Issuu

AG says Chancellor did not ask for his response Page 5

… but sent her two copies of it since April 19

No. 104904

SATURDAY MAY 6, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

President requests CVs of new GECOM nominees Page 2

Time for togetherness

Page 3

…President tells Arrival Day ceremony at Highbury

Dressed in traditional Indian wear, this group of performers re-enacted the arrival of indentured labourers in Guyana during the Arrival Day ceremony at Highbury, East Bank Berbice (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Former magistrate appointed Solicitor Page General 4

CCJ throws out appeal by Guyanese drug-trafficker Page 14

… slams ‘Culture of Delay’

Woman held for not declaring $9M at CJIA Page 3

President requests CVs of new GECOM nominees

LEADER of the Opposition, Bharat Jagdeo, is still to submit to President David Granger curricula vitae (CV) for the six persons he nominated for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Reminiscent of what had occurred when he first submitted a list of nominees to President Granger in December 2016, Jagdeo is once again yet to submit the CVs for the persons listed on his recently submitted list,

said President Granger in an invited comment on Friday evening at an Indian Arrival Day ceremony at the Indian Monument Garden. “Mr Jagdeo has written to me saying that he will send the CVs,” said the President ,who noted that he will not make a choice until he is privy to them. Asked if there is a timeframe as to when they will be submitted, Ganger reiterated that Jagdeo has agreed to send them, so he will wait for him to do so.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

On Tuesday, Jagdeo submitted a new list of persons for consideration as the next chairperson of GECOM was sent to the President. The six nominees are: Justice of Appeal BS Roy (ret’d); Justice William Ramlal (ret’d); Ms Oneidge Walrond-Allicock, attorney-at-law and a former magistrate; Mr Kashir Khan, attorney-at-law; Ms Nadia Sagar, attorney-at-law and Mr Gerald Gouveia. Prior to the submission of the new list, Jagdeo’s

first list was rejected by the President who justified his action by stating that the six nominees were not qualified according to the constitutional requirements. During one of his weekly recordings of ‘The Public Interest’, the President had revealed that the Constitution is clear on the required qualifications and it is obvious that what the drafters of the document had in mind was someone who had arrived at the position of a judge. The President made the comments after he

had deemed “unacceptable,” a list which the opposition leader had submitted. The Ministry of the Presidency quoted Article 161 (2) of the Constitution which states that “…the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a Judge of a Court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a Court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court, or who is qualified to

be appointed as any such Judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly. The new list however comprises two retired justices, a former magistrate and three attorneys –atlaw.

Elderly man killed in Amelia’s Ward crash AN elderly man was on Friday evening killed when a sports car slammed into him on the Amelia’s Ward Public Road in Linden. The vehicle,PVV 9182 was driven by Clint Henry, 35 years of 22 Toucan Drive,Amelia’s Ward, Linden. The accident occurred around 18:20 hrs, in the vicinity of Obama Drive, which is in proximity to the Amelia’s Ward Police Outpost. The man was identified as Michael Simon, 59 years, of Amelia’s Ward, Linden. He is suspected to be of unsound mind. According to police

reports, the driver was proceeding east along the Amelia’s Ward public road when suddenly Simon crossed the road from north to south about 10 ft in the path of the sports car. The driver applied brakes and swerved to avoid a collision but unfortunately the pedestrian was hit by the left side front of the car. He was picked up by the said driver who rushed him to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver is in custody assisting with investigations.

Public-spirited citizens rushed to the scene following the collision

Scenes from Pushpanjali 17

President David Granger, First Lady Sandra Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and members of the Indian Commemorative Trust with outstanding Indians who were honoured for their contributions to national development

This little girl Kiran Chandranauth stole the show at Pushpanjali 17 at the Indian Monument Gardens, Camp and Church Streets, Georgetown (Adrian Narine photos)

Time for togetherness

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

… President tells Arrival Day ceremony at Highbury

NOTING that Arrival Day is a time for togetherness, President David Granger says his administration is committed to continue working towards solidifying the Guyanese society by strengthening the strands of the country’s social strata. At the same time the Head of State notes this year’s celebration of Indian Arrival Day as significant, since its observance coincides with the centenary of the end of Indian indentured immigration. The President was at the time delivering the feature address at Plantation Highbury, Berbice, on Friday morning at the annual ceremony in commemoration of the 179th anniversary of the arrival of Indians to Guyana. “Arrival Day is a time for coming together. All have contributed to nation-building. All have to embrace a common destiny, one in which diversity is respected,” the President noted at the ceremony, which was attended by several government officials, including Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin and Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan. Regional Chairman, David Armogan and former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds also attended the event. According to President

Granger, “Guyanese should commemorate the chapter in the country’s history when its peoples arrived here. This date, this event, this place remind us of the value we all place both on our otherness and on our togetherness,” he said. According to the President, Arrival Day commemorates the transformation of the country by the people who came and these include the Africans, Chinese, Indians and Portuguese together with the Amerindians, whom he noted have lived here from time immemorial. “It transformed, also, the demography and the political economy of British Guiana,” the President said. He told the gathering that Arrival Day is a celebration of cohesion. “It might have been an accident of history that our peoples were brought together in such a spectacular manner more than a century and a half ago”, he said. He noted however, that it was no accident that the citizens “had to work to weld the disparate peoples into a whole nation.” He added that social cohesion was not an automatic condition of contemporaneousness, but rather it was administered, “on the anvil of struggle.” The President said that social cohesion had to be built, gradually and deliberately, from the com-

mencement of indentured immigration in 1835 and this he noted was due to the efforts of all to accept and respect each other’s values and beliefs. It was not a small measure, he said. According to the President, Arrival Day reminds the citizens that social cohesion cannot be taken for granted, noting that it relates to addressing the “most fundamental question” of how diverse peoples can live together in a multi-cultural society. “We should not hesitate to pay homage to each group that arrived”, he added. The President reminded the gathering of Indian Arrival Day which is observed on 5th May, Portuguese Arrival Day which was celebrated on 3rd May, two days ago. Chinese Arrival Day was celebrated on 12th January of this year. African Emancipation Day will be observed on 1st August and Indigenous Heritage Month will be observed for all of September. “We will continue to work towards strengthening society by strengthening the strands of our social tapestry,” he told members of the audience. President Granger noted that Indian Arrival Day is commemorated traditionally at Highbury on the East Bank of the Berbice River as the main national ceremony. He

Woman held for not declaring $9M at CJIA

A 36–YEAR–OLD South Ruimveldt, Georgetown resident was detained by ranks of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) after being found in possession of US$44,688. The sum amounts to approximately $GY9.2M. A police release noted that the woman failed to declare the money on arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Thurs-

day night. It was noted that she was aboard a St. Lucia flight at 20:00hrs. Guyana’s exchange laws require someone to declare any currency in excess of US$10,000. Customs is empowered to seize only large sums of currency equivalent to more than US$10,000 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

President David Granger delivering the feature address at the event at Plantation Highbury. said the Indian presence in Guyana is associated with the community, noting that it was at Highbury that the S.S. Whitby, with 128 Indians on board, docked on 5th May 1838, 179 years ago. As regards this year’s celebrations, the President noted that its observance coincides with the centenary of the end of Indian indentured immigration. “Almost 240,000 Indians came to our country between 1838 and 1917, the year in which indentured immigration was

abolished,” he informed the gathering, noting that more than 70 per cent stayed to make this country their home. He said that Indians have made an indelible impact on this country’s cultural, economic and social life. He said the group brought with them a rich culture – including their beliefs, customs, dance, dress, festivals, food, music, rituals, speech and traditions. President Granger referred to Guyanese descendants of the original immigrants as more than mere “arrivants.”

He said that they are the heirs of a magnificent legacy – an extremely beautiful, blissful and most bountiful country that is now in transition to becoming a ‘green state.’ He said that the ‘green state’ , which he deemed a natural product of “this verdant and luxuriant environment” can flourish , noting that it will furnish a ‘good life’ for generations to come only by engendering a spirit of cohesion, one in which diversity is respected and celebrated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

Former magistrate appointed Solicitor General By Ariana Gordon

FORMER Magistrate Kim Kyte has been appointed Solicitor General within the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Attorney General’s Chambers. Kyte’s appointment becomes effective on May 16. She replaces Sita Ramlall who retired some months ago. Kyte was selected from a long list of applicants following intense interviews conducted by Justices Claudette Singh, James Patterson and Professor Harold Lutchman. The former Magistrate who had returned to private practice thanked God for granting her the opportunity,even as she said she was humbled to again serve Guyana. She explained that she first served her country as

state prosecutor many years ago. “My country has always been a priority for me,” she said while noting that the concept of love for country was instilled in her as a student of President’s College. “I have always wanted to serve my people and my country and I am very happy and I thank God most of all for this opportunity. I really love Guyana and I’ve always put my country first,” the attorney stated. Kyte told Guyana Chronicle that when she takes office she intends to coordinate resources and organise state files that fall within her portfolio. She assured that she has “new ideas to bring on stream” to ensure that the service provided to the people of Guyana is not below standard. Referencing the issue of private legal practitioners

being used to represent the state instead of state attorneys, the newly-appointed Solicitor General made it clear that there is a great need for better management of state counsel. She noted that in the past there were cases where matters were given to private attorneys but the Attorney General was never informed of same. As such she emphasised the need to have a proper data entry system, so as to be able to track all activities of the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Attorney General’s Chambers. The Solicitor General believes that there should be sufficient capacity in house so as to prevent the sourcing of private attorneys to represent the state. Additionally, notion of continuous legal education is deemed critical and it is her

intention to ensure that all state counsel are continuously trained so as to remain relevant in today’s ever evolving society. “…that is what I will bring on stream for state counsel;that is the only way you’re going to remain relevant,” Kyte stated. Meanwhile, the former magistrate who served as State Counsel for three years (2004 to 2007) is also the holder of two Masters Degrees:a Masters in Law from the University of London and a Masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the same University. An affiliate of the Guyana Bar Association, the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers, Advocates Guyana, Advocates Caribbean, and the Georgetown Prison Visiting Committee,Kyte also lectures

at the University of Guyana, Department of Law. She has been there since 2001 and has lectured in the areas of Real Property (Land Law), Company Law, Family Law, Law of Trusts, Law of Tort, Contract Law, and Commercial Law. Additionally, she served in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as State Counsel from 2001 to 2004,while during that time she also lectured at a police prosecutors’ course and provided legal opinions for the DPP and advice on files for the Guyana Police Force. Moreover, Kyte has served as a consultant to several firms including, Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Limited (2014), the European Union (2012),

Newly-appointed Solicitor General Kim Kyte the Canadian High Commission (2008) and as UNICEF’s Human Rights Project Manager (20072008).

Take ownership of parking meter contract

–– Bulkan urges City Hall By Navendra Seoraj MINISTER of Communities Ronald Bulkan, has urged the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) not to surrender their responsibility of managing the city but craft a new parking meter contract that will give them full control of their operations. At a discussion with the Council’s negotiation team chaired by Councillor Malcolm Ferreira on Thursday, the minister said City Hall must not surrender its “monopoly” to an independent

body. The controversial project managed by a Mexican company, Smart City Solutions (SCS) was “riddled” with unmanageable tariffs, high penalties and issues with meters being placed in front of schools, hospitals and public roads. “Cabinet decided to suspend the project after deliberating on the matter and viewed the fact that there were significant vocal resistance and rejections to the initiative because of the many issues,” Bulkan said. Added to the direct lia-

bilities of the project, it was pointed out that negotiation of the initial contract was not transparent and a fresh approach by an elected body will give the project more credibility. “A wider make-up of the Council without the original negotiators will generate a

lot of public acceptance, because they are entering into a democratic process,” stated Minister Bulkan. Members of the negotiation team were urged to “start from scratch” and do not consider themselves bounded by the original contract. The M&CC should take

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan speaking to Councillor Malcolm Ferreira during the discussion on Thursday

pride and ownership in the contract, Bulkan said, adding that in future, “if or when” a new contract is crafted enough members would have been involved in the negotiations and will be able to defend the project. Though they have the green-light to go ahead with their discussions, members of the team were told to be prudent and make sure that the new contract will take the concerns of the public and the Government into consideration. This raised questions as to whether the contract must be crafted to the liking of the Government before it is implemented. BEST FINANCIAL RETURNS In response, Bulkan confirmed that the Government must accept the terms of the contract before it is implemented; however, he said the M&CC must be able to get the best financial returns from the project. According to the original contract, the Council would collect 20 per cent of the profits from SCS. The rates for parking were $28 VAT inclusive for 15 minutes or about $100 per hour. In the new contract, though the fees are expected to be revised, Bulkan reiterated that City Hall must benefit

from the revenue they gain. “Council has a free hand to look at this thing at new lengths but, at the end of the day [the] majority of the Council has to be convinced that there is a contract that will benefit the public and City Hall,” the minister said. Bulkan offered the group to have the time for negotiations extended, given that they continuously produce fruitful results. The team was charged with bringing order back to the streets, because there is too much “lawlessness and chaos,” he said. “I am in support of the idea of paid parking, but the current issues need to be addressed and councillors need to remember that they have other areas to look at as well, such as buildings and zoning,” stated Minister Bulkan, who said they are empowered under the law to execute their mandate. The metered-parking project was suspended in March for three months to fix a number of problems. The team chaired by Ferreira has been appointed to fix those problems. Other members of the team are Vice-Chair Noelle Chow-Chee, Carlyle Goring, Tricia Richards, Ivelaw Henry, Roopnarine ‘Ron’ Persaud and Heston Bostwick.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

AG says Chancellor did not ask for his response … but sent her two copies of it since April 19

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs,Basil Williams,on Friday disputed allegations that he failed to respond to Justice Franklyn Holder’s letter of complaint sent to him by Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary,Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards,releasing letters from the top judicial officer which showed no explicit request and which also showed him forwarding two copies of his response which was made public to the chancellor since April 19. On Thursday, the acting Chancellor by way of a statement to the media said Williams did not respond to her letter on the matter,but Williams released the letter sent to him by the chancellor along with his response. A perusal of the letters show that Justice Cummings-Edwards did not request a response from him about the allegations leveled against him. According to a March 24, 2017 letter to the

Justice Yonette Cummings- Edwards, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary AG, the Acting Chancellore said: “I forward herewith the attached letter from Mr. Justice Franklyn Holder. For your information. With best regards.” On the same day, Justice Cummings-Edwards wrote President David Granger on the matter. In her correspondence to the President, she said, “I bring to your Excellency’s attention the cap-

tion “AG threatened Judge” on the online news “Citizens Report” and in the printed media (Kaieteur News). The reports are damaging to both the judiciary and bring the office of the Attorney General into disrepute.” She said she was obliged to bring the matter to the President’s attention, the letter from Justice Holder and the “current state of affairs.” “I have sent a copy of the report from Justice Franklyn Holder to the Honourable Attorney-General,” the letter concluded. Meanwhile, on April 19, AG Williams responded to Justice Cummings-Edwards in writing and noted that “two copies of my response to Justice Holder’s letter of complaint, referred to His Excellency President Brigadier David Arthur Granger by your Honour.” “I have also attached clippings of newspapers which were spawned by Mr Anil Nandlall’s putrid allegation against my un-

blemished character and the contents of Justice Holder’s letter of complaint,” the letter released by the AG stated. On Thursday, the Acting Chancellor in a statement to the media announced that the Carvil Duncan case will continue on Monday while adding that the AG is yet to respond to a letter that she has sent to him. She said after she received an official report of the incident which occurred on March 23, a copy of Justice Holder’s letter of complaint was sent to Williams “for his information, guidance and any response.” “To date, Mr Williams SC has not directly responded to that letter,” the statement said. The acting Chancellor said too that given the fact that Williams holds the executive positions of AG and Minister of Legal Affairs, a copy of Justice Holder’s letter was sent to the Head of State, purely as a matter of information and courtesy. “No complaint was

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC made to His Excellency,” the release added. Meanwhile, the AG has maintained his innocence in the matter and noted that Justice Holder’s allegations of contempt of court lack merit. He posited that he was not in any way disrespectful, insulting or contemptuous to Justice Holder. In his response to President Granger who requested an explanation as to

what transpired on the day in question, the AG cited Contempt of Court Act Chapter 5:05, and stated that there are provisions in the law for a judge presiding in a court to cite and punish persons for contempt. Because Contempt of Court is a criminal offence, the Attorney General argued that Justice Holder was required under the Act to inform him of the offence committed before adjourning the matter on the same day; something he claims the judge failed to do. He posited that Justice Holder could not lawfully almost two days later by letter purport to raise accusations of contempt against him. Additionally, Williams pointed to Article 144 (8) of the Constitution which requires a Judge to give notice to the Attorney-at-Law in court on any behaviour which is contemptuous, insulting, disrespectful and despicable in the face of the Court.

Saturday , May 6, 2:30 - 14:30 hrs Sunday, May 7,

3:00 - 14:30 hrs

Monday, May 8, 3:30 - 14:30 hrs

Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 6, 2017

Ridding the economy of bad money IT is public knowledge that for years Guyana’s economy saw two forces at work-- the formal and underground. The extent to which the latter was allowed to hold sway in the society has been debated, though not refuted. The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government has always denied the presence or significance of the underground economy. To the average man and woman, the construction of massive buildings around the country and the opening of businesses, where the latter in some instances never see heavy customer traffic, contradicted any denial. Professor Clive Thomas, in his several writings on the criminalised state, which he has referred to Guyana, has pegged the underground

Dear Editor, THE National Toshaos Council (NTC) has threatened the President and State of Guyana that Amerindians will not vote for them in 2020, unless the government immediately repeals the Commission Of Inquiry (CoI) on land. Vice-President Lennox Shuman of the NTC even went further by indicating in his defiant speech to the President that ACDA has received lands from the Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission. He is therefore indicating that it’s a cultural issue and not an issue of land and Guyana’s national security. ACDA categorically denies it has applied for lands at the Guyana Lands & Surveys or received any. This is a blatant lie for which the NTC should apologise. This lie shows the racist influence Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP has brought to the land-titling process as the PPP again desperately tries to divide the country racially as a strategy to win the 2020 elections, so they could continue to plun-

economy at around 60 percent. In a 2014 interview with Kaieteur News, he said, “The phantom economy is what I call it…is being driven by three forces – tax evasion, evasion of regulatory oversight in terms of those agencies like the gold board, for example, and it is also driven by criminal forms who thrive on businesses that seek to generate gains for themselves in terms of theft from certain activities.” Even those who deny or want to think Thomas’s figure is high, something has to be amiss in any society where government would allow illicit economic activities and seek not to eliminate them. There was a time in this society when none would have doubted the influence of drug lords in the economy and state, with a forcible reminder being the

infamous Saheed “Roger” Khan. A s i d e f r o m K h a n ’s questionable wealth, some of which could have been used in the purchase of assets, there was the full-page newspaper advertisement taken out by him admitting that he played a role in supporting government in crime-fighting. Crime-fighting is the purview of the state and where Khan was bold enough to make such a claim, which was not refuted by the PPP/C government, lends to further evidence of forces that were at play in undermining the legitimacy of the state and the safety of the people. There can be no credible denial that the Guyana Revenue Authority, though conscious of the presence of illegal money, seemed constrained or reluctant to

go after questionable characters. Ostentatious wealth was flaunted in the face of the state, whose government seemed unwilling to investigate and hold persons accountable to the law. Another factor in our polarised society, is that those who dared to address the problem were dismissed, verbally assaulted, or accused of being envious of the questionably ‘industrious.’ Evidently, what may have been the appearance of legitimate business and investment might have well been funded with questionable (laundered) money propping up the formal economy. The acknowledgement of this however does not ignore the cyclical nature of economies, where features of growth and the slowing down of growth are evident, or the need for correspond-

ing acts to manage same. Reservations by the international community -governments, institutions and businesses -- has too been expressed, evident in the pressure brought to bear by the International Financial Task Force and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, to make Guyana compliant with anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism standards. And whereas the PPP/C government sought ways and means to avoid tackling bad money in the system, apparently to lend perception of buoyancy, that the APNU+AFC government has taken this bull by

the horns, is commendable. Sourcing, the integrity of it, the persons involved, and the authentication of residency in money transactions, banking and otherwise, have formed part of the new regulatory system. The fleeing informal economy is leaving many to believe and to lay blame on the current government for the slowing down of economic activities, instead of regulating the economy to weed out the underground economy, which brings with it not only a false sense of prosperity but many social ills, unleashed on the society over the past few decades.

der and steal our oil revenues as they have done to other assets over their 23 years in government. I personally know Toshao Lennox Shuman as we both serve on two committees and I have to conclude Toshao Shuman is totally incorrect, because Jagdeo has been purposefully lying to him, the NTC and to American communities across Guyana as he continues to be the most bigoted and dishonest President the Caribbean and Latin America has ever seen. History is repeating itself. We now have a second Rupununi Uprising. This second uprising has been nurtured by Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP in similar manner to the Melvilles who convinced the Wapishanas on January 2 , , to rise up in treasonous form against the government over land in 1968. The Melvilles and their group of conspirators wanted to create the Essequibo Free State, because they did not want to be ruled by the PNC government that had won independence just 32 months ago from Britain

in 1966. Now Amerindians are being told by Jagdeo to rise up against another PNC government, because only Jagdeo and the PPP should rule Guyana. But what are the facts? Why are Amerindians resisting the Land CoI? And why is Jagdeo again creating racial insecurities and promoting such? There are three reasons why Jagdeo is leading Amerindians to a second Rupununi Uprising. The first reason is that, Amerindians want more land that they have been legally granted. Amerindians have been quietly but forcibly holding the government hostage for an additional 10% of Guyana through the LCDS GRIFF-funded Land Titling Programme to provide titles to 161 communities covering 13.8% of Guyana. By having a formal CoI, this demand for a total of 24% of Guyana will become publicly exposed and they do not want that. But is there any legal, moral or just claim for 24% of Guyana. The answer is no. Parliament in 1976 through The Amerindian Act legally gave 13.8 % of

Guyana to nine (9) Amerindian tribes as reparatory justice for being the First People of Guyana. This was considered more than fair compensation for lands lost during occupation by the Dutch and British from the 1600s until independence in 1966. Amerindians have been rightly called “The First Peoples of Guyana. Indeed, six of the nine tribes can be truly called First Peoples, but three, the WaiWais, the Macushis and the Wapishanas, arrived in Guyana from Brazil 200 years (WaiWais) and 100 years (Macushis and Wapishanas) after enslaved Africans were brought to Guyana. In 1838, there were 6000 --7000 Amerindians in Guyana and 84,035 freed Africans. The Wai Wais, Macushis and the Wapishanas of the Rupunini Uprising fame were not here. A September 17, 2010 article in the PPP-controlled Guyana Chronicle, in discussing the Indigenous groups of Guyana, stated the following: “They (the Wai Wais) seemed to have moved into Guyana from Brazil during the early 19th century

and occupied the Upper Essequibo River.” The same article pointed out: “The Wapishanas are recent migrants to Guyana, who are known to have arrived early in the 18th Century from the Rio Negro area in Brazil. Located in the Rupununi, they are described as the most reliable and industrious of all the Guyana tribes.” In 1994, Mr JorgVereecke, UNDP’s Associate Expert on Indigenous Peoples, indicated there were “nine indigenous tribes living scattered all over Guyana. These were the Akawaio (3,800); Arekuna (475); Arawak (15,000); Machusi – Brazilan Macuxi, 7,000); Wapishanas (6,000); Patmuna (4,700); WaiWai (198); and Carib (2,700)”. A total of 32,873. In 2002, the Guyana Census found that the Amerindian population numbered 68,675 and was the fastest growing in comparison to other ethnic groups, with a population increase of 47.3 per cent from 1991 to 2002 and representing an annual growth rate of 3.5 per cent.

Based on these facts, it is unlikely there could have been more than 4,000 Indigenous Peoples in the entire Guyana in the year 1630, or more than 7,000 in 1838, when at that time there were 84,075 freed Africans. The claim that 4,000 people in the year 1630 or that 7,000 people in the year 1838, were “stewards” of 83,000 square miles of Guyana, lacks historical validity. Lacks fundamental truth. Do Guyanese believe the Amerindian Act should be modified to give 24% of Guyana to Amerindians, when indeed 472,000 Africans died during 200 years of slavery to build Guyana and having cleared 15,000 square miles or 18% of Guyana, they still have received no reparatory justice as have the Amerindians through the Amerindian Act of 1969? In another submission to follow shortly, Mr Editor, I will cite the other two reasons. ERIC M PHILLIPS Executive Member, ACDA Chair, Guyana Reparations Committee

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 6, 2017

Proposal to establish Industrial Tribunal Dear Editor:

AFTER reviewing the labour legislation on Industrial Tribunals in CARICOM member states, I wish to share some thoughts on the essential content of any legislation for an Industrial Tribunal to determine individual disputes of rights, based on statutory and or contractual entitlements. 1. An Industrial Tribunal Act The enactment of a new law is required for establishing an Industrial Tribunal with jurisdiction to hear and determine any unresolved individual labour dispute or complaint, which constitutes an individual rights dispute relating to statutory entitlements, or entitlements flowing from individual contracts of employment. Such an Industrial Tribunal, as in other CARICOM jurisdictions, shall not be subject to any other person or authority, in the exercise of its powers. The Orders, decisions

and awards of the Industrial Tribunal shall be enforced by the High Court as though they were orders or judgements of that court. Awards are final and binding on all the parties involved, except on a point of law which can be appealed at the High Court. 2. Composition and Appointment of the Industrial Tribunal Labour Tribunals are tripartite in composition, comprising an independent chair and representatives of ILO-recognised Employers’ Organization on labour, and representatives of the trade unions based on consultations with national trade union bodies. The chair and members of the Industrial Tribunal shall be appointed by the minister for a period not exceeding three years and may be re-appointed after the three years. The minister may remove the chair or any member of the Industrial Tribunal for good and sufficient cause, natural justice taken into account before any removal action.

3. Procedures for the Functions of the Industrial Tribunal The minister may make regulations, and provide the required resources to enable the Industrial Tribunal to function effectively. In the absence of such regulations, the Industrial Tribunal regulates its own procedures and proceedings. Procedures are designed to enable the Industrial Tribunal to obtain the facts of any case before it, and determine its merits in terms of statutory and contract obligations for the appropriate award(s). 4. Reference to the Industrial Tribunal by Department of Labour Any unresolved individual dispute or complaint (disputes of rights) at the Department of Labour shall be referred to the Industrial Tribunal for determination within two months of receiving the complaint by the Chief Labour Officer or Acting Chief Labour Officer. The Chief Labour Officer (CLO) or a Senior Labour Administrator designated by the CLO, shall present the case

Present M&CC lacks the wherewithal to transform Georgetown Dear Editor:

WHEN the Minister of Communities announced that local government elections would have been conducted on March 18, last year I, like many other Guyanese, considered it to be a historic occasion. Here we had the opportunity after 22 long years, to remove those tired, old, incompetent, mentally bankrupt and some very corrupt municipal officials, who had long overstayed their welcome and replace them with young, energetic, honest, bright, caring councillors to manage our towns and neighbourhoods of Guyana. Remember the entire local government system was considered rotten and in dire need of rehabilitation to be made fully functional, as we all believed that local government is about handing decision-making power to the people to enable them to efficiently and effectively manage their communities. We looked with anticipation to those younger candidates, and others, who entered the fray for the first time, as there is no better nursery for leadership than Local Government. It is in this arena that future leaders

get opportunities to acquaint themselves with the proverbial nuts and bolts of representative governance. Alas! One year on we have come to realise that this thinking was irrational, as it failed on several grounds. If we look at Georgetown since those elections rather than getting better, things have instead gotten much worse. The first sad reality was that the independent candidates who had the courage to enter the fray were forced to compete against the established political parties. This made their efforts next to impossible, as they had to try to overcome the various parties’ well-oiled and well-funded machineries. Most of them failed, resulting in quite a few of those same tired, dim, and crooked old councillors returning to carry on their old ways. Just look at the ‘Fantastic Four’ and the bizarre parking meter contract in Georgetown. The second reality is that the new Georgetown City Council is just as ineffective and really just a talk shop just like the last one. There is very little they can or are willing to do to rein in corrupt, lazy and inept officers who make rings around them and who clear-

ly have political godfathers and godmothers above the councillors and who cannot be touched. It is once again a place where “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” One senior municipal officer has moved from being totally bankrupt during the life of the last Council where his car was seized and his home foreclosed upon by his bankers for non-payment to now just a year on, owning several homes and multiple luxury vehicles. Where are SARA and SOCU? The third reality is that this present City Council of Georgetown lacks the wherewithal to transform Georgetown into a superior place to live and work, and seem happy to just maintain its present status quo. All in all, nothing has changed as citizens had hoped for with this new Council, as the Georgetown municipality continues to be well known for financial mismanagement, rampant nepotism favouritism and, cronyism, clientelism, which are all acceptable and expected ways of conducting municipal affairs and business at City Hall. Regards MATEO PHELEPHE

for an aggrieved employee or complainant to the Industrial Tribunal. 5. Hearings by the Industrial Tribunal The Industrial Tribunal hears and determines complaints, representations, and submission for the concerned parties under oath. The Industrial Tribunal may act without regard to technicalities and legal forms, and is not bound to follow the rules of evidence, having regard to its own regulations. In cases of dismissals for valid reasons or for good and sufficient cause, the burden of proof rests with the employer. In cases of constructive dismissal, the employee must establish that the continuation of the employment relationship is unreasonable and makes it difficult to continue to function. 6. Binding Order and Appeal only on a Point of Law

Any determination or order by the Industrial Tribunal is binding on all concerned parties. An appeal, only on a point of law, may be made to the High Court within 21 days following notification by the Industrial Tribunal of its decision to the concerned parties. 7. Remedies. In relation to any individual dispute or complaint before it, Industrial Tribunal is required to make such orders or awards as it considers fair and just, and the substantial merits of the case. The Industrial Tribunal may order an employer to take such action as may constitute full compliance, or to pay to an employee such amounts as may be determined by the Industrial Tribunal. Except for personal services by an employee, including such as domestic help, care givers, personal chauffer, and personal security, the Industri-

al Tribunal may award or order re-instatement or re-employment without loss of status or benefit in comparable or other suitable work or a compensation order in terms of loss of earning and benefits 8. Offences and Penalties The contemplated Industrial Tribunal Act must provide for penalty on refusal to accept and implement the award of the Industrial Tribunal to a fine representing not less than twice the award of the Industrial Tribunal, on summary conviction in a court of law. 9. Staffing of the Industrial Tribunal and Remuneration The Industrial Tribunal must be staffed with suitably qualified persons with reasonable and comparable remuneration to be determined by the competent authority. Regards SAMUEL J. GOOLSARRAN

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

GWI stresses equity, quality –– as over 100,000 receive service for the first time

WITH a vision to ensure that all Guyanese on the coast and interior regions have access to quality water, GWI on Thursday kicked off its 15th Anniversary celebrations under the theme, “Ensuring Equity and Improving Quality.” Addressing the anniversary launch at the company’s Vlissengen Road and Church Street headquarters, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings-Williams, said the theme can only be realised when all customers are recipients of the same level of service. “When the quality service provided on the coastland is delivered in the same manner in the hinterland, only then can we definitely say that equity and quality have been achieved, but until then, we have a long way to go,” the minister noted. As such, Minister Hastings-Williams called on GWI to recommit to its mission to provide equal access to safe, adequate and affordable water and sewage systems to Guyanese living on the coastland and in the hinterland. “Be committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Six, for us to ensure access to water and sanitation for all throughout the length and breadth of our country,” she urged. SDG Goal Six addresses issues relating to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene and the quality and sustainability of water resources worldwide. Sharing his vision for the future of the water utility in

Guyana, GWI Managing- Director Dr Richard Van-West Charles assured customers that the company plans to boost production levels and improve water quality and overall services. He informed those gathered that GWI will be adopting the approach of establishing a series of well fields

from overseas training in cutting-edge, well-drilling techniques. ALL SCHOOLS Meanwhile, the managing-director said efforts are afoot to have, in the near future, equal access to potable water in all schools across the country, even as

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings-Williams and GWI Managing-Director Dr Richard Van-West Charles share a toast on the 15th anniversary in communities. This, he explained, will guard against dependency on one well for water supply per community. Well fields allow for other wells to serve as a back-up in a community if one fails. Dr Van-West Charles also spoke about the company’s investment in the knowledge and technical capabilities of its engineers to be able to drill wells. In this regard, he noted that a number of technical personnel are benefiting

it continues to examine a number of integrated approaches to ensure bettertasting, safe drinking water. These include continuing the establishment of mini-laboratories that test the quality of water produced every hourly. He also underscored the importance of fairness and justice to the workforce and the customers, which will be a principal part of the company’s operations. GWI Executive Director for Commercial Services and

Customer Relations Marlon Daniels, who spoke on the progress of the water company, particularly under the stewardship of Dr Van-West Charles, said for the first time in the history of the water company, training was extended to all levels of staff. “I have seen electricians and diesel mechanics go overseas for training, and the pride that was displayed on their faces when they came back to give their report was really telling… the point I am making is that the common line workers now feel that they have a place at the table,” Daniels posited. He highlighted that in 18 months, Dr Van-West Charles has also increased the stipends of sanitation workers from a mere $5 to $1500 per day. Facilities were also put in place to allow these workers to shower at work, for the first time, before they go home. He also noted that also within the past 18 months, in excess of 100,000 residents have received service for the first time in all regions of Guyana. The water company also increased the hours of service at 85 per cent of its facilities, and in so doing allowed for several areas to now benefit from 24-hour service. A new water-treatment system was also rolled out at several pumping stations, resulting in over 30,000 customers receiving improved quality of water. STRENGTH Reflecting on the past

GWI Managing-Director Dr Richard Van-West Charles addresses the anniversary launch 15 years of GWI’s existence bratory activities include and beyond, board member school tours and exhibitions David H J Dewar noted on May 9 at water-treatthat, “The strength of the ment plants in the regions, old GS&WC was in the an essay competition with ability of Shelter Belt crews the topic “Providing Equal -- including the Repair Access to Quality Water Shop -- to keep the com- for All in Guyana” opened pany functioning in hard to children, ages nine to financial times, and the 14years and radio and telestrength of Guyana Water vision programmes. Authority was in their inFor staff, there will be house ability to bore and dominoes, karaoke, football service their own wells.” and cricket competitions, a “I would like… to com- cookout, a grand fun day and pliment the present GWI an awards and prize-giving management on attaining this ceremony. decade and a half of service Also present at the launch to our customers, and to fur- were Minister of Commuther compliment them in their nities Ronald Bulkan and drive to upgrade in-house Permanent Secretary Emil skills, not only in the repair McGarrell. shop areas, but also in strivGWI was established 15 ing to recreate and upgrade years ago, following a mergour skills and lost abilities er of the Guyana Water in well-drilling and in other Authority (GUYWA) and areas generally throughout the Georgetown Sewerage the organisation,” he added. and Water Commissioners GWI’s month of cele- (GS&WC).

Drone-building added to robotics camp By Clestine Juan COME this August, Guyanese youths will get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn about building robotics and drones as part of the STEMGuyana summer camp which will be rolled out in three regions across the county. In the summer of 2016, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) camp launched a robotics building and programming camp at Lusignan, Buxton and Georgetown. Spearheading the project was STEM camp coordinator and United States-based Technology Consultant,Karen Abrams, who collaborated with First Lady Sandra Granger. More than 200 students benefited from that camp. This year, the group will be

STEM Coordinator, Karen Abrams planning a similar camp and will be adding a drone building and programming component. The camp will target students from ages 11-15 years old. Abrams, her husband Leon Christian, and their four children, the creators of K12Youthcode, a national virtual cod-

ing league for k-12 students, homeschoolers, clubs and national organisations based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, are the pioneers of the youth camp. Speaking to Guyana Chronicle, the United Statesbased technology consultant explained that the goal of the summer camp is to expose and prepare young people in Guyana for a future that will require knowledge of technology, and a culture of innovation and creativity. “These camps will build innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills in young students. It will also teach them the logic of programming and engineering,” Abrams noted. The technology consultant explained that the STEMGuyana group is preparing the National Robotics Team for competition in Washington DC in July 16 -18.

“More than 150 teams from around the world will be competing and we believe our young people will be prepared to compete at this level,” Abrams stressed. She explained that the camp is a fun and educative way to introducing young peo-

ple to computer programming and students do not need any special skill in drones to attend the camps. Application for the summer camps will commence at the end of May via online. Registration will also be done at the Cliff Anderson

Children at work at the robotics building and programming camp in 2016

Sports Hall from 10:00 hrs14:00 hrs on Saturdays. STEMGuyana is seeking additional sponsorship to purchase robot kits and drones for the programmes. The targeted amount is US$15,000. “We need to be able to purchase robot kits which are around US$375 each,also drones are around the same price….Many of our classes have around eight groups of students so we need to have an adequate supply of equipment,” Abrams said. Both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Telecommunications have given their support to the initiative. West Indian in the Woods, Awesome Events Party Rentals and Caribbean International Shipping -- all companies in the diaspora -- are sponsors of the STEMGuyana camps.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

Fire-proof homes to hit market –– Canada-based company plans introduction soon

By Zena Henry CANADA-BASED Green Heart Tree Energy Guyana Inc is about to take the local

of NGO boards, which has quality approval from the European Union (EU). NGO boards are green, so they are ideal for persons

anchored, a roof vapour barrier will be laid and then the galvanised sheeting. The NGO boards could be painted, cladded or laid with bricks. Anything done to a regular concrete or wooden house could be done to the boards. As it relates to extensions, Klass said that it is easier than having to destroy a concrete wall or hammering off wood when the entire NGO board could be lifted away. POSITIVE OPTION

tunities for saving lives in the event of a fire. This is because it would take some 20 to 30 minutes before the material could actually start to deteriorate under heat and around one hour for a house to be engulfed. “Fire is fire anywhere, it is destructive,” Klass said, but acknowledged the greater chance that exists in saving lives. NGO boards are made with magnesium oxide. While the end result is a green, beneficial construction material,

The company is nonetheless hopeful of establishing an NGO board factory here. “Our plan is to build a factory and manufacture the material,” Klass said. The only difference between his boards and local construction materials is the manufacturing content, but the material is just as reliable or even better. The CEO is convinced that once manufacturing of this material starts in Guyana, it will be in high demand. The factory will operate

with the company. Outside of building construction, Green Heart Tree Energy Guyana Inc provides solar services. With every home they build in Guyana, there will be a built-in system that allows each household some five hours of free, independent electricity. “From dusk to five hours afterwards, there will be complete electricity, independent of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL). Every home we build in Guyana will have that,” Klass said.

Canada-based, Green Heart Tree Energy Guyana Inc CEO Esmonde Klass construction industry by storm, with the introduction of eco-friendly building materials that will literally revolutionise the way structures are built in Guyana. The Guyanese company which is owned by majority shareholder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Esmonde Klass, is also interested in building a factory to manufacture materials locally to ensure access by all levels of income-earners. Klass told the Guyana Chronicle that his company is offering Guyanese green, fire-proof, easy-maintenance homes that are built to international standards. The CEO said his company has taken an existing construction technique and perfected it, using certain technologies. Having gone through rigorous testing and procedures, the company is the proud, patented owners

who suffer with allergies. They are heat absorbers and therefore keep the home cool, and serves a worthy element in preventing house fires, Klass related. Homes built with NGO boards are prefabs, which mean they are manufactured off-site and transported. Jerry Dziedzic, the company’s project coordinator explained. He said the house could be assembled at the factory or on-site, and with the right equipment it could be completed in just two days. Green Heart Tree Energy Guyana Inc is building two model homes for the Ministry of Housing’s upcoming Housing Expo. A three-bedroom, 75 sq. metre house which was being assembled would take the company two days to complete. Dziedzic said once the portions are set right into position, then they can be

The Polish team piecing together the three-bedroom house to be lifted and anchored All this makes the NGO board home a positive option for persons with low budgets, Klass opined. Green Heart Tree Energy Guyana Inc is expected to demonstrate the fire-resistant nature of its material at the expo. The company told the Guyana Chronicle that NGO boards provide greater oppor-

Pork-knocker arrested for 2016 murder

‘F’ Division (Interior locations) police have apprehended a 26-year-old pork-knocker for the murder of Richard Culpepper of One Mile, Potaro, who was fatally stabbed on October, 2, 2016. Culpepper was killed after a heated argument at Sand Hills, Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven). Reports indicate that Culpepper was with a group of men imbibing when a row began. It turned into a fight, and the suspect stabbed Culpepper in the chest with a knife. He then fled farther in the backlands Divisional Commander Rabindranauth

Budhram when contacted, confirmed that the suspect was apprehended Thursday at Omai, Mahdia district. He said the suspect is cooperating with the police. He explained that ‘disorderly murders’ have always been a problem in the hinterland, as most miners imbibe heavily and get into drunken brawls over women, among other things. He related that the leading contributors to these incidents are alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and worksite disputes involving workers and bosses.

the creation process is not that eco-friendly. Klass said the process of making NGO boards is “messy.” It involves the crushing of stone and burning it into a powder with the addition of other materials. To protect the environment, care must be shown during the process.

24 hours with three shifts, employing as much as 100 persons for a start. Production of the material is not a difficult task and Klass believes Guyanese will catch on quickly. He said that there is a Polish team currently working in Guyana and they are transferring their knowledge to the Guyanese team employed

The CEO said it took millions of dollars to complete engineers’ tests, patent and other processes to make the material fit for the market. Klass is excited to see the response of Guyanese to the product, since he is also interested in targeting the Caribbean market for export.

Police nab suspect in Bourda Market murder THE police have arrested a man who was preparing to head to Berbice on Friday in connection with the stabbing death of Jerome Cumberbatch at Bourda Market. Police said that Cumberbatch, 40, called “Kunta” of Lot 159 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, who did odd jobs at the market, became involved in an argument with another man, who stabbed him multiple times

on Thursday before fleeing. Cumberbatch collapsed and died at the scene. A sister of the destitute man said that her brother made a living picking up scrap metal. The body is at the Lyken Funeral Parlour. Persons at the market said the men are known for doing odd jobs around the market and they had a misunderstanding over money, which ended in the fatal stabbing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

Standards for elderly homes launched … visiting committee also put in place By Shirley Thomas

MINISTER of Social Protection, Amna Ally, on Thursday officially launched the Minimum Standards for the Elderly Residential Facilities in Guyana, after which she presented the six-member Visiting Committee that would work in tandem to ensure that elderly residential facilities are in compliance with those standards. Through this means, the Visiting Committee, in collaboration with the respective facilities, is now tasked with ensuring the elderly in such homes are provided the best possible care. The six-member committee introduced by Director of Social Services, Mr Whentworth Tanner and headed by Co-ordinator, Abike Benjamin-Samuels comprises: Dr Laura Pereira Amores; Ricardo Banwarie; Kester Garnett; Oonah Wendel Roberts; and Djamilsa Lambert. During the launch held at the Water and Cornhill Streets branch of the Ministry of Social Protection, an elated Minister Ally declared: “I am heartened and proud and I want to say that we are moving. We are beginning to understand that things like these – caring for our elderly is not just talk. So here we are, the Social Services Department of the Ministry of Social Protection …We’re not just ‘talking the talk,’ but ‘Walking the Walk.’ Minister Ally congratulated the Social Services Department under the leadership of Tanner, for taking this initiative to have the Minimum Standards for the Elderly Residential Facilities in Guyana launched, acknowledging the importance of having improved services for the elderly. Moreover, the minister said she is particularly proud that it was the first-ever committee of this nature. She noted too, that a similiar committee was launched for Child Protection, and stressed

that these committees are not being launched on books or on paper. Rather, what is of the essence, is what comes after their launch … What work is expected from them; How do we intend to better our system with their launch. The minister said that based on reports from the Child Protection Agency, that committee has been doing a wonderful job, visiting

diet for the elderly; eating peculiarities or diet restrictions and said the Visiting Committee will be expected to look at such matters. Ally was delighted that there is a medical doctor on the committee, who will be able to address such concerns. The minister cautioned the committee members that even where it is found that the people operating the homes

Minister Amna Ally addresses the launch of the Visiting Committee for Elderly Residential Facilities care centres for the children and already improvements are being seen. “I am heartened to say that I have very responsive and responsible officers, because when these visits are undertaken and recommendations made, wherever practicable, they implement them and that is something I have to congratulate my officers for -- for taking the lead in ensuring that any recommendations are implemented,” the minister said. Ally called for collaboration between the management and the administration of the entities with the Visiting Committee and the public, adding that there will be important suggestions in terms of making the institution better that can come from outsiders. She addressed the question of

do not offer the best service, the approach is not to dictate. “You are not going to dictate, you are going to help them to recognise where we can have improvements. What we can do to help the situation.” And for those caregivers who do not like to be told what to do, even when they are wrong, Minister Ally made it clear, “I am telling you… Our standards do not allow for that.” She said it was not by accident that the ministry has launched the committee, because with this committee, government wants to provide the best for our elderly. Meanwhile, Tanner spoke about the introduction of a platform for the sharing of experiences and maximization of resources and developing objective criteria for the future garnering of resources at the residential

Min Amna Ally (third from left) with members of the Visiting Committee. At second left (rear) is Mr Whentworth Tanner, Director of Social Services (Adrian Narine photos)

facilities. He said that the ministry will revise and introduce a licensing mechanism for these facilities, which will be undertaken by a multi-disciplinary inspectoral process. Stanley Egerton Cooke, a Member of the National Commission for the Elderly said that the task of devising minimum standards for the

committee has been completed. He proudly recalled that at a discussion with the Director of Social Services, he had indicated that members of this committee will be included in the visitations of homes; engage in auditing of all of the governmental and other homes and finding out what their needs are.

Cooke said the committee has already been visiting homes and would pass its findings and opinions to the Ministry of Social Protection. “And as we do that, those opinions will be inserted in the decision-making of the ministry and seeped into the Coordinator of National Policies.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

ACDA hails establishment of lands CoI

… says PPP never gave them lands THE African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) has applauded and welcomed the President David Granger-led Government in establishing the Commission of Inquiry into lands in Guyana. Since 2004, ACDA said it has been asking the former PPP administration for a Commission that would seek to remedy the forfeiture of lands bought by our ancestors. “In 2008, the late MP Deborah Backer responding to our pleas tabled a motion in Parliament to address this matter, but her motion was defeated by the PPP-dominated Parliament. Now in 2017, the Opposition once more seeks to deny African-Guyanese land justice,” ACDA said in a statement issued on Thursday. The organisation said African chattel slavery has been deemed a “crime against humanity,’ noting that the enslaved Africans who escaped this most brutish of crimes were often given refuge among First Nation Indians in many parts of the world. “Nicolas de Ovando, Governor of Hispaniola, first mentioned African and First Nation Indian interaction in a report, circa 1503. He noted that First Nation Indians generally knew the surrounding areas, avoided capture, and returned to help free enslaved Africans. Europeans feared a First Nation Indian-African alliance. (African- Native American Registry) And it seems so does the People’s Progressive Party and its leader Bharrat Jagdeo,” ACDA stated. According to the body, several First Nation IndianAfrican communities were formed in the Americas and in 1866, the Cherokee Nation signed a Treaty with the U.S. Government that recognised enslaved Africans who escaped and their offspring were full citizens. “Closer to home in neighbouring Suriname, First Nation Indians similarly rescued and gave refuge to enslaved Africans that escaped.” ACDA said in Guyana however, some First Nation Indians were bribed by Europeans to hunt enslaved Africans and return their body parts for payment. One of the reasons for this action by the Europeans were to keep the two peoples separated in Guyana and mutually hostile. “ACDA views the recent announcement of some of the First Nation Indians reactions to the formation of the CoI into land as part of a sinister PPP-instigated ploy to continue the slavery era European agenda to keep the two groups from uniting.” ACDA calls on the First Nation Indians in Guyana to unite with African-Guyanese to bring land justice to its African-Guyanese family, to resist the retelling of lies and misinformation told to them by the Opposition and to say yes to land justice for all peoples of Guyana. The association also believes that all Guyanese must share justly in the patrimony of the country and firmly reiterates that at no time has the PPP Government given any lands to the African Cultural & Development Association (ACDA).

Cop busted taking bribe A POLICE constable attached to ‘C’ Division, East Coast Demerara, is currently under close arrest for allegedly demanding a sum of money to release a minibus at Sparendaam Police Station, which was detained by police. According to a brief police release, ranks acted on information and a sting operation was launched which caught the cop in the act.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

D’Urban Park is being utlised daily – Harmon AMID criticisms about the move by the APNU+AFC coalition government to have this year’s Independence Anniversary flag-raising activity held at Independence Park (Parade Ground), Minister of State Joseph Harmon made it clear that the country has several national venues that can be used at any time. Speaking to reporters on Thursday during a post-cabinet press briefing, the minister made it clear that the D’ Urban Park venue constructed by the government last year, just in time for the country’s jubilee anniversary is not a ‘White Elephant.’ He took umbrage to the statement and made it clear that the facility is used daily by citizens. Government spent some $1B to develop the area in which D’ Urban Park is situated. “Since the D’ Urban Park was built, I can say to you at least once per month or more, that various organisations in this country have been using the park for various activities…every afternoon, you can go there, you just walk there and take your cameras, you see people are exercising, they are using the place, you see children playing, so it is not as is portrayed in your article,” Harmon said in response to a question by the Stabroek News. Stressing that the facility was built by the people for the people, Harmon noted that D’ Urban Park is not the only national facility available for use and said, “We have got D’ Urban Park, National Park, Public Buildings, Stadium, all of these are venues which can be utilised.” He noted that a ‘white elephant’ represents something that was built, but has not been used. He criticised a national publication for describing D’ Urban Park as a ‘white elephant,’ noting that on the same day the article was published, there was “a massive undertaking by churches in this country (there). The Ministry of Education’s Department of Culture had announced that the flag-raising ceremony for the upcoming 51st Independence Anniversary would be held at the Stabroek Market Square however, shortly after this was made public, it was announced that Parade Ground would be used instead.

Armed bandits drive away with taxi driver’s car A TAXI driver of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was robbed of his Toyota Spacio, HC 1179 and other valuables by two men, one armed with a handgun, at Eccles Industrial Site, Access Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Thursday night. The 59-year-old driver was also robbed of his passport, ID card, two cellphones and a bunch of keys at about 20:15hrs. According to reports, the victim, who plies his trade at Stabroek Market in the vicinity of Demico House, was hired by a man to go to Eccles New Scheme to pick up some tools. When the driver stopped at the traffic light at Eccles, the suspect told him to drive down the Eccles Industrial Site Access Road and stop in front a building with a high fence, which was under construction. At this point, the taxi driver said, a second man quickly approached the car and pointed a handgun at him and ordered that he switch off the car’s engine. The bandit who posed as a passenger then used duct tape to tie up the driver; however, the driver managed to free himself and escaped. The bandits then drove away with his motor car in a westerly direction and fired one shot. The police are investigating.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

CCJ throws out appeal by Guyanese drug-trafficker … slams ‘Culture of Delay’ GUYANA’S highest court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Thursday dismissed the appeal of Vishnu Bridgelall and refused to overturn his convictions on two drug-trafficking charges. The court, however, decided to alter his two consecutive five-year prison terms and instead ordered that they must run concurrently. Fines for the offences, totalling GY$ 254.4 million, remains in place. The CCJ also held that, given the unreasonable delay in the hearing of the appeal by the Court of Appeal, no order would be made for Mr. Bridgelall to be returned to prison. The court stated that it was entirely unacceptable that a person who is convicted and sentenced, but later declared a free man by a higher court, should have dangling over his head, for over six years, the possibility that he may have to return to prison to serve out his sentence. In May 2007, Mr. Vishnu Bridgelall was charged with two offences of being in possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. One charge was for 86.5 kilograms of cocaine found inside a house on the East Coast of Demerara and the other related to 20 kilograms found at the same premises that same day. Mr. Bridgelall and three other men were at the house when officers of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit discovered the drugs. One of the men, Mr Chandrika Chat-

tergoon, readily claimed that the drugs were his and subsequently pleaded guilty to both charges. The magistrate found, however, that Mr Bridgelall was also in possession of the cocaine and convicted him of both offences. His conviction was set aside by the Full Court in December, 2009 and he walked out of prison, after a total of 30 months, a free man. The appeal was not determined until October 2016 when the Court of Appeal restored the magistrate’s sentence. He then appealed to the CCJ. The CCJ found that the Full Court took a wrong approach to the facts of the case and wrongly interfered with the conclusions drawn by the magistrate. The CCJ agreed with the Court of Appeal that the magistrate was right to find that Mr Bridgelall knew about the cocaine and there was sufficient evidence to establish that he, the tenant of the property, had custody and control over the drugs. The CCJ also expressed concern about the consecutive prison terms imposed by the magistrate and the delay involved in the hearing of the appeal. The court noted that excessive delays are tolerated because there is now “a culture of complacency within the system towards delay” and that “judicial experience has shown that when [final appeal courts take] a firm position of intolerance towards this culture, the necessary measures are invariably introduced to enable and facilitate the reduction,

if not elimination, of unnecessary delay.” The CCJ declared that the State had breached Mr Bridgelall’s constitutional right to a fair hearing within a reasonable

Convicted drug-trafficker Vishnu Bridgelall time and that the proper remedy for this breach was to stop any further action to enforce the remainder of his prison sentence. The court was presided over by its President, the Right Honourable Sir Dennis Byron, along with Honourable Justices Saunders, Wit, Hayton and Rajnauth-Lee. Mr Bridgelall was represented by Attorneys-at-Law, Mr Sanjeev Datadin and Mr Ryan C Crawford. Ms Sonia Joseph and Ms Dionne Mc Cammon, Assistant Directors of Public Prosecutions, acted on behalf of officer Hardat Hariprashad, who had laid the charges.

Cops get more time to detain Covent Garden murder suspect AS the police await legal advice, they were granted an extension to keep the two suspects in custody for the stabbing to death of 16-year-old Covent Garden Secondary School student, Brian Charles Yearwood. It is alleged that the 17-year-old assailant, believed to be a school dropout, stabbed Yearwood in the region of the heart during a school concert on April 29, 2017. The police have recovered a knife, which is suspected to be the murder weapon. The teen was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, but it was too late as he

Dead: Brian Charles Yearwood was pronounced dead on arrival. His mother, Bev-

erly Yearwood, had told this newspaper that it was only last September that her son, who previously attended Central High, was transferred to the Covent Garden Secondary. The mother of five said she is puzzled as to what could have caused the other teen to react the way he did, as her son was not known to be a trouble-maker. She had never received a bad report about him, she said; he was independent, hardworking and even helped around the house without having to be told, and without any fuss.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

Aranaputa Processors hope for business take-off

THE Aranaputa Processors Friendly Society Group is optimistic that recent commitments made by private and public officials will be beneficial to the peanut-butter factory’s fortunes in the future. At the same time, the Region Nine administration is expected to honour a debt in which it owes the factory approximately $1M through the national school feeding programme. The Guyana Chronicle reported last month that the agro-processing facility was in “survival mode” and that several factors including a reduction in demand from the group’s main supporter, the Ministry of Education, has seen the agro-processing group grapple to remain afloat. While officials at the Education Ministry could not be reached, Sonia Sears of the factory told the Guyana Chronicle this week that it is the Region Nine administration which is indebted to the

factory and not the Education Ministry. Sears said that she received numerous calls following the publication of an article last month in the Guyana Chronicle on the state of the factory and according to her, a team of government officials subsequently visited the area this week. She said that the team included a senior official of the Education Ministry who informed her that it is the Region Nine administration which is tasked with making payments to the factory through its local budget for the school feeding programme. She said that Region Nine’s chairman , Bryan Allicock who was a part of the visiting team , informed the agro-processing group that when he returned to the town of Lethem , the region’s administrative capital , moves will be made to clear the debts. The factory is owed in excess of $983,000 through the school feeding programme. The sum

was dated back to September 2016 and was expected to increase at the end of the month of April. The factory supplies peanut butter as well as snacks in the form of cassava bread which is uniquely packaged and provided to

schools in the area. This publication understands that several private individuals whose businesses are related to agro-processing have also contacted the factory recently and they are expected to endorse the

Peanut butter which is produced by the Aranaputa Processors Friendly Society Group and retailed for approximately G$600.

entity’s products. “If that happens, it would be a surplus for us,” Sears said, noting that a businessman was expected to test the factory’s peanut butter on the local market as part of his plans to support locally produced goods. The New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC) has been a partner of the peanut butter factory as well as the Women Agro-Processors Development Network (WADN) . The peanut butter is usually sold at the New GMC shop on Robb Street near the Bourda Market. The WADN provides network support as well as advocate products and services of its partners. Last month, the group said it was seeking the intervention of the government or any organisation which can provide a grant in order for the agro-processing group to remain in business. Residents of the village told the Guyana Chronicle that the factory was the main image of Aranaputa . They

noted that most farmers in the area sold their peanuts to the factory and as such its closure would spell bad news for the farmers. Government has been working to improve village economics through agro-processing ventures. On the occasion of World Food Day in 2015, President David Granger reaffirmed his government’s commitment to promoting value addition and agro-processing as part of enhancing the lives of Guyanese. “Our Government will seek to move increasingly into value-added food production; we will seek greater investment in agro-processing and we will take steps to stimulate cottage industries; what we call bottom house industries, thereby creating jobs, providing reliable sources of income particularly for women and young people coming out of school,” the President said at the time.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 6, 2017

Arrival Day A small replica of the SS Whitby, the ship which brought 128 indentured labourers from India to Plantation Highbury on May 5, 1838.

In the large crowd at Plantation Highbury, this little lady managed to capture President David Grangerâ€™s attention

Citizens turned out in their numbers at this annual event to pay homage to their ancestors who came to this country 179 years ago.

Sections of the audience at the ceremony which marked the 179th anniversary of Indian Arrival in Guyana

Celebrating the diversity of Guyanese society

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 6, 2017

y scenes President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo exchange pleasantries at the event

Photos by: Ministry of the Presidency and Office of the Prime Minister

Persons re-enacted the arrival of the first East Indian settlers at Highbury.

These dancers from the Indian Cultural Centre entertained the gathering at Pushpanjali 17 at the Indian Monument Gardens, Camp and Church Streets, Georgetown on Friday in observance of Indian Arrival Day (Adrian Narine photo)

The Nrityageet Dancers performing for the large turnout at Plantation Highbury, East Bank Berbice .

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, second from left, is accompanied by Regional Chairman David Armogan on arrival at Plantation Highbury

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 6, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 6, 2017

MHS, CWSS rule at Inter-School Relay Festival … UG win Tertiary category

MHS Marlon Williams anchors the win in the Boys’ Under-14 4x100m. IT WAS no surprise when another easy win as Skeete Linden-based Mackenanchored and stopped the zie High School (MHS) clock at 1:55.10 seconds. and Christianburg/WisIn the sprint medley mar Secondary Schools the team ended the race at (CWSS) took the top 2:00.10s. two spots in the National CWSS, however, picked Schools Relay Champiup a gold in the Boys’ Unonships on Wednesday at der-18 4x100m in a time of the National Track and 45.80 seconds, the MHS Field Centre at Leonora team anchored by Daniel on the West Coast of DeWilliams finished in a time merara. of 46.20 seconds. CWSS However, it was seaagain triumphed over MHS soned athletes, Chantoba in the Boys’ Under-18 disBright, Onasha Rogers, tance medley, clocking a Deshanna Skeete, and time of 3:38.30s. Daniel Williams who gave In individual events LeMHS the edge over CWSS, ona James (MHS) won the as MHS put together 108 Girls’ Under-18 800m run points to win the Secondary in a time of 2:43.10s. Schools division. Over in the Tertiary catCWSS followed with egory the University of 83 points while West DeGuyana (UG) overwhelmed merara Secondary finished their competition to take third with 78 points. the top spot in that division. West Demerara clained Led by Kezia Bess, the UG second place in the female female side won the 800m Team category. The Girls’ sprint medley (2:00.60s), Under-14 team of Destiny and the 4x100m (54.10s). Castello, Shontavia Boyce, Others on the team inCrystal Carryl and Haikada cluded Merissa Tucker, Hilliman, put on a spirited Fiona Mentis, and Kenisha run to win the 4x100m in MHS Onasha Rogers be- Prescott. fore starting the 4x100m 55.90 seconds Second place in both The Boys’ Under-14 races went to the Mahai4x100m win went to MHS, West Demerara edged them cony Technical Vocational with a gapped finish an- out for the Girls’ Team sec- Training Institute. chored by Marlon Wil- ond place win. In the Tertiary men’s In the Girls’ Under-18 distance medley, Rayon liams. MHS had finished with 4x100m, it was Rogers who Abrams opened for the both the Boys’ and Girls’ gave the team a powerful UG team, while Salim Team wins. However, while start to finish with a time Yussuf finished off the CWSS placed second in the of 50.40 seconds. In the team’s win in a time Boys’ side, with 48 points, 4x200m, the team took 3:27.70s.

FIFA appeal committee lif ts Messi suspension (REUTERS) FIFA’s Appeal Committee has lifted a fourmatch international ban imposed on Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi for insulting an assistant referee. “Despite the fact that the FIFA Appeal Committee considered Lionel Messi’s behaviour as reproachable,

the former concluded that the evidence available was not sufficient to establish ... (sanctions) could be applied,” the committee said in a statement yesterday. It upheld an appeal brought by the Argentinian Football Association on behalf of the player who was

suspended for insulting a match official during his country’s 1-0 win over Chile in March. The incident was not punished during the game and the official, a Brazilian, said he did not realise at the time that Messi was swearing at him.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 6, 2017

Superb Sandeep spell sets up another RCB collapse IT WAS another poor batting display from Royal Challengers Bangalore as Kings XI Punjab boosted their IPL play-off hopes with a 19-run win. Sandeep Sharma’s terrific opening spell inspired Kings XI Punjab to a 19-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore, whose batting woes continued yesterday. The seamer took 3-22 and became the first man in IPL history to dismiss Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in one match as Kings XI gave their play-off hopes a boost by successfully defending 138-7. In their last five matches, RCB had posted scores including 49 all out, 134 all out and 96-9 but even with confidence low and a slow pitch making life difficult, the visitors’

Sandeep Sharma leaps into the air after dismissing Virat Kohli, (AFP)

first-innings total appeared eminently gettable. That proved not to be the case, however, as a star-studded

top order featuring the aforementioned trio were blown away by Sandeep, who bowled his four overs through at the

start before RCB crumbled to 119 all out. Mandeep Singh’s 46 from 40 balls was the best the hosts

could muster, but when he was cleaned up by skipper Glenn Maxwell (2-15), RCB were 73-6 and staring down the barrel of a ninth defeat from 12 that leaves them rooted to the foot of the table. Conversely, Kings XI moved to within three points of the top four with a game in hand, although their triumphant finish to this match was a far cry from the first over, which saw Hashim Amla depart for one, opening partner Martin Guptill (9) soon following. Shaun Marsh (20) and Manan Vohra (25) made contributions of sorts, but the run rate remained below six an over and the visitors’ cause was not helped by Maxwell holing out for six to leave them 78-5 in the 14th over. Wriddhiman Saha - who es-

caped a terrible missed stumping when he was on just one - made 21 and contributed to a stand of 34 alongside Axar Patel, who took 19 off Shane Watson in the final over to finish unbeaten with 38 from 17. Sandeep carried the momentum gained from Axar’s cameo into the reply and had Gayle held at point without scoring, before Kohli (6) was cleaned up in his next over and de Villiers (10) edged behind in his third. Opener Mandeep provided home fans with a degree of hope, striking five boundaries and two sixes, but Maxwell and Axar (3-11) ran through the lower order before Mohit Sharma (2-24) brought an end to another miserable RCB batting display. (Sportsmax)

Djokovic splits with coaching team in bid to rediscover spark (REUTERS) - World number two Novak Djokovic ditched his entire coaching team yesterday saying he needs to rediscover the “spark” that has been absent from his game since he won the 2016 French Open. In a lengthy statement on his website, the 29-year-old Serb said he had parted ways with coach Marian Vajda as well as fitness coach Gebhard Phil Gritsch, and physio Miljan Amanovic. Djokovic was knocked off the top of the ATP rankings last November by Britain’s Andy Murray and shortly afterwards split with Boris Becker whom he added to his team in 2013.

He won six of his 12 grand slam titles with German former world number one Becker in his corner. The decision, according to Djokovic, was made at the Monte Carlo Masters where he was beaten in the quarterfinals by Belgium’s David Goffin, the latest in a run of surprise losses. “I am forever grateful to Marian, GG and Miljan for a decade of friendship, professionalism and commitment to my career goals,” Djokovic said. “Without their support I couldn’t have achieved these professional heights. “It was not an easy decision, but we all felt that we need a change. I enjoy this journey, it feels like I am starting some-

thing new again and I love this challenge. “I am a hunter and my biggest goal is to find the winning spark on the court again.” Djokovic has struggled since completing his career grand slam by winning the French Open last year. He suffered a shock thirdround defeat by Sam Querrey at Wimbledon and although he reached the U.S. Open final, he was beaten by Swiss Stan Wawrinka. The biggest shock came at the Australian Open where the six-time champion lost to 117th-ranked Denis Istomin in the second round. He also suffered successive defeats to Australia’s Nick

Novak Djokovic

Kyrgios in Acapulco and Indian Wells before missing the Miami Open with an elbow injury. Djokovic’s overhaul by

Murray at the top of the rankings ended a run of more than two years as number one for the Serb who has spent 223 weeks

at the summit during his career. Djokovic, who had been with Slovakia’s Vajda since 2006, said he will go it alone for the time being as he searched for a new head coach. “I feel like this is a new chapter in my life,” he said. “I have been on the tour long enough to know how to manage daily routines and I don’t want to rush my decision. “I will be on the tour alone for a while with support of my family and management.” Djokovic is not the first top player to be without a coach. Murray has flown solo on occasions, as has 18-time grand slam champion Roger Federer.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 6, 2017

Simbine upstages top field to win in Doha AKANI Simbine outshone esteemed company in the first meet of the Diamond League season, while Elaine Thompson got one up on Dafne Schippers. Justin Gatlin, Andre De Grasse and Asafa Powell were upstaged on the opening day of the Diamond League with Akani Simbine winning the men’s 100 metres

in Doha. South African Simbine, who has been more active than his rivals this season, was the only sprinter to dip below 10 seconds at 9.99 against a headwind as he kicked off his campaign with the maximum eight points. Reigning champion Powell came in second with a

season’s best 10.08, while Gatlin and De Grasse – silver and bronze medallists at Rio 2016 respectively – finished behind Femi Ogunode. “I’m happy with my shape now, just to come up here and set a motivation for the rest of the season is what I was hoping for,” said Simbine. Elaine Thompson was

Postponement due to inclement weather works well in favour of athletes

LAST Sunday’s postponement of the second edition of the Boyce and Jefford Relay and Family Fun Day due to the inclement weather conditions that day worked very much in favour of the athletes. The postponement of the event which will now be staged tomorrow at the Guyana Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, gave the track athletes, the footballers and the cyclists an additional seven days to get in shape for the much anticipated event. Those benefiting the most are the footballers who will be involved in a five-a-side tournament

to get the technical and tactical aspects of the shorter version of the game in order. It also allowed for newcomers to the shorter version of the sport – Kamanias – to get registered for the activity. At stake in the football tournament is $50 000 for the winning team and $25 000 for the runners-up. According to some players, the extra time to prepare for the tournament allowed them to get in shape physically and mentally as they organised training sessions over the past week. Among the teams registered to participate tomorrow are; Sparta Boss, Back

Circle, West Front Road, Agricola Champion Boys, Bent Street, Sophia, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Camp Street All Stars and Broad Street Bullies. Meanwhile, in the track relays this year, there will be competition in the 4x100m (male and female); 4x400m (male and female); 4x200m (mixed); 4x440m (mixed); sprint medley females (100m, 200m and 400m); sprint medley males (100m, 200m, 400m and 800m); distance medley females (400m, 600m, 800m and 2400m); distance medley male (400m, 600m, 800m and 2800m).

a double gold medallist in Brazil and she continued her dominance by beating rival Dafne Schippers in the women’s 200m. Kendra Harrison produced a routine performance for eight points in winning the women’s 100m hurdles and Caster Semenya impressed to triumph in the women’s 800m with a

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time of one minute 56.61secs as Genzebe Dibaba – the former 1500m world record holder making her debut in the event – finished fifth. Ronald Kwemoi produced a world leading time of seven minutes 28.73secs to snatch glory in the men’s 3 000m, while Hyvin Kiyeng overtook world record holder Ruth Jebet on the final bend

to win the women’s 3 000m steeplechase. The home fans went wild when Qatari Mutaz Essa Barshim won the men’s high jump with a world leading 2.36m and Olympic champion Thomas Rohler dominated the men’s javelin - his effort of 93.90m the second longest in history. (Sportsmax)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 6, 2017

Phillips remains Guyana’s brightest female sprint prospect. IN 2013 she began to gain stride and by 2015 Guyana’s Kenisha Phillips was hailed among the best next generation of Guyanese athletics, driven by the historic fastest-ever 12-second 100m win at the National Schools Championships. Phillips remains Guyana’s brightest female sprint prospect, but despite all her accomplishments locally, the Buxtonian continues to struggle to find her footing regionally. She believes nervousness has been her major issue, but as time progresses, Phillips says working on her confidence will be her top priority when she hits the track at the big meets. Phillips recently was among the 12 athletes who represented Guyana at the CARIFTA Games last month in Curacao, where she took part in the Girls’ youth 100m and 200m but returned medal-less. “A lot of people - with this being my second year - expected me to perform better, but I was nervous,” she declared.

Kenisha Phillips

It was another disappointment for the 16-year-old, who had only last November failed to medal at the South American Youth Championships, and also had a difficult time medalling at CARIFTA 2016. Despite clocking great

times prior to attending overseas meets, Phillips clocks some of her slowest times at overseas meets. At CARIFTA, in the 200m, Phillips ended 24.92 seconds, her slowest time of the season, after clocking her personal best

Kenisha Phillips in a relax mood.

24.47 seconds just a month earlier. In the 100m she finished with a time of 12.15 seconds, despite a SB 11.84 seconds. Nonetheless, she is not worried about the past, adding that she is focused about her

future. “I was a little disappointed because I didn’t even run my personal best. But right now I’m trying to put it behind me and hope for the best next year. I just have to try to forget about it and keep training,” she said

when Chronicle Sport caught up with her training at the National Park earlier this week. As she moves on, Phillips wants to focus more on building her confidence with the ultimate aim to emulate her idol Usain Bolt.

ICC announces major boost to Women’s World Cup prize-money THE ICC has approved a tenfold increase in prize-money for the Women’s World Cup this year, with $2M up for grabs at the tournament, which begins in England next month. At the 2013 Women’s World Cup, which was won by Australia, the total prize fund was $200 000. “ T h e I C C Wo m e n ’s World Cup is the pinnacle of the women’s game and as such the players should be rewarded appropriately,” the ICC chief executive, David Richardson, said. “Two million dollars is the first step towards greater parity and recognition. The prize fund for the 2013 edition was just $200 000, and this announcement shows a greater level of commitment than ever before. “The change will not happen overnight but the

women’s game is crucial to the global growth of cricket. There is undoubtedly an audience for it - there were almost 18 million views of highlights of the Women’s World Cup Qualifier earlier this year and we need to grow that further. There is greater depth in the women’s game and that is leading to increased competitiveness which is what fans want to see. “We think the Women’s World Cup this summer will be a turning point in the history of the game. There is growing interest globally in women’s sports and we want cricket to be front and centre of this and to lead by example.” The ICC also announced that for the first time in the event’s history, every match of the Women’s World Cup would be broadcast either on

television or live-streamed. As part of the broadcast, the DRS will be introduced into women’s cricket for the first time. “I am delighted with the commitment shown to the growth of the women’s game by the ICC,” Clare Connor, the chair of the ICC Women’s Committee, said. “The significant uplift in prize money since 2013 and the ambition of future parity, along with every game being broadcast are huge moments for the sport. “To recognise the players in this way demonstrates the value women’s cricket can add to the game globally and I know we’ll see some exceptional cricket this summer that can grow our fan-base around the world.” (ESPNCricinfo)

The Women’s World Cup will be accompanied by a major hike in prize money this year. (AFP)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 6, 2017

Vasbert Drakes charts path to Women’s World Cup

ARNOS Vale, St Vincent – Vasbert Drakes, head coach of the West Indies Women’s cricket team, said, “The recently-concluded Super50 was the perfect opportunity to see the best women in the region, also for those players to fine-tune the skills necessary to effectively compete in that format of the game.” Drakes is set to head to England later this month with a squad to put in final preparations for the Women’s World Cup this summer. While admitting that there is quite a bit of work to be done, the coaching veteran was particularly encouraged and excited by the emergence of some fine raw talent throughout the region. Drakes was careful, however, not to get too carried

Vasbert Drakes away with new players who may have come unto the selectors’ radar. While he believes the talent throughout the region is immense and will continue to grow, Drakes

doesn’t see the entire makeup of the team being dynamically shifted, right before such a major tournament. He stated, “I think we were always looking at a core

group of players that we believe can compete at the World Cup; but obviously, we are now in the process of selecting the final squad. There are some young players who I think may have come into contention.” Drakes was careful not to call names, as the decision ultimately isn’t his solely to make, but noted that positive performances by all regional players can only be good for the West Indies team. He spoke highly of the “healthy competition” created by such. The head coach since 2015 loves the enthusiasm and eagerness which was displayed in the tournament. He is quite grateful for players wanting to learn, wanting to develop and wanting to eventually become a part of the regional team. “You can definitely see

the energy, you can see the work-ethic. “That will always serve well for West Indies Cricket, if you have young players who have that belief that they can knock on the door and eventually push their way into the team,” Drakes proclaimed. He was also pleased with the performances of some of the established West Indies players. He noted that they were the ones who had matchwinning performances for their teams in many instances. Drakes is very cognizant of the fact that the conditions in St Vincent would have heavily favoured the bowlers. Therefore, he is not too disappointed with the tournament having been low-scoring in general. He instead viewed the fact that some players were able to get big totals on

at least a few occasions as a positive. It underlined their class and showcased their ability to quickly adapt to diverse conditions. This is a trait which will be important, while experiencing differing pitches throughout England in the summer. Another big positive for Drakes was the team’s ability to defend their targets, clearly identifying bowling as the general strong suite in the region. Overall, the tournament proved very exciting and beneficial. It gave the selectors and coaching staff a great opportunity to assess where the players are in their preparation, before going into a training camp, which will be held in Barbados prior to leaving for England on May 31.

Celina All-Stars to play Bristol to ‘adopt’ ‘AK 47’ Swag Entertainment

CELINA All-Stars will play Swag Entertainment in the final of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets Linden leg this evening, at the Mackenzie Market tarmac. In Thursday’s semi-final the All-Stars team dominated Team 25, 2-0, with Keon Seth and Kenard Simon finding the back of the net. Semi-final two was a high-scoring contest, with Swag Entertainment thrashing Jermaine and Family Silver Bullets 4-1. Colwyn Drakes’ 4th minute strike opened the scoring for the eventual winners before Shane Luckie added the second in the 9th minute. Jermaine Samuels’ 19th minute strike gave the Silver Bullets side a glimmer of hope but that was cut short just six minutes later when Drakes struck for a second time. Drakes completed his hat-trick and closed the game 4-1 in the 32nd minute, ensuring his team moved onto the semi-finals. Tonight’s final will take place after the third-place game between Team 25 and Jermaine and Family Silver Bullets. The winners will receive the top prize of $400 000, with second-placers securing $150 000, third-placers $75 000 and fourth-placers $50 000. CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday May 06, 2017) 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: ► Mohammed Abass & Shadab Khan ► Shimron Hetmyer & Vishaul Singh Today’s Quiz: ► How many Test matches WI Shannon Gabriel has played to date? ► How many runs were scored and how many wickets fell on the second day of the second WI/PAK Test of the current series? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

OVERSEAS-based boxing manager and promoter, Seon Bristol, has pledged to adopt Caribbean super heavyweight champion Jason `AK 47’ Barker as a `son’ leading up to his December 26 Boxing Day card. Bristol told Chronicle Sport that his Bris ‘O’ Promotion Company had promised to have several boxers adopted before the card, which would allow for much-needed assistance to be offered to those selected. “We have asked that our former boxers and supporters adopt a current fighter for this upcoming card. So you may find Lennox Blackmoore, Kenny Bristol, Whinfield Braithwaite,

Jason Barker Gairy St Clair and so on adopting sons. This would ensure that the current boxers have what it takes to be properly prepared from the Boxing Day tournament,” Bristol

Seon Bristol said. Barker, an inmate of the Georgetown Prison, won the Caribbean super heavyweight title last December in Barbados and will defend the crown in StLucia later

this year. He is the national heavyweight champion and has remained undefeated since losing to Quincy `Biggy’ Small in the National Open in October 2014. Bristol said details of the undertaking would be worked out with the 6” 2” orthodox fighter and the prison authorities when he (Bristol) returns to Guyana shortly. When contacted, president of the Guyana Boxing Association Steve Ninvalle welcomed the move. “Mr Bristol has been finding new ways to give back to the sport. We applaud his latest show of generosity and hope that others would follow,” Ninvalle said.

Wild Oats claim Simon’s inaugural softball title WILD Oats kept Invaders Masters at bay to earn a five-run victory to claim inaugural Simon’s memorial softball 10/10 tournament, played last Sunday at the Zorg ground in South Essequibo. Batting first, Wild Oats posted 123-7 from 10 overs, with Na rendra Mandolall making a top score of 38. He received valuable support from Marvin Pearson 22. Ramesh Narine had 3-14 from two overs. In reply, Invaders Masters were restricted to 118-7 after their overs expired. Brief innings of 26 from Raj Rambarack and 22 from Beesham Seepersaud high-

lighted their run chase. Narendra Mandolall returned with the ball to claim 3-17 and was supported by Daniel Bholo who took 3-24 to seal victory. Earlier in the one-day event, Wild Oats humbled Simon’s XI in the first playoff. Batting first, Wild Oats raced to 155-7 in their 10 overs, with Rajiv Kissoon hitting 46, Suraj Rajah 42 and Parmanand Persaud 34. Leyland Simon took 2-27 from his two overs. Simon’s XI in response were bowled out for 98 in nine overs, with contributions from Ryan Heyliger 29 and Trevis

Simon 20. There were two wickets each for Marvin Pearson, Daniel Bholo and Ravindra Singh. In the second game, Invaders Masters secured a comprehensive 10-wicket win against Zorg Sports Club. Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Zorg Sports Club reached 105-9 from 10 overs, with Rovin Samaroo top-scoring with 32. Richie Bishop had 3-19. In the run chase, former national T20 batsman Ramesh Narine stroked an unbeaten 52, and, along with 48 not out from Gopaul Deen, achieved their target, reaching 108 without loss in seven

overs. Meanwhile, in the female 15 overs-a-side hardball exhibition match, Zorg Sports Club defeated Capoey All Stars by 18 runs. Batting first, Zorg Sports Club were bowled out for 115 to which Capoey All Stars replied with 97-7 when their overs were completed. During the presentation, Wild Oats received the winners’ trophy and $50 000, while Invaders Masters collected $25 000 and a trophy. The female winners received $15 000 and a trophy, while Capoey All Stars also received $10 000 and a

2017 Games for today May 6, 2017 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Supergiants at Hyderabad. Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians at Delhi.

Windies win over Pakistan a step in the right direction - Holder

WEST Indies captain Jason Holder has hailed a must-win game against Pakistan as a step in the right direction, as the regional team look to improve their overall standings in world cricket. Spurred on by a five-wicket haul from Shannon Gabriel the Windies coasted to a series-levelling 106-run win over Pakistan at Kensington Oval. On a worn-out final day pitch the West Indies dismissed Pakistan for 81 in pursuit of 188 to win. “We had to win the game. We had to win the game to keep the series alive. Everybody knew what was at stake and we wanted to win the game. We want to win the series and we need to start making strides in the right

direction,” Holder said following a post-match press conference. The win was the second Test match victory for the West Indies in three Tests and Holder is hopeful it can spur the team to a series win when the third match begins in Dominica on Wednesday. “Everybody knew the importance of the game and it was all about giving a big effort. I told the guys to leave everything out on the park. We highlighted a few areas before this game that we wanted to touch on and I feel we really hit them. It’s just about being consistent and carrying it into Dominica. “The series is wide open and we have the perfect opportunity to win it,” he added. (Sportsmax)

Jason Holder celebrates one of his three wickets on the final day of the second Test against Pakistan on Thursday. (Photo courtesy WICB Media)

MHS, CWSS rule at Inter-School Relay Festival … UG win Tertiary category

See page 27

FIFA appeal committee lifts Messi suspension

The West Demerara win 4x100m. Team from left: Binka Joseph, Carry Crystal, Shontavia Boyce and Destiny Castello. Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

See page 27

Lionel Messi SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2017