Essequibo and those complaints are not indicative that there are no complaints or there is a utopia in Essequibo, it means that people cannot access our services,” said Britton.

The functions of the commission are regulatory, investigatory, enforcement and such others as conferred on it by the Act. The commission also has the power to initiate and conduct investigations into the operations and standards of service of any public utilities under its purview.

The commission is a body corporate established by virtue of the Public Utilities Commission Act No. 26 of 1990 which came into effect on October 1, 1990.

This Act was amended in 1991, 1994 and in 1999. The commission is at present operating under Act No. 10 of 1999 which came into force on October 1, 1999.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Book reviews

A

The President and the Constitution

review of four books by David Granger: Credible elections: The political situation in Guyana; The way forward: Consensualism vs. unilateralism; The political situation in Guyana: The Legislative, Executive and Judiciary and Elections; and, The political environment and economic development; Constitutional compliance and commercial progress.

Guyana occupies a unique constitutional corner in the Anglo-phone Caribbean. It took a tortuous path away from the 19th century Dutch Court of Policy. Its passage through to the suspension of the Constitution in 1953 in the first elections after the introduction of universal adult franchise; introduction of the ‘proportional representation’ electoral system; establishment of its Court of Appeal and, eventually, the adoption of the Independence and Republican constitutions, signified changes which, often, were the results of political collisions.

Political controversy, notwithstanding, constitutional developments added to the country’s complex electoral history. The powers of the executive presidency enshrined in the 1980 Republican Constitution, for example, differ from those of Caribbean prime ministers, markedly.

David Granger’s four-book collection about the political situation in his country, following the passage of no-confidence motion in the National Assembly in December 2018, falls within this tradition. The collection highlights the interplay of the roles of Executive, the Legislature (that is, the National Assembly), the Judiciary and the Elections Commission and the electoral system in its constitutional evolution.

The collection combines political perspicacity with critical perspectives into controversial constitutional questions, the

solutions to which are of enduring significance to constitutional development.

The four books have their genesis in political developments in the National Assembly in December 2018. The political Opposition, gleeful over its successes in the local government elections one month earlier, moved to unseat the Government by tabling a no-confidence motion.

The Opposition succeeded on the 21st December 2018 when the motion was debated and passed by a simple majority of one with the support of a single backbencher on the Government’s side which, since the previous elections in 2015, enjoyed meagre majority of one-seat in the National Assembly. It was the first time that a Government had been unseated by a no-confidence motion in Guyana.

The motion’s passage triggered a suite of legal challenges which went all the way to the country’s highest court – the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). This process took almost six months to conclude.

The legal and political arguments during and after this period revolved, primarily, around the legality and constitutionality of the Government’s actions.

The collection constitutes the President’s responses to critics and detractors who had accused him of squatting in office and leading an illegal government. He h a s

tion in Guyana, the first book, debates the issue of whether the President should declare a date for elections when he has received no indication that the country’s electoral authority – the Elections Commission – would be in a state of readiness to hold such elections, and in light of the then ongoing legal challenges to the no-confidence motion.

The book provides evidence of engage-

defended his Government constitutionality, employing a blend of legal and political arguments. The collection is a reminder that constitutional issues cannot be considered in isolation from their political context.

The legal challenges to the no-confidence motion resulted in elections not being held within the three-month timeframe contemplated by the Constitution, a problem which was exacerbated by the facts of the readiness of the Elections Commission and the expiration of the existing Official List of Elections.

Credible elections: The political situa-

ments, including correspondence, between the Executive and the Elections Commission on the one hand, and the Leader of the Opposition, on the other. The President faced a ‘chicken-and-egg’ dilemma which he answers, pointedly, using legal decisions and the Constitution to support his stance.

The way forward: Consensualism vs. unilateralism, the second book, argues a case for political consensus in appointing a Chairperson of the Elections Commission, following the annulment of the appointment of the previous Chairman, by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The President makes a case for an interpretation of the ruling which assigns him a role in ‘hammering out’ a candidate for the appointment that is consensual – acceptable to both the governing coalition and the parliamentary Opposition while remaining consistent with the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

The political situation in Guyana: The

17

Legislative, Executive and Judiciary and Elections, the third book, constitutes the text of an address the President made to the Diplomatic Corps and civil society in Georgetown after the ruling and the issuance of the Consequential Orders by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The book details the steps which his administration took to comply with the courts’ rulings and to ensure credible elections in the shortest possible time. This book is supplemented by another – Consequential Orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice – which contains the unofficial text of the CCJ’s orders but which is not a subject of this review.

The political environment and economic development; Constitutional compliance and commercial progress, the fourth book in the collection, makes a convincing case for the constitutionality of President Granger’s government and the efficacy of its actions since the passage of the no-confidence motion. It was aimed at assuaging apprehensions of commercial instability caused by the political situation.

The President, using the CCJ’s judgment in the very case in which it affirmed the validity of the no-confidence motion, argues for his Government’s continuity in office. He emphasizes that his Government complied with the CCJ’s final ruling in every detail, justifies his stance of not declaring a date for elections, whimsically and in the absence of advice by the Elections Commission, and gives assurances of his Government’s commitment to respect the Constitutional role of the Elections Commission in order to ensure credible elections.

President Granger’s four-book collection is essential reading for everyone interested in the eventful year – 2019 – in this Caribbean Republic. The books, despite references to legal sources, are written in clear language which can be digested as easily and equally by the legal luminary in his or her chambers as they can by the man or woman in the street.

It is an intellectually stimulating collection.

Students of Caribbean constitutional law, politics and history will find the arguments erudite, enlivening and enriching.

They should not ignore the most vital lesson of the Guyanese electoral experience, that discourses on constitutional development cannot be divorced from their political contexts.

18

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

‘Five Bs a real game changer’ …Region 10 REO says programme should not be underestimated

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE Public Education Transportation System (PETS) and the Public Education Nutrition System (PENS), benefitting thousands of students across Guyana, should not be underestimated and must be seen as a real game changer in the education sector.

This was the position taken by Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 10, Orrin Gordon, on Tuesday, at a press conference, while disclosing that the RDC has been expending and will continue to expend millions of dollars on these programmes.

These programmes ensure that hundreds of children in Region 10, attend school regularly and punctually and are fed when they get there.

The first transportation under the PETS to benefit Region 10, was a boat that was donated by President David Granger in 2016. Today it is still being used to transport children from communities down the Demerara River as far as Gold Hill, to Linden.

This was followed by donations of a boat for students at River's View to attend school in Bartica, a boat for

children to attend school in the Upper-Demerara and Upper-Berbice Rivers, as well as buses for students residing in

minuscule to some people, they are actually real life-changing investments for those benefitting. The invest-

Regional Officials taking a drive in the new Coomacka School Bus when it was commissioned

Kwakwani and Coomacka.

Realising how impactful the programme was, the RDC came on board and purchased buses for children residing at Moblissa on the Linden Soesdyke Highway and for students residing in Christianburg, who are temporarily placed at St Aidens Primary. Only last year, the RDC expended $15M for another 30-seater bus to ply the Coomacka route.

The REO said that while these investments may seem

ment does not only stop at the purchasing of the transportation, but continuous support and maintenance, which sum up to millions. The RDC still has responsibility to fuel these transportations, to maintain them and to pay the salaries of the drivers and boat operators.

He averaged that for the buses, on a termly basis, about $6M is being expended, while about $1M is being expended on the boats. This, however, is nothing com-

pared to what parents are saving in their pockets for not having to provide transportation. For Coomacka alone, Gordon, who is an economist, averaged that parents are saving about $3M a term.

“Although it comes across as a small deal, it is a real big deal, that money it is saving parents $3M a term quite easily and that is something quite significant to keep in mind,” he said.

This cost should, at no time, be taken for granted, Gordon said, as the parents will now have a chance to filter it into some other aspect of home management or even community development.

In addition, the RDC is expending millions on the PENS through the hot meal programme, which is available at several schools across the region. Giving an anecdote, Gordon said he once watched some children paddle along the Berbice River to get to school, which is quite a few miles of paddling.

When they got there, he reasoned they would be hungry and tired and therefore would not be in the frame of mind or have the energy to learn.

TURN TO PAGE

19

Region 10 ramps up school welfare services … in wake of violent attacks in schools

THE Region 10 Department of Education has ramped up the schools welfare services to tackle the upsurge in violence in schools which has been a major reason for concern to the education officials.

Regional Executive Officer, Orrin Gordon, related that systems have been put in place to tackle the issue head on through the Welfare Department.

He, however, believes that all stakeholders need to get involved in the process since the situation is not only a school-based one, but other factors such as home environment should also be taken into account.

One of the proactive mechanisms that is being used is to provide these services to students residing in the dormitories in the region: the Linden Foundation Secondary and the Kwakwani dormitory. Regional Education Officer, Robindra Singh, also alluded to students being able to access these services on a proactive, rather than a reactive, basis. He also called

for better communication to be established among the teachers and called on the necessary players to work over time to ensure incidences of violence are decreased in schools.

A decision to ensure the Welfare Department becomes more proactive came after recent incidences of violence escalated in schools in Linden, leaving students hospitalized. A 15-year-old female Linden Foundation student remains hospitalized at the Linden Hospital Complex while the school mate who allegedly stabbed her, is no longer in police custody.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had advised the Region 10 Police Headquarters to conduct further investigation on the file that was sent last month.

Police are still conducting those investigations and are hoping to resend the file soon. Meanwhile, the hospitalized girl’s mother, Dane Lyte, said she will not give up until justice is served for her daughter.

Ali touts plans being implemented by government for PPP/C platform

PRESIDENTIAL Candidate for the PPP/C, Irfaan Ali, at Republic Square, Corriverton, on Saturday evening, has once again touted plans that are already being implemented by the coalition government, for his presidency.

Ali, while delivering remarks at the People Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) rally, talked up agriculture and the need to make Region Six the breadbasket of the Caribbean once more. This was previously stated by President David Granger, on several occasions.

More recently, the President, at a Rally in Rose Hall Town a week ago, outlined a plan to make Region Six an agriculture powerhouse.

Ali, in his presentation, stated that agriculture, an independent industry, will be controlled by the PPP/C government should they return to power.

“We are going to use the resources from oil and gas to build other segments of the economy to support farming and to support agriculture so that we will and must become a sustainable food basket for the Caribbean…We are going to open up new lands, so that you will have more areas for farming so that you could increase the production of

goods, of food, so my brothers and sisters as you think about the future, be prepared for a new wave of investment in this region to expand, sustain agriculture and bring back the vibrancy and the profitability in agriculture with government support. Let me be clear, agriculture

back sugar in a big way by making sure the industry is sustainable and viable, but neglected to state exactly how they will make this possible.

“We have to support the agriculture sector… not only are we going to ensure sugar come back and come back in a big way so we can

A section of the audience

and every crop under agriculture is government business,” said Ali. Ali also spoke about bringing

bring back those jobs, that is only part of the plan because we have to make sure sugar is viable and

sustainable and to do that we have to add to the investment that you would have already made. We have to ensure that long into the future, no sugar worker must worry about the survival of their jobs again and that is a plan.”

The PPP/C presidential candidate also talked up support for the agriculture sector by making available micro credit and grant facilities available so that farmers can access low-interest rate loans and grants to increase and improve their businesses, as well as linkages for agro-processing.

Earlier, Ali also touched on the fishing industry, with promises to make the industry safer and more PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, speaking during the rally viable by reducing taxes on equipment and supplies. lowering the duty on new vehicles “We must ensure that they are and increasing old-age pension in secure, we must equip them, we must put systems in place that will addition to creating some 50,000 ensure their safety when they go out new jobs. there to earn their living, we must Meanwhile PPP/C General support them with equipment, we Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, called must support them with tax incentives and we must support them in on residents to verify the accuracy getting markets,” said Ali. of their information on the elecAli also spoke at length about toral list and to come out in their the PPP/C’s plan to make the lives of residents better after March 2, by numbers early on election day to reversing several taxes including cast their votes.

19

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

National cyclist killed on Rupert Craig Highway -- former chief-of-staff in police custody JUDE Bentley, 41, a businessman and former national cyclist, was killed after he was struck down on the Rupert Craig Highway, in the vicinity of the Russian Embassy turn, at approximately 05:00hrs on Saturday morning by a black Land Cruiser.

The driver was identified as former Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Gary Best. The vehicle also uprooted a utility pole in the accident.

Bentley owned and operated a sports bicycle shop on Robb Street. He was well known in the cycling community. He also employed current and past cyclists and sponsored events and assisted many in the sport.

Reports indicate that Bentley and Best were heading east along the road. The driver tried to avoid hitting Bentley and struck a utility pole but still managed to hit the cyclist and dragged him several feet away from the point of impact.

Grief-stricken members of the local cycling fraterni-

flight risk.

One of Bentley’s cycling colleagues at the scene of the accident was in a state of shock as the two were supposed to meet for their riding exercise.

to done reach me up,” his colleague said.

Further, he said after he reached Sheriff Street, something motivated him to keep spinning around Sheriff Street and Conversation

Really sad to lose you Jude, you brought me into cycling, motivated me so much, can’t believe this,” On Saturday, the R&R

Parts from the bicycle at the scene of the accident

The bicycle was removed by police in the aftermath of the accident

day you see your brother laying on the ground as you were going to meet him to take an early morning ride.

Dead: Jude Bentley

The Toyota Land cruiser being removed from the scene of the accident

ty, relatives and friends were at the scene of the accident as Bentley’s body lay on the road covered with a white cloth.

When contacted, police said Best is in custody at the Kitty Police Station and underwent a breathalyser test as investigations continue.

Best is expected to receive station bail since he is not a

According to Christophe Enzo, a relative of Bentley, in his Facebook post, stated “When you now start back riding, and on your second

“When he was leaving this morning, he called me and tell me he leaving house right now. I said ‘alright, good, I coming down to town’; so while I was riding coming down now, I said man this man ain’t reach up here yet, something wrong, because he called me a good time ago and tell me he leaving home, he was supposed

‘Five B's a real ...

With the provision of the hot meal programme, they can now enjoy a healthy breakfast before school starts so that they can be re-energised for the day's work.

The REO averaged that about $1M a term is being expended on the hot meal programme which is a transitioned from the biscuit and juice programme. Children now have health-

Tree, Bel Air, Railway Embankment Roadway in anticipation of meeting Bentley.

“I said maybe he got a puncture or something; while going up the road a car man meet me and tell me a cyclist get knock down by the S-turn, so right away I saying no man, don’t let it be Jude; now when I reach I see is Jude,” the cyclist said.

FROM PAGE

18

ier and fresher options and farmers in the region are also benefitting from the provision.

Since both the PENS and the PETS were initiated the Region 10, the Department of Education has recorded a significant increase in both school attendance and punctuality, while absenteeism has seen a decline.

International-sponsored 11race Programme in the National Park was postponed due to the passing of Bentley.

He was also a member of the Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club and was slated to compete in Saturday’s race.

The cyclists at the National Park, on Saturday, observed a minute of silence and a lap of honour in tribute to their lost friend.

20

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Agricultural capacity in Region 10 to increase with new road WITH the newly established agriculture department in Region 10, the region is expected to reduce its dependency on outside food markets by 40 per cent by 2022, as farmers are not only gravitating to the fields, but are taking up the challenge of producing non-traditional crops.

Presently, Region 10 is sourcing 80 per cent of its food from other regions and Regional Executive Officer, Orrin Gordon, said that with strides made thus far, since the programme was implemented, the region will see a decrease in dependency for not only traditional crops, but non-traditional ones or those

deemed exotic crops. These include broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, ginger and spinach.

“It is a tall order but we feel we can do it and if we move from the traditional to the non-traditional, it will even be made easier,” Gordon said.

The National Agricultural Research and Extension

The farm-to-market road in Region 10

Institute (NAREI), has been coordinating with the RDC to provide the necessary training and technical support for these farmers. Demonstration plots were set up in the various communities and many farmers are now producing the crops on their own. Regional Agricultural Officer, Dexter Collins, related that farmers are not only supplying Linden markets but out-of-town markets as well.

“We see farmers now buying into these projects after these demo-plots were created and expanding their production to reach these niche markets, especially to supply the supermarket chains in Georgetown. We have one farmer from the One Mile area who is one of the main suppliers of the broccoli, cauliflower and kale to Bounty and Massy Supermarkets,” he related.

A two-year timeline was given to achieve the self-sufficiency goal because the majority of farmers are still planting to the level at which

ties as far as Sandhills, can be reached in two hours. “This dream is no longer a dream, this is a reality and the link with the Berbice River has been restored,” Gordon said.

Presently, farmers in those districts are planting thousands of acres of citrus fruits, red peas and corn, with the help of NAREI. In addition to this farmto-market road, farmers have been exposed to climate-smart training aimed at combating extreme weather patterns

Shade houses established in West Watooka

they feel comfortable, Collin’s said, while some have increased production and opened up more lands. In fact, over 300,000 acres of land have been opened up in the Intermediate Savannahs of Region 10, with the construction of the farm-tomarket road from Linden to the Berbice River.

Gordon described the road as the ‘big-ticket’ project for agriculture in 2019 and while it initially catered for about two miles of road, the team was able to clear up to seven miles of road. Now the Berbice River communi-

and climate change. Several farmers experienced huge losses as a result of flooding. Fourteen shade houses were established, seven of which were in secondary schools across the region, in an effort to encourage agriculture at the school level. The agriculture department is also pushing for more farmers to access agricultural loans in the region through small business financial institutions such as the Linden Enterprise Network and commercial banks.

Teen suspect wanted in murder investigation POLICE are seeking the whereabouts of Steven Archibald, 18, as investigations continue into the murder of Kyle Chase, who was stabbed to death on December 30, 2019, at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown.

Archibald last known address is Lot 136 Victoria Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

Chase, 23, of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was at a female friend’s house playing cards with his cousin, Trevon Chase.

Police said that two

Wanted: Steven Archibald

Dead: Kyle Chase

males, one being the ex-boyfriend of the female, turned up at the house and became

enraged upon seeing the two cousins there.

TURN TO PAGE

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

21

22

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

23

24

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

25

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Upper Berbice River communities see unprecedented development Entrepreneurial Development (SLED). While the RDC has played its part, various ministries have also contributed significantly

The WiFi station at Wiruni in the Upper Berbice region

VILLAGES located in the Upper Berbice River in Region 10 have been enjoying unprecedented development in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, education, health and communication.

For 2019, these communities were on par with Linden, in relation to development and have been in no way neglected by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and Government Ministries.

Not only is travel access to these communities easier, with the necessary infrastructure now in place, but their ability to make outside contact and keep abreast with current affairs has also been significantly improved, with the installation of WiFi stations in these various communities by the Ministry of Telecommunication. The villages of Wiruni, Ebini, DeVeldt and Kimbia are among those that have benefited from this provision and not only has it boosted communication, but the teaching and learning have been significantly improved as well.

As opposed to the past, these communities can now

be accessed in less time as a result of the newly constructed farm-to-market road, stretching from Millies Hide Out in Linden to as far as Kimbia. The traditional route through the Linden to Kwakwani trail has also been improved with the rehabilitation and maintenance of the trail.

Now it takes approximately two hours, as opposed to five, to get to Kwakwani.

These communities, known primarily for agriculture, now have a better chance of boosting their economies, since farmers now have better access to markets in Linden as well as other regions. Farmers are now receiving technical support from the RDC Agricultural Department and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute ( NAREI). These communities are also enjoying better access to reliable water supply through the intervention of Guyana Water Incorporated.

In the health sector, residents are benefiting from improved services at either spanking new health centres or rehabilitated ones. A $22M state-of-the-art health

centre has been constructed in Wiruni and will be commissioned soon. This will also benefit neighbouring villages in the Berbice River.

This is one of three health centres to be constructed in hinterland communities in Region 10. The other two were constructed in Ituni and Mabura. Regional Executive Officer, Orrin Gordon, said that these health centres will be provided with the relevant medical personnel and sufficient drugs. Residents also now have better access to medical transfers, when serious cases arise. This was made possible with the provision of the multi-million dollar river ambulance that now services these riverain communities.

As regards community infrastructure, these communities have also had their equal share of roads and bridges, as did communities in Linden. The REO also confirmed that millions of dollars have been expended on social programmes, benefiting residents through the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) and the Sustainable Livelihood and

The spanking-new health centre at Wiruni

to development in these communities, thus ensuring that residents' lives are improved. "They are much better off in terms of these

facilities in those areas and we are very thankful for the assistance which has been given in these circumstances," Gordon said.

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Trade liberalisation important but not panacea for region TRADE liberalisation is important, but not a panacea for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Region. That was the strong message coming out of a panel discussion jointly hosted by the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services (SRC) of The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill (The UWI Cave Hill) and

the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The panel discussion took place on Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 18:00hrs at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business and Management, and carried the same name as the IDB’s 2019 flagship Report on which it was based: “Trading Promises for Results: What Global Integration can do for Latin America and The Caribbe-

an”.

In his welcome remarks, SRC Director, Neil Paul, expressed the SRC’s delight in partnering with IDB on this event, noting the intersecting areas of focus of the two institutions, including trade training, research and capacity building.

In highlighting the Caribbean’s “disappointing” performance in trade over the past few years, Director

From left: Dr. Jan Yves Remy (SRC Deputy Director); Dr. Ernesto Stein (Principal Technical Leader, Research Department, IDB); Dr. Mauricio Mesquita Moreira (Principal Economic Advisor of the Integration and Trade Sector of the IDB); Dr. Justin Ram (Director of Economics, Caribbean Development Bank) and Dr. Antonio Alleyne (Temporary Lecturer, Department of Economics, UWI)

Paul noted the anticipation of the audience – largely comprising students and faculty of The UWI, as well as members of the general public – in hearing from the esteemed speakers on whether the promised benefits of trade liberalisation for the Region had translated into meaningful results.

The discussion, which was chaired by SRC Deputy Director, Dr. Jan Yves Remy, began with a presentation by the report’s two editors, Dr. Mauricio Mesquita Moreira (Principal Economic Advisor, IDB Integration and Trade Sector), and Dr. Ernesto Stein (Principal Technical Leader, IDB Research Department).

They summarised the report’s major takeaways including that trade liberalisation has led to an increase in welfare and economic growth in the LAC Region but has not necessarily decreased employment and inequality.

LAC governments, they said, needed to implement sound policies that complemented trade ones such as labour adjustment and productivity development programmes. This might help the losers from trade to realise gains.

The two discussants – Dr. Justin Ram, Director of Economics of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and Dr. Antonio Alleyne, Temporary Lecturer in the Department of Economics of The UWI, Cave Hill – provided spirited responses to the report. Dr. Ram applauded its inclusion of political economy considerations, in particular the recommendations for mechanisms to trade adjustment. He implored CARICOM policy makers to couch not only trade in a comprehensive development policy, but to use the single economic space for enabling the free movement of labour and capital.

While lauding the effort of the authors in presenting comprehensively the Latin American experience, Dr. Alleyne highlighted the lack of data specific to the Caribbean Region. The unfortunate result was that the Caribbean policy-maker could not use the report to provide a ‘holistic’ picture for formulating and implementing reforms resulting from the dislocations from trade liberalisation.

A short and lively discussion with the audience concluded the evening.

Teen suspect wanted...

FROM PAGE

20

An argument subsequently ensued and a scuffle erupted among the men, during which the suspect allegedly stabbed Chase several times with a sharp object.

Chase collapsed and was rushed to the Davis Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

On January 6, 2020, a 22-year-Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) employee was remanded to prison for the murder.

Nigel Thomas, of James and Victoria Street, Albouystown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the capital offence.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Steven Archibald is asked to contact the nearest police station or on telephone numbers 226-6978, 225-8196, 226-2870, 226-7065, 227-1149, 226-7065 or 911.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Guyana’s health issues addressed at WHO Board Meeting The 146th session of the Executive Board took place at WHO headquarters in Geneva from February 3rd to 8th, 2020 where a number of health-related issues of this country were addressed.

Although Minister of Health Volda Lawrence, currently Vice Chair of the WHO Board, could not attend due to duties at home directly related to the Novel Coronavirus, Guyana’s Geneva mission participation was guided from Georgetown and called for increased attention and support to critical health issues in Guyana.

Guyana made several interventions at the meeting, including on Primary Health Care(PHC), Universal Health Coverage(UHC), Cervical Cancer, Food Safety and the need for more accessible and affordable Vaccines. On the second day of the meeting, the Director General of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that – “the winds of change in health care often call for big visible health interventions such as new hospitals, but to make progress in tackling non-communicable disease and communicable diseases, primary health care is the answer – that goes for high-income countries and low-income countries as well… if we really believe in primary health care (PHC) we need to stand against the wind.”

In his intervention on PHC, Ambassador John Deep Ford, leader of the Guyana delegation pointed out that the Government of Guyana has fully endorsed the PHC initiative and one important commitment is to work to ensure that citizens do not have to travel more than 5 kilometres to receive free primary healthcare services. Guyana’s Ambassador further indicated that with the rest of the CARICOM region Guyana is keen to develop a joint roadmap, based on the WHO’s Operational Framework on PHC, to achieve our PHC objectives.

Further, the Guyana mission mentioned that Guyana is committed to ensuring Universal Health Coverage and embraces the PAHO 30-30-30 Compact that calls for a concerted effort to eliminate access barriers to health care by at least 30%, increasing public spending on health to at least 6% of gross domestic product, with 30% of these resources invested in the first level of care, to achieve universal health and the SDGs by 2030. Ambassador Ford emphasized that there is need for innovative approaches for financing health insurance given the small populations in some countries and the vulnerability of the region to disasters.

WHO’s draft global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer emphasised prevention policies, expansion of screening and early treatment services at the primary care level. Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of death for women in the CARICOM region. Guyana supported the resolution on cervical cancer calling on the Director General to expand assistance to Member States to implement the global strategy.

In emphasising the need for increased access to vaccines Ambassador Ford indicated Guyana’s support for the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) and called for vigilance related to vaccine needs of migrants and persons in post disaster situations, especially in the case of children that are missed and/or do not complete their vaccination program. He urged that universal access to vaccines remain a high political priority, including responding to increasing pressure from “anti-vaccine” groups.

The impact of Unsafe Food on health was emphasized in the Board meeting, indicating that harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites cause more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers, and that children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, accounting for 125,000 deaths every year. The Guyana mission indicated its recognition of the problem and that food safety practices needed to be strengthened all along our food value chains. In this regard one critical need to be addressed was identified as the weak data on food borne illnesses and traceability systems that link the unsafe food to the source and basis of the problem. The importance of the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) leading in this area was emphasized and that its limited capacity needed to be strengthened. CARICOM recognizes this weakness and at the 81st COTED meeting held in Belize in Oct 2019 a recommendation was approved to establish a Caribbean Food Safety Task Force to serve in an advisory role to CAHFSA and to support coordination of food safety activities in the region.

The WHO Executive Board is composed of 34 members elected for three-year terms. The annual Board meeting sets the agenda and agrees on resolutions to be considered by the World Health Assembly. Other topics under discussion this year included WHO’s response to severe, large-scale emergencies; research and development for diseases with epidemic potential; antimicrobial resistance; healthy aging; harmful alcohol use; eye care; and promoting the health of migrants

27

28

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

29

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

31

32

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

33

34

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

35

36

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

37

38

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

South Africa Racing Tips

Exeter

Greyville

09:55 hrs Master Tommytucker

08:25 hrs Popova 09:00 hrs Gravitation

10:25 hrs Shakeem Up ‘Arry

09:35 hrs Kingsmead

11:00 hrs Welsh Saint

10:10 hrs Kingston Rock

11:30 hrs Jepeck

10:45 hrs Double Gemini 12:05 hrs Master Debonair 12:35 hrs Magic Of Light

Irish Racing Tips

13:05 hrs Time To Tinker

Punchestown 09:45 hrs Yanworth 10:15 hrs Cedarwood Road

Southwell

10:45 hrs Francin

10:05 hrs Tigray

11:20 hrs Ask Mary

10:35 hrs Oud Metha Bridge

11:50 hrs Zero Ten 12:25 hrs Rocky’s Silver 12:45 hrs Mount Melleray

11:10 hrs Night Voyager 11:40 hrs Moveonup 12:15 hrs Harbour Front

English Racing Tips

12:45 hrs Golden Fountain

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday February 09, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: (1) 133 ODI players (2) 103 ODI players TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) Who are the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2020 champions?

(2) Who was voted Man of the Final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

39

England regain Calcutta Cup (BBC) - ENGLAND won back the Calcutta Cup and kept their Six Nations title hopes alive with a turgid victory over Scotland in awful weather conditions.

Ellis Genge barrelled home for the only try with 10 minutes remaining as driving rain and strong gusts made for a disrupted, error-ridden contest at Murrayfield.

The result meant Scotland fell short of a third-straight Calcutta Cup, but England climb level on points with second-placed Wales, four adrift of unbeaten leaders Ireland.

Captain Owen Farrell struck a penalty in either half, missing three more attempts from the tee as the weather contributed to a low-scoring affair.

Adam Hastings replied twice for Scotland, his 78th-minute kick ensuring Gregor Townsend’s men pick up a second losing bonus point in as many weekends.

This was a much-needed

Stuart Hogg just managed to ground a bobbling England kick but the visitors soon scored a try.

victory for England after a bruising loss in Paris. Eddie Jones’ men just about deserved it, but the contest was wretched, a million miles from the epic 38-38 draw of last season.

A losing bonus point will come as small comfort to Townsend. The Scots found

it ferociously difficult to live with Sam Underhill and Tom Curry at the breakdown and impossible to catch their own ball in the line-out. The key moment was a dreadful mistake by Stuart Hogg, for the second week running.

Storm Ciara was due to blow into town in time for the

kick-off and, sure enough, an hour or so before it all began, she fetched up with her rain and her gales bringing any notion of an attacking spectacle to its knees.

It was brutal out there.

Scotland lost five line-outs, and precious momentum, in the opening 40 minutes -

some down to crass errors, most of them due to the foul conditions.

England, who couldn’t have been playing more conservatively had they all taken the field with Tory party rosettes on their jerseys, lost two.

Playing against the wind,

they kicked ball after ball, forcing errors from Scotland and taking the lead when the home side were done on the floor. Farrell missed his first penalty earlier, banged over his second and missed his third.

This was rugby from another dimension. Had a woolly mammoth, extinct for an age, wandered across the pitch you wouldn’t have missed a beat. Had a try been scored it would have been a moment of genuine shock and awe.

Scotland wasted great field positions last week in Dublin and they let a few opportunities slip here as well. England were dominant at the breakdown, but error-strewn in so many departments. Everything was understandably, but maddeningly, stop-start.

Everton go five games unbeaten EVERTON stretched their unbeaten run to five games, as a 3-1 victory over out-of-form Crystal Palace moved them up to seventh in the Premier League.

The hosts dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead when Bernard volleyed in Theo Walcott’s superb cross.

But Palace, without a win so far in 2020, fought back after the break and equalised when keeper Jordan Pickford allowed Christian Benteke’s low strike to go under his body.

Everton then had to withstand a spell of pressure from the invigorated visitors but restored their lead when Richarlison ran through the Palace defence and slotted into the bottom corner.

Pickford saved superbly from Benteke’s close-range header to protect the Toffees’ lead, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed victory when he prodded in after Richarlison’s header had hit the crossbar.

The win leaves Everton just one point behind fifthplace Tottenham Hotspur,

Richarlison has scored in consecutive home games for the first time since December 2018.

who have a game in hand.

Crystal Palace remain six points above the relegation zone in 14th place, but all of those below Roy Hodgson’s side now have a game in hand.

It is only two months

since Everton slipped into the relegation places and looked destined for a tough battle against the drop this season, but the Toffees - first under caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson and now Carlo Ancelotti - have turned things

around significantly.

An unbeaten start to the year, including wins over Brighton and Watford, has propelled them up the table and the improved form and quality of football under Ancelotti means many fans

are now hoping for a top-six finish.

They started confidently against Palace yesterday and the away side could not cope with them for the first 15 minutes. When Bernard

struck with a superb volley it was a lead the hosts fully deserved.

The creator of that goal was Walcott, who had been a constant menace down the flank leading up to his assist - but when the forward pulled up with an ankle injury shortly afterwards and had to be substituted, Everton lost their way.

However, with Richarlison in their ranks Everton always have that bit of quality to muster something from nothing, and so it proved as he took on the Palace defence by himself to restore his side’s lead.

It was an open game from then on but it was the hosts who got the crucial next goal to kill off Palace’s hopes of a point.

Everton’s next four matches include trips to Arsenal and Chelsea and home games against Manchester United and Liverpool - so this could prove to be a vital three points for Ancelotti’s team.

40

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Masood, Babar keep Pakistan in control (REUTERS) - PAKISTAN opener Shan Masood and batting mainstay Babar Azam smashed individual hundreds to put the hosts in charge of the first Test against Bangladesh after dominating day two at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Babar capitalised on an early reprieve to score a career-best 143 not out when bad light forced early stumps, with Pakistan 109 ahead with seven wickets remaining.

Babar raised 137 runs for the burgeoning fourth-wicket stand with Asad Shafiq

(60) who looked on course to be the third centurion in the Pakistan innings.

Abu Jayed claimed two wickets for Bangladesh who endured a tough day after managing a below-par first-innings total of 233 on Friday.

Abu drew first blood when he dismissed opener Abid Ali for a duck in the second over and went on to claim the wicket of home captain Azhar Ali who made 34.

Babar was on three when Ebadat Hossain dropped him off Taijul Islam and it proved a costly mistake as the right-hander went on to

forge century-plus partnerships with Shan and Asad.

Shan made 100, which included 11 boundaries, before being bowled by Taijul.

Babar and Asad then feasted on Bangladesh’s wayward attack, scoring at nearly four-an-over during their unbroken stand.

Babar hit 19 boundaries and a six to keep alive his hopes of a maiden Test double-century.

The second Test of the split series will be played in Karachi from April 5.

Babar Azam drives through offside. (AFP)

Debutant Jamieson, ill Southee punish India (REUTERS) - AN ill Tim Southee and superb debut from Kyle Jamieson helped New Zealand to a tense 22-run victory over India in their second oneday international at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday, to clinch the threematch series with a game to spare.

Southee was unsure as to whether he would play the game due to a gastroenteritis outbreak that forced Mitchell Santner out and assistant coach Luke Ronchi to act as a substitute fielder, but took 2-41 before he left the field after his 10 overs.

Kyle Jamieson roars after getting a wicket in his first over on debut. (Getty Images)

India were dismissed for 251 in 48.3 overs with Ravindra Jadeja (55) producing a superb rearguard fightback after he came to the crease with his side in trouble at 96-5 and almost won the game in partnership with fast bowler Navdeep Saini (45).

New Zealand had scored 273-8 in their innings with Ross Taylor following up his century in the first match in Hamilton with 73 not out.

Taylor combined with debutant bowler Jamieson (25 not out) in an unbroken 76-run ninth-wicket partnership to give their team a respectable target after they

had wasted a golden opportunity to score a total in excess of 300.

The run-out of Martin Guptill for 79 when he attempted a quick single while batting with Taylor halted New Zealand’s momentum and they slumped from 1572 in the 30th over to 197-8 in the 42nd.

Taylor and Jamieson, however, ensured they had a target to defend and the bowlers reduced India to 965, with the visitors’ chances then resting with Shreyas Iyer and Jadeja as the last recognised batsmen.

Iyer, who averaged 51

in the Twenty20 series and scored his maiden one-day century in the first game, however, was caught behind for 52 to leave his team 129-6 in the 28th over.

Jadeja and Saini then scored 76 runs from 80 balls and looked to have seized the momentum before Jamieson bowled Saini in the 45th over and Yuzvendra Chahal was run-out for 10 in the 48th over.

Jadeja was then caught on the fence with nine balls remaining to end the game.

‘A perfect human being, a champion of cycling’ … National Coach Mohamed remembers Jude Bentley

THE sudden death of Jude Bentley has shocked the cycling fraternity and messages of condolences have been pouring in.

The national cyclist, who represented Guyana at the Commonwealth Games in 2006, was killed in an accident yesterday morning.

Bentley, of Jude’s Bike Shop on Robb Street, was more than just a cyclist; he was an ambassador of the sport and had helped countless young riders over the years. President of Carlton Wheelers Cycling Club, Hassan Mohamed, said that Bentley, who was a member of the club, was “a perfect human being and a champion of cycling.”

Jude Bentley was an extraordinary human being who helped to promote the sport of cycling.

He noted that he was al-

truistic in nature, especially

towards children who would visit his shop.

“This is an unfortunate thing to happen to such a talent.”

General Secretary of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Malcolm Sonaram, called the death “a great loss to the cycling community.”

He too spoke about Bentley’s big heart and his assistance to young cyclists.

“As an individual, he has given a lot to cycling and cyclists. I personally witness many times that children would come into the bike shop and they would not have money to buy chains, tyres and Jude would help them out.”

Bentley, who also repre-

sented Guyana in Trinidad, Barbados and Cuba at meets, was all geared up for the 2020 cycling season and had purchased a US$6000 bike to compete. His first competition with the fast bike was expected to take place yesterday in the National Park.

After authorities and cyclists found out about the death, they decided to hold a lap around the park for their fallen comrade and one minute of silence. Out of respect for Bentley, they also called off the event. Sonaram, who is also vice-president of Carlton Wheelers, said that more must be done to protect cyclists on the road.

“Why is it we have to wait for something of this

magnitude to happen before we address the safety of cyclists? We need to sit down with all road-users: taxi drivers, general road-users.

They need to understand that everybody has a right to use the road…. You got to get serious about this or you’ll continue to lose lives.”

Mohamed added that some persons have already spoken about holding an annual competition in honour of Bentley, but he said that it would depend on the approval of his family.

The category one cyclist, who was set to turn 42 later this month, leaves to mourn six children, including his youngest son, who turned one yesterday.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

41

Yearwood slams maiden century to lift DCC ahead of Bel Air -GCC, Malteenoes and MYO also in control in two-day clash

SHAMAR Yearwood struck his maiden century to lift Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) to first-innings honours against Bel Air RUBiS II when action in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), Noble House Seafoods second-division two-day cricket competition continued yesterday at the Queenstown ground.

Along with DCC, Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) had romped to a first-innings lead, while Malteenoes and MYO were also ahead in their clashes.

At the DCC ground, Bel Air won the toss and opted to take first strike, but they were unable to get on top of the pace of national U-19 fast bowler Qumar Torrington, who contributed to their early demise. The former West Indies U-16 bowler got wickets in his first and second overs to help push the visitors to 3-3 in the third over. Bel Air struggled in the middle and were pegged down at 48-8 before Mohamed Nassir (9) and Shionarine Budhu (28 2x4, 2x6) added 31 runs for the ninth wicket. Budhu and C. Gainnarine (18 3X4s) were able to get the score to 104 before they succumbed in the 20th over.

Torrington, who finished with 4-39 from 10 overs, was supported by left-arm spinner Daniel Mootoo (4-36 from 5.3 overs) who cleaned up

Shamar Yearwood scored his maiden century in cricket.

the tail and fellow opening bowler Kadeem Paris (2-24 from four overs).

When DCC batted, they pushed a few of their younger batsmen to the fore, but after both Jaden Campbell (12) and Brandan Jaikarran (4) fell; and regular opener Raymond Perez followed, it was Sachin Singh and Alphius Bookie who repaired the innings.

The pair added 58 runs for the fourth wicket, with Singh, who normally scorches the DCC ground, playing a watchful innings. In total, he struck four fours and 43 singles in his 61. Bookie hit three fours and two sixes in a supporting score of 39, but then it was the Yearwood show.

The 16-year-old was particularly aggressive with 11 fours and three sixes. By the

Winston Forrester and Stephon Wilson led GCC with bat and Ball

close of play with Yearwood not out on 108, DCC opted to declare on 243-6 in 60 overs. Today Bel Air will bat again in an attempt to save the clash.

Also set with a difficult task of saving their match the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) were trailing in their clash with GCC. GCC won the toss and opted to take first strike.

Led by a half-century from Winston Forrester (53 10x4), the visitors were able to push themselves to 215 before they were bowled out in the 48th over. Deonarine Seegobin, who had scored 49 (8x4) also got on top of the bowling.

However, many of the other batsmen were sent back early, as left-arm spinner Trevon France, who cleaned up the lower order, finished with a 5-45 for the home team. D. Cameron and D. Ramjattan

supported with two wickets each.

GYO batsmen did not support their bowlers and only Yeudistir Persaud with 21 (4x4) and Joshua Ramsammy with 14 (3x4) got into double digits, as Stephon Wilson spun his way to four wickets to help restrict the home team to 64 all out in 21 overs.

Fast bowler Carlos La Rose supported with two wickets. GCC then asked the home team to follow-on and at the close of play, they had reached 61-1 off eight overs.

Persaud was not out on 16 (3x4) and Jason Sinclair unbeaten on 24 (3x4, 1x6).

At Malteenoes ground, the home team inserted Guyana Defence Force to take first strike. Although skipper Leon Andrews led from the front with a huge half-century, the visitors succumbed for

Trevon France took a five wicket haul for GYO

150 in 41.2 overs. Andrews’ 88 included six fours and five sixes.

Fast bowler Diquan Murray led the charge with the ball with 4-50 from 17 overs, while Delon Dalrymple finished with 2-17 from five overs and off-spinner Akeem Critchlow 3-30 from 9.2 overs. In reply, Malteenoes were cruising at 116-3.

Shemroy Barrington made 41 (5x4, 2x6) and Clarence Baird 26 (2x4, 2x6) while Jeremiah Scott is not out on 22. At QC ground, MYO were slightly ahead of GNIC. Batting first, Kemraj Ramdeen led MYO to 225 after he scored 53 runs (5x4). Although the skipper bats at the top, he opted to bat at number eight to give his younger players a chance, but his side could not get on top of the

Dwayne Dick took four wickets for GNIC against MYO

Diquan Murray took four wickets for Malteenoes Sports Club.

bowling of the father-and-son pair of David and Dwayne Dick, who both finished with four wickets.

In reply, GNIC had reached 54-4 by the close of play.

Salmon’s 7 leave Jaguars with mountain to climb on final day … Debutant snares 2nd innings 7-56, Jaguars need 27 for victory with 1 wicket remaining JAMAICA Scorpions spinner Peter Salmon bagged 7 wickets which left Guyana Jaguars in need of a dire miracle, as they require 27 runs for victory with just one wicket left in the bank when the final day’s play bowls off.

Resuming at 50-3 on Day 3, Scorpions crashed to another low total as they were kept to 184 in their second innings. Middle-order batsman Nkrumah Bonner kept things

by crunching five fours in his top score of 57 not out.

Jaguars star left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul continued his collection of wickets, bagging magical second-innings figures of 6-50 to go along with his 1st innings’ four victims.

The pendulum swung in favour of the visitors, as the champs were in a tricky situation when umpires lifted bails on the penultimate day, reeling at 155-9 with Permaul

20 not out off 60 and Keon Joseph 5*, looking to pull off a miracle today.

Pursuing 182 runs for their second straight win at home, the Jags lost big guns Tagenarine Chanderpaul (12), Chandrapaul Hemraj (13), Leon Johnson (19) and Vishaul Singh (0), after being 48-2 at the tea break.

Salmon removed three of the four initial wickets to fall before bagging another huge wicket of Chris Barnwell (12)

who succumbed to the lbw decision.

The debutant continued with his bag of tricks. He accounted for the further dismissals of Reifer (13), Anthony, Sinclair (13) and Niall Smith (0) who was trapped lbw - putting the spinner on hat-trick.

Guyana’s innings ended calmly after the pair of Permaul and Joseph managed to negate the Scorpions bowlers to set up a thrilling final day.

John Campbell (31) who departed prior to stumps on Day 2 along with spinner Jamie Merchant who stroked five boundaries down the order for his 26, along with 19 apiece from Assad Fudadin and Derval Green headlined a relatively ordinary batting card for the Scorpions.

Off -spinner Sinclair snatched 2-56 and left-arm medium Reifer (2-19) lent ideal support to the left-arm spinner during their outing.

Scorpions resumed with three batters back in the pavilion but Bonner led a slight resistance on his way to the mini milestone.

After Permaul pulled out the tricks, the Jamaica lower-order found it difficult to cope with the former Windies Test spinner, who recorded another career 10-fer as he cleaned up the tail.

Action continues today from 10:00hrs.

42

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

Budhoo spins Albion into U-15 semis after 10-wicket win against Paradise THE ALBION Community Centre Cricket Club’s Under-15 team, sponsored

by Permaul’s Trading and Distribution, were able to ease past Paradise by 10 wickets yesterday morning in the quarterfinals of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) U-15 50-over com-

petition.

Led by young off-spinner Afraz Budhoo, the home team took only 15 overs to bowl out their opponents for a meagre 31 runs. Budhoo was almost unplayable, as he finished with six wickets for seven runs. Support came from Shiv Harriper-

saud, who took two wickets for nine runs.

Albion then raced to 33 in 4.1 overs. Tameshwar Mangal and Travis Kadir scored 13 and nine runs respectively.

According to information from the club, the

young cricketers will play in the semi-finals today against the winners of the Blairmont- Tucber Park game, which was also scheduled for yesterday.

Albion, who had three players in the Berbice U-15 side last year, are also look-

ing to make an impact in the side this year.

Of the 24 players shortlisted by BCB for the upcoming National U-15 competition, six are from Albion.

Afraz Budhoo took six wickets for seven runs yesterday.

Demerara Cricket Board Under-15 Inter-Association 2020

East Coast crowned champions EAST Coast are champions of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Under-15 Inter-Association tournament, following the side’s high net run-rate.

West Demerara had protested the match against Georgetown in the first round and after the committee met and discussed the protest; a decision was made to award the match to West Demerara.

As such, East Coast, West Demerara and Georgetown were all on 12 points.

However, on net run-rate East Coast came out with the best net run-rate of 1.063; Georgetown came second on 0.907 and West Demerara on -0.784.

The tournament concluded its third and final round matches on Friday.

In the matches Joshua Alves destroyed West Demerara claiming 4 for 6 to take East Coast to victory while Dave Mohabir spun

Georgetown to victory after collecting 5 for 12.

At the Lusignan Community Centre ground, West Demerara won the toss and elected to take first strike, but they struggled to score only

The winning East Coast team

managing 24 all out from 16 overs of the 50 overs.

East Coast started off their bowling with Bramanand Robindranauth collecting 2 for 11 while Alex Datterdeen took 3 for 5 and the most

instrumental bowler, Alves, claimed 4 for 6.

In reply, East Coast raced to victory only losing opener Josh Alves who scored 4, while the other opener scored 9 not out and Nicholas Shio-

persaud top-scored with an unbeaten 10 to chase their team to the victory target of 25 from 13.5 overs. Nityanand Matura was the lone wicket-taker for the West Demerara side. East Coast

won by 9 wickets.

Meanwhile at Everest, East Bank won the toss and chose to bat scoring 84 all out from 44.5 overs. Opener Deonarine Dindyal top-scored with 17, while Dhanesh Persaud supported with 11. Dave Mohabir was the most destructive bowler claiming 5 for 12 while support came from Joshua Walcott, John Persaud and Riyad Latif who took one wicket apiece.

In reply, Georgetown blazed to victory as their openers Ryan Latif and Remo Deonarine scored 32 and 31 respectively to take their team to the victory target of 85 runs, for 1 from 21.4 overs. Dhanesh Persaud was the lone wicket-taker. Georgetown won by 9 wickets.

Two debutants for National U-20 Squad A 20-MAN squad, including two international-based debutants, will represent Guyana at the CONCACAF U-20 Men’s Qualifiers in Nicaragua from February 15 to 23, 2020.

The two, Hudson Hazlewood from Washington University FC, USA and Javier George from Stade Beaucairois FC, France are both central midfielders but have different playing styles as well as roles and functions in the team. “ Hazlewood is a #10 type of midfielder who does more attacking,” said head coach Wayne Dover prior to the

announcement of the squad while George is more of a #8 type of midfielder who does more defending.

They both added strength to the squad which made it more competitive in sessions and for selection to the first team.”

Commenting on the other members of the squad, Dover said many of the players have been part of the GFF’s Academy Training Centres and have international experience at the U-15 and U-17 levels: “The work done with the players who are/were part of the ATCs was evident during the training sessions. This is a

disciplined and special group, who gave of their best at every training session in the more than four weeks we’ve been together.”

“This is a good reflection as to how far we have come.

Once again, I’ll state my optimism of our chance of coming out of the group on top by competing and giving our best effort.”

Guyana have been placed in Group A with St Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat, US Virgin Islands and hosts Nicaragua.

Guyana’s first match is on the February 15 at 17:30hrs against Montserrat before

they play Vincent & the Grenadines on February at the same time.

They return to action on February 21 from 20:30hrs when they play the US Virgin Islands with their last game against Nicaragua on February 23.

The full squad reads: Shawn Adonis (Goalkeeper, Dynamic FC), Ronaldo Blair (Goalkeeper, Timerhi Panthers FC), Nicholai Andrews (Defender, Santos FC), Kemule Batson (Defender, Milerock FC), Joseph DeFreitas (Defender, Timehri Panthers FC), Keanu Lawrence (Defender, Den Amstel FC),

Eric Moore (Defender, Milerock FC), (Marcus Wilson - Defender Santos FC), Andre Mayers (Defender, Capital FC), Ravon Bailey (Midfielder, Fruta Conquerors FC), Javier George (Midfielder, Stade Beaucairois FC), Jamar Harrigan (Midfielder, Buxton United FC), Hutson Hazlewood (Midfielder, Washington University FC), Joel Isaacs (Midfielder, Winners Connection FC), Darron Niles (Midfielder, Santos FC), Threvon Pluck (Midfielder, Fruta Conquerors FC), Omari Glasgow (Forward, Fruta Conquerors FC), Dorwin George (Forward,

Pele FC), Nicolas McArthur (Forward, Fruta Conquerors FC), Osafa Simpson (Forward, Fruta Conquerors FC).

Technical team: Wayne Dover (Head Coach), Calvin Allen (Assistant Coach), Eon DeVeira (Goalkeeper Coach), Travis Bess (Development Goalkeeper Coach).

Medical: (Pablino Cupido), Wilson Toledo (Head of Sports Science), Daniel Thomas (Team Operations Manager), Devon Winter (Equipment Manager)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

43

Over 50 horses entered as Trophy Stall donates trophies for outstanding performers MORE than 50 horses are expected to take the track today when the Rising Sun Turf Club, in collaboration with Banks DIH Limited and Trophy Stall, stages its grand one-day horse race meet at the Rising Sun Turf Club Arima Park, West Coast Berbice.

Six races are carded for the day with close to $3M in cash, trophies and other prizes up for grabs.

The feature event is for horses classified G and Lower over 1400m for a winning take of $400 000 with stakes and trophy donated by Banks DIH Limited.

A ding-dong battle is expected with Settling Star,

Santa Cruz Lady, Valentina, Goodwill Boy, Chamelie and Precise Moment looking to attain the top prize.

Among those entered to compete in the 1400m event for H3 maiden horses and those that did not race for over a year for the $300 000 winning take are Sweet Return, Not This Time, Miss Olympic, Catch A Glimpse and Touch Down.

Bank Note, Simba, She is a Man Eater, Perfect Dream, Catholic Boy, Perfect Drift, Sunday Silence, Up Top Boss, Perfect Storm and Perfect Pleasure will all be looking for a perfect day in the event for three-year-olds Open Guyana-bred animals

.The top prize is $300 000 and trophy for the Over1100m.

The K and Lower event will see animals race over 1100m for a winner’s take of $200 000 and trophy. Cherish Me, Irish Boy, First Prince, Prince D and Game Over are among those set to compete.

The L and Lower Open animals will be galloping for a bounty of $150 000 and trophy over a distance of 1100m. Looking to cross the line first are Fresh Prince, Secret Escape, Fresh Dancer, Prince D and Irish Boy. The L Class maiden race has the likes of The Republican, Osana, Song Bird, Dan Star, Escape, Princess Selene,

City Of Lights, Maximum Cash, Rhiman Star and Joyful Love competing over 1100m for the winning prize of $125 000 and trophy.

Sponsors are Banks DIH Limited, Colin Elcock Delmur Trading, Trophy Stall, Romell Jagroop, Jumbo Jet and Shariff Racing Stables among others.

Outstanding jockey, stable and trainer will all be presented with accolades, compliments of Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall.

Contact and queries can be made with Fazal Habibulla on telephone 6577010. Race time is 13:00hrs. .

One of the trophies presented by Trophy Stall for the Rising Sun horse race meet.

Seebarran banking on top performance WITH exactly one week before the opening round of Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s National Race of Champions, one competitor is fully prepared.

Street Tuner competitor Raymond Seebarran, who spoke to the Guyana Chronicle, yesterday, said that he is more than ready to take on what lies ahead.

“I am ready for whatever the competition has to throw

at me, come Sunday. The car is feeling great and I feel great heading into this week and next weekend.”

“We made some minor changes to the car but we feel like it is going to be ready for Sunday.”

The Guyanese, who recently secured a seat in the 2020 SR3 Radical Caribbean Cup, believes that the training for that series has put him in a better position to pick up the

2020 title.

“Training in Barbados with Kokoro Performance and the radicals has given me more knowledge about cars and I plan on using that with my racing here in Guyana. I also want to thank my main sponsor, ExxonMobil, for supporting me throughout the last year and the coming year. I feel as though we have the right combination.”

The first round of the National Race of Champions will

take place on Sunday, February 16, at the South Dakota Circuit.

Already, the club has secured the major sponsorships of KFC for the entire 2020 year as well as event sponsors Hand-inHand and Ansa McAl. Expected to be on show are competitors in the Sport Tuner, Groups two through four, the Superbikes as well as the 125cc Motorcycles.

Raymond Seebarran’s Toyota Starlet

Wiggins game-high 25 carries Munroe College to fifth straight win FRESHMAN guard Kevon Wiggins exploded with a game-high 25 points to lift Munroe College Express to their fifth straight win on Thursday night in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) league in New York.

The victory was the first

time this season that the Bronx team were able to get over the 100-point mark.

They have improved to 10-15 (overall record) and 6-9 in Region XV play.

Let by the explosive senior national Guyanese basketball player, the college were able to ease past ASA

College-Manhattan 101-77.

For Wiggins, who was named the college’s Student Athlete-of-the-Week on Wednesday, his shots were falling.

He shot 10-18 from the field, which included four of eight from the three-point line. However, as has be-

come customary, the 19-yearold proved his all-round game with five rebounds, four steals and two assists.

The 6’ 3” guard is turning heads with his impressive plays. So far, he has tallied 282 points from 17 games at an impressive 16.6 points per game (his highest average of

the season).

The Berbician, who had a career-high nine steals on Tuesday night, has a total of 31 steals, 24 assists and 63 rebounds so far.

With his latest victory, Wiggins now has seven 20-plus point games this season.

Kevon Wiggins is now averaging 16.6 points per game for his college.

Salmon’s 7 leave Jaguars with mountain to climb on final day 41

44

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 9, 2020

PAGE

… Debutant snares 2nd innings 7-56, Jaguars need 27 for victory with 1 wicket remaining

Two debutants for National U-20 Squad 42 PAGE

National U-20 Player, Hudson Hazlewood (file photo)

National U-20 player Javier George

‘A perfect human being, a champion of cycling’ 40 PAGE

Jude Bentley was an extraordinary human being who helped to promote the sport of cycling.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020