Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_06_18_2019

TUESDAY 18th June, 2019

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No.105672

BRIGHT PROSPECTS ‌IMF predicts economic growth for Guyana in 2019

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‌says influx of migrants could put strain on hinterland communities

Task Force to craft urban development master plan ...Communities Minister, Energy Director praise timeliness PAGE

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Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, third from left, is flanked by, from left to right: Ministry of Communities, Chief Planning Officer, Mr. Roger Rogers; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Annette Ferguson; Chief Development Planner, Ms. Germene Stewart, Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams; Mayor of Georgetown, His Worship Ubraj Narine; Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan; Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Jaipaul Sharma; Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Alfred Mentore and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communities, Mr. Emil McGarrell

High expectations for CCJ ruling today

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CANU seized 171.5 kilos of cocaine in 2018

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GTT targets over 150 men for Prostate Cancer screening

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 18, 2019

High expectations for CCJ ruling today WILL Guyana head to early elections? The country would know today when the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) hands down its decision on the validity of the No-Confidence Motion brought against the Coalition Government.

The Motion, which was cleared by the National Assembly and the High Court, was invalidated by the Court of Appeal last March. The landmark ruling is being made approximately one month after oral arguments were heard in the consolidated appeals challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision to invalidate the Motion. The arguments were presented to a panel of five judges, led by President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders in the Trinidad-based court.

Last December, the Par-

liamentary Opposition, by way of a No-Confidence Motion, attempted to topple the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government.

But while Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, in the High Court, upheld the decision of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland that the Motion was carried by a majority of 33 votes, the Court of Appeal invalidated the Motion on the basis that an absolute majority of 34 votes were needed. The Opposition had secured the support of then Government Member of Parliament Charrandass Persaud to get an edge over the Government in House, but even with that extra vote, the Court of Appeal, by a 2-1 margin, ruled that an absolute majority of the

Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

65-Member National Assembly is 34.

The March 22 decision of the Court of Appeal was

subsequently appealed at the CCJ. Those appeals are: Christopher Ram v The Attorney-General, the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon and the Guyana Elections Commission; Bharrat Jagdeo v The Attorney-General, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Joseph Harmon and the Guyana Elections Commission; and Charrandass Persaud v Compton Reid, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Attorney-General, Bharrat Jagdeo, Joseph Harmon and the Guyana Elections Commission.

Today, the CCJ will also rule on the appeal challenging the President’s decision to appoint Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, Chairman of GECOM. In the case Zulfikar Mustapha vs Attorney-General, both the

High Court and the Court of Appeal had ruled that Justice (Ret’d) Patterson’s appointment by President Granger was legitimate.

In October 2017, President Granger swore in Justice (Ret’d) Patterson as Chairman of GECOM after rejecting three lists of nominees totaling 18 names submitted by the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo on the grounds that they were unacceptable within the meaning of the Constitution of Guyana. Faced with three unacceptable lists, the President resorted to the proviso found within Article 161 (2), which permits him to independently appoint a chairman.

Taxi driver found dead

…car submerged in water A FAMILY’S worst fears were confirmed on Monday afternoon, following the discovery of the lifeless body of taxi driver Lynsay Grant on the banks of the Adventure Canal, East Berbice, Corentyne at

his phone kept forwarding to voicemail, an uneasy felling came over the family that quickly turned into panic.

They mounted a search with family members checking as late as 04:00hrs Monday along the Adventure

Freeman Davis points to the spot where Lynsay Grant’s body and car were found

around 14:00 hrs.

The Grant family, of Adventure Village, was a bit worried when Lynsay,38, the head of the household, did not return as he usually does every day. And as the night wore on, and calls to

to Black Bush route where Grant, a part-time taxi driver, was last seen plying his trade. The family continued the search as dawn approached to no avail, and decided to make a report at the Whim Police Station a

little after lunch.

However, at around 14:00hrs, a taxi driver called out to Natasha Ramborose, Grant’s wife, at their home a short distance away, indicating that a body was found by the roadside. Fighting back tears while speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Natasha said she jumped into a car and as soon as she reached the scene, she blacked out as she spotted her husband’s body. “When the car reach, I see people surrounding the area. And just as I meet where I could see, he look like he was sleeping, and people did crying. So I realise he was dead… I don’t remember what happened next, but they said I get blackout,” the woman related.

Ramborose said the next thing she recalled was seeing the mangled Black Toyota Sienta, bearing registration number HC 3695, being pulled from the canal next to where his body was found.

Grant’s body was found approximately eight feet away from the edge of the canal, behind some flattened boulanger trees. Next to him, a short distance away, was a pillow he kept in the car.

The car itself was submerged in the canal, its roof barely

Dead: Lynsay Grant

visible.

It is unclear how the body reached the banks of the canal. Some at the scene were of the view that he crawled out from the wreckage, while others are of the view that he was flung from the vehicle as it reportedly careened off the road and toppled, before ending up in the drainage canal.

His body was discovered by one Freeman Davis, called “Bad eye”, a farmer who went to check on his garden at around 13:15hrs. Davis told the Guyana Chronicle that

he was in the garden clearing some bushes when he noticed that a part of the fence he’d put up to keep animals out was broken. His initial thoughts were that it was vandalised by persons to get to his boulangers, but as he investigated, he saw someone lying on the ground. “I see de person lie down deh, and meh call out, but he nah answer. And den meh remember persons seh

Davis recalled.

Meanwhile, Grant’s mother, 64-year-old Kamela Bailey, called “Sister Bailey” said she tried calling him on Sunday to wish him a Happy Father’s Day. “But I didn’t get through. I went to him later in the day. Today we searched all over in Black Bush, because that’s where persons last saw him.”

As news of the man’s demise spread, his fellow hire car drivers, family and friends gathered at his home to comfort his

The wrecked car

Lynsay had on grey clothes.

Suh, meh nah guh further; meh start hollah out and call people, leh dem come see,”

grieving family. He was described as a jovial, caring, hardworking and exceptional man.

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BRIGHT PROSPECTS

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 18, 2019

…IMF predicts economic growth for Guyana in 2019 …says influx of migrants could put strain on hinterland communities

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) Monday said that economic growth strengthened in Guyana last year with broad expansion across all major sectors and is predicting economic growth in excess of four per cent this year.

It said that real gross domestic product (GDP) growth grew by 4.1 per cent, up from 2.1 per cent the [previous year and was led by the construction and services sectors. The IMF, which has a mission currently here holding talks with various stakeholders, said that inflation remained steady at 1.6 per cent at the end of last year on the back of stable food prices and exchange rate.

“For 2019, the mission projects real economic growth of 4.4 per cent, driven by continued strength in the construction and services sectors ahead of oil production in 2020, and strong recovery in mining,” the IMF said in a statement, adding that the authorities do not foresee any significant spillovers from the crisis in Venezuela at present.

INFLUX OF MIGRANTS “However, the influx of migrants into the hinterland and rural areas could put socio-economic pressures on the local communities,” it warned, with respect to the number of Venezuelans fleeing the South American country as a result of the economic and political turmoil.

The IMF said weaker export performance and higher imports driven by high value imports related to oil production contributed to a weaker current account balance. In 2018, the current account deficit rose to 17.5 per cent of GDP, from 6.8 per cent in

2017. It said the deficit was largely financed by foreign direct investments (FDI) related to the petroleum sector and that reserves stood at US$528 million in December 2018.

The Washington-based financial institution said that public finances in Guyana improved in 2018. The central government’s deficit was 3.5 per cent of GDP, lower than the budgeted 5.4 per cent of GDP. The better-than-expected outturn was largely supported by stronger revenues arising from the pick-up in economic activity, as well as continued improvements in tax administration and the tax amnesty program which relaxed interest and penalties on payments of outstanding taxes.

“In addition, expenditure grew at a weaker pace due to slower capital spending as a result of capacity issues in both the public and private sector. In 2019, the fiscal stance is projected to be appropriately expansionary, at 5 percent of GDP, driven by significant need for infrastructure development and capacity building ahead of oil production,” the IMF said.

FAVOURABLE PROSPECTS It said Guyana’s medium-term prospects are very favourable. The commencement of oil production in 2020 presents an opportunity to scale-up capital and current spending at a measured pace over the medium term to address infrastructure gaps and human development needs, while attenuating debt sustainability concerns at the same time. The IMF mission said it welcomed the passage of the Natural Resource Fund

(NRF) legislation for managing the country’s natural resource wealth, saying it underscores the authorities’ commitment to fiscal respon-

waste, and minimize macroeconomic distortions related to “Dutch” disease that has often inflicted economies experiencing sizable increases

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

sibility.

“To ensure fiscal responsibility is achieved, the mission recommends complementing the NRF legislation with a fiscal framework that constrains borrowing and achieves a balanced budget in the near- to medium-term,” the statement noted. “To achieve this target, the annual non-oil deficit should not exceed the expected transfer from the NRF. This would ensure that excessive public expenditure will not lead to debt growing at the same time as the NRF accumulates.

“It is also necessary to preserve the spirit of the NRF framework, which appropriately aims to save part of the income from oil as net wealth for future generations. The pace of scaling-up public spending needs to be gradual to reduce bottlenecks from absorptive capacity constraints, avoid

in resource-based income.”

The IMF said it supports the continued efforts by the authorities to strengthen institutional, governance and management practices, which will also help reduce vulnerability to corruption. It commends the ongoing efforts in modernising the revenue administration and strengthening the public investment management system. At the same time, the IMF reiterates the importance of addressing the weaknesses identified in the 2017 Public Investment Management Assessment.

“Greater urgency is attached to these reforms ahead of the expected increase in public spending as oil production begins. The mission notes authorities’ intent to move to rigorous project selection and prioritization criteria within the context of the new long-term Green State Development Strategy.”

Man in court for possession of firearm TWENTY-two-year-old Byal Devinandan, of Soesdyke-Linden Highway, on Monday appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Providence Magistrate’s Court to answer to a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm.

The Court was told that Devinandan committed the offence back

in February of 2018 on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

It is alleged that in February of 2018, Devinandan found the weapon in the backlands of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and thought it belonged to his relative, but failed to make a report to the police.

Previously, the court was told that

when the matter was brought to the court’s attention, Devinandan lied about his age; as a result, the matter was taken to the Children’s Magistrate’ Court in Georgetown.

Devinandan was cross-examined

by Police Prosecutor, Delon Sullivan.

The matter has been adjourned until July 11, 2019.

The IMF said it is encouraging building on recent progress in strengthening transparency and governance.

Guyana completed its first Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Report in 2019 and started implementing its recommendations to further enhance transparency in the extractive industry. In addition, the recent re-establishment of the Integrity Commission has resulted in over 50 per cent of politically exposed persons (PEPs) and other required officers making declarations within the first year.

“Ensuring greater compliance over time with the asset declaration regime would underscore the authorities’ support and commitment to the UN convention against corruption,” the IMF said, adding that it also welcomes the progress made in strengthening public procurement, and encourages the authorities to ensure timely compliance with existing regulations and take further actions to fortify the transparency of the procurement system.

It said that the authorities have indicated their concerns that the absence of a ring-fencing arrangement in the Stabroek Production Sharing Agreement could potentially affect the projected flow of government oil revenues. “The rapid appraisal and development of multiple oil fields could affect the timing and amount of profit oil to be shared with the government from a producing oil field by allocating costs from various fields under development to the producing field.

The authorities are developing strategies to mitigate such a possibility, including a national oil depletion policy to

guide extraction and production and clearer ring-fencing rules for new investments.”

REASSESS MONEY POLICY The IMF said it is recommending that the authorities continually reassess the monetary policy stance to reflect changes in macroeconomic outlook or risks surrounding the outlook and is encouraging exchange rate flexibility as part of the monetary policy framework, given the expected large and potentially volatile foreign inflows from oil production.

It is also encouraging the authorities to consider developing over the medium-term, supported by IMF Technical Assistance, the necessary infrastructure for a suitable monetary policy framework that facilitates economic growth and adjustment to oil price shocks while maintaining price stability.

The Washington-based financial institution said Guyana’s financial sector remains stable and it supports the resolute efforts of the authorities in implementing 2016 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) recommendations.

It said credit to the private sector grew by four per cent in 2018, faster than 2.1 per cent in 2017. The banking sector nonperforming loans (NPLs) to total loans ratio have fallen slightly to 11.9 per cent as of the end of December 2018, from 12.2 per cent a year before, but remained high. The IMF Executive Board is expected to discuss Guyana’s Article IV consultation in August 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE June 18, 2019

Egypt’s ousted Islamist president Mursi dies after court hearing CAIRO (Reuters) - Former Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi, the first democratically elected head of state in Egypt’s modern history, died on Monday aged 67 after collapsing in a Cairo court while on trial on espionage charges, authorities said.

Mursi, a top figure in the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, had been in jail since being toppled by the military in 2013 after barely a year in power following mass protests against his rule. The public prosecutor said he had collapsed in a defendants’ cage in the courtroom shortly after

speaking, and had been pronounced dead in hospital at 4:50 p.m. (1450 GMT). It said initial checks had shown no signs of recent injury on his body.

The Muslim Brotherhood described Mursi’s death as a “full-fledged murder” and called for crowds to gather at his funeral in Egypt and outside Egyptian embassies around the world. “Neither the shock of the news nor the haste in spreading information about the details of (Mursi’s) death will change the features of this fullfledged murder,” the Islamist group said in a statement on its

website.

Mursi’s family had previously said that his health had deteriorated in prison and that they were rarely allowed to visit. Advertisement After decades of repression under Egyptian autocrats, the Brotherhood won a parliamentary election after a popular uprising toppled Hosni Mubarak and his military-backed establishment in 2011.

Mursi was elected to power in 2012 in Egypt’s first free presidential election, having been thrown into the race at the last moment by the disqualification on a technicality of mil-

Egypt’s President Mohamed Mursi participates in a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the presidential palace in Cairo July 31, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Wilson/File Photo

lionaire businessman Khairat al-Shater, by far the Brotherhood’s preferred choice. His victory marked a radical break with the military men who had

Saturday June 12, 2019

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provided every Egyptian leader since the overthrow of the monarchy in 1952.

Mursi promised a moderate Islamist agenda to steer Egypt into a new democratic era where autocracy would be replaced by transparent government that respected human rights and revived the fortunes of a powerful Arab state long in decline. But the euphoria that greeted the end of an era of presidents who ruled like pharaohs did not last long.

The stocky, bespectacled man, born in 1951 in the dying days of the monarchy, told Egyptians he would deliver an “Egyptian renaissance with an Islamic foundation”. Instead, he alienated millions who accused him of usurping unlimited powers, imposing the Brotherhood’s conservative brand of Islam and mismanaging the economy, all of which he denied.

Advertisement STATE OF EMERGENCY

Security sources said the Interior Ministry had declared

a state of alert on Monday, notably in Mursi’s home province of Sharqiya in the Nile Delta, where the body was expected to be taken for burial. Mursi had been in court for a hearing on charges of espionage emanating from suspected contacts with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which had close ties to the Brotherhood.

His body was taken to the Tora prison hospital, state television reported. There was a heavy security presence outside the prison on Monday night. Mursi’s lawyer said Mursi’s health had been poor in jail. “We had put in several requests for treatment, some were accepted and others were not,” the lawyer, Abdel-Menem Abdel-Maqsood, told Reuters. Mursi was serving a 20-year prison sentence for a conviction arising from the killing of protesters during demonstrations in 2012, and a life sentence for espionage in a case related to the Gulf state of Qatar. He had denied the charges.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE June 18, 2019

Jamaica and Ghana to implement visa waiver agreement KINGSTON, Jamaica, Jun. 16, CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says a visa waiver agreement between Jamaica and Ghana will be implemented shortly In a press statement on Saturday, Holness said the Foreign Affairs Ministers of both countries have been mandated to negotiate and conclude the agreement “in short order”.

“Ghanaian nationals are already able to visit Jamaica without a visa, and we believe…it will certainly facilitate greater ease of movement in support of increased travel, tourism, trade and investment between our two countries.”

The Prime Minister issued the press statement along with President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who arrived in the island on Saturday for a two-day official working visit.

The statement followed bilateral talks between both leaders.

President Akufo-Addo’s visit forms part of a Caribbean tour to promote the “Year of Return, Ghana 2019,” which

President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo receives a gift from Jamaica Prime Minister, Andrew Holness

is a major landmark marketing campaign targeting the African – American and Diaspora Market to mark 400 years of the first enslaved African arriving in Jamestown Virginia.

The Prime Minister noted that the campaign was “central in our discussions” noting that the initiative, presents excellent opportunities to “build on the fraternal bonds and take

the relations between our two countries and our peoples to greater heights”.

“We can use this initiative to forge increased inter-personal connections and at the same time deepen the trade and commercial relations between our respective countries,” he said. Holness said the Ghanaian President’s visit reflects the continued strong

bilateral relationship that exists between Jamaica and the Republic of Ghana, and reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to strengthening and deepening the relations between both countries. “Our relations are

deeply rooted in our ancestral and historical connections, forged over many years and only made stronger by our firm democratic traditions, shared principles and vision for peace and prosperity, and the cultural affinities which unite our peoples,” he said.

The Prime Minister said he and the Ghanaian President engaged in fruitful discussions to strengthen the partnership between both countries, to secure increased development opportunities. He noted that discussions also focused on important bilateral matters and in particular, measures to improve trade and investment and the movement of people, goods and services between the countries.

“We also discussed the excellent opportunities for cooperation in other areas such as energy and mining; sport and culture; as well as tourism, education and training,” he said.

In his remarks, President

Akufo-Addo stressed that it is now time to “give teeth” to the longstanding relations between Jamaica and Ghana “by making sure that the various areas of engagement in education, tourism, cultural activities are specifically tied down”.

He noted that the intention is to use the symbolism of ‘The Year of Return, Ghana 2019’ to take concrete steps to solidify the relationship between not only Jamaica but other countries in the region. “The relationship that we are forming here in Jamaica, will form part of this process of solidifying the relations between those of us on the continent of Africa and those of you in the Diaspora outside Africa,” he said. The President will conclude his visit on Sunday by giving remarks at the opening of the 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Jamaica Conference Centre.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE June 18, 2019

Pursuing inclusionary politics

THE purpose of our political system, as written in Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution, outlines that “the principal objective of the system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”

This article came out of the 1999 constitutional reform exercise which resulted from the then Opposition People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), under the leadership of Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte, signing The St. Lucia Statement with then President, Janet Jagan, on 2nd July, 1998. It was felt, among other things, that “measures and arrangements for the improvement of race relations in Guyana include the contribution which equal

opportunities’ legislation and concepts drawn from the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society can contribute to the cause of justice, equity and progress in Guyana.”

The St. Lucia Statement has its genesis in the dissatisfaction at the outcome of the elections’ results expressed by the PNCR, and, more importantly, the fear and/or frustration of a significant segment of the population in regard to living under the administration of a party they had not supported to form the Government. This fear and/or frustration has/have its concerns rooted in persons’ opinions that they felt excluded from political decision-making and that it has impacted their lives.

For years, the society has been told -- and some have come to accept -- that ours is a winner-takes-all politics, where the party which has not secured the Executive, and its supporters, are denied. Again, our purpose here is not to argue any merit or demerit of this

claim, but to examine the article before us and see how we can make it work in our common good in the here and now, even as conversations continue about constitutional reform.

Careful examination of Article 13 shows that it speaks to a solution to the discontent of 1997. It lays the platform, via the nation’s supreme law, to establish and foster a political solution built on the involvement of all, irrespective of our diversity but inclusive of the political party supported. In that this article was assented to by the then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, it was not unreasonable to harbour expectation that he would have chartered a new course, consistent with its objective.

This notwithstanding, it does not mean that the article cannot be activated in its fullest and add fillip to the enveloping nationalism. The preference, harboured in certain quarters, to foster a politics of dissent or of “our time” does not negate,

or should not obscure, the overwhelming desire of the ordinary man and woman to proceed along the road of inclusion.

Whichever way it is looked at, a diverse nation stands to gain more when all feel that their voices are heard, their opinions and inputs valued, their choice of representative respected, and their taxes invested in them, irrespective of political or apolitical interests.

Few, if any, relish living in a nation constantly racked with silly divisions, whose laws work for some and not all, whose citizens oppose only for the sake of opposing; a nation comprised of feeble men acting as though they are omnipotent, and engaging in endless back and forth, with none wanting to concede anything or listen to the other; all being more bent on talking past each other, and everyone out to prove they are right and the other is wrong.

That is not a healthy relationship for any people to cultivate, be it in the home or

in public life. Guyanese, having gone past the stage of saying ‘enough is enough’, many continue to register disapproval and discontent with their feet. Those who have stayed, or desire to return, are pleading with their leaders to give development for all a chance to work. The best place to start is at Article 13, given that it aims to ensure a society wherein all can have equal opportunity to realise their God-given potential.

To its credit, the Coalition Government built upon the foundation of inclusionary democracy and has been making moves to make this realise fully. President David Granger, in his speech to his party’s delegate congress last year, reminded that it was the PNC/R that was instrumental in the establishment of an inclusionary five-party Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in June 2011. He said the APNU, in turn, entered into the Cummingsburg Accord in February 2015 with the Alliance For

Change (AFC), which, when combined (APNU+AFC), now forms the government. “The PNC/R, together with its political and civil partners, remains committed to the multi-party coalition, bound together by the Cummingsburg Accord to constructive dialogue with the political parliamentary opposition, and with civil society to strengthen the practice of ‘inclusionary democracy’; to the ideals of coalition politics and to the broader aspiration of national unity; to perfecting our incipient system of shared governance in the belief that the coalition parties are better together than apart,” said the President.

It is through inclusionary democracy Guyanese will indeed receive unquestionable benefits in every area of life and will allow for the deployment of broad-based expertise in nation-building.

I commend the UGSSA in its acquisition of a Certificate of Recognition Dear Editor, IT IS hoped that this belated response was not, in the interim, construed as discourtesy and depriving myself of the right to set the record straight.

Objection is taken to Drs. Melissa Ifill and Jewel Thomas’ assertion that making known the university unions were not in possession of Certificate of Recognition and Collective Labour Agreement constitute “insinuations of illegality and or impropriety.” Reference is being made to letter dated June 14, 2019 “UGSSA is certified by Trades Union Certification and Recognition Board” signed by the named writers.

The university unions sought my intervention with the management of the university, based on the threatened withholding of across-the-board salary increase to lectures who allegedly were delinquent in marking and submitting the students’ papers. The early thorny relationship with the management and unions was also informed by the absence of a Certificate of Recognition.

At that meeting, I argued that notwithstanding the alleged shortcomings on the lectures' part, across-the-board salary increase cannot be denied them, and made known the principle that guided my position. At that meeting, it was further advised that those lecturers with outstanding papers be encouraged to get themselves in order. In fact, both parties agreed to, and upheld, said advice.

It was made known at the said meeting, and reiterated in my June 2 letter in the media, that notwithstanding the absence of a Certificate of Recognition, the fact that management and the unions are engaging is indicative that management recognises the unions as the workers’ representatives. Then, and in the instant letter, the unions were advised of the advantage of complying with Section 23 of the Trade Union Recognition Act (1997).

The process to attain the Certificate of Recognition, i.e. satisfying the required conditions,was guided by me. Having obtained the certificate, the courtesy of knowing same was not accorded until at a meeting among the unions and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) on June 4. It was via Drs. Ifill and Thomas’ let-

ter that I learnt that the certificate is dated August 2016. To come now to the media on the pretext that the union was in compliance all along is an act of grave deception worthy to be noted and condemned. For, after all, these two doctors are held to a higher level of honour.

Further, the statement made by me that Freddie Kissoon “is behind the confusion in the University of Guyana (UG) industrial environment” stands. Said letter, dated June 2, can be revisited for clarity on my position. Critical observers and researchers would not be easily fooled about who is seeking to, and influencing who.

The opinion of Drs. Thomas and Ifill does not negate anything I have said.

At the meeting held on June 4, where the GTUC and university unions discussed a proposal presented by the former, days later Freddie not only wrote about it, but sought to distort and take it totally out of context in another of his many lies. In his June 7 letter, he stated, “Lewis met the leadership of the two unions and produced a document for them to sign, in which they would agree that in the relationship with the TUC in the UG Council, they will abstain from writing on UG issues involving the TUC in the media.”There was cause, on June 9, to set the record straight by making public the proposed statement, which expressly states, “The parties have agreed from henceforth they commit themselves to make no public statement that can prejudice future negotiations, which can realise improved conditions and benefits for workers, the delivery of effective education for the citizenry, and confidence in the University of Guyana.” Not surprisingly, the university unions never publicly saw it fit to counter the deception/misrepresentation of the June 4 meeting, which sought to move the process forward.

And after failing to return to a meeting plan for June 5, a letter was sent on June 6, and common courtesy did not even dictate a response.

I, Lincoln Lewis, would be among the last to ever seek to deny any union the pursuit of good governance and support for doing so within their fold, from the management, and in the wider society.

Any who claim to the contrary does not know me; has not followed

my work; is parroting another’s opinion, or being downright wicked. The right to self-determination of the unions' welfare is that of the unions’ leadership and its rank-and-file membership. This is a right of every union which I hold with deep respect. Whether the university unions will need my advice or support now, or in the future, is a right of theirs to determine. What they shall not determine for me is what I must speak to, or who I shall consult before speaking. That is my right, and I shall not relinquish it to anyone.

As a trade unionist and leader, there is vested interest in ensuring a stable industrial climate in this country. Guided by the belief that a threat to one is a threat to all, my voice will be heard anywhere, on any issue where I think the rights and interest of workers are being threatened.

Finally, the State-owned University of Guyana, the nation’s highest institution of learning, belongs to all Guyanese. We ought to retain vested objective interest in the welfare of those who work there; those who benefit from the education provided; and those who do business with the institution. The stability of that environment requires all be treated with deserving respect. Whereas there is an abiding interest to protect the rights of a unionsied workforce, it would be remiss of me to ignore the rights of the non-unionised, and to act in any way that would lend to interpretation that theirs is of lesser import.

I commend the UGSSA on its acquisition of a Certificate and public statement of putting the Collective Labour Agreement high on the agenda. These two instruments of trade union authority are important for the fulfilment of workers’ representation.

The point is made, once again, that it does not serve our mutual interest to hash out differences in the public domain, particularly since the GTUC is always prepared to engage with any union in pursuit of resolving differences. We are reminded that the Council of the University of Guyana also took the same position.

Regards, Lincoln Lewis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE June 18, 2019

Why didn't Jagdeo give sugar workers a better deal?

Dear Editor, TRADITIONAL supporters really need to start asking Mr. Jagdeo some hard questions. Jagdeo went up to New York a couple of months ago to tell folks about the DNC's idea for making agriculture one of the major generators of growth in our economy.

In fact, we are happy he has done this, since such a move emphasises our point that there is much to be gained from investing heavily in agriculture and rural

communities dependent on agriculture.

However, what we also want Jagdeo to tell Guyanese is why, after the PPP administration was booted from office after 23 years of running down the sugar industry and thiefing up rice farmers' money, they now talking about agriculture as an income earner for the economy. We seriously think Jagdeo eyes pass Indo-Guyanese to try to con them again, not to mention the stunt he’s trying to pull on them and the entire country with the

current PPP presidential candidate, now famously known for facilitating the transfer of Prado lands to Jagdeo and company. Jagdeo’s eyes also pass Dr. Jagan, the founder of the PPP and the decades of work Dr. Jagan put into representing all Guyanese.

Can you imagine someone grinding another man’s work and legacy under his foot?

Well, Bharrat Jagdeo has done exactly that to Dr. Jagan and the PPP. We would like Jagdeo to also tell those folks abroad what he and the PPP admin-

istration did with the approximately €65M (that's 89 minus the 24 they were supposed to receive, but didn't because the EU lost confidence in their fiscal management practices after Ramotar prorogued parliament) the European Union gave them to diversify the sugar industry, and why his PPP administration allowed the rice management authorities to defraud rice farmers of G$372M when they were in government, causing quite a few rice farmers to go under.

We would like to know how sugar workers benefited from

these monies, and if they haven’t, why not? Why didn’t Jagdeo give sugar workers a better deal when the company was better poised, instead of gradually cutting away those estates which fell below profitability? The G$372M stolen from rice farmers is now lost, as the case was thrown out the other day.

The sordid reality is Jagdeo's and his puppet, Ramotar's administration were too busy thiefing from everybody, from rice farmers to sugar workers, to taxpayers. One of their

ministers thief G$639M by ‘she-self’ and another PPP official had G$29B passing through his account.

And they will do the same thing again. Because thiefing, filling their pockets and building big mansions on thiefin' property is all Jagdeo and his crew are good at.

Regards, Craig Sylvester

OP-ED Young people want to do modern agriculture: Here’s what we can do to help them

By Kapil Mohabir It is midday, and Gopaul is lying in a hammock in his parents’ bottom house in Fyris, Corentyne, as he has done most days for the past year.

This is a routine he has grown tired of since graduating last year as one of the top performing students in his class at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA). But Gopaul hasn’t been able to find work since graduation. He is part of the 20 per cent of youth in Guyana who are unemployed.

Gopaul’s parents are concerned, and have urged him to “do something”; if he can’t find a job, perhaps he should try his hands at planting the two acres of land behind their home. But this doesn’t appeal to Gopaul.

It is not that he is afraid of hard work; it’s just that he considers “planting garden” for a living a life for farmers of a prior generation. The idea of becoming a subsistence farmer feels lightyears away from the modern, commercial farming Gopaul dreamed of doing as a student of agriculture. These dreams feel further and further away with each passing month of idleness.

Each year, hundreds of students graduate from Guyana’s agricultural schools. These young graduates should be best equipped to modernise Guyana’s agriculture industry.

Unfortunately, we as a country are not doing enough to support them.

There is ample interest to learn and apply modern agriculture among Guyanese agriculture students and graduates.

At Plympton Farms, the modern farm I built that is now the largest hydroponic grower in the Caribbean, we frequently host agriculture students from the University of Guyana. Several students who visited expressed disappointment with the limited

opportunities to practice modern farming once they graduate.

This complaint is valid; outside of large-scale rice and sugar farming, Guyanese agriculture is still dominated by subsistence farming as it has been practiced over the past 100 years. The lack of modern farms where young farmers can seek handson experience is severely limiting, as this field is usually taught through an apprenticeship model: Learning by practising under the guidance of someone who has done it for years.

However, the opportunity to be an apprentice at a modern farm is rarely available in Guyana today. Our agriculture institutions can change this.

Agriculture schools can rally the few private sector modern farms to create work-study programmes, providing students with hands- on training and increased job prospects. In return for opening doors to students and training them, the farms will gain an invaluable opportunity to find future talent. This has proven to be true at Plympton Farms, where a number of our most successful employees began in apprentice roles.

In addition, the fact that some of our employees have gone on to cultivate their own land, using the modern methods we use is further proof that the apprenticeship model has promise. Students of modern agriculture would also benefit from knowledge exchange with experts in other countries. Prior to launching my farm, I was studying and working in the U.S., and had the opportunity to conduct field visits with experts in the Netherlands, Chile, Costa Rica, and the U.S. These visits helped me to adapt modern farming technologies to work locally. I had the benefit of capital and access, having lived in the United States, and was able

to save some of my salary. But the requirement for doing innovative farming cannot be two decades of living abroad to accumulate savings and access to experts on one’s own. Instead, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) can use its position to bring current agriculture innovation to Guyana.

A handful of global agriculture companies offer agriculture innovations that are suitable for Guyana. The MoA would do a service to young farmers by inviting such companies to demonstrate their technology here. Alternatively, the ministry frequently organises missions abroad, and should consider adding one or more agriculture students to these

delegations. There would be a small cost to the ministry for this, but the knowledge gained would greatly benefit the youth farming community.

Finally, part of improving farming for the next generation is making the right equipment accessible to young farmers.

The cost to adopt new technology doesn’t have to be as high as it is today, if Government can support farmers with favourable tax policies. With 14 per cent VAT compounded by as much as 20 per cent of duty, Guyanese farmers would have to pay as much as 50 per cent more for equipment than their foreign counterparts, and then compete in the same global market on price. The government should

explore options to lighten this burden, including removing the import duty and VAT on modern agriculture equipment, as they currently do for fertilisers.

This would lower the cost of adopting modern agriculture technology. Any tax revenue shortfall would be more than made up for by increased agriculture output and additional taxable income.

Gopaul and other young Guyanese farmers are part of a globally aware and savvy generation. They want, and deserve, a chance to try their hands at modern agriculture. If we can help them, we not only create

the next generation of farmers and tackle youth unemployment, but change the face of Guyanese agriculture for the future.

(Note: Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.)

Kapil Mohabir is a farmer, and the founder of Plympton Farms, an agribusiness built on the mission of increasing rural income through creating markets for smallholder farmers and employment for rural communities. Kapil is an Aspen New Voices Fellow.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 - 05:00 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 18, 2019

Task Force to craft urban development master plan ...Communities Minister, Energy Director praise timeliness MINISTER of Communities Ronald Bulkan said with Georgetown being the hub of business and port activities for the oil and gas industry, the launch of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Crafting of an Urban Development Master Plan Monday morning is timely.

According to a Ministry of the Presidency release, Bulkan noted that an organised and structured development framework is crucial for this sector as developments move apace, as there will soon be a surge in the demand for public and private infrastructure, particularly urban spaces. The convening of the Task Force marks the beginning of the national discourse mandated by the Cabinet to give priority attention to waterfront development and urban planning.

Minister Bulkan said it is expected to serve as a mechanism of support to primarily “increase the probability of maximum positive impact on the society”.

The minister also noted that the government intends to arrest the decay caused by the dearth of planning institutions, weak enforcement of building and zoning codes over the past two decades that have resulted in the growth of unregulated areas in both

residential and commercial areas as well as public spaces.

In order to realise its vision of a modern, 21st Century urban space, the Ministry, together with key public sector agencies, aims to create sustainable communities by mainstreaming its green agenda.

In this vein, it aims to address the priority areas captured in Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy (GSSDS), which incorporates themes such as water resources management and sanitation, housing and transportation, among others. Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, reiterated that the GSDS is the best model to realise this goal. Further, with Guyana poised to start oil production in 2020, the concept of the “Smart Urban Development Master Plan” is no more apt than at the present, he said. In his presentation titled, “Urbanizing in the face of an emerging oil and gas industry,” Dr. Bynoe said he believes that Guyana’s small population provides an opportunity for focus to be placed on seeking out technological solutions to current transportation challenges in particular.

“Georgetown, as we know it today, is a place of greater flow of heavy vehicular traffic; increasing congestion and angst; inef-

Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe and Deputy Mayor, Alfred Mentore, during the launch, on Monday, of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Crafting of an Urban Development Master Plan

fective traffic management; non-existent priority lanes; a culture of impatience and intolerance; insufficient enforcement of the City laws and by-laws, and insufficient multi-purpose facilities. It is, therefore, essential that any such Master Plan must include the consideration of identifying infrastructure needs (on-shore support) such as fabrication and construction, and supply and service opportunities such as transportation and distribution, arising from exploration and development of oil and gas resources in offshore Guyana.. It is, therefore, es-

sential that we also seek to enhance the participation of local business, institutions, associations and individuals in commercial and direct and indirect employment,” he said.

Dr. Bynoe also noted that discussions should not only centre on what production would mean but how all these phases would impact the urban landscape. He said there are a range of economic opportunities for local and regionally-based suppliers, as well as the oil and gas companies, at each phase of development. “Production and transportation-related

services would be critical for supporting offshore activities… “We focus heavily as well with regard to production, but not sufficient attention is often allocated in terms of what lanes are being designated for first responder as most of our hospitals and primary health care services are found in central Georgetown,” he asserted.

Moreover, the Energy Director said in its current phase, Georgetown will require stringent zoning and the enforcement of these zoning laws and oil and gas development will have to co-exist with other development activities and productive sectors. He explained that there will be need to ensure that attention is paid to planning urban centres that are economically feasible, socially acceptable and environmentally sustainable; elaborate a regulatory and administrative context to maximize investment in onshore and offshore exploration for hydrocarbons, i.e., both oil and gas, while minimizing costs; establish a clear environmental regulatory regime; continue to improve the infrastructural base through selective investment in good transportation facilities, education, hospitals and ensure access to land for commercial and industrial purposes, particularly the

land needs of the oil and gas sector; encourage the planning, regeneration and use of existing infrastructure; identify and promote areas to accommodate the specific needs of hydrocarbon projects, e.g., maintain and upgrade wharves, airport and related facilities at key locations and continue to invest in public education and health care.

The Task Force also comprises representa tives from the Ministry of the Presidency, the Mayor and City Council, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the Central Planning and Housing Authority, the Maritime Administration, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Ministry of Business. Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams; Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Jaipaul Sharma; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Annette Ferguson; Mayor of Georgetown, His Worship Ubraj Narine, representatives of the European Union and the British High Commission also attended the event.

Labourer stabbed to Two more teens to stand trial for murder of Professor Mars death, suspect arrested

TWO more teens on Monday, June 17, 2019, confessed before Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court to the killing of 75-year-old retired University of Guyana Professor Pairadeau Mars Nikisha Dover and Orin McRae were a part of a five-member teen-gang who was initially charged with murder.

The two teens opted to plead to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The duo admitted that, on May 12, 2016, they unlawfully killed Mars at his Lot 395, Bissessar Avenue, Prashad Nagar home, during a robbery.

The teens were remanded to prison until July 12, 2019, for a probation report to be presented in court and sentencing.

Attorneys-at-law Mohamed Ali and Adrian Thompson represented Dover and McRae while the state was represented by prosecutors Tuanna Hardy, Teriq Mohamed and Sarah Martin.

Earlier this month, 18-yearold Naomi Adams was the first to throw in the towel and plead to the lesser count of manslaughter. Adams returns to court on

Orin McRae

Nikisha Dover

June 24, 2019, for sentencing.

Currently, on remand awaiting commencement for trial into Mars murder are Timothy Paul Chance and Andre Benjamin.

Mars was killed by a gang of teens, who reportedly beat and bound him in his home. The professor was found in his home by his wife with his hands and feet duct-taped and with injuries to his head.

The house was ransacked, and a number of articles and cash were missing. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a private hospital.

The five accused at that time were between the ages of 15 and 18 and reportedly confessed to the murder/ robbery while in police custody.

According to reports, the teens were known to Professor Mars and were arrested after neighbours observed the group leaving the retired professor’s residence with suitcases and entering a car.

Less than 24 hours after committing the crime, the teens were arrested by the police and a large sum of cash, a laptop computer, iPod and PlayStation that were taken from Mars’s home were recovered.

A post-mortem performed on Mars had revealed that death was due to manual strangulation, compounded by multiple fractures to the head and face.

A 25-year-old man was fatally stabbed on Sunday night after he tried to defend a relative, reports say. Dead is Patrick Wilson called “Boy” of Lot 5, Limlair, East Berbice, Corentyne.

Eyewitnesses, speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, related that a relative of Wilson had an issue with the suspect who intended to stab the relative but Wilson, in an attempt to defend him, stepped in. This enraged the suspect who then turned his attention to Wilson. “He cousin and Sammy (suspect) had some old story and them pick it up, so Patrick step in and say’man you can’t do dah’ and them two start fuh argue and he pull out a knife and then Patrick run away with he behind and catch up and stab he.”

Dead: Patrick Wilson

According to reports, the victim was stabbed once in the chest in the region of his heart and he fell on a heap of sand by the roadside. The suspect was apprehended by public-spirited citizens and handed over to the police who arrived shortly.

Meanwhile, the mother of the young man, Camela Surojmohan 53, related that she received a call at around 23:00hrs Sunday from one of her sons informing her that “Patrick’ was stabbed.

She said she initially refused to believe, but everything was confirmed when she visited the scene and saw her son clinging to life.

He eventually took his last breath and was finally removed from the scene around 04:00hrs on Monday. The suspect has been identified only as ‘Sammy’, a former bus conductor of Salton village, also on the Corentyne. Investigations are ongoing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 18, 2019

Two before the court for robbery

AS if it was out from a scene of the famous motion picture “catch me if you can,” two robbery accused on Monday, June 17, 2019, led police on a chase around central Georgetown, after escaping from a police vehicle in front of the Georgetown Magistrates' Court before their arraignment.

Navin Ally, 24 and Ceon Ray, 20 both residents of Albouystown, Georgetown, were arrested on Saturday by police after they robbed a couple at the Kingston Seawall. They were, on Monday, escorted by police from the Brickdam Police Station to the Magistrates Court.

Upon arrival at the court, the men escaped from the police vehicle and were later recaptured by police due to prompt action. Ally was apprehended at the Kitty Bus Park while Ray was nabbed

at Lombard Street, Georgetown.

The men were shackled and handcuffed and placed before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isccas-Marcus on two counts of robbery.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that the two accused, on June 15, 2019, at Kingston, Georgetown, robbed Tyrell Chu of a cell phone, a haversack and a bottle of perfume valued $17,000.

The second charge alleged that, on the same day and, at the same location, the two men robbed Ishanna Singh of cellphone, silver jewellery, and cash valued $56,500.

Ally pleaded guilty to the two charges while Ray denied the charges and told the court that he was not around when the robbery was committed.

According to the facts

Navin Ally

Ceon Ray

presented in court by Police Prosecutor, Quinn Harris, Tyrell Chu, and Ishanna Singh are a couple and, on the day in question, were having lunch at the Kingston Seawall, facing the ocean, enjoining the view.

However, the couple was approached from behind by the two accused who shouted: “don't move or we gon shoot,” while taking away the items mentioned in the charge from the two victims.

The two men made good of their escape on foot and the couple raised an alarm.

A police patrol which was nearby managed to nab the two men.

The prosecutor told the court that the victims’ articles were recovered on the two suspects who were also positively identified.

Ally, who was unrepresented, told the court that he and Singh work at the same place and were involved in

an altercation in May 2019.

Prosecutor Harris got up and told the court that Ally’s claims were impossible since Singh is not a male but a 17-year-old girl.

The accused stood quiet in the prisoner docks as the prosecutor caught him in his lie, but was quick to say that, on June 13, 2019, he was released from prison after serving a six-month sentence for cannabis trafficking.

Again Ally was caught in a lie, since he had earlier told the court that, in May 2019, he was involved in an altercation with ‘Singh’ but was now telling the court that he was behind bars serving a sentence.

The man finally gave up and begged the magistrate for leniency saying “anything small my worship.”

The magistrate responded, “Your small and my small would be a totally different

Garbage collector sentenced PRINCIPAL Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Monday, June 17, 2019, sentenced 57-year-old garbage collector to serve one-year imprisonment for breaking into a woman’s Princess Street, Lodge home and stealing a $6,000 gas cylinder.

Aubrey Price of Princess Street, Lodge, was arraigned at

the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on three break and enter with larceny charges.

Price admitted that on March 15, 2019, at Princes Street, Lodge, Georgetown, he broke into the dwelling-house of Marsha Blair and stole one gas cylinder valued at $6,000. He was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment on that charge.

The second charge alleged that between June 11, 2019, and June 12, 2019, at Princes Street, Lodge, Georgetown, he broke and entered the storage bond of Sharon Nurse and stole four cases of Banks beer bottles valued at $36,000.

The last charge alleged that, on February 15, 2019, at Princes Street, Lodge, Georgetown, he broke and entered

the dwelling-house of Marsha Blair and stole a tablet valued at $40,000, two televisions valued at $216,000, a phone valued at $30,000, one laptop valued at $100,000, and a gas cylinder valued at $6,000.

Prince pleaded not guilty to the two latter charges and was remanded to prison until June 24, 2019.

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thing.”

The prosecutor had asked the magistrate to consider that Ally had spent time imprisoned, but did not learn anything and showed no regret for his actions.

Ally was sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment on each count. The sentencing would run concurrently. Ray was remanded to prison until June 24, 2019.

Harris told the court that the two accused will be charged for escaping from police custody.

Ray, without an attorney, told the court that he did not escape but instead the police had handcuffed him to Ally.

The accused explained that Ally picked the lock and escaped when the police vehicle arrived at the court.

Escapee remanded PRINCIPAL Magistrate Sherdel Isccas-Marcus on Monday, June 17, 2019, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court remanded a man to prison for escaping from the Brickdam Police Station.

It is alleged that Seon Maynard, on June 16, 2019, while in custody at the Brickdam Police Station for a simple larceny charge, escaped.

Maynard pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison until June 24, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 18, 2019

O&G Training for Insurance Industry Employees OVER 40 staff members of the insurance industry in Guyana have been trained in various types of petroleum industry policies, thus enabling them to provide better coverage relating to oil and gas insurance.

The two-day workshop saw a total of 44 being trained from both the insurance companies and insurance brokers.

According to a release, this was the first such course specifically targeting the technical aspects of coverage relating to oil and gas insurance.

It was conducted by Director-Insurance Operations, ACll, Dip Insurance, Karan Ramlal who has a wealth of experience in the field.

Participants, flanked by President of the Insurance Institute of Guyana, Anil Singh and Course Coordinator, Bish Panday, display their certificates. Seated at front is Director-Insurance Operations, ACll, Dip Insurance, Karan Ramlal.

Man acquitted of Sophia bread vendor murder SHAQUILLE Grant called ‘Soldier Man’ was, on Monday freed of the murder charge of Sophia bread vendor, Andre Melroy Alexander, who was killed in 2017, during a robbery.

On Monday, Justice Navindra Singh, at the Demerara High Court, upheld a no-case submission made by Grant’s attorney, Nigel Hughes.

Justice Singh asked the 12-member jury to return a formal not-guilty verdict for Grant and he informed him (Grant) that he was free to go.

Meanwhile, Grant’s co-accused, Neville Forde, is expected to know his fate today when Justice Singh

will sum up the evidence and the jury will deliberate on a verdict.

Forde is represented by attorney-at-law, Adrian Thompson, and the State was represented by prosecutors Tuanna Hardy, Sarah Martin and Teriq Mohamed.

The men were charged jointly for the indictment which read that on May 5, 2017, in the County of Demerara, they murdered Andre Melroy Alexander in the course or furtherance of a robbery.

Reports are that, on the said date, Alexander was at his bread stand at Dennis Street, Sophia, when the two men rode up on a motorcycle.

The pillion rider requested three loaves of bread and paid with a $5000 note.

While Alexander was in the process of making the change, the same pillion rider whipped out a gun and demanded cash.

When the man put up a fight, the robber discharged two rounds, one of which struck him (Alexander) in the stomach. The duo relieved Alexander of his cash and also escaped with the three loaves of bread.

Alexander died the very night during surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Law finally catches up with alleged serial rapist –– for going after one elderly woman too many A MAN is in custody at the Mackenzie Police Station after allegedly raping an 81-year-old resident of Ituni, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) last week.

Ituni residents are furious about the situation, since they are claiming that it is the second time the man has raped the woman. The first time, they say, he reportedly intimidated her, and justice was not served.

The medical examination that was conducted the first time at the community's health centre was also inconclusive.

Commander of ‘E' Division Linden Lord, confirmed

the incident, saying that the woman was medically examined at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), and the examination confirmed that she was in fact raped.

The man, who hails from Sisters Village, on the West Bank Demerara (WBD), is also accused of having committed several sexual assaults on elderly women in the community.

According to residents, the man allegedly raped another elderly woman, who subsequently died, and even sexually assaulted his own mother.

"This is our community,

and we the residents plan to be vigilant, because the last two times he got off. Now it happen again, but he is back here in Ituni and it is annoying.

I am tired of this nonsense. He keep assaulting our elderly women. If they deh in de house sleeping, he going in pon them. This is the second time he rape this one," one resident said.

Statements were collected, and a file has been prepared to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice on the matter.

Witnesses testify in robbery trial of Kevin La Fleur KEVIN La Fleur appeared on Monday at the Providence Magistrate’s Court before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, charged with robbery under arms.

The Court was told that

on November 20, 2018, La Fleur committed the offence at Diamond, East Bank Demerara on Jamila Huntley.

The Court was also told that La Fleur stole a number of items valued at some $277,000.

At Monday’s hearing, two witnesses testified against La Fleur and were cross- examined by Police Prosecutor, Delon Sullivan.

Magistrate Latchman has adjourned the matter for June 28, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 18, 2019

Man caught at JFK smuggling finches for bird-singing competitions A Connecticut man tried smuggling nearly three dozen live finches from Guyana through JFK Airport so he could sell them for use in high-stakes Big Apple bird-singing competitions, federal officials said.

Francis Gurahoo, 39, was arrested Sunday after he flew into the Queens airport aboard Caribbean Airlines flight BW 526 from Georgetown, Guyana.

US Customs and Border Protection officials found 34 live finches, each hidden inside a plastic hair-curler, inside of Gurahoo’s carry-on when he was selected for a customs examination, according to a criminal complaint filed in Brooklyn federal court Monday.

Gurahoo admitted “that he had intended to smuggle the birds inside of his carry-on luggage” and that he planned to sell the finches for about $3,000 each, making for a payday of about $102,000, the complaint said.

“The defendant further stated that he knew what he did was wrong, but was motivated by potential financial gain,” the court documents stated.

In recent years, according to the complaint, US Customs and Border Protection working at JFK Airport have stopped numerous people trying to illegally traffic the small seed-eating birds into the US from Guyana.

Special Agent Gabriel Harper of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, who assisted in the Gurahoo investigation, wrote in the complaint

that “individuals keep finches to enter them in singing contests in Brooklyn and Queens.”

“In such contests, often conducted in public areas like parks, two finches sing and a judge selects the bird determined to have the best voice,” Harper wrote.

Those who attend the singing contests often gamble on the birds.

“A finch who wins these

shirt and gray jeans, was arraigned Monday on a charge of unlawful wildlife smuggling and released after his uncle and cousin posted his $25,000 bond.

A judge ordered that Gurahoo’s passport be taken away and restricted his travel to only New York City and Connecticut.

Gurahoo and his family refused to comment on the case to reporters.

The smuggled finches inside Francis Gurahoo’s carry-on luggage

competitions becomes valuable and can be sold for in excess of $5,000,” Harper wrote in the complaint, which noted that “although certain species of finch are available in the United States, species from Guyana are believed to sing better and are therefore more highly sought after.”

Anyone willing to traffic in finches to the US from Guyana “can earn a large profit by selling these birds in the New York area,” Harper said in the complaint.

Gurahoo, donning a red

Meanwhile, last December, federal authorities arrested a Guyanese man at JFK Airport for trying to smuggle in 70 finches concealed in hair rollers in a duffel bag.

US Customs and Border Protection spokesman Anthony Bucci told The Post at the time that the birds would have likely been used in the bird-singing competitions.

“They will gamble on how many times the finch chirps in a minute – which finch chirps the most,” Bucci previously said.

One dead, several hospitalised from suspected food poisoning at Wakapoa A resident of Wakapoa village in the Pomeroon River succumbed on Monday after consuming cassava while other members of her household, who also ate the staple, are currently hospitalised in the city.

Dead is Selena Thomas, said to be 38. Her father is in a critical condition, while her husband, her father-inlaw and her brother are said to be hospitalised and their conditions have been listed as stable.

Sources at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) have confirmed that the hospital is monitoring several cases there. While it is suspected that the family may have contracted leptospirosis, tests are being undertaken to determine the exact cause of

the ailment.

Reports are that Richard Thomas visited the Health Centre at Wakapoa last week after complaining of feeling unwell and he was immediately transferred to the Suddie Public Hospital on the Essequibo Coast for treatment.

Information revealed that Thomas’ wife, Selena, also fell ill and her condition deteriorated over the weekend.

The woman died around noon yesterday, a relative confirmed.

Reports are that the members of the family fell ill after eating the cassava that was produced from their farm and doctors surmised that the produce may have been contaminated. A relative of the family told the Guyana Chronicle that several pets, including dogs, also died

after eating the produce.

According to Toshoa of Wakapoa, Howard Cornelius, the family visited the Health Centre at the village and the doctor referred them to Suddie and subsequently the GPHC because of their condition.

Cornelius said, too, that reports in the community suggest that the family was suffering from leptospirosis.

Regional Health Officer of the Pomeroon-Supenaam, Afarah Khan, told the Guyana Chronicle that an investigation has been launched into the incident. Khan said that officers were sent from Region Two into the community to investigate the matter.

(Indrawattie Natram)

The finches inside the containers they were stored in.

Back in April of last year, two men were arrested for attempting to traffic finches into the country from Guyana using the same hair curler method.

In that case, Victor Benjamin of Brooklyn and Insaf Ali of The Bronx were caught with 26 finches at JFK Airport and charged, NBC New York reported.

(New York Post)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 18, 2019

Garrido-Lowe grabs most votes for AFC executive

By Svetlana Marshall MINISTER within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe secured the highest number of votes when the Alliance For Change (AFC) held its biennial elections to elect its 12-Member National Executive Committee (NEC).

Of the 275 delegates that attended the AFC National Conference and Elections at the St. Paul’s Retreat Centre on Saturday, 108 of them voted for Garrido-Lowe to return as an executive member.

On Sunday, Minister Garrido-Lowe noted that a large percentage of her supporters came from the

hinterland and other parts of the country. She said that going forward, the AFC could expect “more of the same, which is hard work.”

The AFC executive said she will continue to place major emphasis on economic empowerment, job creation, and infrastructural development.

Executive Director of the Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs and AFC Executive Member, Valerie Garrido-Lowe

Former Minister of Business and AFC Executive Member, Dominic Gaskin

EPA Executive Director and AFC Executive Member, Dr. Vincent Adams

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams secured 102 votes, while Member of Parliament Michael Carrington raked in 90 votes.

Former Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Member of Parliament and new Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar; former Member of Parliament, Trevor Williams; and former Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Sherod Duncan are among the new executives. The others are: Alison Mohamed, Ricky Ramsaroop, Nicola Trotman, Neilson McKenzie, and Derek Basdeo.

The NEC would re ceive directives from the newly-elected Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael Trotman, Chairman, both of whom were also elected on Saturday.

Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes was returned as the party’s vice-chair, while Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson was elected general secretary.

Notably, in the recent past, Trotman served as Party Leader, and Ramjattan Chairman. Patterson had also served in the capacity of general secretary of the AFC.

BACK TO ITS ORIGINS Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, an elder statesman within the AFC, told reporters that the party has gone back to its original leaders.

“You would have seen the election of those officers who had already been elected: Khemraj Ramjattan as leader of the party; Raphael Trotman, chairman; David Patterson, general secretary; and Cathy Hughes as vice-chair. You would have seen that the party has reorganised and regrouped, and has gone back to its original leaders,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said shortly after exiting the conference.

Observers have noted that the AFC, like other major political parties in the country, continues to recycle its “leadership”. But Prime Minister Nagamootoo said the AFC, which has only been in existence 14 years now, is still a fairly young political party.

“It’s a young party,” he told reporters.

“When you look at the dinosaurs we have had for 50 years, maybe the traditional parties kept their leadership.

They kept them going until some dropped off, and some died, and some retired. But

AFC Executive Member, Trevor Williams

they didn’t change it very often,” he said.

TIME TO ‘INCUBATE’ He said more time is needed to “incubate” the party, and that with time, young people would be included on an even larger scale.

“This party wasn’t born with a women’s arm, but it now has a women’s arm,” he said, adding: “It wasn’t born with a youth arm, and it now youth arm. So the incubating process has started. And I think that this party, the AFC, is as good as any other party, in terms of its age, at this point in time, and its capacity to organise and mobilise.”

Ruling out any notion that the AFC is in the business of “locking out people” and “recycling” others, he said the party remains liberal. He posited that the AFC is “so mature that it has a process of rotation,” emphasising that no other political party in the country has a process of rotation. “We have had a situation in this country where there were leaders for life. And now, the AFC has shown that it is moving away from that,” he added. The AFC has a large youth base when compared to other political parties in the country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE June 18, 2019

‘Republic Bank must pay up’ …Bank of Guyana says no time limit on refunds for fraudulent banking transactions

ONCE fraud has occurred, and has been proven, there is no limited timeline within which commercial banks have to make refunds to customers, says Bank of Guyana Governor Dr. Gobind Ganga.

In a recent Stabroek News report, a customer claimed that he was told by a Republic Bank Limited (RBL) official that he would only be compensated for fraudulent transactions that occurred within the past three months.

“That is something that we wouldn’t tolerate,” Ganga said of the situation.

“If there is a fraud it doesn’t matter how long that fraud is dated back, Republic Bank or any bank will have to ensure that the customer

receives his or her appropriate refund.”

Ganga further noted that the central bank was working with RBL and other commercial banks to limit cyber risks to customers.

“We would have to continue to work to ensure that we have an efficient system that is one where you can’t have the kind of cyber risk that exists now. We will be working with the commercial banks to ensure that the Guyanese public are afforded the opportunity to transact business almost risk free,” he said.

“Currently what is happening is that there is some transition at RBL. My intention is to talk to the higher level management to ensure that we have the appropri-

Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga

ate measures in place for Guyanese to access efficient payment mechanisms.”

RBL is Guyana’s largest bank. The Trinidad-head-

quartered bank is scheduled to own approximately 51 per cent of both assets and deposits of Guyana’s banking systems following the announcement last year November that the bank was buying over the operations of Scotiabank in Guyana, and nine other countries. That sale is still to be finalised, as it is being investigated by the central bank.

It was noted that, as a possible safety measure, RBL has begun requiring customers to call Trinidad, before being able to use the international Visa debit card service on their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

“Maybe that is one of the measures the RBL would have put in place to help reduce the risk with fraud,”

Ganga noted. In May, following the public outcry, Republic Bank issued a statement confirming that some customers were affected by “fraudulent activity” via their international Visa-One ATM cards. Customers reported that monies mysteriously disappeared from their accounts and when they reported the matter, bank officials say the deductions were made for online payments to Netflix accounts or online shopping.

The bank issued a statement saying that additional security measures were put in place to protect customers, noting that “impacted customers will be asked to confirm and validate their transactions to assist with this process”. In a subsequent report to the BoG, RBL is

said to have already paid out to over 70 customers over $5 million in refunds due to the issue. The Bank did not give a timeline within which it would be limiting repayments for. An email was sent to the bank’s Manager’s Assistant of Communication and Public Relations, Jonelle Dummett, who promised to speak on the issue eventually.

According to the customer in the Stabroek News report, he was told that the bank would only be issuing refunds for fraudulent transactions that occurred within the last three months, since bank statements are issued quarterly and it is the customers’ responsibility to check their statements and identify any fraud.

‘Retirement Security on shaky legs’ …Bank of Guyana Governor tells pension supervisors

By Svetlana Marshall NATIONAL Insurance Schemes in the Caribbean are projected to run substantial deficits and deplete their assets in the next decades if reforms are not made, Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga, said while warning that Retirement Security is already in “shaky” situation.

In his keynote address during the opening of the Caribbean Association of Pension Supervisors (CAPS) Conference at the Bank of Guyana on Monday, Dr. Ganga said the effects of population ageing will be felt as the clock continues to tick, and governments, in the case of National Insurance Schemes, would more than likely have to intervene.

Retirement Security is often compared as a three-legged stool supported by Social Security, employer-provided pension funds and private savings, and according to the Governor, in today’s society; the legs of the retirement security stool are shaky.

“This situation has resulted from population aging, slow economic growth and high levels of unemployment,” Dr. Ganga explained.

The International Monetary Fund, in its report titled ‘National Insurance Scheme Reforms in the Caribbean,’ noted that the reserves of the NIS of Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Antigua and Barbuda are likely to be exhausted in 10 years if reforms

Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga seated at the centre in the front row, with President of Caribbean Association of Pension Supervisors (CAPS), Nicolette Jenez seated next to him (third person from the left).

Director of the Bank of Guyana Insurance Supervision Division, Tracy Gibson is seated second from the left.

Photos by Adrian Narine

are not made. Other Caribbean countries are also at risk, Dr. Ganga warned as he underscored the importance of reform at this time.

“We have heard proposals of higher levels of contributions, raising the retirement age and freezing pensions for a number of years to address the funding challenges that the NISs face. These measures, although necessary to preserve the schemes, place additional financial burden on the insured especially those in lower income brackets,” the Governor said.

In his deliberation, Dr. Ganga took note of the low level of household or private savings in the Caribbean. He said generally, low saving rates result from low levels of income but acknowledged that there are other factors influencing the rate. “…the gap between the rich and poor has been expanding over time resulting in more households having limited ability to save. These factors have resulted in many persons reaching retirement age with little or no savings,” he added.

Turning his attention to private pension schemes, the Governor explained that that type of scheme is funded by both the employer and employee. It was further explained that subsequent to the great recession of 2008, many of the Pension Funds dried up due to loss in value of assets, reduced level of income, and growing liabilities.

Referencing to Guyana’s Statistical Bureau, the Governor pointed out that 48.3 per cent to 52.6 per cent of the Guyanese working age population is employed in the information sector, and are unlikely to be covered by a private pension scheme or by NIS, in some instances. Bank of Guyana statistics show that as of March 31, 2019, 17,195 persons or 7.75 percent of the total labour force are members of private pension schemes.

Though the future appears “dim” for future pensioners, the Governor assured the pension supervisors that “all is not lost.”

“Governments in the Caribbean and other international organisations have rec-

ognized the problems which have resulted in pension reforms in many countries. Pension legislation has been improved and expanded and supervisory bodies strengthened,” he said.

Citing Guyana as an example, the Governor said the draft Private Pensions Law introduces several new provisions in an effort to improve the regulation of pension plans.

CAPS President Nicolette Jenez, in her address, took participants back to the notso-distant past when people’s pension assets were reduced by Jamaica’s financial crisis in the 1990’s and the CLICO collapse which took a toll on 15 countries.

Jenez noted that it was not only private pension assets that were affected but public pension schemes as well. The Caribbean people, she posited, have been ‘burnt,’ and cannot afford another ‘uncontrollable fire.’

The CAPS President underscored the importance of managing the risks associated with the pension schemes to ensure their stability.

“Some of the risks that threaten our pension plans include financial, operational, actuarial, funding or solvency as well as mismatch,” she posited, while noting that the risks have the potential to compromise the effectiveness of the supervisory framework which seeks, among other things, to minimize the failure of pension plans, facilitate an enabling environment, guarantee fair and competitive markets, and promote market stability and development.

Due to the prevailing risks, Jenez said during the conference, the supervisors would be equipped with the tools that would enable them to minimize the risks. The conference, therefore, focuses on strengthening the supervisory framework and practices, preserving retirement income through-out retirement and the provision of higher yields.

The pension supervisors were drawn from the Caribbean Region while the presenters are from the US and Canada. Director of the Bank of Guyana Insurance Supervision Division, Tracy Gibson was among the officials present. The two-day conference is being held under the theme “Regulating and Supervising Risks in an Emerging Pension Industry.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 18, 2019

Min. Scott pays tribute to Enmore Martyrs …says gov't honouring their memory by keeping sugar industry afloat

JUNIOR Minister of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, in honouring the lives of the five slain Enmore Martyrs, stated that the government is working to restructure the sugar estates so that the efforts of the national heroes do not go in vain.

This was a part of his message to representatives of the martyrs, trade unionists and members of the diplomatic corps who gathered at the Le Repentir Cemetery on Sunday to honour the five martyrs.

On June 16, 1948, sugar workers Lallabajee, Pooran, Harry, Surujbally and Rambarran died while on strike

against the grueling working conditions of the “cut and load” system and for better pay.

Of the workers who formed the strike, five were killed when the Colonial police opened fire on them. Prior to a wreath laying ceremony at the gravesite of the martyrs, members of the Kuru Kuru Training Centre and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Band participated in a procession from the Square of the Revolution to the site.

There, the representatives, led by Minister Scott, laid floral wreaths on the tombs of the national heroes. In his subsequent address, Scott urged

Guyanese not to mourn the death of the five sugar workers but to celebrate their lives as they made the ultimate sacrifice for a better Guyana.

“Many times we take things for granted because we are unaware of our past but today I take this opportunity to remind ourselves that the quality of life which we currently enjoy is due largely to the sacrifices made by sugar workers in general and Enmore Martyrs in particular.

It is for that reason and more that we should celebrate their lives,” he said.

Telling of the workers’ struggle to replace the backbreaking “cut and load” sys-

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott

tem with the “cut and drop” system, Scott stated that the resistance eventually led to better working conditions and the ability for workers to choose a trade union of their preference.

He also highlighted that the 1948 strike was successful too because it cemented further the culture of struggle previously pioneered by father of the Trade Union movement in Guyana, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow.

These efforts, together, led to improvements and the areas of occupation health and safety, gender equality, fair wage structure and more.

WILL NOT BE IN VAIN In Guyana’s present society, Minister Scott said that the government will not

allow the efforts of the slain sugar workers to go in vain as the sugar industry, though facing several challenges, is being restructured to remain relevant to changing international markets.

He stated: “The decisions which the current government has taken are designed to ensure that the sacrifice made by the five heroes does not go to waste and that it was not done in vain. We have been unjustly criticized for the restructuring measures which we have put in place to ensure that sugar does not fail. If you are a leader, if you’re leading a country, you’re leading a people, you must recognise when the time has come that you are putting money down a bottomless pit that you have to say there’s a line of demarcation…come up with creative ideas that will then re-structure and bring back your industry.”

Notwithstanding the emerging oil and gas sector, he added that President David Granger’s recent visit to the Albion/Port Mourant Estate is demonstrative of the government’s recommitment to sugar.

Also delivering remarks was General President of the Clerical and Commercial Workers (CCW) Union and Vice President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG),

Sherwood Clarke who hailed the sacrifices of the five martyrs as “fearless”.

“In one of the greatest lessons of history we learn to avoid the mistakes of the past. Perhaps the Enmore incident of 1948 could have been avoided had the Colonial Administration acknowledged the value of critical support which is often misinterpreted as a reactionary maneuver when it is nothing more than an attempt to foster the good life,” he said.

Meanwhile, a representative of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) stated that while it is necessary to remember the past on Enmore Martyrs Day, Guyanese must also ensure that no such injustice reoccurs.

Following the ceremony, the song the ‘Internationale’ was sung followed by the singing of the national anthem to the tune of the GPF Band.

Wreaths were laid by Scott; representatives of the Martyrs coming from the Kuru Kuru Training Centre and representatives from trade unions in Guyana such as the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union (GAWU): Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

Government language support initiative to target migrant children MINISTER of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix, on Monday welcomed an initiative aimed at improving the learning outcomes of children of Venezuelan migrants while fostering social cohesion in several communities in the Barima-Waini region (Region One).

The Government, through the Ministry of Education (MoE), is collaborating with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to develop educational interventions.

UNHCR representative on the Multi-Stakeholder Committee, Ms. Cecilie Guerrero, made this announcement at Monday’s stakeholder meeting, which was held at the Department of Citizenship. The Committee is tasked with monitoring the Venezuelan migrant situation in Guyana.

Given the language barrier, the children of the migrants are experiencing difficulties communicating and learning. The first initiative,

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix

Ms. Guerrero said, is a summer school for both Guyanese and Venezuelan children in three communities. These communities will be identified after discussions with the MoE. This project is expected to promote a two-way language exchange, English and Warrau; introduction to English for Venezuelan children who are out of school; improved social cohesion between Venezuelans and host communities; provide opportunities for outreach and communication with Venezuelan communities.

This project will be under-

taken utilising a community-based approach.

The second project, she said, would be English as a Second Language (ESL) training for teachers, Multi-Lingual Classroom Techniques and ESL support for children during September to December 2019. These sessions will see the provision of additional training to selected teachers in the Mabaruma sub district; basic ESL techniques and knowledge; provision of techniques and exercises to encourage ESL students to interact with their classmates; the highlighting of common difficulties for students from Spanish-speaking backgrounds; guidance in conflict management and the implementation of ESL classes for non-English speaking children during the period September to December 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 18, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday June 18, 2019

IMF lauds Guyana's fight against money laundering, corruption THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has labelled as “commendable progress” the Government’s efforts towards strengthening the framework for Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering of Finance of Terrorism and Proliferation (AML/ CFT/PF).

A team from the IMF visited Guyana last week to check up on the country’s progress in AML/CFT/PF specific towards Guyana’s Anti-Corruption Policy and Guyana’s legal and institutional framework relating to the United Nations (UN) Convention Against Corruption.

In a Concluding Statement on Monday, the team detailed its observation in this regard and on serval other issues.

During their visit to several government officials, representatives of the private sector, banks, labour unions and other stakeholders, the team also met with Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams.

In the statement following visit, the IMF noted that Guyana has been officially

removed from the European Commission’s Money-Laundering Blacklist in February 2019.

It also pointed out that the country is scheduled to undertake a mutual evaluation by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force in 2022.

“The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has been actively examining cases relating to suspicious transactions, money laundering, terrorist financing and criminal proceeds including those of PEPs, and is working towards greater collaboration with other global FIUs,” the IMF statement said.

Meanwhile, in a release to the media, the Attorney General’s Chambers stated that Minister Williams told the visiting team that upon coming into office in 2015, President Granger gave a high-level commitment to combat corruption.

Williams stated that as a result of this commitment and the zero tolerance to corruption stance of the Government, Guyana was able to make significant strides.

It successfully exited the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)/International

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams (center) meets with representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Co-operation Review Group (ICRG) and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) third round mutual evaluation process.

“This was as a result of several amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Finance of Terrorism Act, Cap 10:11 and the passing of the Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Act 2015 which dealt with the Vienna Convention, Palermo Convention and the Terrorism Financing Conven-

CANU seizes 171.5 kilos of cocaine, 543.2 kilos cannabis in 2018 – Annual Report - Results in 32 cases filed before court A total of 171.58 kilograms of cocaine, 543.256 kilograms of cannabis and 532.8 grams of ecstasy were seized by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) last year, according to a summary of the recently released report.

Further, the agency seized 304 grams of heroin, 100 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 39 grams of cannabis seeds in 2018.

It was noted that a total of 82 snap operations were conducted in 2018 as against 47 in 2017.

Many of these operations were conducted in several administrative regions and resulted in the seizure of narcotics, arrests and prosecution of traffickers as well as the seizure and subsequent forfeiture of their assets.

The report stated that for those operations that were conducted in Regions one, two and nine, the officers were deployed for the duration and these operations required careful planning and proved to be costly.

However, it was noted that some of these operations were successful while others

CANU's Deputy Head Mr. Leslie Ramlall

enable the officers to have a better understanding of the environment in which they will have to operate in the future.

CANU's Deputy Head Mr. Leslie Ramlall stated in the report that in 2018, the Unit benefitted from a number of local and overseas training.

“The Unit was also engaged in several training sessions that focused on the development of Officers.

This was necessary since all of the officers interact with members of the public that are leaving or entering our ports and as such it is imperative that they continue to portray that positive image of Guyana. Additionally,

several Officers would have completed the First Responders Training as well as photography,” he said.

Additionally, the unit noted that a total of 32 cases were made in 2018 as against twenty 22 for 2017. This resulted in 61 persons being charged and 14 convictions thus far. Several cases from 2018 are still pending.

“CANU’s performance in 2018 has been very laudable.

From all indications, there is a fear among narco-traffickers to continue operating openly or with little apprehension because of the Unit’s performance during 2018. The determination to continue dismantling drug traffickers and drug trafficking groups/organizations in Guyana through the seizure of narcotics and assets belonging to traffickers have certainly been effective,” CANU's Deputy Head underscored.

It was also noted that the unit worked even closer with the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to prosecute narco-traffickers and money launderers.

tion,” the release stated.

In addition, the Attorney General told the team that legislation was passed giving effect to the UN Convention Against Corruption namely the State Assets Recovery Act 2017, the Witness Protection Act 2018 and the Protected Disclosures (Whistleblower) Act 2018.

The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs also discussed with the IMF team the mandate of the AML/ CFT/PF National Coordina-

tion Committee and Guyana’s upcoming fourth round mutual evaluation by the CFATF. Meanwhile, the IMF visitors inquired of assets declarations of public officials and, responding to these inquiries, Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Kumar Doraisami highlighted the relevant provisions of the Integrity Commission Act, Cap 26:01 and the mandate of the Commission.

In the preliminary findings of the concluded mission,

Guyanese gunned down in Venezuela

Mukesh Rampersaud

By Indrawattie Natram A Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast family is mourning the loss of a 51-year-old man who was killed in Venezuela on Saturday during the course of a robbery.

Dead is 51-year-old Mukesh Rampersaud. The former Golden Fleece village resident was living in Venezuela for over 10 years. The incident occurred in Ciudad de Guayana, Venezuela.

Relatives of the man received a call on Saturday morning from a friend in Venezuela, who informed them of the tragic news. According to a relative, he was told that the shooting occurred around 03:00 hrs on Saturday. He said he was told that Rampersaud was shot several times

to his head during the course of a robbery.

“We get a call saying that he died and he was shot, we didn’t get the truth of the story but all we know is that he died and they said it was a robbery, we are trying to get information, but the bossman he was working with is calling for one million Guyana dollar to bury him,” the relative said.

Relatives said that the man worked in the gold mines in Venezuela and would usually transact business for his boss man. Family members are fearful of venturing across the border to uplift his body.

“We can go but the crime situation is frightening, we really don’t know how to get the body but we are receiving calls from numerous persons about his death and we don’t really know who really to trust, it seems like the persons who ever robbed him took his phone and is going through his contacts and calling people,” another relative claimed.

The relatives are calling on relevant authorities to assist them in ferrying the man's remains to Guyana.

the team also commended the Government on proactive steps taken to fight corruption.

“The mission supports continued efforts by the authorities to strengthen institutional, governance and management practices, which will also help reduce vulnerability to corruption. It commends the ongoing efforts in modernizing the revenue administration and strengthening the public investment management system,” the document stated.

The visiting IMF team comprised Dr. Arnold McIntyre, Mr. Seedwell Hove, Mr. Aasim Hussain, Ms. Zara Mohammed, Mr. Julean Chow and Mr. Ippei Shibata.

Also in attendance were Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Matthew Langevine; Compliance and Outreach Officer of the FIU, Alicia Williams; Assistant Director of Supervision Division at the Bank of Guyana, Niranjanie Ramprashad and Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Joann Bond.

Security guard found dead at Campbellville worksite

Dead: Keegan Boston

A 60-year-old security guard, attached to Cummings Electrical Company, was found dead at his 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown worksite on Sunday.

He was identified as Keegan Boston of lot 520 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, as the body was found in the company’s guard hut with a wound to the back of the head.

The body was taken to the Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination as investigations continue.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE June 18, 2019

Center for Local Business Development to launch online course SINCE its establishment, the Center for Local Business Development (CLBD) has received an outpouring of interest from local companies and, to better tailor its services to suit its clients, the Center will soon be rolling out a mobile app and an online course.

The mobile app will cater to the Center’s Supplier Registration Portal which has over 2,900 registered businesses of which some 1,660 are Guyanese-owned.

Meanwhile, the online

course to be offered lies in the area of Offshore Oil and Gas and will be best suited to companies outside of Georgetown also interested in building their capacity in this regard.

Sitting down with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, CLBD’s Project Director, Patrick Henry, told of the progress the Center has made since its 2017 launch.

Regarding the pending online course, he explained that the Center has done a number of Regional out-

Project Director Patrick Henry

reaches which brought the need to the fore.

“We felt that an online course would allow us to reach more people outside; more businesses; giving people an opportunity to try and understand what’s happening,” he said.

“The Offshore Oil and Gas course will, in the coming months, go online so people can take it anywhere in Guyana at the time of their leisure as long as they have internet or they can use the government’s internet centers.”

The online courses will first be tested for public response before being rolled out on a wider scale or permanent basis.

Apart from the Offshore Oil and Gas course, the Center runs seminars on Procurement for Local Suppliers and Health, Safety, Security and the Environment (HSSE) once monthly.

These courses allow businesses to gain information about the sector and make smart investment decisions.

Since the CLBD was initiated, some 1,600 persons have participated in the courses which amount to over 540 businesses.

While the Procurement for Local Suppliers course began as one course, it was split into two to provide additional information on Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and the tendering process after feedback from ExxonMobil and its prime contractors.

“Exxon and their prime contractors have kind of changed global procurement practices to make it so that Guyanese businesses can better understand what’s happening; how things are done; what’s expected of them,” Henry explained.

“I think there’s been an

incredible amount of change in the Guyanese businesses… you see that companies are winning work. It’s not that they are being given work, they’re actually able to compete, price it properly, win work and they’re able to form partnerships with international companies or amongst themselves to get complex jobs done.”

Added to this, the Center has reached out to companies to provide training in ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems as a “base” certification to help Guyanese companies better secure opportunities.

“We thought if people were compliant to that standard that they would be able to win work and stand a better chance,” Patrick said.

Within the first three years of its establishment the Center aimed to train 10 firms but a total of 12 firms were a part of the ISO training programme within the first two years.

The Center also trains in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1800: 2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management Certification.

Regarding the mobile app, Henry explained that since the success of the Center’s Supplier Registration Portal, internal research conducted showed that the majority of businesses in the portal utilise their phones for the service. “[A mobile app would] allow people to better navigate the portal from their phones. It makes it easier for businesses to get notifications and get linkages and look at the portal,” the Project Director said.

The supplier registration portal was built by local IT

Company, BrainStreet in collaboration with V75.

The companies are also expected to work on the new app for launching within a few months.

Meanwhile, Henry said that over 1,200 of the businesses registered to the portal are international businesses.

This enables the Center to encourage small local businesses into joint partnerships for mutual benefit.

Of the total number registered, the largest categories are in areas where there was an existing demand for a service while the number of businesses offering specific services to oil and gas are increasing.

Even with ‘first oil’ for Liza Phase 1 expected in 2020, Henry said that the demand for upstream services will remain steady as Liza Phase 2 is expected to start up by mid-2022.

However, he predicts that long term operations in maintenance in the sector and businesses within the services and goods sector needed for long term will increase.

“The Center is here for businesses to use. I think the more time a business spends with the center the better are its chances of understanding what’s happening; making connections; getting training; winning work,” Henry said.

“We’re here for them to use and I think that the better they’re acquainted with what’s happening and how it’s changing…the better their chances of success.”

Kingelly villager nabbed with 'ganja' at Berbice Bridge DURING a stop and search exercise at the Berbice Bridge on Monday afternoon, a 22-year-old mini bus passenger allegedly had, in his possession, a bulky black bag containing leaves, seeds and stems, purportedly to be portions of the prohibited plant, cannabis sativa.

The narcotic, when weighed, amounted to 445 grams. The arrest was made during the routine exercise in which the West Coast Berbice resident had been a passenger in a Route 56 minibus bearing registration number BGG 4059.

He was seated in the front passenger

seat with a black haversack on his lap when police stopped the vehicle and asked the passengers to disembark.

Initially, the labourer who hails from the village of Kingelly was searched, but after nothing incriminating was found, searches were made in his bag where the narcotic was unearthed.

The accused remains in custody and is expected to make a court appearance shortly.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE June 18, 2019

GTA urges greater collaboration among tourism stakeholders THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) has sought to emphasise the importance of collaboration among stakeholders, as part of an effort to create shared ownership and buy-in for roles that all stakeholders need to play.

To formalise the approach, the GTA successfully completed two round-table stakeholder engagements in Georgetown on June 6, 2019 and in Lethem on June 12, 2019.

According to a press statement from the GTA, a total of 45 tourism stakeholders representing tour operators, interior lodges and resorts, hotels, communities and non-governmental organisations such as The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Conservation International (CI), Visit Rupununi, and North Rupununi District Development Board

Director of the GTA, Brian Mullis (second from left) and Deputy Director of the GTA, Carla James (centre) with other stakeholders

(NRDDB), attended those sessions.

Director of the GTA, Brian Mullis and Deputy Director of GTA, Carla James, spearheaded the engagements and facilitated the sessions held under the theme, “Tourism Development Challenges & Solutions: We all have a

Role to Play.”

Discussions were focused on the tourism strategy, priorities, and outcomes to date for the 2019-2020 period.

Emphasis was placed on how critical areas such as reinstating regularly scheduled flights into the hinterland, prioritising policy and criti-

GTT targets over 150 men for Prostate Cancer screening

GTT’s Communications Officer, Crystal Stoll (centre) presenting a voucher to ‘Pinktober’ sponsors

OVER 150 men across Guyana will benefit from a post Father’s Day Prostate Cancer screening initiative being sponsored by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company.

According to a press statement, GTT hosted a brief session at its Main Office where a Memorandum of understanding was signed by the Men’s Health Unit, several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Cancer Foundations and several GTT Pinktober sponsors.

After signing the MoU, the company distributed 150 vouchers to the stakeholders, who will further give them to men, over 40 years old, who satisfy specific criteria.

GTT’s Health and Wellness Business Partner, Diana Gittens said the goal of the initiative is to promote prostate screening and raise prostate cancer awareness across Guyana. She explained the voucher allows for one free Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening and is followed by a

doctor’s consultation with the patient.

“Those who will benefit from these vouchers will be identified by the various NGOs, cancer foundations, sponsors and the men’s health unit. However, we are hoping that men like security guards, bus and taxi drivers, labourers and administrative staff who are unable to afford the PSA test will be the ones reaching out for these vouchers; especially if they have a family history of cancer,” Gittens said.

She said the voucher includes a doctor’s visit and not only screening, since it is believed that many men are reluctant to visit doctors. “This provides the opportunity to request information and share about other health conditions they may be experiencing. GTT cares and we think that the best gift we can give to our fathers, especially our indigent fathers, is the access to healthcare,” said Gittens.

The health and wellness

business partner encouraged all Guyanese men to do the prostate cancer screening, since early intervention is proven to save lives. Among those receiving vouchers were the Guyana Cancer Foundation, the Giving Hope Foundation, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Cancer society of Linden and Berbice, Impressions, Republic Bank Guyana, Mix FM and Ansa McAl to name a few.

Founder of the Giving Hope Foundation, Dr. Latoya Gooding commended GTT for executing such an initiative, since she believes many males are at risk of getting prostate cancer.

“I have seen many males die due to prostate cancer. This initiative is trying to prevent prostate cancer especially if they detect it early, they can start treatment early,” said Gooding. Men are encouraged to reach out to the various organisations to see if they are eligible to obtain one of the vouchers.

cal infrastructure improvements, and raising awareness of the importance and value of tourism nationally, are all reliant on the roles each individual stakeholder plays in tourism.

“Further, by increasing the collective reach of the tourism sector through cooperative marketing and promotions, and meeting the growing market demand by meeting international safety, quality and sustainability standards, the tourism sector will undoubtedly reap the benefits and raise its profile,” said the GTA. “These stakeholder engagements are important for the GTA and members of the tourism sector to share our strategies and priorities and discuss the

ways in which both can be improved.

“Only through this level of multi-stakeholder collaboration can tourism realise its potential as a force for good in Guyana,” said Mullis.

“We feel it is important to have general stakeholder engagements of this nature to identify solutions to the shared challenges we face within the tourism sector and to determine tourism policy and infrastructure priorities,” said James.

As part of its annual budget planning cycle, the GTA intends to host yearly stakeholder engagements with a solution-oriented approach, to build a stronger tourism sector.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 18, 2019

FROM BACK PAGE

We will show no fear..

Asked about the team’s composition for tonight’s humdinger, Johnson noted that “the team’s been picked appropriately for this game and, more likely or not, it could change for the next one; but we feel what we’ve

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got at our disposal that we are in a very, very good place with hours left before the big game.”

“I think we, by our own professionalism, by our own expectations, are putting more pressure on us internally than probably anybody else. I’ve seen statements that don’t give us a chance, written us off; we won’t score a goal, easy game for America.

But internally, I think there is an inner belief and a real resilience that that’s the case and I think that’s where the pressure comes from us in our own environment, thinking we can do a lot better than the so-called armchair pundits, press, players from America and coaching staff have said.”

Sam Cox, the team’s captain, asked that all of Guyana support the team tonight, pointing out “Just think about it, over 40 million people will be tuned into the game; we’re playing in front of a sold out

stadium…we can’t ask for a bigger occasion than this to really introduce ourselves to the world as a footballing-nation. I know the lads are hungry, but I also know that we’re excited to really go out there and show the rest of the world that we belong here and we’re not just here to participate.”

Guyana has been drawn in Group D of the 16-team tournament, and after their game tonight against the USA, the Golden Jaguars will travel to Cleveland where they will take on Panama on June 22, following which, they will face regional rivals Trinidad and Tobago in Kansas City on June 26.

Guyana’s 23-man roster Goalkeepers (3): Akel Clark (Walking Boyz Company/SUR), Alex Murray (Santos Georgetown), Quillan Roberts (Forge FC/CAN) Defenders (8): Matthew Briggs (Maldon & Tiptree/ ENG), Sam Cox (Hamp-

ton & Richmond Borough/ ENG), Kadell Daniel (Dover Athletic/ENG), Jordan Dover (Pittsburgh Riverhounds/ USA), Liam Gordon (Dagenham & Redbridge/ENG), Kevin Layne (New Amsterdam United), Ronayne Marsh-Brown (Whitehawk/ ENG), Terence Vancooten (Stevenage/ENG) Midfielders (5): Elliot Bonds (Dagenham & Redbridge/ENG), Neil Danns (Bury/ENG), Stephen Duke-McKenna (Bolton Wanderers/ENG), Pernell Schultz (Western Tigers), Daniel Wilson (Western Tigers) Forwards (6): Callum Harriot (Reading/ENG), Sheldon Holder (Morvant Caledonia United/TRI), Anthony Jeffrey (Dover Athletic/ENG), Keanu Marsh-Brown (Newport County/WAL), Terrel Ondaan (Telstar/NED), Emery Welshman (Forge FC/CAN) FROM BACK PAGE

Holder sees ‘tough’ road...

He added: “Having said that, with 321 on the board, we still had to go out there, fight and make a game of it. We needed new-ball wickets.

We didn’t get it today. They batted well. Shakib came in and played really well and Liton Das played really well so you still gotta give them credit.”

West Indies opened with an impressive victory over Pakistan but their campaign has since gone off the rails with defeats to Australia, England and now Bangladesh, and a rain-abandoned game against South Africa where only 45 balls were possible.

Their moment of reckoning will come in Manchester when they face New Zealand in their next match on Saturday before clashing with India five days later.

Holder said to reach the semi-finals, the Windies were well aware they would have to take down two of the tournament’s strongest sides.

“They’re a good team,” he said of India. “But if we want to get through into the semi-finals, we’ve got to play good cricket. We’ve got to beat the best teams. India obviously is going to be a tough game. We’ve got New Zealand as well.

“We’ve just got to back ourselves and be a lot more clinical with the ball, and still go a lot further with the bat. As I said before, I think we’re still a few runs short when we bat. I don’t think we’ve got a batsman with a [century] yet.

These are things that we need to correct.”

SCOREBOARD WINDIES C Gayle c wkp Mushfiqur Rahim b Mohammad Saifuddin 0 E Lewis c (sub) Sabbir Rahman b Shakib Al Hasan 70 +S Hope c Liton Das b Mustafizur Rahman 96 N Pooran c Soumya Sarkar b Shakib Al Hasan 25 S Hetmyer c Tamim Iqbal b Mustafizur Rahman 50 A Russell c wkp Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 0 *J Holder c Mahmudullah b Mohammad Saifuddin 33 D Bravo b Mohammad Saifuddin 19 O Thomas not out 6 Extras (lb6, w16) 22 TOTAL (8 wkts, 50 overs) 321 Did not bat: S Cottrell, S Gabriel.

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Gayle, 3.2 overs), 2-122 (Lewis, 24.3), 3-159 (Pooran, 32.2), 4-242 (Hetmyer, 39.3), 5-243 (Russell, 40), 6-282 (Holder, 43.4), 7-297 (Hope, 47), 8-321 (Bravo, 50) Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 8-1-37-0, Mohammad Saifuddin 10-1-72-3 (w6), Mustafizur Rahman 9-0-59-3 (w5), Mehidy Hasan 9-0-57-0 (w1), Mosaddek Hossain 6-0-36-0, Shakib-al-Hasan 8-0-54-2.

BANGLADESH Tamim Iqbal run out 48 Soumya Sarkar c Gayle b Russell 29 Shakib Al Hasan not out 124 +Mushfiqur Rahim c wkp Hope b Thomas 1 Liton Das not out 94 Extras (b1, w25) 26 TOTAL (3 wkts, 41.3 overs) 322 Did not bat: Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan, *Mashrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman.

Fall of wickets: 1-52 (Soumya Sarkar, 8.2 overs), 2-121 (Tamim Iqbal, 17.3), 3-133 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 19) Bowling: Cottrell 10-0-65-0 (w3), Holder 9-0-62-0 (w1), Russell 6-0-42-1 (w1), Gabriel 8.3-0-78-0 (w2), Thomas 6-0-52-1 (w5), Gayle 2-0-22-0 (w1).

Points: Bangladesh 2, West Indies 0.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 18, 2019

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Chanderpaul grateful for HPC stint Tagenarine Chanderpaul will make his first appearance at the HPC.

By Rajiv Bisnauth FIRST-class batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul has expressed joy at being selected among 16 players to attend a Cricket West Indies High Performance

training camp, starting tomorrow at the West Indies High Performance Centre (WIHPC), Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua.

Aimed at enhancing their red-ball cricket skills, the training camp runs until the end of the month.

Speaking exclusively with Chronicle Sport yesterday, the former West Indies youth player, who played 35 First-class matches, said he aims to make full use of the opportunity, adding that the Centre is geared towards refining the skills and charting the way forward in the de-

velopment of the best young cricketers in the region.

“I’m really happy to be part of this. This means so much to me,” he reckoned.

He added, “This is certainly an opportunity for me to better my cricket skills.

I’m also looking forward to the other aspects of the programme, because this is not just about cricket, but shaping a well-rounded individual.”

The HPC works in a similar fashion to the ‘A’ teams of other countries, where they will be educated on facets such as mental

conditioning, media training, anti-doping, anti-corruption, and other personal development skills.

Meanwhile, Programme Manager of the WIHPC, Graeme West, said the HP training camp was all part of CWI’s ongoing investment into player development to fortify the pool of talent available, which is a key aspect of the CWI strategic plan.

It also follows new policies outlined by new president, Ricky Skerritt, and vice president, Kishore Shallow.

“This camp is another

opportunity for the CWI selectors to recognise and reward players that have impressed in regional cricket,” he said. “Many of the players selected have come through the CWI talent pathway and have benefitted from our investment in Youth, Under-19, High Performance and ‘A’ Team programmes over the last five years.”

The 23-year-old Chanderpaul, along with Chandrapaul Hemraj, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd, are the other Guyanese selected.

Both Rutherford and Shepherd will feature for West Indies ‘A’ in their upcoming home series against India ‘A’ next month.

The full squad for the HPC training reads: Keacy Carty, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Dominic Drakes, Akim Fraser, Keon Harding, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Kavem Hodge, Chemar Holder, Brandon King, Shermon Lewis, Marquino Mindley, Kharry Pierre, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd and Jeremy Solozano.

RHTY&SC Cricket Academy Bangladesh captain praises exceptional Shakib after Windies heroics to start July 15 THE 10 cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, (RHTY&SC), in their continuing quest to remain the leading cricket club in the Ancient County would be hosting the Annual Cricket Academy from July 15, 2019.

The two-week Academy would be held at the Area ‘H’ Ground, with the management of the club targetting a total of 120 participants between ages eight and 18.

Assistant Secretary/ CEO, Simon Naidu, who would serve as Director of the Academy, stated that the Academy serves as the main output of cricketing talent for Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation. The academy would be conducted by coach Delbert Hicks in the absence of regular head coach Winston Smith, who is currently overseas.

The Academy starts at 09:00hrs and ends at noon daily, with the organisers providing meals and refreshments to the youths. Naidu noted that the RHTY&SC welcomes youths across Berbice to join the Academy as they can go back to their respective clubs with newfound knowledge.

The main objectives of the Academy would be to assist the youths to improve their cricketing skills, to improve their knowledge of the game, its history and laws, to promote the importance of education and physical

Assad Fudadin

fitness, while classroom sessions would be done to get the youths to understand their role as ambassadors of their Club, Berbice and Guyana.

Among the topics to be discussed during the classroom lectures are Drug Abuse, Career Choices, Importance of Education, Importance of Discipline, Personal Hygiene, Role of a Sports Ambassador, Rules of Cricket, Captaincy, History of Cricket, Public Speaking and Dealing with the Media.

Long-standing RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, will spearhead the classes along with some highly qualified and successful personnel, including doctors, social workers and head teachers.

Naidu noted that admission to the academy is free, with the RHTY&SC and several of its sponsors covering the costs related to meals, gear, refreshments, educational materials, trophies, medals and gifts.

Since 1991, RHTY&SC

Cricket Academy has served as a nursery and feeding ground for the success of the five-time Guyana Cricket Board Club-of-the-Year Awardee.

The Club, which won the Award in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2016, has over the last 29 years won over 60 major championships and produced numerous players for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies.

The Academy over the years has produced over 2 000 young cricketers with over 100 going on to play for Berbice, while over 60 have represented Guyana at either the junior and senior level.

Among players who came through the Academy are Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Abdel Fudadin, Eon Hooper, Renwick Batson, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Plaffiana Millington, Mariam Samaroo, Dominique Rikhi, Askay Homraj, Khemraj Mahadeo, Shawn Pereira, Delbert Hicks, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Sylus Tyndall, Murphy La Rose, Melanie Henry, Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Dian Prahalad, Uma Matadin and Neil Williams.

Interested parents who wish to register their children can contact the RHTY&SC on 337-4562 or email: foster_hilbert@ yahoo.com. Registration can also be done through Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu on 643-9040.

TAUNTON, England (Reuters) - Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza heaped praise on team mate Shakib Al Hasan after the all-rounder scored his second century in as many World Cup matches to lead them to a big win over the West Indies on Monday.

Shakib’s unbeaten 124 off 99 deliveries helped the Tigers record the second-highest run chase in World Cup history with a seven-wicket victory.

Chasing 322 for a famous victory, the 32-year-old took control with his ninth ODI century as Bangladesh secured the win with 51 balls to spare. “Shakib Al Hasan has made it in this World Cup now,” said Mortaza.

“In every match he’s doing something that’s exceptional and let’s hope it continues for the team.”

Liton Das

“Liton Das normally opens or bats at number three but he’s coped with moving down the order and he’s delivered the goods.”

The result leaves Bangladesh fifth in the table on five points ahead of their clash with holders Australia on Thursday. “We have a chance to go through but we have to win all of our matches,” he added.

“The turning moment was when Mustafizur Rahman took two wickets in an over to remove Shimron

Hetmyer and Andre Russell.”

The result leaves West Indies seventh in the standings before they face New Zealand on Saturday.

Asked whether batting or bowling was at fault for the defeat, captain Jason Holder said: “Bit of both, we were probably 40-50 runs short, the wicket played really well, but we could have been more disciplined with the ball and we let ourselves down in the field as well.

“I thought we got through the first 10 overs well batting but never got the momentum and had too much to do at the back end.

“We then didn’t get wickets, we tried to hit the top of the stumps but we were too inconsistent and we should have been more disciplined. From here on everything is a final for us.”

Sri Lanka warned after media no-show MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Sri Lanka have been warned against a repeat of their no-show in the customary postmatch news conference following their World Cup loss to Australia, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said on Monday.

The 1996 champions did not send a representative after their defeat on Saturday in a breach of protocol, an official of the governing International Cricket Council told Reuters. The governing body lodged a complaint with SLC, which has instructed the team to comply with their media obligations.

“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that, contrary to various media reports, there won’t be any sanctions imposed on the Sri

Lanka team by the ICC...” SLC said in a statement.

“Sri Lanka Cricket discussed Saturday’s incident with the ICC and assured that a similar situation will not occur going forward in the tournament. “The SLC also advised the team management to comply with the obligations...” it added.

Sri Lanka, who have won one of their five matches and are fifth in the standings, last week complained to organisers about having to play on bowler-friendly pitches and were also unhappy with the quality of their accommodation.

Sri Lanka’s next match is against hosts England at Headingley on Friday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Spin is Afghanistan’s key to success, claims skipper Naib GULBADIN Naib claims every game in this World Cup is a learning curve for Afghanistan but he is still backing them to do some damage, especially on spinning pitches.

Afghanistan have lost to Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and South Afri-

ca so far at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 to sit bottom of the table and now face hosts England at Old Trafford today. They have failed to bat out their overs in any game so far but a bowling attack including highly-rated spinners Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi

have the potential to cause the opposition problems.

And skipper Gulbadin – whose side lost to England by nine wickets in a preWorld Cup warm-up match – is eager to see some turn on the Old Trafford pitch, believing that holds the key to their success.

“We are looking for the spin in every game,” smiled Gulbadin. “But we didn’t find spin on the surface.

“If the Old Trafford wicket is like it was when India and Pakistan played on Sunday, the wicket slightly turned, then maybe every team is in trouble against Afghanistan, not only England but the others!

“The spin is key for Afghanistan, in the last three years that’s how we play our cricket – spin provides a high rate of success for the Afghanistan team.

“If there’s a little bit of spin there, maybe it’s a good day for Afghanistan.

“Rashid is not like other players who bowl normally, he’s an attacking bowler. Every time, he’s attacking.

“In the warm-up match, maybe the surface was not suited to him. But if we have the kind of wicket India and Pakistan had, if it turns slightly, then Rashid can make it difficult for every team – not only England.

Leg-spinner Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s key bowler.

“Rashid is a key bowler and he’s also created a lot of success for Afghanistan; so he’s a key part of the Afghanistan team.”

Afghanistan have been travelling around the country so far in this tournament, having played in Bristol, Taunton and Cardiff (twice).

After the clash against England at Old Trafford, they face two consecutive games in Southampton before finishing with a pair of matches in Leeds.

And while Gulbadin says the team have learned plenty on their travels, he is targeting a victory before the World Cup is over.

“We are taking a lot of positives from the four games we played against the other teams,” he added. “It’s good cricket and you face tough situations. You face a different kind of wicket and different kind of pitches in every match.

“You can find out a lot of things on those kind of surfaces and in this kind of tournament. We have achieved a lot of things here and now we are trying to achieve others.

“We are hopeful as we look for victories in the matches. We are trying to put in good points here to take from this tournament.

“If you look at our cricket, we are learning a lot of things and we are also trying to bounce back well from defeats. It’s a tough format for us.”(Yahoo UK Sport) FROM PAGE 31

Toronto Raptors...

The shots were fired near Nathan Phillips Square, the parade’s final destination, during the victory speeches, causing hundreds of people to scatter for cover. However, it caused only a brief pause in the celebrations.

Canadians from coast to coast and all the way up to the Arctic have been celebrating since the Toronto Raptors captured their first National Basketball Association championship in a country that is traditionally known for its love of ice hockey.

The Raptors clinched the best-of-seven series in Oakland, California, on Thursday in six games by beating the defending champion Golden State Warriors 114-110, giving rise to a nationwide love affair with basketball.

People take cover after reports of shots fired in the area where crowds gathered in Nathan Phillips Square to celebrate the Toronto Raptors victory parade in Toronto, Ontario, Canada June 17, 2019. REUTERS/ Moe Doiron

CANADIAN SPORTING HISTORY The Raptors victory is the first major professional sports championship for a Canada-based team since Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series in 1993. Toronto has been waiting for its beloved Maple Leafs to win the NHL championship since its last Stanley Cup victory in 1967.

“It’s the culmination of playing for 24 years. We’ve been waiting a long time for this,” said Raptors fan Chris Rogers.

Rogers, 34, who has rooted for the Raptors since they entered the league 1995, was

dressed in a jersey of Raptors guard Kyle Lowry. He had been waiting since morning to watch the parade.

Rogers said his workplace was fully supportive of him being out of the office as they believed the parade was important.

About 2 million fans stood by to celebrate and catch a glimpse of the winners, according to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Raptors.

Streets were closed off to accommodate the convoy, and three subway stations were also closed due to overcrowding on the street level. Enthusiastic fans festooned the streets of Toronto wearing Raptors red, purple, black and white.

A few fans climbed atop bus stops and the arches of Nathan Phillips Square, but were asked by police to come down.

As crowds swelled along the streets, several people were put on stretchers due to dehydration. Raptors’ dancers, security guards and the organizers were seen handing out water to the fans, who continued to throng streets leading up to the square.

The Snowbirds, an aerobatic flight demonstration team of the Royal Canadian Air Forces, contributed to the festivities by soaring over the skies of Toronto.

Toronto Mayor John Tory proclaimed June 17, 2019, as “We The North” day to mark the occasion, borrowing the slogan used by the Raptors.

“This championship is the culmination of years of patience, support, devotion and belief. Toronto has proven that it is a basketball city and that the game thrives in The North,” Tory said in a statement.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 18, 2019

29

Meet the 'Golden Jaguars'

By Rawle Toney in Minnesota (compliments of Let's Bet Sports) Guyana's senior men's National team, the Golden Jaguars, will open their CONCACAF Gold Cup tonight against the USA at the Allianz Field in Minnesota.

Get familiar with the Coach Michael Johnson roster as they embark on their historic journey

Name: Keanu Marsh-Brown

Name: Brandon Beresford

Name: Terrel Ondaan

Name: Emery Welshman

Position: Midfield

Position: Forward

Position: Forward

Position: Forward

Club: Peachtree City MOBA

Club: Telstar

Club: Forge FC

Club: Dover Athletic

Name: Alex Murray

Name: Quillan Roberts

Name: Matthew Briggs

Position: Goalkeeper

Position: Goalkeeper

Position: Defender

Club: Santos FC

Club: Forge FC

Club: Maldon & Tiptree

Club: Hampton & Richmond Borough

Club: Dover Athletic

Name: Jordan Dover

Name: Laim Gordon

Name: Kevin Layne

Position: Defender

Position: Defender

Name: Ronayne Marsh-Brown

Name: Terence Vancooten

Name: Elliot Bonds

Position: Defender Club: Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Club: Dagenham & Redbridge

Club: Guyana Defense Force

Position: Defender

Position: Defender

Club: Whitehawks FC

Club: Stevenage

Club: Dagenham & Redbridge

Name: Stephen Duke-McKenna

Name: Pernell Schultz

Name: Daniel Wilson

Name: Callum Harriott

Name: Sheldon Holder

Position: Midfield

Position: Forward

Position: Forward

Club: Western Tigers

Club: Reading FC

Club: Morvant Caledonia

Name: Akel Clarke Position: Goalkeeper Club: Walking Boyz Company

Name: Neil Danns Position: Midfield Club: Bury FC

Position: Midfield

Position: Midfield

Club: Bolton Wanderers

Club: Western Tigers

Name: Anthony Jeffery

Name: Samuel Cox Position: Defender

Position: Forward Club: Newport County

Name: Kadell Daniel Position: Defender

Position: Midfield

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Republic Bank (Guy) Ltd renews sponsorship with RHTYSC

THE Rose Hall Town Branch of Republic Bank (Guy) Ltd has renewed its sponsorship with the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club for the 19th consecutive year.

The sponsorship will offset the expenses for a summer camp for students preparing to enter secondary school phase at the beginning of the new school year.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, stated that this year’s camp will commence on July 15 and concludes on August 9.

The club is catering for up to sixty students drawn from several schools in the Rose Hall Town catchment area. Among the schools targeted are Rose Hall Town

Primary, Port Mourant Primary, Belvedere Primary, Cropper Primary, Tain Primary and Auchlyne Primary.

The main objective of the Camp is to assist Grade Six students to make a successful transition from the Primary level to Secondary.

Other objectives include promoting the Say No/Say Yes message, teaching the students the art of playing cricket, the importance of education and discipline along with the importance of being a positive role model.

Foster, who is also the President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) disclosed that the classroom work would be conducted by a senior educator employed by the club, while he and the

club’s assistant secretary/ CEO Simon Naidu would be responsible for the lecture series. Cricket Coach Delbert Hicks would work along with the students in several one-hour sessions as part of the club’s Say Yes to Sports effort.

Classes would be held from Monday to Friday from 08:30hrs to 12:00 noon, with students being taught English, maths, social studies, integrated science, geography and basic Spanish.

Each child attending and successfully completing the camp would receive a school bag and educational materials while the overall best student and top student in each subject would receive special prizes.

Awards would also be given to the Most Disciplined Student, Most Improved Student and Best Attendance.

Among topics to be lectured on by qualified personnels would be the Importance of Education, Importance of Discipline, Choosing Friends, Suicide/Depression, Personal Hygiene, Manners in the Classroom, Career Choices, Public Speaking, Basic Public Manners and Peer Pressure.

During the special cricket coaching sessions, emphasis would be placed on physical fitness, batting, and bowling as the club promotes the importance of sports as an alternative to a life on the road.

Interested parents can

Branch Manager of the RHT Republic Bank, Doodmatee Bhollaram, hands over the donation to RHTYSC Assistant Secretary, Simon Naidu.

call the club on telephone number 337 4562 or visit the Area ‘H’ Ground Office to register your child. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would provide all the necessary educational materials free of cost.

Naidu hailed Republic Bank as a long-standing supporter of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation and one of the main foundation for its unmatched record of achievements.

Spain and China reach Women’s Ferrari request review of World Cup last 16 with draw controversial Canadian GP decision

SPAIN and China played out a goalless draw that ensured both sides progress to the World Cup last 16 in France.

Spain qualify for the knockout stages as Group B runners-up, level on four points with China who are guaranteed to finish as a best third-placed side.

Germany sealed their position as group winners, beating South Africa 4-0.

Jorge Vilda’s Spain qualify from the Women’s World Cup group stages for the first time in their history, having made their tournament debut in 2015.

China, who continue their record of having never failed to progress from their group, avoid a potential last 16 encounter with defending champions the United States - but could face England should Phil Neville’s side top Group E. In a game of limited opportunities, Lucia Garcia missed the chance to hand Spain an early advantage in Le Havre as she shot wide from Mariona Caldentey’s cross.

China rarely threatened but remained defensively sound - despite prolific Atletico Madrid striker Jennifer Hermoso’s

increasing influence as the Europeans dominated possession.

Last season’s Liga Femenina Golden Boot winner Hermoso found herself closed down rapidly throughout, but the 29-year-old arrowed a powerful header towards the bottom corner to draw a fine save from goalkeeper Peng Shimeng five minutes before the interval.

Nahikari Garcia dragged wide as the second half followed a similar pattern, while Patricia Guijarro had a low shot blocked by Shimeng late on. (BBC Sport)

(Tuesday June 18, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 1. Glen Turner & Dennis Amiss 2. Andrew Hudson/Curtly Ambrose

1. How many teams have played in World Cup tournaments to date?

after the addition of the penalty.

Significant and relevant new evidence that was not available at the time of the ruling is required for a team to submit a ‘right of review’.

Ferrari have not offered details on what this may be, but have confirmed the submission of their request to Formula One’s governing FIA. Stewards will now have sole discretion to determine whether such a significant and relevant new element existed, with their decision final.

Brazil authorities put freeze on Neymar mansions amid tax dispute

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

Today’s Quiz:

(REUTERS) - Ferrari have formally asked for the decision that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in the Canadian Grand Prix to be reviewed. a team spokesperson said on Monday.

Vettel was handed a five-second time penalty during the race on June 9 for going off track and returning in what was deemed to be an unsafe fashion.

The German had led the race from start to finish but lost out to Mercedes’ championship leader Lewis Hamilton

Neymar ‘s off-pitch woes continue to mount.

SAO PAULO (Reuters) Paris Saint-Germain strik2. How many teams have played in every World er Neymar’s off-pitch woes continue to mount, as BraCup? zilian tax authorities put a Answers in tomorrow’s issue freeze on dozens of his man-

sions and other properties amid a long-running tax dispute, local media reported Monday.

The Folha de S.Paulo newspaper reported that Brazilian authorities blocked 36 properties in Brazil as they seek 69 million reais (£14 million) in back taxes. They claim that amount is due in connection with Neymar’s 2013 transfer from Santos to Barcelona.The action means Neymar can use the properties

but not sell them.

Folha cited an unspecified court ruling as approving the action by Brazil tax authorities. It was not immediately possible to locate the ruling.

Brazil’s tax agency did not respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for Neymar did not have comment.

In addition to his tax fight, Neymar in recent weeks has been accused of rape, an allegation that Brazilian police

are investigating.

A Brazilian woman accused Neymar, 27, of raping her at a Paris hotel last month.

He denies the allegation and says the relationship was consensual.

On Sunday, a report in L’Equipe said that Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to sell Neymar, as chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi warned that irresponsible behaviour from players won’t be tolerated anymore.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, June 18, 2019

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Beacons defy Police to lift Bartica ‘Guinness Greatest of the Streets’ Championship

By Michelangelo Jacobus A PACKED house, fully behind a rampant Beacons side, witnessed their favourite side being crowned the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Bartica Champions after a 1-0 defeat of Police on Sunday night at the Bartica Community Centre tarmac.

A rampant center forward, Whitney Welcome, denied Police by netting the game’s only goal in the 31st minute in a matchup which was highlighted by a lot of physicality.

Welcome stuck the needle in the lawmen after receiving the ball on the right side following a fluent set of passing; his calm take was followed by a powerful right-footed shot which

beat the final defender to ignite wild celebrations on the field and in the crowd.

For the officers, it was their second loss in three years in the championship matchup after losing the inaugural final in 2017 to Rivers View.

Beacons booked their place in the championship match after brushing aside Walking Boys 3-0.

On the other hand, Police edged Mighty Ruler 1-0 on penalty kicks, after regulation and extra time ended goalless.

The win earned Beacons $400,000 and the respective trophy while they also won an automatic place in the National Championship, which is pegged to start in August . Meanwhile, the losing finalist received $150,000

Beacons captain Whitney Welcome collecting the championship trophy from Banks DIH Bartica Branch Manager, Amanda Murray, in the presence of his team-mates. Also in photo is Lee Baptiste (extreme right), Guinness Brand Executive, and Bartica District Sales Supervisor, Keron Savory.

and a trophy. In the third place playoff, newcom-

BCB mourns passing of former Assistant Secretary, sports writer Shan Razack

Former BCB Assistant Secretary and sports writer Shan Razack, dead at 75.

THE President, Executives and members of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) have expressed shock and deepest regret at the sudden passing of Shan Razack on June 5.

Razack, who passed away in the United States at the age of 75, is survived by his wife, Beauty; his son, Shan Jr; daughter Petal; sisters Sheila and Bibi, and brother Wally; all of whom deeply mourn his

passing.

The late Shan Razack had been a member of the Mental Hospital (Fort Canje) Sports Club and had also played for Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club in his youth as a right-arm leg-spinner.

He had served on the Berbice Cricket Board as Assistant Secretary and Chairman of the Competitions Committee in 1966 and 1967; and as the BCB official scorer in all international, regional, and inter-county matches played in Berbice between 1964 and 1997.

Razack had, moreover, been broadly respected for the role he had played as a sports writer, and had a wealth of knowledge on the history of cricket in Berbice. He had been employed as an administrator of the Berbice and Georgetown Hospitals before migrating to the U.S.A. The BCB acknowledges his long, dedicated and exceptional service to the development of cricket in Berbice. Berbice Cricket is at its strongest point because of the foundation laid in the past by Administrators such as Razack, Leslie Amsterdam, Lennox Phillips, Ancel Hazel, Carl Moore, Mortimer George, Malcolm Peters, Roy Baijnauth, Sam Suchit, Maurice Haniff and Rex Ramnarace.

The BCB would like to reassure the Berbice Cricketing public that it would work every day to make sure the legacy of Kanhai, Butcher, Solomon and Kallicharran is upheld.

The BCB hereby expresses deepest sympathy to the Razack family in these sad times.

er Walking Boys needled Mighty Ruler 1-0.

Due to the outcome, Walking Boyz walked

away with $100,000 and a trophy, while Mighty Rulers collected $75,000 and the respective accolade.

Goal-Raiders won the Guinness Plate Championship, defeating Rivers View 1-0 on penalty kicks, after regulation and extra time ended scoreless.

For their win, Goal-Raiders pocketed $60,000. In the earlier Guinness Plate semi-final round, Goal-Raiders bested Prison Officers 1-0, while Rivers View edged Potaro by an identical score.

The other major sponsor of the event was Colours Boutique. In attendance at the venue was Banks DIH Guinness Brand Executive, Lee Baptiste.

The Georgetown leg of the tournament is slated to commence in July.

Toronto Raptors 2-million strong NBA victory bash marred by shooting

Toronto fans watch a man climb down a poll as they fill the streets in front of the city hall, during the Toronto Raptors NBA Championship celebration parade at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Ontario, Canada,yesterday.( REUTERS/Hyungwon Kang)

By Tyler Choi TORONTO (Reuters) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and some 2 million other fans cheered the NBA champion Toronto Raptors on Monday in a victory celebration that united the nation, but the party was marred by a shooting that seriously wounded two people.

Five double-decker buses that carried the players and their families moved along

the parade route at a snail’s pace due to the massive crowd, as players including Kawhi Leonard, who was named most valuable player of the NBA Finals, sprayed champagne on the fans.

The Canadian musician Drake, one of the team’s most prominent and outspoken fans, earned a place on one of the buses.

The convoy arrived nearly two hours behind schedule near Toronto’s city hall, where the team was greeted

on a stage by Trudeau and other dignitaries.

The shooting interrupted an otherwise peaceful, six-hour bash that only began to clear out in the late afternoon. Two people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Toronto police said on Twitter. Two also were taken into custody and two firearms were recovered, police said.

An investigation is ongoing.

TURN TO PAGE 28

READY TO ROAR! The ‘Golden Jaguars’ going through some warm up drills at the Allianz Field Stadium in Minnesota head of their opening game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup against the USA. (Samuel Maughn photo)

We will show no fear against the USA - Johnson

- Golden Jaguars anxious for Allianz baptism tonight

Holder sees ‘tough’ road ahead for Windies after Bangladesh drubbing CONTINUE ON PAGE 26 Guyana’s head Coach Michael Johnson (left) and Samuel Cox addressing the media at the pre-game press conference. (Samuel Maughn photo)

By Rawle Toney in Minnesota (compliments of Let’s Bet Sports) IT all comes down to tonight! The first meeting between Guyana and the USA at the senior level, and the enticing encounter will also mark the first time the Allianz Field (stadium) in St Paul’s Minnesota will be hosting an International football match.

The game starts at 9.00 pm Minnesota time; (10:00pm Guyana time.

Guyana and the USA, the CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions, will collide in what pundits are already describing as a win for the ‘Stars and Strips’ but for the Golden Jaguars, they believe than an upset is in the making.

“We will show no fear,” head coach Michael Johnson at the pre-game press conference, as the former Jamaican International stating that Guyana will be heading out on the pitch play for three points.

Johnson reiterated his statement about Guyana’s chances against the USA, telling the room of journalist “we didn’t come this far to not go out on the pitch and give our best, so expect the boys to have a go at the USA.” Johnson said that he’s cognisant of the fact that the USA are the Gold Cup champions, but, he’s also confident in his group of players to show the footballing-world that Guyana belongs amongst the elite teams in CONCACAF. In the lead-up to this historic clash against the USA, Guyana faced fellow Gold Cup debutant Bermuda and fell 1 - 0, and then faced Haiti in Costa Rica and fell 3 - 1.

As a matter of fact, in their last 10 matches played, dating back to 2017, the Golden Jaguars were victorious three times and has one draw (1 - 1) which came against Trinidad and Tobago.

For the USA, since their 2 - 1 loss to the Soca Warriors in 2017 which kept them out of the last FIFA World Cup, featured 18 times in International competition, winning six, drawing two and picked up six losses, including their recent back-to-back defeat which came against Venezuela (3 - 0) and Jamaica (1 - 0).

Panama on this other hand have not won a any of their 15 outings since beating Trinidad and Tobago 1 - 0 in a friendly in 2018.

The Panamanians made their maiden qualification for the FIFA World Cup last year but didn’t win any of their three games played against Belgium (3 - 0), England (6 1) and Tunisia (2 - 1). They played to a 2 - 2 draw against South Korea and 1 - 1 against Brazil this year.

For Trinidad and Tobago, since being responsible for the for the Red, White and Blue not reaching the World Cup, played nine times over the past year, but only tasted victory once (2-1 against United Arab Emirates). looking back at the team’s preparation, Johnson said “for the last few days we’ve had a chance to really batten down and deal with what we expect, as we know the team now and this has allowed us to be more precise in our work and more detailed from an analytic point of view both in and out of possession and how we’re going to approach this game.”-TURN PAGE 26

Shakib-al-Hasan and Linton Das celebrate the all-rounder’s century during their match- winning partnership at Taunton TAUNTON, England, (CMC) – Captain Jason Holder conceded Monday that West Indies faced a “tough” path to the World Cup semi-finals, after producing a lacklustre display against Bangladesh to suffer a disappointing seven-wicket defeat.

The Caribbean side have now suffered three losses in their five outings while winning just once, and are seventh in the 10-team standings on three points. More daunting is the fact two of their four remaining fixtures are against unbeaten powerhouses India and New Zealand.

“It’s looking tough at this present moment, but it’s not impossible,” Holder told a media conference here.

“We have to play every game here now as a final. We’ve got to win every game left to give ourselves a really good chance.

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“I don’t obviously want to leave it down to other teams or rely on other teams to help our result, but we’ve just got to control what we can and that’s playing each game as a final.”

Shai Hope top-scored with 96 from 120 balls while opener Evin Lewis with 70 and Shimron Hetmyer, 50, chipped in with half-centuries to propel West Indies up to 321 for eight off their 50 overs.

Bangladesh then produced their highest-ever successful run chase in ODIs to overhaul their target in the 42nd over, with Shakib-alHasan slamming an unbeaten 124 off 99 balls and Liton Das stroking 94 not out off 69 deliveries.

Holder said despite getting over 300 runs, the Windies had fallen short of posting a really strong total.

“I felt that at the halfway we were still a few short. Probably I reckon a par score on this on this wicket, with the dimensions of the ground [was] probably 360, 365, maybe 370, and we were well short of that,” he explained.

“We knew up front in the first ten overs we had to really knuckle down and get through that period.

That probably was the toughest period of the innings. But I think we should have been able to rotate the strike a little bit better and find the boundary with a little bit more freedom.”

TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2019