Issuu

FRIDAY 19th April, 2019

Exxon in

No.105612

Next edition will be on 21, April, 2019

… adds to previously estimated 5.5 billion barrels of discovered recoverable resource

13th strike

… company mulls 03 bringing 4th drillship PAGE

Guyana asks ICJ SUPERBET says to proceed with in compliance oral hearings 08 with AML/CFT 09 PAGE

… as Venezuela refuses to file Counter-Memorial

PAGE

… made several attempts to acquire Certificate of Good Standing Licence

Guyana jumps up in press 13 freedom rating PAGE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

American Airlines announces Georgetown-New York route –– now offering daily, year-round flights AMERICAN Airlines has announced a new service of daily, year-round flights from Georgetown to New York, beginning December 18, 2019. The airline began services to Guyana in November 2018. The additional route will come in time to meet the usual hike in travels during the Christmas season for customers travelling between the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). According to a media release from the airlines, the new service from JFK will be operated daily on a Boeing 737-800 with 160 seats, including 16 seats in First Class. The aircraft also features access to power at every seat, and more entertainment options, including free live TV and the ability to stream Apple Music while on board. “This route will be an

important addition for our customers with cultural, business or economic ties between Guyana and New York, and we look forward to offering Guyanese visitors air service to the ‘Big Apple’,” said Vice-President of Network and Schedule Planning for American, Vasu Raja. Meanwhile, Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), ret’d Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field said the expansion of American Airlines’ services from Georgetown to New York (JFK) and the new daily flights on the Miami route is good news for the aviation industry in Guyana.

“It means more travel options for the passengers, especially on the JFK route. Aviation is a significant contributor to gross domestic product (GDP)and employment; therefore, we anticipate other sectors such as tourism benefiting from this additional capacity,” Field said. He also stated that the expansion demonstrates confidence in Guyana’s aviation industry, which is now being regionally and globally recognised through the support of the government. “The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority will continue to cooperate with entities for the growth of the industry, while maintaining passenger

safety and security as our primary objectives,” he said. American Airlines is the only US carrier that flies to Georgetown. New Schedules, based on the GCAA’s approval, will see flights daily departing the JFK at 18:00hrs and arriving at the CJIA at 12:40hrs. Flights out of CJIA will depart at 01:35hrs, to arrive at the JFK at 6:29hrs. American Airlines began operating four weekly flights to Guyana from Miami in November 2018, and has already announced plans to increase to daily service on a larger aircraft in the summer, due to great demand.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Exxon in 13th strike offshore Guyana

… adds to previously estimated 5.5 billion barrels of discovered recoverable resource

… company exploring plans to bring 4th drillship

U.S oil giant ExxonMobil made a new oil discovery offshore Guyana at the Yellowtail-1 well on Thursday, marking the 13th discovery on the Stabroek Block. In making the announcement, ExxonMobil said the discovery adds to the recoverable resource of approximately 5.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels on the Stabroek Block. Yellowtail-1 is the fifth discovery in the Turbot area, which ExxonMobil expects to become a major development hub. “Similar to the Liza area, successive discoveries in the Turbot area have continuously

Head of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, welcomed the announcements. He said his department will monitor the developments closely to ensure that Guyanese reap the benefits. “Guyana continues to receive positive news with the announcement of these oil finds offshore, but of course, as I have said previously, the real substance of these finds will accrue only when citizens are able to benefit directly or indirectly from these discoveries. While we are already seeing substantial uptick in investment ventures, we

This image was shared by ExxonMobil on Thursday as it made its grand announcement. It depicts the discoveries made to date with special focus on the Yellowtail-1 well where approximately 292 feet of high-quality oil bearing sandstone reservoir was discovered. grown its shared value,” said Mike Cousins, Senior Vice President of ExxonMobil Exploration and New Ventures. “Our success here can be attributed to our industry-leading upstream capabilities, the strength of our partnerships and our ongoing commitment to growing Guyana’s offshore potential,” he added. The oil company explained that Yellowtail-1 encountered approximately 292 feet (89 meters) of high-quality oil bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled to a depth of 18,445 feet (5,622 meters) in 6,046 feet (1,843 meters) of water. The well, it further explained, is located approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) northwest of the Tilapia discovery. The Noble Tom Madden began drilling the Yellowtail well on March 27. It will next drill the Hammerhead-2 well.

as a Department we will be relentless in ensuring that we optimise the returns from these resources for all of Guyana,” Dr. Bynoe said. In February, ExxonMobil announced its 11th and 12th discoveries offshore Guyana at the Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells in the southwest section of the Stabroek Block. Dr. Bynoe said that those discoveries are indications of Guyana’s rich resources. “The rate of these oil discoveries demonstrates the magnitude of Guyana’s natural resources. For years, Guyanese have heard of the country’s oil potential and we are now seeing it manifesting. The Department of Energy intends to employ international best practice in managing this resource and the monies that will be derived therefrom to give Guyanese ‘the good life’ that is in consonance with the construct of the Green State Development Strategy” Dr. Bynoe explained.

ExxonMobil said exploration and development activities will continue at other locations on the Stabroek Block. “The Stena Carron is currently completing a well test at the Longtail-1 discovery and upon completion will next drill the Hammerhead-3 well. Later in 2019, the Stena Carron will drill a second well at the Ranger discovery. The Noble Bob Douglas drillship is currently completing development drilling operations for the Liza Phase 1 development,” the oil giant detailed. ExxonMobil is also evaluating plans to add another exploration drillship, bringing the number of drillships offshore Guyana to four. According to the company, there is potential for at least five floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels on the Stabroek Block producing more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025. It said too that startup of the Liza Phase 1 development is on track to begin by the first quarter of 2020 and will produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day utilizing the Liza Destiny FPSO, which is expected to arrive in country in the third quarter.

Liza Phase 2 is expected to startup by mid-2022. “A final investment decision is expected soon subject to government and regulatory approvals. Upon approval, the project plans to use the Liza Unity FPSO to produce up to 220,000 barrels per day. Sanctioning of a third development, Payara, is also expected in 2019, with startup projected for 2023,” ExxonMobil stated. The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest. ExxonMobil uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. It holds an industry-leading inventory of resources and is one of the largest refiners and marketers of petroleum products.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

NGSA concludes without any major hiccup …pupils, parents get ready to enjoy Easter

By Vishani Ragobeer THOUSANDS of children completed this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) on Thursday afternoon and are well prepared to enjoy themselves during the Easter weekend. Seeking to spread cheer to some children following the culmination of the NGSA on Thursday afternoon, Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, and a team from the Ministry of Education (MoE), fanned out to several schools across Georgetown. Here, they interacted with the children and gifted them kites. “It is intended to reward the students in a simple way after all the hard work,” the minister explained. “It’s years of studying at the primary level and so you get to write your Grade Six Examination, and for some of them, they are able to get a kite from the ministry and hopefully they’ll go out and enjoy the Easter holiday.” Some 300 kites were donated in total, to pupils who wrote the examination this year, from six

schools in Georgetown. Importantly, the minister also indicated that she has received no reports of any major hiccups occurring at the NGSA during the two days. “What I can report is that

getting the results out promptly. “We’re happy that we were able to get the exams off and we’re looking now to see what the performance was like, get the results out, and hopefully this

Pupil, Sean Charles

Pupil of the Enterprise Primary school, Micheline Alasa

nothing came to my attention, and what I’m assuming by that is that everything would’ve gone pretty well or at least at the stage that my officers could’ve managed, so nothing was brought to my attention coming out of the exams,” Dr. Henry related. The minister also indicated that the MoE will now be focusing on marking the papers and

Friday, April 19, 2019

turns out to be a good year for us,” she said. Children from the Enterprise Primary School, in the D’Urban Backlands, were among the lucky set who received kites from the minister herself. The sole Grade Six teacher for the 39 pupils at this school, Allison Blenman, indicated she was happy that the children would get the chance to enjoy their Easter vacation, now that the examinations were completed. Leading up to the NGSA, she said that extra work was needed to be done with some students, but it would appear as though many of the children had grasped the concepts taught to them over the years. As such, Blenman indicated that she has confidence that her pupils would have done their best. “Many of them said that English was simple; in science paper one, they had a few difficulties and Social-Studies paper one, was also a bit difficult for them,” she shared. “[There were] no complaints about the math,” Blenman highlighted too, and in fact, said: “Many of them came out smiling out of the math.” Before heading home to enjoy themselves, some of the pupils spoke to the Guyana Chronicle. “To me, it was kinda easier than I expected it to be and I thinking, I guess, I kinda did well,” Sarafina, of the Enterprise Primary School, said. Explaining her preparations, she said that she studied a bit extra each day and for a period, sacrificed outings. Another pupil, Deborah Leitch, indicated that she felt

5:30 hrs

good about the examinations – with Social Studies being the only one that was just a bit troubling. “Mostly I prepared by getting rid of my phone and mostly by working many papers and reading many books,” Sean Charles, who wants to attend the St. Stanislaus College, said. Charles and Jesani Barton, both from the Enterprise Primary, indicated that the examinations generally went well and that they will be relaxing until the results are released. “I had to be ambitious to get want I want,” Barton, who also wants to attend the St. Stanislaus College, said. Micheline Alasa shared: “The examinations were great, but Science paper two – it was a little bit difficult… and I feel great about it though it was a little bit challenging.” In preparing for these examinations, she said that she had a lot of help from her cousin, who worked with her particularly in the areas of mathematics and in working past papers. Over at the Mae’s Primary school, one hour after the examinations finished, few children were enjoying a cricket match in the school’s playing field. Other pupils were lingering about with their friends and family. Shivali Challu shared that now that NGSA was over, she was looking forward to getting lots of sleep and definitely playing games on her ipad. The young girl indicated that leading up to the examinations, she made sure that she studied regularly and worked past papers. As regards the examination, Challu related that Social-Studies was the only subject that gave her a bit of a challenge. At the end of the exams, she was joined by her mother and older siblings. Her mother, Ann Challu shared: “From the beginning Shivali was very confident, so I was confident too.” And now that the examinations were completed, Ann related that she would ensure that Shivali gets enough time to relax and have fun with her family. Another parent, Ramona Lee shared: “It was a long and exhausting journey. Most days it was too much reading, too much notes and too much homework, but I hope it all paid off.” Now that her son, Richard Lee, has completed this stage of his NGSA, Ramona noted that it is time for the entire family to spend quality time togeth-

er. “The plan is to just stay home and relax… and now the entire family is going to go out and enjoy Avengers,” she said excitedly. For Nikolai Mcklemon, the young Mae’s pupil with hopes of one day attending the Bishop’s High

school or Queen’s College, said that all he wanted to do was “play every game in the world”. He related, however, that the exams were “fun”, though few questions in the mathematics examination troubled him.

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry giving kites to pupils of the Enterprise Primary school

Children of the Enterprise primary school pose with Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry after completing their National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and receiving kites from the Minister

Shivali Challu and her mother, Ann, along with her brother and sister

Wednesday, APR. 17, 2019

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APR. 12, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Broadcasting Authority warns non-compliant operators THE Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has recognised 33 broadcasters in the field of cable, radio and television as the only ones compliant for 2019 and therefore authorised to broadcast. In a media release on Thursday, the Authority stated that any broadcaster which finds itself absent from the ‘compliant list’ will be deemed “illegal broadcasters” if they do not cease broadcasting. The compliant cable broadcasters listed by the GNBA include Premium Communications Inc., E - Networks Inc., Infinity Telecommunications Inc., Go - Tech Inc., Movie Star Inc. and Northwest

Television Inc. Radio broadcasters in good standing are Freedom Radio Inc., Little Rock Radio Inc., Pinnacle Com. Inc., Radio Guyana Inc., Hits & Jams Entertainment Inc., NTN – Radio Inc., I Radio Inc., CNS Radio Inc., News- Talk Guyana Inc., JREM, Keystone Solutions Inc., National Communications Network (NCN), National Media and Broadcasting Company Inc., Two Brothers Inc and Linden Wireless Communication Network Inc. Compliant television broadcasters named were CNS Inc., Countryside Broadcasting Inc. Ch 19, Community Broadcasting Network, Dave’s Televi-

sion Ch 8 Inc., Little Rock Television Inc., Pinnacle Communications Inc. Television, STVS Ch 4/21 Inc., Television Guyana Inc., GWTV Channel 2 Inc., MTV Inc., NTN Inc. and the National Communications Network (NCN). In the release, the GNBA pointed out that the Broadcasting Act 2011, Section 43 (C) stipulates that anyone who carries on a broadcasting service at the licensed location after the licence granted has been suspended, cancelled or expired, commits an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of $1M. Such a broadcaster is also liable to imprisonment for one year and all machinery and equipment used, which can be used for broadcasting or which is owned by or in the possession of the broadcaster, is liable to be forfeited. The agency cautioned: “The GNBA intends to take legal steps within the parameters of the law,

against illegal broadcasters.” In another release, the Authority also announced that broadcasters who have been issued frequencies and licences to broadcast and have not utilised the frequencies in the past six months and do not intend to do so within the next three months, will be up for review. Meanwhile, for those who continue to be compliant, the GNBA intends to set up a Broadcaster Award System to give recognition at a grand gala event. There, compliant broadcasters will receive trophies, plaques, monetary rewards, discount in broadcasting fees and more. “GNBA urges non-compliant broadcasters to bring themselves in conformity with the law and to honour their obligations to the Authority. GNBA looks forward to broadcasters’ continued cooperation,” the release said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

A lesson in humility

VERY year around this time, without fail, the Christian community the world over goes into overdrive in its fervour to recreate the Passion, the short final period in the life of Jesus, beginning with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem astride a donkey, and ending with his crucifixion and death on Good Friday. It’s a period that includes, among other events, the famed Last Supper, as the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples is called, his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where, on the night before he was crucified, he was arrested by Sanhedrin priests and taken before Pontius Pilate, then governor of Judea, to be tried. It’s also part of a wider 40-day period of introspection and self-denial that is officially called Lent, and begins just after Carnival in Trinidad with Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as ‘Pancake Day’, followed by Ash Wednesday, and goes right up until Good Friday. Chances are that caught up as the community no doubt is in the whole pageantry of the affair, and in some instances the routineness of it all, no one has ever really stopped to think about the enormity of the situation; that here was a young man, barely in his 30s or thereabout, who was about to make the biggest decision of his life. What is even more significant, as well as touching, is that he would have known all along that this day would come, but had never once let on that he did, in all those years. It is something his mother, too, had known all along, even before he was conceived, for an angel had

told her during a visitation one night that she would have a son; that his name would be Jesus; that he would perform untold miracles; that he would be a great man and rule over all the Earth. But alas! He would be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice to save Mankind from sin. The first inkling we have that Jesus was well aware of his destiny and was mentally prepared for it, was when he was just 12 or so when he cheekily asked his parents when they frantically went in search of him after he’d gone missing for days and found him holding forth in a temple, “Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about my father’s business?” One rather suspects that as the years wore on and the older he got, he was better able to reconcile himself to his fate, and never once complained or tried to pull the ‘privilege’ card, even though when the appointed time came, he was nailed, spreadeagled, to a roughhewn cross, and made to endure unspeakable things, like having to fetch his own cross, sip on wine mixed with gall when he became thirsty, and made to wear a crown of thorns as his tormentors hurled all sorts of invectives at him. They even spat on him on occasion and beat him to a pulp. And to make certain he was indeed dead, rather than break his feet as was the custom back then, they prodded him in his sides with their spears, drawing even more blood on top of what he had already lost. It is this stoicism of Jesus, and no doubt his humility, that Pope Francis would remark upon and bring into sharp focus in his traditional message on Palm

Sunday. “There is no negotiating with the cross: One either embraces it or rejects it. By his self-abasement, Jesus wanted to open up to us the path of faith, and to precede us on that path,” he told the faithful gathered on St Peter’s Square last Sunday in Rome for the annual celebration of Palm Sunday which marks the beginning of Holy Week. “Jesus shows us how to face moments of difficulty and the most insidious of temptations by preserving in our hearts a peace that is neither detachment nor superhuman impassivity, but confident abandonment to the Father and to his saving will, which bestows life and mercy,” Pope Francis said, adding: “He shows us this kind of abandonment, by spurning, at every point in his earthly ministry, the temptation to do things his way and not in complete obedience to the Father...by holding fast to his own way; the way of humility.” Here in Guyana, as we too, on this Good Friday, join in the celebration of yet another Eastertide, it is our fervent hope here at the Guyana Chronicle that when the dust settles on Easter Sunday, that the faithful would spare a thought for the ultimate sacrifice a young man in the prime of his life paid more than 2000 years ago on a lonely hill in faraway Golgotha so that Mankind could enjoy eternal life, and not see it as a mere pageantry to be over with and done as quickly as possible, so they can get back to the business of living life to the fullest, only to begin the cycle all over again come next year.

Attention to detail is paramount --when reporting on oil industry Dear Editor,

HAVE diligently followed news reports of offshore oil activity since the exploration began in 2013, and I must confess that I have been increasingly troubled by some recent, apparently contradictory, reports by the media. The Kaieteur News of Sunday, April 14, 2019 published “Guyana saddled with $$$millions in pre-contract costs for new licence granted days before elections,” regarding the Kaieteur Block and the corresponding Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed by the Ramotar administration. Sunday’s piece reported that “the Donald Ramotar administration granted a Petroleum Licence to ExxonMobil and other oil majors to operate on the Kaieteur Block offshore Guyana.” This seemed incorrect, so I looked back at Kaieteur’s earlier reporting. Sure enough, in March of last year, it was reported that on April 28, 2015, Donald Ramotar actually signed an agreement with Ratio Energy Limited and Ratio Guyana Limited to operate in the Kaieteur Block;

not Exxon. In addition to this lack of clarity, Kaieteur News’ most recent reporting makes it difficult to understand who is operating in the Kaieteur Block, and how they came to do so. From previous media reporting, it’s clear that the Ramotar administration awarded the Kaieteur Block to Ratio Energy Limited and Ratio Guyana Limited on April 28, 2015. Then, over a year later, on August 5, 2016, ExxonMobil purchased 50 per cent of the block from Ratio, and became the operator. Eventually, Exxon sold a minority stake in the Kaieteur Block to Hess, which brings us to the current configuration in which Exxon owns 35 per cent and remains the operators, while Hess owns 15 per cent, Ratio owns 25 per cent, and Cataleya Energy, the former Ratio Guyana Limited, owns 25 per cent. Many who read these reports may feel that whether it is Exxon or Ratio, it makes no difference; that one foreign oil company is the same as the next. But I sincerely believe that lax reporting of this kind, and the public’s acceptance of it, is a larger problem that Guyana as a whole must be

mindful of. We are now at the one-year countdown till oil begins to flow, and with it, government revenue. We are about to be thrust into the middle of the global oil industry; an industry with high standards, expertise, and stakes. We Guyanese must admit that most of us know little of this industry, and thus it is critical that civil society, and news outlets, be mindful of key details. It is the only way to learn and be informed. Our media will be called upon to play a large role in ensuring that citizens remain well-informed. As one of the widely-read newspapers in our country, many Guyanese rely on Kaieteur News for news. And, because our offshore oil development has an impact on all Guyanese, I believe that this attention to detail is especially important when reporting on this topic. Thus, I feel that Kaieteur News should clarify some of its reporting in the story published on Sunday. Regards, Clement Smith

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

PPP/C’s callous discriminatory governance exposed Dear Editor, THE Stabroek News, via its story and pictorial captioned, ‘Gov’t comes to you Berbice initiative sees poor turnout’ of April 17, 2019, seeks to convey the understanding that the Coalition’s visit to the East-Berbice Corentyne (Region Six) had been unsuccessful, because, the observation, “…yesterday, Berbicians trickled into the event,” is beside the point. But, given this newspaper’s political brand, such a story is expected. Let Stabroek News and its political trojan horse, the PPP/C, that it has been giving place of prominence within its pages, understand the following: Tuesday’s exercise was not for public relations purposes, or a political testing of the waters, or better yet, a trial of political strength. This was an exercise; its mandated duty that, while admittedly, should have taken place much earlier, was an absolute necessity; an event that had been overdue, given the chronic socio-economic problems that had become part and parcel of the daily life for the region and its citizens. And if there are those, like the Zamal

Hussains and the Stabroek News of this world that would want to convey the usual misleading impression that these challenges are of recent vintage, especially since the advent of the Coalition Government, then one will comprehend the marked mischief, among the other dark misinformation, that such a column is intended to create. Of course, the Corentyne region has severe problems, like so many other regions, that are known to affect its citizens in diverse ways; problems that have been festering for years, and go back into the unproductive period of PPP/C governance, which the latter had largely ignored. For example, one only has to refer to that very intelligent citizen, irrespective of which political party affiliated to, who approached the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MOPI) representatives, regarding chronic drainage problems within the Rose Hall Municipality. Not only had such problems, with severe implications for the making of a hazardous environment, he reported, been present for some 15 years; but that they were brought to the attention of the Town’s municipality numerous times, but offered no assistance. One

wonders where were the Zamal Husseins during those years of abject neglect, that they can now be ridiculous in their talk of “too little too late”. But such an example is a reflection of an unenlightened Local Government System which had existed under the auspices of the PPP/C, where personal political rule/directives took precedence over the socio-economic needs and wellbeing of the many Berbice communities and their citizens. It is such an example, of abysmal deficiencies, that would have necessitated Tuesday’s engagement with the Region’s people, and which will be replicated in the other administrative geographical spaces. Stabroek News should be reminded that government’s visit into the region was in keeping with its uncontested and consistent policy of government for all, irrespective of the particular region’s political colour. Of course, there were citizens of all ethnicities who approached the government’s offices for help concerning their particular problem; and they received conclusive attention, which had been notably absent prior. That is the measurement for success, and not protests. At least, those who sought government’s assistance understood

this marked difference. If, as Stabroek News sought to give the impression that there was a boycott, then this aspect of PPP/C constituents’ behaviour in such circumstance should be mentioned. It is traditional for the latter to adopt what has become its well-known line of party obedience, not wanting to break ranks, lest those who do become the target of community ostracisation and other wellknown vintage PPP/C acts of victimisation at the hands of community party hacks. This is mentioned, since the later evening meetings between the ministers and citizens throughout the many communities were WELL ATTENDED BY PERSONS OF ALL ETHNICITIES, with many of the halls filled to capacity. Mind

you, editor, these folks attended of their own free will, because OF SATISFACTION WITH THE PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS in their respective communities which they now enjoy. Highbury, on the East Bank of Berbice; a village of historical significance to Indo-Guyanese, is one of the success stories of the Coalition Government’s development programme; of a locale that now enjoys great illumination at nights, which makes for a much safer environment and improved socialisation; better drainage; and above all, finally newly-constructed public road which horrible condition had been a nightmare to road users, while placing severe constraints on farmers’ access to and from

their farmlands. The story of this community citizens’ protest at the callous neglect of their locale are well documented – they protested and burned tires. All this took place during the PPP/C tenure of office. But it took the A Party for National Unity + Alliance for Change (AFC) coalition government to deliver the much-needed remedies that have ushered in, required amenities to better comfort to this community and many others since they were elected to government. Government’s coming to the people, exposes years of PPP/C callous, incompetent and discriminatory governance. Regards, Aditya Panday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Guyana asks ICJ to proceed … as Venezuela refuses with oral hearings to file Counter-Memorial

ALTHOUGH the International Court of Justice (ICJ) fixed April 18, 2019 as the date for Venezuela to submit a Counter-Memorial on jurisdiction, the Spanish-speaking country, wracked by economic and social turmoil, has failed to do so. Guyana has therefore

asked the ICJ to proceed with the holding of oral hearings, at the earliest possible date, to determine its jurisdiction over the case brought against Venezuela. Last year, the Court thought it necessary to determine whether it has jurisdiction over the case before considering its merits. Pursuant to its order,

Guyana submitted its written Memorial on jurisdiction in November 2018 – demonstrating that the Court has jurisdiction to decide on the validity of the Arbitral Award and the resulting boundary. In a statement on Thursday, the Government of Guyana, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, disclosed that

Venezuela failed to submit its Counter-Memorial on the jurisdiction of the Court to hear the case brought against Venezuela, and intended to confirm the validity of the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, which fixed the land boundary between the two States. “Although the ICJ fixed 18 April 2019 as the date for Venezuela to submit a Counter-Memorial on Jurisdiction - in response to Guyana’s Memorial - Venezuela failed to make a submission on that date, and indicated in a letter from its Foreign Minister that it had chosen not to do so,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry indicated. The Foreign Affairs Ministry said that, as a consequence, Guyana has asked the Court to proceed with oral hearings, at the earliest possible date. “Guyana is confident that the Court will agree that it has jurisdiction, and then proceed to decide on the merits of Guyana’s suit,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry stated. “Guyana submitted the case to the Court after the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Gutteres determined, pursuant to his authority under the Geneva Agreement of 1966 to which Guyana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom are Parties – that the dispute over the validity of the Arbitral Award, and the resulting boundary, must be decided by the Court. That constitutes a sufficient jurisdictional basis for the Court to proceed,” the Ministry explained. It said Guyana regrets that Venezuela, notwithstanding its obligations under the Geneva Agreement and the Secretary General’s decision to refer the matter to the Court, has chosen not to participate in the case. Nonetheless, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said, as indicated by the Court, the door remains open to Venezuela to join in the proceedings, which will continue to a final and legally-binding judgment, pursuant to the Court’s rules, whether Venezuela participates or not. “Guyana takes note of the Venezuelan Foreign Minister’s recent tweet that, at some point in the future, it will supply the Court with “information” about the case to assist it in the exercise of its judicial functions,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said. “If this is a first step toward Venezuela’s full participation in the case, Guyana

Distinguished Guyanese diplomat, Sir Shridath Ramphal welcomes it. At the same time, Guyana has reserved its right to object to any submission by Venezuela that violates the Court’s rules or is otherwise prejudicial,” it added. With the deadline for the Counter-Memorial passed, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the next step will be for the Court to schedule the dates for the oral hearing on jurisdiction. The Guyanese Government has committed to inform the public as soon as these dates are set. When it submitted its Memorial on Jurisdiction last November, the Government argued that Venezuela’s contention that the means of settlement outlined in Article 33 of the UN Charter must be exhausted before recourse to the Court can be chosen is baseless. “Guyana’s Memorial shows there is no foundation to Venezuela’s contention that the means of settlement listed in Article 33 of the UN Charter must be selected by the Secretary-General successively, such that the means listed ahead of judicial settlement have to be exhausted before recourse to the Court can be chosen,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry had said. It maintained that nothing in the text of Article IV of the Geneva Agreement, which provides a menu of options, supports Venezuela’s interpretation. The Foreign Affairs Ministry added: “Nor is Venezuela correct in arguing that, as it has recently asserted, the controversy must be resolved exclusively by friendly negotiations, a claim that is belied by the express terms of the Geneva Agreement and contemporaneous statements by the parties during its negotiation and ratification.” In its submission, Guyana pointed out that the boundary

with Venezuela was established by an arbitral tribunal constituted pursuant to a treaty concluded by Venezuela and Great Britain in 1897. It said the record would show that Venezuela accepted the unanimous award rendered by five eminent jurists on October 3, 1899. The Spanish-speaking country had also participated in a joint commission to demarcate the boundary on the ground, and insisted on the award’s strict implementation. “Only decades later did Venezuela, in anticipation of Guyana’s independence, cease recognizing the award’s validity and binding nature, using that pretext to lay claim to more than twothirds of Guyana’s territory,” the country noted. In an effort to ensure a final resolution to the controversy through peaceful means, the Government of British Guiana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom concluded that the Geneva Agreement on February 17, 1966. Article IV of that treaty authorizes the Secretary-General of the United Nations to decide which of the means listed in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter shall be used to resolve the controversy. Notably, it includes binding adjudication by the ICJ. In agreeing to Article IV, Venezuela consented to the Court’s jurisdiction in the event the Secretary-General decides that the controversy should be resolved by the Court, Guyana stated. “Efforts over more than half-a-century, including a four-year Mixed Commission (1966-1970), a twelveyear moratorium (19701982), a seven-year process of consultations on a means of settlement (1983-1990), and a twenty-seven-year Good Offices Process under the UN Secretary-General’s authority (1990-2017), all failed to end the controversy. On 30 January 2018, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, acting under the authority bestowed upon him by the Geneva Agreement, chose adjudication by the Court as the means for resolving the controversy with finality,” the Government outlined. Guyana’s representation before the Court is led by its agent Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge; and by its co-agents, Sir Shridath Ramphal and Ambassador Audrey Waddell.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

SUPERBET says in compliance with AML/CFT

THOUGH it has no license to operate, SUPERBET, through its Attorney Anil Nandlall, is contending that it is in full compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Legislation. According to the gaming entity, it has submitted all of the documents requested by the Guyana Gaming Authority (GGA) in an attempt to acquire a Certificate of Good Standing and a Licence. While it took umbrage to a statement emanating out of the Attorney General’s Chambers on Wednesday that it should face the full force of the law for operating without a licence, SUPERBET did not deny not having a valid licence on Thursday. In its defence, the gaming entity said early last year some of its agents and an

attorney attended a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Gaming Authority, Lloyd Moore. “During that meeting, it was explained that certain documentary evidence must be provided in order to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing. We were further instructed that in order for our licence to be renewed, the Gaming Authority must issue the Certificate of Good Standing,” SUPERBET explained through its attorney. According to the gaming entity, on September 14, 2018, it submitted all documents requested by the Gaming Authority in support of its application for Letter and Certificate of Good Standing. “Our client was never informed by Gaming Authority or accused of being in breach of any AML/CFT Legislation. In fact, Gaming

SUPERBET has maintained that it is in full compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Legislation Authority never contacted us or our client to request any further information or query any discrepancies in the application and its supporting documents,” Nandlall contended. He said six months after the application for Letter or Certificate of Good Standing

Son electrocuted, father hospitalised in freak accident

A Third Form student of Aurora Secondary School, Region Two, tragically lost his life Thursday morning after he came into contact with two live wires. Dead is Nicosi Pryce, 14, of Lot 74 Huis’t Dieren, Essequibo Coast. His father Witfield Pryce, 44, a labourer, who also came into contact with the live wires, is currently hospitalised. The incident occurred on Thursday around 08:30 hrs. According to information received, the deceased was assisting his father in fixing a 25-foot steel antenna pole when the pole fell onto two

electrical power lines. The father and son, who were holding the pole at the time, were hit by the electric current and immediately fell to the ground in an unconscious state. Neighbours rushed to their assistance and took them to the Suddie Public Hospital. The teenager reportedly died on his way to the hospital while the father remains a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The teenager’s death came as a shock to the teachers and students of the Aurora Secondary School.

Dead: Nicosi Pryce

Remanded: Sylvester Joseph other persons. He subsequently took police to his house where he

handed over a 400 Classic firearm which was hidden under zinc sheets. As a result, Joseph was arrested and charged along with Brijpaul who ‘harboured’ him On their appearance before Magistrate Hugh, the duo were not required to plead to the seven counts of robberies committed on Premchand Seelochan, Tarmattie Seelochan, Neil Seelochan, Aditiee Rambudhan, Andre Beerbhajan, Rohan Deonarine and Fiaz Latiff. The victims lost cash, gold jewellery and cellular phones in the robbery. Joseph and Brijpaul were remanded to prison until April 24.

‘Sleepy’ remanded for East Canje robbery M A G I S T R AT E P e t e r Hugh, on Thursday, remanded Sylvester Joseph called “Sleepy” and Ashley Bonita Brijpaul on seven counts of robbery under arms committed on East Canje businesswoman, Taramattie Seelochan, and several others. The robbery occurred on April 13. Following the incident, police, acting on information, went to the home of Brijpaul at Main Street, Cumberland and another East Canje location where Joseph was contacted and questioned in relation to the robbery. During the questioning, he admitted to committing the act with three

was submitted, the General Manager of SUPERBET, Shrikant Kisoensingh received a letter from Moore inviting him to another meeting on February 19, 2019, to discuss the revised application process for Good Standing Certification and Gaming Authority’s requirements in supervising the Company’s responsibilities as a gaming entity under AML/CFT Act. “At this meeting, General Manager of SUPERBET was informed that in the

future, the Application for Certificate of Good Standing will require the submission of more supporting documents. However, again at that meeting, we were never informed or alerted to any non-compliance with AML/ CFT legislation. We were further informed that SUPERBET’s Application for Letter or Certificate of Good Standing was being processed and the processing of an Application for Certificate of Good Standing takes six (6) to eighteen (18) months,” SUPERBBET explained. It said in addition to submitting documents in support of the application for Certificate of Good Standing, it also submits a monthly Betting Shop Threshold Transaction Report to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and a Quarterly Terrorist Property Report to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). “We maintain most resolutely that our client is not in breach of any Laws of Guyana including the AML/ CFT legislation and in any event SUPERBET has not

been informed by any of the relevant agencies that they are in violation of any law or regulation,” Nandlall said. When Guyana Chronicle contacted Chairman of the Gaming Attorney, Roysdale Forde, he declined to comment on the issue, saying that all questions regarding the issue should be directed to the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams. In a statement on Wednesday, the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs’ National Coordinating Committee stated that SUPERBET has been operating without a licence. During its statutory meeting last month, it agreed that measures should be taken to ensure SUPERBET faces the full force of the law. The National Coordinating Committee is duty bound to ensure that all reporting entities become compliant with the AML/CFT legislation even as Guyana gears up for another round of mutual evaluation by Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Region 4 inks $75M in contracts … major capital works in areas of health, education, infrastructure

O N T h u r s d a y, o v e r G$74.9M in contracts were signed by the Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for public infrastructural works to commence in the areas of health, education, agriculture and infrastructure. A total of nine contracts were awarded among eight contractors by Regional Ex-

ecutive Officer (REO), Pauline Lucas, and Regional Vice-Chairman, Earl Lambert, on behalf of the RDC at its Triumph, East Coast Demerara boardroom. The key message delivered at the signing of the contracts was that the council, having experienced challenges in the past, expects “value for money” and works completed in a timely manner.

“At the level of the Region, we’re looking for quality work completed in a timely manner so that the people of the Demerara-Mahaica Region can benefit from whatever construction or civil works we’re doing….,” Lucas told the Guyana Chronicle. “What the RDC has been doing, is that we have closer monitoring of our projects.

Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Regional Executive Officer (REO), Pauline Lucas (fourth left), and Regional Vice-Chairman, Earl Lambert (third), with representatives of the contractors (Samuel Maughn photo) For too long we’ve recognised that some contractors have been doing sloppy work. So, in order to prevent that, we at the Region have decided to do constant monitoring of our projects.” As such, checks will continue to be conducted by the RDC’s engineering team and the REO herself. She assured that even as the council expects improvements from contractors, it will also fulfill its expectations regarding the disbursement of funds. “Our part is to ensure that the payments are processed in a timely manner so that they can get the monies to pay their staff and to do whatever they have to do,” the REO said. The contractors involved will now begin the mobilisation of their employees and equipment within one week, after which works are expected to commence. Lucas said that some of the projects will last from three weeks to four months. The works include the construction of Timber Revetment at Diamond Market place; Outfall

in Meertims Sluice and Infall of Koker at Lilaudrie all on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD). Other construction projects to come will include a road at Second Street, North Façade, ECD; a tarmac at the Golden Grove Primary School and a fence at the Dora Primary School on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. The contracts also cater for general rehabilitation to the Diamond-Grove Primary School; the extension of the lower flat of the Soesdyke Health Centre and the extension the Clonbrook Health Centre. Last week, the RDC signed G$67.2M worth of contracts distributed amongst five contractors and amounting to eight contracts. Those awarded contracts on Thursday included: Royal Contracting Service, $7,517,685; Linton Nicholls Enterprise, $9,236,955; DEVCON Construction & Contracting Services, $11,514,798; DEVCON Construction & Contracting Services $10,964,140; Singh’s Brothers Contracting Services

$6,214,788; R.W Electrical Company & Building Contactors $5,822,795; Bernard Paul & Sons Construction $3,999,545; K&P Project Management $8,770,619 and J&R General Construction Services $10,864,205. Some of the works to come from these signings include the construction of a River View Drive at Smith Estate on the East Bank of Demerara (ECD); the construction of Duplex Living Quarters at St. Cuthbert’s Primary School and the upgrading of Two Friend’s Dam on the ECD. Other projects awarded contracts were the upgrading of the Supply School Street on the ECD; the construction of a Footpath Bridge linking Buxton West Sideline to Eastville Housing Scheme; the construction of RC Culvert on the Western end of Josiah Street in Haslington; the construction of a fence at Kuru Kururu Primary School and the extension of the Kuru Kururu Nursery School.

Cellphone snatcher remanded

TERON Mc Leod was yesterday, April 18, 2019, remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a Samsung Galaxy S9+. The court heard that the 19-year-old, who resides at Plaisance Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, on April 18, 2019 at Main Street, Georgetown, robbed Shanomae English of a Samsung Galaxy S9+ valued $179,000. McLeod however denied committing the offence. Facts presented to the court state that on the day in question, English departed Palm Court and proceeded to her car which was parked on the eastern carriage way on Main Street; she had passed the defendant, who was standing near her car. As she

was about to enter her car, the defendant snatched her phone that she was holding in her hands and made good his escape. English reportedly ran to Middle Street and raised an alarm. Police ranks who were on patrol at the said time responded promptly and captured the victim. A search conducted on McLeod revealed the phone in one of his pants pockets. He was therefore arrested and subsequently charged. Mc Leod tried to convince the court that he had his own phone in his pocket and that the said phone did not belong to English. He added that he was just waiting to catch a bus that passes there. McLeod’s next court appearance is on April 26, 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Losing a life on the job is unacceptable ’ …Our country’s population is too small,’ Minister Scott

TWENTY-TWO persons lost their lives to work-related incidents in 2018 according to Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott. Speaking at an Occupational Safety and Health Symposium at the Herdmanston Lodge, Lamaha Street, Queenstown on Wednesday, Minister Scott told stakeholders that Guyana cannot afford to lose its already limited human resource. “In terms of recording and investigating

at all stages of it, must be enforced. “The cost of losing a life on the job is unacceptable. Our country is too small, manpower is at a premium, hence we need to make sure that we find ways and means of protecting our workforce,” he said. His comments come days after two Chinese men, who were employed at the Guyana Manganese Inc. in the Barima-Waini, North West District (NWD), died while cleaning a tunnel at the

ers. The Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Ministry of Social Protection is charged with the responsibility of monitoring, encouraging and enforcing the practice of good safety and health standards at work. It provides information, advisory, supervisory and regulatory services to assist employers, workers and trade unions in the recognition and control of workplace hazards/ stresses. Its legal authority is derived from the Occu-

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott addresses the audience accidents at workplaces in 2018, 560 accidents were reported and 22 or four per cent resulted in the loss of life,” the minister said. The symposium was held under the theme “safety and health and the future of work: building on the knowledge and achievements accumulated over the years” and was organised by the Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Ministry of Social Protection. Scott further reminded the attendees that every single employer must understand that the employees’ health comes first and that the laws of Guyana,

Matthews Ridge site. Scott said that the seriousness with which the ministry dealt with the matter, meant to have sent a message to all and sundry that our country is determined to see that laws are always upheld and must be obeyed. He said this happened because the employers seem to have forgotten that in Guyana anything to do with employment has to begin with OHS. He took the opportunity to remind employees that the laws of Guyana states that if there is a fatality, the ministry must be informed immediately, the ministry must be the first respond-

pational Safety and Health Act, No. 32 of 1997, Chap. 99:06 Laws of Guyana and the regulations made there under. The Act is the primary legislation governing workplace safety and health. It applies to every industrial establishment and it provides for enforcement of the law where compliance is not achieved voluntarily. An “Industrial Establishment” under the Occupational Safety and Health Act means a factory, shop, office, or workplace. The objective of the department is to improve the working conditions and environment in Guyana, with the

A section of the audience at the symposium

emphasis on preventative rather than curative measures. The department functions entails conducting inspections and surveys of workplaces in both the formal and informal economy in order to determine compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act Chap, 99:06 Laws of Guyana and Regulations. They also provide ad-

vice and guidance on ways in which working conditions and environment could be improved and the maintenance of good workplace safety and health practice. Other speakers at the opening session included Mr. Samuel Goolsarran, Consultant at the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industries (CAGI), Dr. Barbara Reynolds,

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Planning and International Engagement, University of Guyana, representatives of the Guyana Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana, (FITUG). Mr. Shelton Daniels, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Social Protection chaired the workshop.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Body and baggage scanners for prisons ... rehabilitation, reintegration strategy to be developed By Svetlana Marshall

AGAINST the background of an increase in the smuggling of contraband into prisons here, government has moved to procure full body and baggage scanners for the New Amsterdam Prison. The scanners are being purchased under the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP), through which, US$1.8M

has been set aside to strengthen the Guyana Prison Service Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration Services. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, CSSP Project Manager, Dr. Clement Henry, said like in many other parts of the world, the issue of contraband in the prisons remains a problem. He said to complement the two scanners that will be installed at the New Amsterdam Prison before the end of

the year, the government, through the Public Security Ministry, will be procuring additional scanners for the other prisons in the country to block illegal items from entering the prisons. In December, 2018, 14 cellphones, five improvised weapons, 22 lighters, a quantity of wire, 12 chargers, 11 earpieces, two makeshift weapons, two SIM cards, one watch, and 12 grammes of cannabis were found during a raid at the New Amsterdam Prison. Three months later, March, 2019, more contraband items were unearthed at the very prison. Those items included three cellphones, a Rambo knife, a shaving set, three improvised weapons, 11 phone chargers, 25 cigarette lighters, 27 razor blades and one grammes of cannabis. Dr. Henry said the acquisition of scanners will make it difficult for the banned see page 13

Citizen Security Strengthening Programme Project Manager, Dr. Clement Henry

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Body, baggage scanners ... from page 12

and in some cases, illegal items to enter the prisons. Dr. Henry said under the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme, a survey of all inmates in the system was conducted in addition to a study on prison officers and staff. Based on the studies conducted, CSSP will be hiring a consultancy firm to develop a Rehabilitation and Reintegration Strategy for Guyana Prison Service. “We are trying to get a consultant on board to develop the strategy. That procurement is ongoing,” Dr. Henry said. In 2017, Professor Ernest Uwazie, Inmate Rehabilitation and Reintegration (R&R) expert, conducted the studies on the prison system under the CSSP. Based on his assessment, Professor Uwazie had identified some critical issues necessary to the successful reintegration of inmates after serving their sentence. The issues identified were: improving the prison infrastructure, giving greater focus to corrective approaches, training to increase educational levels of inmates, employment skills building for inmates, and facilitating systematic contact between inmates and their families to support reintegration measures. Strengthening the rehabil-

An Image of a full body scanner – a device used to detect hidden objects itation and reintegration capabilities of the Guyana Prison Service is a key component of CSSP, Dr. Henry said. Prison overcrowding and inexistence of a comprehensive inmate R&R model and management tools, were among other issues brought to the fore by Professor Uwazie. Though the studies conducted confirmed that overcrowding in the prisons remain a problem, it will be

addressed under another initiative. Dr. Henry explained that a Report on Alternatives to Pretrial Detention was commissioned, however, that the recommendations identified in that report will be implemented through another project funded by the IDB. Additionally, the studies showed that there is a need for an electronic inmate management. Dr. Henry said, no lon-

ger could the Prison Service continue with the paper-based system. Under the CSSP, a Rehabilitative Learning Centre will also be developed to complement the existing education and vocational programmes in the system. To date, over 30 prison officers have been trained under this component of the CSSP. More prison officers and staff are expected to be trained this year.

Guyana records improvement in press freedom GUYANA has moved four places up on the 2019 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, standing now at 51 and becoming the fourth leading country in South America regarding press freedom. The report affirmed that Guyana’s Constitution guarantees free speech and the right to information and acknowledged that while its recommended amendments to Guyana’s 2018 Cybercrime Bill were taken into consideration, improvements are still needed to increase the level of freedom to certain media outlets. “A cybercrime bill that was passed into law in July 2018 took into account amendments RSF proposed regarding provisions that could have posed a threat to press freedom if used to penalise journalists for publishing reports deemed critical of the government or that are based on information from confidential sources,” the website stated. Meanwhile, the 2019 report shows that Guyana is progressing in other ways as it stands ahead of South American countries: Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. In better standing on the continent are Uruguay at 19; Suriname at 20 and Chile at 46. For the Caribbean, Jamaica ranks the highest on the RSF World Press Freedom Index at ninth place followed by Suriname at 20; Trinidad and Tobago at 39 and Guyana at 51. In 2018, Guyana stood at 55 compared to 60 in 2017, representing steady progression in a positive direction.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

UG Vice Chancellor welcomes audit of finances

A request has been made for the Auditor General’s Office to conduct a special audit on the University of Guyana’s (UGs) finances which Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, has since welcomed. In a release on Thursday, the university indicated that a letter to the UG Council from the Ministry of Education advised the institution of the request based on the request of the unions at UG. “The Administration welcomes the opportunity to clear the air on the allegations and assertions by the unions and other individuals,” Griffith said, adding: “We have long indicated such, both directly to the UG Unions and in my two recent memoranda to the University community.” Providing a history on the events unfolding, the university indicated that in January 2019, the Ad-

ministration told two of its unions that the institution was not in a position to pay further salary increases for 2018. The university says that this was after it paid a four per cent salary increase to academic staff and three per cent to non-academic staff, both tax free, in December 2018. On February 13, 2019, the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) protested at the Turkeyen Campus with members calling for a financial audit to be done at the institution. On the same day, in an update to the members of the UG Community on the industrial climate at Turkeyen and following the call for a forensic financial audit, the Vice Chancellor said that the Administration is willing to have its financial position examined

by any competent and independent arbiter. “Following the unions resumption of picketing at Turkeyen on March 15, Vice-Chancellor Griffith, in a further update to the UG community, reiterated the Administration’s willingness to have an audit done by an independent arbiter,” the release stated. It also noted that the Administration later decided to turn the dispute over

to the Labour Department for conciliation. “The current impasse follows the initiative by Pro-Chancellor, Major Gen. (Ret.) Joseph Singh, to facilitate some ‘Listening Sessions’ with the Unions and the Administration by a three-member panel of the University Council and the Vice-Chancellor’s March 8 invitation to meet with the Unions to resume the

negotiations proved futile,” the release stated. The University stated that it holds the view that talks with the unions should not focus exclusively on salaries and that performance and a Collective Bargaining Agreement should also be discussed. In the meanwhile, the UG Administration is awaiting a response from the unions to its “weeks-old

request” for several documents as part of efforts to be consistent in the pursuit of accountability and transparency. The documents sought include their Articles of Association, Certificates of Recognition, Statements of Income and Expenditure for recent years, and recent Annual Returns and audited statements.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

UNICEF supports getting children of migrants, remigrants into school system By Gabrielle Chapman

THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is in full support of efforts by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to meet the needs of migrant and remigrant children across Guyana. Over the past year, Guyana has seen a large inflow of Venezuelans and returning Guyanese who are fleeing the ongoing crises in Venezuela. A large percentage of these migrants and remigrants are children and the MoE, in collaboration with UNICEF and other UN agencies, have been making efforts to afford them the good life and equal opportunity to develop. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, UNICEF’s Emergency Officer, Ian Jones, said the position of the ministry is that where there is available space, migrant and remigrant children can be accepted into the public school system. UNICEF, he said, has been in full support of the

ministry’s position, and in places where there is not enough space, they are working towards ensuring that systems are in place to accommodate the children. Jones said that thus far, a total of 670 children have been admitted into the formal public school system across the regions. Barima Waini (Region One) accounts for 182; Pomeroon Supernaam (Region Two), 110; Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three), 239; and Georgetown, 29. “In Eteringbang, Cuyuni Mazaruni (Region Seven), the MoE, with the assistance of a private property owner, are establishing a nursery and primary school for 110 migrant/remigrant children due for September term opening,” Jones said. Currently, UNICEF has been lending financial support for additional school furniture and supply of English/Spanish learning materials for schools in host communities. This has started in Region One and UNICEF

is on standby to respond to support requests from other education districts. Jones said the international agency has received reports that the student populations in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma have significantly increased. He said at the end of the month, a team will be going to scope out the sub-regions and through their partnership with the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Guyana, they will design and implement School Improvement Plans to increase and enhance available learning spaces. This will be done for all schools that have had a significant increase in their student population due to migrants and remigrants admittance. CHALLENGES Jones said the admittance of the migrant and remigrant children into the school system has its challenges, but there are MoE-led strategies to address them.

UNICEF Emergency Officer, Ian Jones The stretching of the coping capacity of border region schools is a notable challenge since the learning spaces, education resources and provision of school meals are somewhat limited. UNICEF, Jones said, has been increasing resource mobilisation and targeted support to impacted schools. Another challenge is that the children have limited English Language skills. To address that, UNICEF and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have been iden-

tifying teachers who are verse in Spanish and Warrau languages to be trained in English to teach the migrant and remigrant children. This training will enable the teachers to remove the language barrier. The children are also facing challenges in adjusting with their host community counterparts. Jones said they have been coordinating with host schools to ensure the availability of bi-lingual/ multi-lingual counselling and mediation support. “Sports for development initiatives are also being implemented to encourage interactions and group activities,” he said. In addition to the educational support, Jones said there is need for psychosocial support for the children and their parents. To this end, all the UN agencies, he said, have been working together to provide the necessary support that the families need to understand and access social services that alleviate the challenges faced with

living in a new environment. OUT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION Jones also highlighted that from their field assessment in the various communities, of the total number of migrant and remigrant children, some 75 per cent are not in school. The reasons given, he said, are language barriers, host community schools inability to admit more students and some children are unprepared for formal education. “Through collaborations, the UN agencies will give support to the relevant district education departments to increase and enhance available learning spaces and provide additional required resources to support schools to cope with increased populations. Additionally, we are lending support to the Early Childhood Development (ECD) interventions, to develop basic skills necessary for young children to enter the formal education system,” Jones said.

India, Guyana celebrate shared culture By Vishani Ragobeer THE shared culture between India and Guyana was celebrated when the Indian High Commission in Guyana commemorated the India Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Foundation Day on Tues-

day evening. The event was held at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), Bel Air, Georgetown. The programme featured several cultural presentations including dance, music, language and skits that showcase the Indian culture and

local connection. “The SVCC serves to strengthen and revive culture in Guyana. It has kept the culture of Mother India [and] ensured that every child of Indian and non-Indian culture has equal access in participating in what the SVCC has to offer,” Mayor

SVCC Yoga instructor Agnela Mazrekar (in front) and students going through their paces on stage

A group of women showcase their Indian cultural wear (Delano Williams photo)

of Georgetown, pandit Ubraj Narine said. He noted that the ICCR has been outstanding in promoting and delivering exchange programmes over the years. This, he said, is especially important in a multi-cultural society like Guyana. “These cultural diversities have provided many principles that have governed all Guyanese one way

or another,” he said, adding: “Culture can promote cooperation and development by creating mutual understanding …” The ICCR aims to foster and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding and to promote cultural exchanges with other countries and people. Speaking about the shared relations between the two countries, High Com-

missioner of India to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam highlighted that the local Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre was the first Indian cultural centre established outside of India. It has become the home of many cultural events and a myriad of classes facilitating the teaching of the Indian culture. Former President and Prime Minister, Samuel

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

No ‘political undertone’ in issuance of notices

–– says broadcasting authority

THE Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has reiterated that there is no “political undertone or objective” in the issuing of notices to broadcasters who are in breach the Broadcasting Act. Following the recent accusations from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) which claimed that the authority is hindering freedom of speech, the GNBA also stated, on the contrary, that it encourages freedom of speech and expression. In a recent release, dated April 15, 2019, the PPP accused the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR); the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Ministry of the Presidency of colluding to arrest and charge Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. The alleged attempts were stated as related to the Jagdeo’s inflammatory remarks at Babu John, Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne on March, 11 2019, where he called on residents to “chase” the

President, prime minister and other ministers from the community when they visit. The opposition party also accused the GNBA of working to “stifle free speech” through the powers endowed on it by the State, by issuing notices to television stations which carried Jagdeo’s “chase them out” inflammatory remarks. The accusations have since caused all parties named to individually condemn the PPP’s statements as “gross misinformation” and “spurious”. In a release on Thursday, the GNBA reiterated that it is cognisant of the contents of Article 146 of the Constitution which guarantee Guyanese freedom of expression including freedom of speech and to receive information, ideas and opinions. The GNBA stated that it “continues to encourage broadcasters to exercise their freedom and rights with responsibility” and does not intend to act outside of the Broadcasting Act or related subsidiary legislation.

Hinds, who has personally benefited from cultural programmes at the SVCC, hailed the work of the High Commission in ensuring the Indian diaspora in Guyana maintains cultural ties with their homeland. The cultural presen-

tations included a mix of performances by members of the High Commission and persons of Guyanese origin. And it was made known that the SVCC offers classes in Indian music, dance, cooking, language and yoga.

SVCC dance instructor Pankhuri Srivastava captivates the gathering with a beautiful performance on Tuesday (Delano Williams photo)

“GNBA states categorically that letters recently issued to broadcasters by the authority have no political undertone or objective as seems to be the perception of the Parliamentary Opposition. The Authority wishes to state unequivocally that it functions as an impartial body and executes

its mandate in a lawful and professional manner,” the release stated. Even so, the authority indicated that is holds broadcasters accountable for the content they air which is in breach of the Broadcasting Act. “The authority holds broadcasters to a higher

standard than a person calling in to the studio, during a call-in programme. Broadcasters are held accountable for the broadcast of content and any violation of the Broadcasting legislation,” the release explained. The GNBA also clarified that notices issued to broadcasters for breaches

to the Broadcasting Act are not intended, in the first instance, to lead to the closure of broadcasting stations. It said that its mandate is to regulate, supervise and develop the sector and noted broadcasters have been improving based on the consistent actions of the authority.

China to host second Belt and Road forum By Dillon Goring

GUYANA is being represented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan at this year’s Belt and Road Forum in China. The First Conference of the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum, BRITACOF2019, in Wuzhen, China, takes place from April 18-20, 2019. The Belt and Road initiative is China’s Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy plan, unveiled five years ago to boost trade through investment in ports, power plants and other infrastructure in more than 80 countries, from Asia to Europe

and Africa. Having since been expanded to the Arctic and South America, the initiative has become synonymous with much of China’s diplomatic and foreign economic activities. China says the initiative offers benefits for all countries, with major projects including rail and highways linking China with Pakistan and Laos, direct China-Europe cargo train links as well as ports in various countries, including Greece, the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. Beijing hosted the first Belt and Road forum in May 2017 with participation from more than 100 countries, including 29 national leaders from countries such as Greece, Pakistan and

Russia. However, since then concerns have abounded that Chinese loans for projects under the initiative could increase debt risks for some participating countries. Following elections earlier this year, Malaysia and Pakistan have cancelled or sought to renegotiate billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese-funded infrastructural projects. Guyana and China signed a MoU on July 27, 2018 for the Belt and Road Initiative. It is the first South American country to do so. This year, Guyana and China will celebrate 47 years of diplomatic relations.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Bandits gun-butt, rob sleeping basketball coach FOUR armed bandits robbed national basketball coach Andrew “Junior” Hercules and his family at their Lot 163, Farm, East Bank Demerara home in the wee hours of Thursday morning. Reports indicate that the four men entered Hercules’ home through a window and woke him with a gun butt to the head and quickly tied him up as he jumped out of his sleep. His six-year-old child slept throughout the ordeal but his wife and another relative were traumatised. The men escaped with electronic items and cash. Hercules man-

Andrew (Junior) Hercules aged to free himself and drove to the police station where he filed a report but investigators took more than an hour to arrive at his home.

Man remanded for allegedly stealing from EPA THIRTY-YEAR-OLD Mark Bhino was on Thursday, April 18, 2019, remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for stealing a pressure pump and pressure tank from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Bhino, who is a resident of ‘D’ Field, Sophia Squatting Area, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that between February 13, 2019 and February 14, 2019, at Ganges Street, Sophia, he stole one Myers Pump valued at $500,000 and one Myers Pressure tank, valued at $500,000. On Wednesday, Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the magistrate that he was objecting to bail on several grounds. These grounds are that the prosecution’s evidence strongly affirms Bhino as the suspect in the matter and the manner in which the offence occurred. The prosecution is contending that, on the day in question, around 05:00hrs, a constable was on his way to work when he saw the defendant and another person hurriedly pushing a cart with the said items. They were approached and after the defendant was unable to give a satisfactory explanation for being in possession of the items, he was arrested, then taken into custody where he was told of the allegation and charged. Bhino’s family was in tears as the magistrate remanded him to prison until his next court appearance on May 3, 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Lynx

Personality of The Week: I

T’S no question that Linden is home to a wealth of talent, as many of the country’s prominent entertainers, artistes and designers hail from the mining town. This week’s personality is another budding talent from the town. He is Esmond Austin, better known as ‘Lynx’, a young recording artiste who writes his own music. In an interview with ‘The Buzz Magazine’, the 28-year-old said that he has always been passionate about entertainment and music, and fed that passion by continuously working on bettering his craft. “I’ve been singing for most of my life,” ‘Lynx’ said. “I actually started in church as a youngster, and then from there I realised I had what it takes to become a public figure. So I worked on myself and stayed focused on what I want to become, and here I am, chasing after what I love.” Though he’s committed to developing his musical talent, the young Lindener said that unfortunately, in Guyana, a career in music is not exactly beneficial. The absence of copyright laws and other contributing factors, caused him to have to see music as a part-time activity. He’s a trained computer engineer and heavy-duty operator, and in his spare time, he records music and makes videos for his social media platforms. But despite the challenges of which he spoke, ‘Lynx’ says he has no intention of giving up on music, and will continue to pursue it because of the love he has for his talent. He hopes that one day his music can fall on the right ears, and he can secure an international deal. Today His daily inspiration, he said, comes from his everyday life; Head on down to the Pegasus poolside’s Ignite Bar and Grill every Friday overcoming daily struggles and, most importantly, his close friends. and Saturday for fun, food, and entertainment! He expressed much appreciation to the people who have been supporting him, especially his producer and Manager, Jason Copeland. Esmond Austin, also On a $1000 budget? Tower Suites’ $1000 Poolside Happy Hour continues “I aspire to be the best version of myself, which includes being known as ‘Lynx’ from 17:30h to 19:30h, with $1000 specials. Enjoy a burger and beer, any mara person of interest. I want to be able to change lives through my garita, or beer specials for only $1000 at the Tower poolside. music,” the young musician said. “I would like to tell people never give up on their dreams. Persons will try to down your faith The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant and Lounge presents “Latin Night”. Get and laugh at you, but no matter how hard or impossible it may seem, get yourself in the right two Desperados Tequila beers for $1000. circle and anything can be possible,” he added. Lynx’s music and videos can be found on YouTube and Facebook. Tomorrow

IT’S time for the weekend again people, and it’s time to keep you in the loop with what’s ‘buzzing’ in and around Guyana.

Xtra Beer presents “Yardy Fete” at the National Stadium. It’s going to be the hottest soca, dancehall concert of the Easter weekend. Performing live is the hottest and youngest dancehall artiste, Alkaline, and the hottest soca artiste Mr. Hookin’ Meh himself, Farmer Nappy. Tickets: $3000, $15,000 (Stage Front)

District Ultra Lounge presents “Candy Shop”, the official Easter Bash, featuring live, the return of DJ Blank from Barbados. Free bunny ears and lollipops for the ladies, and Johnny Walker bottle specials. It’s time to show off your talent. Aracari Resort presents Karaoke and Dance this and every Saturday. Enjoy karaoke, dance and dinner, featuring Reyaz Rafeek and Group. Aura Sky Lounge presents Seductive Saturdays! Doors open at 20:00h! Sunday Tek Charge this Easter Sunday! Three big artistes; one stage for the best experience of the Easter Weekend. It’s the Magnum Tonic Wine Xplosion Stage Show at the National Park, featuring live in concert, Spice, Konshens and Ding Dong. Get ready for Linden Town Week! The Linden Town Week Committee, in collaboration with Banks Beer, presents: Beenie Man Live, in Concert, at the launching of Linden Town Week Activities at the MSC Ground. Tickets: $1000. Kids Fashion Zone returns for Easter at the Promenade Gardens. Enjoy bouncy castle, face painting, giant ball pit, egg hunt, kids’ hat show and so much more. Tickets: $1000. ($500 redeemable in chits on children’s tickets) Game of Thrones final season continues with Episode Two this weekend, and you can catch it as it plays out at 704 Sports Bar from 21:00h. The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant and Lounge presents, “Dinner with 70s and 80s music. Sundays were meant for music from the 70s & 80s!

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Kosmos Grill and Lounge: The new ‘talk of the town’

Kosmos Grill and Lounge at Movietowne Mall.

HE Kosmos Grill and Lounge at the recently-opened MovieTowne Mall is the new talk of the town with an ambience that’s truly unique and great for catching up with friends. The food is great, and the customer service is getting better. It’s only been a few weeks since the place has been opened to the public, so we won’t hold it against them that the food took a bit too long to arrive, or the drinks menu is, like many have been commenting, “a bit pricey.” One waitress, beautiful looking, well-dressed, and graceful in her speech, modestly acknowledged, “It’s just a few nights now since we have opened; give us some time, we’ll get there.” The owners are Dillon and Abi DeRamos. Speaking with The Buzz a few days ago, Abi said, “Kosmos is the new exciting destination for patrons of all walks of life looking for the ultimate experience in live en-

The ambience is great for an evening hang, or for catching up with friends.

tertainment.” Kosmos has recently introduced a comedy night, featuring the one and only Michael Ignatius, popularly known as ‘Credit’. Tuesday nights usually feature karaoke; Wednesday is ladies’ night, and a live band is in the house from 6 pm to 10 pm; Thursday is Latin Night, replete with a live band from 6 pm to 11 pm; and Friday to Sunday, there’s a live band from 6 pm to 11pm. “Whether you’re craving a chef-inspired meal, an afternoon hang spot or a great night out, Kosmos has you covered,” Abi said. There are also happy hour specials, and themed parties combined with the ultra-modern environment and an international line of beverages that would make Kosmos, “the only place you will ever want to be.” “Have something to celebrate? Birthdays, company parties, bridal showers? Book a reservation in our

At long last! --LTW Grand Opening set for Sunday

HE long wait for one of the most anticipated time of the year for Lindeners is finally over with the arrival of Linden Town Week (LTW) 2019, and already the mining town has been transformed into a virtual cultural, colour-party arena. This season, the 10-day-long event, which is being hosted as per usual by the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC), will be celebrated under the theme, “Rekindling our Culture”. The grand opening ceremony is slated for Sunday, and will take the form of a road parade and cultural extravaganza. Ushering Heralding in this event, however, will be a church service in the morning hours. This weekend, there are several events that Lindeners and visitors can enjoy. Tomorrow, there will be the long-awaited L&L ‘Son Chapman’ boat cruise, cricket and circle tennis finals, the Linden Town Week teen pageant and the signature event, the All White Party at Shanghai’s residence in Amelia’s Ward. On Sunday, the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground will come alive with the King of Dancehall, ‘Beenie Man’, live in concert, along with other local artiste such as Li’l Colwin. There will also be VolleyBall finals for the sporting fanatics and a culture fest. These events form part of the 11 days of activities on the official calendar. Over 60 events will be held from April 20 to May 1. Other events throughout the week include a Women in Business seminar, gospel, Golden Taste Glow party, on the Spot Art, Big Man Gah Luck Party, Rasville Breakfast on the Sand, Coloured themed party, Linden All Black Party, Caribbean Food Festival and Children’s Fest, the Main Big Lime and the ‘Green-and-Yellow wash down’ on Wednesday.

Kosmos features an international line of beverages.

Ground Floor Lounge or our VIP Lounge upstairs. You will always want more at Kosmos. Come, fall in love!” Meanwhile, Ignatius told The Buzz that he usually does stand-up comedy on at least two Mondays in the month. While it’s free to get in, he reminded that a dress code is in effect, with no short pants being allowed in. The comedy session starts around 8pm, and while there is no vulgarity, the jokes do cater mostly to an adult audience. Ignatius tries his best to perform, using universal jokes as Kosmos has not only Guyanese patrons, but foreigners from all over the world. He wants to ensure that his audience understands and enjoys his jokes. Kosmos can be reached on telephone number, 502-3955, or email, operations@kosmoslounge. com.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

A young woman dances as part of the show [Vishani Ragobeer photo]

OUNG people of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) last Sunday put on a grand show at the Dharmic Sanskrit Kendra with the aim of raising funds to support their community projects. The show, replete with dinner, featured a crop of young people combining their talents in music, dance, drama and fashion to entertain the scores in attendance. The night began, as most things should, with a hearty meal, which kept patrons satisfied throughout the ‘utsav’. And the youths opted to begin the show

with a skit on the journey of the GHDS, which observed its 45th anniversary earlier this year. That skit set the tone for the rest of show, as it illustrated how the Sabha grew across the country, and integrates the Indian culture into the wider, multicultural Guyanese setting. Subsequent to that, the show went nonstop into dances, songs and a modelling segment. The rousing applause and supportive cheers, easily mistaken for a melee, indicated that standout performances for the night were the all-boys dance, and the playful boy-and- girl duet,

Dharmic youth put on benefit show where the star of the moment was definitely the pointer broom. Of course, the soulful rendition of Tum Hi Ho was thrown into the mix to strike a balance between the playful and more sober cultural performances. “The Dharmic Naujawan, the youth arm of the GHDS, continues to excel and produce young people who have a civic responsibility and a consciousness that allows them to create and entertain, and, of course, to produce something as wonderful at the Naujawan that is yet another platform for young people from across the country,” President of the GHDS, Dr. Vindhya Persaud said. She highlighted that all proceeds from the show will go towards the community projects the youths engage in, such as providing school supplies and hampers to needy children and families, and engaging in medical outreaches. And being part of the very many events produced by the GHDS, the President highlighted the gargantuan effort the young people needed to put into creating this show. “What we are creating here is well-rounded young people that are dynamic, and have the leadership ability to take the GHDS into the future,” she said.

Young people performed a dance as part of Naujawaan Utsav held at the Dharmic Sanskritik Kendra, Prashad Nagar, Georgetown on Sunday evening. [Samuel Maughn photo]

Some of the young men of the Dharmic Naujawan, of the GHDS during their dance [Vishani Ragobeer photo]

Magnum Xplosion fi’ come bigger, better dis year THE Magnum Xplosion mega concert is all set for Sunday at the National Park, and is expected to be bigger and better than last year. With Jamaican artistes Konshens, Ding Dong and Dancehall Queen, Spice headlining the show, patrons can expect to have a grand time after their kite-flying activities during the day.

Konshens

Brand Manager, Edison Jefford told ‘The Buzz Magazine’ that this year, apart from the big names in the dancehall fraternity, the show will also provide a platform for local acts to showcase their stuff. Named after ‘Magnum tonic wine’, Jefford said that Magnum Xplosion began as a brand initiative to promote the wine across the Caribbean. It started in Jamaica and rippled across many different Caribbean countries, to finally land on these shores last year. “The mega concert initiative was geared at promot-

ing Magnum Tonic the dancehall Our intention is mote the wine Guyana as the leading brand for dancehall,” Jefford said, addi n g that the success of the event l a s t year h a s

Spice

Wine, using platform. to proi n

--featuring Konshens, Spice, Ding Dong

caused its return this year, with an even more attractive lineup of acts and other exciting events leading up to the show. **Last year, at the National Stadium, the mega concert featured some of the biggest names in dancehall and Soca, including Aidonia, Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons and Ding Dong. Ding Dong

This year, several road shows were held in the various towns in Guyana, with magnum ambassadors, vixens and girls. Local DJ’s were also given the opportunity to showcase their entertaining talent at the shows. The excitement being spread across the country, brings much anticipation to the patrons. Jefford said that the show will not disappoint, and will be a night of celebration and appreciation to dancehall music and the contribution magnum has made.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Guyana’s representative at the Miss Black San International Pageant, Shameeza ‘Jasmine’ Wong

The nine delegates vying for the title of Miss Bartica Regatta 2019

Miss Bartica Regatta set for tomorrow --with nine beauties vying for the title

INE beauties vying for the title of Miss Bartica Regatta 2019, were officially sashed on Saturday evening at the Bartica Community Center Ground. The pageant which

is slated tomorrow night will see close competition as all the beautiful contestants’ demonstrated competence and traits well deserving of the title. Sabrina Persaud, Tonia Harris, Soma Lindore, Shania Khan, Amel Grif-

fith, Tonesha DeWeever, Joyann Wong, Adeola Sutherland and Jerusha Ferell are the nine contestants. Pageant trainer, Angelica Fredericks said that this is her fifth year working as the trainer

of Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant delegates, and working this year is no different. “I have grown to love these young ladies, they are working very hard and they are moving mountains,” she said. The pageant is one of the most anticipated of the town’s tourism activities, since it showcases the wealth of talented young women Bartica has. The queen will reign for one year as the ambassador for the Green Town, and set a positive example for other young women in Bartica. It has been confirmed that this year’s winner of the Miss Regatta pageant will receive $500,000 in cash, with the second place winner receiving $300,000, and third place receiving $100,000. The cash prizes are separate from any other prizes that will be given out. This year, the Mayor and Town council had identified an organizing committee, who promised to put on a production that will be bigger and better than the years before. Reigning queen, Arian Richmond will crown her successor tomorrow night.

Shameeza Wong is Guyana’s new Miss Black San Int’l ‘rep’

HAMEEZA ‘Jasmine’ Wong is currently in St. Kitts, representing Guyana at the Miss Black San International Pageant, which is slated for tomorrow, where several Caribbean queens will compete in the swimsuit pageant for the international title and grand prizes. After bringing home the crown two consecutive years, 2017 and 2018, the Miss Black San Guyana 2019 team is confident that the crown will be awarded to Guyana for the third year in a row. The 26-year-old Guyanese beauty was born in Mabaruma and is the eighth of 10 children. Wong said she feels amazing to have been selected to be her country’s representative, but a little pressured because of the shoe she has to fill. “I’m somewhat pressured to bring this crown home, because there are big footprints for me to follow through. But I’m confident in myself and the amazing team that’s on deck with me,” she said. In 2015, Wong represented Guyana at the Miss West Indies Pageant and the Miss Global International Pageant. She holds a BSc in Communication, and is a freelance model, actress and dedicated volunteer. Mwanza Glenn, who is the newly-appointed franchise director for Guyana, said that his team is aiming to continue the winning trend with Guyana’s representative. The previous representative that was announced could not have continued with the preparations, due to unforeseen circumstances. However, Glenn has confidence in Wong. “Although the preparation for the pageant was a bit late, the dedicated and hardworking team of professionals will leave no stone unturned, ensuring that our queen is prepared for every leg of the competition,” Glenn said, adding: “It is without a shadow of a doubt that Miss Guyana Black San International acknowledges the legacy left by the previous beauty ambassadors, and hopes to bring even more to the forefront, putting our beautiful country, Guyana, on the map once again. We are thankful for all of the support we have been getting, with hopes that, through pageantry, we can stand to unite our people, not only to support our country representative, but to support the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Guyana to participate for the first time in Easterval Pageant

delegate from Guyana has been selected to represent this Land of Many Waters at the Miss Easterval Pageant on April 21 in St. Vincent. The pageant, which caters for a Caribbean delegation, has been in existence for 35 years, and has a mandate to develop a better connection between Caribbean countries, and provide a platform to showcase the different cultures and talents of the participating countries. Twenty-three-year-old Shequita Randacy Talbot from the mining town of Linden is making preparations to travel to represent Guyana. She told ‘The Buzz Magazine’ that the journey thus far has been an exciting one, and she is still in preparation mode to get everything ready. Sharing a bit about herself, the young woman said that her aspiration in life is to be happy and leave a good

footprint as she journeys through life. Happiness, for her, she said, is driven by the passion she has for modelling and pageantry. Having made significant contributions in the fashion industry, Talbot was signed to international model agency, ‘Emerald Model Management’. She is confident that should she get all the necessary support to travel to St. Vincent next week, she will make her country proud. Talbot said the inspirational quote she lives by daily is, “I have a choice to stand still or move forward; to let things happen or to make things happen. Every day I wake, I choose not to let the world decide for me; I decide to get going.” “Be bold enough to be the best you,” she encouraged.

GTT launches Star Singing Competition

fter constant calls from the public for the return of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company Jingle and Song Competition, the company launched the GTT Plus Star Singing Competition. According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTT, Justin Nedd this show will mirror past seasons but will see several additions to its structure. “The public asked for it, and as the Do More Company we want to satisfy our customers and all Guyanese. The competition will definitely be a platform for one lucky contestant I am excited and cannot wait for the grand finale,” reasoned the company’s CEO. The show is expected to run until June and will allow contestants from across Guyana, 16 years and older, to compete for the grand prize of $1M and a recording single with popular local music producer Drew Thoven. The countrywide audition will commence in

Georgetown on April 2628 at Duke Lodge, Kingston; followed by auditions in Berbice at the Little Rock Suites on May 4. Contestants from Linden will also be given an opportunity to audition on May 11 at the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) Inc.

“It will start with the Auditions, after which we will have the Preliminaries, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Finals and a Grand Finale at which the winner will be announced. We have done some changes to the previous seasons; so both contestants and the public are in for an exciting

GTT CEO Justin Nedd

The auditions segment will then conclude in Bartica/Essequibo on May 18. Senior Marketing Executive at GTT, Tashandra Inniss said the five legged competition promises to be exhilarating for both the contestants and the public.

experience. Those desirous of participating can sign up online for the auditions on https://www.gtt.co.gy/ webform/plus-star-competition,” Inniss said. Inniss added that the while the three finalists will all walk away with cash prices; the public will also be given an opportunity to win big with the company through weekly text to win challenges. In 2006, GTT launched its first Jingle and Song competition which garnered the attention of thousands across the country and produced popular Guyanese Artiste, Timeka Marshall. Several competitions followed and also shaped the musical careers for other local artistes like Lindener Malika Boyd and Brandon Harding, Recording Artiste, Poonam Singh, Calvin Burnette, Ryan Hoppie, and Berbician Gail Ann Singh to name a few.

Shequita Randacy Talbot, Guyana’s representative in Miss Easterval Pageant

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

KFC Independence Cup club football tournament to kick off April 27 THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will kick off its nationwide U-20 tournament – the KFC Independence Cup – on April 27 (to May 20) with the regional playoffs, while the National playoffs will run from May 31 to June 9. Up for grabs - $500 000 for the winning team, while second and third will pocket $300 000 and $200 000 respectively. The Edward B. Beharry Group (under their KFC brand) is the titled sponsors for the tournament that will be

played on a ‘win or go home’ format, featuring over 100 clubs, drawn from the GFF’s Regional Member Associations (RMA) for players born on or after January 1, 1999. Charissa Rampersaud, KFC Guyana Training Manager, reasoned that her entity’s role is not only to assist the country’s youth in realising their dream and reaching their optional, but also to be able to provide a platform that will see them grow in the sport. Rampersaud noted that KFC is delighted to be part of the footballing experience and

that they’re looking forward to seeing the players in action. Ian Greenwood, the GFF’s Technical Director, speaking at the tournament’s launch yesterday at KFC’s Vlissengen Road location, spoke profoundly of the role the tournament plays in the development chart of the federation, the opportunities it will present the nation’s best players, especially since Guyana will compete at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament, and the Independence Cup will be used to scout players.

Meanwhile, GFF president Wayne Forde said the goal of the federation is to have leagues at the U-13, U-15, U-17, U-20 and the senior level, adding that “our (GFF) hope at the end of this format, the KFC group along with other non-competing partners will see the outcome of the tournament and will be able to sit and partner to help us to get to a point where we can run a full-fledged league with a similar play-off at the end.” Quizzed about how

much scouting can be done in a knockout tournament, Forde noted that “the knockout tournament is reduced as compared to a league; if we are able to do 25% scouting, it is 25% scouting that we were not able to do one week ago.” Meanwhile, he explained it is the company’s effort to help young persons to achieve their goals. It further aligns with KFC’s goal to assist young people in being well-rounded and productive members of society.

Veterans Aguilleira, Mohammed axed for Ireland, England tour ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Veterans Merissa Aguilleira and Anisa Mohammed have been axed for West Indies women’s tour of Ireland and England next month. Neither was included in the 14-member squad

announced by Cricket West Indies (CWI) yesterday, which will be led by regular captain Stafanie Taylor. The Trinidadian pair have been perennial fixtures in the regional side having both played over 100 One-Day Internationals but have found their playing opportunities reduced in recent series, with the emergence of younger players. Further, their form in the recent West Indies women’s Championship did little to enhance their claims, and newly-installed interim chairman of selectors, Robert Haynes, said this had also weighed against them. “Anisa Mohammed and Merissa Aguilleira’s performances in the recent women’s championships weren’t what we expected or how we wanted them to perform, so unfortunately they were not picked on this touring squad,” Haynes said. “There are other ladies who are vying for these coveted spots. We have three other wicketkeepers who have all been scoring consistently thereby outperforming Merissa.”

He continued: “In terms of Anisa, we have Hayley who’s back and the captain Stafanie who can both bowl off-spin and have been performing consistently well. So overall we have a very unique and balanced team which reflects what we saw in Guyana during the Women’s Championships.” Aguilleira, 33, is a former captain, but failed to get a single game during last November’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. However, she subsequently led the T20 side on the tour of Pakistan earlier this year when Taylor opted out, managing 20 runs from two innings. In the recent domestic 50-overs competition, Aguilleira could muster only 54 runs from five innings for Trinidad and Tobago, and a further 40 runs from three outings in the T20 phase. The 30-year-old Mohammed, who has also played over 100 matches in the shortest format, claimed nine wickets from five matches in the 50-overs competition and five from as many games in the T20 format.

In acknowledging the pair’s contribution, Haynes said their omission was not the end of their careers. “Merissa and Anisa have given a lot to West Indies Cricket and I’m sure based on improved performances we can see them back in the West Indies Women’s team in future series.” Selectors have, meanwhile, recalled experienced batsman Stacy-Ann King following a threeyear absence. The Trinidadian last turned out for West Indies on England’s tour of the Caribbean in 2016 but scored consistently in the domestic tournament to force herself back into contention. She averaged 40 in the one-dayers and 45 in T20s and Haynes said he expected her experience and allround ability to be crucial on the upcoming tour. “Stacy Ann King’s return to the West Indies Women’s team to tour Ireland and England is no real surprise after her performance during the recently concluded Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup and CWI’s T20 Blaze

tournaments,” he explained. “Her experience is very vital in this very crucial series against England, a series that we must win, so her ability to bowl good left arm swing will be an added dimension to our bowling attack.” Opener and vice-captain Hayley Matthews has also returned after missing the recent Pakistan series through injury. West Indies women will take on Ireland in a threematch Twenty20 series May 26-29 before clashing with England in a tour comprising three One-Day Internationals and three T20s, June 6-25. The squad will gather for a training camp here from May 6 to 20 before departing the Caribbean on May 21. SQUAD – Stafanie Taylor (captain), Hayley Matthews (vice-captain), Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack, Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Shakera Selman, Shamilia Connell, Shemaine Campbelle, Natasha McLean, Stacy Ann King.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Off-form Amla in, but no place for Morris in SA World Cup squad By Nick Said

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa have included off-form opening batsman Hashim Amla in their squad for the Cricket World Cup (CWC) in England and

Wales starting next month, but there is no place for all-rounder Chris Morris. Amla’s selection has been the topic of hot debate. He has been a stalwart at the top of the order for the last decade, but his form in all formats has been called into

question in the past year. In One-Day International cricket he has managed a single century in his previous 16 innings, dating back to the start of 2018, at an average of 35.26. He was given the opportunity to find form in domes-

tic cricket over the last few weeks, but has a top-score of 32 in six innings, failing to reach double-figures in three of those. “We are very happy with the squad we have been able to put together and have every confidence in their ability to do our country proud at the World Cup,” Cricket South Africa (CSA) selection convener Linda Zondi said.

Hashim Amla

“The fact that we have managed to win our last five series in a row in this format underlines the quality of the team that Faf will lead into the contest. “The final selection is also the result of a very rigorous search we have conducted, leaving no stone unturned, to make sure

that we have made the best use of the options available to us.” Morris’s exclusion as an all-rounder is a surprise given his form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and his death-bowling ability, but the selectors have instead opted for Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo, with only one of those ever likely to play at any given time. Fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje were both injury doubts, but have been selected, with the former especially crucial to the side given his wicket-taking ability and economy in the opening overs. “Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje are well on the way to recovery and we expect them to be ready for our pre-tournament camp next month,” Zondi added. Rassie van der Dussen, who only made his debut for the side in January but averages 88.25 from his eight ODI innings, was chosen ahead of Reeza Hendricks, while Test opener Aiden Markram also gets the nod on the back of excellent do-

mestic form.

EXPERIENCED TRIO Faf du Plessis will captain the side, with experienced batsman JP Duminy and fast bowler Dale Steyn also included. Imran Tahir will be the starting leg-spinner, with the guile of Tabraiz Shamsi another option in that department. South Africa have opted not to select a specialist wicketkeeper as back-up to Quinton de Kock, but instead will rely on part-timer David Miller, who wore the gloves for some of the recent 5-0 series sweep of Sri Lanka. South Africa, seeking a first World Cup trophy win, open their campaign against England at The Oval on May 30. Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, David Miller, JP Duminy, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Amir left out of Pakistan’s provisional World Cup squad

(REUTERS) - Fast bowler Mohammad Amir was left out of Pakistan’s 15man preliminary World Cup squad but will feature in their warm-up games against England, the country’s cricket board (PCB) said yesterday. Since producing a match-winning three-wicket haul in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Amir has taken just five one-day international wickets in 101 overs at an average of 92.60 per wicket. The 27-year-old, however, will get a chance to impress the selectors in a limited-overs series against England, which begins with a Twenty20 in Cardiff on May 5. Big-hitting batsman Asif Ali also features in the 17man group for the England games, with Pakistan having until May 23 to finalise their World Cup squad. “Asif is probably the best power-hitter in Pakistan,

while Amir has the experience and a good record in England,” Inzamam-ul-Haq, former captain and chairman of Pakistan’s selection committee, said in a statement.

Mohammad Amir

“These two will provide cover to the World Cup squad and can be drafted into the side by May 23, if required.” Abid Ali was preferred to Shan Masood as Pakistan’s backup opener after the 31-year-old right-hander scored a century on debut against Australia last month. Experienced all-round-

er Mohammad Hafeez was also selected in the World Cup group but subject to passing a fitness test ahead of the tournament. “Yesterday we got a boost when he started playing with a tennis ball, with his doctor confirming he will be available for selection for the series against England,” Inzamam added. “Our World Cup opener is on May 31 against the Windies, which is still six weeks away, and we are confident he will be fully fit and ready to display his vast international experience.” Squad: Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper and captain), Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shoaib Malik.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Sri Lanka leave Chandimal and Tharanga out of World Cup squad By Shihar Aneez

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Former Sri Lanka captains Dinesh Chandimal and Upul Tharanga were left out of the 15-man squad announced yesterday for the World Cup in England and Wales, while spin-bowling all-rounders Milinda Siriwardana and Jeevan Mendis were recalled. Chandimal was Sri Lanka’s one-day international captain as recently as October, while Tharanga led the side in 2017. Tharanga’s fellow opener Danushka Gunathilaka also failed to make the cut, while Lahiru Thirimanne, who last played in the format at the end of 2017, was drafted in. “We have an issue with opening batsmen. This is the reason why we went for experienced openers. We need that experience in England,” chief selector Ashantha de Mel told reporters. “The openers were not in form. They were not among the runs in the last 10 games and they had failed. So we had to take a decision on the openers.” Jeffrey Vandersay was picked over mystery spinner Akila Dananjaya as the only specialist slow bowler, with Sri Lanka’s selectors rewarding the leg-spinner’s strong performances in a recent domestic 50-over tournament. “We can’t take two off-spinners to the World Cup, and right now we are considering Dhananjaya de Silva as an off-spinner,” de Mel said. “Since Akila remodelled his action, Dhananjaya gets wickets at a much better strike rate than Akila, and he also turns the ball more than Akila.” Opening batsman Avishka Fernando, 21, survived the axe despite a below-par tour of South Africa recently. But regu-

lar wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella was dropped. The 1996 champions yesterday had appointed Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne as the skipper for the May 30-July 14 World Cup despite the left-handed batsman not playing an ODI since the 2015 tournament. Karunaratne’s leadership in Sri Lanka’s spectacular Test series win in South Africa tilted the scales in his favour. The selectors continued on that note by bringing back Jeevan Mendis, who also last played in the format at the World Cup four years back in Australia and New Zealand. Siriwardana and Vandersay last played ODIs in October 2017. Pace bowler Lasith Malinga, who led the side in a 5-0 ODI series thrashing at the hands of South Africa recently, kept his place alongside the injury-prone paceman Nuwan Pradeep. “We have tested him (Malinga). He is a world class player,” Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva said. “But sometimes, a worldclass player may not be a good captain, and a good captain may not be a world-class player. Country comes first, not the names.” Former captain Angelo Mathews, who missed a lot of cricket recently due to injury and was also dropped last year due to fitness concerns, was part of the 15-man squad. Sri Lanka open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 1. Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhanajaya de Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana.

Professional footballers to boycott social media for 24 hours today PROFESSIONAL footballers in England and Wales are to boycott social media for 24 hours today, to protest against the way social networks and football authorities respond to racism. It follows a number of high-profile incidents in domestic and international matches this season. Earlier this week, Manchester United captain Ashley Young was racially abused on Twitter. And Watford captain Troy Deeney said “enough is enough”. “On Friday we are sending a message to anyone that abuses players - or anyone else - whether from the crowd or online, that we won’t tolerate it within football,” said Deeney, who disabled comments on his Instagram after abuse earlier this month. “The boycott is just one small step, but the players are speaking out with one voice against racism.” HOW IS FOOTBALL TACKLING RACISM ON SOCIAL MEDIA? Racist chanting was directed at several England players including Danny Rose during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Montenegro last month - the Spurs defender later said he “can’t wait to see the back of football”. “I don’t want any future players to go through what I’ve been through in my career,” said Rose. “Collectively, we are simply not willing to stand by while too little is done by football authorities and social media companies to protect players from this disgusting abuse.” The #Enough campaign, organised by the Professional

BCB launches STAG Beer 50-over cricket tournament

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and beverage giant Ansa McAl (Guy) Ltd last Tuesday launched the 15th STAG Beer 50-over first division cricket tournament.

ce, Blairmont Community Centre, Tucber Park, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Canje and Police Sports Club while Zone B will consist of Albion Community Centre, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Town Gizmos

Ansa McAl CEO Troy Cadogan hands over sponsorship to BCB president Hilbert Foster. President of the BCB, Hilbert & Gadgets, Upper Corentyne and Foster, stated that the tournament Skeldon. will be contested by eleven teams, Foster disclosed that at least five divided into two zones with the additional first division tournaments teams in each zone playing on a are expected to be organised in 2019. round-robin basis. The BCB is also in talks with several The top two teams from each sponsors to host a two-day first divizone will advance to the semifinals. sion tournament as well. Zone A will comprise West BerbiFoster stated that the tour-

nament is expected to be at the highest standard with players like Romario Shepherd, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Clinton Pestano, Keon Joseph, Kevin Sinclair, Anthony Bramble, Raun Johnson, Kevlon Anderson, Seon Glasgow, Javed Karim, Demitri Cameron. Eon Hooper, all playing for their different teams. Clubs will only be permitted one non-Berbician for the entire tournament while teams will be expected to be properly attired. Clubs who might be struggling to uniform their teams at the start of the 2019 season are asked to inform the BCB. Walkover shall be granted halfan-hour after the scheduled start of play while clubs will lose their rights to the toss if they are not present by 09:15hrs. He expressed gratitude to Ansa McAl, STAG Beer and Troy Cadogan for their support. Cadogan, in brief remarks, stated that he was very impressed by the activities of the BCB and its commitment to the development of the game. He expressed confidence that the tournament would be well organised and that his company would receive widespread media coverage.

Footballers’ Association, starts at 09:00hrs BST today and runs until 09:00hrs BST tomorrow. Players have been encouraged to post a #Enough graphic on their social media platforms before the boycott. Manchester United defender Chris Smalling added: “The time has come for Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to consider regulating their channels, taking responsibility for protecting the mental health of users regardless of age, race, sex or income.” The PFA said the boycott was the “first step in a longer campaign to tackle racism in football”. “The boycott acts as a show of unity by the players, and a call for stronger action to be taken by social networks and footballing authorities in response to racist abuse both on and off the pitch,” the PFA said in a statement. Young was abused after United’s Champions League exit to Barcelona on Tuesday. Accounts identified in this case as violating Twitter’s abusive behaviour policy have been prevented from posting again until the offending tweets have been removed. INCIDENTS OF RACIST ABUSE IN 2018-19 December: Banana skin thrown on to the pitch during the north London derby at Emirates Stadium, after

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored for Arsenal December: Raheem Sterling suffers alleged racial abuse during Manchester City’s defeat at Chelsea. Sterling later says newspapers are helping to “fuel racism” by the ways in which they portray young black footballers March: Chelsea lodge a complaint with UEFA over racist abuse aimed at Callum Hudson-Odoi during the second leg of their Europa League win at Dynamo Kiev March: England report racist abuse of players during their 5-1 win over Montenegro in Podgorica April: Juventus’ 19-yearold Italian forward Moise Kean

Danny Rose made his England debut in 2016 and has 26 caps.

suffers racist abuse from the stands during a match at Cagliari - with team-mate Leonardo Bonucci’s suggestion that Kean was partly to blame called laughable by Raheem Sterling April: Derby winger Duane Holmes and Wigan defender Nathan Byrne are targeted by the alleged racist abuse in the Championship April: Deeney and Watford team-mates Adrian Mariappa and Christian Kabasele receive racist abuse on social media April: Young targeted on Twitter. (BBC Sport)

LBI Secondary cop 4th annual PFK Barcellos Inter-school tapeball competition LAST weekend, the D’Urban Park tarmac came to life as the fourth annual PFK Barcellos, Narine and Co. inter-secondary school tapeball tournament bowled off. In the final, LBI trumped Patentia to take top honours and were rewarded with medals and cash prizes. The eventual winners defeated Business School in the semi-final while Patentia got past Hope Secondary in their semi-final to book their spot in the final. Meanwhile, Hope Secondary schoolgirls copped the James ‘Kool’ Lewis softball tournament via walkover after Queenstown Secondary School girls failed to show up for the match. Ryan Wong was the MVP of the Boys’ tournament and a representative from the sponsors was on hand to present the prizes.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

BCB gives out $120 000 in financial stipends to National cricketers under Dr Puran Singh Scheme

BCB president Hilbert Foster hands over stipend to Berbice Under-15 captain Isaiah Thorne.

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), under the presidency of Hilbert Foster, in 2018 started a financial scheme to assist young cricketers with a stipend, when they gain selection to the National team. Under the Dr Puran Singh National Players Incentive Scheme, the vibrant BCB provided $10 000 to every Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 male cricketer and to Under-19 female and senior female cricketers who represent Guyana. BCB, late February, handed over $80 000 to eight female cricketers who gained selection on the senior teams. They were Erva Giddings, Shemaine Campbelle, Shabiki Gajnabi, Plaffiana Millington, Melanie Henry, Sheneta Grimmond, Lafona Gilgeous and Tremayne Smartt. On Wednesday April 10, 2019, president Hilbert Foster handed over $60 000 to the five Berbice players selected on the National Under-15 team along with coach Julian Moore.

Beaton, bowlers set up easy win for DCC By Rajiv Bisnauth

THE Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) used the comfort of their home territory to register their third consecutive win in the GCA/American Youth Premier Cricket League Under-19 competition, effortlessly beating Queen’s Collage by 175 runs yesterday. The commanding victory was first set up by 17-year-old Nkosi Beaton, who slammed an entertaining 132 before their bowlers did the rest. DCC managed a total of 280-7 before restricting their opponents to 105-9 in their allotted overs. Asked to bat first after early morning rains reduced the game to a 42-over aside affair, the home team had three early setbacks, losing the wickets of Ezekiel Wilson (5), Brandon Jaikaran (8), and Alphius Boodie (1), at 16-3. Amidst the ruins, the

Nkosi Beaton

Garick Persaud

right-handed Beaton joined forces with Garick Persaud, who made a polished 81. The pair then powered the innings with ridiculous ease. Their intentions were clear, as Beaton struck 13 fours and five sixes while the right-handed Persaud struck six fours and two sixes in a fourth wicket stand worth 219 runs. However, when the part-

nership was broken, the home team lost a few other wickets towards the end of the innings with Tameshwar Permaul, and Qunar Torrington making 15 and 16 respectively. Vickash Jaikaran (345) was the best bowler for Queen’s Collage who then lost wickets at regular intervals in the run chase. It was another complete bowling effort from the hosts with off-spinner Beaton returning with the ball to claim 3-3. He received support from left-arm spinner Daniel Mootoo (2-20), leg-spinner Wilson (2-13) and medium pacer Torrington (1-20). Opener Idris Allen topscored with 20 while Navendra Persaud, Malachi Griffith and Jaikaran all made 11 runs apiece, as the visiting side’s batsmen failed to build any meaningful partnerships. The tournament continues tomorrow.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: (1) David Warner (Sunrisers) (2) Alzarri Joseph 6/12 (MI vs Sunrisers, 2019) TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) Who is the first player to contest 100 IPL matches? (2) Who has played most consecutive IPL matches to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

The five players who are currently in Antigua are Matthew Pottaya. Isaiah Thorne, Tameshwar Mahadeo, Rampertab Ramnauth and Sobhai. The presentation continued on Monday April 15, 2019, when Foster handed over another $60 000 to Oma Matadin. Matadin received the stipends on behalf of Shabiki Gajnabi, Lafona Gilgeous, Ashley Ramnauth, Ameera Abrams, Ashmini Munisar and herself. The players are part of the Guyana Under-19 female team who are now taking part in the Regional Under-19 tournament. Later in the year BCB would be handing over more stipends to Berbicians selected on the National Under-17 and Under-19 male teams. Foster at both presentations said BCB was very proud of all of its players and urged the players to always strive for excellence. He reminded them of the importance of representing the county of Berbice

Oma Matadin receives stipend from BCB president Hilbert Foster.

as ambassadors on and off the cricket field. As Berbice Cricket Ambassadors, they would be following in the footsteps of John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Alvin Kallicharran, Leonard Baichan and Roy Fredericks. Berbice cricketers, the BCB president told the young cricketers, are highly respected around

the world for their cricketing skills, humbleness and high standards. Foster also pledged that as long as he remains president of BCB, the present high standard would be upheld. He expressed gratitude to Dr Puran Singh, who resides in Barbados, for his sponsorship of the Scheme valued at $300 000.

Under-15 Super 50 Cup wins for T&T, Jamaica and Guyana

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Results of matches played in the fourth round of the Regional Under-15 Super50 Cup here Thursday: Scores: At Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium: T&T won by six runs TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 231 off 47.5 overs (Kavir Boodoosingh 59, Romario King 37; Solomon Bascombe 4-50) WINDWARD ISLANDS 225 for nine off 50 overs (Divonie Joseph 68, Mahid Lambert 50; Joshua Davis 3-49) At Coolidge Cricket Ground: Jamaica won by 46 runs. JAMAICA 289 for seven off 50 overs (Jordan Johnson 93, Steven Wedderburn 71; Jaden Lorde 3-58) BARBADOS 243 for nine off 50 overs (Edwin Currency 59, Joshua Morris 37; Reon Edwards 3-54) At Liberta: Guyana won by 96 runs. GUYANA 264 for six off 50 overs (Mavindra Dindyal 87, Zachary Jodah 68 not out) LEEWARD ISLANDS 168 for eight off 50 overs (Jewel Andrew 48 not out; Isai Thorne 4-37).

Pandya brothers, Chahar star in Mumbai’s emphatic win HARDIK Pandya muscled 32 off 15 balls, Krunal Pandya struck 37 not out off 27, and together the two put on a fifth-wicket partnership worth 54 off 26, which became the centrepiece of Mumbai Indians’ 40-run victory. Mumbai Indians were 104 for 4 after 15.1 overs, heading towards a par-score in the range of 150 on a slow Feroz Shah Kotla surface when the brothers united. Although they took a little time to get into the slog mode, they exploded from the end of the 17th over - Mumbai reaping 54 runs off the last 19 balls of the innings. The in-form Hardik produced the more blistering innings, walloping his eighth ball for a six way over long-off, whipping his 12th ball into the long-leg boundary, eventually finishing up with three sixes and two fours in his innings. Krunal had been slow to start, hitting only 17 off his first 18 deliveries, but he found the boundary four times off the

last eight balls he faced to assist in the furious finish that Hardik spearheaded. Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan began the chase well, hitting 48 in the Powerplay, but Delhi Capitals soon lost their way. Shaw, Dhawan, Colin Munro and captain Shreyas Iyer all lost their wickets in quick succession, sliding to 63 for 4 after 10.2 overs, the required rate creeping up towards 11. None of the Capitals’ middle-order batsmen could launch a serious challenge to Mumbai’s score, and after losing regular wickets, the team eventually mustered only 128 for 9 in response to Mumbai’s 168 for 5 RAHUL CHAHAR’S SUPER SPELL His first over - the second of the innings - went for ten runs, but Chahar came back after the Powerplay to deliver the spell that sunk Capitals’ chase. Dhawan and Shaw had laid a

half-decent foundation, making 48 off the first six overs, before Chahar beat Dhawan’s reverse sweep, and ended up bowling him off his pads. That over cost only four runs, but the next Chahar over would prove to be even more fruitful. The required rate now having climbed to well over nine, Shaw came down the track to try and slam Chahah over long-on but only ended up being caught. Later - after Krunal Pandya had dismissed Colin Munro in the intervening over - Chahar bowled perhaps the delivery of the match to dismiss Shreyas Iyer, drifting his legbreak through the air, pitching it on middle and leg, then getting it to spit away sharply to beat Iyer’s push and collect his off stump. His second, three-over spell had seen him claim three wickets for nine runs. Scores: Mumbai Indians 168 for 5 (Krunal 37*, de Kock 35, Rabada 2-38) beat Delhi Capitals 128 for 9 (Dhawan 35, Rahul 3-19, Bumrah 2-18) by 40 runs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 19, 2019

Axed selectors set to contest dismissals BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Legal counsel for the recently-sacked Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel, Tony Astaphan, has slammed comments by CWI president Ricky Skerritt regarding their removal and also plans to challenge the manner of their dismissal in court. Chief selector Courtney Browne, along with Lockhart Sebastien and Eldine Baptiste, were all removed from their posts last week, as CWI announced it would revamp its entire selection process. In announcing the changes at a media conference in Antigua, newly-elected CWI president Ricky Skerritt, said, “We have terminated the old embedded selection policy which secretly, but actively, victimised some players and banished them from selection consideration.” Astaphan, however, took issue with the remarks. “My clients are very troubled by their dismissal and the manner of their dismissal, particularly the statements made about the ‘old embedded selection policy which secretly but actively victimised players and banished them from selection

consideration,” Astaphan told the Mason and Guess radio show here. That’s a serious (charge) and it affects the manner of dismissal of Mr Browne, Mr Baptiste and Mr Sebastien.”

extraordinarily carefully at …” Astaphan contends that the selection policy at the centre of discussion, which allegedly marginalised certain players, had not been set by Browne or his panel.

Lockhart sebastien

Former Chairman of CWI selectors Courtney Browne

He continued: “What we are looking at now within the context of the labour code of Antigua and Barbuda is whether having regard to all the facts and circumstances, including the terms of the agreements signed by these good gentlemen, who as you know have dedicated their lives to West Indies cricket, constitute independent contractors or employees under the Antigua and Barbuda labour code. “It an issue we are looking

Instead, they had simply executed their duties based on an existing policy. In the case of Browne, Astaphan said the former Barbados captain and West Indies wicketkeeper had always gained excellent reviews during appraisals, which preceded the renewal of his contracts with CWI. Quoting from those appraisals carried out by current director of cricket Jimmy Ad-

Thandi McAllister nominated to CFU Legal Committee THANDI McAllister, third vice-president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), was nominated to the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) Legal Committee, a Standing Committee of the CFU. The appointment, a first for McAllister, will see her provide “strategic guidance and comments/recommendations to the Executive Committee based on communications with relevant regulatory authorities, law-makers, governments, CONCACAF and FIFA,” as per the Committee’s Terms of Reference. “It is a privilege to be engaged in the administration of football at the regional level. This is an opportunity for Guyana to contribute to the strengthening of the legislative framework, which governs the 31 Member Associations responsible for the management of football in the Wider Caribbean Region,” McAllister said in an invited comment. “Constant analysis of legal issues relative to football is necessary if the rules, regulations and statutes are to evolve to cater for the advancement and development of the sport in the region and so I’m honoured to be considered as having the competencies necessary for such an undertaking,” McAllister added. Among the other key responsibilities of the Committee are to “to assist Member Associations of CFU with any legal matters (subject always to rules of conflict) upon formal written re-

quest by such Member Association, review and make written recommendations and/or proposals to the Executive Committee, relating to the CFU’s position relative to regulatory or legislative proposals or changes with regard to the CFU, CONCACAF or FIFA statutes, lobby and pro-actively engage with the relevant regulators in relation to the point previously stated and recommend external legal advice as necessary and obtain regular updates from said legal advisers regarding their services to the CFU. Thandi McAllister

ams and predecessor Richard Pybus, Astaphan said Browne had been described as “diligent” and a “strategic thinker”. “He has been there since 2010 and having, before every renewal of his contract, gone through what is called an employee job assessment and getting extraordinary marks on matters of ethics and selections, to be thrown out like that, with the commentary of a discriminatory selection policy which he did not set,” the Dominican explained. “I think it is a well-known fact that there was selection criteria either approved by the board or requested by the board, and there was a technical team set up with the specific jurisdictional authority to decide who was eligible or not. They were the ones that made the decision as to who was eligible or not. “The selectors were required only to select from people who were eligible from selection and it seems as if these gentlemen have been sent packing because (there are those) who believe there is an old embedded selection policy which secretly but actively victimised players, of which Mr Browne, Mr

Baptiste and Mr Sebastien were a part.” He added: “That’s extraordinary when you consider the findings made in the 2014, 2016 assessment by Richard Pybus, when he did the assessment of Courtney Browne. It said ‘Courtney has worked diligently’ … whereas Jimmy Adams was much more specific (saying) ‘Courtney has effectively managed the selection panel and its processes’. He communicates effectively to all stakeholders and is a strategic thinker’.” Browne was replaced by interim chairman Robert Haynes, while Adams and interim head coach Floyd Reifer, were also appointed to the panel. The move was part of sweeping personnel changes which also saw the sacking of interim head coach Pybus and his entire staff, which had been appointed for the recent England tour. Vasbert Drakes, who served as an assistant coach, recently indicated through his lawyer, Barbadian QC, Ralph Thorne, that he would be taking legal action against CWI. And Astaphan reiterated

that the manner of, and comments regarding his clients’ dismissal, needed to be also put before the court. “If we’re right and we think we are, that Mr Browne, Mr Baptiste and Mr Sebastien … in substance and in law are employees under the Antigua and Barbuda labour code, the moneys they got would be wholly inadequate,” he noted. “I don’t think anybody can seriously suggest that getting a phone call and a letter after years of service to Caribbean cricket can be considered fair. “And to make the suggestion in a statement to the media which has been repeated in numerous publications in the Caribbean … that there was this socalled conspiracy in which these good gentlemen were involved and as a result of which there needed to be radical change of the selected policy which obviously included their dismissal – that’s a very serious problem for the industrial court of Antigua to look at.” CMC Sports understands, however, that Sebastien has distanced himself from any planned legal action against CWI.

Trophy Stall on board with Triple Crown HORSE racing action climaxes this weekend with the Jumbo Jet Triple Crown. The event, promoted by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee (JJTRC) yesterday received sponsorship from business Trophy Stall. The final leg of the Triple Crown is set for Easter Sunday at the Port Mourant Turf Club in Corentyne, Berbice. At the South Road location, proprietor Ramesh Sunich presented organiser Nazrudeen Mohamed with over half-a-dozen trophies which will be awarded to top performers at this Sunday’s anticipated race meet. Mohamed expressed gratitude for the generous gesture by Sunich while the owner noted that he is always ready to support horse racing which attracts fans from all walks of life. The Triple Crown race promotion provides a bonus of $500 000 for whichever horse can complete three consecutive victories, and come this Easter, the mare Valentina, in the three-yearold Guyana-bred category, will be the only animal in the running for the Triple Crown bonus. The feature race will attract a total prize purse

amounting to almost $2M with the winner of that C Class and Lower race pocketing $1M. The winner of the T h r e e - y e a r- o l d G u y ana-bred race will pocket

$400 000, F Class winner $350 000, H Class $300 000, I Class $250 000, J Class $230 000, K Class $220 000, L Class $200 000, L Class and Lower $140 000.

Ramesh Sunich (left) stands with Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee’s Nazrudeen Mohamed

Charissa Rampersaud, KFC Guyana Training Manager presents GFF president Wayne Forde with a cheque for an undisclosed sum, while GFF’s Ian Greenwood (first from left) and Competitions Director Ian Alves look on. (Adrian Narine photo)

KFC Independence Cup club football tournament to kick off April 27 Page

Veterans Aguilleira, Mohammed axed for Ireland, England tour

AIBA Badge of Honour

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Former captain Merissa Aguilleira (right) and Anisa Mohammed … both out of the upcoming tour of Ireland and England.

GUYANA’S youngest One Star Referee/Judge Lawrence Assanah was on Wednesday presented with his AIBA badge by Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) president Steve Ninvalle. Assanah’s badge was posted to Guyana some time ago but was never received because of a mix-up in the mail. Here Assanah, a Warrant Officer in the Guyana Defence Force (right) receives his badge from GBA president Steve Ninvalle.

Axed selectors set to contest dismissals ► 35

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FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019