Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_02_18_2020

TUESDAY 18th February, 2020

' No.105914

Gov't releases first report on oil production SEE PAGE 03

Guyana unveils 50th Republic gold medallion, stamps SEE PAGE 11

President David Granger (left) receives a token from 21 year old Delon Craig (right), who designed one side of the 50th Republic Anniversary gold commemorative medallion. Also in picture is Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman (centre) (Adrian Narine photo)

GuySuCo proposes 5% pay hike to workers ---rejects Guyana Times article about 1% offer 02 PAGE

Coalition makes strong pitch to Region 10 women …First Lady, other ministers urged them to remain vanguard in 13 Guyana's politics PAGE

Sachi fire

was deliberately set, –– Fire Chief

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

GuySuCo proposes 5% pay hike to workers ---rejects Guyana Times article about 1% offer

AFTER six years of not being able to get a salary/wage increase because of the economic turmoil in the sugar industry, sugar workers now stand a chance of getting an increase of at least five per cent.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has proposed a five per cent increase in wages and salaries, for sugar workers, to the Guyana Agricultural and General workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE)-- the unions representing those workers.

The sugar corporation’s industrial relations unit had recently engaged the unions regarding their respective proposals for wages, salaries and fringe benefits. And, the corporation has since taken note of the 'insincere' representations in the press statement released by GAWU carried by The Guyana Times Newspaper on February 14, 2020 titled “GAWU rejects GuySuCo’s 1% pay rise offer.”

"The GuySuCo wishes to set the record straight regarding the misleading headline and content stated in the Guyana Times. At no time did

the parties discussed around a one per cent increase. The fact is, on Friday, February 7, 2020, the Corporation made an offer of 5 per cent increase in wages to the GAWU and its delegation, after which the Union’s Leadership informed the Corporation’s team that it will proceed to consult with its membership and return to the Corporation,"said GuySuCo in a press statement.

GAWU, in a response to GuySuCo, has said, in being respectful to the discussions, they have not divulged any detail regarding the corporation’s proposal.

"A proposal had been put forward and there were certain aspects which the union found agreement with and others which we disagreed with. We, therefore, are at a loss how is it that GuySuCo would seek to communicate that our union informed the public about a 1 per cent increase," said GAWU. According to GAWU, GuySuCo has offered a five per cent pay rise for workers engaged in piece-rated activities.

For those engaged in time-rated work, it has proposed $20 increase for those at the Band One level and $18 for

those who are in Bands Two to Five. Those increases range between 5.1 to 7.8 per cent.

Apart from that, GAWU said GuySuCo has proposed that a $4,000 per month increase for monthly-paid employees, which is equivalent to a 3.9 per cent increase at the minimum level for foremen and 4.6 per cent for charge hands.

The corporation hopes to implement the new increases from January 01, this year.

"The GAWU, after consulting workers, has put to the corporation that no worker receives less than a five per cent pay increase. Importantly, the union and the workers have stressed that the increases be retroactive to January 01, 2019.

"Such stance is taken against the background that the Union and the corporation discussions regarded the GAWU’s claims for 2019 and thus any increase ought to be implemented from the beginning of that year. It was at this point that the parties ended their discussions last Wednesday (February 12, 2020)," said GAWU. The corporation also said it has been in discussions over wages and conditions with the union since September of 2019.

"Those negotiations are continuing. The objectives of the negotiations are to arrive at positions that are fair to the workforce and also which can be sustained by the industry," said GuySuCo. Workers across the sugar belt were last given a salary increase in 2014.

The sugar industry has, however, been going through a period of re-adjustment and modernization in a period of challenging markets for current products.

And, according to GuySuCo, the investments that are required to strengthen the industry’s competitiveness and diversify its production will require commitment and sacrifice by all its stakeholders.

The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) last Friday had committed to securing the livelihood of the 10,000 sugar workers still employed

by GuySuCo as it continues its programme of restructuring the industry.

The local sugar industry has been in turmoil for years, failing to recover its cost of production and even failing to make a profit, but President of Guyana and presidential candidate of APNU+AFC, David Granger, has said that his government is restructuring the industry to save the jobs of 10,000 persons.

“We inherited a moribund industry and we are restructuring it to ensure that the jobs of those 10,000 people will be preserved…we will produce or create an industry based on 147,000 tonnes of sugar and save the jobs of the majority of the sugar workers,” said President Granger during the launch of the coalition’s manifesto, on Friday.

The APNU+AFC coalition, after being elected to office in 2015, had conducted

a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sugar industry and had published a “white paper” based on the recommendations.

Subsequent to the CoI, the government had sat down, “faceto-face,” with the GAWU and made a “serious” decision, and according to President Granger, through that decision, the government was able to save the jobs of 10,000 persons.

In 2017, the APNU+AFC Administration took a decision to consolidate cultivation at the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates, all in an attempt to reduce losses and increase profitability within the sugar industry. The government had announced the closure of several sugar estates; initially the Wales sugar estate was named as the first to be closed one year after it was announced for closure.

The move by the government triggered protests led by pro-People’s Progressive Party (PPP) leaders who joined ranks with GAWU leaders on the West Demerara and later in the city. Later, several other estates in the Berbice belt were closed and these were also cited as being too costly to run. The opposition protested the move once more although the government made it clear that annual multi-billion dollar bailouts to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) were hurting the economy.

But the move by the coalition government was an undertaking which was forecast and made known to the PPP-government way back in 1996 when the “gloomy future” of the sugar industry was written in black and white.

According to the draft National Development Strategy (NDS) of 1996, steps were urgently needed to be put into action and down-sizing of the industry was suggested so that its sales could have been made profitable.

“Driving past the East Bank, you will see what used to be cane is now housing and

it was the PPP who shut down production in much of East Demerara…GAWU even had to take the corporation to court to get severance pay from Diamond,” said President Granger, noting that the shutting down of the sugar industry started comprehensively under the PPP, but certain parts of the industry can be saved. And, the coalition government, over the past four and a half years, has taken certain measures to ensure that the sugar industry does not sink.

The President believes that the APNU+AFC government has done ‘far more’ in terms of the “rational restructuring” of the industry than the previous administration and has not been taken to court by GAWU. Speaking about the government’s work in the industry, the President said: “We established a strong East Berbice, West Demerara and West Berbice sugar industry…three mega estates are working and the jobs of about 10,000 harvesters have been preserved.”

Additionally, many persons, whose jobs were terminated when the estates were closed, were re-employed at other estates. “Many people in Wales have found jobs at Uitvlugt and many of them from East Canje are working at Albion…there are jobs but the turnout is about 56 per cent,” said President Granger, adding that government will continue to ensure that sugar workers are gainfully employed or have the means to sustain their own livelihood.

One such measure is the potential establishment of a State Land Resettlement Commission which will enable former sugar workers to access land for agriculture and housing. Former sugar workers from Wales have already started to access land at the former Wales Sugar Estate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Gov’t releases first report on oil production

IN keeping with rules set out in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act 2019, the Ministry of Finance has released Guyana’s first Report on Petroleum Production and Revenues (RPPR) for the period of December 2019.

The report was released on Monday and is based on various reports provided to the government by ExxonMobil with all reasonable efforts made to verify the accuracy of the report. It showed that a total of 163,673 barrels of the crude on the FPSO facility at the end of December 2019 was available to be lifted. However, during December 2019, no oil was lifted from Liza Destiny since the volume available for lifting was less than the standard cargo size of 1,000,000 barrels.

SALE AND ENTITLEMENT With no petroleum sold in December 2019, all petroleum produced in that month was allocated to profit oil, of which the government will be entitled to half. The government’s entitlement was half of the production net of losses and operations (PALO) in that month plus an onboard inventory of 21,592 barrels of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) present before the start of production.

This was the remaining fuel that was loaded to power the FPSO facility for the journey from Singapore and for the commissioning of subsea risers and flowlines. Therefore, while the contractor would receive 71,040 barrels, the government would receive 92,633 barrels.

The report explained that since the government did not lift its December 2019 entitlement, this amount is credited to an (Over)/Under Lift account which keeps track of all barrels of crude owed to parties. “Since cargoes are lifted 1,000,000 BBL at a time in any given month there will be some parties that have lifted more than their entitlement and some that have lifted less. Entitlements are reconciled with actual lifts in the (Over)/Under Lift account and brought forward to the next month,” the report explained.

It was also noted that since government has elected to re-

ceive its 2 per cent royalty in cash, this amount will be paid from the Contractor’s share of profit oil. The document stated: “As per Article 15.6 of the Petroleum Agreement for

month; there were no deposits made to the NRF. PRODUCTION PROCESS Details within the report

remains in the various piping before the cargo tanks.

A further 282,000 barrels of oil produced in December 2019 was used for ballast in the cargo tanks. This is the

not subtracted from the total production of oil.

This brought the production net of losses and operations (PALO) during December 2019 to 142,081 barrels which rep-

Crude sales and entitlements from Liza Destiny in BBL

the Stabroek Block, the royalty cash payment for a calendar quarter will be made to government 30 days after the end of

also explained that before the amount available to be lifted stood at 163,673 barrels, total production of oil stood at

minimum quantity of crude required to maintain stability of the FPSO facility. It was estimated that an additional 1,020

resents: 427,282 – 282,000 – 3,202. Add this PALO of 142,081 barrels to the onboard inventory of 21,592 and one

Crude Production from Liza Destiny in BBL

that quarter.”

Meanwhile, since no petroleum was lifted in December 2019, government earned no petroleum revenues for this

427,282 barrels for December 2019. Of the 427,282 barrels produced, a total of 3,202 barrels were used for facility fill, which includes the oil that

barrels will remain in the hose and piping between cargo tanks and the offloading hose point at the completion of the first lift --- this figure is therefore

arrives at 163,673 barrels of the crude available to be lifted.

A one-unit discrepancy is noted in the reported and calculated values due to rounding. All bar-

rels reported are rounded to the nearest barrel and prices to the nearest US cent. There were no operational losses reported for this period. However, the RPPR indicated that operational volumes will remain on the FPSO facility and in the piping until production from Liza Destiny has ceased.

NRF AS A GUIDE Guyana became an oil producing nation on December 20, 2019 and, anticipating the same, the government set up a sovereign wealth fund (SWF) – also known as the NRF --- to safeguard against the resource curse and to ensure that petroleum revenues benefit both current and future generations. The government has committed to managing the Fund according to international best practices such as the Santiago Principles. Meanwhile transparency and accountability will come from the publishing of several reports.

These include reports from the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee, Macroeconomic Committee and Investment Committee; reports on withdrawals from the NRF, to be included in the annual budget proposal and, if needed, in a Supplementary Appropriation Bill; annual reports of the NRF, including audited financial statements; quarterly reports and financial statements of the NRF and monthly reports of the NRF. “These reports will allow the public to monitor deposits in, and withdrawals from, the NRF so as to ensure that petroleum revenues are being managed according to the provisions of the NRF Act 2019,” the report stated.

However, it was noted that information in these reports may be insufficient to allow persons to determine how government revenues that are deposited into the NRF are calculated. It is on this basis that the RPPR is being provided to bridge the gap by providing regular updates on petroleum production and revenues. Even so, the Ministry of Finance does not take responsibility for any errors or omissions included in the reports provided to the government.

Kitty Market vendor accused of robbery remanded A 26-year-old Pike Street, Kitty resident, accused of robbery, was, on Monday, February 17, 2020, remanded to prison

by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs – Marcus.

Rawland Marshall appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge, when it was read to him.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on

February 10, 2020, at Kitty, Georgetown, while in the company of a group, Marshall robbed Masecino Hartman, 20, of an iPhone valued at $170,000, a hat valued at $5,000, an iPhone charger valued at $5,000 and $40 in cash, totaling $180,040, with the use of personal violence.

According to reports, Marshall and Hartman are known to each other, since they

played football together.

It is alleged that, on the day in question, Marshall was walking with a group of friends along the Kitty seawall in the vicinity of Glow Hotel, when he saw Hartman.

While the group was passing Hartman, Marshall attacked him and threw him onto the ground. While Hartman was unconscious, the defendant relieved him of the

articles mentioned in the charge and made good his escape.

In court, Marshall strongly denied being on the Seawall and told the court that he was at his Stall since he was a vendor at the Kitty Market, where he works to maintain his three kids.

The Magistrate, nevertheless remanded Marshall to prison until March 4, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Hundreds of Americans flown home from cruise ship, 14 with coronavirus T R AV I S A I R F O R C E BASE, Calif./GENEVA (Reuters) - More than 300 American cruise liner passengers, including 14 who tested positive for coronavirus, were flown home to military bases in the United States after two weeks under quarantine off Japan.

The cruise ship Diamond Princess, which with more than 400 cases has by far the largest cluster outside China, has become the biggest test so far of other countries’ ability to contain an outbreak that has killed 1,772 people in China

and five elsewhere.

A ground crew in anti-contamination suits met the chartered jet that touched down at Joint Base San Antonio in Texas, and passengers could be seen climbing down the stairs wearing face masks in the pre-dawn mist. Another flight landed at Travis Air Force Base in California hours earlier. All the passengers were taken into a two-week quarantine. Although U.S. officials had said passengers with coronavirus symptoms would not be repatriated, 14 passengers found at the last

minute to have tested positive were permitted to board the planes. The U.S. State Department said the infected passengers were exposed to other passengers for about 40 minutes before they were isolated.

Across mainland China, the total number of coronavirus cases rose by 2,051 to 70,635, according to the World Health Organization.

That was slightly more new cases than were reported on Sunday, but hundreds fewer than reported on Saturday.

Chinese authorities say the decrease is a sign that measures taken to halt the spread of the disease are having an effect. However, epidemiologists say it is probably still too early to say how well the outbreak is being contained within China and its central Hubei province, where the virus first appeared. Official figures of new cases have leveled off in the past, only to jump suddenly after changes in methodology.

“The real issue is whether we are seeing efficient community transmission outside of China and at the present time we are not observing that,” Mike Ryan, head of World Health Organization’s emergencies program, said at a news conference in Geneva.

Fewer than 700 cases have been reported in other countries and even within China the epidemic is affecting “a very tiny, tiny, tiny proportion of people,” Ryan said.

China has responded to the COVID-19 virus by locking down Hubei’s provincial capital Wuhan, a megacity of 11 million people, and imposing restrictions in a number of other cities. But the ruling Communist Party is under pressure to prevent the economy from crashing and to get people back to work.

China’s central bank cut the interest rate on its medium-term lending on Monday, which is expected to pave the way for a reduction in the benchmark loan prime rate

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on Thursday. Beijing has also announced plans for cuts in taxes and fees. People wearing face masks walk inside a subway station, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Shanghai, China February 17, 2020.

REUTERS/Aly Song Even so, economists expect China’s economic growth to slow. Ratings agency Moody’s on Monday lowered its 2020 GDP growth forecast to 5.2%, making it likely China would miss a goal to double GDP over the decade to 2020.

CRUISE SHIPS Around half of all known cases of the virus outside China have been found aboard the Diamond Princess, which was ordered to stay under quarantine at the port of Yokohama on Feb. 3. Several other countries have announced plans to follow the United States in bringing passengers home. Around half of the 3,700 passengers and crew are Japanese. Matthew Smith, an American passenger who remained on the ship after refusing to board the voluntary repatriation flights, tweeted that staying behind was the “best decision ever”.

“US Gov’t said they would not put anyone on the planes who was symptomatic, and they ended up knowingly and intentionally putting on 14 people who actually have the virus,” he wrote.

Authorities around the world were also trying to track down passengers from another cruise liner, the Westerdam, which was turned away from ports across Southeast Asia for two weeks before docking in Cambodia on Thursday.

One American passenger who disembarked in Cambodia tested positive for the virus in Malaysia on Saturday. Carnival Corp, which operates both cruise liners, said it was cooperating with authorities in trying to trace other passengers from the Westerdam. None of the other 1,454 passengers and 802 crew had reported any symptoms, it said. Hundreds of passengers are still in Cambodia, either on the ship or in hotels.

Holly Rauen, a passenger from Fort Myers, Florida, said she and others will be tested

by Cambodian authorities.

“We have no idea when we get to get home,” she said.

CHINA BACK TO WORK? After an extended Lunar New Year holiday, China needs to get back to work or will suffer severe economic consequences. There is a proposal to delay the opening of the annual session of parliament, due on Feb. 24. Some cities remain in lockdown, streets are deserted, employees are nervous, and travel bans and quarantine orders are in place around the country.

Many factories have yet to reopen, disrupting supply chains in China and beyond.

In Japan, where data showed on Monday that the economy had already shrunk last quarter at the fastest pace in almost six years, the impact of the virus is expected to show up in the current quarter, stoking fears of recession. Trade-dependent Singapore downgraded its 2020 economic growth forecast and has said recession is possible. It is set to unveil measures to cushion the blow on Tuesday.

Organisers of the Tokyo Marathon have decided to limit the March 1 race to top-level athletes, banning 38,000 general participants, a person with knowledge of the issue told Reuters. Japan’s Imperial Household Agency said it would cancel Emperor Naruhito’s public birthday address on Feb. 23, his first since his coronation last year. The event regularly attracts tens of thousands of people to the inner grounds of the Imperial Palace in the heart of Tokyo.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Sachi fire was deliberately set, Fire Chief says

FIRE Chief Marlon Gentle has hinted that the fire that destroyed the Sachi building on Regent Street early Monday morning was deliberately set.

Gentle disclosed that the Guyana Fire Service had discovered some items that were used to break into the building, inclusive of welding torches, both behind and on the inside of the remains of the building. “We would have discovered some items, breaking implements and so on, in the building and at the back of the building, which indicates that the building was set on fire. The persons used portable welding torches, and they cut open the grill and steel and removed it,” Gentle said, adding: “That’s

Employees of FaZen Variety Store (Photos by Evlin Croker)

What’s left of the Sachi Building on lower Regent Street

how somebody gained entry

into the building, and we believe this fire was set by them. We don’t know the motive yet, but the police are now apprised of the situation, and the investigation is going to take a different direction from now.”

He told the Guyana Chronicle that some time around 02:32hrs on Monday, the Service received several calls reporting that the building was on fire. He stated that several units were dispatched to the scene, and moved to

contain the fire.

“We dispatched units on the scene,” he said. “When we got there, smoke was in the building. Because of how the building is configured in terms of security, we took a while to get in, so by the time we got in, the fire had spread to the second and third floors.

So we just had to defend and contain, and defend the other buildings to make sure that the fire did not spread to them, which we were able to do.”

The Fire Chief said that a total of about 35 ranks, along with five pumpers, two tankers, and an aerial vehicle were deployed to contain and put out the fire.

The Sachi building housed three businesses at

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136, Regent Street. The tragedy now leaves the owners with millions of dollars in losses. The Guyana Chronicle was made aware that one of the businesses that was housed in the building was Fazen Variety Store, which had been in operation for almost a year.

Owner of the business, Mr. FaZen, who is a Chinese national, was in a state of total shock, and said that he was unable to speak to the media at the time. The businessman was unable to provide an estimate as to how much he had lost in the fire. The Guyana Chronicle was told that the business has some 16 employees.

Dagg Point to receive electricity soon THE community of Dagg Point near the town of Bartica will receive electricity soon, as the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) expedites efforts to power the community.

According to the power company, the move is in keeping with one of its quality policy of ensuring that all consumers are supplied with reliable electricity.

The small community, which has over 200 residents, never had electricity, forcing residents to resort to the use of kerosene lamps and/or

generators, which are costly to operate and maintain.

GPL’s Senior Network Technician in Bartica, Carl Abrams posited that all the necessary primary structures to facilitate the works are already in place. “The residents there are very scattered geographically, so three power lines are necessary.

Two transformers have to be installed, after which we will run one mile of low-voltage conductors,” he said.

Following the recent upgrade of GPL’s Network in Dagg Point, Agatash from

4160kV to 13.8kV, GPL’s F3 feeder was strung along the community, making it easier for the community to now access electricity.

According to GPL, during the process of modifying the network, conductors were upgraded, defective structures replaced, and three feeders were built. This contributed significantly to the reduction of line losses, fewer emergencies, and shorter power outages, all of which have contributed to the township experiencing a reliable supply of electricity.

STREET LIGHTING Meanwhile, GPL is also conducting other works in the region, including a street lighting project in collaboration with the Bartica Town Council.

This project will see the One to Five Miles communities outfitted with Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) lights. Abrams explained that GPL allocated 75 eleven-meter poles for the project, and 24 have already been planted.

“The Four Mile street lighting project recently

started. We are presently performing a pole-planting exercise, upon the completion of which the conductors and the remaining line hardware will be connected to the transformers. It is important to note that all street lighting will be controlled by photocells, which embraces our electricity conservation efforts,” Abrams related.

Abrams thanked Company CEO, Mr. Albert Gordon and Regional Manager Mr. Omesh Yogashur and team members for their leadership, which allowed for the execu-

tion of several projects within the Region possible.

In 2020, GPL will be pursuing a number of developmental and expansion plans in each of its served areas, which plans, once implemented, will see the systems operating throughout the year with little chance of outages, and more people being connected to the national grid.

Teenager remanded on larceny charge DANIEL Jackson, a 19-year-old, who was born in a single parent family and was left on his own at a tender age, was, on Monday, February, 17, remanded to prison on a simple larceny charge.

Jackson admitted that, on Friday, February 14, 2020 on Thomas Street, South Cummingsburg, he stole from Linda D’Oliveira–Henery, a phone valued at $16,000, a

black bag valued at $3000 and $9,200 in cash.

According to information provided in court, on Friday, at 07:50hrs, the victim was walking north along Thomas Street, when the accused rode up on a black bicycle from behind and snatched her bag.

A public-spirited citizen who witnessed the ordeal gave chase behind Jackson and apprehended him with the stolen articles in his pos-

session.

The accused was taken to Alberttown Police Station where the victim promptly identified all her stolen items. An investigation was launched and Jackson was arrested.

Jackson threw himself at the mercy of the court and

said “I was hungry, had nothing to eat I went out in the streets.” The Magistrate then ordered that a probation report on Jackson be presented.

When the matter was recalled, the probation officer told the court that Jackson was brought up in a single-parent household, since

his father never played an active role in his life.

Jackson’s mother later went away and left him in the care of his other siblings, and, sometime after, his brother left and he was forced to live on his own.

The probation officer further told the court that, at

the age of 15, Jackson began smoking marijuana.

Lastly, that was his first time before the court for any offence. The Magistrate remanded Jackson to prison and adjourned the matter until Tuesday (February 18.)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Government’s housing drive

THE APNU+AFC administration has committed to bringing a new approach to tackling housing development. It has embarked on an approach of building communities, as against issuing house lots where persons are expected to construct their individual homes.

Another aspect of issuing house lots is that there was a haphazard approach to infrastructural development. In many instances, houses were built in areas without roads, including sidewalks, proper drainage, sewerage, and in the absence of electricity and telephone services. In this physical environment, though every home owner should feel a sense of satisfaction and pride at being able to own a piece of real estate, and by extension a piece of Guyana, it compromises the aesthetics and property value.

Building communities not only addresses the infrastructural deficiencies as obtains in the present house lot allocation, but it brings a sense of orderliness; improved aes-

thetic and property value.

The psychological comfort is also boosted in community environment, where one will enter a turn-key house, without the frustration of having no utilities and proper infrastructural connectivity to gain ingress and egress to one’s home.

The present proposed community approach to housing development, should it be modelled based on past experiences, has characteristics such as a community playground, business centres, health clinic, schools and proper infrastructures and basic services. Some communities across the country are Tucber and Town Council schemes in Berbice; the Henrietta and Suddie Housing schemes in Essequibo; and Tucville and South Ruimveldt in Georgetown to name a few. Whereas Guyana is pursuing a ‘Green’ Economy, there may be other characteristics. In 2016, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) said it will expend $50B on revamping the Housing Pro-

gramme.

This newspaper on Monday quoted its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lelon Saul as saying that in its quest to meet the high housing demand in the country, the CH&PA will be providing approximately 1,600 housing solutions to Guyanese for 2020.

Of that number, approximately 400 house lots, totalling some 70 acres of land, will be allocated to the Joint Services (the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Prison Service).

Saul further detailed that an additional 1,200 housing solutions, comprising both house lots and built units, will be developed and allocated to applicants during 2020. It was noted that between 2015 and 2019, a total of 6,541 house lots were allocated to citizens across the country, in addition to 444 built units in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); and 10

(Upper Demerara-Berbice), amounting to approximately 7,000 house-lots in total. The built units include duplexes, upper-elevated two-bedroom houses, and single-flat two and three-bedroom houses.

One of the deficiencies, however, that has to be admitted within recent times in the construction of houses is that Guyanese are building these with little or no attention paid to our low-lying coastal plain, which is below sea level, and the tropical environment. It has become a feature to see houses being built for style and not convenience. In this regard, it is not unusual to see houses here that are more appropriate for temperate environments such as North America and Europe. Such construction places a financial burden on the home-owner to properly ventilate their homes, necessitating the purchase of fans or air-condition units, which increase electricity consumption and cost.

Government may find it useful to look at constructing houses appropriate to the

tropical environment, and with a ‘green economy’ focus factor on ventilation and energy-saving. Alternative energy supplies can examine solar energy, where panels are installed on the roof, giving persons the option to go fully solar or create hybrid energy (fossil and solar). Or it may be worthwhile to explore the possibility of establishing a solar grid specifically for some communities. Linden is well placed to experiment with alternative energy, given its energy bill. The employment of skills to build these houses allows the government to begin the streamlining of and bringing this category of labour into the formal economy and consistent with Employment Laws.

Such compliance will see obligations being honoured to National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Revenue Authority, Occupational Safety and Health Act, and so forth.

Waste management can entail testing the viability of moving away from septic tanks to that of building sewage plants. Doing this

will bring Guyana into honouring its obligation under the Cartagena Convention in liquid sewage management.

The placement of new communities is likely to see some displacement of the natural landscape. When this is being done, it would help to ensure efforts are undertaken to comply with sustainable management of the flora and fauna, and even waterways where they exist.

Guyana is moving into new territory, though it is returning to the value of building communities.

Where the ‘green economy’ is being pursued as the developmental thrust, the possibilities are endless.

The new terrain should be tackled, head-on, and with gusto, not only for the challenges that it will present, but the new frontiers and opportunities for growth and development.

PPP photo of Irfaan was presumptuous Dear Editor, DEFINITELY, the opposition PPP/C has to be wishing for the nightmare and embarrassment of the Mohammed Irfaan Ali non-existent university certification scandal to go away. As a political party and former government, which always believed that the electoral numbers were always in its pocket, assuring always of perpetual victory, and which bestowed on it the divine right to rule and govern Guyana solely on its own terms, the selection of Mohammed Irfaan Ali as party presidential candidate was deliberate, as it was presumptuous, especially in light of the 19 criminal charges he currently faces in the High Court.

This was an insult, disrespectfully foisted first, on that very small section of the PPP/C senior membership, some of whom still hold to some levels

of ethical and perhaps political decency, and which made its displeasure known, although in a very muted manner; and secondly on the nation at large, without regard for what would be their reaction.

But this was a deliberate plan of action that came right out from the mould of the “We run things” ideology, which patently governed the dictatorial governance structure of the PPP/C regime, and is further reflective of the attitude of its constituents that greatly contributed to heaping all sorts of venalities on this nation.

The fact of a then president and party leader, who governed on his own terms and whose penchant for actions and public outbursts, should have been challenged by the inner sanctum of the PPP/C, and by the party’s mainstream supporters, in no small way solidified Jagdeo’s belief of non-accountability for his actions to no one, except himself, and those who rubber-stamped

his every action.

That the inner sanctum, and those who could have objected did not, was simply because it was a case of power at all costs, and at any price, held by a leader whose understanding of its use was best illustrated in his disdainful behaviour towards the institutions of State, stifling their constitutional functions through subtle threats. They all supported Jagdeo, since it meant having political power, from which patronage was dispensed, that benefitted them.

For them, the decadence of the State, that precipitated its descent into the criminality that it became, was secondary.

Inevitably, it was out of this milieu that the traditional morality, as had been known and practised, was trampled until eventually destroyed, with an altogether new concept of this essential guide in the conduct of leaders in the affairs of every state, and those whom they governed, emerged. This would have led to the unbridled

committal of brutal actions which were so glaring in their perpetration by the political power-crazed personalities of the PPP/C, that it soon became the new standard for personal conduct and integrity, as it became apparent that self–enrichment and corrupt practices were being accepted as the new order of society.

It was to be noticed that through all these signposts, the effects of which were only evident for the social degradations which had emerged, and the threat and destruction which had been caused, PPP/C supporters were silent. For this segment, it was an understanding of who held the reins of power and government, and the political advantage that it bestowed upon its holders.

But such deafening silence further elevated Jagdeo in his authoritarian actions to do as he pleased, then as national leader, and even now as leader of the Opposition, without being accountable to party and

supporters, and without his ever attempting to account for his stewardship.

As a result of this failure on the part of his supporters to seek answers from him on such seminal issues as his and government’s governance for 23 years, inclusive of his and Ramotar’s role in the criminal management and collapse of the once industrial giant that was GuySuCo, the PPP/C leader has simply continued to disrespect his party and supporters, now by the hand-picked insult of the Mohammed Irfaan Ali nomination.

This action on the part of Jagdeo defies all logic and conventions, destroying all known norms that govern the selection of a party candidate for the nation’s premier constitutional office. Moreover, it has to be seen as indicative of the systemic culture of closing ranks and silence, on the part of PPP/C supporters, a particularly known tradition that has caused the party to

remain the political backwater that it still is; which culture is not geared towards self-criticism, for new perspectives on leadership and accountability; its approach to critical issues of personal integrity, and the importance of this to national leadership.

This could only happen, by clamour and vigorous action from the party grass roots, since the fossilized old guard of an executive is trenchant on retaining the status quo.

It is out of this morass, of democratic centralism and abject failure of grass root supporters to question party actions and policies that have given rise to the Mohammed Irfaan Ali eye-pass, disrespect and scandal.

Regards, Carla Mendonca

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Guyana can ill afford any mayhem at this time Dear Editor, AS we approach a very crucial moment in our history in Guyana, we have heard and continue to hear, from all of the political rivals.

We can therefore gather a mental picture of what each will bring to bear; how each will manifest his/her party’s thrust in tomorrow’s Guyana, hence the word ‘Manifesto’. ‘Manifestos’ are printed plans of what each party will do, or how each party will manifest itself in the hinterland, on the coast, in Linden, Corriverton, etc.

I do wish each party the best of luck. But here’s the burning question: Barring a tie, there will only be a sole winner, and in Guyana,

the winner rarely ever gets the support of the other side(s), which is always brutal to nation building. It always results in quandary.

Nobody seems to want to grapple with what causes this endemic in our body politic, purely because no one seems to want to cite the obvious: Tribalism.

The syndrome of apathy normally steps in, in-fighting begins, callous reprisals from the ‘other’ side(s), as if neither of the Manifestos did mean something to the whole construct of the development of our nation.

No politician should become so tunnel- visioned as to erroneously assume that only his/her party can gov-

ern. That question is perhaps the general malaise that has been gripping our politicians for far too long. When this becomes the trajectory, the evil manifests when election results are published, and scapegoats are instantly created.

But Guyana can ill afford any mayhem at any time. Let us not fall prey to what others might be hoping for; to capitalise on our weaknesses, our divisions, thereby conquering us as a nation which is on the rise. There is evil outside our borders, and there is testimony that we can become simply party to our own national demise.

How much more, for example, could we have bar-

Freddie’s articles lack balance Dear Editor,

THE polygraph test, also known as the lie detector test, which is often used in law enforcement and intelligence agencies, has been in existence for over a century. The mechanism of its action is quite simple. When someone lies, there is a stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system which is manifested in physiological changes, namely increased blood pressures, heart rates, sweating etc. It is these physiological parameters that the polygraph machine measures, and what inform the result. The effectiveness of the polygraph test has been up for debate, and rightfully so, for decades. Firstly, intrinsic to the test process is the assumption that we all have a conscience which will trigger those physiological changes alluded to. This is far from the truth, since, without doubt, psychiatrists have long established that psychopaths don’t, hence polygraphs test would result in false negatives in that cohort. Secondly, It is also an established fact that there are a cohort of persons who can practise for the polygraph test, hence “beat it”, if we are to use colloquial language. Conversely, there are those who generally have a nervous predisposition, driven by increased sympathetic tone, resulting in false positive tests. It is because of these limitations, among others, that polygraph tests are not admissible in court.

As humans, we are born with, or more likely develop as a consequence of our environment, our own innate “polygraph machine”. This has evolved over thousands of years to guide our intuitive determination as it pertains to

the truthfulness of a statement.

Without a doubt, this innate process, which covers the spectrum from the gullible to the paranoid, is subjective, hence cannot be scientifically tested, but nonetheless should not be dismissed. Some cultures refer to it as their “gut feelings”; others may call it their “sixth sense”, and some may even say that there isn’t a concordance between words and actions.

Today, I will focus on the latter as I analyse Freddie Kissoon’s actions as it relates to President Granger and the APNU-AFC. Freddie Kissoon has written, ad nauseam, that his writings on Guyana’s political environment are objective, with no leaning towards any given political party. In essence, Freddie Kissoon has proclaimed that he will call a spade a spade.

Freddie Kissoon has also argued, again ad nauseam, that he would rather have a minority government coming out of the upcoming elections. Freddie Kissoon would also write, once again ad nauseam, that the upcoming elections will be very close. Having made those proclamations, a reasonable person would have anticipated Freddie Kissoon’s line of attack, for want of a better word, to be directed at both major parties and their presidential candidates that lead the respective tickets.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. Freddie Kissoon has been focusing all his unpalatable attacks on the President and his government. I stand corrected, but I cannot recollect Freddie Kissoon ever writing any negative commentary on Irfaan Ali since he was selected as the PPP presidential candidate over a year ago. The fact is that Irfaan Ali is a treasure trove of negatives that Freddie can easily

discern if he takes his jaundiced gaze off the President and his government. As a result, I am now forced to refocus Freddie’s line of vision and visual field on some of the negatives of the man he is averse to criticising.

Freddie Kissoon, why haven’t you written on Irfaan Ali’s selection process, which was fraught with controversy? Freddie Kissoon, what about his 19 criminal charges? What about his being persona non grata in Canada? What about allegations of academic fraud? What about the nonexistent West Demerara Business School where he claimed he acquired his so-called first degree? Freddie, what about his illogical and nonsensical route to getting his “qualifications”? Moving from masters then to first degree, then to postgraduate certificate then to Phd. You should have a view on that, since you were a university lecturer for 26 years. Freddie, what about the fact that he dropped out of UG where classroom assessments and examinations are undertaken, to then undertake Online courses, where the assessments are all Online, and could be done or assisted by someone other than the candidate? Did that raise any red flags for you?

Freddie, what about the fact that he’s clearly Jagdeo’s puppet?

Freddie, do you have a view on Jagdeo writing his speech on stage, and proceeding to lecture a potential president on what to say? A man who claims he did his own 80,000-word dissertation, which is the equivalent of a 400-page novel, has to be spoon-fed to write a simple speech! Does that augur well for a prospective President?

Freddie, what about when anyone important is in Guyana to meet the major political parties,

gained for from multinationals, had we reached out to each other? Had we trusted each other, had we become more accommodating? But no, we suffer from the ‘go-italone syndrome’; or from the other side of the house, “you try deh”, attitude. All we will be doing is adding fuel to the proverbial burning down of Rome.

Now, is representation made in each political party’s ‘Manifesto’ how they hope to aid in governance should his/her party fails the political contest? None. Why? Because each is launching its ‘Manifesto’ on the premise of being a winner, not a loser.

And when it loses, battle lines are drawn.

It must be mentioned, though, that Guyanese are, in their silent ways, praying for more supportive, constructive, mature politicians on all fronts, regardless of who is the winner. The posturing as conquerors as in tribal warfare in not good a gesture; not in these enlightened days.

The cases in the far north and elsewhere, too, could be cited. If one party loses, it does not mean it cannot meaningfully participate in decision making for the good of the whole. Personally, it is in the opinion of this writer that whichever party wins, or loses is not vitally important.

What matters is what each party can do to make solid contributions to make our

country and nation better, irrespective of which party wins or loses.

So, every political party owes our nation the responsibilty to bluntly say up-front how they hope to contribute, so as to gain good ground in the upcoming polls, should they fall short, that the populace will see not greed, but genuineness, love and national unity, in the truest sense of the word. That national unity hinges on the rapport politicians display cannot be over-emphasised.

Irfaan Ali is conveniently in the “bush”? Freddie, what about Jagdeo instructing him when to speak and when to remain silent? Freddie, and there are many more, but I do believe that you got the point. To further reinforce my point, I will now provide you with headlines on what you chose to write or not write on as it pertains to the PPP, APNU-AFC or their presidential candidates. This covers a randomly selected threemonth period from November 16, 2019 to February 16, 2020.

1: “No human can be so sick to vote for such Guyanese politicians” -APNU-AFC 2: “A litany and concatenation of David Granger’s mistakes” -APNU-AFC 3: “Global Witness report will assist voters in deciding their choices” -APNU-AFC 4: “Guerrilla warfare intensifies inside the AFC-AFC” 5: “President Granger behaves as if he owns Guyana” -APNU 6: “Khemraj Ramjattan is in big trouble if the APNU+AFC wins” -APNU-AFC 7: “The PNC continues to manifest disturbing ingratitude” -APNU 8: “David Granger epitomises the inherent flaws of Homo sapiens” -APNU 9: “The final humiliation of David Granger”-APNU-AFC 10: “Ugly Christmas gift APNU+AFC gave Guyana” -APNU-AFC 11: “There are white folks advising APNU+AFC” -APNU-AFC 12: “David Granger’s interpretations of things” -APNU-AFC 13: “Incident at Smiling Restaurant in Triumph tells of psychic death” 14: “The part about Charran that Ramjattan left out” -AFC 15: “A crucial point Donald Rodney missed on the PNC-

WPA union”-APNU 16: “Did Finance Minister Jordan mislead the nation?”-APNU-AFC 17: “Khemraj Ramjattan versus Sam Hinds: The narrative of racism”-APNU-AFC 18: “A history of the PNC: Part 2”-APNU 19: “The AFC lied to its members and the Guyanese people”-AFC 20: “The words of Carl Greenidge”-APNU 20: “A history of the AFC: Part I” -AFC 21: “Today, Guyana’s most bizarre political rendezvous begins” -APNU-AFC 22: “Leonard Craig, Joel Edmond, Trevor Williams, Marlon Williams and…” -AFC Freddie Kissoon, those are some of your headlines covering the past three months. The contents of those venomous columns were disparaging, a distortion of the truth, and attempts at damaging the government. You seem, for some inexplicable reason, to direct all of your rancour at President Granger. I will repeat, Irfaan Ali has been the PPP presidential candidate since January 19, 2019, yet I cannot recall reading a negative column on him.

Clearly, as the evidence shows, there were no negative commentaries on him over the past three months, and I’m confident neither since he was selected as PPP presidential candidate over a year ago. With regards to the PPP, the one or two columns that you have written over the past year were centred your personal vendetta with Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar, but again, inexplicably, you would find a way to bring the APNU-AFC into the mix, even though they were not the subject of said column.

Freddie, even with your bizarre reasoning, it would be difficult to sell this to the electorate as

you being unbiased, objective and working towards a minority government. There is clearly no concordance between your words and your actions. As a result, I have to conclude that based on our innate lie detector test, you have failed miserably.

You are trying to mislead the electorate. You are lying. You cannot be trusted.

So why has Freddie taken this despicable path. In my opinion, and likely the opinion of most Guyanese, the aetiology is multifactorial, but the main driving force is Freddie’s desperation to complete what his good mate Charrandass Persaud failed at, namely to get the APNU-AFC Government out of power. It is painfully obvious that his good friend’s immoral and deceitful action was a catastrophic failure for both Freddie and himself. Like political lovers, Freddie held his wicked and conniving secret close to his bosom for over a year, with great anticipation of having their party of choice, the PPP, back in power. That was not to be. Because of this allegiance and mutual pledge to carry on the battle regardless that has placed Freddie on this Rambo Mission guided by oilthirsty ‘Generals”. A second defeat for Freddie and his good mate, ‘Charran’, as he fondly calls him, is on the horizon, and I trust he is prepared for it. Unfortunately, as the most “patriotic” Guyanese to ever grace the land of many waters, running into the arms of the Canadians is not an option for Freddie. Having said that, he can be rest assured that he can confidently walk the streets of Guyana without the need to have on his person, toilet paper and other toilet accessories to clean his face.

With regards, Joseph C. Atkinson

Regards, Dr. Mark Devonish

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

OP-ED

Coalition manifesto commitment

LAST night I read the APNU-AFC manifesto, and I was so excited I could have burst. The Coalition made commitments to transform the lives of Guyanese of all ages, in every region.

Commitments were made to sugar workers, teachers, policemen, nurses and public servants, among others.

The Coalition's Contract with Guyana is indeed a commitment to drastically improve the quality of life of all Guyanese. The UN’s 2019 Human Development Report listed Guyana with a Human Development Index (HDI) ranking of 123 out of 189 countries.

Guyana's index of 0.67 placed it in the Medium Development Category along with El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, India, and Ghana. No other CARICOM country is in the medium Human Development Category. Haiti is in the low Human Development Category, while all other CARICOM countries are either in the high or very high human development category.

The threshold for High Human Development category and very High Human Development category are indexes of 0.7 and 0.8 respectively.

With an index of 0.67 Guyana will

soon be in the High Human Development Category. Before the end of the Decade of Development, announced

by President Granger, Guyana will join the Bahamas as the only other CARICOM country in the Very High Human Development category. It might be difficult for some people to conceptualize HDI and what that means for their individual circumstances. What moving from medium category to high category really means for their quality of life? Well, the main components of the HDI are life expectancy at birth, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.

With this we could look at Guyana and make an assessment.

Two basis amenities which impact the quality of life of Guyanese are electricity and potable water supply. The APNU-AFC contract with Guyana commits to providing uninterrupted electricity and water supply. The ability to turn on the shower at any time of the day or night, and have a powerful flow of water, will be the order of the day. The fear of “Blackout” during the CPL finals or the finale of a popular television show would be a thing of the past. No community, no village will be

excepted. All communities in Region 1 to Region 10 will benefit.

So what about expected years of schooling and average years of schooling? Well, President Granger addressed that frontally with his PEAS, PETS, and PENS programs. Through the Public Educational Assistance Service (PEAS), President Granger will give parents of children 15 years and younger cash grants as rewards for keeping their children in school.

The Public Education Transportation Service (PETS), and the Public Education Nutrition Service will also provide assistance to parents. No child will miss school because of transportation cost, and no child will miss school because they are hungry. Expected and Average years of schooling will increase dramatically.

Life expectancy at birth is another critical factor. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), HIV AIDS, suicide and road deaths are the leading causes of premature deaths in Guyana. The APNU-AFC Contract with Guyana outlines revolutionary steps to address all of these. President Granger will: • Extend universal primary healthcare to ensure that every citizen is able to access health services

within close proximity of his or her place of residence; • Reduce disparities in health services between the hinterland and the coastland and between urban and rural areas; • Construct and equip new nursing schools in rural and hinterland communities; • Provide modern equipment and technology and employ attendant skilled personnel for hospitals countrywide; • Provide modern mental health care services countrywide.

These measures will ensure Guyanese all over the country have easy access to cutting edge medical care close to their communities. No longer will Guyanese in the hinterland areas have to depend on medevac for survival. First class hospitals will be in every region. Preventative medicine will also be drastically improved though the network of primary healthcare facilities across the country.

The fight against NCDs, like heart diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, is through education, maintaining health lifestyle, early diagnosis, and prompt and effective care. The APNU-AFC Contract with Guyana

will deliver on this. It is promised that, all housing communities will be allocated spaces for recreational facilities and parks. This access will make it easy for Guyanese to maintain a healthy lifestyle and hence be less susceptible to diabetes, hypertension etc. President Granger will ensure a healthier nation and before the end of the Decade of Development life expectancy at birth could be in the high 70s.

Guyana's oil and gas sector will drive economic growth like crazy.

Availability of cheap and reliable electricity through natural gas generation will drive the expansion of the manufacturing sector. There will be an agricultural boom as a result of the construction of new drainage and irrigation schemes, and processing facilities. Gross National Income per capita will increase drastically.

As a result of significant improvements in life expectancy at birth, average years of schooling, expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita, Guyana Human Development Index should be above 0.8 by the end of the Decade of Development.

Court case on Irfaan’s qualifications for February 25 hearing THE High Court action filed by two citizens seeking clarity into the authenticity of the qualification antecedents of the People’s Progressive Party /Civic(PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, will come up for hearing on February 25,2020.

The case is fixed to be called before Justice Franklin Holder at the Demerara High Court.

The application was filed by attorney-at-law Stephen Lewis on behalf of his clients Dianna Deravinee Rajcumar and Phillip Marcus, who are citizens of Guyana and registered voters.

The respondent in the matter is PPP/C General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The applicants are seeking a declaration that they are entitled to know the qualification antecedents of Ali. Another order is that Jagdeo produce Ali’s first degree certificate and transcripts for any first degree, information on the name of the university, or institution from which he obtained his first degree and information concerning the nature of the study completed in relation to any first degree.

The applicants are also seeking information setting out whether Ali was issued with a Certificate of Graduation, which states that it was issued by the Business College, West Demerara Chamber of Commence within seven (7) days of the date of the Order.

Additionally, Jagdeo must also produce, within seven days, a copy of any transcript

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo (left) and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential candidate Irfaan Ali

issued by the said Business College, West Demerara Chamber in respect of a BA Degree in Planning, information in the form of certificates along with transcripts from the University of Sunderland as proof of Ali’s qualifications.

To this background, the applicants are also seeking an order against GECOM to confer the above documents, which was conferred on Ali, which will be examined by them.

The applicants have listed 11 grounds for their application to the High Court. One of the grounds stated is that, that applicants have noted that information concerning the qualification of Ali has been, in some instances, withheld and otherwise is alleged to be false. The applicants

observed that in several articles in the daily newspapers where Ali refused to be forthright in his answer to questions and the provision of information surrounding his qualifications. Thus, they are now requesting to seek clarification on his qualifications. On January 29, 2020, the applicant Dianna Deravinee Rajcumar wrote to Jagdeo seeking clarity on Irfaan’s qualification antecedents and requested transcripts as proof.

The Applicants are seeking the Order on the ground that consequent of their Constitutional right to vote, they have a right to information on the candidates for the election.

Additionally, consequent on their constitutional right to vote, they are contending that they are entitled to know the educational antecedents of the candidates to access, process and interpret along with others with information, before deciding to vote for a candidate.

The applicants, are contending that with intent to exercise their right to vote, they are entitled to be privy to facts giving insight in the candidate’s capacity and suitability for acting as a President, Parliamentarian or a legislator including details of his/her life educational qualifications.

They are contending that they are entitled to a Constitutional Right to the Freedom of Expression, in particular, to receive ideas and information without interference. Rajcumar is the holder of a Degree in International Relations-University of Guyana (2008), Graduate

Diploma in Public Administration- Australia National University(2014), Masters of Public Policy – Australia National University 2015 and Masters of Diplomacy – Australia National University (2016). “I fear that my right to vote and to freedom of expression, in particular, to receive information without interference will be breached if the orders sought herein are not granted,” the applicant said in the court documents.

The PPP/C presidential candidate is allegedly being accused of academic fraud. It is alleged that he used a fake transcript to pursue a master’s degree programme at an Indian University and the University of Sunderland.

Ali is currently before the courts facing 19 charges after he was accused of defrauding the state of some $174M for his role in the notorious Pradoville land-sale scandal. The ex-minister was slapped with 19 counts of fraud last November and the charges were laid indictable.

The charges read that between 2010 and 2015, Ali conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government of Guyana, when he acted recklessly in presenting the value of 19 plots of state land situated at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, and sold the said lands at a grossly undervalued price without first obtaining a valuation to determine their true value.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Guyanese first, CARICOM second

Foreign Minister to attend CARICOM Inter-Sessional Meeting MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, is expected to appeal to regional leaders to support Guyana’s Chairmanship of the Group of 77 (G77) when she represents this country at the upcoming CARICOM Intersessional Meeting in Barbados this week.

The conference is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, and Wednesday 19, in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Dr. Cummings will represent President David Granger at the meeting, which she hopes “will be productive, and further cement CARICOM’S relevance; resulting in tangible solutions and constructive and positive outcomes.”

This year, the Caribbean leaders will focus their deliberations on regional issues, such as improving the impact and effectiveness of the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME), security, action against crime and violence, health, including a regional response to the coronavirus, as well as CARICOM’s advocacy against blacklisting, de-risking and withdrawal of correspondent banking services, and information and communications technology (ICT) matters, among others.

Meanwhile, Minister Cummings also intends to encourage CARICOM Member States to participate in the Third South Summit, which will take place from April 17-19, 2020, in Kampala, Uganda. That forum is the key decision-making body of

----Local Content Policy prescribes

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings

the G77. According to the Foreign Minister, “As Chair of the G77, Guyana will strive to enhance unity and cohesion of the Group in order to propel the vision and goals of this august body.”

Furthermore, Guyana will seek CARICOM’s continued support for the maintenance and preservation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. During the week of 23 March 2020, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has scheduled a hearing on the controversy arising from Venezuela’s contention that the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 establishing the boundary with Guyana is null and void. Guyana became a Member State of CARICOM on August 1, 1973. The headquarters of the regional body is located in its capital, Georgetown.

GUYANA’S “policy of first consideration” within its Local Content Policy’s mandates that if a Guyanese person, supplier, operator or primary contractor does not meet the criteria to be given first preference in all procurement opportunities, then citizens of CARICOM should be considered.

With the country’s large discoveries in oil and gas, and its rapid development already beginning, it has been long established that Guyana may not have enough skilled persons to meet the specific needs of the petroleum sector.

Even before looking to non-Guyanese, the government has encouraged oil and gas professionals within the diaspora to return home to fill job openings as the government works to train citizens and to assist with scholarships to help further their education in the field.

However, Guyana has also sought technical support in its oil and gas take-off from the Caribbean, through interactions with leaders of CARICOM countries with experience in the sector.

Nonetheless, the Local Content Policy makes it clear that members of CARICOM come secondary to the “first consideration” of Guyanese and Guyanese living in CARICOM countries.

In exercising the principle of

first consideration to Guyanese persons, suppliers, operators or primary contractors, the policy states that the Operatory must: “Identify categories of goods and services required for petroleum operations for which there is evidence of three or more Guyanese Suppliers (or CARICOM Suppliers, including Guyanese Suppliers) with sufficient capabilities, capacity and competitiveness for contracts in this category to be restricted to bid lists, comprising only Guyanese Suppliers (or only CARICOM Suppliers including Guyanese Suppliers), and where this evidence is sufficient to ensure that in restricting bid lists in this way does not drive undue additional cost, delay or risk into projects when measured against industry standards and international price benchmarking.”

The policy urges Operators to look first to the Guyanese labour market to fill positions with Guyanese Citizens who have the appropriate qualifications and experience. It calls on them to identify categories of goods and services required for petroleum operations for which there is evidence of Guyanese suppliers having the required capability, capacity and price competitiveness to be considered for inclusion in an Expression of Interest (EOI) or

procurement process.

This can be done directly, as sub-contractors or through forms of partnership with more experienced firms, such as consortia, alliances and joint ventures. The Policy also calls on Operators to explore creative solutions to provide on-the-job training which will enable Guyanese to be hired and then learn while on the job. These creative solutions may include, inter alia, apprenticeships, mentoring, job-shadowing, on-site and off-site training. To aid in the process, the Minister responsible for Petroleum may elect to establish an appropriate agency to be responsible for the issuance of Supplier Classification Certificates.

Meanwhile, Operators which demonstrate innovation to apply the “ policy of first consideration” for Guyanese persons, suppliers, operators or primary contractors, can be recognised through a Local Content Annual Awards Scheme.

The scheme would be aimed at encouraging Operators to demonstrate innovation and commitment to the principle of first consideration, including the management of associated risk.

Who is in charge?

THERE is an image of Bharrat Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali that has been circulating on social media.

The image, in my opinion, is quite concerning and should also be quite concerning to all Guyanese. Guyana is entering into a new phase, the most important post-independent phase in its journey towards economic development, in all its sectors. Guyana can only achieve this if there is strong, confident and competent leadership from the top. When Guyanese go to bed at nights, they need to be confident that their President is able to think and make decisions independently; they need to be confident that whatever crisis Guyana experienced while they were asleep was handled by their President decisively, and communicated to them confidently.

Most Guyanese are of the view that Irfaan Ali is a puppet, or if we are to use the words of Dr. Joey Jagan, “Bharrat Jagdeo’s front man”. Most Guyanese think that Irfaan Ali is not his own man, despite his multiple claims to the contrary. We Guyanese are an intelligent and intuitive lot.

When we express such concerns about

Irfaan Ali, it should not be dismissed, as Bharrat Jagdeo would do on many occasions.

Bharrat Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali were at a political rally a few days ago.

Bharrat Jagdeo was on the immediate left of Irfaan Ali on the stage. Bharrat Jagdeo was busy scribbling notes as a compliant and obedient Presidential Candidate unashamedly looked on.

Most of us thought Bharrat Jagdeo was making notes for his own speech. This was one of the rare occasions we were wrong. Very wrong. Bharrat Jagdeo was scribbling Irfaan Ali’s speech.

That in itself is not very, very concerning, since some leaders do have speech writers, albeit they would edit the speech to their liking or proclivity, and definitely with no coaching. What followed next was quite worrying for us about a potential future leader. Bharrat Jagdeo proceeded to animatedly use said notes to teach and coach Irfaan Ali in the presence of Irfaan’s wife. It was like a boxing coach giving instructions to his boxer, who is far behind on the scoring cards, and completely nonplus.

Ali then took said notes, and awaited his turn to impress his master. Is this

what Guyanese expect of their future President?

And it is deeper than that. The observer who analyses such matters superficially would just analyse it from one dimension. I am not that type of observer. The chess player in me, I tend to analyse every action in great detail. It is an established fact that Irfaan Ali dropped out of UG. At UG, Ali would have had to undertake classroom-based assessment and examinations. At UG, there would have been no escaping the fact that on examination and assessment days, it is you and your pen at that table to answer those questions. There is no Bharrat Jagdeo to assist you. There is no Priya Manickhand to structure your answers. It is you and you alone.

It is either you know it or you don’t.

Irfaan Ali apparently did not, hence he cut and run. Hence, he became the first Presidential Candidate who is a university dropout. Then Irfaan Ali proceeded to only undertake Online courses at random universities. Some of those universities cannot be located with the most sophisticated GPS, such as the West Demerara Business

School. Some universities are in obscure localities in India and Greece.

Nonetheless, with Online universities, course examinations and assessments are Online. That turned out to be an ingenious move on the part of Irfaan Ali, as it removed what was most challenging for him at UG; namely, doing his assessments and examinations on his own. In those remote areas of Greece and India, the lecturers would have no clue who did Irfaan Ali’s assessments and examinations. All they knew was that they were submitted. Was it Irfaan Ali’s work? Was it Jagdeo’s work?

Was it Priya Manikchand’s work? We would never know, but suffice to say it became Ali’s grades. Grades which are questionable.

Then Ali claimed he successfully completed a PhD. This, too, was Online, but this time closer to home.

The University of the West Indies. A PhD is very academically demanding.

For a PhD, there are no lectures; it is research-based, developing and creating new theories, and clarity in the field of study. It is all independent learning and thinking, since the PhD student does it all on their own, with

minimal supervision. The reason is simple: On successful completion of the PhD, you are deemed an expert on the subject matter. It culminates in an 80,000-word dissertation. To put that in perspective, 80,000 words would be the number of words in an average 400-page novel. If Irfaan Ali was able to independently do this PhD dissertation, as he wants us to believe, why did he require such detailed coaching for a simple speech? The fact is that the rigours of a PhD instils a high level of independence in the successful candidate, to the extent that they would not have anyone treat them like a kindergarten, pamper-wearing and finger-sucking toddler. A type of independence that is painfully absent in Irfaan Ali, and begs the question, Was Irfaan Ali’s “PhD” independent original academic work?

So, here we go again. He is not his own man. He is clearly a puppet. He is clearly a ‘front- man’.

He is not an independent or critical thinker. The PPP may want you to believe that he will be an excellent President. Do you?

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Venezuelan biker killed in De Kenderen crash

A VENEZUELAN motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries in the wee hours of the morning of Sunday, February 15, 2020. He was involved in a motor vehicle accident on the De Kenderen Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Dead is Veijay Jesus Idrogo, 39, of Meten-MeerZorg, West Coast of Demerara (WCD). He died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation after being transferred from the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

According to the police, on Saturday about 03:00hrs motorcar PWW 8179, driven by a 39-year-old resident of Leonora, WCD, was proceeding west along the southern carriageway of the road and was negotiating a turn. On

sustained injuries was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital in a semi-conscious condition where he was treat-

Dead: Veijay Jesus Idrogo

the turn was motorcyclist Veijay Jesus Idrogo riding CJ 4677 which was proceeding east along the northern carriageway. He reportedly lost control and collided with the right side front of the car.

The motorcyclist who

Prison officer sentenced for smuggling drugs into prison A 22-year-old serving member of the Guyana Prison Service, was, on Monday, sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to smuggle cannabis into the Camp Street Prison.

Cleon Webster of West Coast Berbice, on his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court pleaded not guilty to the charge. Months after being on trial before Magistrate Rondel Weever, Webster was, on Monday, February 17, 2020, found guilty as charged.

The court heard that sufficient evidence was made against him; hence he was sentenced to three years.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on June 14, 2019 at the Camp Street Prison, Webster had 120 grams of cannabis in his possession, for

Cleon Webster

the purpose of trafficking.

According to information, Webster was searched at the prison, as was customary; the drug was found concealed in his haversack and when questioned, Webster said that it belonged to his sister.

Woman in hot-oil fiasco granted bail SANDYA Nadisan Thomas, 35, who allegedly poured hot oil on her husband recently, was on Monday granted bail in the sum of $500,000, and ordered to make no contact with the victim.

The woman was not required to plea to a charge of attempted murder, committed on her estranged husband, Devon Thomas, a lecturer at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute.

The woman made her initial appearance before Magistrate Peter Hugh at the New Amsterdam Court in Berbice, and is expected to return to court on Thursday.

In addition, the Court ordered that the defendant should not come within 100 feet of the virtual complainant, nor make any contact with him for three years.

The woman was hauled before the court as a result of

ferred to the GPHC where he died at around 05:00hrs.

An autopsy is expected to be conducted this Wednesday.

Police said that the driver, who passed a breathalyzer test, was, on Sunday, released

Sandya Nadisan Thomas

the incident, which occurred on January 30 last at a house on Garrison Road, New Amsterdam.

On that day, 38-year-old Devon Thomas had just exited the bathroom with his bath towel wrapped around his lower body, when it is alleged that the accused approached him with the pan of hot oil, which she threw on him.

According to reports, he had earlier seen her put the pan on the stove, but thought she was preparing to cook a meal.

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The damaged motorcycle

ed and transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

On Sunday, he was trans-

The car that was involved in the accident

on station bail. In an interview with this publication, Idrogo’s sister, Ammy Idrogo, said her brother’s body was badly damaged and most of his internal organs were crushed in the aftermath of the crash.

Upon visiting the West Demerara Regional Hospital at 06:30 hrs Sunday morning, she explained that her brother was eventually transferred to GPHC where a doctor related the damage that occurred externally and internally on his body.

“They did plenty of x-trays, his lungs were damaged, his skull was fractured, his legs were broken, his pelvis and hip bones were damaged, and his internal organs were crushed,” the sister said with tears in her eyes.

When she got the opportunity to have the last few words with her brother, she said upon inquiry she asked if he consumed any alcoholic beverages, to which he responded ‘no’.

“When I asked him if he crashed into the car, he said no, he was standing up on the road getting ready to go on the bike to come home, then a car crashed into him, the car then reversed and rolled over him while he was on the ground, then the car rolled over him again,” the distraught woman said.

The woman explained that her brother then related that the driver appeared to be intoxicated while there was a female inside of the vehicle that witnessed the accident.

Convicted drug trafficker to Kaneville man dies in serving sentence Diamond Access Road accident commence – to return to court on a new charge

A MOTORCYCLIST died in an accident on the Diamond Access Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Sunday.

Dead is Calwin Nichols, 26, called ‘Ron’ of 407 Fourth Street, Kaneville, Grove, E.B.D. Lotoya Kowes, a 28-year-old of Kaneville, Grove, E.B.D. who was the pillion rider was also injured when Nichols crashed into a car after losing control of the motorcycle.

Police said the accident occurred about 16:45hrs on Sunday on the Diamond Access Road, East Bank Demerara, involving motorcar PNN 3622 driven by a 44-year-old resident of Block ‘X’ Diamond Housing Scheme, E.B.D, and motorcycle CH 3342 driven by Calwin Nicholas.

Enquiries disclosed that the car was proceeding east along the northern carriageway of the road whilst the motor cycle was proceeding west along the southern carriageway reportedly at a fast rate of speed.

As the cyclist was in the vicinity of the M&M Snackette, he lost control of the cycle which began to skid and crashed into the right front wheel of the car, which, at the time, came to a halt, after the

Dead: Calwin Nichols called ‘Ron’

driver observed the action of the motorcyclist.

As a result of the impact, both cyclist and pillion rider who were not wearing safety helmets received injuries.

They were taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where the cyclist succumbed to his injuries whilst receiving medical attention; the pillion rider who received minor injuries is currently warded at the said institution for observation.

A post-mortem examination conducted Monday morning revealed that the cyclist died from multiple injuries. The driver of the car is in custody assisting with the investigation. He ‘passed’ a breathalyzer test.

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Monday, February 17, 2020, remanded a 30-year-old miner to prison, for possession of marijuana.

Carey Gittens of South Ruimveldt, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty, with explanation, to the charge.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on February 15, 2020, at Fourth Avenue, Bartica, he had in his possession 1314 grams of cannabis, for the purpose of trafficking.

Due to Gittens’ explanation, the Magistrate entered a not-guilty plea.

Police Prosecutor objected to bail being granted to Gittens and told the court that, on the day in question, around 02:10 hours, Gittens was at a night club when police, acting on information, went to the said club.

The ranks made contact with Gittens and told him about an arrest warrant that was issued for him. Gittens then told the ranks that he would give them three

pounds of weed for his freedom.

The court heard that Gittens took the ranks to an unfinished building and pulled out a black plastic bag from some nearby bushes. When one of the ranks opened the said black bag, they (the ranks) saw a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be cannabis.

Gittens was arrested, told of the allegation, and later charged.

The prosecutor also told the court that Gittens was sentenced, in his absence, in March of 2019, on two separate narcotic charges.

He was sentenced to two years on each charge.

Magistrate McLennan remanded Gittens to prison and adjourned the matter until March 12, 2020. The matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Accused rapist granted bail A 26-year-old security guard, on Monday, February 17, 2020, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, charged with raping a 14-year-old school girl.

Esmund Adams, of Princess Street, Wortmanville was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where the matter was held in-camera.

It is alleged that, be-

tween December 1 and 31, 2018, at Princess and Adelaide Streets, Wortmanville, Georgetown, the accused engaged in sexual penetration with a 14-year-old girl Adams was not required to plead to the charge. He was released on $150,000 bail and ordered to return to court on February 25, 2020.

According to reports, the victim and the defendant were involved in a relation-

ship. It is alleged that, during the period mentioned in the charge, Adams took the child to his residence and engaged in sexual penetration with her.

It is alleged that, after committing the act, he took her to a house located on the West Coast, where she was forced to stay for several days. However, the child’s father learnt of her whereabouts from someone. The

child’s father went to the location but Adams made good his escape. The matter was reported to the police.

However, during the month of December 2019, Adams went to Police Headquarters for a police clearance and he was arrested. An investigation was launched and he was charged.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Gold sector is an economic powerhouse – says President Granger …as postage stamps, gold medallion unveiled for 50th Republic anniversary

The artist who designed the gold medallion, Dillon Craig, being presented with a token from President Granger. Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman is also in photo

THE Ministry of Public Telecommunications, through the Guyana Post Office in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources, launched and unveiled four new postage stamps and a valuable gold medallion to commemorate Guyana’s Republic Jubilee.

At the small, simple ceremony on Monday evening at the Umana Yana, President David Granger, who was accompanied by First Lady Sandra Granger, said Guyana’s 50th Republic anniversary is a defining moment in history. He said the attainment of Republican status allowed Guyana to consolidate and continue its quest for economic independence through economic diversification.

President Granger posited that commemorative coinage, stamps and medallions celebrate the nation’s heritage. They honour notable personalities, noteworthy events and important institutions. It is for this reason he sees it fitting to have a launch for the republic jubilee.

“The 50th anniversary commemorative stamp and medallion will remind future generations of this important milestone in the nation’s history,” Granger said.

He added that, “Postage stamps, before our digital revolution introduced e-mail and other electronic means of communication, were regarded as symbols of statehood. They are a means of reinforcing national identity by projecting a nation’s image and values. Stamps record a country’s heritage and history. They proclaim our beliefs and culture to the countries

of the world.”

President Granger said too that gold and diamond mining has been traditional mainstays of the country’s economy, since the sector has helped to sustain economic growth, earn valuable foreign exchange, generated employment for more than 16, 500 persons annually and has been responsible for supporting the livelihoods of more than 100,000 Guyanese.

“The gold sector is an economic powerhouse. Gold mining accounts for 9.7 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product. Gold is our largest foreign exchange earner. The commemorative medallion, which is being issued today, is made of gold --pure Guyanese gold-- which was mined from the bowels of our country and minted finely to enhance its value,” Granger said.

Echoing similar sentiment, Minister of Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes shared the remarkable story of the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta, which was once a forgotten stamp from Guyana, but is now valued US$9.8M and is the most valuable stamp in the world.

This story, the minister said, is testimony to the deep-rooted, rich, and often times unexpected outcomes items and events can have on history.

Hughes said that Guyana is on the brink of an economic revolution, as the country moves unwaveringly into a promising future.

“We will no doubt face many challenges,” she added, “but also reap intense benefits.

It is this moment that we must take time to be ever aware of our present, while reflecting and giving thanks for our past,

President David Granger receiving the commemorative stamps from Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes

The Republic Jubilee commemorative stamps

and celebrating the exciting future that lies ahead.”

One stamp depicts the historic mace. This, the minister said, reminds us of our colonial origins, and it also depicts the mace prior to our Republican status and the new mace after.

The other stamp has the Liza Destiny, and that symbolizes Guyana’s promising new future as an oil-producing nation.

The third stamp has imprinted on it the logo and theme for the 2020 Republic Anniversary, and the fourth stamp has the smiling faces of our people during mash celebrations.

“Even as the world moves increasingly towards digital communication, it is hoped that stamps will take on a more symbolic role. They undoubtedly will continue to contribute to shared sense of connectedness among the people of Guyana, and will go further to help our people to understand the significance of important events and persons that are reflected on our stamps over many years,”

Hughes injected.

Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman spoke extensively on the gold medallion.

He said that it represents the manifestation of an idea that evolved beyond expectations.

“As we step into our 50th year as a Republic, our natural resources, especially our gold, have made a monumental contribution towards the safety, health and happiness of Guyana and Guyanese, and remains relevant and indispensable to our overall growth and development as a nation. Mining in particular, has supported our economy for decades and therefore it is quite fitting that it finds a special place as we celebrate this momentous occasion in history,” Trotman said.

He added that it is important to highlight that the medallion is not a coin in its strict legal sense.

“And though it is 99.9% pure Guyana gold, and weighing 1 Troy ounce and valued

Guyana’s 2020 Gold Medallion

at $700,000 thousand Guyana dollars. It is not legal tender,” the minister said.

He noted that the medallion is meant to encapsulate three important objectives; to commemorate the auspicious occasion of the 50th anniversary, the second jubilee in the within five years; to establish the presence of Guyana Gold Board as a trader and marketer of gold and gold products; and most importantly, to establish a marker or memorial as Guyana transitions from one epoch of development into another.

Through a competitive selection process, the winning

design of the medallion went to 21-year-old-Dillon Craig.

The design includes a stock of gold, a batel, a pick axe, the Guyana map, leaves, and a patch of land engraved on one side while the logo of the Guyana Gold Board is engraved on the other. The artwork is said to portray the growth of the mining industry through a Green State.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix also attended the event.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Let’s open up discourse around mental health and wellbeing

By Melina Harris THERE is so much to discuss around the topic of mental health and, quite recently, the conversation surrounding this aspect of modern life has been relatively silent. On the one hand, good mental health is described as one’s ability to fulfil key functions and abilities such as learning, the ability to form and maintain good relationships with others, maintain employment, the ability to cope with change and uncertainty and the ability to feel and manage positive and negative emotions.

On the other hand, poor mental health is characterised by feelings of sadness/ depression, confused thinking and extreme mood changes, amongst other signs. Mental ill health is often thought to be one of the most prolific, yet silent killers in modern day societies with more and more people, including many in the younger generations, increasingly being affected by mental ill health. Conditions such as anxiety and depression are common among millennials who, increasingly, are also affected by loneliness and isolation.

In Guyana, there is still a long way to go in addressing the provision of mental health services within the already strained healthcare system.

Notwithstanding the relative unavailability of services geared towards mental health and wellbeing, the stigma associated with those who might be perceived as mentally unwell is also far from gone. Even talking openly about mental health is still very much thought of as a taboo subject. Nonetheless, the prevalence of individuals suffering from mental ill health or undiagnosed mental health conditions continues to affect different aspects of societal cohesion.

The effects of mental ill health on the macro- societal level are complex and multifaceted. Statistics often indicate that those suffering from mental health conditions are more likely to encounter difficulties with retaining employment. Unemployment, lack of motivation and hopelessness are other potential manifestations of poor mental health. Absenteeism is a

common sign of poor mental health and wellbeing. Similarly, ‘presenteeism’ – being at work for longer than is necessary or developing an obsession around one’s job is another manifestation of poor mental health and wellbeing.

In the UK, mental health statistics indicate that Afro-Caribbeans and Asians (East Indians/Pakistanis, etc) are amongst the highest sufferers of mental health conditions. Although Afro-Caribbeans and Asians only make up approximately 11% of the 66 million UK population, their over representation in statistical data is interesting to note.

This leads me to question whether Afro-Caribbeans and Asians are somehow more susceptible to developing mental health conditions.

The over representation of Afro-Caribbeans and Asians in mental health statistics in the UK could be down to racism and xenophobia. I believe this group of people, especially when living outside of their natural homes and socio-cultural environments are often under an added stress of having to assimilate to a foreign culture. Cultural assimilation is common throughout the world. Many countries, including those in the west, are home to many types of people, but, for some groups of people, I believe the added pressure of assimilating within a society that is drastically different from their ‘home’ countries, and having to deal with racism and xenophobia can lead to mental health issues materialising. At ‘home’, there are also added pressures that come with living in a developing nation such as ours.

In Guyana, statistical information is not widely available to make proper comparisons with the UK. However, the alarmingly high rate of suicides and murder suicides, domestic /societal violence and homelessness, as trends indicating mental ill health, are enough to show that there are certain patterns and trends that keep reoccurring. Additionally, and within a more localised Guyanese context, our recent colonial history, (encapsulating slavery and indentureship,) the source of our intergenerational trauma, also contributes to the prevalence of mental health conditions within our society.

In more economically de-

veloped countries such as the UK, the prevalence of anxiety and depression is alarming.

Additionally, recent studies reveal that many young people, millennials essentially, who spend at least 15 minutes or more on social media are at risk of suffering from social isolation. In western countries where many struggle with interacting with neighbours and those immediately outside of one’s circle, isolation and loneliness are very common issues. Through the advent of social media, young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing all over the world is being negatively impacted.

In Guyana, poverty plays an important role in contributing to poor mental health.

If we look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the 7 tiered pyramid places food, shelter, security and safety at the foundation of the pyramid indicating that before one is able to move onto the other tiers of the pyramid, one has to have satisfied basic physiological and safety needs.

Those living in abstract poverty are often unable to secure these basic needs and I believe this struggle leads to or contributes heavily to the actualisation of common mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Anxiety has a debilitating effect on the body and so does depression. Like most untreated mental health conditions, all aspects of an individual’s life; such as inter-personal relationships, one’s ability to maintain employment and a stable, productive home life are all affected.

Guyana has numerous social issues and I believe that poor mental health and wellbeing are very high on the list. Societal issues such as domestic violence, homicides, murder suicides, homelessness and substance abuse are all interconnected with mental health. More research has to be done in order to fully understand the occurrence of certain trends and patterns in our society. These trends and statistics need to be more fully understood so that the core issues are addressed and the correct interventions are introduced to circumvent the occurrence of the trend. We need to create a culture of openness in order to move forward.

Man sentenced for touching female without her consent A MAN was, on Monday, February 17, 2020, sentenced to five years in prison after changing his plea on a sexual assault charge.

Derrick Mohabir appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and changed his plea after pleading not guilty on his first appearance.

Mohabir was on trial before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on November 8, 2019, at Lama Avenue Bel Air, Georgetown, he touched a female, in a sexual way, without her consent.

The matter was held in-camera.

Hence, he was sentenced to five years in prison for the offence.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Coalition makes strong pitch to Region 10 women …First Lady, other ministers urged them to remain vanguard in Guyana’s politics

By Vanessa Braithwaite SCORES of women from the Upper Demerara Upper Berbice Region, were, on Sunday, urged to remain resolute and to continue pushing to take up spaces in political and social offices, since they possess the potential and strength to do so.

These, along with many other positive advice relative to women leadership and equality, were given by leading women in the APNU+AFC Coalition, including First Lady Sandra Granger, at a grand ‘Green and Yellow Affair’, at the Watooka Guest House, Linden.

The activity was well-supported and saw women travelling from outlying communities such Rockstone, Ituni and Kwakwani, to attend. It was hosted by Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Valarie Yearwood, in collaboration with the National Congress of Women and Women for Change. Present were Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence; Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes and President of the Women for Change (AFC), Tamara Khan.

In her keynote address, Mrs Granger reminded the Region Ten women that their gender-type has played an integral role in the development of our country, working as

the vanguard for political, social, educational and economic change. She detailed the many achievements that have been made under ministries and agencies spearheaded by women ministers. In fact, the First Lady said that it was the first time that there were 11 women ministers appointed, many leading very important ministries, such as Education, Public Health, Foreign Affairs and Telecommunication, and the State. “Our women have shown their mettle and they have proven their worth. In the past four years and nine months, despite the challenges they have faced, despite

in the various women-led ministries; in education, performance and delivery standards have improved; in public health, more specialists and medical facilities are available for residents to access high quality health care; in telecommunications, communities across the country, particularly hinterland communities are benefitting from internet access and students across the country are given more opportunities in ICT and STEM; in Social Protection, the lives of Guyanese have improved with the increase in pensions, public assistance and youths

A section of the gathering at the women’s rally

people trying to cut the life of this government short, we can look with pride on how these women, have laboured long and hard, focusing on improving the lives of all Guyanese,” the First Lady posited.

Four years later, she said Guyana has seen tremendous transformation and growth

are benefitting from empowerment programmes such as SLED. Despite fake news from political naysayers, the First Lady presented statistics and recorded facts on the progress made over the last four years, with women being at the forefront. “These have

First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger and other ministers and women during the rally

all been accomplished, in less than five years and the women I have mentioned tonight have played key roles in their delivery. The APNU-AFC manifesto for our general and regional elections on March 2nd, shows us that greater things are in store for the people of Guyana. The manifesto is a declaration of the APNU-AFC intention to continue its investment in our human, social and economic capital,” Mrs. Granger said.

If the female ministers can do it, the first lady urged the Region Ten women to see the potential in themselves.

She urged them to take up leadership roles at the local level, which will position them for national service.

“Women I advise you, put yourselves up at the local level, because that is where you

are getting your experience to move on to the regional and national level, so start with your groundwork in your communities, build your base and move on and you are getting your experience for national leadership.”

For her part, Minister Lawrence also touched on women’s political role in nation building and in Guyana gaining Independence and Republican status. She alluded to many women in this country’s political history and even paid tribute to the late Sandra Adams, a Lindener, who was a catalyst for change. “They resolutely addressed the myriad of issues and struggles that catapulted us onto the journey to Republican status, which in another seven days, we the Guyanese nation will proudly

celebrate the magical landmark of attaining 50 years as a Republic,” she said.

Lawrence said women are strong and mighty, born with a purpose and the ability to lead. This leadership, she urged them to execute on March 2nd 2020, by voting APNU-AFC. “Women in the vanguard, our presence in the realm of politics, law, dentistry, medicine and science, the business corporate....let us pass that on to our next generation.”

Minister Hughes said that while her government made many strides in pushing for women equality, the issue was still a challenging one in society and women continue to face challenges in the workplace and in the wider society.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Jagdeo makes appeal to Joint Services for support

APPEALING to members of the joint services, who are set to cast their ballots on February 21, 2020, the People’s Progressive Party, General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, said come Friday if they throw their support behind the PPP/C the one- month tax-free bonus will be ‘re-instated’.

Jagdeo was at the time addressing a gathering at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, during a rally held on Sunday afternoon. “I just want to say this to the members of the joint services, who will be voting on the 21st the soldiers and the policemen and others …now our policemen and others have a chance to vote for the restoration of their onemonth bonus and they have a duty to vote to end political interference in their service.

They will be voting shortly and I have to leave this message with them,” he stated.

Additionally, Jagdeo urged the members of the joint services to not believe the promises which opposing parties may have made during the campaign season and instead place their confidence and future in the PPP/C, to ensure a better life for themselves and the

future generation of Guyana.

Urging supporters at the rally to pledge allegiance to the party, Jagdeo noted that the coalition government has not yet been able to fulfill the promises in their manifesto since 2015 as such the current A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) + Alliance for Change (AFC) government is not to be trusted.

“How could anybody in their right mind believe anything that APNU says.

How could you believe anything that they say when everything that they put in their manifesto in 2015, they failed to fulfil. So comrades, don’t be seduced by this nonsense of new promises,” he noted.

While critcising the coalition government, the party’s opposition leader noted that the PPP/C is the only political party in Guyana that has the country’s best interest at heart, and that was why the PPP/C managed to stay in office for over 23 years. Jagdeo said the PPP/C is a national party that caters for the development and enhancement of everyone, from residents in Linden to those in the hinterland regions. Jagdeo

further reassured supporters that the PPP/C will return to government and ensure that all Guyanese are treated fairly and reap the fruits of the

the party, since he believes the PPP/C is stronger than ever and should not be underestimated. “Ensure that you know where you

The Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, addressing supporters gathered at the rally on Sunday

PPP/C General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo photographed with supporters at the Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice rally on Sunday

rising oil and gas industry in Guyana, which he accused the APNU+ AFC of selling away to the oil companies.

The party’s leader further urged persons to ensure that they check for their names on the voters’ list and know their polling places in order to avoid confusion on elections day, and to place their faith in

are voting and if you’re misplaced in another division, make plans to go there and vote. Every vote matters comrades… We’re in the last stretch. We’ve run the more distance. It’s been a hard battle to get

here. We’ve had to fight them tooth and nail, in Parliament etcetera… But your party is very strong.

Don’t underestimate the strength of the People’s Progressive Party”, Jagdeo told supporters.

Forum to discuss plans for indigenous people Wednesday GUYANESE will head to the polls in 16 days, but before the time comes to cast those ballots, the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) and the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) will be looking to engage party candidates on the issues and concerns of indigenous people.

The APA and NTC have collaborated to host a ‘”non-partisan candidates’ forum” at the Regency Suites, on Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

“Its purpose is to bring together a representative grouping of indigenous leaders from across the country to listen to and interact with representatives from the different political parties ahead of the upcoming March 2, national and regional elections,” said the APA in a press statement.

This public forum is an effort to understand how the priorities and aspirations of indigenous communities across the country are reflected in the political platforms of the parties and in the candidate’s vision for governing. Candidates from all contesting political parties have been invited to participate.

The event will feature a short presentation by the APA and the NTC, focusing on the national priorities of “Indigenous Peoples” in Guyana.

Each candidate will then be invited to make a 10-minute presentation which will be followed by a period of questions from the audience.

This event will be moderated by someone considered to be apolitical by both the NTC and the APA. Representatives from the national media are also invited to observe, and efforts will be made to ensure the event is broadcast on the radio and live-streamed on social media so that indigenous communities in the hinterland can also follow the discussions.

“It is our collective hope that this forum will serve as an opportunity to share informa-

tion and promote constructive civic dialogue without any endorsement of any political party,” said the APA. The incumbent A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition has already promised to enhance hinterland development and preserve indigenous cultural identity. The coalition, in its manifesto, has promised to complete consultations on the review of the Amerindian Act and implement a ten-point plan of action for hinterland development.

Additionally, the governing coalition has committed to extending more public services to hinterland communities by using technology such as smart classrooms, to narrow the economic, social and digital divide between the coastland and the hinterland.

Part of this includes the improvement of telecommunications in the hinterland and the provision of free internet access in schools and government agencies, all with the aim of improving education, training, entrepreneurial opportunities and social services in hinterland communities.

The coalition promised that those projects will be augmented and supported by the expanded electricity supply and improved roadways in hinterland communities. There are also plans for the provision of clean energy to hinterland communities through solar, wind and hydroelectric sources. Infrastructural development will also include the construction of new wells and water distribution networks for hinterlands residents. The coalition also promised to continue the promotion of hinterland tourism development and arrange greater international exposure of our Indigenous Peoples’ cultures and their cultural products.

The culture and experiences of indigenous people will also be used to protect the environment and country climate change, said the APNU+AFC coalition.

Woman in hot-oil fiasco ...

Following the incident, the defendant could not be contacted, but turned herself in last week at the Central Police Station, while being accompanied by Attorney-at-law Mursuline Bacchus.

Meanwhile, Devon Thomas, who was hospitalised for 14 days, was treated for burns to his upper torso and face. And, although the physical wounds are healing, Thomas said the psychological and emotional wounds are both-

ering him.

Three days before the incident, the man had divorce papers served on his wife, due to irreconcilable differences. During their four-year marriage, she travelled overseas on three occasions, spending over four months on each occasion.

Thomas explained that he married the divorcee four years ago, but, last month he discovered that his wife was having an inti-

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mate relationship with his friend.

He said that initially, he refused to believe the rumors, but text messages to her phone confirmed acts of infidelity.

As a result, he informed her that the relationship was over, and proceeded to legally terminate the marriage. He also asked her to leave the home.

But the woman did not move, but instead kept begging for forgiveness.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

GPL to increase power generation with US$41M dual-fuel generating sets -chairman says new engines will use natural gas from the local O&G sector

AS part of continued efforts to end ‘blackouts’ and improve power generation, the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has invested some US$41 million in acquiring new dual-fuel generating sets, which will utilise natural gas from the local Oil and Gas sector.

The investment forms part of GPL’s expansion programme, which is geared at ensuring that the utility company has adequate generating capacity. “It will be adding 46 Megawatts (MW) in total to the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS)… it allows us to expand our reserve capacity beyond what it is right now, so in the event of a failure in the generating system we do not have to experience outages,” said Chairman of GPL, Rawle Lucas, in an invited comment, on Monday.

The new generating sets, which will be supplied and maintained by Finnish company, Wartsila, will complement the 22MW power plant at GPL’s Garden of Eden station, where a substation will be built. At present, GPL falls short of the total reserves needed in the system. While the international convention demands 10-15 per cent of reserves that function in cases of emergencies, GPL stands at 8 per cent.

With a new power plant in operation, it is expected to produce a surmountable amount of energy unlike any existing power plant in Guyana. It will also result in astronomical savings for the country since power generation costs will decrease.

Lucas confirmed that the system has not been procured as yet, but the company is in the process of doing so. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

“The project is being funded through a combination of our funds and borrowed funds,” said the chairman, adding that the generating sets are expected to be cost effective since it will be able to utilise natural gas.

In talking about this aspect of the project, he said: “We are anticipating natural gas and that means we have chosen to acquire the engines that have the capacity to use natural gas.”

Natural gas is said to be a mixture of gases which are rich in hydrocarbons.

All these gases (methane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide) are naturally found in the atmosphere. The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government had recently announced its plans for

the establishment of a Natural Gas Terminal, which it envisions will create opportunities for employment for many Guyanese, while significantly reducing energy costs. This plan was embedded in the coalition’s manifesto which was launched last Friday.

A natural gas terminal is a structure for the storage of liquefied natural gas which can comprise of special tanks, ships, building structures, port infrastructures and pipelines. In its most recent find, ExxonMobil increased its estimated recoverable resource base for oil and gas in Guyana to more than 8 billion barrels.

Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, has stated that of this 8 billion, some 2 billion is estimated to be gas.

Natural gas is well recognised as one of the cleanest energy alternative and the Department of Energy has been making preparations to get natural gas on shore by 2023.

With the possibilities already laid out, the department has started to examine potential sites where a “gas pipeline” can land, hoping to land same by 2023 and 2024.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, had also put forward the plan in 2019 for the establishment of a power plant through which the country can see its energy needs being met.

“What we are doing is building out the architecture.

It comes in by pipeline and we will have a 188 megawatt power plant. “The money that you save that would have previously used to buy diesel and fossil fuel to run GPL you can put that back into the economy,” Patterson said in August 2019. Approximately 18 per cent of the country’s primary energy supply is derived from renewable energy – predominantly in the form of bagasse, firewood and solar PV — while the remaining 82 per cent of primary energy supply is sourced from imported fossil fuel – primarily diesel, heavy fuel oil and gasoline.

On average, approximately 1,836,300 barrels of fossil fuel are used to generate electricity annually, according to the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA)’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Mahender Sharma.

This translates to an estimated US$139.30 million on a yearly basis, based on the average consumption from 2015 to 2018. “With the emergent oil and gas sector, there is also an opportunity to utiltise the associated gas from the oil production for electricity generation. As such, a combination of re-

Chairman of GPL, Rawle Lucas

newable energy and natural gas can be the primary energy sources to accommodate Guyana’s energy needs,” Dr. Sharma said in 2019.

The coastal generation is largely handled by Power Producers and Distributors Incorporated (PPDI), which is also state-owned, and contracted to operate and maintain the power plants on behalf of GPL. PPDI was established in 2016 to take over power plants previously operated

and maintained by Wartsila Operations Guyana Inc. The company is responsible for a total electrical output of 106.7 megawatts within the Demerara to Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), sourcing from four power plants, namely Garden of Eden (22 MW), Kingston #1 (22MW), Kingston #2 (36.3 MW) and Vreed-en-Hoop (26.4 MW).

It was reported on several occasions that this power generation is wholly insuf-

ficient, and GPL, over the years, has continued to explore the option of utilizing IPP. It has been noted that if GPL is to properly address issues which it currently faces, it needs to integrate greater private participation in power generation and move to focus more on electricity transmission and distribution, than on generation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Bartica Mayor calls on citizens to reject PPP/C …at Bartica Massacre anniversary message

MAYOR of Bartica Gifford Marshall urged citizens to ensure they vote for the APNU-AFC coalition as he expressed prayers to the family of the 12 persons who were brutally murdered in the infamous “Bartica massacre.”

Marshall noted that the country was experiencing an unprecedented crime wave, when, on the evening of 17 February, 2008, gunmen stormed the town. The killing came weeks after the Lusignan massacre occurred on January 26, 2008, where another 11 residents were murdered on the East Coast Demerara.

“Men, women and chil-

dren were killed across the country as communities, villages and towns were raided by senseless gangs. Today we remember the family and friends of those who lost their lives. Today we pray that never again will those evil days return,” Marshall said in a statement.

He noted that it is now for the citizens to ensure that the country never again returns to a period of “the troubles”.

“We have the key in the palm of our hands to a secure future. May we use it as we move forward together as one people, one nation with one destiny. May we be reminded

that we each have a responsibility to our own safety.

State-sponsored terrorism and extrajudicial killing can be halted by any people in the world today who choose not to vote or embrace criminal governments,” he said.

In Guyana the period 2002 – 2008 was marred with countless extra-judicial killings- with some activists estimating that around 400 Afro Guyanese males were gunned down. During that period the People’s Progressive Party Civic was in government with Bharrat Jagdeo as president.

In 2017, four gunmen, were convicted for the mass

Police march during the ceremony

Schoolchildren lay wreaths

killing, including Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams, who were sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead after being found guilty

ricks, 35, of 241 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara; and Ron Osborne of 198 Robb Street, Georgetown.

After killing the three po-

Police laying wreath

for the crimes.

Those who were killed in the Bartica Massacre when the marauding gunmen stormed the police station included Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakhir

licemen and wounding others, the gunmen broke into a ‘strong box’ which housed weapons and ammunition and carted away five rifles, four revolvers and a shotgun, along

Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall lays wreath

of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Constables Shane Fred-

with a quantity of ammunition.

From another ‘strong box’

which they also broke into.

They also stole $64,450.

Armed with the keys for one of the police jeeps, the now mobile and marauding gunmen moved along First Avenue where they killed security guards Edwin Gilkes, who was on duty at the Banks DIH outlet; Irving Ferreira, who was guarding the CB&R Mining Enterprise; and taxi driver, Dexter Adrian, 37, of 581 Conciliation Street, Tucville and One Mile Potaro, who was on his way to buy gasoline.

And, as they hastily made their escape using the T&HD Stelling, they attacked and killed the crew that was aboard ‘Dave 11’, a vessel belonging to the conglomerate Banks DIH Limited, and on another vessel ‘Little Giant’. Both vessels were moored alongside the T&HD wharf.

The men, Ashraf Ally Khan, of Essequibo Coast; Errol Thomas, 41, of 810 Tuschen Housing Scheme; Deonarine Singh of Wakenaam, Essequibo River; Ronald Gomes of Kuru kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway; Baldeo Singh, of 153 Second Street, Montrose, East Coast Demerara; and Abdool Yasseen, 23, of 153 Good Hope, ECD, were at the time resting in their hammocks. They were hauled outside and ordered to lie on the wharf and each shot execution-style in the head.

To the family of those victims, Marshall said: “Our prayers and love remain with you. May God bless us all and keep us safe.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Ministries of Natural Resources, Education ready for the Mash parade -following the launch of their Mash Bands 2020

IN a kaleidoscope of colourful display, both the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Education, on Friday, launched their Jubilee Mashramani

vironment while promoting sustainable sector-related activities throughout the country. We will be participating in the medium bands section this year. Also we understand

education through technology”. This year, the band comprises at least 300 revellers from the various sections of the ministry. This band also

Ministry of Education Mash costume being displayed

Minister Henry during her remarks

Designer of the MNR's costumes, Neilson Nurse and revellers

bands in small ceremonies.

The Ministry of Natural Resources’ band was designed with the concept of Guyana’s sustainable mining.

Public Affairs Officer of the Ministry, Stephon Gabriel, said that the theme goes hand in hand with the Ministry and more so the government’s plan to promote sustainability across the country.

“This launch included the showcasing of our costumes.

Our theme this year is Guyana Rising, the potential of eco-friendly mining; So we chose to focus on protecting our forest, protecting our en-

that the country is moving towards a decade of development and with this decade will come a lot of sustainable development. We will have to conserve, develop and preserve our natural resources; our patrimony, for the benefit of all Guyanese.”

The band was launched at the National Exhibition Centre in Sophia under the theme, “Promoting sustainability and development.

The designer for this band is Nelson Nurse.

The Ministry of Education’s band was launched at the National Sports Complex, under the theme “Promoting

has Nurse as its designer. He noted that he was keeping simple, but playful with the design this year.

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, in her brief remarks, expressed that the band was even bigger than it was last year.

“We usually host small bands on the road but this year we have a medium-sized band,” she said.

Both events were serenaded by local artistes, the Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra and dances from varying dance groups.

Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry and other officals of the Ministry of Education pose with revellers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

GNYC intensifies voter education campaign …rolls out tour bus, mascot

THE Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) launched its ‘Ink It Up’ Voter Education tour bus and mascot, on Monday, as a vibrant and engaging means to inform Guyanese about the importance of their participation in the electoral process.

The launch took place at the National Park and especially targets young persons, first time voters, women and

indigenous Guyanese ahead of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The brightly decorated bus will serve as a safe space for persons to receive information and is equipped with Wi-Fi so that electors can check for their names on the Official List of Electors (OLE) while visiting the bus.

Meanwhile, Benny the Ballot Box will lead the group’s Mash Float on Feb-

ruary 23, using the occasion to further sensitise Guyanese about the electoral process.

“The concept of this activity is to organize mobile voter education events in the major towns and villages of Guyana within the month leading up to the 2020 General and Regional elections. The proposed activities will leverage local and national institutional relationships as facilitated by the GECOM and GNYC to The ‘Ink It Up’ Voter Education tour bus (Adrian Narine photo)

provide a platform for civic engagement and learning focused on the electoral process,” the GNYC stated.

The GNYC has been working closely with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) regarding its materials while it is constantly promoting its messages through radio, social media and its voter education booth. At the function, it was announced that Roderick Allicock was the winner of the ‘Ink It Up’ Campaign Jingle Competition and his original song will be played along the GNYC campaign.

GNYC’s overall national youth-led Civic and Vot-

er Education Campaign was launched earlier in February at Moray House under the theme “Ink It Up: Your Voice. Your Vote”. Trained young people are in the process of hosting Voters’ Villages in public spaces in a popup format. These pop-up events are being conducted at various marketplaces, bus parks and shopping malls geared at attracting high volumes of youth. It features games, mini-talks and mock polling stations to educate individuals on what happens on the day of elections and the voting process.

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Coalition makes strong ...

One way to change this, she said, was to ensure more women were empowered through education and were given the necessary tools in ICT. Many programmes were rolled out to ensure women were empowered in entrepreneurship, agriculture and ICT under the APNU-AFC Coalition, and she urged the women to ensure the progress continued come March 2nd.

“More and more we see our women taking up positions of leadership in society. We see our First Lady, Sandra Granger, leading the way in empowering women and young girls through STEM and giving women the right tools to enhance their businesses; we see our ministries being led by several female ministers; in our work force, more women are becoming engineers, pilots and now even taking up off shore positions in our oil and gas industry,” Hughes posited.

Minister Yearwood, focused on the spiritual aspect of women and al-

luded to several scriptures and biblical illustrations on how women stood strong and resolute and took up leadership roles in their spiritual assignments. She urged the women to remain the vanguard as they were faithfully and wonderfully made and were given the purpose to lead. “Our president and our prime minister and this government, they are depending on us,” Minister Yearwood urged the women.

The Green and Yellow Women Rally saw women decked out in fashionable attire and were treated to an evening of entertainment and laughter. Keeping the mood upbeat, were several performances of dance and song. Taking the spotlight, was a green and yellow fashion display, which saw six women walking away with electronic tablets.

The event was held under the theme, ‘Women in the vanguard.’

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Regal Masters retain Republic Cup honours …Cop Trophy Stall-sponsored trophy FROM BACK PAGE

middle-order as their team reached the imposing target.

Imtiaz Mohamed took two for 30 and skipper Wayne Jones two for 50.

Wellman Masters made a spirited reply but a middle-order collapse saw their run rate plummeting. Opener Hardat Heranandan led the way with a brilliant 58 (five fours and five sixes) while dominating an opening stand of 67 with Suresh Ramdeen whose contribution was nine.

Useful knocks were also recorded by Troy Lewis (26 with one four and three sixes) and Lloyd Ruplall (24 with one four and one six) as Eric Thomas took two for 18.

At the presentation ceremony which followed, Yusuf copped the trophy for the batsman with the most runs (88) while Fisherman’s Robert Mohan got the prize for claiming the most wickets (five).

President of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Incorporated, Ian John, who was joined at the presentation ceremony by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, pointed out that the weather was extremely kind to the players since the start of the 2020 season and with the ongoing preparation for next month’s Orlando Cup, this was very pleasing. John reminded that the day’s event was especially significant since it was held as part of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Republic anniversary celebrations.

He also expressed sincere thanks to Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall for his generous contribution in sponsoring all the trophies at stake, referring to his continued role in sports in general and his Medal of Service award which was fully justified.

John extended kudos to all the participating teams while thanking DCC for the uses of its facilities.

John also used the occasion to remind the spectators about the feature softball clash between Regal All Stars and Speedboat which forms part of the Government/Guyana Cricket Board Golden Republic T20 Bash set for Friday at the Guyana National Stadium.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Kobe, Kobe, Kobe;’ All-Star GFF name squad for CONCACAF leg of Gamecrowd pays FIFA U-20 Women’s tribute to fallen star

World Cup Qualifiers Guyana to open campaign against Nicaragua on February 23

Tributes were paid to Kobe Bryant during a pre-game ceremony with Jennifer Hudson singing while a montage of images were shown .(Getty Images)

By Brendan O’Brien CHICAGO (Reuters) Team LeBron beat Team Giannis by two points at the 69th NBA All-Star game on Sunday at a packed United Center that fell silent for eight seconds before tip-off as about 21,000 fans joined hands to pay their respects to global sports icon Kobe Bryant.

The silence was broken by a string of thunderous “Kobe, Kobe, Kobe,” chants that rocked the stadium as the crowd honored Bryant, who wore the No. 8 and No. 24 during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers that was highlighted by five National Basketball Association championships.

The stirring pre-game tribute began with Laker great Magic Johnson rousing the crowd and paying homage to Bryant, killed along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven victims in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Jan. 26.

“We will never see another basketball player quite like Kobe,” Johnson said, highlighting his work with the Los Angeles community along with the love he had for his family.

“This is a tough time for the whole NBA family.”

Johnson also paid tribute to former NBA Commissioner David Stern, who oversaw explosive growth in the popularity of the game during his 30-year tenure. Stern died on Jan. 1.

Before tip-off, the singer and actor Jennifer Hudson, who is a Chicago native, sang with a montage of photos of Bryant and his daughter in the background.

The game was a culmination of a weekend filled with tributes to the former Los Angeles Lakers star who was an 18-time All-Star and won the All-Star game’s MVP award four times.

On Friday, Bryant, who is fourth all-time in league scoring, was named a finalist to the Basketball Hall of Fame. On Saturday, the league’s commissioner, Adam Silver, announced

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that the league’s All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award has been permanently named for Bryant.

Bryant made his NBAAllStar Game debut in 1998 at age 19 – the youngest player to ever play in an All-Star Game. His 18 All-Star selections are the second-most in NBA history, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, at 19.

Players in Sunday’s AllStar game wore No. 2 and No. 24 on their jerseys to honor Kobe and Gianna Bryant, while the game’s format paid homage to Bryant.

The team with the most points after three quarters needed to score 24 points to win, while the trailing team had to score 24 plus the number of points it was down.

Team Giannis held a ninepoint lead over Team LeBron after three quarters, but the LeBron James-led side had the last laugh, outscoring Team Giannis 33-22 in the final period to clinch a 157-155 victory.

Team Giannis was headed

by Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Team LeBron’s Kawhi Leonard was named All-Star MVP after scoring 30 points, including eight three-pointers.

“Words can’t explain how happy I am for it,” Leonard said of winning the MVP trophy, now named after Bryant.

“Able to put that trophy in my room, in my trophy room, and just be able to see Kobe’s name on there, it just means a lot to me. He’s a big inspiration in my life.

He did a lot for me.”

DR Ivan Joseph, Head Coach of Guyana’s National Women’s U-20 team, yesterday announced his final roster for his up-coming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in The Dominican Republic.

Guyana has been placed in Group D with Mexico, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. With all of their matches slated for the Olimpico Felix Sánchez stadium, Guyana will kick things off against Nicaragua on Sunday, February 23, from 19:00 hrs.

The Guyanese women will return to action on Tuesday, February 25th against Puerto Rico at 16:00 hrs.

They will then wrap up their group stage matches against CONCACAF powerhouse, Mexico, on Thursday, February 27, at 19:00 hrs.

The final squad includes several debutants including Goalkeeper Raven Edwards-Dowdall, Midfielder Shanice Alfred, Forward Makayla Rudder and Defender Anaya Johnson. These four players join a contingent of players who helped Guyana qualify for the U-20 CONCACAF Championship for the first time in Guyana’s history.

Siacy Adams (Foxy Ladies), Shamaya Daniels (Fruta Conquerors) and Tiandi Smith (Fruta Conquerors) are the only locally-based players on the squad which is made up of players who are predominantly from the USA and Canadian collegiate.

The progress made by the women’s programme has been

notable with the U-20 and U-17 teams both advancing to the CONCACAF Championships.

Guyana’s U-20s begin their group matches on the 23rd of February against Nicaragua and are looking to have a strong enough showing to advance out of the group stages.

“The coaching staff and players have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming CONCACAF women’s under-20 championships,” said Coach Ivan when asked to comment on the team’s preparations so far.

“It is our hope that we will make our country and all our fans proud of our effort and commitment on the field. Mexico, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico are all formidable opponents in our opening Group D round-robin pool.

All three teams are ranked ahead of us in our pool with Mexico leading the way as the number two-ranked team in the tournament. We will need to play at our very best and hope to get a bounce or two in our direction to advance to the next round,” Joseph added.

In an invited comment, Paul Beresford, International Director of Women’s Programs, said much has been achieved since the relaunch of the women’s programme in 2017, “With the support of the GFF, we have seen significant progress in women’s football since the programme’s relaunch in 2017. From the senior team to the U-15s, the women’s teams continue to make history.

Additionally, we have seen excellent progress as we develop our young Guyana-based players who face very real obstacles to their development.”

According to CONCACAF, the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship will kick off with an initial group stage among 16 teams.

After round-robin play, the top three teams in each of the groups will advance to the knockout stage, joining the four qualifiers winners - Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada. All knockout round matches (round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal and final) will be played in a single match elimination format, with the finalist and the third-place match winner qualifying to the FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup 2020.

THE SQUAD: (Goalkeepers) Raven Edwards-Dowdall and Aneesa O’Brien. (Defenders) Brianne Desa, Jade Vyfhuis, Jessica Myers, Sydney Puddiecombe, Hailey David and Anaya Johnson. (Midfield) Siacy Adams, Kiana Khedoo, Serena Mc Donald, Jenea Knight, Audrey Narine, Tori DeNobrega, Shamaya Daniels and Samantha Banfield.

(Forwards) Nailah Rowe, Tiandi Smith, Shanice Alfred and Makayla Rudder.

Milo Schools Football tournament…

Twelve goals scored on day two THERE were a total of twelve goals scored as the Milo Schools Football competition continued on Sunday at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue .

In the first of the triple-header, the Bishops’ High went down 4-2 to Cummings Lodge Secondary.

Ronnel George scored a hat-trick in the 5th, 20th and 25th minutes to ensure that the East Coast side came out on top.

Lindley Bacchus added the icing to the cake in the 34th.

Bishops’ High had Linford Isles (54th) and Antone Herod (60th) on the scoresheet.

In the second game, Linden’s Christianburg Secondary were victorious over Golden Grove Secondary with a 2-1 margin.

Jermain Maison’s 16th minute goal along with Randy Pickering’s 65th minute strike ensured that the defending champions got off to the right start.

Golden Grove had Calvin Richmond (46th) on target.

In the final game of the afternoon, Lodge Secondary were winners against Ann’s Grove Secondary 2-1.

Lodge Secondary benefitted from a brace

by Shemroy Myers (4th and 53rd) while Mark Roberts scored for Ann’s Grove.

Matches continue next weekend The tournament is also sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health under its stop gender-based violence campaign.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

P&P Insurance throws support behind Lodge Secondary School football team AS they continue with their longstanding corporate sponsorship of sports in Guyana, P&P Insurance Brokers has once again come on board to sponsor the Lodge Secondary School team at this year’s Milo Inter Secondary School Under-18 Football Tournament, which commenced last Saturday.

P&P Insurance is sponsoring the outfits for the team. Expressing gratitude to the company for its support, coach for the team, Leon Bishop, noted that P&P In-

surance has been a longstanding sponsor of the school’s teams over the years.

“It’s a company that always supports us when we call. Over the years they have been supportive to us; about several times a year they would support us financially, or with kit and equipment that we need, whatever we ask for they usually support.

We are grateful for the support because it means that the guys on the team can focus and don’t have to worry about what they’ll wear; they know that they’ll have their

clothes,” Bishop shared Executive Director of P&P Insurance Brokers, Vikash Panday, noted the importance of sports being played at a very competitive level at a young age, pledged his support towards the team, and wished them the best of luck.

Former champions, Lodge Secondary, is one of 21 schools taking part in the annual event, which is celebrating its eight hosting this year. Over the years, Lodge Secondary has made it to four of the finals, winning the title

in 2014.

As a finalist in last year’s competition, the team lost to Linden’s Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary School (CWSS).

“Since we were the losing finalist of last year’s tournament, we’re pushing to bring it home this year around. I feel confident going forward, and the guys are confident that we will win this tournament.

We have been training hard every day. We will go out there and execute our plans to show the nation

Representative from P&P Insurance Brokers, Anupa Lall (right) hands over the uniforms to Lodge Secondary goalkeeper, Rashad Roberts.

we are one of the top football schools in Guyana and

prove our worth,” Bishop stated.

Du Plessis steps down as South Africa captain in all formats

By Nick Said

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Faf du Plessis has quit as South Africa captain across all three formats of cricket, but will remain available for selection, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Monday.

Du Plessis says he wants to take a step back from captaincy to allow a new generation of leaders to develop in the side, with the 35-year-old admitting earlier this year he was not looking at his future in international cricket beyond the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in

Faf du Plessis has quit as South Africa captain across all three formats.

October.

Du Plessis was rested for the recent One-Day International and Twenty20 series against England, where South

Africa were led by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

“As the team heads into a new direction with new leaders and a young crop of players, I feel it will be in the best interests of South African cricket to relinquish the captaincy in all formats,” Du Plessis said in a statement.

“This was one of the toughest decisions to make, but I remain fully committed to supporting Quinton,” he added.

Du Plessis has come under increasing pressure in recent months after a disappointing 50-over World Cup

in England last year was followed by a test series thrashing in India and a 3-1 home loss to England in January.

His form with the bat has been poor as well, averaging just 20.92 in his last 14 test innings, which has led to his place in the side being questioned.

De Kock has been given public backing as an intelligent leader by South Africa coach Mark Boucher, and it appears he will take over on a permanent basis from Du Plessis in all three formats, though CSA have yet to confirm this.

“After the 2019 ICC World Cup, I made the deci-

sion to continue in my role as captain while the team went through a rebuilding phase,” Du Plessis continued.

“It was important to me that I stayed to help the team find its feet and plot a new way forward, while assisting in identifying the next generation of leaders within the players’ group during a time of turbulence in SA cricket.”

Du Plessis says his decision to quit is a “selfless” act for the greater good of the team.

“In a perfect world I would have loved to lead the team in the Tests for the rest of the

season as well as the T20 World Cup, but sometimes the most important attribute of a leader is to be selfless.

“I am healthy, fit, energised and motivated and certainly see myself playing an important role in the squad. I remain committed to play in all three formats of the game for now and will offer my knowledge and time to the new leaders of the team.”

South Africa will later in the day name their squad for the three-match T20 series at home versus Australia that starts on Friday.

Mumbai Indians to host CSK in IPL 2020 opener on March 29 THE first match of the 2020 IPL will be a repeat of last year’s final with defending champions the Mumbai Indians taking on the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29.

The tournament will start only 11 days after India’s home ODI series against South Africa ends on March 18 in Kolkata. The IPL will release the schedule for the knockouts later, but the final is scheduled for May 24.

Although the IPL is yet to make an official announcement, ESPNcricinfo has seen the schedule that was sent to the franchises, with only the league phase dates out yet. The last league game is scheduled for May 17, between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai in Bengaluru.

In a first, the IPL has decided not to have any double-headers on Saturdays.

Flashback: Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni pose with the IPL Trophy before the toss (BCCI)

There will be three matches over the weekends with double-headers now only limited to Sundays, except on March 29 and May 17 - the opening and closing dates of the league phase - when only one match is scheduled.

To accommodate the extra matches which originally would have been held on Saturdays at 4pm, the IPL has added

an extra week to the league phase, which will now stretch to 50 days compared to last year’s 44.

The IPL had also decided recently to stick to evening matches commencing at 8pm IST despite reservations from host broadcaster Star Sports, which was sceptical about games stretching past midnight. The afternoon match-

es will start at 4pm IST, as usual.

Barring the Rajasthan Royals, all the other seven franchises have retained their original home bases. The Royals, who start the tournament last, on April 2 in Chennai, have shortlisted a second home venue in Guwahati where they want to host their second and third matches, scheduled for April 5 (against the Delhi Capitals) and April 9 (against the Kolkata Knight Riders).

However, officials from the Rajasthan Cricket Association, which owns the Jaipur ground that has been the first home base of the Royals, has objected to the franchise picking Guwahati as the second home venue and has filed pleas in the court.

One of the possible reasons for the Royals starting their tournament last could be

around the availability of their key overseas players, including captain Steven Smith, allrounder Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler.

With England’s two-match Test series in Sri Lanka scheduled to be played between March 19 and 31, the ECB had told the IPL authorities that the English players would be available from April 1.

Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket, too, had also informed the IPL that their players would be available only after March 30 their last T20I is scheduled for March 29 in Christchurch.

Some of the Australian players will also feature in the Sheffield Shield final which is scheduled from March 27-31.

Despite the RM Lodha Committee recommending that there be a fortnight’s break between any international cricket played by India and the IPL, the

2020 edition will have only an 11 days’ gap. Last year, India’s last international match - an ODI against Australia on March 13 - was played only 10 days before the IPL opener, but the Committee of Administrators, that ran the BCCI then, had allowed it as an exception as it was a World Cup year.

It is not yet known when exactly the IPL will schedule the All Stars match, which is likely to be held three days before the tournament begins. The all-star fixture will comprise players from all eight franchises, likely to be formed with players from the four franchises in the north and east of India - Kings XI Punjab, the Capitals, the Royals and the Knight Riders - and the other four teams in the south and west - the Super Kings, the Royal Challengers, the Sunrisers and Mumbai (ESPN Cricinfo).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Bravo hundred in vain as Windies lose opening warm-up COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, (CMC) – A fluent Darren Bravo hundred was not enough to prevent West Indies from defeat as they went down by two wickets to a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in the first of two tour matches here Monday.

Opting to bat first, West Indies were dismissed for 282 with two balls remaining, with Bravo top-scoring with exactly 100 off 88 deliveries before calling time on his innings.

Sunil Ambris and Nicholas Pooran both struck 41 while Fabien chipped in with 28 but the Caribbean side lost six wickets and managed only 59 runs inside the last 10 overs of the innings.

Left-hander Darren Bravo goes on the attack during his century on Monday.

Teenaged left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka finished with three for 47 while newball partner, 22-year-old pacer Asitha Fernando, picked up two for 17.

In reply, the hosts lost two wickets in the opening over from Sheldon Cottrell (2-22) with just one run on the board but recovered through captain Upul Tharanga’s high class 120 to reach their target with 15 deliveries to spare.

Tharanga rebuilt the innings in concert with Asela Gunaratne (64), the pair putting on 198 for the third wicket to take the game away from the Windies.

When both perished 14 deliveries apart, the home side still

required 72 runs from 91 balls and Thikshila DeSilva, with an unbeaten 25, and Lahiru Igalagamage, 22, produced cameos to see their side over the line.

Leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr (2-52) and left-arm spinner Fabien Allen (2-62) also claimed two wickets each but proved expensive.

West Indies had earlier endured a nightmare start as well, losing both openers Shai Hope and Brandon King without scoring to slump to three runs for two wickets in the third over.

However, Bravo arrived to settle the innings, putting on 113 for the third with Ambris and a further 79 for the fourth with Pooran.

Left-hander Bravo, recalled to the side after being dropped last September, counted 14 fours and a six before he retired in the 34th over.

Ambris had earlier perished in the 23rd over after striking three fours off 63 balls, lbw to 18-year-old leg-spinner Kavindu Nadeeshan.

Pooran was exhilarating, smashing a couple of fours and sixes in a 38-ball cameo before retiring at the end of the 34th over but his departure led to the innings losing momentum.

Cottrell gave the visitors a sensational start, trapping Sandun Weerakkody lbw with his third delivery without a

run on the board and then also removing Pathum Nissanka to a catch at the wicket also without scoring with the fifth delivery.

But the experienced Tharanga struck 16 fours and a six off 124 deliveries while Gunaratne faced 75 balls and counted seven fours, to successfully revive the run chase.

West Indies will play their second tour match on Thursday against a Sri Lanka Board President’s XI in Negombo before facing Sri Lanka in the opening One-Day International of the threematch series at the Sinhalese Sports Club here Saturday.

St Lucia Zouks sold to K.P.H Dream Private Cricket

THE St Lucia Zouks have been sold to K.P.H Dream Private Cricket, a group of investors with extensive experience in high-profile cricket, the Caribbean Premier League has announced.

K.P.H. Dream Cricket Private Limited is based in India and are knowledgeable owners who have a track record of success on and off the field in major events. They will bring a huge amount of experience to the tournament and to the St Lucian team.

The Zouks have been part of the CPL since the league’s

Chief Operating Officer of the Hero CPL Peter Russell

inception making the playoffs during the 2016 season. They play their home games at the Daren Sammy International Cricket Ground, a stadium named after the man who has captained them for six of their seven seasons. Last year the Zouks team featured Sammy, Fawad Ahmed, Rahkeem Cornwall, Andre Fletcher, Colin de Grandhomme and Thisara Perera.

“We are excited at the opportunity to invest in one of the most exciting sporting tournaments in the world, and we have been impressed

by the vibrancy of CPL over the last seven years,” said Mohit Burman of K.P.H. Dream Cricket Private Limited.

“We visualise taking the franchise to the next level and showcasing St Lucia in the best possible light over the coming years.”

Pete Russell, Chief Operating Officer of the Hero CPL, said they are buoyed by the development: “We are hugely excited to welcome this ownership team to the CPL family and we are looking forward to seeing

where they take the Zouks during the upcoming season and beyond,” Russell said.

“They bring with them a wealth of experience which is fantastic news for both the CPL and St Lucia as a whole. During the 2019 tournament, the CPL made a positive economic impact of US$13,670,260 in St Lucia and this new ownership group will be working hard to see this figure increase.”

Meanwhile, St Lucia’s Prime Minister, the Hon. Allen Chastanet has greeted the new owners with open arms.

“I welcome the new own-

ers of the Saint Lucia Zouks and hope that their new energy and drive will inspire the team to excel,” the Prime Minister said.

“Saint Lucians continue to root for the Zouks and we are encouraged by the confidence that Mr Mohit Burman and his team have placed in the players and Saint Lucia.

The Government of Saint Lucia looks forward to working closely with the new owners to create a team we can all be proud of.”

Scorpions shoot up to third in Regional Four-Day standings BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – After going without a win for the first three rounds of the Regional Four-Day Championship, Jamaica Scorpions have shot up to third in the standings following their second consecutive victory on Sunday.

Scorpions defeated Leeward Islands Hurricanes by five wickets in a thrilling finish to their fifth round encounter at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium, when the contest seemed

headed for a draw.

Set 137 to win off 20 overs late in the final session, Scorpions reached their target with 14 balls to spare, with Nkrumah Bonner hammering a whirlwind unbeaten 66 off 47 balls.

The victory, coming on the heels of a shock seven-run verdict over Guyana Jaguars in the fourth round in Georgetown, lifted Scorpions to 57.4 points – less than four points behind the five-time reigning champions

Scorpions Nkrumah Bonner hammered an unbeaten 66 off 47 balls

on 60.8.

Ironically, Scorpions and Jaguars will clash in the sixth

round starting February 27 at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium, with a win for the hosts moving them into second spot.

Jaguars endured frustration last weekend when they were held to a draw by Windward Islands Volcanoes, thanks to final-day unbeaten hundreds from veteran opener Devon Smith and captain Kavem Hodge.

That result, however, kept Volcanoes on Scorpions’ heels

in fourth on 50 points. Volcanoes have won just once this season and drawn three times, and face a difficult trip to leaders Barbados Pride in the next round.

Pride, meanwhile, established themselves as the clear leaders with a dominant 299run crushing of Trinidad and Tobago Red Force early on Sunday’s final day at Kensington Oval.

The victory was their fourth consecutive win fol-

lowing their shock opening round loss to Volcanoes at Arnos Vale and it moved them to 84.2 points at the top.

Red Force lie fifth on 46.6 while Hurricanes, with who losses on the trot, sit bottom of the six-team table on 32.6 points. They take on Red Force in Basseterre in the next round.

UEFA cuts 15 seconds off VAR reviews in the Champions League ZURICH (Reuters) UEFA says it has shaved 15 seconds off the average time it takes for the VAR system to correct a decision in the Champions League this season, with the average down to one minute 30 seconds.

The head of UEFA’s referees’ committee Roberto Rosetti said he was very happy with the way the technology had been used in the competition

but stressed that it was only for “clear and obvious” mistakes.

The European soccer body said that in 108 playoff round and group stage matches so far, 27 decisions had been corrected by the VAR system, an average of one every four games.

“This shows the quality of the referees’ performances,” said Rosetti.

“In addition, we feel that

the time taken to overturn a decision is important. So far this season, the average time for the correction of a decision has been one minute 30 seconds – 15 seconds less than last season.”

The use of VAR in some domestic leagues, particularly England’s Premier League, has been widely criticised with suggestions that the video officials in some countries

now have more power than those on the pitch.

Many critics feel that it has gone beyond its original remit with goals being disallowed for the tiniest of infringements such as a player being offside by an armpit.

“I would emphasise once more that – in compliance with its protocol - VAR is only for clear and obvious mistakes, and not for controver-

sial situations,” said Rosetti, emphasising that the official on the pitch should have the final call.

“Football needs good referees above all – match officials with a strong personality on the field of play, who take correct and courageous decisions.”

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has been among the critics over the way VAR has been used in some leagues,

saying it was changing the character of the sport.

UEFA confirmed that VAR would be used in the knockout stages of the Europa League for the first time this season, and also for the Euro 2020 playoff matches in March as well as the final tournament itself.

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Bentley remembered as Heroic, Iconic

FORMER National Cyclist, Jude Bentley, was remembered as iconic and heroic at a moving funeral service on Sunday at World Vision New Testament Church of God in David Street, Kitty.

The service, which saw several moving tributes to his professional, personal and sporting life, left little a dry eye.

The former National cyclist, who was struck down by former chief-of-staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Gary Best, Saturday last, was laid to rest a week later.

President of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Linden Dowridge, in an invited comment, stated that the sport has lost an icon in Bentley.

He said the sport must seek to carry on the legacy left by Bentley.

The owner of Bentley’s cycle shop on Robb Street was

A cyclist bursts into tears at the spot where Jude Bentley lost his life The convoy of cyclists, motorcyles and vehicles accompanying the body of former National cyclist Jude Bentley (Elvin Croker photos)

remembered as a man who helped many in large and small ways and touched the lives of many of the current cyclists.

Some recounted stories where Bentley gifted several

young cyclists gear to compete in races around the country, often times offering them at payment plans with little or no interest.

MOU for cycling

Following the cyclist’s death, The National Sport Commission (NSC) and the National Parks Commission (NPC) and the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) signed a Memorandum

of Understanding.

The MoU, according to the media, was drafted to allow for the country’s cyclists to utilise the inner circuit of the National Park for training in the evenings.

The director of sport, Christopher Jones, was quoted as saying that the MoU seeks to

provide support to the cycling community, those who use the park.

Proper signage and other manner of warnings will be erected around the park to allow for patrons who also use the park, to be alerted.

The document will be in memory of Bentley

GMR&SC circuit season opens with a bang TENSE battles ensued on Sunday as the first round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s National Race of Champions got going.

Sunday’s opening round of the championship set the stage for an exciting year of racing.

On the Street tuner end of things, Raymond Seebarran had a constant jostle with Narine

Dasrat.

Seebarran picked up one first-place finish with Dasrat picking up the other two wins as the charge to that title resumes.

Azad Hassan was also in the mix, snagging a second and a third.

On the sport tuner end of things, Mohamed Ahmad

picked up where he left off last year, dominating that class.

The highly\-anticipated group two fight fizzed out after Chet Singh moped the floor with the competition.

In the first race, Singh and Rameez Mohamed tore up the track in an enterprising battle but race two saw the latter falling out with clutch problems.

The group three belonged to Stefan Jeffrey and his Honda Civic which dominated the class. Jeffrey had an early battle with Danny Persaud who had to fall out after the first race with engine problems.

Still, the two long-time competitors, who shared laughs earlier in the day, lit up the track for half of the first race.

After that, there was little left for Jeffrey to do in the next race.

Group four had two wins from Rameez Mohamed and his Honda Integra after hometown hero, Andrew King, and Kristian Jeffrey both dropped out with problems in the first race.

King returned with a ven-

geance in the second race to sweep the floor with the competition and then opted out of the last race.

Presentation of prizes took place at the Windjammer Banquet Hall in Kitty last evening.

Simmons latest addition to upcoming Golden Republic T20 Bash FLASHY West Indies batsman, Lendl Simmons, joins Rayad Emrit as the next high-profile International T20 star confirmed for the Golden Republic T20 Bash set for February 21, 2020, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Simmons, the West Indies opener and one of the more reputable T20 guns-for-hire,

was confirmed as the latest addition to the upcoming event set to mark Guyana’s 50 th Republic anniversary celebrations.

All-rounder Emrit is considered a limited-overs specialist with his skill-set earning him places in many franchise teams globally, while Simmons is an attacking top-order batsman who

was part of the West Indies T20 side that won the title in India in 2018.

Both players are no strangers to local fans having played a number of seasons for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League with tremendous success.

The Golden Republic T20 Bash will see two excit-

ing matches for all cricket fans to enjoy as Guyana celebrates 50 years as a Republic on February 23.

In the first game starting at 14.00hrs, national softball champions Regal All-Star will take on the up and coming Ariel Speed Boat All Stars, followed by the feature event at 18:00hrs (6:00 pm) when Hetmyer Hurricanes

take on Rutherford Renegades.

The event is organised by the Guyana Cricket Board in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Cohesion Department of Culture Youth and Sport.

Lendl Simmons

Persaud’s half-century leads McGill Super Stars to WDCA Beacon Café semis FORMER national U-19 skipper, Travis Persaud, scored a huge half-century to lead the McGill Super Stars Sports Club to a 152-run victory over the Windsor Forest Cricket Club when action in the West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA) Beacon Café 50-over cricket competition continued on Sunday.

The game, which was reduced to 40 overs because of a late start, was played at the Okoo Cricket ground in Canal

Number One. With the win, McGill have advanced to the semi-finals of the competition.

Although Persaud and fellow former national U-19 cricketer, Kheshram Seyhodan, (who bowled well after scoring 39) led the eventual winner; Avinash Ganesh kept Winsor Forest in the game with a five-wicket haul and 47 runs.

The visitors won the toss and opted to bowl, but the fa-

ther and son pair of Travis and captain Sudesh Persaud (16), pushed the side to 52 for the opening wicket. When Sudesh fell, Travis was joined by his younger brother, Troy, and they added a further 36 runs, before the younger Persaud (8) was trapped lbw to medium-pacer Abdullah Wazidali in the 16th over (88-2).

Travis continued to pick up the odd boundaries and rotated the strike nicely to bring up his fifty in the 18th

over. He and Seyhodan put together a 72-run partnership before he eventually fell for 85 (9x4s, 2x6s) caught at backward point off the bowling of Ganesh in the 27th over.

The medium-pacer took a further four wickets, including Seyhodan for 39 (6x4s) to finish with 5-36 from eight overs.

Kishan Tracy supported with 2-35 to help Windsor Forest bowl out McGill in 39.5 overs for 247.

Needing to score at 6.2

runs per over, WFCC started at a run a ball in the first four overs of their innings, but pacer Diquan Murray sent back opener Wazidali (24) in the seventh over (35-1). Murray then uprooted the stumps of Deoram Chanderbir the next ball (35-2).

Kellon Tracy and Ganesh rebuilt the innings with a 42-run third-wicket partnership, before Tracy (8) was caught at long on, off the bowling of Razack (72-3 in the 17th over).

Although Ganesh struck five sixes and a four in a teamhigh 47 runs, Windsor Forest could not keep up with the pace and succumbed for a meagre 95 all out in the 26th over.

Seyhodan finished with 3-27 from seven overs, while Murray took 2-21 from three overs.

With the win, McGill move on to 26 points and the top spot in Group B.

GFF name squad for CONCACAF leg of FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers

40

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Guyana to open campaign against Nicaragua on February 23 PAGE

36 Lady Jags’ Serena McDonald (#8) dribbles by Suriname’s captain Cady Chin-See-Chong during Guyana’s 3-1 win at the National Track and Field Centre in the CONCACAF U-20 Qualifier tournament. (Samuel Maughn Photo)

Regal Masters retain Republic Cup

…Cop Trophy Stall-sponsored trophy

The victorious Regal Masters team and supporters.

AFTER enduring a somewhat lean start to the 2020 season, albeit by their lofty standards, defending Republic Cup champions, Regal Masters, reserved their best showing for the annual tournament to emerge emphatic winners when the four-team competition was staged on Sunday at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown.

First, they knocked out nemesis, Wellman Masters, in the semi-final then made light work of Fisherman in the Trophy Stall-sponsored 20-over affair. The experienced Fisherman side turned back the challenge of newcomers, East Coast Masters.

Set a challenging 140 for victory, after limiting Fisherman to 139 for six in their allotted 20 overs, Regal Masters reached the required target in 17.3 overs, much to the delight of their supporters.

The eventual winners were rocked back in the second over, being reduced to six for two, losing the wickets of skipper Man-of-the-match in the final, Tyrone Mahendra Hardyal (one) and the experi- Sanasie receives his prize from Minister of enced Ramesh Deonarine (0), both being Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan bowled by D. Khanan.

The consistent Uniss Yusuf (52) and battled back into contention. The no-nonformer national player, David Harper sense Yusuf blasted eight fours and two (23), however, steadied the innings with a sixes in his fine knock while Harper’s inthird-wicket stand of 59 as Regal Masters nings included a solitary four. Khemchand

Deonarine also contributed a valuable 23 (3x4s).

At 106 for six in the 12th over, Fisherman were still in with an outside chance but this was snuffed out by an unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership of 34 between Mohendra Arjune (17) and Rudolph Baker (15) as Regal Masters eased to a comfortable victory. R. Rohan and S. Mohabir finished with two for 22 each while Khanan, who did the early damage, claimed two for 29.

Earlier, Fisherman were led to their respectable total through a courageous unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership of 78 from Mohabir (33) and D. Mangru (31) after they were tottering on 61 for six in the ninth over.

Both batsmen struck a four and two sixes each as manof-the-match, Tyrone Sanasie, grabbed three for 23 and Laurie Singh two for 37.

In the opening high-scoring encounter, a swashbuckling 84 from Deonarine, which included four fours and nine towering sixes, led Regal Masters to a commanding 240 for six in their allotted 20 overs with Wellman Masters replying with 187 for seven, going down by 53 runs.

Deonarine and Hardyal (33) shared a second-wicket partnership of 101 following the early loss of Mahesh Chunilall (03); with Hardyal stroking two four and two sixes in his supporting role.

Baker, who spanked a quick-fire unbeaten 37 with five sixes and a four and Yusuf with 36 (three fours and three sixes) shored up the TURN TO PAGE

35

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Milo Schools Football tournament…

Twelve goals scored on day two 36 PAGE

Part of the Milo schools football action last weekend.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020