Guyana Chronicle_Epaper_04_11_2019

THURSDAY 11th April, 2019

No.105604

SEE INSIDE FOR NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES WORKED EXAMPLES

No free pass for defaulters

–– City Hall, private sector agree to jointly tackle garbage, rates issues

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JetBlue

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coming to Guyana

Man dies after falling out of truck

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$66M in infrastructure projects for Region 7

Pupils of St. Pius Primary School putting to use the robotic kits and the scratch programme donated to them by the Ministry of Telecommunications. On Monday last, the ministry donated robotic kits to the school to facilitate the training of the students in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). (See story on page 3)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

Guyana closer to finalising climate change policy

GUYANA is one step closer to finalising its draft National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of the Presidency’s Office of Climate Change (OCC) hosted its fourth round of consultation, this time, to validate the draft policy and action plan crafted by Trinidadian Consultant, Dr. Kalim Shah. Consultation on the National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan began last October with key stakeholders.

Experts were consulted for two months starting from

November 1, 2018. A third round of consultation was executed in January, 2019 and based on the information gathered Dr. Shah prepared a draft National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, which was reviewed by the OCC. The draft policy integrates the socio-economic and environmental challenges of climate change into national sustainable development planning that generates strategic actions at all levels for adaptation, mitigation and resilience.

Guyana is aiming to re-

duce climate-related loss and damage across all productive sectors; promote community development; reduce poverty, loss of livelihoods and food security; and promote a clean and healthy environment for all, in addition to addressing other critical areas.

Head of OCC, Janelle Christian said the crafting of the National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan forms part of the country’s push to advance its national climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Christian said Climate Change is real and swift

actions are needed to reduce global warming, which is becoming more and more evident across the globe.

“Changes are already being experienced in the Caribbean. The region is experiencing hotter days and nights.

More intense rainfall as well as more and longer periods of drought (are) putting lives, livelihood and economic activities at risk,” Christian told the stakeholders drawn from other sister agencies and ministries.

In Guyana, the OCC Head said, the source of power generation is a major source greenhouse gas emission in the country. She said it is for that reason the Government aspires to transition to 63 per cent renewable energy by 2035 in keeping with the draft Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

Guyana, Christian said, will continue to pursue sustainable management of its forest resources – a source of mitigation, however, challenges are already popping up. Alluding to Region Nine,

Consultant Dr. Kalim Shah

She said Guyana needs to take action to ensure that it protects the lives, livelihood, ecosystem and infrastructure of its people. “We need to have a framework across government through policy, strategies and plans to ensure that we adapt, to ensure that we adjust, to ensure that we build resilience, so when these events come,

Office of OCC Janelle Christian

of greenhouse gas emission in the country. The National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, she posited, will address these concerns while taking into consideration key economic activities, and other critical factors.

OCC is the governmental agency responsible for leading the development and implementation of national policies and ac-

Stakeholders during OCC’s Validation Workshop on the National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan (Photos by Carl Croker)

she said access to water and water resources management have been a challenge but Government with support of some of its local arms and international partners such as Brazil has been able to remedy the situation in some instances with the development of manmade reservoirs.

“We are hearing already that farmers are crying out as it relates to access. Streams and ponds are drying up… and so it is very real,” the OCC Head said.

we are able to withstand and continue to live as normal,” Christian emphasised.

It was noted that though Guyana is not a major emitter, all countries have equal but differentiated responsibilities. As such, she said it is important for the country to increase its ambition to mitigate; hence it is pushing for renewable energy. However, Christian said with the rapid importation of vehicles, the transportation sector could become a major contributor

tions for ‘climate change mainstreaming’ and the coordination of efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The OCC is the National Focal Point for climate change and to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and therefore has a core responsibility to co-ordinate Guyana’s international engagements with the UNFCCC and other climate change processes.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

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No free pass for defaulters -- City Hall, private sector agree to jointly tackle garbage, rates issues

By Lisa Hamilton A meeting between the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the private sector on Wednesday ended on a high note as the parties agreed to work together to bring businesses in line regarding garbage collection and payment of rates and taxes.

other members of the Council.

It came following a statement by the mayor indicating that over 140 business proprietors in Georgetown owe taxes and are causing a strain on the City Council to finance services such as garbage collection.

The mayor ’s opening statement led the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & In-

coordination with the private sector. The private sector came here today with a passion to cooperate and to work in collaboration with the City to make Georgetown better,” Private Sector Commission (PSC) Executive, Captain Gerry Gouveia said, coming out of the meeting.

He added: “A lot of businesses on Regent Street -- and

Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine (third left) and PSC Chairman Desmond Sears with members of their respective teams

In the coming week, stakeholders will take to the streets of Georgetown where businesses with bad garbage disposal habits will be reproached, while the Council awaits a list of rates and taxes defaulters to bring them into compliance.

The meeting, which saw a large attendance from representatives of the private sector, took place in the office of Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine and in the presence of

dustry (GCCI) to request that all businesses in Georgetown not be ‘broad-brushed’ with the same label even as it extended an invitation for a meeting.

Coming out of the meeting, the private sector has agreed to work “in good faith” and “passionately” with the City Council to correct the current challenges.

“A lot of issues that the City is facing are sometimes because of a lack of collaboration and

we’re going to identify them -- in fact, next week, we’ve agreed to walk the City with the mayor and we will go and identify the businesses that are dumping their garbage in the alley ways and in front of their businesses and we’re going to embarrass them. We’re going to work with them; we’re going to ask them to stop doing it. We understand that there’s a hotel in the City that had garbage piled up in front [of it] and it’s

unacceptable.”

The collaboration will also see the private sector and City Council addressing issues related to container fees, building codes and more.

BUILDING BRIDGES Stating that the meeting was aimed at building bridges rather than walls, the mayor stated: “This meeting was very fruitful and next week we’re going to meet with the shipping association also to regulate the containers’ fee so that we can be able to get something crafted which we will be able to know the amount of containers and fees and all these things which, at the end of City Hall, we will receive per month.”

Regarding the taxes owed by businesses, Gouveia stated that Narine will first have to receive approval from the Council before handing over the list of defaulters to the private sector.

“We are waiting for that because when we get that list we will like to be able to call in the private sector. The private sector actually does have a Code of Conduct for our membership so before their membership is renewed; people have to bring their NIS certificate; their PAYE certificate and so on. We’re probably now going to move to the next level in that Code of Conduct to say ‘bring your rates and tax compliance’,” he said.

PSC Chairman Desmond Sears said last that, in 2018, President David Granger had requested that a committee involving the Ministries of Business and Communities, the

PSC, the GCCI and the City Council, be set up, to facilitate purposeful collaboration.

“The idea was to work together so that we could, as a business community, look at the City in getting, for example, its fair share of rates and taxes and also other areas like property valuation. It didn’t go very well but what we did today was to try to resuscitate that,” Sears said.

about garbage collection; with people coming into the City, we want to look at tourism. We were told that there are some businesses that just throw their garbage at the back of the building and there’s a cost to pick up the garbage and to have a clean City. So if we’re thinking of going green the world is watching at us and it means, therefore, that we

PSC Secretary Komal Singh hands over the tractor tyres to Mayor Ubraj Narine in the presence of M&CC Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine

MOVING FORWARD He added that stakeholders involved will now be seeking to engage Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, to better organise the way forward.

Both Gouveia and Sears agree that, with Guyana heading into a brighter economic future, more persons are travelling to the Capital City and it ought to be kept clean as a representation of Guyanese pride.

“Delinquent businesses must be called out. We talked

need to put things in place,” Sears said.

At the end of the meeting, two tractor tyres were handed over to the City Council by the PSC to enhance the service of the Council’s lone tractor which broke down last week.

Mayor Narine said while Wednesday’s meeting resulted in a verbal agreement, the private sector and the M&CC will continue deliberations on how they can best forge binding agreements in the future.

Schools gearing up for IYRC national pre-qualifier MINISTER of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, on Wednesday, visited the St Pius Primary School to check on educational robotic kits that were donated to the school by the ministry in collaboration with STEM Guyana.

The kits were donated as Stem Guyana, a non-profit organisation, help teams prepare pupils to participate in its 2019 National Robotics Competition (NRC), a pre-qualifier to be selected to represent the country at the 2019 International Youth Robotics Competition (IYRC).

The NRC is scheduled to begin on May 5 and involves at least one team from each administrative region.

St Pius Primary School is one of 174 community ICT hubs being used by STEM Guyana to prepare the over 100 pupils currently in training. STEM Guyana will select local students to vie against other youths from around the world in the 7 to 12 and 13 to 17 age groups and open categories of the competition.

Head of STEM Guyana, Karen Abrams, said the NGO is hoping to take approximately five pupils per category to

the IYRC slated for Aug 2-3, 2019 in Daejeon, Korea.

Minister Hughes’ presentation of the robotic kits fulfils

participants.

The kits teach children to apply the fundamentals of coding, working with ‘sensor

Speaking with a group of children, a smiling Minister Hughes was told of how the students have been utilising

Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes shared a light moment with a St Pius Primary School pupil when she visited the school on Wednesday (Carl Croker photo)

a commitment to ensure that Guyana successfully runs off the annual qualifier national robotics competition for primary and secondary schoolaged pupils and ‘unattached’

technology’, motor control and wireless communication, as well as strengthen their skills in mathematics, science, collaboration and critical-thinking.

the kits to build various things, and what they have learnt since receiving them.

Hughes implored the students to make the best of the initiative because all the right

gears would mean nothing without their dedication and commitment to using them and learning from them.

TAKE ADVANTAGE “The government can put all these opportunities in place but we’re asking parents, teachers, pupils to make sure you take advantage of the opportunities. Young people are very good with the technology. Now you’re going to be doing some robotics, some gaming and all sorts of exciting things. For the jobs that are going to be available in the future, you’re going to need to have all these skills.

Start thinking of how you’re going to be able to make a living from this when you get older,” the minister said.

She added, “I’m so excited about this initiative because in my day, we didn’t have any of these fabulous opportunities.

So one of the things we’ve realised is that we want to build capacity and make sure our young people are ready for this new world of technology.

We want to give you the same opportunities as any other child in any other part of the world. I am saying to you: always consider the field of

technology as an opportunity.

Tell your friends and family make sure they go to the ICT hub in your area and utilise them.”

This MoPT/STEM Guyana collaboration also includes the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Ministry of Education.

STEM Guyana is committed to helping the Government of Guyana to boost its STEM/ STEAM programme and the MoPT is ensuring that the ICT hubs are fully utilised.

Headmistress of the St Pius School, Alison Lankerman, expressed the school’s gratitude for being considered for the donation.

The ICT lab at the school was constructed approximately one year ago and has been utilised mainly to tutor National Grade Six Assessment students and ‘slow learners’.

However, Lankerman shared that the school is gradually working on putting programmes in place so that all of the approximately 700 pupils at the school can benefit from the facility.

She noted that measures will also have to be put in place to open up the facility to the wider community.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday April 11, 2019

17th Annual Pakaraima Safari launched

By Tamika Garnett SOME 120 persons travelling by off-road vehicles and bikes will get to experience some of the most scenic beauty of Guyana’s mountainous regions and a glimpse of Guyana’s elusive Jaguar, endangered Black Caimans and the giant anteater.

Those and much more are in store when they participate in the 17th Annual Pakaraima Mountain Safari (PMS) set for April 13-21.

Rain Forest Tours in collaboration with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) on Wednesday morning officially launched the safari at the GuyOil Gas Station Boardroom, Kitty Public Road.

Covering almost 1000 miles, participants will travel from Georgetown to Orinduik and then to Lethem, at the Guyana-Brazil border.

The route will cover stops at some 14 indigenous villag-

es along the way, including Karasabai, Rukumoto, Morabaiko, Yurong Paru, Monkey Mountain, Tuseneng, Paramakatoi, Kato, Kurubakaru and Itabac.

“Our hinterland is our beauty. Georgetown has its attraction, but our real attraction is in the hinterland.

Indeed, it’s a wonderful experience,” commented junior Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who herself is a former participant of the safari.

“I went there already and as soon as I can get the time I would love to go again.

The scenery is unmatched; to those of you who haven’t visited the Pakaraima as yet, I would advise that you do.”

She congratulated owner of Rainforest Tours and founder of the Safari, Frank Singh, for sustaining and continuing to develop the event.

This year, the trip starts on April 13 with participants departing from the GuyOil Gas Station on Regent Street and proceeding to Linden

and then on to the Kurupukari Ferry Crossing. They are scheduled to arrive at the crossing on April 14 and then proceed to Karasabai.

As the safari progresses, travel starts daily at 08:00 hrs and end most evenings at 17:00 hrs-18: 00 hrs.

Participants will arrive at Orinduik on Wednesday, April 17, and from Orinduik return to Karasabai before proceeding to Lethem; they are scheduled to arrive in Lethem on Saturday, April 20, just in time to be a part of the annual Rupununi Rodeo. The contingent departs Lethem on Sunday at 02:00 hrs to return to Georgetown.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS Aside from the Rupununi Rodeo, other attractions participants can look forward to

include visits to the Cheong and Lehlibar waterfalls, in addition to the Orinduik falls, visits to Iwokrama and its famed canopy walkway, Mabura and the forest concessions, Annai and the Rockview Lodge “Guyana is so large with so many places to see and there are a few ways to experience those, such as nature walk and kayaking, but the real experience-- the Pakaraima Mountain Safari-- takes the cake for that. There’s a wealth of natural and cultural experience along this journey,” commented GTA Deputy Director, Carla James.

Registration fee for the Safari is $25,000, while the participants have to provide their own transportation, food and other gears. Because of the type of trail, only offroad vehicles are allowed.

Rainforest Tours Safari Coordinator, Lisa Smith, estimates overall participants can cater for the trip to cost $120,000 -- $180,000.

Smith shared that this year ’s Safari is already booked to capacity.

Rain Forest Tours has partnered with a number of car rental companies from which persons can rent a vehicle if they do not have one.

Participants are responsible for walking with their camping equipment, appropriate clothing, cooking utensils and ration.

There is also the option for participants to fly in and join the Safari at one of several junctures, either at Orinduik, Monkey Mountain, or Kato. The cost of the flight has to be covered by the respective participants.

For yet another year, the

Man dies after falling out of truck POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Chetram Ramoutar, 43, a labourer of 258 Railway Line, Rosignal, West Bank Berbice, who reported-

ly fell from the back of an enclosed canter truck Tuesday afternoon on the Cotton Tree Public Road, West Coast Berbice.

Enquiries disclosed that the truck, GKK 2071, driv-

en by a Cotton Tree resident, was proceeding east along the public road around 16:30hrs on Tuesday when the left half of the vehicle’s back door, which was not properly secured, flung open and Ramoutar fell out and sustained injuries.

Police said in a release that Ramoutar was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital in an unconscious state, treated and trans-

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Guyana Oil Company continues to partner as the main sponsor of the event.

This year, the company will be giving back to several of the villages along the route, donating school shoes to children in the villages.

“We’ve been sponsoring the event for over 10 years and it’s always a pleasure to be associated with people experiencing Guyana to its fullest. Will be donating the shoes to two villages as part of our corporate and social responsibly because as this safari makes its journey, we should be able to give back to the community along the way,” shared GuyOil Marketing and Sales Manager, Jacklyn James.

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ferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The body is currently at the New Amsterdam Hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The driver, who passed a breathalyzer test, is in police custody assisting with the investigation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday April 11, 2019

GWI to acquire new rig, drill new wells

WITH the emergence of new communities and the enhancement of existing ones, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), being cognisant of its mission to deliver safe, adequate and affordable water to all citizens, will acquire a rig by August, said Managing-Director Dr Richard Van-West Charles.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on the sidelines of an event that the GWI hosted at its Vlissengen Road headquarters on Monday, he said that with the new communities there is now need to drill additional wells to ensure the proper distribution of such a critical commodity.

“We still have gaps, but we are acquiring a rig by the end of August… we know that we have to drill a well, for example, in Farm (East Bank Demerara); we have to replace one in Fyrish (Corentyne), and we’ve just finished a new well in Port Mourant; and we are now making efforts to have the well at Rose Hall rehabilitated.

“The ground staff has learnt new techniques and we have different areas where we have to put down more wells, where we never had before, so those are some of the things we are doing. And then, we are acquiring some other equipment which would more or less give us more positive indication as to where water is, and the depths that we need to go, so those are things that we are moving as fast as possible to try to look at the gaps,” he added.

Touching on the issue of discoloured water running through the taps of some communities, which is of concern to consumers, the managing-director said that GWI has

“embraced and integrated” a new technique into its system called flushing.

He explained that in some instances where the “red water“ is experienced in communities, many of these lines have existed for years, but that water was supplied not continuously, but intermittently, for example for four-hour periods.

The result is, there’s a lot of encrustation, and moreso, the water is coming from an A-sand well, which in most cases has a lot of iron. “So what is happening right now, we are intensifying the flushing of all of the lines to clean them; and we have to do it with heavy regularity, so that we can clean the lines, “ He further added.

“Flushing is a new technique being embraced and integrated into the GWI system, so many people when they see us flushing, and they see the hydrants are open, that is all part of the flushing process.

So that is being done right now, we are aware and we are looking at all the gaps,” Dr Van-West Charles noted.

Reiterating that it is a new approach and that GWI is trying its utmost to give a better service, the GWI managing-director pointed out that while they are aware that there are still gaps, some of the networks are old. “We have a serious problem in Georgetown; we’ve got to replace mostly the entire network and we have pumps installed to ramp up the pressure, but the problem is, we cannot increase the pressure or else we will have a lot of bursting of the mains, etc.”

He alluded to a recent exercise at D’Urban Backlands, in the city, which saw some 3000 households having

Man wounded during fight over woman POLICE are investigating an alleged wounding committed on Zamaul Bobb, 19, unemployed of G 40 Canvas City, Wismar, Linden, which occurred on Tuesday.

The suspect is said to be known and is currently being sought, police said in a release. An investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect had an argument earlier in the day over a female and that

matter was resolved by the victim’s father. However, at about 22:30hrs, the suspect approached the victim in the vicinity of the Canvas City Nursery School and allegedly inflicted a wound to his forehead with a cutlass and escaped. Bobb was transported to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was admitted. He is in a stable condition.

access to potable water in their communities, something which they never had before. Also, that GWI will be following up on some information it received earlier from a resident of Timehri, in a bid to adjust the systems so that more people can benefit from the precious commodity.

It is not that we are focusing on the hinterland alone, we are focusing on a number of areas, he added.

On the issue of metering, the managing-director said that with the new approach, GWI has observed positive reactions from consumers. “ In places like Sheet Anchor and Diamond, as we meter, the more we meter we have more water available, as people are not wasting as much water as before, they are conserving; they have to pay based on their consumption, so as we install more meters, we are having a tighter network and less wastage, so more water is available,” Dr Van-West Charles pointed out.

In addition, GWI sees the training of staff as important, as it seeks to enhance the aspect of customer service.

Said the managing-director, “… we know we still have a little way to go with respect to the customer service side, with how some of our staff speak to customers; so we are doing a lot of training in that aspect, with the hope that we can achieve a level of understanding, whereby they understand that the customer is the centre of our universe and we have to respond to them.”

Noting that GWI is also paying attention to the response time for sealing leaks, etc., the managing-director added that customers are now placed on a monthly cycle, as efforts are made to correct, in

some instances, some hiccups with the distribution of bills.

And, having observed that more people are having access to the internet, GWI will soon be seeking to ascertain from customers, those who would prefer to have their bills sent via their emails, instead of the now practice of delivery.

“So we will have people sign once they agree to receive their bills by emails, we will send it to them, so they have it on time. We are trying to make life as easy as possible for our consumers, but it will take a little time.

The product we offer has improved and we want to hear from you when there are issues,” he added.

Meanwhile, the GWI is focusing on the quality of water it delivers, which is critical. The company is conducting tests countrywide, along with paying attention to schools, not only in Georgetown, but in the hinterland as well.

According to Dr Van-West Charles, in essence what has happened in the hinterland, is that several previous attempts at providing potable water for communities have not been sustainable, so there are many communities, both from a human, health and from economic development standpoint, where the access to water is very limited and residents are under stress.

On this note, he said the GWI is encouraging people on the coast and the hinterland, to embark on rainwater harvesting, and the stored commodity can be used to water a garden and wash cars

JetBlue coming to Guyana AMERICAN carrier JetBlue is expected to add Guyana to its international routes in early 2020.

Reports are that company executives discussed several routes with which the airline will be establishing itself in the months ahead and, on Wednesday, JetBlue officials discussed the lucrative nature of the Guyana-New York route.

JetBlue sources told Guyana Chronicle that officials are brainstorming the type of aircraft to service this route.

In January of this year, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, told reporters at a press briefing that the airline is among several which have indicated an interest in entering the Guyanese market.

"They are in contact with the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that the necessary paperwork, documentation that they have to submit is handed in," she said.

The carrier, which was

established 20 years ago, operates flights in the US, the Caribbean and Latin America.

On Wednesday, the company announced that it will enter the London market, the first time the air carrier will be flying to Europe.

The airline's entry into the Guyanese market is expected to be welcomed by travellers who have been battling high ticket costs for years. Another carrier, American Airlines, is already operating flights here, between the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and Miami.

Since petroleum was discovered in Guyana in 2015, a number of international companies have expressed interest in doing business here.

American oil giant, ExxonMobil, is currently undertaking preparations for commercial extraction of oil, which is expected to occur during the first half of 2020.

Plaisance hairdresser on trial for cocaine possession THE trial of Vanessa Harper, charged with being in possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, continued before Principal Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

Harper, a hairdresser of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, is accused of having on Friday, May 15, 2018, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, 5.567 kg of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Harper was, at the time, an outgoing passenger on a flight to New York.

The court was told that Ms. Harper was found carrying the drug in two suitcases, when she was searched by

members of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Guyana Revenue Authority.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Ms. Harper was subjected to further cross-examination

by CANU Prosecutor Konya Sandiford and to redirect examination by her attorney Dexter Todd.

Ms. Harper appeared at times to be remorseful and at one point during the cross examination started shedding tears as she struggled to answer questions posed to her by prosecutor Konyo Sandiford.

The prosecution is expected to call another witness to testify when the trial resumes on May, 16, 2019.

’D’ Division Police Man fined $40,000 for spread Easter cheer dangerous driving IN observance of the Easter festive season, the Officer in Charge of the Parika Police Station, Assistant Superintendent Alwyn Hoyte, Woman Sergeant 17693 Allison Daniel and Corporal 18477 Marvin Forde of the Traffic Department visited several nursery schools and distributed kites during this week.

The nursery schools which benefitted from the distribution of the kites were Philadelphia, Hydronie, Parika, Farm, St. Lawrence, Blake, Parika Back and Ruby, all located on the East Bank of Essequibo.

A total of 398 kites were presented to the children thus far and the aim is to ensure that every

child in the district’s nursery schools receives a kite. The youths were also encouraged to fly their kites in safe and open spaces, away from electrical wires and trenches as well as to seek permission from their parents or guardians before leaving their homes to go kite-flying.

MALCOLM Flu, a resident of Grove, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Principal Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Tuesday at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, charged with dangerous driving.

Flu pleaded guilty and was fined $40,000 or 14 days

in prison.

It was alleged that on November 25, 2018, Flu drove his vehicle HC8857 in the vicinity of Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara in a dangerous manner and collided with motor vehicle BVV 1554.

(Dillon Goring)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

House-to-house registration and credible elections

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HE cornerstone of the foundation of democratic governance in a representative democracy such as Guyana is the regular renewal of the group of persons who represent the people.

That renewal occurs by means of transparent, impartial, professionally conducted, and credible elections. In Guyana, the electoral process begins with the preparation, finalisation, and publication of an Official List of Electors (OLE) commonly known as the “voters list.” Considering the fact that the OLE constitutes the starting point from which all subsequent electoral activities follow, it is essential that the OLE be above question, transparently compiled, and demonstrably accurate. Equally important, that list must be perceived to be flawless by the Guyanese people, so as to ensure that the outcome of elections is not only unquestioned, but is unquestionable.

In 2012, it was agreed by stakeholders that house-tohouse registration will be conducted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) every seven years. That exercise, in tandem with the continuous registration of voters, is intended to ensure that the OLE is unquestionably accurate. It must be noted that all exercises related to ensuring the accuracy of the OLE, as well as all other matters pertaining to the conduct of elections, are the sole responsibility of GECOM. Article 62 of the Constitution stipulates that “Elections shall be independently supervised by the Elections Commission in accordance with the provisions of Article 162. Article 162 sets out, in detail, the responsibilities and powers of the Commission. In other words, Article 162 sets out the ambit of GECOM, while Article 62 forbids anyone from interfering

in the work of the Commission.

Another important aspect of the foundation of democratic governance is adherence to the rule of law. The APNU+AFC coalition administration has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to that principle. Therefore, government’s position that it will not, and cannot, interfere in the work of GECOM, being consistent with that principled commitment, is expected and should be applauded. Unfortunately, on the other hand, the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) continues to flout the supreme law of the land-- the Constitution-- by continually and persistently endeavouring to encroach into the exclusive domain of GECOM. Following the no-confidence vote against the government on December 21 of last year, the PPP/C began its campaign of intrusion into the constitutionally-mandated independent work of the Elections Commission. GECOM had announced that it is unprepared to hold general and regional elections within 90 days of the vote. The Commission subsequently explained that the seven-year life of the current OLE will come to an end on April 30, 2019, some six weeks after the 90-day period prescribed by Article 106 (7). The expiration of the validity of the OLE, said GECOM, necessitated a new round of house-to-house registration so as to ensure the integrity of the OLE — the instrument which lies at the heart of elections.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, and other officials of the PPP/C advanced multiple spurious theories, claims, and arguments in support of their party’s indefensible position that house-to-house registration was unnecessary or undesirable. Officers of the PPP/C even went

down to the unbelievable depth of accusing the Commission of plotting to rig any upcoming general elections through house-to-house registration. In March 2019, Mr. Jagdeo claimed, without a shred of evidence, that GECOM and the coalition government were conspiring with each other to remove at least 10 persons at each polling station in PPP/C strongholds which would result in a loss of about 20,000 votes for the PPP/C. Mr. Jagdeo said too, that GECOM would register persons who support the APNU+AFC coalition multiple times, abandon fingerprint cross-matching, and add foreigners to the OLE who would then be issued with fake Guyana birth certificates, allowing them to obtain Guyanese ID cards for the purpose of voting. Of course, Jagdeo’s claims and accusations, as was the case with his no-confidence motion and subsequent vote, had no merit.

And, as was expected, intelligent Guyanese simply ignored them. In spite of Mr. Jagdeo’s credibility being constantly questioned as a result of his insupportable utterances, he continues to attack GECOM in an attempt to discredit the Commission, and otherwise influence its work in defiance of the Constitution.

The Office of Leader of the Opposition is an important constitutional institution. In the wider definition of ‘government’ the political opposition is considered part of the country’s governing structure. The opposition is expected to uphold the rule of law, respect the sanctity of the Constitution, and conduct itself in a manner befitting its stature. Logically, citizens may expect that the opposition would desire to have a clean OLE. One would hope that Mr. Jagdeo upholds those reasonable expectations.

Freddie Kissoon’s recklessness in attending to matters of import is counterproductive Dear Editor,

T

HE reckless tendency of Freddie Kissoon in treating with matters of national import often robs this nation of the value to proceed in a constructive manner. And it is he who is often out front leading charges of what a failed nation and intellectually bankrupt people we are when he actively participates in acts to give credence to his charges.

How in the devil’s name the call for a planned approach to immigration, factoring placing primacy on Guyanese’s welfare, particularly with the advent of oil and gas, becomes an act of fascism, whether it be of the Black or White race.

Reference is being made to the article in the Freddie Kissoon’s column titled “Is Lincoln Lewis the Black version of White fascism? (KN 9th April 2019). His article is an attempted response to mine, “They are coming…are we prepared?” carried in the column ‘Eye on Guyana with Lincoln Lewis’ (KN, 7th April). What was articulated by me would only find offense to those wanting to be malicious or have chosen not to address the stated. This is a serious issue and we must have frank, honest and open conversation.

And while he holds the view that article should not have been published, it is being duly noted the media’s judgment in showing respect for the freedom to share ideas on a matter considered of national import. Also, the preference for media silence does not mean the issue is not being discussed in the streets and strong views are held one way or the other. Every country has a right to its sovereignty. This includes its immigration laws, policies and programmes which are expected to be just and fair to its citizens, for without these a nation loses its sense of existence, its identity, and its people the right to chart their destiny. My position is undergird by universally acceptable principles of what a nation state is, what nationhood constitutes, and the security of the people within to foremost exploit the finite resources for their benefit, and how can same be done in an atmosphere of peace and harmony. Charity begins at home and for Guyanese it means Guyana.

It is my position there exists a plan by others in moving here and lest government puts a plan in place the very things we need to forge an independent and unified nation will unravel. Any country that fails to observe what is happening on its borders and internally and does not see the need for a plan or thinking a plan, undergird by universal principles, would make it fascist would be acting just like Freddie on this matter, crazy. Mark my words, where the situation is left unattended and things do not go right, he will lead the charge in condemning the present administration for failing to prepare, for not having the foresight, for failing to plan for the changes taking place in our economic environment that can influence social and political realities. He will reign down fire and accept no responsibility, whatsoever, for seeking to thwart effort calling for a plan.

For instance, Guyana has one official language, English.

What does it mean for us a nation communicating with each other, for integration and cohesion with the culture challenges we are likely to face from those who are non-English speaking? Are we going to say there is no need to learn English?

What does other cultures coming here mean for assimilating into the Guyanese culture? Are we prepared to abandon what gives meaning to our uniqueness and identity, or should it be said further, because they are already slippages? What does the concept of nation state mean to us? Do we have the quality of social services such as health, education and housing to facilitate unplanned immigration? These are issues we have to grapple with, and planning will factor in. Even as Freddie sees the call for a plan as an act of fascism, the United States (US) is planning strategically how to capitalise. In today’s Stabroek News (10th April) Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch made known the US’ “main role in looking at this tremendous opportunity in the oil and gas industry…is that businesses are treated fairly. There is ample opportunity for growth and interaction with the government and mostly that there is a level playing field. That would be our focus.” The ambassador is not talking about Guyana’s businesses for her role is to foremost advance and secure US’ self-interest.

Further, according to a Foreign Policy in Focus article of 3rd April, the US Department of State is focused on “achieving business climate change in Guyana….all with little concern for the environmental impact.”

Everybody is planning for us except us, and this includes how to make us dependent and beholden, how to exploit our resources, make demands of us for fair treatment. The US has made known the focus for its citizens in Guyana and Guyanese must not have a focus or demand of its government a plan to make sure our inalienable rights are taken care of? Does Freddie understand the political upheaval that could follow and in our racially polarised society what it could mean; is he thinking? If we are not strong with our policies, programmes and laws then we will be overridden, and others will ride roughshod over us.

Now is time for Guyana to put systems in place. We can no longer wait for more movement to our place, whether welcoming our unwelcoming, to do this. Any good planner would be mindful of the environment and frame a plan to deal with it. This is the role of government and it has to address these kinds of things before it is too late.

Contrary to Freddie’s view there is no need to educate me about the number of Guyanese living abroad, in various countries, legally or otherwise. That will not stop the call on government to have an immigration plan, or to have persons show respect for another country’s right to plan and enforce its immigration laws. My views on these issues are matter of public record. In like measure I am on record calling on our government to develop a national development strategy that makes it rewarding for Guyanese to stay/return, develop this nation and reap of its bounties, rather than feel compel to flee or remain in exile. This position is being reiterated even more so with the pending wealth that is expected to flow from our oil and gas sector.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

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‘Freedie’ takes a harsh quantum leap Dear Editor,

S

O in Monday’s Kaieteur News, in his popular column, Freddie Kissoon has launched a broad side against an article in Sunday’s Kaieteur News written

by Lincoln Lewis.

I am a fan of Freddie, but I believe in linking Lincoln Lewis’s statement to that of white fascism is harsh and a quantum leap. While I appreciate the philosophical underpinnings of Freddie Kissoon’s contention, we must see things in his present context, at all times seek moderation and avoid intemperate language.

The above applies to all sides.

It is fair to assume that Lincoln Lewis was seeking to solidify our Independence, preserve our pride as a nation state, protect our patrimony and vindicate the sacrifice and humiliation of our ancestors. It is right and proper that we welcome investors from everywhere – like everything else and everywhere else you’ve got the good, the not so good and the bad.

The right of an independent people is to ensure that the exploitation of our natural resources benefits the investor and more particularly, benefits the people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. We see what has happened in the Indian Islands, Africa, Latin America and elsewhere.

We must never countenance disrespect of our workers by others who come with money-bags and sometimes unfulfilled promises. On the question of immigration, we cannot compare our loaming challenges with experiences in Europe, USA and

elsewhere.

Guyana is a small country with less than a million souls and we have not reached the point where we provide adequate free education to all of our children, satisfactory health services, security, water, electricity and transportation. Many of our families still double up for want of sufficient housing.

Whenever an immigrant crosses our border, north, south, east or west, they are likely coming with little or nothing but will require some of those services referred to above.

It is appropriate therefore, that we discuss this matter fully and not see it as a simple matter and talk about black fascism.

On a lighter note I remember as a youngster that very often at lunch or dinner time some old uncle, aunty or old friend would drop in; the practice was that your parent would remove the choicest chunk of meat from your plate to give the uninvited visitor.

I soon learnt that after meals were served and grace was said I consumed my meat before the rest of items on the plate.

That was a child employing a sensible operation for survival.

Why should growing children give up their protein to the visitor? A universal wisdom is survival.

I believe that this is not a black and white situation (forgive the pun). The question really is how many persons can Guyana absorb without placing an additional burden on the fragile fabric of our society. Let us carry on the debate, examine facts and figures and avoid emotional outburst.

By the way, Freddie is right, speaking for myself, all of my children live abroad, but in each and every case they sought

opportunities that were available in a much larger society that was willing to utilise their skills and knowledge.

With a few exceptions, the Guyanese who are abroad function in circumstances with a much larger society needed then.

So that is not the point.

With respect to Canada referred to by Freddie, I wonder if he has read Kari Levitt’s book, “Silence Surrender”, where she deals with Multi-national Corporation in Canada published in 1970. Thanks to the alertness of successive Canadian Prime Ministers, some of her predictions of gloom were not materialised.

The book is worth scrutiny in view of our present circumstances since there are many parallels and lessons to be learnt. Let us do nothing and think nothing to betray our ancestors and let down our succeeding generations.

We don’t want an independence with a flag and an anthem but as one of our earlier leaders said “we do not control (the commanding heights) of our economy.” Remember the days when BG was translated to mean Bookers Guyana and not British Guiana. A truism because Bookers then was in control of the life and fortunes of our people.

To Freddie and Lincoln, let’s talk to avoid any form of re-colonisation, the dismemberment of our traditional values and the disfigurement of our families and communities.

Regards Hamilton Green

Another failed attempt which desecrates legal jurisprudence Dear Editor,

T

HESE are revealing times, for the great contradictions that their daily dynamics continue to expose.

In the once morally-minded voices that had for years in Guyana, pretended to be purveyors of national morality and unblemished truth, they had once sounded their voices against all forms of venalities which had reduced this country to the fiefdom of the few that had comprised the political elite.

One of these voices, then considered and acknowledged as perhaps the conscience of the chorus of national protest, has since 2015 somersaulted like a pole vaulter, breathtakingly, and is now one of the leading “spokespersons/adviser’’ on oil and gas; “legal seer” on all constitutional matters for and on behalf of the opposition Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C); which party he had so vehemently criticised when it had the responsibilities of governance. How times, of an epoch making and evolving nature, can change the souls of men in the usual opportunistic fashion. But this is another story for another letter.

Recently, like a political knight in shining armour, and defending the now well-known treacherous cause of what has clearly come to be his natural political enclave, the PPP/C; this voice decided that it was his duty to challenge the coalition cabinet’s right to adjudicate on contracts that were in excess of $15M. Editor, we all know the genesis of Christopher Ram’s court challenge, but it is the legal premise on which it was done, that has cost him a whopping $300,000 in costs as per dismissal, and also what amounted to a judicial reprimand – that the no-confidence motion vote that had, at that time been ruled by the Speaker as having been properly carried, had resulted in the defeat of the government, which rendered it unable to sanction contracts in excess of $15M. Of course, to give weight to his dishonest application, he selectively referenced 54(1) of the Procurement Act, because of the authority that such bestowed on cabinet to review and approve all contracts in excess of $15M. Editor, conveniently he omitted the mention of 54(6), a fact which the Madame Chief Justice pointed out in her reasons for

rejection of his Fixed Date Application. Further, any GCE A Level Law student reading and applying basic logic and reasoning to the language of (54)6, would understand that it has, since its passage, reposed such authority in the remit of the Public Procurement Commission. The latter realisation would have been the immediate realisation by Ram’s lawyer, causing them to withdraw his challenge.

But this is Ram, allowing his new-found zeal to show off his “legal erudition and expertise of the law”, which he and others, acting for and on behalf of the PPP/C which they now embrace, have continued to display for entirely opportunistic ends. This is a more than clear example of the legal extremism, which is being attempted by this “oil and gas expert” et al, as they visit every deceptive nook and cranny in their efforts to abort the office of the coalition government.

Though one would agree that it is simply “trying a thing”, it is a desecration to legal jurisprudence.

Regards Earl Hamilton

IDPADA-G in solidarity with flood-hit African countries Dear Editor,

T

HE International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana extends its sympathy to the citizens of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe on the loss of life caused by cyclone Idai.

The death toll from Cyclone Idai, which devastated the African nations last month, is nearing 1,000, according to the latest figures released by the two governments.

Zimbabwe on Tuesday updated its death toll to 344, Mozambique’s recorded fatalities stood at 602, while 860,000 people were said to be affected by floods in Malawi, with 85,000 losing their homes and are now living in camps.

The IDPADA-G is saddened by the suffering of the hundreds of thousands across Southern Africa in the wake of the storm. The Assembly calls on the Government of Guyana to extend assistance, in whichever way possible,

through the international agencies working to bring aid and comfort to those whose homes and livelihoods that have been destroyed. We also request that all African Guyanese of faith work through their religious organisations and other bodies to assist in response to this tragedy.

IDPADA-G stands ready to work with its member organisations, churches and other charitable institutions in demonstrating our solidarity with the citizens of countries so terribly impacted by Idai.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday April 11, 2019

$66M infrastructural projects to commence in Region 7

THE Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Cuyuni Mazaruni (Region Seven) is expected to roll out several infrastructural projects in the region over the next couple of months.

With maintenance of roads and bridges at the top of the agenda, a sum exceeding $66M is said to have been allocated from the RDC fund to complete the projects.

The Regional Information Officer, Alden Marslowe, told the Guyana Chronicle that the projects are stretched out for various parts of the region.

In Bartica, he said, rehabilitation works to roadways, will continue with $5M set aside for the Agatash Access Road, $6M for the maintenance of Ninth Street, $5.5M for Caribese Hill Road, $10.5M for Old Housing Scheme and Mongrippa Roads, and $4.8M for maintenance of Kalacoon Access Road.

These projects would

Paved Roads in the 4 Miles Housing Scheme Bartica

have started in the latter part of 2018, but will continue and are expected to be completed by mid-2019.

Marslowe also said that roads in the Upper Mazaruni will also be rehabilitated in this set of infrastructural development works, including the Kako to Waramadong Road and the Kamarang to Waramadong Road. A total

of $21.5M has been allocated to complete these.

Additionally, in the Upper Mazaruni, a number of bridges will also be rehabilitated, with works already started on most of them, including the Heavy Duty Bridges #4 and #5 between Kamarang and Waramadong, and one bridge along the Kalacoon Access Road at Bartica. A

A section of the Potaro Road that was recently repaired

combined sum of $13.3M will be expended, Marslowe confirmed.

Along with the road and bridge projects to be executed, a number of other works are already being carried out in the region, specifically in the town of Bartica. These works include the construction of river defense in Byderabo, the maintenance of

buildings among others.

In a Guyana Chronicle article late last year, the Region’s overseer, Andrew Chandler, shared that contractors are working on a trail from Waramadong leading to Kako. Chandler explained that they are trying to link the communities by road since many students from Kako, travel to Waramadong for

schooling.

“What they usually do is travel from Kako to Kamarang by river and that usually takes about half an hour and then it’s another hour to get from Kamarang to the Waramadong complex.

The construction of the road to link Kako with Waramadong, will shorten their daily journey to school,” he said.

In addition to that, they have been maintaining drains, cleaning creeks and patching roads across the Region, the overseer said. They have also done maintenance of the river defence at sections of the Bartica Beach. Those infrastructural works are still on-going.

Cuyuni Mazaruni is the second largest administrative region in Guyana, and probably the richest in natural resources.

Elect leaders who will help unite Guyana …Minister Norton urges Adventists

DELEGATES of the Fifth Quadrennial Session of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) were on Wednesday urged to elect leaders who will help unite this country.

The charge was made by Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, at the opening of the session being held at the Central SDA Church, at Church and Oronoque streets, Georgetown.

In addition to Dr Norton, Minister of Public Affairs, Dawn Hastings-Williams; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings; Opposition MP Priya Manickchand and Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) John Smith were present at the event.

Delivering a special address to the gathering, Minister Norton brought well wishes from President David Granger and pointed out that the proceedings ahead are important, both to the Conference and country at large.

“Over the next three days, you, the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist community will be tasked with making decisions and implementing initiatives that will guide and propel your beliefs and teachings. Your role at this forum is, there-

fore, sacred and should not be underestimated,” Norton said. As such, he advised the delegates to elect leaders whom, he stated, should be persons willing to protect

These are noble values and so the Ministry of Cohesion wants to strengthen collaboration with you in an effort to shatter all the barriers that divide us as Guyanese.”

Youth Ministries Director of the Inter-American Division, Pastor Al Powell. (Samuel Maughn photos)

Invited too and seated from left are: Pastor of the New Life Ministries, Henry Browne; Opposition MP Priya Manickchand; Bishop of the Central Assembly of God and Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Chairman, John Smith and Deputy Imaam of the Queenstown Masjid, Omar Haniff (Samuel Maughn photos)

social cohesion, promote equality and work towards a future where the difference of all Guyanese are respected.

“Religion has promoted social cohesion long before we even coined a term for it.

So, as players of the religious community, I believe you have the greatest role to play in uniting our people at all levels,” the minister said. “As Seventh-day Adventists, the pillars of your teachings revolve around loyalty, respect, integrity and collaboration.

Touching on youths, Norton encouraged the church to continue to instill moral values which can help steer young people from a path of drugs, crime, abuse and suicide. Noting the over 130 years of service of the Guyana Conference of SDA, he saluted the SDA community even as he welcomed future collaborations on the efforts of positively influencing society.

Manickchand, for her part, brought greetings on

Seated from left at the Central SDA church for the Fifth Quadrennial Session of the Guyana Conference of SDA are: Minister of Public Affairs Dawn Hastings-Williams; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings and Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton (fourth left)

behalf of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. Manickchand said that as many in the Christian community prepare to observe the celebration of death and resurrection of Christ this Easter, the gathering presents an opportunity for persons to reflect on how they can better pattern themselves in the

likeness of Christ.

The MP also took the opportunity to note that Jesus “valued women”, “believed in equality”, was just and abhorred anything that divided people.

“To me, if this conference is successful in transforming even one person into His Likeness, then you have done

a great job. If you can transform your 60,000 [members] who are all over this country into His Likeness, imagine what our future would be like,” she said.

Meanwhile, the keynote address came from Youth Ministries Director of the Inter-American Division, Pastor Al Powell. His sermonette reminded the delegates that the selection process of new leaders is “not about self” but about “service”.

Comparing the life of Jesus and his interactions with his disciples, Powell painted the picture of a man who led while being humble, selfless and was guided not by men but by the will of God. “Conference session is not about rewards. Jesus said I am coming back and I’m bringing my rewards. The conference session is giving Jesus first place in our lives,” he said.

At the sessions, several preachers, laity workers, overseas organisations, Ministers Norton, Cummings and Hastings-Williams and MP Manickchand were honoured with plaques for their service in various areas. The session will run until Friday.

The highlight would be the electing of new office bearers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday April 11, 2019

Lethem Town Council welcomes hike in subvention THE fairly new Lethem Town Council (LTC), is highly appreciative of the three million dollars increase in subvention received from central government, which brings the total to $18 Million.

According to Mayor of Lethem John Macedo, the Council will be utilising the funds wisely and has equally divided $15M of the amount, among the five constituencies. He said too that focus is being given to infrastructural development.

In an exclusive interview, Macedo said that the coun-

cil has made consultation a priority so that funds will be spent on what the people desire. “What we did, is try to divide the little that we have, of which $15 M we divide among the five constituencies, which amounts to $3 M per constituency and let the people who live in the area choose and determine what best we can do, to help improve their lives with that $3 M,” he outlined.

The main concern for residents, he said, is the dust pollution, which he opined can be solved if the internal roads are paved. As a result

of increased vehicular traffic in Lethem, dust pollution is now a health risk. While residents can do other things to alleviate the pollution, such as to grass their yards, Macedo believes that the unpaved roads are the main issue. “I think that would solve the problem, because the dust is coming from the roads as the vehicles traverse.”

Since the Council’s resources are limited, Macedo would have engaged the Minister of Public Infrastructure to assist with road projects.

In addition to utilising the subvention for roads, the

Police warn drivers against coloured lights POLICE have issued a stern warning against vehicle owners who are affixing coloured lights to the front of their vehicles.

In a statement, police said the practice is illegal and should cease forthwith.

According to the police Regulation 34 (1) (a) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02

states “Every Motor vehicle, the width of which does not exceed seven feet, other than a two-wheeled motorcycle not having a side car attached thereto and an invalid carriage, on any road, during the hours of darkness shall carry two lamps, each showing to the front a white light visible from a reasonable distance”.

“The Guyana Police Force Traffic Department wishes to advise owners and drivers who are guilty of this illegal practice, to desist from affixing these lights on their vehicles or face the consequences of being prosecuted,” the statement concluded.

Fuel dealer’s murder…

Reputed wife charged, remanded FIFTY-YEAR-OLD Milami Alli, was on April 10, 2019, remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for allegedly murdering her reputed husband, Ramzan Alli.

Particulars of the charge read that Alli, who resides at 29 Kissoon Housing Scheme, Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, while in the company of others murdered Ramzan Alli between July 11, 2009 and July 12, 2009. She was not required to plead. Alli was represented

by Attorney-at-law Bernard Da Silva, who requested an early start to the police’s investigation.

The deceased, a wellknown fuel dealer, was found in the trunk of a rented Toyota Carina motor car on

Milami Alli

the railway embankment at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara. The body was found by relatives who had mounted a search for him, after several calls to his cellphone went unanswered; his skull was said to have been bashed in.

Just over a week ago, Zaheed Mitchell, a 38-year-old driver of Foulis, East Coast Demerara, was charged with

the fuel dealer’s murder. According to the prosecution, Mitchell and others murdered Alli between July 11 and 12, 2009. Mitchell was remanded to prison until April 15, 2019. It was during the investigation that Milami Alli’s name surfaced and an arrest warrant was therefore issued for her. According to reports, Alli had paid Mitchell, with whom she reportedly had an affair, $7M (seven million dollars) to murder her husband. Alli was arrested upon arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on the evening of Thursday, April 4, 2019, after leaving the U.S. aboard a Caribbean Airlines flight.

Alli was remanded to prison until her next court appearance on April 15, 2009.

Pomeroon labourer died from multiple stab wounds –– autopsy THE autopsy conducted on the remains of Micheal Chu, 48, called “Chuman” of Melville, Lower Pomeroon, Region Two, revealed that he died from multiple stab wounds. The autopsy was conducted on Tuesday by government pathologist,

Dr. Nehaul Singh, at the Suddie Mortuary.

The suspect remains in custody and is expected to be charged shortly. Chu died on April 6 around 12:00 hours at Glen Nors, Lower Pomeroon River.

According to information, the suspect and the deceased were drinking when a heated argument started

between the two. The suspect, who was armed with a knife, stabbed Chu several times. Chu was rushed to the Charity Hospital where he was treated and admitted. He was later transferred to the Suddie Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at around 17:58 hours.

LTC, will be constructing a bus shed in Constituency One, playgrounds in Constituency Two, and installing street lights in various constituencies, among other projects. He related that street lighting was top on priority for residents when they were consulted and through a Japanese grant, the council is hoping that most of the streets in the township will be lit. “What we are trying to do is to use our resources how little they are, to the best we can…… we have engaged the people, so whatever we do, is for the people’s desire,” the Mayor said. The residents are cognisant that $18 M cannot transform the entire town, and he said they understand that basic requirements should be tackled at this time,

in a modest way.

NOT A RATED TOWN The town of Lethem is not rated, hence opportunities to garner funds are very few.

This include revenue from garbage collection, building application fees etc. When quizzed as to why the LTC does not initiate other means to garner funds, he said that would be difficult to do at this time. “It’s going to be difficult, the Rupununi is somewhat low income and to add more pressure to people, it is going to be difficult,” he said. When businesses are forced to pay revenue, the strain will be filtered down to the people, since businesses never lose, Macedo reasoned.

The council is presently in possession of $900, 000 and the mayor has directed

the Social Development Committee to implement a strategy that can empower the council, thus making it more financially viable. In the interim, under his stewardship, he said his priority will be to serve the people, despite some differences amongst councillors. “I am here to serve the people, I am not here to work in the interest of APNU, AFC or PPP, I am here now to work for the people.” He said he is satisfied with the assistance garnered from central government and will continue to seek good partnership for the development of the town.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday April 11, 2019

ANSA McAL launches

biodegradable products among five new food brands

Officials of ANSA McAL display some of the products

IN keeping g with the Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda, ANSA McAL on Monday launched a range of biodegradable products including five new brands consisting over 50 products.

Launched under the tagline “what’s new at ANSA McAL”, the company displayed the new products at a Press Conference Breakfast - Product Launch on Monday in the Sports Club of the Beterverwagting East Coast Demerara office.

Food and Consumer Goods Manager of ANSA McAL, Anjeta Hinds, said the products consist of a wide and extensive array of food items such as snacks and confectionery, coffee, flavoured milk and a new array of biodegradable paper products. She said the new biodegradable products are unmatched and the prices, unbeatable. The items, she said, are available across all paper products such as paper plates, biodegradable hot pack out of Dubai, reusable paper products and everything for party needs.

Hinds said although the company is known for its range of beverages, she assured that it also does have everything that meets the

Guyanese consumers’ needs.

This she noted, is done by partnering with great suppliers from across the world that supply quality products and give the utmost support.

These companies, she said, ensure what is offered to Guyana is something that everyone will be willing to try.

Other products are canned sardines from a very esteemed an established company and a new line of confectionaries from the Pozuelo line of products. This line, she said, brings the best quality flavored crackers, enrobed cookies, Maria Cookies – Whole wheat, coconut cookies, butter cookies and chocolate covered wafers.

These products, she noted, are provided for persons with increased taste palate, who want something a little bit different.

A new line of coffee coming from Colombia ‘Juan Valdez’, she says, brings a fabulous premium quality taste and comes in various sizes by bottle. It is also available in brewed percolators across three ranges and in decaffeinated, for those who love the taste of coffee but not too keen on the caffeine.

‘Butter Kist is the new

line of biscuits, cookies and flavored milk available in 22 lines. They also come in flavors such as salt, sweet crackers and whole wheat for the health-conscious individuals. These products, she said, are sourced from a very large and reputable company in Jamaica, which mirrors other companies such as Grace, which is also one of ANSA McAL’s supply partners.

Brand Representative of ANSA McAL Trading Limited, Tiffany Aaron, said the company wants the public to be assured that what it gives is the absolute best and sourced from the most reputable supplier across the world.

With the introduction of this vast array of new products to the Guyana Market, the company said it feels confident that Guyanese can now benefit from quality products that will meet their satisfaction. The company had on display a vast array of confectioneries, products under the Juan Valdez coffee brand, Pozuelo cookies, Butterkist biscuits and Hotpack paper brands among others.

17 touts charged in police clampdown AS the “soliciting of passengers” campaign continues, 17 more touts were arrested and charged on Monday, police said on Wednesday in a release.

This exercise was conducted by Sergeant 18039 Michael Ramdas and ranks of Traffic Head-

quarters at the route 31, 32,40,41,42,43,44,45 and 72 mini-bus parks. The department continues to address the challenges commuters are currently facing at the parks.

Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Linden Isles, sternly stated: “this

exercise is aimed to rid the parks of all touts and as such the public cooperation is critical”. This campaign will be ongoing until the desired results are achieved. So far, over 100 touts have been arrested and charged.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday April 11, 2019

Several roads being upgraded in Linden THE Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Region 10, is pushing forward with its capital projects under public infrastructure and communities on both the Mackenzie and Wismar shores have already benefited from road rehabilitation projects. On the Wismar shores, the Wisroc Access Road, Silver City Road and the Victory Valley access roads are some that have been rehabilitated. On the Mackenzie shore, roads at Amelia’s Ward has also commenced.

This early start, Regional Executive Officer, Orrin Gordon, explained is as a result of lessons learnt from 2018, which had approximately 38 roll-over projects.

The RDC is looking at 100 per cent expenditure in 2019 and are putting systems in place to avoid any hindrance to the expediting of projects in 2019. Such includes utilising auditor services to push the timeline and improve the general output, filling of pertinent vacancies and the utilisation of the regional tender board for expeditious awarding of contracts.

“We have learnt our lessons in 2018 and therefore it is incumbent on us to execute very early, hence it would have been seen that tenders were out for at least 35 projects, 20 being capital.

That means we are in a better position than we were in last year, when our first award was made in April and having made your first award in April, it meant that you were playing catch up all the time. We are now having a chance to execute better, because we are starting earlier and there should be no reason why we shouldn’t complete our capital projects before the end of the first half,” REO Gordon said.

Some 20 roads are expected to be completed in 2019. In addition to the above mentioned, other roads that are expected to see

major rehabilitation are the South Amelia’s Ward access road, Blinking Corner Block 22 road, Christianburg Front Road, Fraser Road Kara Kara, Main Street Amelia’s Ward, Central Amelia’s Ward access Road, Powis Crescent Road, Woodpecker Lane Amelia’s Ward, Highway Boulevard Amelia’s Ward, Wisburg School Road etc.

One of the main roads that was in a deplorable state and was the cry of residents for many years is the Victory Valley access road.

This road has been completed. Chairman of the Community Development Council (CDC), Anthony Roberts, said that the once-neglected community of Linden is finally gaining attention from the authorities. The residents, he said, are very upbeat about the development occurring. “We are feeling grateful, we are already feeling pleased, thanks to the government for answering our call in a short time,” he said.

The residents are also pleased with the quality of the work that has been put in thus far on the road.

In addition to road and drainage rehabilitation, some of the additional capital works that Region 10 will benefit from in 2019 include purchasing of land and water transport for the health sector, including a refrigerator truck, furniture and equipment for schools; the upgrade of the Upper Demerara Hospital; the construction of the Amelia’s Ward Nursery School and the Christianburg Primary School (CPS). The CPS will be constructed to the tune of $40 Million at the same site, where the dilapidated structure stands.

The attention will not only be given to Linden, as 14 capital projects will be completed in the riverine communities, especially

down the Berbice River. In Ituni, access roads will also be completed, in addition to the

Phase two Amelia’s Ward Access road

Victory Valley Access road

renovation of pavilions at the community’s playground.

Agriculture is a new programme that has been added to the RDC and $22.7M has been allocated. Priority is given to the construction of a farm-to-market road at Millies Hide Out, the establishment of shade houses – seven of which will be established in secondary schools, and training and technical support for farmers. The main objective is to increase agricultural production and output within the communities.

Silver City Access road

Boat captains welcome safety initiative by MARAD Captain Narine, who travels the Supenaam-to-Parika route, said that it will help passengers identify the boats that are safe for travelling.

“The passengers will know it’s a licensed boat and it is not the ‘hustle boat’ because after hours, the hustle boat charges an extra fee and passengers blame all the boat

operators, including the licensed boats and captains as well, because they say they travelled on a boat and had to pay X amount of dollars.

So, this will help them, it will shine a guiding light for passengers, especially those who travel regularly.”

The different coloured decals seen on the boats will

Director of Maritime Safety, Captain John Flores, interacting with some boat operators at the Parika Stelling

PASSENGER boat operators have welcomed the safety initiative by the Maritime Administrative Department (MARAD) that helps passengers identify certified vessels at the various stellings.

Passengers can identify the boats by looking for the MARAD decals that will be displayed at the front of the

vessels. The stickers indicate that the boats are licensed and certified by MARAD and are safe for travelling.

Captains Stephen Belle and Steve Narine, who operate at the Parika Stelling, have commended the initiative.

Captain Belle, who is also the President of Bartica Speedboat Owners Association, said: “It will let people

know the boats that are ferrying passengers... have operators who are licensed and once you are licensed to carry passengers, it brings some amount of safety in terms of the entire boat operation. So, I think it is a good venture and it will be welcomed by associations throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.”

Public Communications Officer observing a boat operator placing the MARAD sticker on his boat at the Parika Stelling

identify which route the vessels are travelling. Blue stickers are for the Bartica route, green for Supenaam, purple for Leguan and orange for Demerara. The initiative was a call made by boat operators to protect themselves and their passengers. “The colours will signify the route and the route is also at the front of the boats. It is basically for passengers to know which are the boats that are certified as competent

by MARAD and those that are not, they should not go on because they probably are not safe to travel on,” Director of Maritime Safety, Captain John Flores explained. Passengers are being called upon to use only such boats and to adhere to the safety regulations when travelling in the vessels. Licensed boat operators can uplift the decals at the various stellings or at the MARAD office for $1,500. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday April 11, 2019

Freeburg Secondary closed until new term STUDENTS of Freeburg Secondary School will not return to school until the new school term while the teachers will be stationed at the Charlestown Secondary School until public schools officially close on Friday.

According to the Ministry of Public Health Vector Control Unit, the school building requires more time to return to normalcy following the fumigation exercise last Monday.

Students of the school, who had outstanding endof-term tests, will now sit them during the first week of school when school re-opens in the new term. Teachers of Freeburg Secondary say parents have been notified of these developments.

On Monday, several students were sent home and End-of-term test postponed after teachers and students were greeted by swarms of mosquitos.

The Vector Control Unit was subsequently dispatched and the school was fumigated on Monday afternoon.

It was expected that the students and teachers would have been able to return to the school on Wednesday.

However, when teachers and students visited the school, the smell of the fumes was very much evident in the building.

Officials from the Education Ministry and the Vector Control Unit subsequently re-visited the school on Wednesday and confirmed that the building was not ready for occupation.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle last Monday, teachers at the school shared that the issue with the mosquitos was a long-standing one and it is caused by a leakage in one of the school’s inoperative washrooms, which often causes flooding.

Bushes in the yard and a number of stagnant drains in the compound are also said to contribute to the situation.

Though the ministry has addressed the issue in the past by sending contractors to the school, teachers believe that the contractors never did proper work to address the root cause of the problem.

The teachers said, as recent as the last school term, contractors again came to address the problem.

“This is a recurring issue; it’s a mosquito issue as well as a water issue.

They come fix and then it would happen again, come fix then it happens again. It’s a problem with the pipes,” explained one teacher.

The Ministry of Education Public Relations Officer, Murtland Haley,

Social worker found dead in home THE decomposed body of Irene Sooklall, 68, a social worker attached to the Suddie Public Hospital, Region Two, was found in her Adventure, Essequibo Coast home on Monday.

According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, the deceased was a social worker and was residing alone in a flat concrete house, west of Adventure old road.

Dr. Zabir Mohamed, who is the neighbour of the deceased and a

co-worker, said he last saw Sooklall on April 2 at her workplace.

On Monday, when he glanced over to see if she was at home, he saw flies streaming into a window of her home and there was a foul stench.

Dr. Mohamed said he informed the police and when they arrived, they discovered the pensioner in a sitting position, in her living room, facing north, dressed in a multi-coloured dress.

Her body bore no marks of violence.

explained that the ministry realises that fumigation is a temporary measure and plans to further look into the matter.

“We’re working to fix the problem. We have to get rid of the mosquitoes now, then look at the cause of the problem and that process too has started,” he said.

The Freeburg Secondary School

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday April 11, 2019

NDIA to spend $47M to dredge Demerara River at Coomaka

RESIDENTS of Coomaka Village in Region 10 will soon benefit from a series of drainage works aimed at alleviating their flooding issues.

Officials from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) disclosed that, during 2019, the authority will expend $47M to carry out a series of operations to reduce flooding in the village.

These works will include the partial removal of sand from the Demerara River, construction of a reinforced laterite dam with overflow mechanisms to retain the migration of sand into the

Demerara River and the re-vegetation of a pilot area with grass.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NDIA, Dave Hicks, said that flooding of the Coomacka community and its environs has been a continuous challenge for those agencies responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and ensuring the wellbeing of the citizens of that area. “An inter-agency task force was thus assembled to determine the root causes for flooding in the community. To this end, the inter-agency task force lead community engagements with regional authorities and

residents, and conducted an engineering analysis to determine the factors that contribute to the recurring flooding of Coomacka,” Hicks is quoted in a Ministry of Agriculture release as saying.

Coomacka, which is estimated to have over 300 residents, is located in a basin which increases its vulnerability to both long-term and flash-flooding from heavy rainfall. The village is also more susceptible to increased runoff from higher elevations which drain into the river.

These factors have led to the blockage of two-thirds of the width of the Demerara River at Coomaka. This

City Constable charged with shooting bus driver MARK Murray, a City Constabulary officer was yesterday (April 10, 2019), granted bail by city Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, following an alleged shooting of a minibus driver.

The 24-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, which read that on September 26, 2018, at Water Street, Georgetown, he discharged a loaded firearm at Paul John with intent to disfigure, disable or cause actual bodily harm.

The father of one was

Mark Murray

r e p r e s e n t e d b y A t t o rney-at-law Roger Yearwood, who stated that his client is not a flight risk and was

conducting his duties while in possession of a concealed firearm; however, there was no malicious intent. He also noted that Murray is the sole breadwinner for his family.

Reports are that Murray was conducting his regular duties when an argument ensued between the two and led to the unintentional shooting of John to his leg.

The prosecutor had no objections to bail and as such, the magistrate granted bail in the sum of $75,000. Murray will make his next court appearance on April 24, 2019.

Taxi-driver gets three years for ‘narco’ possession THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD, Sherwin Edward Clarke was yesterday, April 10, 2019, sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $1.7M by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for having narcotics in his possession.

The accused had first appeared before the Magistrate on February 14, 2019, after he was found by police ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) with a substantial quantity of cannabis in his vehicle.

In court on Wednesday, Clarke was found guilty of

Sherwin Edward Clarke

the charge which read that on February 11, 2019, at Fire Side Grill, Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty, he had in his possession 3.86 kilogrammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The accused is known to

be a resident of Canje, Berbice, and usually transports passengers back and forth.

The court heard that Clarke had earlier decided to change his not-guilty plea and plead guilty. However he wanted to change back his plea, but it was too late.

The magistrate told the court that the prosecution proved that Clarke had an input as it related to possession of the narcotic on the said day. The accused was very distraught, as he felt the sentence was an injustice to him and his family.

blockage not only affects the ecosystem, but also the navigability of the river and further exacerbates the flood risk of the community.

The village often suffers continuous flooding, which requires emergency interventions to curtail the impacts on the social and economic wellbeing of residents.

While making his presentation during the reading of the 2019 National Budget, Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, disclosed that some GY$8.2B has been allocated to NDIA to carry out major drainage and irrigation works across the country.

This, he noted, was part of the government’s efforts

to intensify flood relief efforts in vulnerable villages and communities across the country. To date, the NDIA has commenced a series of works, which include clearing of drainage canals and waterways and keeping on track with projects outlined in its 2019 work programme.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday April 11, 2019

Guyana remains committed to fighting climate change GUYANA’S Ambassador to Cuba, Abdool Halim Majeed, reiterated the country’s commitment “to combat the adverse effects of climate change,” at the Eighth Summit of Heads of State and Government for Member States of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).

The summit, held in Managua, Nicaragua on March

29, was attended by representatives of the 35 ACS Member States. It was held under the theme ‘Uniting Efforts in the Caribbean to Face Climate Change’ and coincided with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the ACS. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Majeed, while outlining the importance of the ACS to the

stimulation of sustainable development in the Greater Caribbean Region, pointed to Guyana’s efforts in this regard.

“We have embarked on the development of a ‘Green’ State or a ‘Green’ Economy.

In summary, it is “a total transformative plan at every level, including the household and the community. It allows for promoting “energy

generation from renewable resources and the preservation of wetlands, waterways and lakes,” he stated.

Additionally, Ambassador Majeed emphasised ongoing efforts to further develop the local eco-tourism sector.

“Guyana has devoted considerable resources, not only to developing new and innovative eco-friendly tour-

Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, His Excellency Abdool Halim Majeed at the Eighth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the ACS

ism products as a part of our ‘Green’ State Development Strategy, but also to incorporate sustainable tourism best practices into all aspects of its strategy, planning and programming,” Ambassador Majeed said.

He revealed to the Heads that these efforts had not gone unnoticed as Guyana was recently named the Number One “Best of Eco-tourism” destination in the world at the ITB Global Travel Trade Fair in Berlin.

During the summit,

ACS Member States adopted the Managua Declaration in which countries pledged to unite efforts to tackle the effects of climate change, reinforce the Region as a zone of peace, focus on sustainable development, ensure safe migration and support the call made

by CARICOM for reparations for the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery.

They also adopted an Action Plan of for the period of 2019-2021.

Reliance man dies from neck injury –– autopsy confirms AN autopsy conducted on the remains of Gowkarran Narine, 39, called “Paul” of Lot 41 Reliance, Essequibo Coast, revealed that he died as a result of a wound to the neck caused by a piece of wood .

The autopsy was conducted by government pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, on Tuesday, at the Suddie Mortuary.

Wife of the deceased, Shavon Joseph, who was detained by police after she gave conflicting stories of her husband's death, was released after the post-mortem.

According to information reaching Guyana Chronicle, Joseph told police that her husband was chopping wood and sustained a wound to his neck during the process.

She related that she heard a strange sound coming from him and when she checked, she saw a piece of wood

stuck in his neck.

She was cooking dinner at the time she made the discovery.

"I went to see why he was keeping noise; when I check I saw blood was coming out from his neck. I took a sponge and just sop it up, then put he to lie down while I continue cooking," Joseph had said.

She also said that she continued cooking and would periodically check on him.

On her last check, she found him lying motionless.

Joseph began to panic and alerted her neighbours who then called the police.

Detectives at the Anna Regina Police Station visited and saw a wound on the right side of Narine’s neck and escorted the body to the Suddie Public Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

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RHTY&SC supports...

FROM PG. 20

hospital.

The donation included stationery, clocks, medical items, electric iron, blenders, kitchen utensils, toys, calculators, and crayons.

Foster also disclosed that another donation will be done shortly, while the four doctors and 10 nurses will be honoured on May 12 under the RHTY&SC first-ever ‘Tribute to Health Workers’ programme.

Dr Devendra Radhay, head doctor at the hospital, expressed gratitude to the RHTY&SC for the contribution. He stated that the entire management and staff were committed towards providing health care service at the highest standard.

Over the last five months, the compound and facilities of the hospital have undergone remarkable transformation under Dr Radhay’s dynamic leadership.

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

RHTY&SC supports Port Mourant Public Hospital

RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hands over donation to Dr Radhay of the Port Mourant hospital.

THE 10 cricket teams of Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS (RHTY&SC) last Monday fulfilled a commitment made by Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster

and handed over $100 000 worth of materials to the management of the Port Mourant Public Hospital.

Foster stated that the donation

will not be the last, as the club and its cricket teams will establish a long-term relationship with the TURN TO PG. 19

Port Mourant teams win BVA ‘B’ Division competition PORT Mourant Training Centre (PMTC) ‘A’ team and Port Mourant female team were crowned champions of the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) ‘B’ Division last Sunday.

Eight male teams (Number 52 Survivors, PMTC ‘A’, PMTC ‘B’, Rollers, Black Bush Polder Gemini, D’Edward Three Doors Strikers, Number 47 Challengers and Castrol Strikers) and two female teams (Port Mourant and Castrol Strikers) took part in the one-day competition at the GUYSUCO Apprentice Hostel compound.

In the final, PMTC ‘A’ male team edged past the Rollers 31-29, while in the female championship clash, Port Mourant defeated Castrol Strikers 30-21.

Levi Nedd Junior was awarded the male MVP trophy, while Hannah Hicks of Port

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Fast-bowling legend Michael Holding has warned the new Cricket West Indies (CWI) leadership against axing interim head coach Richard Pybus ahead of next month’s ICC World Cup without first consulting the players.

Holding, now a well-respected television broadcaster, said the current players were the ones who stood to be impacted most by such a substantive personnel change and therefore needed to give their input in any such decision.

Pybus, a controversial appointment to the post last January, is widely expected to be replaced prior to the May 30 to July 14 showpiece in England.

“I wouldn’t say right now that we need to change everything. We need to analyse before we have knee-jerk reactions and kick out everybody and change everything,” Holding to i95.5FM radio here.

“We need to sit down and analyse. The people that are coming in – the president (Ricky Skerritt) and the new vice-president (Dr Kishore Shallow) – need to sit down with everybody at various times.”

He continued: “I am hearing them talk about changing the coach for the World Cup. You need to sit down with the current players now and have a discussion with them and say to them ‘what do

you think?’, because they are the ones who are going to be affected.

“We sitting down in our living rooms watching, we won’t be affected – the players will be ones to be affected. They (Skerritt and Shallow) need to sit down with them, have a frank discussion, ask them what they think – if they think it is a wise decision or if they are happy to continue with the way things are.”

Pybus, a former director of cricket, replaced Stuart Law as head of the Caribbean side for England’s tour of the Caribbean this year, overseeing their shock 2-1 win in the three-Test series.

The Englishman’s appointment was met with pushback from several CWI directors, with Skerritt during the election campaign noting his discomfort with the manner in which the decision had been made.

And only last week, leading regional academic and UWI vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, argued that a Caribbean coach should lead the Windies at the World Cup. Holding, who claimed 249 wickets in 60 Tests, said any decisions made on the coaching role should be made with the long-term future of West Indies cricket in mind.

“You don’t go into a business and just change everything. You’ve got to go into the business, study

how the business operates and deal with the people that are in there and find out how things need to be changed. I’m not saying don’t change anything – what I am saying is do not have a knee-jerk reaction,” Holding contended.

“What is the World Cup? One tournament. We’re talking about West Indies cricket and the future of West Indies cricket. Do we only want to win the World Cup? We need to think about the future of West Indies cricket. The World Cup is in a couple months’ time, what happens after the World Cup?” Skerritt’s election has been widely viewed as a positive development, especially with outgoing president Dave Cameron having become widely unpopular during his three terms in charge.

But Holding said it was important the new CWI leadership engage in wide consultation ahead of fundamental changes.

“They also need to sit down with administration, the people who actually work and are paid by the West Indies cricket board (and ask) what do you think?

How do you think we should move forward? The financial controller, the CEO, the head of coaching – all of those people,” the Jamaican said.

“It is a long process … (they need to) see what needs to be fixed, see what needs to be changed.”

Allicock qualifies for Pan Am Games after disqualification controversy

The team winners and MVP awardees at the just concluded competition

Mourant was presented with the female MVP trophy.

Along with the B division games, the national U-21 male team also defeated

Rollers 25-21 and 25-11 in a best-of-three clash as they warm up for next month’s Inter-Guianas Volleyball Tournament in French Guiana.

Aurora Knight Riders book South Essequibo T20 semi-final spot A HALF-CENTURY by Ravi Beharry and good support by the bowling department propelled Aurora Knight Riders to an 82-run victory against Tap Shattas in the quarterfinals of the South Essequibo T20 Cricket competition.

In the clash last Sunday at the Affiance cricket ground, Aurora lost the toss and were inserted to bat.

Led by an entertaining 53 from Beharry, they were able to push their score to 192-7 before their overs expired. Beharry, who struck

Holding warns: Consult players first before sacking coach Pybus

six boundaries and three maximums, lost his wicket to left-arm spinner Wilton Rodrigues in the 11th over.

For the second wicket, Beharry and Deoraj Dindyal put together 57 runs before the left-handed Dindyal fell for 20 in the ninth over.

Several other batsmen contributed to the total.

Roddy Spencer scored 26, Garfield Phillips 24, Quasie Reedon 19 not out and skipper Saieef Ally 18 not out.

Bowling for Top Shattas, Rodrigues finished with

3-34, while off-spinning skipper Nissan Khan, who bowled a nagging line and length, took 2-43.

In reply, Top Shattas could only reach 111-8 before their overs expired.

Opening bowler Chaitram Ramdanie spearheaded the attack with 3-17, while Dindyal returned with the ball to take 2-21. Ally, Beharry and Anand Manniram finished with one wicket each.

T. Daonarine scored 17 while Khan added 15 for Tap Shattas.

THE combination of Keevin Allicock and the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) fighting in and outside of the ‘square circle’ has resulted in the National and Caribbean bantamweight champion grabbing a place at the next Pan Am Games scheduled for Peru.

GBA head honcho, Steve Ninvalle, confirmed yesterday that Allicock has qualified for the Games despite controversially losing by a walkover in a quarter-final match of the Pan Am Qualifiers held in Nicaragua.

In a statement to the media, Ninvalle revealed; “I was informed verbally by a high-ranking and usually reliable official of the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) the way was paved for Allicock to participate at the Games. This is good news as our reason for being in Nicaragua is to qualify. We are still awaiting official correspondence.”

The talented Allicock was set to fight Alexy De Cruz of Dominican Republic on Monday but was

prevented by Technical Delegate (Fight Supervisor) Rapheal Vega who claimed that the Guyanese was wearing an inappropriate coloured vest.

Vega deemed the colour of the Allicock’s vest inappropriate even though the International Technical Officer (ITO) and referee found nothing wrong with the garment.

Allicock, who was scheduled to box out of the red corner, entered the ring one hour after being cleared by the ITO but was then challenged by the Technical Delegate and later given one minute to change the red and black vest.

A determined Allicock, part of a four-man Guyana team in Nicaragua, managed to change but upon his return to the ring lost by way of walkover. The Guyanese camp in Nicaragua immediately filed a protest but was unsuccessful in getting the ruling overturned.

Team coach Terrence Poole 12:25 hrs Keen On

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soon after contacted Ninvalle who filed another protest with both the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) and world governing body AIBA. Ninvalle pointed out that the new rules of AIBA (48.3.4) dictate that a boxer can compete in either those of the corners or in his national colours, Red and Black are colours of Guyana’s national flag.

Ninvalle, a recently elected vice-president of AMBC described the Technical Delegate’s decision as unjust, unreasonable, unsportsmanlike excessive unwarranted and that which goes against the grain of what the new AIBA is promoting.

He further disclosed; “We are happy that one of our boxers has made it to the Games but it does not stop there. There is a need to know what decision has been taken on the outcome of the fight and what sanctions will be handed to the defaulting Technical Delegate, hence we will await official word from both AIBA and AMBC”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

World Cup increase to 48 teams at 2022 finals is 50/50 - FIFA RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - The chances of FIFA increasing the number of teams at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from 32 to 48 is 50-50, the president of soccer’s governing body Gianni Infantino said yesterday.

Infantino, who is in Brazil for a meeting of the South American Football Confederation, told delegates he was working to ensure the increase for the Qatar tournament, which would mean a guaranteed two extra places for South American sides.

“We are working to see if we can get 48 teams in the 2022 World Cup because more participation means more development and more passion for everyone,” he said.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino

“We’ll see by June whether it is possible or not. (It’s) 5050. What is 100 percent is that the 2022 World Cup is going to be spectacular and a total success.”

A final decision on the number of teams for the next finals will be taken at the FIFA Congress in Paris on June 5.

FIFA chose to host the 2022 World Cup for 32 teams in Qatar, although Infantino has sounded out neighbours over their willingness to host some matches in an expanded tournament.

FIFA has already agreed to increase the number of teams to 48 for the 2026 tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico but is keen to expand quicker than planned.

Ronaldo scores as Juventus held to 1-1 draw at Ajax AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo produced yet another quality goal to add to his collection and help Juventus to a 1-1 draw at Ajax Amsterdam in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie yesterday.

Juventus took the lead on the stroke of halftime as Portuguese forward Ronaldo began an attacking move inside his own half before sprinting down field and diving to head in a clever chip from Joao Cancelo.

Ajax equalised 30 seconds into the second half after Cancelo lost control of the ball to allow David Neres to run down the left wing, cut inside and curl the ball past Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

The result leaves the Serie A side in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals in next week’s return leg in Turin. However, they will be mindful of Ajax’s 4-1 away win over Real Madrid in the last round that eliminated the holders 5-3 on aggregate.

Hakim Ziyech had several

efforts at goal in a lively start for the youthful Dutch team, who have come through the pregroup phase qualifying round to reach the last eight.

Donny van de Beek scraped the outside of the upright with a 25th minute effort from close range after opening up space for himself in the penalty area in Ajax’s best chance of the first half.

But Juventus, with the 34-year-old Ronaldo central to their attacks, worked their way into the contest and came close themselves when the forward set up Federico Bernardeschi to turn and shoot in the 37th minute. But he was just off target.

Ronaldo, who scored a hattrick in the previous round against Atletico Madrid, then scored a 125th Champions League goal with the last move of the first half before Ajax opened the second period with the same intensity.

After equalising, Ajax then dominated possession but were guilty of over-elaborate passing and were also fortunate not to

have given away a penalty when defender Nicol a s Ta g l iafico was tugging on the jersey of Ju-

ventus captain Mario Mandzukic.

Spanish r e f e r e e C a rlos del Cerro Grande paused briefly in the 53rd minute to presumably hear from the Vi d e o A s s i s t a n t Referee (VAR) but resumed play before TV replays showed that Juventus had been denied a decent claim.

WITH the aim to have youths engaged in some meaningful activity during the Easter vacation, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) has launched its Easter Youth Cricket Festival with emphasis on seam bowling.

The Cricket Festival will comprise the Toucan Distributors Under-15 100 overs, and the GCA/New York Tri State Youth Cricket Development Inc. Under-19 50-overs cricket competitions.

At a simple ceremony held yesterday in the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) pavilion, where GCA president Roger Harper pointed out that the tournaments will not only allow the youths to showcase their talent, but also at the same time give them the opportunity to develop their skills.

“I think sports provides an opportunity to teach teamwork, teach discipline and hopefully they will understand through sports as well that the only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary,” Harper, the former West Indies off-spinner stated.

Harper is of the view that sports plays a critical role, and tournaments of this nature augur well for the future of Guyana’s cricket.

The former West Indies player during his brief remarks

Shaw own goal gives Barca 1-0 advantage over United

By Simon Evans

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Barcelona will take a 1-0 lead over Manchester United into next week’s second leg of their Champions League quarter-final after a 12th-minute Luke Shaw own goal gave them victory at Old Trafford yesterday.

Sergio Busquets found Lionel Messi with a clever ball into the area and the Argentine carved out space on the left to deliver a lofted cross to Luis Suarez at the back post.

The Uruguayan’s header deflected off the shoulder of a scrambling Shaw and beat David De Gea to give the visitors the lead and although the linesman initially flagged for offside, the goal was given after a VAR video review.

United’s best chance of the first half fell to Diogo Dalot but the Portuguese made a mess of a fine Marcus Rashford cross, heading harmlessly across the goal from close-range.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team had struggled to get a foothold in the game during the opening 45 minutes but they were much improved after the break, applying plenty of pressure without creating any clear chances.

Barcelona could have added a second had Suarez not fired into the side-netting from a promising position after a clever through ball from Nelson Semedo.

Barcelona have not lost at home in the Champions League since 2013.

Kohli named Wisden’s ‘Leading Cricketer’ for third straight year

Cristiano Ronaldo

GCA launches Easter Youth Cricket Festival

By Rajiv Bisnauth

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also thanked Toucan Distributors for backing them for the second year in succession.

GCA Chairman of Selectors, Mark Harper, is of the opinion that the tournaments will feature a lot of our budding cricketers, since young cricketers in the City look forward to that time of the year.

The Under-15 tournament is expected to attract over130 youngsters from nine teams, inclusive of Queen’s Collage.

Teams batting first will be allocated a maximum of 55 overs while the second team will have a 45-over stipulation. However, should the first team be bowled out before the allotted 55th over, the difference would be added to the second team’s overs. The competition is set to bowl off on April 24.

Lenny Shuffler, Toucan’s representative, said that they are happy to be a part of the development of the game at the grassroots level.

Meanwhile, GCA/New York Tri State Youth Cricket Development Inc. Under-19 competition is set to commence on April 16, with 12 teams participating.

It was revealed during yesterday’s launching that at least 40% of the overs or 20 overs in a full 50-over game in both competitions must be bowled by fast bowlers. Failing to adhere to the playing conditions, teams will be penalised 10 runs to every over missed by a fast bowler.

India captain Virat Kohli

(REUTERS) - India captain Virat Kohli was named ‘Leading Cricketer in the World’ for the third time in a row in this year’s edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, the publication said yesterday.

Kohli, 30, was also named as one of Wisden’s five cricketers-of-the-year along with England’s Jos Buttler and Sam Curran, County Championship-winning captain Rory Burns and Tammy Beaumont from the England women’s team.

Kohli, who scored only 134 runs during India’s previous tour of England in 2014, amassed 593 runs in his side’s five-Test series last year at an average of over 59 to book his place on the list.

“Despite finishing on the losing side, India captain Virat Kohli shone with the bat, laying to rest his struggles in England in 2014,” Wisden editor Lawrence Booth said.

“His Test batting, especially in England, was magnificent, while his 50-over form moved to a new level, if that was possible.”

Kohli, who also won the ICC’s cricketer, Test and One-day international player-of-the-year awards in January, scored 2 735 runs across all three international formats in 2018 at an average of 68.37, which included 11 centuries.

India’s Smriti Mandhana, who scored 1 291 runs in limited overs, was named Leading Cricketer in the women’s game while Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan was named Leading Twenty20 Cricketer for the second consecutive year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc. secures Lennox Braithwaite’s presence at 150th Imperial Meeting ONE of Guyana’s tested, tried and proven fullbore top shooters, who have made their mark at the Caribbean level where Guyana has dominated for many a year, Lennox Braithwaite, has received full sponsorship to compete at the 150th Imperial Meeting of the National Rifle Association of England, set for July this year.

Having been to what is commonly known as Bisley seven times before, Braithwaite, who first attended in 1988, and won an event then known as ‘Gorka Appeal’, will make his eighth trip, fully sponsored, compliments of Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc., located at D’Urban Backlands.

On Monday, Managing Director Harold ‘Top Gun’ Hopkinson handed over a cheque to Braithwaite valued at $1.2M which represents full sponsorship for the July event in England which will attract the best exponents of the sport from around the world.

Also attending the simple but significant presentation were vice-president of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA), Colonel Enoch Gaskin, secretary Ryan Sampson and Fullbore vice-captain Dylan Fields.

Hopkinson, in brief remarks, before handing over the cheque said that he has always had the view that athletes should not be running around and literally be begging for sponsorship when they want to represent the Golden

Arrowhead.

“The reason I am doing this is because I believe that athletes should go out there and perform - not go about the place searching and sourcing funds, begging, begging, begging, no.

I do believe that corporate entities should start backing our athletes more even through established federations and associations.”

“Mr Hopkinson from time to time would have sponsored me in the past. In fact, my rifle known as ‘The Beast’ would have been sponsored by Mr Hopkinson. I do pledge to make Guyana, Mr Hopkinson, my family and my club, proud on this occasion.”

Responding on behalf of the GuyanaNRA, vice-captain Fields said that he was very pleased that Secure Innovations

age other corporate bodies to do likewise as it is important for the nation to have its best athletes able to focus of representing well rather than having to take on the burden of running around for sponsorship as well.”

Many of the top shooters from England had made the long journey to Guyana two years ago to celebrate with GuyanaNRA when it celebrated its 150th

perial Meeting (the last time he participated), Braithwaite ended 40th of 800 shooters and made the Queens Final which attracted the top marksmen gunning for the top prize of £250, which had been presented to the first winner of the competition 150 years ago, 1860 to be exact. That amount has been maintained through the years.

Following is the history of

Managing Director of Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc., Harold Hopkinson (2nd right) hands over cheque to Lennox Braithwaite in the presence of, from right, Colonel Enoch Gaskin, Fullbore vice- captain Dylan Fields and secretary Ryan Sampson.

Braithwaite expressed his delight to Hopkinson and Secure Innovations and Concepts for being fully sponsored for this historic event.

Inc. and Mr Hopkinson have been able to partner with the association by taking up the tab fully for Braithwaite.

“I also would like to encour-

Anniversary, which had also coincided with the hosting of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championships.

Competing at the 2014 Im-

Inter-County U-17 cricket

Conquerors out of ‘juice’ at 2019 Caribbean Club Shield

Essequibo routed for 41

… Guyanese club beaten 4-0 in final game against Santiago de Cuba

GUYANA’S Fruta Conquerors bowed out of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football’s (CONCACAF) 2019 Caribbean Club Shield in Curacao, following their 4-0 defeat against Santiago de Cuba.

The defeat was the club’s second of the tournament, following their opening 2-0 result against Scholar International SC. The result against Santiago de Cuba meant that the Guyanese club failed to score in their three outings in Curacao, given the fact that their second game of the tournament saw them play to a scoreless draw (0-0) against home side Jong Holland.

In their clash against the Cuban club, Rolando Abreu pierced Fruta Conquerors’ goal twice; first in the 40th minute and then in the 50th, while Jorge Villalon (43rd) and Eddy Olivares (71st) were the other goalscorers for the victors.

The winners of the 2019 CONCACAF Caribbean Shield, provided that said team fulfil the CONCACAF Regional Club Licensing criteria, will have the opportunity to face the fourth-place finishers of the 2019 Flow CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship in a playoff match to determine the fourth Caribbean representative in the 2019 Scotiabank CONCACAF League.

the competition as taken from the National Rifle Association Website: The first Imperial Meeting was contested on Wimbledon

Common, in south-west London, in 1860 when Queen Victoria fired the first shot and gave a prize of £250 to the best individual marksman. Originally the meeting was only available to Volunteers (regular and reserve military personnel) using the issued service rifle of the day.

Yesterday the National Rifle Association held the Imperial Meeting as an open competition, with the aim to promote and encourage marksmanship throughout the Queen’s (or King’s) dominions. It has grown to include many different disciplines.

The largest entry is for Target Rifle, which dominates the final week of the meeting and culminates with the final of the Queen’s Prize.

The Queen’s Prize remains the premier award for the meeting’s top shot, with the £250 prize still given to the winner.

Host to the competition is The National Shooting Centre – Bisley, the world renowned ranges complex, covering virtually all forms of shooting from air rifle to 1200 yards full-bore shooting. Set in 3 000 acres of heathland; Bisley is as unique in character as it is in the variety of ranges it offers.

The atmosphere at Bisley is second to none, with friendships made and renewed on the firing ranges every year, but the event does not end with the shooting: the famous Bisley clubs take over and between shoots and at the end of each day, competitors enjoy the Bisley hospitality at its best.

Sarwan Chaitnarine collects his man-of-the-match award from match referee Arleigh Rutherford.

ESSEQUIBO suffered humiliation at the hands of Berbice in their final round of the Inter-County Under-17 tournament at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground yesterday.

Set a winning target of 178, the Cinderella County team were bowled out for a paltry 41 to suffer a humiliating defeat by 136 runs. The Essequibians put up an appalling show with the bat in their run chase.

There was no real effort by their batsmen as they threw away their wickets cheaply and were skittled out in 14.3 overs.

The Berbicians exposed the fragility of the Essequibo batting and on a pitch which held no terrors, only Sheldon Charles (13) and Orin Gibson (8) reached double figures.

Hemraj Harilall, Gourav Ramesh and Abdul Ramsammy had figures of 3-4, 3-15 and 3-10 respectively for Berbice.

Jonathan Rampersaud was the other wicket-taker.

Deciding to bat first, man-of-the-match Sarwan Chaitnarine struck a composed 51, with three boundaries. He received support from Mahendra Gopilall who made an unbeaten 25 and Zeynul Ramsammy with 22. Wasim Mohamed claimed 5-28 in a losing effort.

This year’s tournament was made possible through the personal contributions of Lalta Gainda, Nazimul Drepaul, Anand Sanasie, Rahaman Khan and Richard Jodah and was managed through Cricket Guyana Inc., following the High Court ruling last Wednesday where the GCB was deemed illegal.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 11, 2019

GCB/RUBiS Bel Air U-17 Inter-county

Demerara remain unbeaten to cop Under-17 title

The 2019 GCB/RUBiS Bel Air U-17 Inter-county champions Demerara

THE Demerara U-17s remained unbeaten when action in the third and final round of the GCB/ RUBiS Bel Air Under-17 Inter-county 2019 came to a close at Everest cricket ground. Demerara’s Mathew Nandu hit a positive 70 to help his side to victory over the Select Under-15 XI. Despite U-15 captain Zachary Jodah and Krisna Singh sharing 6 wickets, they lost by two runs.

Demerara won the toss and elected to bat, posting a challenging 207 all out from 48.2 of their allotted 50 overs. Mathew Nandu hit a well-composed 70, while Rommel Daterdeen scored 49 and Niran Bissu chipped in with 40.

Bowling for the Select U-15, Zachary Jodah and Krisna

Singh grabbed 3 for 39 and 44 respectively, while Mavendra Dindyal, Alvin Mohabir and Thaddeus Lovell grabbed one wicket apiece.

In reply, the Select XI gave an excellent account of themselves and fell just three runs short of victory, finishing on 205 for 6 from 50 overs.

Opening batsman Rampertab Ramnauth stroked 76, while Mavendra Dindyal continued his rich vein of form by making a solid 67. The other batsmen to reach double figures were Tameshwar Mahadeo with 17 and Thaddeus Lovell, 16 not out.

Bowling for Demerara, Andre Seepersaud took 2 for 31 while Rudranauth Kisssoon had one for 44.

DeAbreu excites fans, but fails to qualify for Pan-American Games WAYNE DeAbreu represented Guyana at the World Archery Ranking Tournament, in Santiago City, Chile, which also served as a second stage of qualifier for Pan-American Games, Lima 2019. However, according to Archery Guyana, unfortunately DeAbreu did not qualify.

At 72 Arrows Ranking Round, the Guyanese Archer secured position numbered 32 after shooting a score of 594.

On Wednesday April 3, DeAbreu was up against Bolivia in the Eliminations but lost in the first round 7-1. The following day the Pan Am Eliminations continued and DeAbreu excited fans as he won against Barbados archer Brandon Field in the first round 6-0.

The Guyanese then went on to compete against Ecua-

Wayne DeAbreu at 2019 Pan Am Qualifiers in Chile. (Photo Credit: Crispin Duenas)

dor’s Lester Ortegon Morales where he lost by a score of 0-6.

In a release, Archery Guyana stated “Guyana did

not qualify to move forward to the Lima, Peru Games but the reports out of Chile revealed that in spite of this being Guyana’s first partic-

ipation at an international tournament, DeAbreu was competitive, and that it is certainly a promising startup for Guyana’s Archery.”

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Pollard’s 83 off 31 seals unlikely Mumbai Indians win MUMBAI, India (CMC) – Captain Kieron Pollard struck a magnificent half-century but it was an unruffled Alzarri Joseph who stole a share of the honours, as he scampered a couple off the last ball of the match, to hand Mumbai Indians a dramatic three-wicket win over Chris Gayle’s Kings XI Punjab in the Indian PreMumbai Indians stand-in captain Kieron Pollard’s mier League (IPL) here sensational 83-run knock yesterday.

Starting the final over included three fours and requiring 15 runs to overhaul 10 sixes. (Hindustani their target of 198 at the Times photo) Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai looked certain for the win when Pollard blasted a six off the first ball – a no-ball – from seamer Ankit Rajpoot and then lashed the resulting free hit for four.

With just four runs needed from five balls, Pollard holed out to deep mid-wicket for a top score of 83 off just 31 deliveries.

Joseph, who ended on an invaluable 15 not out off 13 balls, was kept scoreless off the third ball before getting a single off the fourth, and when Rahul Chahar squeezed a single into the deep, it left Mumbai needing two from the final ball.

However, Antiguan Joseph kept his composure to punch Rajpoot down the ground and claim a memorable win for the hosts.

Veteran Gayle had earlier struck 63 off 36 balls as Kings XI reached 197 for four off their 20 overs, after being sent in.

The left-hander struck three fours and seven sixes but was outshone by opening partner Lokesh Rahul who carved out a brilliant unbeaten even hundred off 64 balls, striking half-dozen fours and sixes.

Crucially, the pair put on 116 for the first wicket before Rahul combined with Mandeep Singh (seven not out) to add a further 46 in an unbroken fifth stand and give Kings XI a strong end to their innings.

Joseph, who snatched a record-breaking six-wicket haul in his previous match, sent down two overs for 22 runs.

In reply, Mumbai found themselves in trouble at 94 for four at the end of the 12th over despite 24 from Quinton de Kock and 21 from Suryakumar Yadav.

But Pollard, leading Mumbai for the first time in the absence of Rohit Sharma, promoted himself to number four and revived the innings, adding 41 for the fifth wicket with Hardik Pandya (19) and a further 54 with Joseph for the seventh wicket.

All told, the right-handed Pollard blasted three fours and 10 sixes as he raced to his first half-century of the season off 22 deliveries.

With the victory, Mumbai moved up to third on eight points while Kings XI, also on eight points, slipped to fourth.

Guyana to open Gold Cup on June 18 against defending champs USA

Head coaches from the 16 participating teams pose with the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup trophy.

Page

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Head coach Richard Pybus was a controversial appointment to coaching post last January.

Holding warns: Consult players first before sacking coach Pybus

GUYANA will open their 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign against defending champions USA on June 18 at the Allianz Field in Minneapolis.

The Golden Jaguars were drawn in Group D of the 16team tournament, with the defending champions (USA), Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.

Following their June 18 opener, coach Michael Johnson and his squad will travel to Cleveland to take on Panama on June 22 at the FirstEnergy Stadium then play their final group game against regional rivals, Trinidad and Tobago, on June 26 at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas.

Meanwhile, Canada will play in Group A, where they will take on seeded country and perennial Gold Cup contenders Mexico and Caribbean nations Cuba and Martinique.

In other action, Group B features seeded side Costa Rica taking on Haiti, as well as Nicaragua and Bermuda, while Group C will see Honduras and Jamaica face El Salvador and Curacao.

The 2019 Gold Cup features an expanded field, with 16 teams for the first time, including first-time entrants Bermuda and Guyana. The United States will host the majority of the matches, but this year’s tournament will feature group-stage games in Costa Rica and Jamaica the first time Gold Cup games have been hosted outside of the US, Canada or Mexico.

Allicock qualifies for Pan Am Games after disqualification controversy Page

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GCA launches Easter Youth Cricket Festival Page

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GCA president Roger Harper (right) collects the sponsorship from Toucan Distributors’ Lenny Shuffler for the GCA U-15 league. In the background are GCA executives along with Managing Director of Toucan Distributors Andrew King. (Carl Croker photo)

Keevin Allicock has qualified for the Pan Am Games in Peru.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019