Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_02_19_2020

WEDNESDAY 19th February, 2020

’

‘It’s mischievous’

No.105915

… GECOM commissioners roast PPP for false claims on use of private residences as polling stations … Carter Centre had recommended reduction of such facilities

‘We’ll abolish piracy’

… President promises Berbicians PAGE stepped-up fight against crime 03 … urges support for coalition second term

PAGE

02

Guyana lifting first million barrels 11 of profit oil PAGE

–– GRA, GNBS on board FPSO to oversee transfer

‘PPP has drifted from the Jaganite ideology’ 18 PAGE

… says Joey Jagan as he urges support for coalition

GECOM making provisions for electors offshore to vote 17

Partners and media operatives signing the banner to indicate their commitment to joining the campaign to bring awareness to road safety (Adrian Narine photo) PAGE

Thousands of Berbicians on Tuesday night joined the APNU+AFC coalition during a rally at Corriverton

2

‘It’s mischievous’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

… GECOM commissioners roast PPP on false claims on use of private residences as polling stations … Carter Centre had recommended reduction in use of such facilities

By Lisa Hamilton

AN attempt by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to spark public confusion by making a false claim that private residences will no longer be used as polling stations on polling day was thwarted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday.

PPP/C Executive and Former Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall was chastised for making the false claim on his Facebook page on Monday, which received over 200 shares by possible party supporters.

The misinformation was also picked up and spread by some media houses which failed to verify Nandlall’s claims.

“GECOM has made a decision to only use public buildings as polling stations,” Nandlall said in the public post.

“It will cause confusion, chaos, tremendous hardship and inconvenience on polling day, because some communities which have thousands of voters, only have one or two public buildings, whilst others have many public buildings. This inequitable distribution of polling places is discriminatory in so far as it gives electorates in certain communities’ easier access to voting places than others.”

He went as far as to draw his claim to the attention of international observer missions,

stating that the now debunked non-use of private residences “amounts to [voter] suppression.”

However, coming out of the commission’s statutory meeting on Tuesday, both government-nominated Commissioner Vincent Alexander and opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj stated that the information is false.

“It’s mischievous,” Alexander said. “All

Commissioner Sase Gunraj

private residences have not been removed.

The fact of the matter is that if you can’t find a public place, then you don’t have an option [but to use private residences].”

Meanwhile, Gunraj said: “Private residences are being used. Private residences are still being used. We have not been able to eliminate it totally. What I am saying is the use of private residences ought not to be eliminated totally if a proper alternative is not available.”

While GECOM believes, in principle, that private residences ought not to be used, there are many unavoidable cases.

USE OF PRIVATE RESIDENCES Earlier in the month, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield had announced that there would be 2,352 polling stations, inclusive of 131 private residences, of which 91 of the private residences are in Region Four.

However, moving towards the ideal, GECOM is making a special effort to reduce the number of private residences used as polling places.

The commission has made the list of private-residence polling places available to political parties and they have been using their own intelligence to highlight residences they may have an issue with due to real or perceived political affiliation.

Alexander said that already, the number of private residences have been “reduced significantly,” when compared to past numbers of several hundreds.

The reduction remains important as Guyana has been affected in the past by the violent retaliation of citizens on Elections Day, who believed that a ballot box at a private residence was being compromised.

In May 2015, following the close of polls, civil unrest flared in ‘C’ Field, Sophia with the burning of vehicles outside the home of Pastor, Narine Khublall --- a staunch PPP/C supporter --- when reports were spread that he was storing ballot boxes on his premises.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) were called to the scene to calm the high emotions of electors who felt that their democratic right was being violated.

The 2015 edition of the Guyana Chronicle reported that the “staunch PPP/C supporter” said that over the 18 years he lived in the community he’d never had a dispute with any of his neighbours over his or their political affiliation.

“During the time I lived there for 18 years my neighbours and I, we had a very good relationship,” said Pastor Khublall.

When Khublall and another resident were a year later called before the court for discharging several rounds of ammunition in the air from unlicensed firearms on the 2015 Election Day, they were represented by Nandlall and former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.

On May 27, 2015 in an Elections Observer Mission report, the Carter Center --- which has observed Guyana’s elections on several occasions ---- urged the commission to make a special effort to reduce the number of private residences being used as polling stations.

“On May 11, elections were conducted in 2,299 polling stations across the country, with a maximum of 400 voters per polling station.

Because of the lack of state establishments in some areas, 166 (or seven per cent) of these stations were located in private buildings and residences.

Commissioner Vincent Alexander While the establishment of polling stations on private property did not seem to negatively influence public confidence in the electoral process, The Carter Center recommends that GECOM take steps in future elections to ensure that citizens can cast their ballots in a neutral environment free from intimidation,” the report stated.

POLLING STATIONS CONCENTRATION However, while in support of scrutiny of the list of private residences for possible political affiliation, the opposition-nominated commissioners are also complaining about possible overcrowding of polling stations.

Commissioner Gunraj claimed that the removal will result in the “concentration of polling stations” in some areas, whereby there are several polling stations at one polling place.

GECOM does not intend to have the average number of electors per polling station go beyond 450. Gunraj said that the commission has committed to looking into the concern.

Section 6 (4) of the Representation of the People Act, (Cap 1:03) provides that, “Where the chief elections officer is satisfied that it is impracticable to appoint a polling place within any division or any part thereof, he may appoint some other place in any other division within the same district as a polling place at which electors of the first-mentioned division or part thereof shall be entitled to vote.”

On this basis, Alexander said: “Unless the secretariat determines that it would be inconvenient to use those public buildings, we shall retain those public buildings…

GECOM has to have a standard operation. It cannot discriminate in terms of how you treat one set of people as opposed to how you treat another set of people.”

Even with the issues highlighted, Alexander said that “the entire spectrum” of polling places has not been affected and therefore the commission remains on track for the coming elections.

Commissioner Gunraj said: “All of these issues, whatever issues, they have to be resolved for the holding of elections and, as far as I can see and the assurances that have been provided to us by the CEO, is that whatever issues that have been raised will be resolved in a timely manner.”

With E-Day only 12 days away, it is hoped that this specific matter will be resolved in one week’s time; any changes made will be made available to the public.

‘We’ll abolish piracy’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

3

…President promises Berbicians stepped-up fight against crime …to launch Regional Action Plan for Security

By Nafeeza Yahya PRESIDENT David Granger, on Tuesday, made a strong pitch to the residents of Corentyne for re-election of his coalition, telling a large gathering of his achievements and his proposal to create more opportunities for youth and strengthening the education system.

The President also spoke about launching a Regional Action Plan for Security in all the administrative regions, which he said will address a range of areas including the fight against piracy and the smuggling of contraband. At the APNU+AFC final major rally in Region Six before the March 02 elections,the President explained that as a visionary, he has put systems in place for every region. “A leader leads, the fake complains, that is what the fake people do and the young people will have a good life under the APNU+ AFC,” President Granger, who is seeking a second term in office, told the mammoth crowd.

He noted that the PPP-controlled Regional Democratic Council has been refusing to implement the programmes of the government because “they don’t want the coalition government to look good.” He made mention of the National Youth Corps located at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre on the Soesdyke- Linden Highway. He promised that over the next 10 years some 10,000 youths will be trained in various skills at the facility. The President continued and spoke about the (Rural Agriculture Infrastructure Development) Programme which is being implemented under the Ministry of Communities by a minister he specifically appointed to look after issues affecting farmers such as drainage and irrigation issues, especially in Black Bush Polder, and to help bolster the village economies in the 205 villages in Region Six. President Granger was keen to note that these projects are not election gimmicks as they are already being implemented nationwide.

SUGAR AND PPP Touching on the thorny issue of sugar, the Guyanese leader highlighted that the industry was destroyed by the PPP and under-

scored that the coalition has managed, against great odds, to keep three mega estates up and running and has kept 10,000 sugar workers in employment as the government is working to restructure the industry. “We did not shut down the East Berbice sugar estate, it is functioning. We did not shut down the West Berbice Estate, it is functioning; we did not shut down the West Demer-

dle a canoe which is why he implemented the ‘Bs’ programme. He noted that Region Six alone has five of the 30 ‘David G School buses’ and they can expect more. He also put to rest the issue regarding cash grants.

“Some people are worried about the cash grant but our government has accepted the cash grants and we will ensure that parents who keep their children

SECURITY FOR ALL REGIONS “I want your children, our grandchildren, to grow up in decent houses in decent communities. That is why I changed the name of the Ministry of Local Gov-

President David Granger greets supporters at the rally

ara Estate it is functioning, it is the PPP that shut down the East Demerara Estate. We are restructuring and saving the sugar industry so do not be fooled.”

Touching on other projects, the President noted that while the opposition seeks to mislead the public, the facts are that young people have benefitted significantly from programmes that were implemented by the coalition administration. “We established the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HYES) and so far over 3800 young people have benefitted from that programme; we established the Sustainable Livelihood Entrepreneur Development (SLED) Programme and so far 2500 young people have benefitted. We are working for young people, we are working for employment and this is what we will continue to do until we banish unemployment from this country,” President Granger told the rally.

Moving on to the education sector, the President reiterated that he does not want any child to walk four to five miles to get to school or have to pad-

in school will get grants to keep their children in school. Every child will benefit. You heard about the school feeding programme, we will ensure your child does not go to school hungry, once your child gets to school we will make sure he or she has a warm breakfast so that they don’t have to fall asleep during the classes, they will be able to follow their lessons.” He continued that Region Six has some 25

President David Granger addressing the rally at Corriverton

squatter settlements and he will work towards regularising same so that the future generations can grow up in decent homes.

ernment to the Ministry of Communities.”

Furthermore, on the area of security, the President announced that the Commission of Inquiry, headed by Dr. Rishi Thakur, that was established to investigate the dreaded piracy attack, has been completed and the recommendations will be implemented while vowing that his administration will put an end to the deadly attacks on the fisherfolk. “From the

time we got in there were so many piracy attacks, housewives did not know if their husbands will return home, fishermen did not know if they will see their wives again. We started a rigorous programme of air patrols, a rigorous programme of maritime patrols and we practically abolished piracy... and Dr. Rishi Thakur, last week, presented his report and we will implement that report and this APNU+AFC government will abolish piracy in Region Six,” the President, a retired brigadier, said.

He further stated that he has a regional action plan for security that will make the entire region safe for all. “Every day we think about the safety of Region Six and the mounted police are patrolling the backdams, we are going to improve the maritime police to ensure the rivers are patrolled and the coast is patrolled.” He

said during his administration’s Decade of Development, they will restore the aviation wing of the Guyana Police Force so that they can fly over the coastlands… so we have a regional action plan for security, you can call it RAPS if you like. I got a name for everything but I make it work and this region is going to be safe for housewives, it is going to be safe against bandits, it is going to be safe against murders.”

These promises the President explained are not mere election gimmicks, but are based on tangible performance over the past four years that will improve further as they continue into the Decade of Development and encouraged residents to vote once more for the government to continue and take control of Guyana and Region Six so that the progress can continue.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

China sees fall in coronavirus deaths, WHO urges caution, Apple and markets take hit BEIJING/GENEVA (Reuters) - China reported its fewest new coronavirus infections since January on Tuesday and its lowest daily death toll for a week, but the World Health Organization said data suggesting the epidemic had slowed should still be viewed with caution.

The head of a leading hospital in China’s central city of Wuhan, epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, died of the disease, becoming one of the most prominent victims since the disease first appeared at the end of last year.

Illustrating the impact of the

outbreak on worldwide growth and corporate profits, oil prices tumbled and equity markets slid after Apple Inc issued a revenue warning due to the disruption the disease is causing to global supply chains. Chinese officials reported 1,886 new cases - the first time the daily figure has fallen below 2,000 since Jan. 30 - bringing the mainland China total to 72,436. A figure of 98 new deaths marked the first time the daily toll in China had fallen below 100 since Feb. 11, bringing the total to 1,868.

World Health Organization

Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Chinese data “appears to show a decline in new cases” but any apparent trend “must be interpreted very cautiously”. Outside China, there have been 827 cases of the disease, known as COVID-19, and five deaths, according to a Reuters count based on official statements. More than half of those cases have been on a cruise ship quarantined off Japan.

Tedros said there had been 92 cases of human-to-human spread of the coronavirus in 12 countries outside China but the WHO did not have the data to make meaningful comparisons to what was going on in China.

“We have not seen sustained local transmission of coronavirus except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship,” he said.

China says figures indicating a slowdown in new cases in

recent days show that aggressive steps it has taken to curb travel and commerce are slowing the spread of the disease beyond central Hubei province and its capital, Wuhan. The WHO’s Mike Ryan said China had had success with “putting out the fire” first in Hubei and ensuring that people returning to Beijing from the Lunar New Year holiday are monitored.

The numbers appear encouraging, said Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at Britain’s University of Edinburgh, who described himself as cautious.

“Though it is unrealistic to reduce the transmission rate to zero it may have been reduced to a level where the epidemic is brought under control,” Woolhouse said. “It may be that the epidemic is simply running its natural course, and is starting to run out of new people to infect.

It could also be that the unprec-

edented public health measures introduced in China are having the desired effect.”

Chinese state television said Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, died on Tuesday, the seventh health worker to fall victim. The hospital was designated solely for treating virus-infected patients.

GLOBAL REPERCUSSIONS Despite global concerns about the economic impact of the disease, China’s ambassador to the European Union said on Tuesday this would be “limited, short-term and manageable” and that Beijing had enough resources to step in if needed.

Chinese state television quoted President Xi Jinping as saying China could still meet its economic growth target for 2020 despite the epidemic. Economists are warning of potential mass layoffs in China later this year if the virus is not contained soon.

“The employment situation is OK in the first quarter, but if the virus is not contained by end-March, then from the second quarter, we’ll see a big round of layoffs,” said Dan Wang, an analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Job losses could run as high as 4.5 million, he forecast.

Britain’s biggest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover, has flown Chinese parts in suitcases to Britain to maintain production

and could run out after two weeks because of the coronavirus. Components made in China are used in millions of vehicles assembled around the world and Hubei province is a major hub for vehicle parts production and shipments.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the economy there was in an emergency situation and required stimulus as the epidemic had disrupted demand for South Korean goods.

Ryan said the WHO had “prioritised supplies” of protective equipment for reclusive North Korea, which is technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, at the same time as saying there was no indication of any coronavirus cases there.

Singapore announced a $4.5 billion financial package to help contain the outbreak in the city-state and weather its economic impact. Japan, where the economy was already shrinking and the epidemic has created fears of recession, the spread of the virus has prompted Tokyo to put limits on public crowds while some companies are telling employees to work from home. And, starting on Thursday, Russia will suspend entry of Chinese citizens for employment, private, educational and tourist purposes, health authorities said, adding that the move would be temporary.

19-02-2020

01 06 10 18 19 23 4

B

14-02-2020

02 16 17 19 24

06 07 10 11 16

818

350

01 08 13 15 16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

Region 4 hosts STEAM Fair THE Department of Education, Region Four, on Tuesday, opened its biannual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) fair at the Golden Grove Secondary School on the East Coast of Demerara.

The fair continues today.

The two-day event which saw participants from more than 80 schools in the Demerara Mahaica region was held under the theme “Envisioning the Future through Innovation and STEAM- Decade of

Students and Teachers gathered at the Golden Grove Secondary School’s Auditorium for the opening ceremony of the STEAM fair

A project made by the Strathspey Primary School students depicting a miniaturized village showing renewable energy

Development”. The activity has drawn children from the nursery, primary and secondary levels along with other post-secondary institutions.

Delivering the feature address at the fair, retired Justice Donald Trotman, a resident of Golden Grove, in his address, told the students present that they were tomorrow’s future and persons will be look-

ing to them for solutions to some issues that were sure to confront us in the future.

Further, Justice Trotman said that persons who will attend the fair will have the opportunity to look into the minds of the students, through the projects that were presented.

The former Judge added, that the youths who participated in the fair were positioned to help with Guyana’s develop-

ment and that their intellectual capabilities and capacities would ensure that the country was positioned to develop as changes occur around us.

Additionally, region four Education Officer, Mr. Loren Park, stated that Guyana was in need of multiple skill sets that fall within the STEAM catchment. Mr. Park noted that, it was because of that, he believed that STEAM fairs would assist the children in their own development.

Further, Park noted that the Fair would allow for the improvement of the cultural capital in schools, while at the same time re-enforcing

some skills and the learning of new ones.

It was against that background that Mr. Park opined that Guyana would be led in the future, by some of the ‘finest minds’. He added that educators should encourage more students to pursue studies that were related to STEAM. Various projects were on display from all levels across the education system. There were projects that addressed how to tackle an oil spill, some projects utilized waste wood to make tables and visitors were shown how candle wax and oil were made from a plant and how that process works.

Career bandit shot dead A BUSINESSMAN, who is a licensed firearm holder, shot and killed one of two career bandits minutes after a woman was robbed of her handbag in Campbellville, Georgetown.

Dead is 22-year-old Randy Bowen of Duncan Street, Campbellville. He was shot and succumbed to his injuries in William Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

His mother collapsed at the scene after seeing her son’s body. The father, Andrew Bowen, who admitted that his son followed bad company, noted that his son had served several months in prison and he was also charged twice for robberies.

On umpteen occasions, the father of three said he warned his son about associating with wayward company, but his advice fell on deaf ears.

The father, who is a vendor at Stabroek Market, said he did not know his son’s accomplice and he last saw his son earlier in the day.

“My son meet me in the market this afternoon about 3 ‘o’ clock. He ask me for a $1000, I gave him and he left. One hour after I get a phone call that my son get shoot by the police,” the father lamented. “Is only so much a father can do, you make your children but you don’t make their mind.”

His unidentified accomplice, who was also shot, had collapsed on the roadway. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) who were summoned to the scene.

He was admitted to the hospital.

Bowen’s body was removed by a hearse as another relative on a bicycle began hurling threats at police and persons at the scene.

“Is only time before I shoot all yal up, I should have had a gun to done yal right here,” the man on the bicycle said.

In March 2018, Bowen and his 16-year-old accomplice appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman charged with robbery.

The court heard that on March 16, 2018, at Irving Street, they robbed Julian DeLouse and Royston Beveney of two cellular phones.

On the day in question, the virtual complainants were awaiting transportation when the defendants pounced on them and demanded their phones which they handed over, after which the duo made good their escape.

A report was made and the two were later apprehended with the phones in their possession. Bail was granted to the two defendants in the sum of $200,000.

In July 2018, Bowen was jailed after he attempted to rob a policeman on Regent Street, Georgetown.

He was recently released from prison.

5

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

STEM and children with disabilities

THOSE affected by disabilities have always struggled with assimilating into everyday society. However, in developing societies such as ours, the effects are often compounded.

Like other developing countries, persons living with disabilities in Guyana struggle with accessibility and grapple with challenges in most aspects of their lives; such challenges are: accessing appropriate healthcare, employment, transportation and education.

There are already a number of schools and facilities for persons with disabilities; however, there needs to be much more available in the way of developing this particular demographic in alignment with the nation’s strategies and developmental goals. Facilities for disabled people are usually an afterthought, with the main focus being to provide for the general population of able-bodied people. However, we cannot all move forward to build this nation if those who are willing and able to contribute are not nurtured in a manner suited to them, so that they are able to make meaningful contributions to society.

Whilst the present administration must be commended for increased public spending to tackle vital infrastructural works and development in all areas of Guyanese’ lives, there is still a long way to go to address the needs of this particular demographic. Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes, asserted the present administration’s commitment to enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities.

She noted that the government has set up a website which serves as a hub for information for disabled persons; trained IT professionals to make government websites more accessible; provided house lots and initiated tax-exemption policies for disabled people purchasing vehicles and smart phones.

Recognising that disabled students and young people require more opportunities, especially in the way of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) created a Robotics project which aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of disabled students in the above

mentioned subject areas. However, funding to implement the project was not immediately available and it remained on the backburner for over a year. GCOPD subsequently approached ExxonMobil who funded the project outright.

Consequently, ExxonMobil, in collaboration with GCOPD recently launched a STEM Robotics programme which is set to benefit 60 students who have disabilities. The pilot project has been implemented in four of the nation’s schools for disabled or differently abled students: namely, the David Rose School, the Diamond Special Needs School, the Saint Barnabas Special School, and the Open Doors Vocational Training Centre.

GCOPD has also partnered with the University of Guyana’s Computer Science Department, Robotics Club, which will attend the four schools participating in the project in order to provide training assistance. The Robotics Club also provided assistance to aid in development of the curriculum for the project. It is hoped that success of the project could be replicated, so that other schools for disabled students throughout

the country are able to benefit as well.

STEM is being promoted by the government as a way to create future innovators the country desperately needs; however, with limited resources, specialised programmes targeting key demographics such as disabled young people, are often overlooked and underfunded. Had it not been for ExxonMobil’s corporate social responsibility goals and objectives, this project might not have been able to be launched in the required timeframe. There has to be more impetus from local government bodies and other private sector organisations to propel projects such as these. The onus is on them to ensure that all members of society are adequately serviced by provisions which central government might not be able to adequately fund.

As the importance of STEM continues to be realised in this developing nation, young people, particularly disabled children and young people, must know that they live in a world where there should be no limits on what they are able to achieve.

Jagdeo as President, LOO made no significant effort to protect, advance sugar workers’ well-being Dear Editor REFERENCE is being made to GAWU General-Secretary Seepaul Narine’s letter, “GAWU does not share Lincoln’s views” (14th February 2020). I acknowledge GAWU’s bleating statement that the union is “not discomfited by Mr. Jagdeo’s advocacy on behalf of the sugar workers.”

This sheepish attitude when it comes to holding any leader in the PPP accountable for his/her action is their right. I shall exercise my right to hold all political leaders-- government and opposition-- to account for their stewardship and their treatment of workers/citizens, without fear, favour or ill will.

As a fellow citizen and

trade unionist the view is held that Bharrat Jagdeo as President and leader of the opposition made no significant effort to protect and advance the well-being of sugar workers and their communities. His record bears me out on this where a floundering industry was never given the opportunity to survive through diversification and proper re-capitalisation, depending heavily on financial sustenance from the Consolidated Fund.

The case was also made

by PPP spokesperson Dr. Roger Luncheon that the more than US$200 million investment in the Skeldon factory produced a “letdown” (KN 29th March 2013). Similar disappointment was expressed regarding the PPP government’s management

of the European Union diversification funds, where in that said article the same gentleman confirmed the money was never released to GuySuCo! With regard to the recent happenings in GuySuCo and its financially distressed state, the view is firmly held that Jagdeo, as leader of the opposition, could have emulated his predecessors and played a more pivotal role working with government in the industry’s restructuring and bringing the unions and management to the table to negotiate better working conditions for the workers.

That he did neither of these and GAWU is not discomfited, this is duly noted and respected.

Diamond Estate was closed by the Jagdeo gov-

ernment, a fact Seepaul cannot change. Neither can he change my view that the PPP government should have offered the affected sugar workers preferential treatment to acquire house lots when those lands were sold for housing development.

Nothing can change his view about the bonds paying wages and salaries, even though the source was quoted and this is conceded.

However, given that GAWU holds the view-- as others, including NICIL (the organiser of the bonds)-that the bonds are accruing interest and GuySuCo is not moving to effect any project to utlise same, again, the nonchalant role of the leader of the opposition cannot be ignored. A complacent GuySuCo adversely impacts

the welfare of sugar workers.

Dr. Cheddi Jagan would not have stayed silent or stood by and allowed this to happen.

The same could be said for Desmond Hoyte or Robert Corbin. Where comparisons can be made Jagdeo is found wanting.

That having been said on the matter of saying there was an “agreement” in pay increase, what I said was, “the media reported the sugar unions and GuySuCo’s management have struck an agreement for wage increase” (GC 13th Feb). Seepual’s clarification that the media erred because no agreement was reached is noted. It is however noted in today’s newspapers (18th February) GuySuCo’s statement that the company proposed a

five percent wage increase not the one percent as reportedly claimed by the union, which it rejected as a "measly offer," questioning the timing. A clarification from the union becomes necessary. I end by saying as a trade unionist a strategy in negotiation is to capitalise on the environment and the vulnerability of the opponent. Where the current political environment presents opportunity for the workers to benefit, it is up to GAWU and the sugar workers to determine if the opportunity will be taken or ignored. Whatever decision they make is respected.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Constitutional reform has in fact continued under this government Dear Editor ANIL Nandlall’s letter in Monday’s SN (titled “APNU+AFC failed completely on constitutional reform) is another case of the miscomprehension behind the repeated calls for constitutional reform. This miscomprehension fails to accept or understand four truths: (i) that, in effect, constitution reform has continued since 2015, (ii) that much scope exists within the letter and spirit of the already-enshrined 1999/2000 constitutional changes to encompass many of the scattered suggestions

for new reforms, (iii) no grassroot or public demand for structural change has been collectively voiced, and (iv) no consensus has emerged, or is soon likely to, among the political parties for scrapping the winner-takes-all system.

This letter briefly expands on the first of these four truths. Since 2015, the coalition government has activated or energized several of the 1999/2000 reforms. These reforms therefore are now doing what they were designed to do: to improve some aspect of our governance. In this sense, the government has con-

tinued reforming the constitution in spirit by moving matters from words to action. Examples include: (i) the passage of local government legislation, the establishment of the Local Government Commission, and the running of two local government elections; (ii) measures to increase the autonomy of constitutional and statutory bodies; and (iii) measures to enhance public accountability and transparency through, for example, the re-establishment of the Integrity Commission, the activation of the Public Procurement Commission, and the measures to activate the Natural Re-

sources Fund for the management of oil revenues.

All these and other government actions since 2015 readily resonate with the aspirational and instructional language of the constitutional reforms of 1999/2000. For instance, the revolutionary changes to our local government system reflect Article 13 of our constitution, which reads “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-mak-

ing processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affects [sic] their well-being.”

So, the calls for more constitutional reform, even those that are well-intentioned, must acknowledge the four truths mentioned above. Otherwise, the process would be adrift of reality and be far less impactful than it could be.

Regards Sherwood Lowe

GB&GWU remains focused on arbitration in BCGI dispute as matter of urgency

Dear Editor

THE Guyana Bauxite & General Workers (GB&GWU) is putting the government on notice that it is willing to have faith in their declared intent to resolve the impasse with the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI). Recent media statements by Minister Amna Ally that she is convinced the dispute is heading for arbitration and that the government is on the workers’ side are encouraging. The union urges that these be translated into action.

Whereas from the outset workers knew the side they have been on is the right side by demanding the laws be applied in arriving at a resolution to their grievances, time in ensuring this is also of essence. This year begins the second decade of the dispute.

Since last year the union has been calling for arbitration, given BCGI’s dilatory tactic

that has been enabled by certain functionaries in the Department of Labour, who have demonstrated to date that they have been rendered ineffective in handling the matter.

The union seeks resolution to the impasse and calls for arbitration, NOW. As reported in a section of the media, the Department of Labour is awaiting advice from Attorney General Basil William S.C., in determining the way forward. GB&GWU calls on the AG’s Chambers to treat with this matter as one of urgency. This view is strongly held-- even moreso on the eve of General and Regional Elections-- where recent antics by the RUSAL management of BCGI suggest a desire to create an unstable environment to influence our elections one way or the other. No expatriate company must be allowed to think that they could adversely influence our laws and the will of the people. Such

outside interference must be condemned by all.

This impasse has entered its 11th year and it is time for substantive deliverables.

It began under the PPP administration who tolerated management’s misconduct.

For almost five years of the coalition administration Minister Keith Scott, who has responsibility for Labour, has had this matter to resolved and fallen short. The union reiterates that it has no confidence in Minister Scott and some personnel in the Department of Labour are incompetent.

GB&GWU is prepared to renew its confidence in Minister Ally's intervention, interest and willingness to resolve this dispute in the interest of our most vulnerable group, the workers of this country upon whom production hinges.

The union has no choice but to place confidence in the resolution of our grievance because:-1) the law is on our side and, 2) at the end of the

MoNR clarifies value of Commemorative Gold Medallion Dear Editor THE Ministry of Natural Resources (MoNR) is aware of media reports regarding the value of the 50th Republic Jubilee Commemorative Gold Medallion unveiled on 17.02.2020. The reports in both online and print media have suggested that the medallion is valued at $700,000 GYD. This however, is not an accurate representation of the message that was intended to be communicated by the MoNR. As such, the ministry wishes to clarify the specific remarks by the Honourable

Raphael Trotman, Minister of Natural Resources, during the ceremony.

The minister, in distinguishing between a commemorative coin and medallion, noted that “though it [Gold Medallion] is 99.9% pure Guyana gold and weighing one Troy ounce, and though valued at today’s prevailing prices at several hundred thousand dollars, it is not legal tender.”

The MoNR therefore elucidates that the statement indicated that given the prevailing price for gold, the medallion’s worth surpasses that of $200,000;

however, it is not marketed or reflected at $700,000.

As we progress, the MoNR apologises for any misunderstanding of the intended message and it is imperative that published information regarding the medallion is corrected. The MoNR thanks all in advance for understanding and cooperation at this time.

Regards Stephon Gabriel Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Natural Resources

day it is the ministry and this government that would be responsible for ensuring that the law is upheld.

Ten (10) years to follow the Rule of Law is too long and it suggests to us that there have been wilful efforts by some to sabotage the success of the union

and welfare of workers in resolving the industrial dispute with BCGI. Even at this point in time, as some improvement is being shown, efforts are being made to stymie the process.

That so many hundreds of Guyanese brothers and sisters and their families

could have suffered for all these years as they struggle for the Laws of Guyana to be applied remains a shame and serious indictment on our political regimes.

Regards Guyana Bauxite & General Workers

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Voting for Irfaan Ali sends the wrong message

Dear Editor

MR. Irfaan Ali is probably a nice man. I have never personally met or interacted with him. In my research on the elections, I have read much on the candidates. He and I share a very common surname. However, it is hard to ignore the available public information on Mr. Ali. I'm not very political, but I can say that previous candidates on both sides never really had this cloud of personal issues surrounding them, including Mr. Jagdeo, Mr. Ramotar, and Mr. Granger. Their academic credentials were never in question. They all seem to follow traditional education and development paths prior to their rise to political power. But not so for Mr. Ali, whose achievements are shrouded in controversy.

While I haven’t decided for whom I will vote yet, I simply can't vote for Mr. Ali, because I believe it would send the wrong message to the world, the country, and most importantly to Guyanese children. As parents, we spend our lives teaching our children to do the right thing.

We teach them to be honest.

We tell them "do not cheat".

We tell them, “speak the truth and cost it what it may.” We teach them to return change

if the shopman gave them extra. We ensure they don't copy their friend's homework or cheat on a test. These are fundamental principles and we seem to be losing them in today’s society. Mr. Ali's rise to power, particularly his academic achievements, is smeared in the shadow of lies, deceit and corruption.

Firstly, he is a UG dropout, but that's not the worst thing in the world. Many students drop out of universities all the time. However, people do not turn around and fake their degrees to continue studying. They do not make up non-existent schools from which they get transcripts. Well, if they do and are caught, they usually have to face significant consequences, both legally and socially. But not so for Mr. Ali. Even worse, is that he got the Government of India financing to continue his study with the said fake credentials. I know many brilliant UG students who actually graduated and were unable to get any government scholarships to further their studies. But here is Mr. Ali, gaining access to Indian taxpayers’ money with fake credentials. Does this not stink of corruption? How does a UG dropout get money from anyone to study abroad?

Secondly, on January 1, 2012, the Kaieteur News

published an extensive article showcasing Mr. Ali's display of wealth. At age 31, and two years a minister, the publication claimed he had already owned an ocean-front property with a massive pool house. He attempted to sue the newspaper, but the last thing I read on the lawsuit was “Housing Minister Irfaan Ali must pay $50,000 to Kaieteur News after his lawyer incorrectly filed his writ claiming libel” (Kaieteur News January 21, 2012). I’m not sure of the outcome of the lawsuit, but the questions still remain. How does a young government minister, who according to him has been studying extensively and working on a government salary, suddenly is able to afford this? Let's take a closer look. From 1991-1996, Mr. Ali was in high school. From 1996-2000 (thereabout) he was attending UG, but failed to graduate. All the while he's deeply involved in the PPP. Then by 2002 or so he leaves to study in India. Was Ali attending UG and the fake West Demerara School at the same time? He returned in 2004 and started at the Ministry of Finance. In less than eight years, with additional time apparently still studying at each turn, Mr. Ali manages to erect luxurious properties? If we follow the path of other Guyanese in

Mr. Ali's age group, even someone like PPP’s young Charles Ramson, Jr., we have to believe that they are really dumb and that Mr. Ali was able to tap into unmatched financial skills and secrets to propel himself above his peers. Or maybe it's simpler, he cheated again. At the very Housing Ministry where Mr. Ali was minister, I know of young men and women his age who had more education than Mr. Ali, but not his accumulation of wealth. Many of them had completed UG and gone on to do their Master’s degree. But I’m sure none of them were as lucky as Mr. Ali. Finally, Mr. Ali gains a doctorate! Usually people would have such respect for this level of educational achievement. I know very few people with PhDs. However, all the questions leading to this have not been satisfactorily answered for me to display any excitement over the candidate’s achievement.

In some ways, I imagine it is an affront to those with Ph.Ds. After listening to him in interviews and at political rallies, I am convinced that Mr. Ali does not possess the intellectual confidence, nor does he demonstrate the command of language typical of people at that level of academic achievement. Take for example Dr. Rupert Roopna-

raine, Dr. Frank Anthony, Dr. Vindhya Persaud and others.

He doesn’t even compare well to people without PhDs like Anil Nandlall, Gail Teixeira, Charles Ramson Jr. and Priya Manickchand.

Moreover, I have never seen anyone with a Ph.D. talk only of acquiring the degree and de-emphasise the work they did. Usually PhDs are about contributing to a body of knowledge, not getting a title. Such people are often more concerned about discussing their work and how to expand on it. Many of them become professors and researchers. Mr. Ali appears more interested in the PhD. title for political reasons than anything else. Not once have I heard him discuss his work and his contribution to the field of study. Where is his dissertation? When I googled Mr. Ali’s name, I could not find any peer-reviewed publications in any journals. Not once have I heard the media even ask him this.

So many students describe the challenges and difficulties when studying at such a high level. Not once did the media ask Mr. Ali about the process and how he was able to persevere at such an academic level while serving in Parliament and as minister of both housing and tourism. Maybe parliamentary and ministerial work is

not work at all? There are rumours that someone may have written Ali’s dissertation, but this has not been confirmed. Nonetheless, the fakeness of this accomplishment shines through and there are still questions surrounding it. I would love to interview the panel in front of whom Mr. Ali defended his work. These are usually public defences, but again, we're talking about Mr. Ali-so it’s anyone’s guess if an actual defence had occurred.

How can I teach my children to follow in Mr. Ali's footsteps? What am I supposed to say to them?

It's okay if you fake your degree, once you come out ahead? It's ok if you use your government and party position to benefit yourself, once you don't get caught?

It's ok to cheat and lie? I don't know about you, but my conscience does not allow me to raise my children this way and voting for Mr. Ali sends them the wrong message. Surely, the PPP could have found a better young candidate. We may have even settled for someone with less academic achievement, but with high authenticity. Our children and our country deserve better!

Regards Donna Ali-Thomas

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

PI continues into vigilante-style murder of robbery suspect THE Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of a 21-year-old man, who was shot and killed in 2016, allegedly by Moses Singh, continued on Tuesday before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Singh, a 61-year-old businessman, formerly of Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara

(EBD), is currently on remand for the capital offence.

The indictment alleged that Singh on August 20, 2016, at Pearl Village, EBD, murdered Seon Clarke.

Singh is being represented by attorney-at-law Latchmie Rahamat, while the state is represented by Police Prosecutor Richard Harris. The

Moses Singh

Seon Clarke

City Council talks plans for ‘Mash’ vending -- says vehicles badly parked will be towed away THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has said that this year’s ‘Mash’ celebrations will see the municipality taking a stronger focus on safety and security, even though this means that the number of vending spots will have to be reduced.

At a press conference recently to talk about ‘Mash’ plans, Chief Constable (ag) Peter Livingstone informed listeners that in excess of 50 officers will be deployed on February 23 to aid with security.

Towards ensuring that citizens are allowed to proceed in a safe environment, Livingstone said officers will be placed along the route of the parade so as to ensure that there are no obstructions.

Deputy Director of the Solid Waste Management Department, Floyd Rawlins offered that as compared to previous years when vending spots amounted to 1,200, this year will only see 750 spots being given out.

According to him, clearance of garbage will commence as soon as the last float leaves the D’Urban Park facility, which should be completely cleaned by noon the following day. As for vehicles parked in prohibited places, these will be towed away.

Rawlins pleaded for citizens and vendors to utilise their garbage receptacles, and informed that the City Council will be giving away free garbage bags.

Councillor on the Social Development Committee, Dexter Forte, also asked that the public show some maturity as far as garbage disposal is concerned.

Meanwhile, vending is prohibited along Carifesta Avenue, Irving Street between Carifesta Avenue and Thomas Road, the entire Vlissengen Road from Carifesta Avenue to D’Urban Street, and between Hadfield Street and Homestretch Avenue.

The 10x10 vending spots on Thomas Road to Church Street cost $12,000; along Lamaha to Church Street cost $15,000; Square of the Revolution $25,000; and inside D’Urban Park $15,000.

matter will continue on March 23, 2020.

Clarke was shot dead by vigilantes while his friend was badly beaten, because they were suspected to be bandits on the day in question.

Reports were that the men, armed with a gun, were allegedly planning to rob a gro-

cery store in Sarah Johanna, EBD, but their plan was foiled when the alert proprietor of the store noticed their suspicious movements.

The shop owner raised an alarm and called out to a policeman who was passing by at the time. The men managed to run into a near-

by bushy area and eluded authorities. However, hours later the duo emerged, they were spotted by members of the community on the Pearl Public Road and were apprehended by public-spirited citizens.

During the incident it is alleged that Singh, who is a

licensed firearm holder, shot Clarke while others inflicted a beating on his accomplice.

Clarke was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and died while receiving treatment. His accomplice subsequently took investigators to a location where they had concealed a gun.

10

GPSU now official union for GRA

…union says previous attempt under PPP was stymied DECADES of negotiation and consultation between the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) have ended positively, with the union gaining official recognition status as the representative body for workers of the authority.

A Collective Labour Agreement/ Memorandum of Understand (MOU), which stakeholders said was long overdue, was signed by GRA and the GPSU, on Tuesday, making the union the official bargaining body for workers of the authority.

“This was a long process and I inherited it when I joined in 2016 and the President of GPSU has been insisting that we sign,” said Commissioner General of the GRA, Godfrey Statia after signing the document at the Department of Labour.

GRA has a staff complement of 1,300 persons and of that amount, just about 40 per cent of the workers are covered by the union, said Statia. When asked what is the expectation going forward, he said: “It is for the union to do a recruitment drive…the union, in the past, had asked the employees to join but they (employees) recognised the union was not recognised, but now that they (the union) are official, there will be an upswing.

“There will be an additional level of representation because it used to be ad

President of GPSU, Patrick Yarde; Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle; and Commissioner-General of GRA, Godfrey Statia (Adrian Narine photo)

hoc representation...so with the union there, you expect there would be an improvement in workers’ welfare and efficiency.”

President of the GPSU, Patrick Yarde, in subsequent remarks, affirmed the union’s commitment to representing workers of the GRA, now that the agreement has been signed. “We can assure the GRA management that the GPSU will be professional in its approach and objectives…we will place emphasis on members’ rights, elevation and benefits.

We will also look at the viability and development of the GRA,” said Yarde.

He was particularly excited by the agreement because the process had started decades ago when former President, Bharrat Jagdeo was Finance Minister.

Jagdeo, prior to the establishment of

GRA in 2000, had assured the union that their representation of the workers was guaranteed, and immediately after the authority became operational, the union had started consultations with the then Commissioner General, Edgar Heyligar.

And, according to Yarde, after Heyligar had left, his successor, Khurshid Sattaur was not receptive to the union. “A lot was done and even though I expected this to happen earlier than now it is still an achievement,” said the GPSU President.

Chief Labour Officer (CLO), Charles Ogle, congratulated the union and the authority for completing the agreement, but said anther Collective Labour Agreement, which will include conditions of employment, has to be signed very soon.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

Some leases granted by Royston King revoked SEVERAL leases that were given out by former Town Clerk, Royston King, are now being reviewed, and, in some cases, revoked, as the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) continues to struggle to find relevant documents that support the granting of such leases.

Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine, raised the issue at last week’s statutory meeting at City Hall where he disclosed that leases for prime locations have been given out for ‘next to nothing’ even though they are worth millions.

“There are a lot of leases that the then Town Clerk, Royston King leased to several people, which were not brought before the Council,” he told the Guyana Chronicle following the meeting.

“I asked for leases of the Council and we cannot be supplied with any. Where are they? I expect the Local Government Commission should call Mr. King and Ms. Harry Munroe (former Town Clerk acting) to ask them where these documents are.

Where are the transports and leases and so forth?” the mayor said.

But when contacted on Tuesday, King told this publication that while he was in office, he acted based upon the powers that were conferred upon him by the Municipal and District Councils Act (the laws governing the City Council).

“I wouldn’t know what is happening there at the Council.

I have moved on to other things, so I really don’t know what is happening there,” he said.

Just recently, though, the mayor said the Council was able to get $3.6M a year for a lease that was granted for $200,000 a year, along with a five per cent increase on it every five years. “You got leases in this council for $200,000 for prime, prime areas and those same leases, we revoked. We didn’t recognise them because they never came to Council. People come in and bring in their leases, but we are reviewing them and realising that we can’t accept those kinds of money,” Narine explained.

While some persons are refusing to pay the additional sums, the mayor said no one can tell the Council how to run its business. “The Council is the highest authority of this City; no town clerk can commit this Council. The Council makes decisions for administration to carry out; the town clerk is the chief administrator of the Council. Whatever decision the Council takes, the town clerk ought to execute those.”

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Guyana lifting first million barrels of profit oil -GRA, GNBS on board FPSO to oversee transfer

DIRECTOR, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, on Tuesday morning travelled to the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to witness the transfer of Guyana’s first million-barrel lift of crude onto the oil tanker Cap Philippe, which was chartered by Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited.

In an invited comment, while on the vessel, Dr. Bynoe iterated that this is a significant moment in Guyana’s history and noted that this first lift is part of the country’s profit oil allocation. He emphasised that this does not include the two per cent royalty, which would be paid on gross productions.

“These one million barrels is part of our profit oil allocation.

It does not include the two per cent royalty, which would be paid on gross productions. So, even though we are having a million barrels lift in this particular instance, we are also receiving two per cent on all oil that is being produced. This gets us away from the perception that all Guyana is getting under the contract is two per cent royalty. I am happy to

to 36 hours and the process is expected to be completed tomorrow. He added that the required officials from the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) are on board to ensure the integrity of the investment is protected as well as to ensure and provide, the level of comfort to Guyanese that the requisite systems are in place to protect Guyana’s interests.

“What has also been hap-

are able to ascertain that the system is not tampered with and that Guyana is getting its fair share,” he noted.

With regard to pricing, as it was previously announced by the Department of Energy, Shell was nominated as the successful buyer of the government’s first three cargoes, with each cargo being approximately a million barrels of crude. The selection of the successful bidder was based not only on Shell’s global sup-

The fuel hose leads from the Liza Destiny to the Cap Philippe for the transfer of Guyana's first million barrels of crude (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe inspects a tag, which was placed on the fuel meter by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards. The tag protects and maintains the integrity of the system and ensures there is no tampering

Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe and Ms. Joanna Simmons, Senior Legal Officer pay keen attention during a briefing on the oil transfer.

One of the tags which was placed on the fuel meter by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards

say that Guyana is entitled to approximately five million barrels of oil in 2020 alone, plus the two per cent royalty, plus withholding taxes, plus the direct and indirect benefits through employment creation and other revenue-generated income. So, this is not a contract that we should take lightly, it is not an occasion that we should take lightly,” the Energy Director said.

Dr. Bynoe noted that the offloading takes between 20

pening is that the GNBS has been working assiduously to tag specific meters that are critical in terms of measurement. They have also been working with the operators on the FPSO with regards to calibration so that the measurements that we are getting are precise as far as practically possible, and those tags are to protect the integrity of the system. When GNBS make their checks before they leave and when they return, they

ply and trading capability, but also on a competitive sale with favourable payment terms.

The sale of the first three cargoes has been concluded on a Dated Brent price basis, which reflects the tradable, spot market value of crude oil.

The Department of Energy (DoE) has also indicated that it will be launching a Request for Proposal (RFP) shortly to recruit a marketing firm, on a term basis, to assist the Department in selling Guyana’s future crude entitlement. Dr. Bynoe said the contract does deliver for Guyana and Guyanese and the Department is most proud to be part of the process. He said that Guyanese can look forward to even further revenue being generated to take the country along the economic paradigm that we have set ourselves.

“This has been quite a momentous occasion looking at how far Guyana has come from over the past four years and nine months, from conceptualisation to actual fruition, where we begin to see production. Guyana is having her first lift and given

the fact that it is our first lift, this is important to us, not only to see this but to bring the level of assurance to Guyanese that it is no more just a concept, it is actually a reality,” the Director said.

Dr. Bynoe was accompanied

by Ms. Joanna Simmons, Senior Legal Officer and Ms. Virginia Markouizou, Crude Marketing Specialist, both of the Department of Energy; Mr. Rod Henson, Country

Manager of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’s (EEPGL) and Ms. Janelle Persaud, Public Affairs and Governance Adviser, EEPGL. (Ministry of the Presidency)

MoE hosts first --in celebration of Students in Transition 12

IN celebration of those students who are placed in ‘transition classes’, the Georgetown District of the Department of Education on Monday held its first ever exhibition at the New Campbellville Secondary School.

The exhibition was held under the theme, ‘Shaping Creative Minds for Future Generations’, where Ms. Donna Chapman, Training Manager of the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, in her feature address commended the Department and its teachers for making a huge difference in the lives of the children, with their enthusiasm and passion.

“Today, I want to commend the Department and the teachers with ‘Transition Classes’ for their dedication and commitment to their students,” Ms. Chapman, a former Deputy Chief Education Officer,

said. “You must be applauded for your efforts in making a huge difference in the lives of the children,” she added, as she encouraged the teachers and the Department to engage those students that are now in the ‘Secondary Programme’, after having passed through the ‘Transition Class’ so as to measure the impact of the programme.

She further advised that the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) programme of the Ministry of Education be included in the classroom.

And, stressing the importance of young people learning life skills now, she said that both teachers and students have an important role to play in the development of Guyana, and that the exhibition is an opportunity for the sharing of ideas.

APPROPRIATELY

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

Teachers and students gather the exhi A display of the New Campbellville Secondary’s ‘Class Reading’ section

THEMED Ms. Chapman said that the theme chosen is appropriate, since the exhibition is happening at an important time

in Guyana’s history. She urged teachers and students to use the event as a reminder that education is the appropriate tool to propel development.

Meanwhile, Ms. Acklima Pearce of the New Campbellville Secondary, who has been teaching ‘Transition Students’ for the past five years, explained to this newspaper that ‘Transition Classes’ target those students

who were somewhat neglected at the Primary School level, or are a little slower than the other students.

“With this programme,” Ms. Pearce said, “the children who, somewhere along the line in the primary school, were either neglected or were slow developers, coming to the second-

Ms. Acklima Pearce of the New Campbellvi Secondar

ever exhibition

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

red at the New Campbellville Secondary School for ibition on Monday morning Ms. Donna Chapman, Training ary school, they’re not placed As she Manager in the normal Grade Seven; w e n t o n of the they’re placed in the ‘Transi- t o e x Bertram tion Class’, where they will plain, the Collins a College of spend six years instead of five students the Public years. So, in the ‘Transition are first w Service Class’ now, we teach them g i v e n a ille the basic subjects: Mathematp r e t e s t , ry

ics, English, Science, Social Studies, Reading, Phonics, and Comprehension. We do poetry; we do drama; we do music with them.”

so as to help teachers identify their strong areas and their weak ones. She

noted that she places her students in various groups, so they can work along with each other, and assist each other with their strong and weak areas.

Also in attendance at the exhibition was District Education Officer Mr. Sherwin Blackman, who related that the aim of the event is to showcase the work being done by students in the ‘Transition Class’ since they started in September 2019.

Noting also that the exhibition forms part of the programme of activities

for the observation of the country’s Republic Anniversary, Blackman explained that those schools within the Georgetown District that conduct ‘Transition Classes’ are New Campbellville Secondary; Cummings Lodge Secondary; Houston Secondary; St. George’s High; Queenstown Secondary; Lodge Secondary; and Tucville Secondary.

SUCCESS STORIES

According to Mr. Blackman, the ‘Transition Programme’ has success its stories, whereby students have gone on to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and matriculated, meaning they would have passed five subjects or more.

He said that while many of the students in the programme are slow learners, they just need

additional support to reach their potential and perform well. He said that the Ministry has been doing constant reviews of the programme, so that it can be strengthened.

During the exhibition, students and teachers will be exposed to what a child-friendly classroom is, containing the basic elements needed in any classroom, along with teaching aids.

Principal Education Officer, Ms. Volika Jaikishun, along with several other teachers and the Transition Exhibition on Monday

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

Former Magistrate, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, enters politics -- supports re-election of APNU+AFC government

By Rabindra Rooplall WITH 16 years of legal experience, former Magistrate, Geeta Chandan-Edmond is a proud mother of two girls who wants the best for them, and to continue serving in the public service for a better Guyana.

Chandan-Edmond is one of the many new faces on the coalition’s list of candidates for the upcoming general and regional elections.

“Out of those 16 years, I served 10 of those years on the bench as a magistrate.

I now proudly work at the Ministry of the Presidency.

I studied at the University of Guyana, and Hugh Wooding Law School,” she told the Guyana Chronicle in an exclusive interview.

When contacted, Chandan-Edmond, who never envisage serving the Guyanese society from a political platform, said “we are about to experience the most important national elections in the history of this country.”

She related that each citizen must understand that their decision to vote for a party of their choice will have far reaching consequences that will affect generations to come.

“Our choice at the polls must be a conscious one, it is an important decision. We are now a petroleum state and the next government will be afforded the opportunity to transform this country,” she noted.

Chandan-Edmond continued: “If we make the mistake and allow a government that is only concerned about putting themselves, friends and family first, the benefits of this new found wealth you will not reach you.”

It is for this reason, Chandan-Edmond is calling on citizens to be wise and continue to support President David Granger and the coalition government.

The mother of two explained that the APNU+AFC administration is a decent government that seeks to ensure the people of this country get the direct benefits from the new oil and gas economy.

“His Excellency has committed to a decade of development. This is a 10year programme that will transform your lives. The first one is an Education Nation,” Chandan-Edmond said.

This programme, she said, seeks to ensure Guyana achieves the highest level of education achievements in the Caribbean. It seeks to regain the country’s reputation as the country with the best and the brightest in this part of the world.

“This process has started.

You would have observed over the past four years, there has been massive achievement in education under this government. His Excellency, David Arthur Granger, is passionate about education and he spends every second of his working life advancing this cause. This is what led to programmes such as the 5Bs programme. This has brought much relief to parents. This is where your oil money will be going, straight to education,” Chandan-Edmond said.

“My daddy is a good and decent man, he is fair, just and principled. He is a visionary, and when I look around, far and wide, the single leader that has these qualities, that has the combination of these qualities, is no other but our President.”

EXCITING TIMES The progress in every aspect of life in Guyana is evident, she said, while noting that these are exciting times to live in Guyana.

Highlighting that those who left these shores many moons ago are returning, Chandan-Edmond said peo-

Former Magistrate, Geeta Chandan-Edmond

GROUND SWELL OF SUPPORT Confident that the nation will vote solidly for the APNU+AFC government, Chandan-Edmond said the support level and enthusiasm has piqued to larger numbers since 2015.

“This is based on my attendance at rallies, public meetings and my interaction with the people. I interact with people from all walks of life from all parts of Guyana.

This land deserves honest leadership, leadership that they can trust. Our people

Geeta Chandan-Edmond with her daughters, Sanjana and Simran Edmond; her parents Vidya Chandan and Rohan Chandan and sisters (extreme left) Smita and Preya Chandan

ple and companies from all over the world are heading here as Guyana is slated to be one of the richest nations in the world.

“This government has been able to once again place this country in good global standing. This is main reason that I stand proudly as a candidate on the APNU+AFC list. I feel proud to live in a decent land,” Chandan-Edmond said.

Further she called on “womenfolk, my sisters, my friends, I wish to draw your attention to the concerns of women. I am here to tell you what we all know. It is the women who carry the economic burden of households.

When there is nothing in the house, we have to create magic. It is for this reason, when the APNU+AFC government came to office, we wasted no time in ensuring that the plight of women at all levels of society is im-

proved.”

At the working class level, she said that government is consistently increasing wages and salaries of public servants since 2015.

Underscoring that the government is committed to the ‘good life’ where hardworking women can get up in the morning and know that there will be opportunities to provide for their families, Chandan-Edmond said this process will get better in the second term under the coalition government.

The mother of two said the President, who she proudly serves, is obsessed with seeing the day when all working class women can smile and be stress free.

Under this government, she said professional women are sleeping more comfortably at nights.

“We have seen the complete disappearance of victimisation of female professionals in the public service.

In the pre-2015 period, professional women had to toe the line of the PPP and, or face destruction. This is no dream or imagination or a ‘mek-up’ story. I am a living national example of this destructive vindictive practice that ended with the election of David Arthur Granger,” the former magistrate noted.

In pre-2015, Chandan-Edmond explained that she sat on the bench as a magistrate who executed her duties with fairness and professionalism.

“A certain case came before me and I followed the facts and delivered judgment based on the law. Based on my fair and judicious decision-making, I came under attack. My family was hounded, my friends were threatened. No more, gone are those days,” she reflected.

Growing up with her father, she said he has always been her mentor and role model.

are smart, they are observant, they are aware of all that’s happening. There is transformation in all sectors. It is evident, so I am pretty confident that the nation wants this progress to continue.

As a mother, I want to know that my children’s future is secured and in leadership that I can trust,” she added.

Reflecting on her family life, Chandan-Edmond noted that her father, Rohan Chandan, who is also an attorney-at-law, gave her all the teachings that she needed to evolve as a daughter, mother, sister, wife and citizen of Guyana.

“My father is a self-made man, he came from poverty but with his resilience and determination he fought his circumstances. He will always say I will never be a victim of my circumstances but a survivor of my circumstances,” she recalled.

Rohan was once a cane

harvester, a teacher and a clerk and that’s where he developed his love for the law.

Chandan-Edmond describes her father as a disciplinarian and a stickler for the adherence of rules and laws.

“With him there is no short cuts to life, he always tells us success is only for those who toil honestly, day and night. Initially, we didn’t have the luxuries, but daddy and mommy ensured that we had the necessities. Growing up we never had the frills and the fancies of life.

I know of not having a new pair of shoes for the school year, I know of wearing Bata shoes. But life and all of those experiences teaches us, it prepares you for life. What we were given in abundance was love and my parent’s commitment to ensuring that we had a good education,” she recalled.

The former magistrate said she was taught all of life’s basic skills. She cooks, fishes, plants her own vegetables, knits, sews and all the basic things.

“My father is a product of National Service, so he insisted on certain training.

We had a good childhood. I wouldn’t trade what I had for anything else in this world.

On Fridays, we went for an outing, even if it was just for ice cream. On Saturdays, we had to take care of the home, clean our rooms, groom ourselves, daddy will come and inspect all four of us, inspect our room, everything had to be spick and span or else punishment. Then we will have our weekly family meetings after our Saturday dinner.

That was a must. On Sundays, we went to our mandir, rain or sun, sick or healthy, we had to go, no excuses.

My parents will always say a family that prays together stays together, it was important for us to have a relationship with our creator,” she emphasised.

Relating that she was exposed to rigorous religious training at the age of 10, Chandan-Edmond said she is a product of the Maharishi Dayanand Gurukul.

VALUES AND SERVICE “We were not only exposed to religious teaching but we were taught values, discipline, we were taught about service, service to mankind, to our nation, to our parents, to our family, service to animals. Duty is noble and sacred. We were taught to be respectful. We did a lot of meditation, to train our minds to be focused, no to lose sight or be distracted. We were also trained to be calm when under pressure,” she recalled.

See Turn on Page 15

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

GLU gets involved only when staff is suspended -- Mayor Narine

GEORGETOWN Mayor Ubraj Narine has taken umbrage at the Guyana Labour Union’s (GLU) decision to get involved in the Chief Constable’s ‘money bag’ issue, saying that the union waited only after persons were disciplined to step in.

“The union must understand both the GLU and the Local Govern-

ment Union that we have a role to play. The union should come here to see if staff is doing their work.

The union knows to come and fight you when you have to suspend a staff, but didn’t come when the incident took place. That is not fair for this Council if we are moving in a transparent way,” Narine expressed.

He told the Guyana

Chronicle last week that, from the time the money bag went missing, the GLU should have penned a letter to the City Council asking for the meeting.

“But they waited until the staff got suspended to come and ask what the matter is. These things the union should consider.”

Meanwhile, disciplinary action was taken

Former Magistrate, Geeta...

FROM PAGE 14

Noting that at the age of 10 she became a vegetarian, much to the surprise of her puzzled parents, who did not think her body, was strong enough for a vegetarian life. Chandan-Edmond said her mom thought it was just a phase but she was determined to lead a vegetarian life.

“I surprised them both with my resilience; she would joke – like father, like daughter. I was young when my Aji died, what I remember of her, is that she looked like a doll. She told my father that there is something special about this child, she will make you proud, she will carry your name proudly. Those words resonated with me all my life, my name is my identity , it defines who I am , where I came from and that why even after I got married I carry my father’s name proudly,” she smilingly said.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT Chandan-Edmond was very involved in community projects with her mandir to empower women.

“I strongly believe that for a nation to be empowered and progressive, women must be empowered, they must be given equal treatment, equal opportunities, equal pay. I have no reservations saying this but we are the backbone of the home, the society, the backbone of the nation,” she said.

Being the eldest of three children, she felt her parents were harder on her, noting that she had two career choices, either be a medical doctor or lawyer.

At that time she could not stand the sight of blood, so she chose law.

“I followed my dad’s footsteps. From high

school, I went straight unto UG and to Hugh Wooding.

In just under two years of private practice with my dad’s chambers, I was invited to serve on the bench as a magistrate. I served for 10 years until the fateful incident in Feb of 2015. It was completely unexpected, my dreams and hopes were shattered. I was devastated, I locked myself away at home for many days, I didn’t want to face anyone.

I didn’t want anyone’s pity or sympathy. I refused to be a victim, I am a survivor,” she said.

INJUSTICE Her dismissal from the bench had a trigger effect; it affected her family, support group and network of friends, who were all consumed with rage and anger.

“I said to myself, remembering my parents words to me, if an injustice can happen anywhere, it means it can happen everywhere, which means it can happen to my daughters. I don’t want them to grow up in a society where you are attacked and victimised because of your professionalism or your ethics, or your fairness. I was convinced it was time to fight, if I didn’t fight for me it meant I was sitting by idly and allowing an injustice to take place, which means for me that I was equally as guilty as those who perpetuate that evil,” she said.

During this time, her husband, Attorney-at-Law Joel Persid Edmond, was firmly behind her as he signed up his political career as a candidate with the AFC. “I will be forever grateful to Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes, who readily agreed to fight this battle for me in the courts. It’s only

when I stepped out that I realised the magnitude of my support,” she added.

Having decided that she will fight, she accepted an invitation by Attorney-at-Law, James Bond, to join the political league and attended a community meeting in Cummings Lodge and the rest is history.

“I was moved by what I heard and saw. I was convinced that this is the movement I wanted to join. When I was offered a job with the Ministry of the Presidency

by Minister of State then, Joseph Harmon, I readily accepted since I believe in the administration,” she said.

She continued: “I knew of Mr. Harmon, when he appeared before me twice or so, and then I saw him regularly on the campaign trail in 2015.Over the years working with him, I was exposed to plans, decision and policies. I was impressed with the administration commitment and dedication to bettering the lives of the citizens, my conviction was solidified.”

She said the Ministry of the Presidency has been her home for years and she is surrounded by good and decent people.

“I knew I made the correct decision when I went with Director-General, Joseph Harmon, on my first assignment to a site visit of the one laptop for family office. He was so moved when he saw the laptops lying just there. He said look at this, look our teachers could have benefitted from this wastage, our children could have also benefitted, he was quite emotional and that level of commitment to better the lives of our people moved me,” she reflected.

It was never her intention to join politics, but as fate and destiny would have it, politics chose her.

against the former Town Clerk acting, Sharon Harry-Munroe; acting City Treasurer, John Douglas; Chief Constable, Andrew Foo; and Clerk of Markets, Sherlock Lovell, among others, over the bag of cash belonging to the Council that was found inside a vehicle assigned to Foo. According to reports, the money was supposed

to have been deposited at a bank on June 20, 2019, by the Escort Unit of the City Constabulary.

However, it was, on July 16, that a City constable, who was cleaning the vehicle, discovered the sealed bank deposit bag under the driver’s seat.

Following the discovery of the cash, an investigation was launched by the Local Government

Commission (LGC).

Mayor Narine had said he was informed that the money was being kept in the vehicle, PVV 1405, for quite some time. Narine could not say how much money was in the bag, but noted that the bag contained a ‘lock’ or M&CC seal, which was what confirmed that it belonged to the Council.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

Linden businessman wins Techno Business award of the year --urges other Lindeners to pursue business opportunities in the ICT sector

FOUNDER and Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Supplies, a chain of Information Communication Technology( ICT) businesses, Deron Adams, was the recipient of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Techno Business Award of the year. The award was presented to him at a Small Business award ceremony hosted by SBB and the Small Business Council, last week. Adams walked away with the coveted award, despite there being several other entries from entrepreneurs across Guyana.

Adams has been making strides in ICT in Region Ten and has even spearheaded several ICT workshops, which led to the launching of the Linden Youth Network;

a group of youths who graduated from the ICT programme, who are now engaging other youths in ICT training.

What is unique about Corporate Supplies is that it started as a regular internet cafe, offering basic document services, but today, it has evolved into a safe haven for the general public, particularly students who cannot afford internet services needed to complete their projects such as School Based Assessments.

Corporate Supplies, located in the Linden Enterprise Network Mackenzie Office, offers Lindeners free internet browsing and subsidized printing and photocopying through a Print Smart Initiative (PSI), which allows users to acquire reloadable

cards to print or photocopy. “This is a prepaid print service which allows teachers, students, nurses, churches to buy print in advance of using them. Customers can use the various print packages to have convenient and cheap printing,” he said. To date, hundreds of Lindeners have benefitted from the initiative .

In addition to these services, Corporate Supplies also loans office equipment to public and private entities, does online shopping and also provides secretarial services. “It is not about getting, but giving back as well, while getting. I am not rich and my business does not bring in millions, it is still small and developing, but it brings me great joy that I can help particularly youths to be educated, to access services if they can’t access it at home or cannot afford to access it,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

Corporate Supplies started in 2006 and for many years, its survival was rocky. It was the Small Business Bureau that came to its aid and provided financial assistance to acquire high-end equipment and machinery, to produce quality work to customers.

Today, he is one of the leading choices for specialized printing such as flyers, tickets, invitations, large documents etc.

Another way Corporate Supplies con-

tributes to the Linden society is by providing jobs for young people. The company has several youths in its employ, who benefit from on-the-job training.

Commenting on his award, Adams said he is humbled by it and it serves as a motivation to keep on pushing ICT in Region Ten, not only with the provision of services, but through training for youths.

He urged other Lindeners to think futuristic as the world is moving along the pathway of ICT and STEM. He also urged business owners to honour their social responsibility as much as their business grows. “You have to keep giving, if you are getting. It is not a oneway street, you have to ensure your community benefits, particularly the youths and that is what will give you real satisfaction as a businessman,” Adams posited.

A few months ago, he launched the ‘catch up’ initiative which targeted primary school students from communities on the Linden Highway, who could not afford extra lessons, but were below their numeracy and literacy level.

Adams is presently a municipal councillor and is a candidate on the regional list for the APNU-AFC. He is the former Chairman of the Region Ten PNC/R chapter.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

GECOM making provisions for electors offshore to vote The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is looking into a request by ExxonMobil for consideration to be given to over 300 of its employees offshore Guyana to cast their vote on Elections Day. Commissioner of GECOM Vincent Alexander told the media on Tuesday that the matter has not been finalised but there are some recommendations on the table. “The options are either they shut down the operation and bring the workers on shore or we try to grant them proxies,” he said.

A voter is entitled to vote by proxy at the upcoming elections if he or she is unable to go to the polling station where he or she is listed to vote on Election Day based on specific circumstances. In Exxon’s case, these electors could fall within the category of voters who are “engaged in the running of a vessel on Election Day” or “for whom it is likely to be impractical or seriously inconvenient, by reason of the general nature of his or her occupation, service or employment or for the good cause”.

Presently, the transfer of Guyana’s first million-barrel lift of crude from the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO)

vessel to the oil tanker Cap Philippe is ongoing. It marks one of three lifts of crude to be sold to Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited in the coming weeks. Many Guyanese are onboard the FPSO working along with ExxonMobil to facilitate the process while Guyanese are also onboard drill ships in positions of catering, roustabouts, clerks, logistics and medical practitioners.

Commissioner Alexander said that GECOM has been faced with similar requests in the past when it comes to Guyana’s extractive sector. “We have had the past experience where Troy [Resources] and the [other] two big companies had to shut down their operations and allow the workers out. They have not made any request of us this time, Exxon has and related agencies have so we’ll be considering them,” he said. The Cap 1:03 of the Representation of the People Act states: “Every employer shall permit every elector in his employ, other than any elector on whose behalf another elector has been appointed to vote as a proxy, to be absent from his work on election day for a

Mayor accuses PPP supporters of dumping garbage in City PERSONS associated with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) are deliberately throwing garbage at different locations in the City to make the City Council look bad, Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine complained lately.

Speaking at the most recent statutory meeting at City Hall, Narine said it has been found that, after the Council workers do their cleaning, persons are going to dump in those exact locations double the amount of garbage that was picked up.

Narine said it has also been found that one set of PPP supporters are taking photographs on the garbage and posting them on social media every weekend. He said these individuals are able to find the exact spots each week to make the posts.

According to Narine, the Council owes no money to the major garbage collector companies, and hence, there is no issue with garbage collection in the City at the moment.

“People want to cause destruction in the City and make the Council look bad. While the Council is trying to clean, people are going back and dump double the amount of garbage.”

reasonable time, in addition to the normal midday meal hour, for the purpose of voting at the election; and no employer shall make any deduction from pay or other remuneration of any such elector or impose on him or exact from him any penalty by reason of his absence during such period.”

Guyana’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, the Liza Destiny

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

‘PPP has drifted from the Jaganite ideology’

…says Joey Jagan as he urges support for coalition Dr. CHEDDIE “Joey” Jagan Jnr, while maintaining that the ideologies of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have significantly changed from what they were under his father, has called on Guyanese to reject the Bharrat Jagdeo-led party as he threw his support behind the six-party coalition, A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) for a second term in office.

Dr. Jagan is the son of Dr.

Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan, two past presidents. It was Dr. Jagan, who co-founded the PPP in 1950 with Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham – the country’s first Executive President. However, Dr. Jagan and Burnham broke ties resulting in the formation of the People’s National Congress (PNC) in 1957 by the latter. Dr. Jagan jr, while acknowledging that his father was a Marxist-Leninist, said his father also believed in the principles of Mahatma Gandhi, and as such rejected

corruption and nepotism. “My father has never committed any acts of corruption or nepotism…Even though he was a Marxist-Leninist, he also had a tradition of Gandhism in him,” Dr. Jagan said during an interview on Guyana Chronicle’s online programme – Vantage Point, on Tuesday. For him, his father was a fair, simple and an upright man. The Dentist and Politician said under the leadership of Bharrat Jagdeo, the PPP/C has seen a steady decline in values. Jagdeo served

as President of Guyana from 1999 to 2011, and emerged as the Leader of the Opposition in 2015, after the PPP/C was defeated at the General and Regional Elections that year.

It was under the leadership of Jagdeo, Dr. Jagan pointed out that the party lost some of its stalwarts such as Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjattan and Ralph Ramkarran.

“They drove these leaders out,” he emphasised while iterating that the PPP today is not the same party that existed under

Dr. Cheddi “Joey” Jagan Jnr

the leadership of his father.

“The party has changed – the humility my father preached; the way he lived his life; no tolerance for any kind of corruption or even worse, if you claim that you are not corrupted, there is a perception in the population that you are corrupt, that’s just as important,” he said.

During his presidency, Jagdeo was accused of engaging in corrupt practices which resulted in the crime spiraling out of control. Now as the Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary of the PPP/C, he is the main force behind Irfaan Ali’s candidature as presidential candidate. Ali is currently facing 19 fraud charges for allegedly defrauding the State of over $174M, and has also been accused of falsifying his qualifications. In the High Court Dianna Deravinee Rajcumar and Phillip Marcus – two citizens are seeking clarification on Ali’s qualification, which they alleged might be false.

According to the PPP/C Presidential Candidate, he secured a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Planning from the Business College, West Demerara Chamber.

Dr. Jagan said while supporters are cognizant of the failures of the PPP/C, during elections, many Guyanese sadly vote along racial lines. This he said is true for both the PPP and the PNC. “I’ll give you an example: if Mr. [David] Granger was an Indian, and they only had Indians living in Guyana, Mr Granger wouldn’t even have to campaign because, by just staying in his home he would have won the next elections but because Mr Granger is an African Guyanese, some people get carried away by emotions and politicians feed that emotions,” Dr. Jagan reasoned.

He said while the PPP and PNC have largely attracted electors who vote along racial lines, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), under the leadership of President David Granger, has initiated the process of correcting this age-old issue.

“I am urging young people of all races to forget about race, race can’t get us anywhere; it never did and it never will. We have to look at this election and forget about race, and look at what is at stake, and what is at stake is looking at the contenders you have and

evaluating them to their integrity, honesty, commitment, their record…,” he pleaded.

COALITION IS THE WAY TO GO Dr. Jagan noted that it was the coming together of the APNU and the AFC that caused him to throw his support behind the coalition in 2015, after endorsing the PPP in 2011. “My father believed in coalition governance, that we must share the power and work together. He believed in that, they (the PPP), don’t believe in that, they want one power rule. We don’t want no one party rule,” he told this newspaper.

He said contrary to the PPP/C, the coalition comprises a total of six parties – People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the Justice for All Party, the National Front Alliance (NFA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) – and is a representation of shared governance.

Dr. Jagan reasoned that all the parties, despite the variation in size, are raking in support for the coalition as they use their influence on the ground. Importantly, he said the coming together of the parties allow for a diversity in views, policies and programmes.

The pro-capitalist politician said since the APNU+AFC coalition took office in May, 2015 he is satisfied with the progress made in the development of the country, and the push to raise the standard of living of regular Guyanese. He said with the production of oil and gas in Guyana, there should be greater focus on human development. “We need to help the people of this country to uplift themselves, when they uplift themselves, everybody will be uplifted,” he posited.

Though he is backing the coalition for the March 2 Election, Dr. Jagan said the coalition could do more to arrest crime in the country, and support the sugar workers who were displaced as a result of the closure of a number of estates. He noted too that the internal problems between the APNU and the AFC should not have been made public as they were during the revision of the Cummingsburg Accord.

Nonetheless, he is lobbying Guyanese to return the APNU+AFC coalition by a landslide victory.

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Gaskin appeals ruling in Exxon subsidiaries, Trotman case BEING dissatisfied with the ruling of the Acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire to dismiss an action against the Minister of Natural Resources, ExxonMobil’s subsidiaries and two of its partners, local activist Ramon Gaskin has moved to the appeal court to overturn the ruling.

Listed as respondents in the case are Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Ltd. (Nexen) and Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd (Hess).

Gaskin, who is represented by international lawyer Melinda Janki and Trinidad-based Guyanese Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam, had first challenged the state, more specifically the Minister of Natural Resources, for giving authorisation to both Nexen and Hess to conduct oil exploration in Guyana.

Gaskin had questioned the legality of the permit granted, explaining that the two companies were not issued separate licences; in fact, they are said to be covered by the environmental permits issued to ExxonMobil through its local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited on June 15,2017.

But the activist highly disagrees, and as such is seeking

to erroneous conclusions of her judgement.

“The learned judge misunderstood and/or did not consider sufficiently or at all, the nature, purport and effect of the evidence in the case as a whole and/or the applicable law and fell into serious error in ruling against the Ap-

to block the companies from proceeding with their exploration.

He was seeking an order of certiorari directing the Minister of Natural Resources to quash the granting of pe-

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

Local activist Ramon Gaskin

troleum production licences (PPL) to the oil companies.

Gaskin was also seeking a further order prohibiting the said minister from granting a PPL to Hess Guyana Exploration LTD and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Ltd, until an environmental authorisation is granted to the two companies in accordance with provisions of the Environmental Protection (EP) Act. However on February 12, 2020, the CJ dismissed the application and stated that the PPL was properly issued. She also agreed that the EP was issued in relation to a project and it was not necessary for it to be issued to each company,

which is a party to the PA for execution of the project.

She further agreed with submissions on behalf of the respondents that where liability is joint and several parties have jointly and individually promised to carry out the same promise or obligation, that there is only one obligation by which they are all bound.

Thus, the various instruments therefore clearly set out the obligations of the licensee which ensue that the EP is binding on all of them.

Gaskin has challenged the CJ’s decisions at the Court of Appeal for Writs of Certiorari and Prohibition against the respondents.

He is claiming that the judge erred in law by taking into account irrelevant and extraneous materials and thereby permitting herself to fall into grave error and coming

pellant and/or Her Honour's decision was unwarranted, unreasonable, irrational, unjustifiable, erroneous at law, disproportionate, harsh and/ or oppressive by refusing the Appellant's request for Administrative Orders and other relief by inter alia” the document read.

In 2018, application for the orders sought was initially refused by Justice Franklyn Holder, who ruled in favour of the oil companies.

Justice Holder’s decision was appealed to the Court of Appeal which allowed it.

The case was then placed before the chief justice.

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

‘We have a clear plan, strategy to take Guyana forward’ –– Irfaan Ali tells supporters at Bath Settlement rally WITH just two weeks remaining to what is deemed ‘the mother of all elections’ The People’s Progressive Party/Civic, on Sunday, took its rally to one of its strongholds: - Bath Settlement on the West Coast of Berbice - where it reassured supporters of the party’s plans to ensure development if elected into government.

Addressing the gathering

on Sunday, PPP/C’s Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, vowed that if the party should be reelected, it will invest tremendously in the agriculture sector to ensure better production of agriculture in the region. “Here in Region Five we have a very important sector, the fisheries sector, we have seen our folks in the fisheries sector faced with many difficulties not only

are they faced with a security threat when they go out there to ply their trade, but they face the issue of the economics…”

He urged those gathered at the rally to vote to support the revitalisation of the fishing sector. He promised the fisher folk that if elected his administration will remove the taxes on equipment.

Additionally, he stated that the PPP/C will ensure

that fishermen are equipped with the proper technology and equipment to secure themselves while they are out in the sea. “We are going to ensure we provide security for them, give them access to technology and support them in accessing what is required to protect themselves when they go out to sea,” he stated.

Ali further related that the PPP/C will support fishermen Irfaan Ali, PPP/C Presidential Candidate, addressing a major rally at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice on Sunday

that exist that can support a strong livestock industry.”

Ali told supporters that a strong livestock industry requires a strong government that will invest in infrastructure, a government that will support the industry. “We have to build a state-of-theart abattoir, we have to build a state-of-the-art storage facility that meets international standard so you can have access to higher and better-paying markets. And, this is the promise of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic.”

Ali said, too, that while there is a fixation on the

The PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, alongside running mate Brigadier Mark Phillips photographed with a supporter at the rally held in Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice on Sunday

in the region by exploring new markets, “We will bring back the catfish market that this government destroyed; we have to work on building a facility a packaging facility, a storage facility that is of international standard so that they can have access to the facility that can give them new markets, we have to invest in technology he have to give them incentives so they too can invest in the technology.”

He added that such investments will allow fishermen to remain competitive in the market. The former housing minister stated the PPP/C will be a government that will be a friend, a support, [and] a brother to fisher folk.

Additionally, the West Berbice region, Ali stated, has tremendous potential for livestock farming and as such the PPP/C will promote agriculture to the younger generation, “We will be investing in the opening up of new lands so they can have ownership of agricultural lands too. As we focus on the livestock industry, we have to work on bringing better breeds of animal and target new markets.

There are many new markets

rising oil and gas sector in Guyana, there are many other sectors of the Guyanese economy that can create tremendous wealth. He said the PPP/C will use the resources from oil and gas to open up opportunities in areas like Bath Settlement to build infrastructure, to ensure that there are opportunities that are strong and resilient to ensure economic prosperity for all Guyanese.

Ali also highlighted that rice is a major sector in the region; as such a PPP/C government will pump resources into the rice sector and reverse the taxes on the equipment and the machinery required for harvesting rice. “You would have heard from the government that they believe rice is private business, rice is not government business but let me make it very clear every single grain of rice is government’s business and after March 2nd the government is going to make the rice farmer its business.” This Ali told the gathering is reason to vote for the PPP come March 2.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Stabbed Linden schoolgirl to return to comfortable home

By Vanessa Braithwaite PUBLIC assistance continues to pour in for the 15-year-old Linden Foundation student who was stabbed on January 23, by a schoolmate.

While the family received monetary donations and food hampers, among other things, which were deemed very helpful for the approximately three weeks she has been hospitalised, a remigrant organisation has taken it a step further to help the family complete their home, so that the teen can have a comfortable place to

father does not have stable employment and thus the family finds it hard to make ends meet. While efforts were made to build a house, for many years, it was left with only the frame and half of the roof completed. They live in the little shack with hopes that one day it will be completed.

Member of the Remigrant Organisation, Kevin Barron, said when they visited the home, they realised that the family needed help immediately.

"This girl will be discharged from the hospital this week and doesn’t have

Work being done by the Remigrant Organisation to bring the house up to a habitable state

recover.

The teen's mother, Dane Lyte, is a single mother of seven who moved to Linden some years ago from

a bed to lay on to heal properly. With someone coming home from the hospital with a stab wound in her back, she needs somewhere com-

The one-bedroom shack the family of eight occupies

Berbice. She is unemployed and four of the seven children are very young. Their

fortable and so we want to directly have an impact in this child's life," Barron

said.

He, along with the two other members, Paul Nurse and Dexter Copeland, solicited donations from residents and corporate Linden to purchase material to have the structure of the house completed and wired. It is located in Second Phase Amelia's Ward, Linden.

The victim’s brother, Rashebo Williams, said he feels very good about all of the donations but more so about this particular one since the one- bedroom shack is indeed cramped and is in no way conducive for a recovering person. The works ongoing include the installation of doors, win-

dows, plastering, completion of roof and other basic finishing, to at least make it habitable.

The teen will be discharged later this week from the Linden Hospital Complex and is expected to make a full recovery from the stab wound, despite some of her organs are permanently

damaged. The alleged perpetrator, another 15-year-old student, is still on bail as police continue their investigation into the matter.

Since the incident, which went viral, the Region 10 Department of Education has ‘ramped up’ school's welfare service to prevent violence in schools.

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

A fixed single CARICOM roaming rate for all CARICOM nationals – CARICOM Chair Community governance, a fixed single CARICOM roaming rate and a unified regional approach were among the key highlights of Chair of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Hon.

Mia Amor Mottley, when she addressed the opening of the Thirty-First Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference in Barbados, on Tuesday February 18, 2020.

On the issue of community governance, the Chair

noted that “some self-examination” was in order.

Her references included the under-resourced CARICOM Secretariat which she said was now functioning with 30 million Eastern Caribbean dollars less than it did 10 years ago and with 40

people less than it did 30 years ago”, despite increasing challenges and new mandates.

She questioned whether the “appropriate governance and funding models to ensure the sustainability of this `family movement’ that

is so vital to our being able to bring prosperity to our citizens”, was in place. She suggested a review of the 2003 Rose Hall Declaration and the entire issue of community governance with a view to finding a modality that would allow for more effective implementation of Heads’ decisions, particularly those related to the CARICOM Single Market and Single Economy.

Speaking on matters of the digital economy, the Chair reiterated the Community’s belief in this sector’s “powerful role in the development of our economies”.

She used this opportunity to make a very well received (given audience reaction) announcement of ongoing work to provide a “a modest fixed single CARICOM roaming rate for all CARICOM nationals”, which she informed will be announced shortly.

“Our teams have been working with operators in the telecommunications sector across the Region and indeed, Prime Minister Mitchell, who is the lead prime minister in this area, has, along with the CSME team, worked with the operators to shortly announce a modest fixed single CARICOM roaming rate for all CARICOM nationals to cover the cost of data for popular social media platforms including those that offer messaging and calls”, she said.

“The rate will include an amount of local and regional voice calls, and over time this CARICOM rate will include more services.

This is what it means to be family taking decisions”, she explained. On the last issue of “family”, the Chair, throughout the presentation, reiterated the importance of a unified approach despite ideology, to surmount the ever present and changing global challenges before the Region. She alluded to challenges such as: chronic

non communicable diseases (NCDs), the existential crisis of climate, violence, which, she noted, had genuinely become a public health disorder; challenges to the Community’s fiscal sovereignty, among others. The Hon. Mottley reminded the gathering of the need to rely on the bonds of family to make the decisions that would effectively address the challenges before the Community.

“There is always strength in unity … We ought to be able to find the resolve to understand that we meet here today, not because we share a common ideology, but …. because we are family. We are kith and kin”, she said. Continuing, she noted that whether it is at the level of countries or at the level of homes and communities, “being kith and must stand for something”; adding –“…determining how best to move forward with the character that defines us as being resilient was important” The Chair used the current threat to the Region posed by COVID-19 (coronavirus health emergency) to demonstrate the benefits of family and taking decisions to confront our challenges. She singled out regional institutions: CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) (and its sub-agency Joint Regional Communication Centre (JRCC) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) that are working along with other agencies to keep the emergency out of the Region. The Hon. Mia Mottley who also dealt with issues such as regional air transport and the financing for the Caribbean Development Fund, among others, exhorted her fellow colleagues to “perfect a finer vision for “ourselves [the Community]and act to create that vision”

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2020

Ituni gets asphalted roads for first time

-- residents say community now placed on the map

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE aesthetics of the Upper Demerara -Upper Berbice community of Ituni has been significantly boosted and residents are now upbeat about asphalted roads that are being constructed in their community for the very first time.

Ituni, like many other communities in Region 10, has its history etched in bauxite mining and is identified by red bauxite dust and loam-surfaced roads.

After years of neglect, these dirt roads were ‘decorated’ with pot holes and huge craters, since Ituni is also a logging community and logging trucks often left their mark when using the roads.

Today, the rhetoric has changed and the community is now benefitting from paved roads which residents explained were more than just a good look and a smooth drive but an entire transformation for the community.

Resident, Nicola Bennette said the road will improve the social growth of their community and alluded to the upcoming Republican celebration that will be done in fine style. “I never saw Ituni getting tar road, knowing the condition it was in back then, it was terrible. For example, our Mash parade coming up, the road will be nice to march on. It will be a real improvement to our Mash celebration,” Bennette said.

The road will also alleviate flooding that occurs in various areas in the community because of the drains that have been installed. While this is not the first time the community received roads, she said that now it brings residents great joy to see that roads are not only thrown at them, but the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is delivering quality roads, that will last longer.

It is for this reason residents feel the community is now given recognition or as they put it, ‘placed on the map’.

“I actually see that we are now part on the map, Ituni is now part of Guyana because we were way down the line. I must say thanks to our government for putting Ituni on the map, bringing us proper roads, I never saw Ituni getting tar roads, knowing the condition is was in back then, it was terrible,” resident Yetunde PluckAbel said.

In addition to the upgrade to community in-roads, residents also applauded the government for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Linden to Ituni trail.

In comparison to how it was before, residents said that it took approximately three hours from Linden to Ituni, now the ride is about 45 minutes on a smooth, well maintained road.

OPENED UP OPPORTUNITY Pluck-Abel said the road now gives herself and other residents the opportunity to pursue tertiary studies in Linden.

“We would go to classes in Linden and we would leave and be back in Ituni the same afternoon because you are spending less than an hour on the road, compared to three hours before. It was terrible. So it is not just a road but it is helping us to better ourselves educationally,” she said.

Chairman of the Ituni Community Development Council (CDC), Curt Murphy, said he is pleased with the attention given to his community over the last four years. In addition to the roads, Murphy said the community now has its own pavilion which is being used for sporting and other social activities. In the past, residents were forced to sit on old bleachers. A modern doctor’s quarter was also constructed in the community and health care will be improved since a resident doctor will now manage the community’s health centre. In the past, it was managed by a medex.

The community is also receiving up to eight hours water supply following the installation of a brand new well by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). Residents also benefitted from empowerment training from various government ministries to get them started in agriculture and entrepreneurship. The objective is to push residents to diversify the economy of the community that is heavily dependent on logging.

Logging is still supported by the government, as only recently, two new logging concessions were approved for the Ituni Small Loggers Association.

Like Ituni, other outlying communities in the Upper Demerara and Upper Berbice District are also benefitting from tangible development.

Ituni residents are call-

ing for a better ambulance to transfer patients to the Linden Hospital

Complex in a safe and timely manner and for a school bus so that the

students attending secondary school in Linden can travel daily, given

the improved state of the road, rather than to be housed at the dormitory.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

27

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

29

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

31

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

33

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Star-studded teams announced ahead of Friday’s Golden ...

From back page the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), were named yesterday as part of the anniversary celebrations event.

The Hurricanes will have as their overseas player, Trinidad and Tobago/West Indies dynamic opener Lendl Simmons, along with former West Indies T20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, current West Indies U-19 World Cup 2020 players Kevlon Anderson and Ashmead Nedd, breakout rookie pacer Nial Smith and others.

Rutherford, a brilliant T20 player, will have the services of West Indies opener Chandrapaul Hemraj, West Indies B captain Anthony

AMERICAN RACING TIPS Tampa Bay Downs Race 1 Mobeatyabad Race 2 No Choice Race 3 On A Spree Race 4 I’llmakeyousmile Race 5 Peace Taker Race 6 Commander Of Death Race 7 Adult In The Room Race 8 Nick The Cardshark SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Greyville 08:40 hrs Dutch Alley 09:20 hrs Silver Prancer 09:53 hrs Whizz Of Odds 10:30 hrs Sea Venture 11:05 hrs Belshazzar IRISH RACING TIPS Punchestown 09:40 hrs Elfile 10:10 hrs Lucky One 10:40 hrs Goaheadwiththeplan 11:15 hrs Royal Thief 11:45 hrs Miss Pernickety 12:20 hrs Fourina 12:55 hrs Glenveagh Park ENGLISH RACING TIPS Doncaster 10:18 hrs Danny Kirwan 10:50 hrs Kansas City Chief 11:23 hrs Allart 11:55 hrs My Old Gold 13:02 hrs Adrimel LUDLOW 09:55 hrs Rhosneigr 10:26 hrs Chilli Filli 11:00 hrs Bean In Trouble 11:31 hrs Fort Gabriel 12:05 hrs Southfield Harvest 12:40 hrs Oxwich Bay 13:10 hrs Supakalanistic KEMPTON 13:30 hrs Es Que Magic 14:00 hrs Dartington 14:30 hrs Rondo 15:00 hrs Guroor 15:30 hrs Concierge 16:00 hrs Home Before Dusk 16:30 hrs Agent Of Fortune

Bramble, Guyana Jaguars captain Leon Johnson, Jags all-rounder and Barbados Tridents Raymon Reifer.

Their overseas players will be the veteran all-rounder Rayad Emrit who has represented West Indies in T20s and Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL. On February 23, 1970 Guyana became a Co-operative Republic and the match is part of a doubleheader to observe the nation’s golden jubilee.

To observe the landmark, action at Providence will bowl off at 14:00hrs when national champions Regal All-Stars battle archrivals Ariel Speed Boat in a softball match to get things going, with the feature T20 affair set to bowl off under lights from 18:00hrs.The day’s event is organised by the Ministry of the Presidency Department of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, in collaboration with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

Tickets are on sale at the GCB office, Regent Road Bourda for $2 000 for any stand and vehicle parking passes are $1 000.

Hetmyer Hurricanes; Shimron Hetmyer (captain), Trevon Griffith, Lendl Simmons, Raymond Perez, Kevlon Anderson, Kemol Savory,

Kevlon Anderson Christopher Barnwell, Ronaldo Ali-mohamed, Ashmead Nedd, Gudakesh Motie, Nial Smith, Qumar Torrington, Richie Looknauth, Vishal Singh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (technical director), Steven Jacobs (coach), Akshaya Persaud (manager) and Neil Barry Jr (physiotherapist).

Rutherford Renegades; Sherfane Rutherford (captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Jonathan Foo, Anthony Bramble, Leon Johnson, Raymon Reifer, Tevin Imlach, Kevin Sinclair, Rayad Emrit, Quintin Sampson, Joshua Jones, Ramaal Lewis, Keon Joseph, Ricardo Adams, Esaun Crandon (technical director), Veerasammy Permaul (coach), Devendra Bishoo (manager) and Ernest Campo Gonzalez (physiotherapist).

Messi, Hamilton joint winners of Sportsman-of-the-Year ...

From page 39 Cup triumph last year while the women have won three of the last four EuroBasket titles.

German Formula Three driver Sophia Floersch, who fractured her spine in an aerial crash at the Macau Grand Prix in November 2018 that required an 11-hour surgery to fix, made the Comeback-of-the-Year after getting back into the cockpit last year.

Former Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer of all-time in international cricket, had the support of a cricket-crazy nation to win a fan vote for the award for the best Sporting Moment from the last two decades.

In his sixth and final one-day international World Cup in 2011, Tendulkar finally got his hands on the title as India won on home soil and he was carried on his team mates’ shoulders for a lap of honour.

List of winners: Sportsman-of-the-Year: Lewis Hamilton and Lionel Messi Sportswoman-of-the-Year: Simone Biles Team-of-the-Year: South Africa Men’s Rugby Team Breakthrough of the Year: Egan Bernal Comeback-of-the-Year: Sophia Floersch Sportsperson-of-the-Year with a Disability: Oksana Masters Action Sportsperson-of-the-Year: Chloe Kim Best Sporting Moment: ‘Carried on the shoulders of a nation’ – Sachin Tendulkar Lifetime Achievement Award: Dirk Nowitzki Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award: Spanish Basketball Federation Laureus Sport for Good Award: South Bronx United

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Aurora Knight Riders crowned South/Central T20 champions

ALTHOUGH rain intervened and halted an exciting finish, Aurora Knight Riders had the final say and took the crown, as determined by the Duckworth Lewis method.

Earlier, Reliance Sports Club placed third when they humbled Invaders Masters by six wickets. The match was reduced to 15 overs to accommodate the final. Masters struggled to 69 all out in

14 overs.

Only Seenauth Balbadar 17 and Raj Parbattie 12 reached double digits as Bridgelall Parsotam 3-14 and Eknauth Singh 3-17 bowled impressively. The target was then achieved through an unbeaten 41 (6x4) from Eon Singh with 4 overs to spare.

The final then began with Aurora Knight Riders batting first. They too found batting difficult on a slow pitch that

offered bounce and turn. A counter-attacking 32 (5x4, 1x6) from opener Quasie Reedon proved decisive in the end in the Riders’ eventual total of 94 all-out from their 20 overs.

Accurate seam bowling from Leon Cadogan 3-18 and 3-22 from off-spinner Wayne Osbourne kept Bulls ahead. In return, Riders opened with spin at both ends and stifled Bulls from

Aurora Knight Riders celebrate their victory in the final.

the inception. The batsmen never found fluency and found runs difficult to gather.

Opener Wayne Osbourne laboured for 14 runs when the rain intervened for a premature end with Bulls at 37-3 from 9.3 overs. They were short of the required rate at the time and much to the delight of the Aurora Knight Riders team who were crowned Champions.

The winners received $50 000 and trophy while the runner-up took away $25 000 and trophy. The Man- of-theMatch award of a trophy went to Quasie Reedon.

Meanwhile, another T20 competition will begin shortly for teams across the Essequibo Coast. Teams are to make contact with Trevis Simon on 619-2022 for further information.

Man-of-the-Match Quasie Reedon

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

BCB/RHTYSC/Natasha Gangoo Tribute Trophy

Gajnabi, Samaroo set up 65-run win over West Berbice WEST Indies Women player Shabika Gajnabi and Marian Samaroo stroked half-centuries for Rose Hall Town (RHT) Metro who handed a 65-run defeat to West Berbice in a specially arranged match at the Bush Lot ground, Former Guyana U-19 player Samaroo hit an even 50 with four fours while skipper Gajnabi top-scored with an attractive 73 which included 11 boundaries, as the two shared a second-wicket stand of 120. RHT Metro reached 182-7 from their allotted 30-overs after batting first.

Ex-West Indies pacer Tremayne Smartt bowled Kimmone Thomas for 2 in the first over with the score on 6. Oma Matadin 16 and Kassie Munroe supported Gajnabi and Samaroo.

Needing to score 183 to lift the Natasha Gangoo Tribute Trophy, the home team found themselves reeling at 13 for 3 in the fourth over after another former West Indies Women pacer Erva Giddings bowled T. George for 0 while Sherika Campbelle was also dismissed for 10, Duherte 0 and A. Fordyce 3.

Smart returned with the bat to score

Natasha Gangoo (left) hands over winners’ trophy to Guyana/West Indies player Shabika Gajnabi skipper of RHT Metro.

36 and received support from Kantana Mentore 21 not out, R. Liverpool 22 and Trea Isaacs 10 as West Berbice ended on 117 for 8 off their 30 overs.

Gangoo, playing in her final match was unbeaten on 5. Plaffina Millington, Kassie Munroe, Sherika Campbelle and Erva Giddings took two wickets apiece for 12, 13, 11 and 10 runs respectively for RHT Metro.

The Gangoo Tribute Trophy was the second in 2020 for the visitors after they had earlier in the month, secured the BCB/RHTYSC/ Nand Persaud 50 overs female tournament.

BCB president Hilbert Foster hailed Gangoo as a pioneer of female cricket in Berbice and described her as a positive role

model to the young generation of female players.

He expressed gratitude to her for the two decades of service to Berbice and stated that as long as he remains the BCB president, every hero in the county shall be recognised and honoured.

The BCB handed over a collection of gifts to the retired player while both teams honoured Gangoo by giving her a special bat salute as she left the ground for the final time.

Gangoo also handed over the winning trophy to RHT Metro skipper Shabika Gajnabi. A grateful and emotional Gangoo expressed gratitude to the BCB for honouring her on her retirement.

New Amsterdam/Canje claim runners-up spot thanks to all-rounder Smartt VETERAN Women’s all-rounder Tremayne Smartt rolled back the years as she piloted New Amsterdam/Canje to a whopping 145- run win over West Berbice when the Berbice Cricket Board(BCB)/RHTYSC/Nand Persaud Co. Ltd 50-Overs tournament.

Tremayne Smartt The former West Indies player smashed an unbeaten 75 before returning to snatch 3 wickets which ultimately guided her side to the runners-up position in the three-team tournament.

Rose Hall Town (RHT) Metro had defeated West Berbice by a whopping 326 runs and New Amsterdam/Canje by 96 runs last week to emerge as Champions. In this match, the winners amassed 262 for 7 from their allotted 50 overs, thanks mainly to Smartt, R. Grimmond 32 and Ashmini Munisar 27.

Devona Frank 1 for 36, T. Isaacs 1 for 41 and D. Small 2 for 32 were the main wicket-takers for West Berbice, who showed remarkable improvement from their first match against RHT Metro.

Needing to score 263 from 50 overs to win, West Berbice were bowled out for 117 with national players Kantana Mentore scoring 41 not out. Smartt 3-25 and Under-19 medium pacer Jamie Campbelle 3-34 were the main bowlers for the home team.

Following the match, BCB president Hilbert Foster stated that he was fully aware that in Guyana women do not play enough cricket and this is a major frustration for female cricketers.

He urged other established clubs to invest in women’s cricket and committed the BCB in 2020 to organise several other tournaments along with numerous developmental programme for the ladies.

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

New Zealand’s Taylor bats away retirement talk ahead of 100th Test

FILE PHOTO:New Zealand’s Ross Taylor celebrates his century v England Second Test - Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand - December 3, 2019. (REUTERS/Ross Setford) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) New Zealand’s Ross Taylor will celebrate his 100th Test in the series-opener against India this week and the veteran batsman says he has no intention of winding down his international career as he nears his 36th birthday.

Taylor became New Zealand’s leading

run-scorer in Tests when he surpassed Stephen Fleming’s career tally of 7 172 against Australia in Sydney last month.

In front of home fans in Wellington on Friday, he will become the nation’s fourth cricketer to play 100 Tests after Fleming, Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum.

He will also become the first cricketer to reach the milestone in all three major formats.

Far from seeing the finish line for his career, Taylor said he had been urged to reset his goals in a congratulatory call from former New Zealand Test opener and coach John Wright.

“He said it was a nice time to relax, but at the same time nice to rejig those goals,” Taylor said in comments published by New Zealand’s Stuff media yesterday.

“Give yourself something to chase ...

Goals aren’t everything but they’re a nice reminder when your mind is going in different directions, to bring you back on track and give you a focus.”

Taylor said he was keen to be in the frame for New Zealand’s bid for a maiden T20 World Cup title when the men’s tournament

kicks off in Australia in October.

He would also not rule out the next oneday World Cup in India in 2023, having played in the heart-breaking defeat to hosts England in last year’s title-decider.

“First and foremost I want to get to next year - the Twenty20 World Cup and then the home summer - and then I’ll have a good idea on how I’m placed at the end of next summer.

“Whether there is still a drive, whether I’m good enough, whether I’m fit enough, and whether I deserve my spot in the side. If I can tick all those, then definitely 2023 is an option.”

It will be a party atmosphere for Taylor at the Basin Reserve on Friday, with New Zealand Cricket offering dozens of free tickets for his extended family on the weekend of his sister’s wedding.

“You always want to do well, and first and foremost the game is more important,” he said.

“At the same time you can put extra pressure on yourself.

“You’ve just got to go out and enjoy it and take it as another game. Hopefully I can contribute in any way I can.”

Fast bowler Thomas expected back in training days after carcrash KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – West Indies pacer Oshane Thomas is said to be at home resting and expected to be back in training today, after being involved in a car crash Sunday night.

His manager Mark Neita told the Jamaica Observer that the fast bowler, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Tuesday,

Women’s T20 World Cup Fixtures

THE Women’s T20 World Cup starts on Friday when hosts and favourites Australia face India in Sydney.

England, led by Heather Knight, will be hoping to do international cricket’s double, after winning the 50-over version in 2017.

The tournament will be covered extensively on the BBC, with ballby-ball commentary on every match on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app.

The BBC Sport website and app will also have live text commentaries and in-play highlights (UK only) throughout the tournament, which will culminate in front of 100,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on International Women’s Day on 8 March.

England are in Group B alongside West Indies, South Africa, Pakistan and Thailand, and open their tournament on 23 February against South Africa in Perth.

Australia, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh are in

Group B, with the top two in each group progressing to the semi-finals on 5 March at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup captains

FEBRUARY 21 Australia v India, Sydney (Showground) (d/n) (08:00 GMT) 22 West Indies v Thailand, Perth (Waca) (07:00 GMT) 22 New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Perth (Waca) (d/n) (11:00 GMT) 23 England v South Africa, Perth (Waca) (d/n) (11:00 GMT) 24 Australia v Sri Lanka, Perth (Waca) (07:00 GMT) 24 India v Bangladesh, Perth (Waca) (d/n) (11:00 GMT) 26 England v Thailand, Canberra (04:00 GMT) 26 West Indies v Pakistan, Canberra (d/n) (08:00 GMT) 27 India v New Zealand, Melbourne (Junction Oval) (04:00 GMT) 27 Australia v Bangladesh, Canberra (d/n) (08:00 GMT) 28 South Africa v Thailand, Canberra (04:00 GMT) 28 England v Pakistan, Canberra (d/n) (08:00 GMT) 29 New Zealand v Bangladesh, Melbourne (Junction Oval) (00:00 GMT) 29 India v Sri Lanka, Melbourne (Junction Oval) (d/n) (04:00 GMT) MARCH 1 South Africa v Pakistan, Sydney (Showground) (04:00 GMT) 1 England v West Indies, Sydney (Showground) (d/n) (08:00 GMT) 2 Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Melbourne (Junction Oval) (00:00 GMT) 2 Australia v New Zealand, Melbourne (Junction Oval) (d/n) (04:00 GMT) 3 Pakistan v Thailand, Sydney (Showground) (04:00 GMT) 3 West Indies v South Africa, Sydney (Showground) (d/n) (08:00 GMT) 5 First semi-final, Sydney (SCG) (04:00 Back row :From left: India-Harmanpreet, New Zealand Sophie Devine, Austra- GMT) lia-Meg Lanning, England-Heather Knight, and Bangladesh-Salma Khatun.

5 Second semi-final, Sydney (SCG) (d/n) Front row: From left: Thailand Sornnarin Tippoca, West Indies-Stafanie Taylor, (08:00 GMT) South Africa-Dane van Niekerk, Sri Lanka-Chamari Atapattu, and Pakistan-Bis8 Final, Melbourne (MCG) (d/n) (07:00 mah Maroof.

GMT).

Jamaica and Windies fast bowler Oshane Thomas suffered some bruising to his body and his knees in the accident but was doing well.

“He is at home resting,” he told the newspaper on Monday.

“He’s going to be training on Wednesday.”

Thomas was the sole occupant of his vehicle which was in a collision with another car on Highway 2000 near Old Harbour, St Catherine, in the south east of the island.

He was taken to hospital but after being checked and receiving treatment, he was released.

There has been no word on the condition of the driver of the other car involved in the crash.

In a statement issued on Monday, the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) extended best wishes to Thomas for a speedy and full recovery.

He is due to turn out for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) which is set to begin on March 29.

Thomas has played a total of 20 ODIs and 10 T20Is for the West Indies team.

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

George and Prashad dominate Joe Jagmohan Golf Tournament PEYTON George and Patrick Prashad finished with a combined five trophies at the Joe Jagmohan Golf Tournament, which was played on Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club.

George, who played with a handicap of 18, was crowned the overall winner in the net competition after registering a gross score of 82 (net score of 64). He also won the longest-drive trophy.

Prashad, on the other hand, recorded the best gross score of the day, while he also won the net battle in his 0-9 flight and the closest to the pin award.

The former club captain bested current club president, Aleem Hussain, in

the top-flight battle. Prashad, with a handicap of eight, finished with a net score of 68, while Hussain ended with a net score of 72.

In the second flight, the 10-18 handicappers, former Guyana Open champion, Joaan Deo, was able to beat Danny Mangra on a count back. Both players finished with a net score of 66 after having registered gross scores of 82 and 84 respectively.

Meanwhile, in the highest handicap group (19-36), Carlos Adams, with a handicap of 26, finished with a net score of 67 to better Eureka Giddings, who finished with a net 68 after registering a gross score of 96.

Peyton George (fourth from left back row) and Patrick Prashad (second from left), along with the other winners, club officials and sponsors.

West Indies looking for T20 World Cup revenge – Mohammed SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) – When West Indies begin their bid for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 title on Saturday, vice-captain Anisa Mohammed says they will be seeking revenge on hosts Australia.

Speaking ahead of her side’s opening match against Thailand in Perth, the 31-yearold spinner said the Caribbean women were working hard to one-up the Meg Lanning-led squad in the 10-team tournament.

Mohammed – the highest T20I wicket-taker of all-time – helped Windies beat Australia to the title in 2016 at Eden Gardens; but the Caribbean women then lost out to the same opposition at the semi-final stage on home soil in 2018, with a 71-run defeat.

“We’ve come to win this World Cup and take it back from Australia,” the Trinidadian said.

“It would be nice to spoil the party. They spoiled ours, so it would be nice to return the favour.”

A World Cup victory would not only be a team achievement, but a personal one

Vice-captain Anisa Mohammed wants to deliver the same blow to Australia Women that they gave to West Indies Women in 2018. for Mohammed.

“The final in 2016 was a really special day. That was probably the biggest highlight of my career – winning a World Cup. It’s something I’d love to do again,” she said.

“As a team, we know what it’s like to win and what it’s like to lose. Winning is definitely better, so we want to win this time.”

Australia are one of the favourites of the tournament, but Mohammed believes West Indies have what it takes to rain on their parade.

“Australia have been doing really well.

They recently played in the tri-series and came out on top, but we’ve been working hard ourselves.

“Australia are known as the top team in the world. All teams will be gunning to beat them,” she said.

West Indies Women and Australia Women met in a bilateral series in September 2019, and the under-strength Caribbean side were beaten 3-nil and by margins of six, nine and nine wickets respectively.

Experienced West Indies fast bowler Shakera Selman fanned the flames of the rivalry by revealing it’s only recently the two teams have started to build relationships.

“We have some history with Austra-

Windies captain says fit-again Dottin important to squad SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) – Despite having not played an international match in over a year because of major injury, surgery and rehab, Deandra Dottin remains vital to the West Indies Women squad, says captain Stafanie Taylor.

In fact, Taylor believes the 28-yearold all-rounder remains one of the key weapons in the side’s arsenal.

Dottin has been off the pitch for an extended period because of a right shoulder injury that required surgery in June last year, followed by months of rehabilitation. But she will put on the maroon outfit again when West Indies have an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup unofficial warm-up match against Pakistan on Friday.

Speaking at the captains’ media

day at Taronga Zoo here, Taylor said Dottin’s shoulder “is still a bit off, but she’s pretty much ready – 98 per cent.”

“Deandra is very important to our team and with the level she’s at, we’re trying our very best to manage her,” she said.

“It’s not going to be an easy one, she’s coming back from a long injury, but with the level she’s at, she’s quite up there in terms of her importance and recovery. We’re very pleased with the way that she’s going.”

The right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler has performed well for the West Indies in the past.

Her 38-ball 100 in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2010 is the first and fastest in the format, while the five for five

she took against Bangladesh two years ago is the best figure in the tournament’s history.

Following their first T20 World Cup victory in India in 2016, West Indies Women will start their bid to win a second title on Saturday with a match against Thailand in Perth, Western Australia.

Taylor said the squad is now “really trying to focus on our own game and playing our best cricket.

“Every time we go out there, we want to play fearless – that’s the brand of cricket we definitely want to play and it worked when we performed in India. That’s what we try to instil in our players and that’s what we’re looking to achieve in this tournament,” the West Indies captain said.

lia,” said Selman. “Since the last series, I’ve noticed a lot of the girls have built some sort of friendship and some sort of camaraderie.”

“They’ve beaten us a few times. They were hurting after we beat them in 2016 and they came back to beat us two years later. It would be a big game if we faced them in the semi-finals but we’ve got to take each one as it comes.”

Australia Women will open the seventh season of the T20 World Cup 2020 on Friday with a contest against India Women at Sydney Showground.

Following their first match against Thailand at the WACA in Perth, Western Australia, West Indies Women will play Pakistan Women on February 26 at Manuka Oval, Canberra; England Women on March 1; and South Africa Women on March 3. The latter two games will be played at Sydney Showground.

The tournament will culminate on March 8 with the final match in Melbourne.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday February 19, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF THE XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Australia-4 (2010; 2012/13; 2023/14; 2018/19) (2) 2015/16

Today’s Quiz: (1) Name the teams that are in Group A for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020?

(2) Who are the members of Group B?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 19, 2020

GCB/Dave West Indian Imports U-15 Inter-County

Sankar sets up 8-wicket win for President’s XI

By Clifton Ross A STERLING exhibition with bat and ball from President’s XI captain Stephon Sankar helped set up an easy 8-wicket win over Essequibo, when Round 2 of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Dave’s West Indian Imports U-15 Inter-county Tournament continued yesterday.

Playing at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Essequibo stumbled, batting first, running into the spin twins Sankar and Ali Budhoo, who snared 4-25 and 3-26 in a clinical effort which inevitably strangled their opponents who were bowled out for 147

… Berbice complete second win

in 30 overs.

Amidst the chaos, Essequibo No. 3 batsman Shazif Mohamed (32) and all-rounder Adesh Das (46) tried to get out of the blocks but failed, despite looking decent against the combined effort of the President’s XI bowlers.

The chase was relatively simple for the eventual winners. Thanks to an unbroken half-century partnership between Sankar and his vice-captain Tulsiram Ramkarran, who ended on 25 apiece not out, their side finished on 148 for 2 in 40.5 overs.

After bowling out their foes before lunch, President’s XI opener Afazul Kadir hit punched 5 fours in his top score of 40 while Tularam Chintimani (16) had a four to his credit as both players looked ominous from the start, with their team racing to 65-0 when lunch came.

Upon resumption of play, Essequibo pulled things back with the wickets of both openers, who fell to the skill of Das in a short span of time.

Although President’s XI lost two set wickets, the deficit was almost cleared with

President’s XI openers laid a solid half-century opening stand to set up a win for their team, (Adrian Narine photo)

just 28 needed following the dismissals.

Sankar, younger brother of former Guyana U-15 spinner Steven Sankar, and Ramkarran held their nerves during the chase.

The duo played identical innings of grit and application, as neither batsmen scored a single boundary despite finding the singles with relative ease.

Nevertheless, both players knuckled down and eventually steered their side to a most-needed rebound win, following their horrific loss to Berbice in Round 1.

Meanwhile, Sankar for his 4 wickets and 25 runs was adjudged the Man-ofthe-match.

Earlier, it never looked promising for Essequibo, as the wily Sankar sliced through the entire top-order including Mohamed, who tried to keep the top together as he hit three fours.

A brave effort from Das featured four fours and two sixes in a lower-order attempt to keep things alive following a catastrophic start; which ended on a high note for the President’s XI. At Lusignan, Salim Khan hit 39 and grabbed 3 wickets

Lusignan beat Enmore in 100-ball cricket final A MAN-of-the-match performance from former national U-15 batsman Robin Williams spurred Lusignan Sports Club to a 65-run victory against rivals, Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC), in the championship clash of the Banks Beer 100-ball competition last Sunday night.

The visiting Lusignan side won the toss and batted first in the final. Led by aggressive opener Williams, Lusignan were able to bat themselves to 150-6 before their 100 balls expired.

Williams struck five sixes and two fours in a top score of 44. For the third wicket, he and Somnauth Bharrat put together 58 runs, with the latter hitting two fours and a six before he was run-out.

Several other batsmen also contributed to the score, including Gavin Boodwah, who made 31 runs (2x4, 2x6).

Bowling for Enmore,

Lusignan Sports Club were crowned 100-ball champions.

Chris Surat and Satesh them went on to score the the third-place clash earlier Jainarine finished with two match-winning innings that in the day. Chasing 180 for wickets each.

Enmore needed. victory, Sewchand Budhu In reply, the home team J a g d e s h D o w l a t r a m , led the attack with a blissuccumbed for 85 all out in Vickram Doodnauth and tering 89. The game came 13.3 overs. Opener Imran Chanderpaul Ramraj picked down to the final ball and Hassan (17 3x4), Rudolph up two wickets each for the Strathavon had to score two Singh 17 (1x4, 1x6), Surat eventual winners. runs for victory.

15 (2x6) and Chaitram BalMeanwhile, Strathavon Earlier H. Jailall had gobin 13 (2x4) all reached SC recorded a thrilling vic- scored 79 for Lusignan double figures, but none of tory over Lusignan East in East.

MVP and President’s XI skipper Stephon Sankar accepts his trophy from GCB assistant TDO Kavita Yadram. to help Berbice to another crushing win, this time hammering Demerara by 64 runs.

Berbice were kept to 140 for 7 when their overs expired with Khan unbeaten on 39.

Demerara then failed to gun down a relatively low target and were steamrolled for 76 runs during their chase.

Round 3 continues tomorrow.

Messi, Hamilton joint winners of Sportsman-of-the-Year at Laureus Awards (REUTERS) - Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi were declared joint winners of the Laureus World Sportsman-of-the-Year Award in Berlin on Monday, with the voting tied for the first time in the awards’ 20-year history.

Mercedes driver Hamilton won his sixth world championship in 2019, with 11 race wins and 17 podium finishes, while Messi was crowned the world’s best player for a record sixth time when he won the Ballon d’Or. American gymnast Simone Biles, who became the most decorated gymnast in world championship history when she won her 25th medal last year, won her third Sportswoman-of-the-Year gong after winning the award in 2017 and 2019.

The South African rugby team, which won Mercedes driver Lewis the World Cup in Japan Hamilton won his sixth last year for the third world championship in time in history, were 2019. crowned the Team-ofthe-Year, beating European soccer champions Liverpool and women’s soccer World Cup winners United States.

German NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, who retired last year after a 21-year career in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to basketball.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Basketball Federation was recognised with the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award after the men’s World From page 34

GMR&SC National Race of Champions

Bikers presented with cash prizes CASH prizes were on Monday evening awarded to the riders of the recently completed first round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) National Race of Champions round one.

During a brief ceremony at the newly opened Windjammer Banquet Hall, all the riders were the recipients of $50 000 compliments of a sponsor.

The riders were Rovario Tucker and Kevin Persaud of the senior class and Paul Yearwood, Shem Chattersingh, Dowayne Caesar, and Raphael Fraser of the street class division.

Speaking at the presentation, GMR&SC pres-

Meanwhile, the car racers of Sunday’s meet were also awarded trophies.

The club also announced plans to continue running of its newly instituted street car class, which features a number of road legal cars.

GMR&SC vice-president Shairaz Roshandin commented on it by saying, “Moving forward, we need to ensure that all the street car competitors have the right gear. For the next event, we are encouraging these guys to get their suits at least. We saw them turn up with helmets and that is heartening.”

The club will now shift its focus to the first of its Drag race meets set for March 15.

Winners of the GMR&SC National Race of Champions round one. (Rohindra Mahase photo) ident Rameez Mohamed contended that “this 50 000

will extend throughout the remaining rounds of the Na-

tional Race of Champions.

We have confirmed a yearly

sponsor that will ensure that it continues”.

Guyana quench ‘Vincy Heat’ 3-0 to take Star-studded teams ahead of second win at CONCACAF U-20 Qualifiers announced Friday’s Golden

OSAFA Simpson struck twice, while Omari Glasgow netted the other goal, as Guyana made it two-for-two at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship Qualifiers in Nicaragua, this time whipping St Vincent and the Grenadines 3-0 in their latest match on Monday.

After rallying to an impressive 6-0 win over Montserrat in their opening game; Guyana returned to action at the Nicaragua National Football Stadium and showed that they are hungry to compete with the other top countries in the confederation’s June 20 to July 5 showpiece in Honduras.

Simpson put the Wayne Dover-coached side up 1-0 at the end of the first half with his 35th minute goal, and then returned just upon resumption of the second stanza to complete his double to give the Guyanese a 2-0 cushion.

Guyana had several chances to distance themselves and further dampen

Republic T20 Bash

… Barnwell, Reifer, Foo among local stars

By Clifton Ross IT will be a clash of two star-studded teams this Friday when the Golden Republic T20 Bash bowls off at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence as the Hetmyer Hurricanes and

Some members of the National U-20 football team celebrate their 3-0 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines at the CONCACAF U-20 Qualifiers in Nicaragua. the ‘Vincy Heat’ but they didn’t make good of their goal-coring opportunities.

Nonetheless, Glasgow scored his second goal of the tournament in the 68th minute to make it 3-0 for Guyana, who now sit second in Group A of the Qualifiers behind Nicaragua on goal difference.

Nicaragua, who opened

the tournament with an 8-0 win over the US Virgin Islands, defeated Montserrat 4-0 in their second game. The result meant that Guyana, with a total nine goals, are three goals behind Group A’s host nation.

With only one team advancing and both Nicaragua and Guyana showing that they are the most superior

teams in the four-team group, it will likely come down to either goal difference, or the outcome of their meeting on February 23.

Meanwhile, Guyana will return to action on February 21 when they take on the US Virgin Island. All matches will be played at the Nicaragua National Football Stadium.

Chris Barnwell Rutherford Renegades lock horns under lights.

In addition to captains Sherfane Rutherford and Shimron Hetmyer, a number of players with international experience who have also been top performers in Raymon Reifer

See page 34

FIFA to hold Council meeting by video-conference ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA will hold the next meeting of its decision making Council by video-conference from its Zurich headquarters rather than in Asuncion as originally planned, the global soccer body said on Tuesday.

The decision was taken “at the request

of several members”, FIFA said in a short statement, adding that members who wished to attend the March 20 meeting in person were still welcome.

The move was partly motivated by environmental concerns and by a bid to cut down on the amount FIFA spends on international

travel, a source with knowledge of the decision told Reuters.

The agenda for the meeting was also relatively light and there were concerns about travelling due to the coronavirus epidemic.

The FIFA Council, which replaced the smaller executive committee as part of

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

governance reforms implemented in 2016, has 37 members including president Gianni Infantino.

Since 2016, it has held meetings all over the world with venues including Bahrain, Moscow, Kigali, Kolkata, Bogota, Paris, Miami and Shanghai.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020