Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_07_12_2019000

FRIDAY 12th July, 2019

Budget 2020 No.105696

moves into gear –– Public servants assured of pay hike

President, Opposition Leader to meet on 03 GECOM chair

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–– after negotiation ends in stalemate

Dipcon must 09 pay up PAGE

–– GRA renews bid for US$2.5M owed by company

A section of the participants at the Budget 2020 Sensitisation and Training session at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Thursday (Delano Williams photo)

Proposed amendment to ‘ganja’ 17 law flexible, creative –– says prime minister

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IDPADA-G launches Credit Union to financially empower Afro-Guyanese

THE International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) launched its Cooperative Credit Union Society to financially empower Afro-Guyanese in accordance with the theme of the International Decade and a mandate given by President David Granger.

The International Decade for People of African Descent 2015–2024 was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly under the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.”

At the launch of the credit union at the Critchlow Labour College on Saturday, IDPADA-G Chairman, Vincent Alexander, said development becomes difficult without the requisite financial resources, and the credit union is intended to respond to the financial and development needs of persons of African descent. He said for far too long persons of African descent have been starved of the financial resources to develop and expand businesses or even provide advanced education to their children.

“We have been under-rec-

ognised if not derecognised.

We have been treated unfairly and we have been underdeveloped,” he told scores of persons who had turned up to get registered.

Alexander reminded that President Granger, while delivering the keynote address at a Cuffy 250 forum in 2016, challenged persons of African descent to get their act together. The IDPADA-G Chairman said the launch of the Credit Union is a manifestation of Afro-Guyanese uniting for a common good.

Explaining that shortage of resources stifles development, Alexander said in order to pursue recognition, justice and development, persons of African descent must have access to a fund that would enable their development.

He said it is time to create that ‘pot.’

“One of the things that we have to do is create that pot – a pot in which we can pool our resources and a pot from which we can garner resources for our individual or collective endeavours,” Alexander said.

While underscoring the importance of pooling their resources, the IDPADA-G

Julieana Nicholas, one of the first persons to sign up to be a part of the credit union on Saturday.

Chairman reminded Afro-Guyanese that it was the collective resources of their foreparents that resulted in the purchase of Victoria – the first village bought by Africans after their freedom from slavery.

Alexander said the Credit Union will be managed on the principles of transparency and equity.

“We are challenged to

Afro-Guyanese turned up in their numbers to be a part of IDPADA-G Cooperative Credit Union Society Limited (Photos by Delano Williams)

manage effectively and efficiently what we put in that pot. We are challenged to be transparent and open with what we do so that none of the mistakes of the past is repeated. So we will continue to be an organisation of integrity….You are challenged to put something in the pot… so we can experience development,” the IDPADA-G Chairman said.

IDPADA Chief Executive Officer, Olive Sampson, told reporters that after more than 50 outreaches across the country, involving hundreds of persons of African descent, it was confirmed that that group of people experiences difficulties accessing credit.

“We can get a Jam Zone loan, we can get a cell phone loan but we can’t get a loan for a small business, we can’t get a loan to help to buy a computer for our kids or a machine to start a business.

So we thought we needed to respond to that. That, coupled with the fact that the United Nations theme for the decade identifies development as one of its central themes,” Sampson explained.

Like Alexander, the IDPADA-G CEO recalled the challenge by President Granger in 2016, when he called on Afro-Guyanese to unite and fulfil the mandate of the International Decade.

At that time, he said the President urged the community to focus on five areas – education, employment, economic, equity and expiation.

Sampson noted that the credit union was being launched on United Nations International Day of Cooperatives. “Cooperatives have a very special place for us as African Guyanese, because, between 1838 and 1848, emancipated Africans came

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

IDPADA-G Chairman Vincent Alexander addressing Afro-Guyanese at the Critchlow Labour College during the launch of the IDPADA-G Cooperative Credit Union Society together, pooled the little money they had been able to save during the period of apprenticeship and purchased abandoned plantations. That was the first cooperative action taken by any group of people anywhere in the world. That is why Guyana is the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” she said.

That movement, she said, ought to be emulated by Africans of today’s society.

“Based on that powerful movement, that powerful example of our strength and our ability to come together, we feel that we can once again spark that energy, that drive and that success by coming together in a cooperative way through a credit union,” Sampson noted.

The IDPADA-G CEO explained that Saturday marked the start of registration for persons interested in joining the credit union, through which they will be able to access finance to develop themselves in various areas of business and development.

“It’s African Guyanese in any kind of business, in any walk of life, in any status, as part of our response to the UN Decade, this is for African Guyanese who are farmers, home-makers, a parent trying to find a way to educate his or her child, it is for a small business person, a medium size business person,” Sampson explained.

She noted that IDPADA-G has the requisite documents in place including a business plan, and will

submit them to the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Cooperatives in the coming week.

“Our application is going to be strengthened by the fact that we can display that we have this many people who have already made a commitment to form a cooperative,” she said. On Saturday, IDPADA-G targeted some 500 persons, however, with more outreaches in the pipeline, the membership base is expected to expand rapidly. Persons were able to purchase their first share value for $1000.

Julieana Nicholas of Paradise on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), was the first to arrive on Saturday.

Though registration was slated to commence at 11:00hrs, Nicholas was at the Critchlow Labour College since 7:30hrs.

She had learnt about the launching of the credit union Friday night from a television report. Nicholas said she sees the Credit Union as an opportunity for persons of African descent to have easy access to finance to start up and expand their businesses.

“I am a poultry farmer. I have been doing it for the past 12 years, and I want to extend my business, rear more poultries, so that I can supply a vast number of customers. And this is why I choose the entity and I have already signed up,” the East Coast resident told See page 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

President, Opposition Leader to meet on GECOM chair

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–– after negotiation ends in stalemate

By Svetlana Marshall NEGOTIATIONS on the nominees for the appointment of a chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), at the level of the technical teams, came to a halt on Thursday, and a decision taken to have the process returned to the President and opposition leader. It is now expected that the two leaders will consider a list of 13 names of which six will be shortlisted for final submission.

The process, at the level of the technical teams, was expected to shortlist six nominees for the position.

That list was expected to be submitted to the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, for a formal submission to President David Granger for his consideration in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana. But while the President’s team – Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence; and Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon – shortlisted the opposition leader’s list of nominees to five from a total of 11, the team appointed by the opposition leader refused to consider the eight names proposed by President Granger.

Instead, that team, which comprises Opposition Members of Parliament Gail Teixeira, Anil Nandlall and Bishop Juan Edghill, indicated that the President’s nominees would not be shortlisted but rather submitted to the opposition leader for his consideration.

It was subsequently

agreed that the five names shortlisted from the opposition leader’s list and the eight proposed by the President, a total of 13, would be submitted to the two leaders for them to “hammer out” the list of six nominees in accordance with the Constitution.

PRINCIPALS SHOULD MEET “At the end of it we agreed that at this stage, the plenipotentiaries, that is to say the representatives of the President and the leader of the opposition, have gotten to a point where they believe that our two principals should meet, that is the President and the leader of the opposition,” Harmon told reporters shortly after exiting the meeting at Castellani House on Thursday.

During the joint interview with the opposition-appointed negotiators, the director general said before arriving at that decision, the President’s team provided their counterparts with clarification on the term “shortlisted” as was requested ahead of the meeting.

According to him, “shortlisted” means to be submitted for further consideration.

Additionally, the President’s representatives shortlisted a fifth name from two that were under “active consideration” when the teams met on Tuesday. It therefore means that from a list of 11 submitted by the opposition leader, six names were rejected with reason while five were shortlisted.

“We felt that at this point in the discussion, that we reached a stage where… it was the right time to indicate

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, speaking with reporters at Castellani House. In the photo are representatives of the government and the opposition (Delano Williams photo) to the leader of the opposition and the President that they should meet each other to review those names – the five shortlisted and the eight that the President submitted and if they so wish, they can add additional names until they reach consensus on the six names to be submitted by the leader of the opposition,” Teixeira told reporters.

She added, “We felt that at this stage it was not possible to go further in the discussions at this level, and therefore, it would be appropriate that we hand over to the leader of the opposition and the President to meet directly with one another, one-on-one, as they wish.”

According to Teixeira, for the opposition, it was difficult to proceed with ne-

IDPADA-G launches Credit Union ...

From page 2

Guyana Chronicle.

Nicholas said that in the past, she approached the commercial bank to finance the expansion of her business but was turned away on the basis that she had no collateral.

“What happens, most times when you approach the banks and you don’t have the criteria that the banks are looking for, take for instance, you may be doing a business but the place that your business is located, you do not own that place, and if you are asking for a loan for expan-

sion you must be able to get a collateral to lodge at that bank; but if you don’t own the place, how could you produce a transport? You may be able to produce a business registration but you don’t have a transport for the property,” she explained.

According to her, accessing a loan from the bank to expand a business is “tedious” and “frustrating.” Nicholas was among the hundreds of persons of African descent who visited the Critchlow Labour College to join the union. Similar outreaches will be held in other parts of the country in the coming month.

gotiations not having a clear understanding of the term “shortlisted”. “The definition of shortlisted is problematic for us, because we still want to know and we hope today that we would have learnt of which of the five shortlisted were not unacceptable to the President,” she explained.

Teixeira expressed the hope that President Granger and the opposition leader can meet today to continue the process of consultation to have at a consensual position on the six nominees for the position.

STALEMATE Interjecting, Nandlall said the President’s team should have clearly stated whether the five names shortlisted are acceptable to the President.

He said while both teams assiduously worked to arrive

at a consensus before today July 12, 2019 when the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will make a series of consequential orders following its validation of the no-confidence motion against government, the opposition opted to “abort” the process because it was not yielding the required outcome.

The director-general, while noting that the approach of the President’s team is fundamentally different from that of the opposition, said progress has been made though not entirely satisfactory.

“In our view, shortlisting is a process of negotiation, and this is what ‘hammering out’ means. [It means] that you move from 11 to five and then you can get to a further state. And therefore to say there is nothing more that we can do, is really not

a true representation of what the process was meant to be,” he said.

The director-general added, “We believe the engagement is still active, and we do not believe that it cannot bear fruit, we believe that it is still active, that even if it goes to the President and the leader of the opposition and they say look, let us revert to the team to get certain things clarified, then that can be done.”

He reiterated that while progress was made, the teams could have made greater progress with respect to “hammering out” the list of nominees.

Minister Ramjattan expressed his disappointment that the opposition leader- appointed team did not keep their end of the See page 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

‘BoJo’ vows to stand

by British diplomats --after Washington envoy's resignation LONDON (Reuters) - Boris Johnson has vowed to stand up for Britain’s diplomats around the world, and take a robust approach towards U.S. President Donald Trump if he succeeds in becoming the next prime minister.

Johnson, the favourite to

be named as Theresa May’s successor on July 23, has been criticised for failing to support Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Kim Darroch, before he resigned this week.

Diplomatic memos from Darroch describing the Trump administration as inept were leaked to a British

newspaper, infuriating the U.S. president, who launched a Twitter attack on both the envoy and outgoing prime minister Theresa May, who had given Darroch her full support.

Johnson pointedly refused to back Darroch during a televised debate, leading to accusations from fellow Conservative Party lawmakers that he had thrown the ambassador “under the bus” in order to bolster his own ties with Trump.

“I will stand up for our fantastic diplomats across the world,” Johnson told a leadership campaign rally on

Thursday.

The former London mayor said there were reasons to believe Britain’s relationship with the United States was the “single most important strategic fact of our times”.

But he said he had criticised Trump before and would do so again if needed.

“I criticised him as foreign secretary,” he said.

“We in the UK do not agree with the position of the United States on global warming ... (or) their approach to the Iran nuclear deal. We were very robust and will continue to be robust with the U.S..”

12 July, 2019 - 01:30hrs ~ 03:00hrs

Flood-hit New Orleans braces for hurricane Tropical Storm Barry is forming into a likely hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, and is forecast to hit the already-flooded US city of New Orleans.

The tropical storm has already brought thunderstorms to the city, triggering flash floods.

A state of emergency is in effect, and residents in some low-lying areas have been asked to evacuate.

The Mississippi River could come dangerously close to overtopping levees shielding the city, officials warn.

It could rise as high as 20ft (6m) above sea level, they say, potentially exceeding the 20-25ft levees.

"We're confident the levees themselves are in good shape. The big focus is height," Ricky Boyett, a spokesman for the US Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the fortifications, told the AP. FLASH FLOODING On Wednesday morning, the New Orleans metro area was hit by as much as eight inches of rain over a threehour period.

Swamped streets saw rubbish bins overturned and vehicles flooded. Some parts of the city saw streets turned into lakes as deep as four feet. Kayakers were seen paddling on roadways.

The National Hurricane Center said on Thursday morning that the storm was 95 miles south-east of the mouth of the Mississippi River, with maximum sustained wind-speeds of 40mph (64 km/hr).

The tropical storm has been given the name Barry by US weather forecasters.

At winds of 74mph, it will be declared a hurricane, as it is forecast to become before making landfall in the delta of the Mississippi River on Friday.

The storm is predicted to drop 10-15 inches of rain on Friday and Saturday along the Louisiana coast and parts of Texas. (BBC)

Wednesday July 10, 2019

12 26 03 09 20 01 5

July 5, 2019

C 14, 19, 01, 23, 20

4, 4, 8

03 04 17 19 20

6, 3, 1 02, 03, 07, 12, 17

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Cuba sees tourism dropping 8.5% HAVANA (Reuters) - Tourism to Cuba will likely drop 8.5% this year in the wake of tighter U.S. restrictions on travel to the Caribbean island, the government said on Thursday, and the decline in arrivals will further hurt Cuba’s already ailing centrally planned economy.

A boom in tourism over the last few years has helped offset weaker exports and a steep decline in aid from key ally Venezuela that has forced the government to take austerity measures like cutting imports.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to squeeze that hard currency revenue stream too as part of its attempt to

force the Communist government to reform and stop supporting Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.

Last month it banned cruise ships and private planes and yachts from traveling to the island and ended a heavily used educational category of travel allowed as an exemption to the overall ban on U.S. tourism.

“These measures sparked a 20.33% reduction in tourist activity,” Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero was quoted as saying by state news agencies in a speech to the National Assembly.

The minister estimated 4.3 million people would visit Cuba this year, down from the goal of more than

5 million, and 4.7 million last year.

Looser restrictions on U.S. travel to Cuba under former President Barack Obama, the re-establishment of diplomatic relations and commercial flights and cruises had caused a spike in U.S. visits to the country.

U.S. travelers excluding Cuban-Americans became the second- biggest group of tourists on the island in recent years after Canadians, with cruise travelers accounting for half of them.

But Trump has rolled back much of Obama’s detente and taken additional measures to punish the economy and government.

Marrero noted the Trump

administration’s decision in April to allow U.S. lawsuits against foreign companies deemed to be “trafficking” in properties in Cuba nationalized after Cuba’s 1959 revolution was also affecting the tourism sector.

Several hotel operators and a unit of online travel agency Expedia have been targeted with lawsuits.

Cubans working in the tourism sector complain that while the policy targets the government, they are the ones who suffer.

“Our income has dropped by 80 per cent,” said Carlos Cristobal Marquez, owner of the private restaurant San Cristobal, where Obama dined on his historic trip to

Havana in 2016.

“Many restaurants will have to close, while others will have a hard time. Trump has said he wants to support the private sector, but he isn’t,” he said.

Marrero said the country would continue to develop the tourism sector regardless of the U.S. measures. It is planning new dolphinariums and the country’s first amusement park, for example.

Cranes tower around Havana at the construction sites of what are to be the city’s first generation of luxury hotels, in a bid to attract a new type of client.

Cuba, which receives just two-thirds of the visitors that neighboring Dominican

Republic does although it is twice as large, has traditionally focused on resort tourism or travelers on a medium budget.

José Luis Perelló, a former University of Havana professor who studies Cuba’s tourism industry, said the country should not take short-term shifts in U.S. policy too much into account in the long-term development of its tourism industry.

“A large part of the revenues we use weekly... comes from tourism,” President Miguel Diaz-Canel told the National Assembly.

“For this reason, we must continue betting on the development of tourism.”

B’dos Central Bank warn about fake banknotes on the island RIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Central bank of Barbados on Thursday warned retailers and the public to be on the lookout for people who are trying to pass off fake banknotes as real money.

In a statement, the bank said that with the Crop Over festival moving into high gear, there tends to be an increase in counterfeiting “when spending rises, and there is a lot of money in circulation.” “During Crop Over in particular, when a lot of activities take place at night, and when many of the persons collecting money at fêtes and working in stalls

are not used to handling large amounts of cash, counterfeiters try to take advantage,” said Deputy Director of Currency at the Central Bank, Octavia Gibson. She added that people can protect themselves from counterfeiters by becoming familiar with, and using, the security features on Barbadian banknotes.

“For businesses that have UV lights, we encourage you to use them. But even if you don’t, there are many, many features on our money that you can check with just your eyes and your hands, and we have many resources to help you learn how. I encourage Barbadians to visit the Cen-

tral Bank’s website or our social media pages. You can also download our free banknote app from Google Play and the Apple app store, which will show you the security features and how to use them. And we conduct free training sessions for businesses on request. The information is readily available, and we urge everyone to use it.”

Gibson warned that if fake notes are received, they should be taken to a bank, police station, or the Central Bank.

“But do not try to spend it, because passing a counterfeit is a criminal offence that

Ungrateful python bite the hand that feeds it --tries to eat zookeeper instead of meals

THE Emperor Valley Zoo’s albino Burmese python, nicknamed ‘Mustard’ took a bite out of a zookeeper Tuesday.

A video circulating on social media showed the zookeeper opening the enclosure and tossing a rabbit near the python.

The snake turned and lunged for the zookeeper, biting into his abdomen.

Shocked patrons visiting the zoo began screaming, while someone recorded the entire ordeal.

The zookeeper has been taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital, having suffered major blood loss.

The zookeeper reacted by grabbing the snake by its head and pulling it out of the enclosure.

Sources said that the man then fell to the ground while the snake attempted to wrap itself around him.

Other keepers intervened, and shortly after, the snake was returned to its enclosure by two others.

The Burmese python is one of the five largest species of snakes in the world.

It is a non-venomous snake, but has a big appetite, preferring to eat large birds or sized mammals, and can grow to five metres on average. When feeding, the snake

recognises heat signature, and a source said that this type of reaction is normal for such a reptile.

It is not unusual for python’s to attack, however, it generally does so when provoked, or hungry.

The python has rearward-pointing teeth which can firmly hold onto its prey, then it can wrap its body around the large prey.

Officials at the zoo declined to comment on the incident or give a statement regarding the condition of the keeper ‘Mustard’ attacked. (TrinidadExpress)

carries a prison sentence.”

“We understand that no one wants to get stuck with a counterfeit note, so

do everything you can to avoid getting one in the first place. The best way to do that is to learn the

security features of Barbadian banknotes, and always check your money,” Gibson said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Just cause for families and friends of victims ‘MOURNING Friends and Family in White’ is a Guyanese group from the Ghana Day Committee that began to mount public protests for the opening of investigations into extra judicial killings in Guyana, that took place during the early 2000 and continuing through this period on to around 2008.

Known as the period of the “troubles”, as described

by President David Granger, it was a phase when Guyana descended to levels of criminality unheard of in its entire history, marked by the institutionalisation of the narco-trafficking state and the rise of drug lords, coupled with the existence of heavily-armed gangs.

In a nutshell, fear was pervasive as the silence of the night was often shattered by the staccato of automatic fire, and bullet riddled bodies found dumped in the city and its environs the following morning. Even police stations were forced to close their gates, by the unheard time of 5.00 PM, as even the lawmen too, became the deadly target of armed elements. We stand to be corrected, by stating that it was reported that between 1912 to 2002, a total of 23 policemen were killed in the line of active duty; but 24 were shot dead between 2002 – 2003!

This explained the level of violence and anarchy that reigned, which reflected all the attributes of a failed state, since vital institutions that were the underpinnings of a stable and functional society, virtually ceased. Social paralysis characterised life in Guyana, with the fear factor at premium levels.

It was out of this total breakdown of institutional law

and order that extra-judicial killings became an institutionalised fact. In layman’s explanation, an extra-judicial killing is the killing of a person that is carried out by “governmental authority’’ or by persons acting for or on behalf of the government, or by individuals, without any judicial proceedings or legal sanction. This means that there was no recourse to due process for these persons.

It also meant that the killing, or more specifically murder, was unlawful, and outside of the ambit of the legal process of the jurisdiction in which it had taken place.

By any stretch of the imagination, memories are not so hazy as to forget that the more than 400 murders that took place in this country during this very dark night of our history would fit into such a category of description, as above. Of course, there are the deaths of former political activist, Ronald Waddell, and that of Courtney Crum Ewing, the one-man political protestor. Both were gunned down execution style, murders no doubt, for which there would have been intellectual authors. To this, the death of former Minister of Agriculture, Satyadeow Sawh, must be added, for which there has not been any satisfactory explanation given to the Minister’s family, by the PPP/C government at that time.

No state in which persons would have disappeared, inclusive of that of Collie Wills, whose case had been extensively represented to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR), and which the regime of that time had been held responsible, in which persons were shot down even with their hands held high in surrender, and in which daily bloody violence that

culminated in the deaths and disappearances of citizens, can ever result in a society that will be normal again.

The negative social spill offs from such a murderous dark night, are still much evident, as in the case of the hit- man type of execution, which still occurs, albeit not so often.

It was a revelation when it was recently stated in one of the nation’s dailies, the laughing of a former PPP/C president, when the activity of extra judicial killings had been brought to his attention by a former high-ranking member of his then party. It was indeed contemptuous of such an action, reckless and insensitive in every way, but grossly irresponsible that an account to the nation, particularly the victims’ families, of these numerous deaths.

One must therefore appreciate the efforts being made by ‘Mourning Family and Friends in White’ on behalf of the many victims, as it is just and wholly desirable that closure be had for these families, who are still affected in many ways. It is only right that the intellectual authors of these crimes be investigated, and those guilty be brought to justice, as in many other jurisdictions, for example in Argentina, where the efforts of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, resulted in many former leading members of the country’s military regimes suffering severe judicial punishment for their role in the deaths and disappearances of thousands of Argentinians during the 1970s to very early 1980s. Thus, it is a call which we do believe the current coalition government can understand.

The PPP’s leadership will continue on this path guided by its Machiavellian beliefs Dear Editor,

I

have followed the polemics resulting from statements made by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo at a government outreach in Bartica a few weeks ago. The apparent offending remarks, “war break”, “no registration, no elections” and “trouble “ if there is no House to House registration or be ready for protest, are not offensive in the context of the Guyanese political culture.

This is contrary to the position that is been made out by the opposition PPP and their supporters.

The decision of the opposition to take these matters to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is politicking – playing to its support base. It is also an abuse of these national institutions. By

complaining to these institutions, the political opposition is attempting to entrap them to assume partisan political positions.

In the run-up to the 2011 General and Regional Elections speaking at ACDA’s public meeting in Beterverwagting (BV) I stated what should be the African Community’s position on shared governance after the elections. At that meeting, I said that we went to BV to read “the riot act”.

This statement was seized on by the PPP and their propaganda letter writers to claim that I was calling on Africans to engage in riotous actions. One doesn’t have to be a scholar on Guyanese social/political-cultural history to appreciate that this usage has a history that is not offensive. In spite of this reality, the PPP elements reported me to the police and the ERC after creating much hysteria over nothing. Here again, we are seeing the similar tactics being employed by

the PPP and their propaganda agents in relation to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance speeches in Bartica.

My prediction is that nothing would come out of these reports to the ERC and the police since the opposition has nothing of substance to stand on. I am sure that the PPP’s leadership is well aware of this outcome, but they are more concerned with creating political hysteria to mobilise their support base. But the national political consciousness makes this type of tactics ineffective and counterproductive. The PPP’s leadership will continue on this path guided by its Machiavellian belief that some actions are better than no action in spite of the consequences.

Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

A proposal to establish the OP-ED Guyana Petroleum Institute

By Joe Corrigan

T

his is a proposal asking the people of Guyana to consider the merits of creating a not-for-profit Guyana Petroleum Institute (GPI) to support resource development in the public interest.

I propose a model based upon the Canadian Petroleum Institute (circa 1993-2006) model, and that is guided by an international vision and mandate to advance resource production in the interests of all Guyanese people. That institute was governed by a working Board of Directors representing stakeholder interests from civil society, industry and government. This proposal is offered on the understanding it is the people of Guyana that will decide which policy vehicles will be most effective in navigating a way through the challenges of an expanding petroleum industry.

At precisely the moment when the capacity of various governmental departments, ministries and the national leadership are being exhausted by growing international interest, activity and the regulatory demands of bringing production online (New York Times, July 20, 2018), Guyana needs to look beyond its borders and at least 15 years into the future. Guyana already has highly respected institutions of higher learning and the University of Guyana has announced a Master’s in Petroleum Engineering beginning in 2019.

This is not a duplication of that fine initiative or the good work being done elsewhere by other universities, technical institutions or even private sector suppliers.

These groups are preparing the people of Guyana to do the hard work of producing petroleum resources.

Guyana participates in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ( https:// eiti.org/guyana ), and both a national petroleum corporation (Chronicle, May 20, 2018) and a sovereign wealth fund (Chronicle, September 13, 2018) are already being discussed. This proposal is

something quite different.

The director of the new institute should be a Guyanese who is widely respected, industrious, and who already has substantive technical or managerial experience in Guyana’s petroleum industry.

For optimal impact, the GPI should be non-partisan and operate with an international mandate to become self-sustaining financially after an initial five year start-up period. The new leader will work to attract base-funding agreements from stakeholder organizations, and develop a strategy for revenue generation based upon services provided to domestic and international clients. The first goal must be to develop base funding support and a viable 5 year financial plan that will allow the institute to operate with independence and transparency toward horizon goals.

A small but tireless and technology savvy secretariat is needed. Meeting and learning space should be rented as needed, and operating office space might be provided by a judiciously selected stakeholder organization and accounted for as a contribution in-kind. The time, attention and financial

resources taken up constructing a new facility would be a financial burden and distraction from the primary challenge of proving the GPI has a lasting contribution to make.

What I have described so far is the model of an institute that worked well in Canada, but whatever form a new GPI might take in Guyana, it should focus on Guyana’s future and place in the World. In the spirit of that shared public interest, I suggest at least 3 areas of focus, including (1) equity and inclusion initiatives designed to ensure all Guyanese benefit from resource production, (2) international networking, and (3) enhancing the technical capacities required for Guyana’s proprietor role.

A first focus of the new GPI should be to integrate, resource and mobilize equity initiatives in the form of networks, courses, outreach programs, and advocacy required to enact the values and principles contained within the Preamble of The Constitution of Guyana (1980). The GPI can be a public and transparent way in which industry offers tangible support to ensure all Guyanese people benefit

Independence of judiciary, rule of law must be maintained at all times Dear Editor,

T

he Judiciary has noted with grave concern an article in the today’s Guyana Chronicle Newspaper captioned “‘We have a right to protect taxpayers’ money’ – AG flays ‘PSC’s hypocritical’ stance on Dipcon matter… PM says judge’s action smacks of vendetta” in which aspersions are cast on the judiciary in relation to a matter before the Court.

The independence of the Judiciary and the rule of law must be maintained at all times.

The Judiciary would like to emphasize that anyone who is dissatisfied with a judgment or a decision of a court has a right of appeal, and this is the avenue by which a lawful challenge to any judgment or decision can be made. The Judiciary once again reaffirms its independence and integrity.

Regards Supreme Court

from resource development.

Following Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee’s call for the continued growth of gender equity (Guyana Chronicle, March 8, 2019) policy in Guyana, I ask the reader to consider naming a GPI Board of Directors constituted by equal numbers of women and men. I believe in this simple and symbolic act, the future would be made brighter for all of Guyana’s people. The GPI must be an independent entity capable of modelling and championing social and economic policy leadership.

A secondary but critical function of the GPI should be to serve as an international node and network service cluster offering training, conferencing and other revenue generating services to international and domestic clients. This calls for a strategic leader, able to use the learning space to attract and encourage a rich variety of industry and other prospective partners in servicing Guyana’s market requirements. For the new GPI to advance public policy interests thru programs and projects, it needs to seek out international partners that can contribute in building-up Guyana. In addition to information gathering and connectivity that will keep Guyana’s leadership

plugged-in, it will be a conduit for Guyana to gain regional influence and advance interests beyond its borders.

Third, and with great respect for the highly committed and talented professionals who have advanced Guyana’s interests so far, there is need for additional human and technology capacity building. For example, the Government of Guyana will benefit from a confident in-house ability to model current production sharing agreements and conduct comparative analyses with nearby or competing fiscal regimes. This will support international negotiations, assist in the setting of domestic tax policy and aid in governmental financial management. As another example, Part VII of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act (#3, 1986) describes an array of data to be provided the Government of Guyana from drilling operations. Taking custody of that information is one matter, but storing core samples, organising well logs and other data, and then making these and other data sets retrievable for analysis is another. On the regulatory and environmental side, it is one matter to have a law on the books, yet another to establish systems sufficient to identify or detect non-com-

7

pliance, and yet another to administer a penalty for an infraction. The GPI can play a lead role in optimizing the outcomes of these and other capacity building projects by leading the implementation of a unified or common stakeholder framework.

I hope and trust that a made in Guyana institute can build on the Canadian Petroleum Institute experience and help to build a greater Guyana. At the helm, you need an exceptional and industrious Guyanese leader who will be non-partisan, forward looking, consultative and beyond reproach. This individual should help select a stakeholder board ready to roll up sleeves, and working through the organizations they represent, generously contribute time, financial resources and entrée to the new entity. While the pressure of increasing activity and imminent production draws focus and attention internally, I believe the people of Guyana must look outward and at least 15 years into the future. A well constituted GPI will articulate Guyanese values, enhance Guyana’s international influence and develop additional technical capacities that will serve Guyana’s next generations.

(Joe Corrigan served as the Vice-President of the Canadian Petroleum Institute from 2000-2006. He recently graduated (2017) with a doctorate in Education, Administration & Leadership from the University of Alberta. He can be reached at joe.corrigan@ualberta.ca.)

Gocool Boodhooo was the last person who tried to rig elections Dear Editor,

O

n PPP/C owned radio station Freedom Radio, I listened to a programme hosted by Former Attorney General, Anil Nandall on July 10th, 2019 where one of the callers stated “President Granger had learned to rig the elections under L.F.S .B” and the PNC want to rig the elections again.

Most Guyanese are aware that President David Granger was never a member of President Forbes

Burnham administration, however he embarked into politics in 2010.

According to my understanding Mr. Granger’s attention was mainly focused on the Guyana Defense Force. I am still trying to figure out how Mr. Granger was involved in the rigging of elections, when he was never a GECOM Chairman or a member of the Guyana Elections Commission.

Editor, the public needs to be reminded that the last evidence of rigging in Guyana for elections was done by former Chief Elections

Officer, Gocool Boodhoo in 2006 and 2011 when Commissioner for the PNC/R Mr. Vincent Alexander’s vigilance thwarted his efforts.

Therefore, Guyanese we need to object when the Opposition is spreading false propaganda and trying to tarnish our president’s character.

We the youths, who are in the majority in this nation need to hear about policies not propaganda.

Regards Ceion Rollox

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Greater women employment will reduce poverty, youth unemployment ―CDB economist says

IF more Caribbean women become employed, Director of Economics at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Justin Ram, believes that poverty and youth unemployment in the Caribbean will be reduced.

Dr. Ram, who was speaking at a recent private sector forum, provided unemployment statistics within the region, which he used to highlight that within the Caribbean, there are still more unemployed women than men.

Seeing this as a matter of concern, the economist highlighted: “If you really want to make economic progress and transformation, it is time that you start to think differently. Women must play a greater part in employment.”

Dr. Ram explained that a great majority of the households across the Caribbean are multifocal, which means that the mother is the head of the household.

Caribbean sociologists have widely accepted that the prevalence of multifocal CDB economist, Dr Justin Ram families spurs from historical experiences

on the plantation.

The CDB director shared that when he analyses poverty rates across the Caribbean, most of the households that are affected by poverty are the female-headed households.

“If you want to make a dent on youth unemployment [and] a dent on poverty, you need to have more women working,” the economist said.

Economically empowering these female-headed households, he said would only augur well for the development of the entire household.

Importantly too, he stressed that women should be earning the same level of wages as men, in addition to accessing greater employment opportunities.

Gender equality is the fifth of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). Those SDGs were adopted on September 25, 2015, by the 193 countries of the UN General Assembly under the 2030 Development Agenda, titled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

In President David Granger’s publication ‘Women in Guyana,’ he articulated a five-point national policy initiative: equality of women, eradication of poverty, equal employment opportunities, elimination of domestic violence, and equal access to education.

Elaborating on the rationale for the five-point plan, President Granger said: “Women are more likely than men to be the heads of destitute households. Therefore, the government will consider and implement measures to lift families out of poverty. Encouragement of entrepreneurship by women, access to micro-credit, and concessionary business financing are among the measures being undertaken.”

Our education system should be more inclusive and equitable Dear Sir,

I

read with great interest, and general agreement the suggestion by the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Director of Economics, Mr. Justin Ram to scrap the National Grade Six Assessment (Demerara Wave July 6, 2019- Scrap Grade Six exam, improve access to good quality education- CDB Official). The idea that Guyana should do away with the Grade Six Assessment is not new. Now it is beginning to look as if more people are giving it support. It is not as simple as that, but there seems to be increasing evidence, particularly in poor and underdeveloped countries, pointing to the need for an education system that caters to the needs and skills of all of the nation’s children; not just the few, who are excelling in academic subjects. Support for this idea comes from research work and projects done by other countries with their school systems. Essentially, they have led to new ways of helping children to be more successful with their education. However, my agreement with the recommendation of Mr. Ram is largely influenced by two fundamental issues: our current system of education, and what happens to “underperformers”: It should be noted, though, that this is not a criticism of the current system but another way of looking at it.

The current system of education, particularly at the primary level appears to be intensely focused on getting the children ready for Grade Six Assessment. Here

is where the system separates the “achievers” for the “underperformers”. “Achievers” those children, who scored high marks based on certain indicators set by the system: “Underperformers” the ones, who demonstrated an inability to score according to the same set of indicators prescribed by the system.

Yet, this very system does not cater to varying and various circumstances, at home, at school, and in local neighbourhoods, in which these children must spend their early childhood. Consequently, while the system appears to be fair, certain conditions undeniably put some children at a very serious disadvantage.

For example, let us look at primary schools, in Georgetown. Some schools, particularly privately owned, are better equipped than others.

In addition, they attract children whose parents pay fees thus sustaining the resources, name and development of those schools. Therefore, teachers employed at those schools have the facilities and means to do a better job with their children than those, who teach in schools that are not properly resourced. In some cases, those schools not so resourced encourage teachers to reach into their purses or get involved in fund- raisers to get basic teaching aids to assist with the process.

Again, some primary schools are negatively labeled, by individuals, because they may be situated in vulnerable communities, or historically, they may not have gained spaces for their children at one of the top secondary schools. As a result, teachers and children begin with the daunting challenge to rise above that label. This

is a serious point because such labels can and do shape the attitude of children to learning and education. Still, there may be many other problems facing children and schools that are underperforming. This brings to the fore the vital question of research to identify the right problems to solve. This means diagnosing rather than assuming the problems of underperformance. For example, the nature of the student population, their norms, values and beliefs may require a change in the quality of instructions in the classroom, or family poverty, or other issues in family environments, which appear as part of a symptom of underperformance, may need to be actionably considered even as a surface feature of the deeper problem of underperformance. These must be taken together with the status of the capacities and competencies of teachers to provide the required quality of instructions to such disadvantaged children and to assist with their educational achievement.

Then, preparation for grade six assessment is done at the expense of the childhood of many of our children.

Playing, interacting with the natural environment and doing fun things, which facilitate their early childhood development are sometimes pushed aside for the greater purpose of learning; some do not recognize that playing and interacting with the natural environment are also part of the learning process and experience. In the instances, children are forced to walk to school with numerous books, the costs of which set ordinary parents back thousands

of dollars. Nevertheless, they make the sacrifice, without mummer because they want their children to be successful. Sometimes, they do it at the expense of providing good nutrition for their children and certain necessities for themselves.

What is quite astonishing is the sort of imbalance of the system to wit: much emphasis on academics; apparently, not much focus on other areas such as sports, music, dance, finances/money, and art. A child may not excel at Mathematics but is brilliant at sports, music, dance, art or some other physical skill. This is not to say that we should not work hard with them in these important areas of Mathematics, English and Science. But at that level (primary), the system tends not to cater to children with those skills in a way that would allow them to be properly recognized and to move up, perhaps, through scholarships or other arrangements. Some schools do not even have teachers in physical education, sports, music, dance or art. In so far as dance is concerned, it was a foremost creative activity that facilitated cultural resistance through the periods of slavery, colonialism, and even independence as an instrument of survival.

It facilitates imagination and mental strength. Also, art is really about cultural energies; it is the visual language by which we frame, shape and understand our world. Apart from the fact that Guyana needs to build its cultural infrastructure to compete with the rest of the Caribbean and the world, these skills are inescapably vital to the integrity of our

multicultural environment and to allow us as a nation to, in the words of Arthur Lewis [West Indian Nobel laureate] contribute to the “common human heritage”. These skills should be encouraged at the primary level through to the secondary and collages by scholarship programmes and/or other promotional incentives.

Again, we live in a global village where everything is down to the dollar. Yet, children are not being taught about money- management, investment and entrepreneurship. Yes, even at that age.

Instead, they are taught to study hard, pass grade six assessment, get a good secondary school, get an education, and later apply for a good job in the private or public sector. It’s good advice but in reality, year after year, the system continues to produce hundreds of workers, who are slaves to a system that keeps them at an average, restricting them from realizing their full potentials. This in turn affects the development of our economy, our nation’s recognition and participation in the global economy, and the quality of life of our citizens. In this sense, the system appears to be ill-disposed to the quality of education that would build our nation.

Second, what happens to “underperformers” (schools and students that do not reflect certain indicators set by the system). I deliberately used uplifted commas, to highlight “underperformers” because in reality there are no underperformers; it is a construct that allows the system to negatively labels our children and some schools as underperformers because they did not achieve the tar-

gets it set for them. But what if the system was balanced and cater to the skills, talents and abilities of all children at the primary level? What if the child with skills in music, sports or craft was given an opportunity to perform at appropriate assessments? Perhaps, we would have been reading different success stories, in the press, of many more children in our school system. Sadly, those children whose scores are below the required amount to gain entry at a top, middle or lower level secondary school continue their way without any recognition of their efforts. In some instances, they are frowned upon, by their guardians and seen as inferior to those whose names appeared in the Top One Hundred List.

Beyond that, the system is robbing the country of much needed skills and talents. Guyana with its small population could ill afford to allow a significant number of its children, who did not make it to top secondary schools but are possessed with other skills to go unnoticed and unrecognized even at that early age. This country needs the contribution of all of its citizens to progress and prosper. Therefore, there should be strategies and policies that would include recognizing and promoting those children who skilled and show great potentials in other fields. Our education system should be more inclusive and equitable to facilitate a more cohesive and progressive Guyanese society.

Regards Royston King

Dipcon must pay up

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

– GRA renews bid for US$2.5M owed by company

… says its actions are good for investment THE notion that the garnishing of taxes due to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) “sends a bad signal to investors” is highly flawed as investor confidence is increased when individuals and companies, whether foreign or local, are requested to pay their rightful share of duties and taxes.

This is the message of GRA in response to such comments made by Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, after the authority asked Trinidadian construction company, DIPCON Engineering Services Limited, to pay up some US$2.5M in taxes owed. The company is pursuing Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, in his personal capacity, for US$2.2M owed by the State under the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration.

In a Letter of Garnishment from GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, dated July 8, 2019 to Finance Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Dipcon, the outstanding sum of G$527,846,657 was requested “with immediate effect”.

GOOD FOR INVESTOR CONFIDENCE In a media release on

Thursday, the authority explained that since Dipcon has ceased operations in Guyana, should the garnishment not be effected, the GRA would have had no jurisdiction over the monies collected once transferred out of the Guyana jurisdiction.

“Assertions by the leader of the opposition in the Guyana Times that the decision by the GRA to garnish the taxes due ‘sends a bad signal to investors and damages an already struggling investment climate’ is therefore flawed,” the Guyana Revenue Authority stated.

“The GRA was simply carrying out its mandate in accordance with the Revenue Authority Act. Contrary to such a claim, by ensuring the tax laws are administrated in a fair, transparent and consistent manner whereby all individuals and companies, whether foreign or otherwise, pay their rightful share of duties and taxes, this would lead to increased investor confidence.”

The GRA also came against the Guyana Times newspaper for comments attributed to Dipcon’s Legal Counsel, Timothy Jonas, who stated that “a similar letter from the GRA, about six months ago, was challenged by Dipcon and

thrown out by the court”.

The authority informed that the legal counsel was making reference to a previous letter dispatched by the Commissioner-General in May 2018 to Dipcon which stated that, upon payment of the said judgment, taxes due by Dipcon, which has ceased to carry-on business in Guyana, be deducted from any such payment.

“The GRA disagrees with learned counsel on his choice of language which could lead to a misunderstanding of the effect of the court’s ruling. Contrary to what counsel’s statement has led the general public to believe, the power to garnish the said taxes from amounts due to Dipcon was merely deferred, since the learned Chief Justice in her considered judgment advised that the taxes could not be garnished at said time since the judgment had not been paid by the Government of Guyana,” the GRA stated.

It further explained that the Chief Justice stated that when the judgment is satisfied, monies paid pursuant to the judgment would be deemed income for the purposes of taxation. She had made it clear that, provided that the judgment has been paid to Dipcon by the

President, Opposition Leader...

From page 3

agreement.

He explained that after Tuesday’s meeting, the opposition committed to supplying additional names for consideration by the two sides. Additionally, he said it was the understanding of both teams, that the President’s proposal would have been considered.

“We hammered out and reached five names shortlisted from their 11. We were supposed to get some additional names from them and they did not bring it so we then said, please let’s get on with the eight names, they did not want to even narrow down those because of whatever reasoning they had within their minds,” Ramjattan explained.

Nonetheless, the director-general said Guyana could still report to the court that the two sides initiated the process of consultation with the expectation of arriving at a consensus on the list of six nominees for the nomination and appointment of a chairman of GECOM. “We believe that this process is in keep-

ing with the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, it is in keeping with the exhortation of the Caribbean Court of Justice, and we believe that this process is required to produce a consensual approach to find a list of six names that the President will not find unacceptable. We believe that this is an important process and we are committed to it and we are committed to continued engagement with the leader of the opposition and his team,” Harmon told reporters.

After the process of appointing Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson in October 2017 was deemed flawed by the Caribbean Court of Justice on July 18, 2019, the court advised that the President and the leader of the opposition consult on the nominees before a formal submission is made to the President for consideration.

The two leaders met on July 4, 2019 and had agreed to have their representatives “hammer out” nominees proposed by both sides before a formal list is submitted.

Government of Guyana, the said judgment would then be deemed income for the purposes of taxation.

In his letter to Dipcon on July 8, 2019, the Commissioner-General also informed that his actions taken are in accordance to the country’s Income Tax Act. Section 102 (1) of the Act, Chapter 81:01 states: “When the Commissioner-General has knowledge or suspects that a person is or is about to become indebted or liable to make any payment to a person liable to make a payment of tax under this Act, he may, by registered letter or by letter served personally, require such

first-mentioned person to pay the moneys otherwise payable to such second-mentioned person in whole or in part to him on account of the liability of the second mentioned person under this Act.” Meanwhile, the Act states that the receipt of the Commissioner-General for moneys paid as required under the Act shall, to the extent of the payment, be “a good and sufficient discharge of the original liability”.

This goes for both the person who pays such moneys to the Commissioner-General, to the person liable to make a payment under the Act and the person liable to make a payment of tax under the Act to the Commissioner-General. The GRA

Head also reminded that, according to the Income Tax Act, every person who has discharged any liability to a person liable to make payment of tax under the Act without complying with requirements under the section shall be liable to pay the Commissioner-General, as a debt due to the State, an amount equal to the liability discharged.

Otherwise, the Act stated that the person in question could have to pay to the Commissioner-General, as a debt due to the State, an amount equal to the liability discharged or the amount which he was required under the Act to the Commissioner General, whichever is less.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

NAREI, NPPO to enforce penalties on import/export of fruits and vegetables without documentation

AFTER repeatedly issuing warnings over the years to errant dealers against the importation and or exportation of agricultural products without the necessary prerequisite documentation, the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) under the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) will be stepping up enforcement against noncompliant entities.

NPPO on Thursday issued a public advisory reminding dealers that the importation and or exportation of “fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and plant parts, cut flowers, timber and timber products, etcetera,” cannot be done without applying for permission from the NPPO, as mandated in the Plant Protection Act, 2011.

“We would’ve given persons time to come into compliance. We would’ve been talking to individual importers and exporters advising them. Even though we would’ve spoken to them a couple of years ago, some of them are still not compliant,” explained NAREI’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer and

the head of the NPPO, Brian Sears.

“They would export and import agricultural commodities without getting our permission. Sometimes this also would slip through GRA. We would’ve written to GRA a couple of times informing them of the law and that soon we will be enforcing the Act.” Sears noted that while in the past NPPO would simply confiscate non-compliant products, stiffer penalties can be instigated against transgressing individuals.

“What we would’ve done in the past is that we would’ve paid unannounced visits to supermarkets, shops and public markets, and we would be familiar with the commodities that we would’ve granted permission to import and those that we would’ve found we had not granted permission for, we would’ve seized, confiscate and destroy them. This time there are serious penalties. I think up to three years imprisonment, [or] $80,000 [fine] if you import without our permission,” Sears explained.

Errant individuals only

represent a small fraction of those agricultural importers/ exporters, however, Sears said they cannot be allowed to continue due to the risks it poses.

“It is less than five percent of the importing and exporting population,” Sears related.

“But especially exporting without that particular documentation could cause some problems for Guyana.

It would mean that Guyana is not in compliance with the importing requirements of the country. There are some serious dangers to importing without our permission because you could import commodities with pest and disease and that could put a strain on the national budget in terms of getting those under control.”

Sears reminded dealers that even persons leaving the country with small amounts of personal agricultural commodities need to have documentation for those items.

“Even if it’s a passenger apple or banana in a hand bag, if they leave Guyana with anything, even one fruit, that fruit is taken away if they take it into the United States

or any other country because those countries would’ve already enforced their plant protection legislation, and their law says that you must not take these things without permission. The same goes for importing agricultural commodities. You must inform us before you import,

or intend to import. You get the documents in place and then you import,” Sears pointed out.

Those wishing to legally import or export agricultural products can easily get the necessary documentation, Sears says it’s a quick and easy process once the items

are presented.

“We have officers and offices at all of the port of entry. So they can visit the office and quickly right there on the spot they can be given the document once they present the item they intend to take with them,” he urged.

New Ayurvedic hair product launched in Guyana

Dimitri Cornet, Kerastase’s International hair educator; Anakarina Grana, the brand’s Professional Marketing Manager for Guyana; Karan Mehra, owner of Vivaanta Ayurvedic Salon; Kristopher Fonseca, Kerastase’s International hair educator and Iniabelle Cruz, L’OREAL’s Export Manager VIVAANTA Ayurvedic Spa and Hair Salon Incorporated launched its new hair care brand, Kerastase Paris, in Guyana, on Thursday.

Karan Mehra, owner of Vivaanta Ayurvedic Salon, stated that the market needs new products and they saw it fitting to fulfil the needs of the market.

Mehra noted that Kerastase Paris is the pillar for exclusivity and luxury in the hair care industry.

“It’s one of the most luxurious brands in the world, because the quality, the feel, and the texture of the products make you want to get involved with the product, so we are so happy to have the brand in Guyana,” he said.

Present at the event was Kerastase’s

International Hair educators, Kristopher Fonseca and Dimitri Cornet, who did free hair consultations for attendees of the event.

However, the free hair consultations did not end there. The specialists at the salon will continue doing free consultations and will also recommend products that would correct issues that may be detected.

Anakarina Grana, the brand’s Professional Marketing Manager for Guyana, assured that the staff of Vivaanta are trained to give customers the Kerastase lifestyle.

“It’s not just about a good hair care product, it’s about a holistic lifestyle that Vivaanta is going to bring to you guys, so we are very proud to be here and we invite you guys to come to the salon and enjoy this luxurious service,” she noted.

Photo of several of Kerastase Paris’ products

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Education Minister urges REDOs, Senior Officers to ‘discharge duties with the highest degree of professionalism’ –– as planning begins for the new school term

REGIONAL Education Officers (REDO) and other senior education officials were encouraged by the Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, to collaborate and cooperate as they begin preparations for the next school term, when she delivered remarks at a meeting with the officials on Thursday

at the Umana Yana.

The minister took the opportunity to urge the officials to commence planning for the new school term to ensure that the re-opening of school occurs without issues. Dr. Henry reminded those in attendance, that as public servants it is important that Guyanese get value for their money from the

education sector.

She pointed out to the officials that although there have been improvements in the education sector, more needs to be done for the development of the country’s human resources, a press statement from the ministry said.

“In the case of the recently announced Nation-

Goldfields produced 37,000 ounces of gold in second quarter CANADIAN mining company, Guyana Goldfields Inc., has produced 37,000 ounces of gold during the second quarter of this year, a figure which puts it on track to achieve its 2019 target.

The company stated that figures for the first half of the year indicates that the company has produced 74,000 ounces of gold and its 2019 production guidance range is between 145,000 to 160,000 ounces of gold.

In a more detailed account, the company said mining rate averaged 57,710 tonnes per day, a 45 per cent increase in the mining rate compared to the previous year. It said it recorded a quarterly mill performance of 7,815 tonnes per day which represented a 10 per cent increase from the previous year.

It was noted that exploration drilling at Mad Kiss Hole MKD 187, drilled into the central mineralised zone, returned an average of 6.11 grams per tonne gold over a core

interval of 301.4 metres starting from 14.1 metres downhole.

Regarding its finances, the company said on hand is a strong balance sheet with an unaudited cash balance of approximately US$38.9 million at June 30, 2019 and no outstanding debt.

The company has experienced a stoppage in its operations recently, following a strike by workers at its Aurora, Cuyuni/Mazaruni operation.

Suresh Kalathil, SVP and COO, stated that the company is looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with all contractors and employees at Aurora, “while collaboratively working towards achieving enhanced economies of scale on a cost per unit basis within defined operating metrics”.

He said the company also boasts a health and safety record of over two million hours without a lost time injury.

PI to be held into alleged conspiracy to murder case

THE preliminary inquiry (PI) involving the owner of Mark Interior Communication Inc. and an alleged hit-man, who are charged for conspiring to execute a Lethem businessman, is expected to commence on

Chatterpaul Singh called ‘Kevin’ July 24, 2019.

The PI will be presided over by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Court.

Mark Grimmond, 57, the owner of the communication service, along with Mark’s Pool Side and Fun Park located at Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was charged alongside Chatterpaul Singh called Kevin, 36.

The men are currently on remand for the charge which alleged that, between April 1, 2018, and June 7, 2019, at Georgetown, they conspired with persons known and unknown to murder Dwayne Grant.

On Thursday, July 11, 2019, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers handed over statements, telephone records and photographs to the court. The Chief Magistrate set July 24, 2019, for the commencement of the PI. According to reports, Grant, is a businessman who lives in Lethem and had received a ‘tip-off’ that Grimmond had hired someone to execute him.

The businessman became

Paul Grimmond fearful for his life and reported the matter to the police, who went to a Hotel in Lethem and found Singh with an illegal firearm in his possession.

The police is contending that Singh, while in custody, told the investigator that he was hired by Grimmond to kill Grant. Grimmond was arrested and the police found telephone records between the men.

The head table at Thursday’s meeting (from left): Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson; Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry; and Deputy Chief Education Officer (DCEO) Administration, Ingrid Trotman al Grade Six Assessment duties with the highest de- our to even greater growth (NGSA) results, Minister gree of professionalism.” in their respective regions.

Henry told the officers that Also in attendance at He noted that it is an she has the confidence that the meeting was Chief Ed- opportune time for officers the results for the four sub- ucation Officer (CEO), Dr. to make a significant impact ject areas tested can soar Marcel Hutson and Deputy on the education system, beyond 50 per cent [pass Chief Education Officer charging them to believe in rate],” the release said.

(DCEO) Administration, themselves.

“The Education Minister Ingrid Trotman.

The former teacher reminded them that they M e a n w h i l e , H u t s o n said that it is important are in leadership positions charged officers to exercise for officers and educators because someone believes humility and work for the to look to new approaches in their ability and therefore benefit of their regions, tell- in their quest for improvethey should discharge those ing the officials to endeav- ment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

LGBTQ youths closer to becoming self-employed

By Vishani Ragobeer

YOUNG people within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) community are one step closer to becoming self-employed, after a fruitful engagement with Minister within Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for rural affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood.

Minister of Youth Affairs within the Ministry of the Presidency, Simona Broomes, had met with some of the young people

who applied for 20 acres of land at Yarrowkabra, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

The group intends to use the land to engage in agricultural activity to earn a livelihood.

Upon hearing their aim, Minister Broomes initiated an engagement with Minister Yearwood, so that the group would be able to receive some help. On Tuesday, they met with the rural affairs minister.

This meeting, according to Executive Director of the Guyana Trans United (GTU),

Quincy McEwan, was just a follow-up to another engagement the GTU had with Minister of Youth Affairs, within the Ministry of the Presidency, on Friday last.

“This meeting was primarily based on social economic empowerment for the organisation and the community as a large,” McEwan noted.

What the GTU aims to do, according to the director, is to help persons within the ‘trans’ community gain some financial independence.

Minister of Youth Affairs within the Ministry of the Presidency, Simona Broomes, meeting with members of the Guyana Trans United and LGBTQ+ youths (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

“I want to change the narrative for trans persons because we don’t have many places to turn to in terms of employment and many of us turn to sex work for employment and that narrative needs to be changed,” McEwan said.

In changing this narrative, the group developed a sustainability plan last year where they agreed that engaging in agricultural practices could be a more viable and safe means of employment.

McEwan noted that the minister did commit to helping the organisation, once they prepare a document and send it to her.

“She also mentioned that once we get the land, we would have to get somebody who knows about soil, because you can’t just go and plant anything because not every plant could grow on the soil, and she committed to have somebody from the ministry do that,” the director noted.

In addition to this, the GTU executive director said that the group would like some assistance in clearing the land at Yarrowkabra and buildings some pens for

poultry.

It is envisioned that within the first year, it is expected that at least 10 to 15 persons would gain employment.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, Minister Yearwood said she will engage the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission on Monday to follow up and see the status of the group’s application for the

land.

“They did make some requests and I mentioned that I would try to help as much as possible; however, I have a limited budget for 2019.

What cannot be attained in 2019, I would certainly put it in the 2020 budget,” the minister said.

“The Ministry of Agriculture is willing to give help wherever possible,” she said.

LCIC says Linden Blue Lake should be preserved for the people IN light of the recent conflict between the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and the Guyana Initiative Against Climate Change (GIACC) Incorporated in relation to the rescinding of the lease for over 500 acres of land in the vicinity of Kara Kara Blue Lake, the Linden Chamber of Industry and Commerce ( LCIC) has put forth a position that the Kara Kara Blue Lake and its environs should not be leased to any private investor, but should be left in the ownership of the residents, since it is indigenous to Linden and has become part of the town’s identity.

In a letter to GIACC, the LMTC outlined its support for the relocation of the project and has called on the investors to submit a letter of intent earliest, expressing their interest in going ahead with the project. “We would like to see a speedy settlement between the parties so that this project can see fruition,” President of the LCIC, Victor Fernandes, affirmed the position that while the Chamber is not objecting to the GIACC’s investment of a mega renewable energy operation, which will be a plus to Linden, he believes that such a project should be relocated to a more suitable location, deemed safer environmentally and economically. “The Linden Chamber remains in support of the investment of the solar project; we consider it an important one to Linden that would bring many benefits to the town economically. Not only will it create jobs but it is also in keeping with President Granger’s initiative for a green Guyana,” Fernandes posited.

GIACC’s project will be powered by renewable energy and will encompass a 500-acre solar farm. It is expected to produce a variety of products and services for both local and overseas markets. Business Strategist for GIACC, Everton Forris, was quoted in the media as saying that GIACC plans to manufacture two types of fertilisers at the site, both using renewable energy and raw materials of air and water. The project includes a large acreage for solar cells, solar steam generation and other plants needed to manufacture fertilisers in large quantities.

The lease for this project, though initially approved, was rescinded by NICIL after the agency claimed that it would become an environmental hazard to not only the surrounding environment but Linden itself. This newspaper understands that the waste from the operations will affect the Blue Lakes, which is a tourism hot spot in Linden.

Additionally, the initially approved lease did not cater for the investors developing the spot as a tourism destination; ‘Blue Lake Bliss’, under the tagline clean, green fun, entertainment and jobs. This newspaper further understands that that was never part of the agreement between NICIL, as it is also on this basis that the lease was rescinded.

Fernandes is hoping that all parties involved can come to an amicable decision earliest as Linden cannot allow such a dynamic opportunity to pass by.

He is hoping that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plays an integral role in ensuring that suggested lands for relocation will be safer environmentally for the project. Fernandes pointed out that over 500 Lindeners are expected to be employed within six years if the projects come to fruition.

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Budget 2020 moves into gear

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

– Public servants assured of pay hike

A section of the public servants who attended the Budget 2020 Sensitisation and Training session MINISTER of Finance, Winston Jordan, on Thursday urged public servants to improve their quality of output in the workplace, and not be distracted with the social media posting during working hours, especially the political ones.

In his presentation at the Budget 2020 Sensitisation and Training session at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Jordan said that as the government is working towards increasing remuneration of their officers, it must be matched with improvement in performance and overall delivery of public

services.

“I can say with confidence that public servants will get an increase in wages and salaries this year, and can expect a bigger increase in wages and salaries next year, after we would have won the General Elections.

But productivity must rise,” Jordan urged.

He alluded to the politically-charged environment, where it is easy to become distracted or side-tracked, as such, he advised that they stay professional, “stay focused, and leave the politics to the politicians.”

“If we are to achieve a

modern, competitive nation, managers must manage and supervisors must supervise...

And the tracking cannot only relate to the ordinary worker. It has to be enforced from the top to the bottom. Too many senior personnel are featuring on Facebook and other social media during working hours, when they should be attending to the public or otherwise engaged in activities for which they are being paid. Irrespective of our impending new status, more money will mean nothing to us, will not result in our advancement, if we are not disciplined in our

Venezuelan gets suspended sentence for firearm-related charge CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday, July 11, 2019, handed down a two-year suspended sentence onto a 31-year-old Venezuelan who pleaded guilty to a firearm-related charge.

Ivor Marquez was arraigned before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was also fined $50,000 after throwing himself at the mercy of the court.

Marquez, who communicated to the court with the aid of an interpreter admitted that, on July 6, 2019, at the Black Water Landing, North West District, he had two 9MM spent shells in his possession, which are components or part of an ammunition, without being the

holder of a firearm license.

The unrepresented man told the court that he came to Guyana for a better life because of the economic crisis back home and uses the spent shells to make jewellery.

According to the information presented in court by prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, on the day in question, ranks from the Mabaruma Police Station, intercepted Marquez at Black Water Landing.

The police ranks carried out a search on his person and spent shells were found in his haversack.

The Chief Magistrate imposed a two-year suspended sentence onto Marquez, along with a fine of $50,000 and told him that if he was

Ivor Marquez placed before the court within the next 24 months he will be taken straight to jail to serve his time handed down She also ordered that Marquez be taken to the nearest port of exit.

approach and outlook,” he pointed out.

The minister said that public servants ought to remember that they are here to deliver quality service to all of Guyana, he further urged them to translate the national aspirations into effective results-based budgets.

“We must be driven by results, not consumed by process. Assessing the performance across all sectors is a critical component to ensuring that we stay focused on the target of achieving a diversified, resilient, low-carbon, people-centered vision as articulated by His Excellency President David Granger,” Jordan said.

He further pointed out that for the past three

decades, Guyana was a debt-ridden, pariah state, and today, Guyana has been identified as the fastest growing economy in the world by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ).

“This glowing accolade was preceded by a very favourable assessment of our economy by the recent Article IV Consultation Mission of the IMF, and by the CDB and ECLAC. Guyana is on the rise. Guyana is on the moving forward in the right direction. You can feel it, you can see it. Just witness the influx of many people from CARICOM countries and further afield, as they seek their fortunes here. It is

for us, as Guyanese to unite among a common cause, put aside our differences and concentrate on how we can share our country’s prosperity. We either seize it collectively, or lose it individually,” the finance minister said.

These positive strides of the country, minister noted, seems not to be noticed by the people, as the haste to destroy each other prevails.

However, it was noted that these blessings should be celebrated and turned into income to continue along the road of growth and development of the nation.

“We all must come together for a Guyana we all will be proud of.” Jordan said.

14

Chinese doctors pilot new technologies in Guyana

AT least three new technologies were piloted in Guyana by specialists of the 14th Chinese Medical Brigade.

This 16-member team

has just concluded a one-year stint from June 2018, at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the Linden Hospital Com-

plex (LHC).

The three technologies introduced were all surgical procedures. The first, which is a nerve block to treat advanced

Incoming 15th Chinese Medical Brigade (DPI photo)

pancreatic cancer, was successfully performed by a general surgeon.

An orthopaedic surgeon from the brigade performed the first posterior tibial plateau fracture surgery through the knee medial posterior approach, while an anaesthesiologist performed the first combined spinal and sciatic nerve block.

This was noted by the team leader of the 14th Brigade, Dr. Shen Jiansong, who said these pilots, when adopted, are critical procedures which can be practised at the nation’s only tertiary healthcare institute.

Also, he outlined that the GPHC is also a training institution which makes it an opportune time for these techniques to be taught.

These were some of 40 technologies which were piloted in Guyana with local surgeons and other medical staff benefitting and gaining insight from the expertise of the Chinese.

According to their submitted report, over the one-year period, the medical brigade performed 28,600 rounds, attended to 16,440 outpatients, administered acupuncture 1140 times, anaesthesia 1210 times and conducted 3920 (specialised and general)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, presents a plaque to Head of the 14th Chinese Medical Brigade, Dr. Shen Jiansong (DPI photo) surgeries.

Further, in December 2019, the brigade donated more than $34 million worth in medical equipment to the GPHC and LHC. Added to this, about 20 outreaches were conducted at Kwakwani, St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Mackenzie High School and New Amsterdam.

Volunteerism was also a major part of their stint while in Guyana.

The Ministry of Public Health hosted a farewell dinner at the New Thriving Restaurant at Providence in the brigade’s honour.

Appreciation was extended to the team for their outstanding effort to bring quality healthcare to citizens of Guyana. More specifically, the ministry has taken note of the brigade’s interface with youth and adolescent health.

They have also played a pivotal role in responding to cases coming from the Guyana Manganese

Company in Matthew’s Ridge earlier in the year.

Chairperson of the hospital’s board of directors, Kessaundra Alves, was also present and spoke on behalf of Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence.

“According to feedback from the head of the department with regard to the performance of the 14th batch, the contributions of the team were outstanding in each area of work even though there were challenges be it with language, culture or otherwise, members of the team were still able to find a common ground and provide quality healthcare to all patients,” Alves said.

As this team leaves, the Public Health Ministry welcomes the incoming 15th medical brigade. Gifts were presented to the Chinese doctors as the ministry wished them their very best in all their future endeavours. (DPI)

Members of the outgoing 14th Chinese Medical Brigade

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Education officers urged to pull their weight

EDUCATION Minister, Dr Nicolette Henry, on Thursday, urged Regional Education Officers (REdOs) to work together to provide better service across the 10 administrative regions of Guyana.

The meeting was held at Umana Yana and also saw presentations from the Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson, and Deputy Chief Education Officer (Administration), Ingrid Trotman.

In her remarks, Dr Henry told the public servants that it was important that they understood that they must deliver proper service throughout Guyana.

The education minister reminded them that they were in leadership positions because someone believed in their ability and therefore they should discharge those

Education officers at the workshop on Thursday (DPI photo) duties with the highest degree of professionalism.

The officers were advised to work collectively since there were great values in cooperating and collaborating, because it was that ap-

proach, according to Dr Henry, that will catapult the education sector going forward.

Additionally, the education minister said that planning should commence for the new school term and that of-

ficers across the country should ensure that the opening of school happens without issues.

Added to that, Dr Henry said although there have been improvements in the education sector she said

more needed to be done for the development of the country’s human resources. In the case of the recently announced National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results, Minister Henry told the

officers that she has the confidence that the results for the four subject areas tested can soar beyond 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr Marcel Hutson charged the officers to exercise humility and work for the benefit of their regions and those officers should endeavour to ensure improvement in their respective regions.

He said it was an opportune time for officers to make a significant impact on the education system and it was in that regard he charged that, as education officials, officers have to believe in themselves.

The former teacher said it was important for officers and educators to look to new approaches in their quest for improvement. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Guyana/Suriname ferry service still in limbo

THE resumption of operations of the Guyana/ Suriname ferry service continues to be in limbo, with a meeting that was scheduled for Thursday, to determine possibly, the way forward, postponed.

In the meantime, the management of the M.V. Canawaima continues to lose much-needed revenue amounting in excess of $20M monthly, from such a vital service that was provided between the two countries, especially during this ‘peak period’, a source disclosed.

Yesterday, July 11, 2019 marked one month and 13 days since the MV Canawaima, the ferry vessel

that plies from Moleson Creek on the Guyana side to South Drain in Suriname, was pulled from service, after experiencing mechanical difficulties for some time.

The vessel provides a vital service for persons, including businessmen and women who ply their trade between the two countries, tourists and others.

As the mechanical problems of the M.V. Canawaima continued to challenge the authorities, resulting in delays on several occasions, a tug boat was sought to tow the vessel during its run, but it had reached a stage where the ferry had to be pulled out of service.

For three days, the

Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) M.V Sandaka, assisted in transporting passengers and their goods, as per an initial arrangement between managements of the M.V. Canawaima and T&HD. It has since then remained idle even as costs are being incurred.

According to the source, the M.V. Sandaka had some minor repairs done and is ready to set sail but is awaiting the green light.

Meanwhile, the non-operation of the Guyana/Suriname ferry service is of great inconvenience to businessmen and women, who are now forced to utilise the ‘backtrack’ service, which is

quite unsafe.

This publication has also learnt that with schools being closed, a pre-planned tour by some students from President’s College to Martinique appears to be in jeopardy. The school children are due to travel to Suriname on the July 16, to have their bio-metric done and obtain the required visa to travel to Martinique.

In January 2018, the ferry service was suspended for nine days when the vessel developed mechanical problems. Meanwhile, with the Guyana/Suriname ferry service out of operation, persons travelling to and from the neighbouring country via the backtrack route,

are being urged to present themselves to immigration officers for processing, as failure to do so can result in prosecution.

Processing of the documents can be done at immigration offices that are located at Republic Square, Springlands or at Port Moleson Creek.

The ferry service between Guyana and Suriname was officially launched on November 6, 1998. It is a joint venture and the financial and other arrangements for defraying operational expenses are outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Cooperative Republic of

Guyana and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on the Formation and Operation of the Joint Ferry Service between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Republic of Surname (1998).

According to the agreement, the maintenance of the ferry is to be shared equally.

This has not occurred.

In a bid to reduce the hardships to passengers and businesses using the service and in order to give the neighbouring state time to meet its obligations, the Government of Guyana has been funding most, if not all of the maintenance works on the ferry over the years.

Construction worker sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for firearm-related offences A 31-year-old construction worker, was on Thursday, July 11, 2019, sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by Magistrate Dylon Bess, after being found guilty of two firearm-related charges.

Charles Stoby, who resides at Hatfield Street Lodge, Georgetown, was on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Stoby was found guilty of the charge which read that, on November 5, 2018, at Alexander Street, Kitty, he had a 9MM pistol in his possession without being a

Charles Stoby holder of a firearm license.

He was also found guilty on the second charge which

read that, on the same day and location, he had two live rounds of 9MM ammunition in his possession without being a holder of a firearm license.

According to reports, on November 5, 2018, at Alexander Street, Kitty, Stoby was held by the police in relation to an armed robbery investigation. He was searched and the firearm was found ‘stashed’ in the crotch of his pants.

At the end of the trial, Stoby was sentenced to a total of three years imprisonment on the two charges.

Teen accused of murder placed in Juvenile Holding Centre A 17-year-old youth, who allegedly stabbed his friend to death as a result of a $500 gambling debt, was on Thursday, July 11, 2019, arraigned before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for manslaughter.

The teen, who is a resident of New Providence, East Bank Demerara (E.B.D) was placed before the Children’s Court, where the matter was heard in camera, in accordance with the rules and laws of the Juvenile Justice Act. Particulars alleged that the teen, on July 7, 2019, at, Grove, E.B.D, unlawfully killed 21-year old Mervin Squires.

The teen was not required to plead to the capital offence and was placed in the custody of the Juvenile Holding Center. The matter was ad-

journed until July 19, 2019.

Reports are that a group of men were gambling (with cards) when Squires and the 17-year-old young man had an argument over money.

According to one eyewitness, Squires and his attacker had an argument over a $500 gambling debt.

“They were gambling cards and Squires pulled off his attacker’s gold chain from around his neck. Then is one big fight, and Squires get ‘juck’ with an ice pick,” he said.

Squires was then taken to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to one relative, Squires’ mother, who is a teacher, received the news of her son’s demise while she was at church.

The relative explained that the duo were friends

DEAD: Mervin Squires and would usually socialize and hang out at the corner together.

“This is very sad, they were good friends who would lime and hang out and gaff a lot,” the relative said. “He was stabbed with an ice pick and a knife.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Proposed amendment to ‘ganja’ law flexible, creative –– says prime minister

By Alva Solomon

A RECENT move by the government to enact legislation which would see persons who are caught with 30 grammes or less of marijuana not doing jail time is a “creative” and “purposive” move which will ensure those at fault, especially young people, endure other forms of punishment rather than imprisonment.

At the same time, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said the government is hoping the police take “judicial note” of the move by Cabinet and that the lawmen relax the stringent application of their functions to arrest persons with small quantities of marijuana when the law is enacted.

In the approach towards liberalisation of the law, it would mean that there is already a process that would not see young people being “hounded and charged,” Nagamootoo said of the move.

He said there are other

stipulations in the law that would have to be amended as time progresses.

On Wednesday, during a “one-on-one” interview at the Office of the Prime Minister, Nagamootoo also clarified that if the amendment to the existing law is successfully passed through the National Assembly, it does not signify that marijuana possession becomes legal.

He said if one is caught with 30 grammes or less of the substance, he or she is still deemed to be acting against the law but the legislation, if amended, would mean such persons will not be sent to prison.

“One will not be sentenced to mandatory time,” he said, while noting that such persons may be fined or the courts may prescribe community service. To this end, he said the establishment of a Drug Treatment Court, which will address the issue, will examine alternative sentencing.

The prime minister said he recalls leading a government delegation which

Driver in Cullen fatal crash slapped with three charges, granted bail LUCK was on the side of 32-year-old Chateram Gooray of Lot 4 Henrietta, when he appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court to answer to charges stemming from a fatal accident on Sunday.

He was slapped with causing death by dangerous driving charge, failing to render assistance to an injured person and driving under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted $300,000 for causing death by dangerous driving. He was placed on $5000 bail for the DUI charge and $20,000 for failing to render assistance to the injured person.

The charges alleged that on July 7, around 07:00 hours, he drove motor hire car HB 6973 in a dangerous manner causing the death of Premnarine Rampersaud.

The matter will call again on August 15 at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile the post mortem examination conducted on 32-year-old Rampersaud revealed that he died as a

The deceased Premarine Rampersaud result of multiple injuries.

The autopsy was performed Tuesday morning by Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh.

According to police reports, the car was proceeding south along the eastern section of the roadway when the driver lost control and collided with a tree.

Rampersaud sustained most of the injuries while Fazil Salim, another passenger, of Lot 26 Anna Regina, suffered a broken leg.

met with top officials of the judiciary where the issue of overcrowding in the prisons was discussed. He said it was determined that many persons who were in prison, were there for the illegal possession of small quantities of marijuana.

He said it was decided at the time that night courts and temporary magistrates be appointed to address the issue.

Nagamootoo said the issue of young people being

sent to prison for possession of small quantities of marijuana is being addressed by the government.

“At the moment, the issue of young people going to jail is a social problem,” he said, adding that they do not belong in jail nor should their future be one that entails being in jail for the related offence.

Members of the Rastafarian community recently lauded the move by the gov-

ernment and Nagamootoo said relaxing the sentencing policy is what that section of the populace has been asking for.

He explained that magistrates have complained that their hands were tied regarding sentencing for persons who were found in possession of utensils used for marijuana usage and for being in possession of small quantities of the drug.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

18

Man sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment for rape

A 50-year-old man, who pleaded guilty to two rape charges, was on Thursday, July 11, 2019, sentenced to serve 23 years’ imprisonment by Justice Simone Morris- Ramlall, at the Georgetown High Court.

Colin Thomas, on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, opted to plead guilty to the charges and threw himself to the mercy of the Court.

Thomas admitted that between August 1, 2013, and August 31, 2013, in the county of Essequibo, he engaged in sexual penetration with a six-year-old girl.

He also admitted that between December 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014, he raped the child again when she was eight years old.

The matter was prosecuted by State Counsel Tariq Mohammed and Thomas was represented by attorney Maxwell McKay. On Thursday, the Judge, before passing sentence considered that Thomas raped the victim twice, while she was at a tender age, and also the impact that the commission of the offence had on the victim and her family.

Justice Morris-Ramlall

took into mitigation that Thomas pleaded guilty to the two charges to save judicial time and also apologised to the victim.

Thomas was sentenced to serve 20 years on the first charge and 23 years on the second charge, however these will run concurrently.

Thomas will only serve 23-years behind bars with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 18 years.

The Judge also ordered that Thomas undergo counselling for the first three years of his sentence.

JAILED: Colin Thomas

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Man sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for rape of a senior A 39-year-old man, was, on Thursday, July 11, 2019, sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by Justice Simone Morris- Ramlall at the Georgetown High Court, for raping a 77-year-old woman in 2017.

Delon Blake of Kumuni Creek, Demerara River, had admitted that, on June 20, 2017, he engaged in sexual penetration with the elderly woman, without her consent.

He was represented by attorney-at-law Rabindra Mohabir, while the matter was prosecuted by State Counsels Tuanna Hardy and Sarah Martin.

The Judge, before sentencing considered that Blake used violence during the commission of the crime, Delon Blake by choking the elderly woman and also stole her cell phone.

The victim had told the court that she felt ashamed and humiliated for what Blake did to her.

Justice Morris-Ramlall, as a mitigation factor, considered that Blake pleaded guilty and threw himself to the mercy of the court.

Blake, the Judge explained needed ‘psychological intervention’ and ordered that he undergoes counseling, while behind bars as she said that “It baffles and disturbs the mind” while reflecting on the circumstances in which the elderly woman was raped.

Justice Morris-Ramlall, sentenced Blake to 20 years’ imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 15 years.

Correction and apology WITH reference to an article published in our newspaper yesterday under the caption” We have a right to protect taxpayers’ money” Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo was erroneously quoted as saying that the judge’s decision smacks of vendetta.

The PM’s remarks were in respect of the action to cite Hon. Winston Jordan for contempt, in his personal capacity. He said, “we believe that the action itself was frivolous, vexatious; it has no merit”.

He also stated that the said action “to seek imprisonment of a Minister…smacks of vendetta”, and he continued by saying that the action opened the Minister to mockery from the Opposition.

Guyana Chronicle regrets this error and apologises to both Prime Minister Nagamootoo and the judge in question, Justice Priya Sewnarine- Beharry.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Public Service Minister announces scholarships open to cater to needs of country MINISTER of the Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, announced on Thursday that all scholarships granted during her tenure as Minister of the Public Service will be made public.

The announcement was

support the acquisition of skills and talents for national development.”

She highlighted that the main objective for the survey is to quantify and qualify the national skills, talent and competency needs of the economy, in order to satisfy

Minister of the Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, at Thursday’s press conference made during a press conference held at the Ministry of Public Service, which was the minister’s first press conference since being sworn into office, in May 2019, by His Excellency, President David Arthur Granger.

Halley said that the scholarships are funded by public monies and it is the right of the citizens to know who has received scholarships.

The minister stated that transparency is key for her, “and in terms of scholarships, it is public funding and there is no need to keep it a secret, and with that in terms of transparence and accountability, I have no issue with people seeing the names I would have granted scholarships to.”

According to the minister, the Cabinet has approved a request made by the Department of the Public Service for the commissioning of a National Human Resources Needs Survey.

The survey will be for the development of a national training plan by sectors “to guide public investment in human capital, regular publication of labour market information to encourage private investment, as government alone will be hard pressed to satisfy public and especially private sector needs and the design of an immigration policy to

the workforce and training needs.

“The assessment would help us to determine the public sector needs so when we are giving out scholarships, we are giving scholarships tailored to those needs and the needs of the country as a whole. So we would hopefully reduce the likelihood of somebody going on a scholarship, ready and willing to serve but are not finding jobs,” she stated.

Halley also announced that the process for application is open for a number of scholarships at the undergraduate and master degree level at the University of Guyana for the 2019/2020 academic year.

At the undergraduate level, fields that are open for application include: Accountancy (BSc.), Agriculture (BSc.), Management (BSc.), Civil Engineering (BEng.), Computer Science (BSc.), Food Science (B.A), Geography (BSc.), Information Technology (BSc.), Mechanical Engineering (BEng.), Medicine (MBBS.), Petroleum Engineering (BSc.), Public Management (BSc.), Sociology (BSc.), amongst others.

At the post graduate level, fields that are vacant for application are: Environmental Management – Specialisation in Climate Change; Disaster Manage-

ment (MSc.), Environmental Management – Specialisation in Natural, Resources Management (MSc.), Petroleum Engineering (MSc.), and Master of Social Work.

Halley noted that the application process for scholarships is fair. As she explained the process, she stated that when someone applies, the application goes

to the scholarship unit where it would be processed to ensure that the person would have reached the eligibility requirements. After that, “there is a panel of persons who sit, goes through the applications and there is a process where persons are interviewed and then after that, they determine who gets the scholarship or not.”

When questioned about the claims made of scholarships being granted to the children of Minister Simona Broomes, Halley stated that Broomes’ two children are a part of 73 overseas scholarship beneficiaries, and would have successfully applied and met the requirements needed to obtain the scholarships.

“They would have applied and the person in charge of that department at that time would have gone through the applications and saw it as a need for the country, that they are granted the scholarship, and within their own judgment, thought it was best for them to get the scholarships,” she said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

GRDB succeeds at CCJ: Court of Appeal to hear case

THE Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), on Thursday, dismissed an application for special leave, submitted by Mr. Arnold Sankar, to appeal against a decision made by the Court of Appeal of Guyana.

The CCJ agreed with the Court of Appeal that the Guyana Rice Development Board, the respondent in the case, should

be granted an extension of time to seek leave to appeal, and leave to appeal the decision of the Full Court.

This matter goes back to 2016, when Mr Sankar sought damages in the amount of GY$99 million, for an alleged breach of contract by the Board arising out of the purchase and sale of rice paddy. The Board’s

case before the Hon. Mme. Justice Insanally was plagued by delays and procedural difficulties, but eventually the judge gave the Board an extension of time for the filing of its Defence. Mr. Sankar successfully appealed to the Full Court which granted him judgment.

The Board’s appeal to the Court of Appeal was again

marred by delays and procedural glitches, but the Court of Appeal agreed to give the Board an extension of time.

The CCJ acknowledged that the Court of Appeal of Guyana had done the right thing.

The CCJ held that the Court of Appeal had the power to extend time in the interests of justice and found that those decisions best served the interests of justice. The CCJ

found that in “arriving at a determination as to what was required in the interests of justice, a court should balance the interests of the dissatisfied litigant who wished to pursue a right of appeal, on the one hand, with the interests of the successful litigant who wished to have the satisfaction of the judgment in his favour without undue delay.”

The CCJ also agreed with

the Board that several issues raised by their counsel, Mr. Timothy Jonas, required the consideration of the Court of Appeal of Guyana. The CCJ therefore dismissed Mr. Sankar’s application for special leave but ordered that each party bear its own costs of the appeal.

The appeal was dismissed in a majority decision with four judges with one dissenting.

Grandmother pleads for help to care young children

By Vishani Ragobeer THE grandmother of three young children, who lost their 22-yearold mother after her right eye was removed after giving birth, is pleading for assistance to better take care of the children.

Sunita Vandyke, the mother of the three children, lost her eye weeks after giving birth at the Suddie Hospital, Region Two. She died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The young woman was referred there from the Leonora Hospital in Region Three because of the severity of her condition.

Vandyke’s mother-inlaw and grandmother of the three children, Phyllis Carter, recounted to this newspaper that there has been much confusion over the death of the woman.

Carter and Vandyke, along with Carter’s son, lived altogether at Parika. In the days leading up to the delivery of the youngest child, Carter said Vandyke showed no signs of ailment and even when she delivered the child, both she and the child were healthy.

Unfortunately, days later the 22-year-old suffered what Carter said appeared to be a stroke.

After visiting a few health centres before eventually being admitted to the GHPC, an eye surgery was done to the young woman and her eye was removed.

Subsequent to the eye surgery, Cater related that

Phyllis Carter and her six-month-old granddaughter (Adrian Narine photo) Vandyke returned home their father were given a to her parents in Suddie, chance to pay their last where she started to feel respects. ill once again. After anFollowing the death other round of visiting of the mother, the grandhealth centres for help mother is now seeking and treatment, the young help to take care of the woman was eventually three children. The eldest taken back to the GPHC child is five years old on May 16 and died on while the other two sibMay 17. lings are ages four years “I don’t understand and six months. how all of this happen,” Carter said her main Carter said, adding: “My focus right now is on getdaughter-in-law was good ting some compensation and healthy, and just like from the hospital in light that they said she gotta do of her daughter-in-law’s an eye surgery and then death. This compensation, afterwards she still sick.” according to her, will be The woman alleged used to take care of the that there has been some three children. malpractice that has led “They don’t have a to the death of her daugh- mother and I already ter-in-law. Moreover, she old. I don’t know how said she has no clue where long more I got…. so I Vandyke’s family buried want the compensation her and neither she nor so that they could get a the three children and good life,” Carter said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

y l n o s s t e o l o e h v s o L a l o e i d n o a t D me ca ―and ‘WHAT YUH KNOW’, now he’s bowled over by the love

P

OPULAR Trinidadian entertainer, Daniel Loveless, creator of the social media street show “What yuh know”, has been parading the streets of Georgetown over the past week, filming episodes of the entertaining show.

In an interview with ‘The Buzz’, Loveless shared how he came to be one the most popular entertainers in the Caribbean.

The young man said that he completed school in 2014 and started to read for a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management at the University of the Southern Caribbean.

While studying, he juggled a lot of customer service work, and went through a process of two years trying to find himself.

“The working became too tedious for me; doing the same thing every day. Dealing with people wasn’t the tedious part; I loved dealing with people. So I decided to purchase a camera from my savings, and I began doing photography in 2016, covering different events,” Loveless said.

However, soon after venturing into that field, he felt the need to come up with something unique, since there is a lot of competition in the field of photography in Trinidad.

“So I came up with the idea of ‘What yuh know’, and I labeled myself an entertainer. I went ahead and started recording in the streets of Trinidad. I started with my personal profile, ‘Daniel Loveless’ and the first video I posted skyrocketed to like 579,000. And I said that this was a great opportunity to make it into something,” the young entertainer said.

So he has since made a Facebook page for the show, and it grew in popularity from 2000 followers to now 300,000 people from all over the world.

His ‘What yuh know’ prerecorded shows started on the

streets of Port of Spain, where he would ask random people on the streets a question that would test how much they really know. The answers to these questions are sometimes extremely ridiculous, and that is what adds the splash of entertainment to the show.

However, even though the show brings laughter, Loveless said that the end goal is to educate. So after all the laughs, whoever didn’t know what the answer to the question was, will know it in time.

“My vision is to take the show worldwide and revolutionise the education system. I see it actually coming to life, because a lot of people are saying that they watch the show and they learn a lot. And that means a lot to me, because it is important that they not only get a laugh out of the show but to also learn something from the show. Because it is all about education through entertainment,” he said.

Persons love the show, to the point where they have been patterning off the show in their respective countries, creating content of a similar nature. To this end, he said that that it is something that he supports, and is happy to be an inspiration.

Every country will have things unique to them, so this can be a medium where education can be pushed.

The social media audience has grown so large over the years, that Loveless is able to leave the shores of Port of Spain and travel to other countries to film.

Now in Guyana, he said that the reception form the people here is amazing.

“It’s an amazing feeling, seeing people being so receptive to the show. It is something that I have always wanted, but to

now see it happening is really amazing. Guyana is amazing, and the support is overwhelming. I’m amazed by the love,” he said.

This same love and support is received from across the Caribbean and further afield, so Loveless will be traveling to other countries, starting with Canada, on July 22, 2019.

Sharing insight on the business aspect of the show, Loveless said that it is very profitable since he would earn income from YouTube and it is also monetised on Facebook. The more people watch, the more revenue is earned.

In addition, he said that he was able to secure a lot of corporate clients within Trinidad and Tobago. Just being himself throughout all his shows, people fell in love with his personality and a lot of persons book him to be the MC for their events.

Though the product of what was just an idea is already very profitable, Loveless said that the ultimate vision now is to make it into a television show.

“I want it to be picked up by an international network like GSN or ABC; have it broadcasted, and make it live and real where people come in to be a part. I envision it being something like Family Feud, with two groups; me in the middle, and we see which group knows the most,” he disclosed.

His following on social media is already diverse, and persons are buying into the idea, “but I want to touch as much country as possible, doing what I do,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

‘Filling the void’ returns

―with yet more opportunities for young artists

A

FTER a successful execution want to support. In its first year, Filling last year, part two of ‘Filling the the Void’s huge success enabled the artists void’ art exhibition is slated for an opportunity to display their work at the August 11.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be chosen Two Guyanese young men with excep- to represent Guyana at the “Chinese Art tional talent and vision, Shamar Spooner, Biennale” in China this year. The individ20, and Shamer Hescott, 23, collaborated uality of this project is in the fact that it last year and executed the exhibition, offers a variety of Art forms such as Rowith the aim of showcasing the works of botics, Paintings, Architecture, sculptures, artistic young people like themselves here etc,” Spooner said. in Guyana.

The venue for the exhibition is yet to This year, ‘Filling the void’ has tran- be determined, and will be announced at scended into a multi-faceted art event a later date. with the aim of not just increasing the In a previous interview with ‘The recognition of artists, but to provide an Buzz’, Hescott had shared how and opportunity for self-development, while when the idea was birthed. “Shamar fostering the growth of healthy relation- Spooner and I were on vacation in ships of young artists in Guyana.

Barbados in April,” he said, “and on “This event promotes entrepreneur- our way back, we had the idea to do an ship among youths, as they are able to exhibition. And we started thinking of benefit from their intellectual property, what to display, and we realised that we since they will be able to sell them at the knew a lot of great young artists who event and receive in full, their payment. are not so recognised for their work, The young creatives are recruited for the and we wanted to show everyone what event at no expense, but the materials they they were capable of and also what use to create their artwork,” Spooner told we were capable of. Shamar came up ‘The Buzz’. with the name ‘Filling the void’, He said that ‘Filling the void’ is in a sense of the void being us known to be a night of elegance, as it young creatives not getting encompasses fine arts, haute couture enough credit and recognition outfits, and a relaxing ambience that for our work i n encourages everyone to network and Guyana, so build new relationships. It allows both we wanted patrons and artists to express themto fill that selves, whether through a void, hence painting or by taking a the name of fashion risk. It aims to the event.” bring more attention to the creative arts sector in Guyana, while preserving and developing young artistic Guyanese.

“In its second year now, the event has quickly become a much-anticipated one for young artists and aspiring ones, and Shamar Spooner and Shamer Hescott just persons who

Artists discussing the execution of ‘Filling the Void 2019’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Blue Berry Hill CARICOM Day crown beauty takes coveted Winner Alicia Martin, Miss Jamaica

A

LICIA Martin, Delegate # 7, a Blue Berry Hill resident who represented Jamaica at the CARICOM pageant last Monday in Linden, walked away with the crown after a night of stiff competition against 14 other delegates.

The pageant was the first of its kind to have been held in Linden, and was part of a weekend-long calendar of activities in observance of

CARICOM Day. All 15 CARICOM Member States were represented by as many delegates.

Copping the first runner-up position was Lydia Emanuel, representing St Lucia, followed by Deshawna Dest, representing Suriname, at second runner-up.

Martin said that her win was well achieved, as it was the first pageant she’s ever competed in, and was going

Delegates of the CARICOM pageant in their respective cultural attire

up against seasoned girls.

“I feel great,” she said, adding: “First the experience was not good, but at the end it paid off.” The pageant was open to both male and female, persons of varying body structure, and age group.

The countries represented were: Antigua and Barbuda;

The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Haiti; Jamaica; Montserrat; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Suriname;

and Trinidad and Tobago.

The delegates were adjudged in a traditional wear segment, as well as the evening gown segment. Points were also taken from their

participation in a parade and exhibition.

The CARICOM activities were hosted by the Communities Development Council (CDC) of Linden.

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

TODAY

■ Set 4 Life Entertainment presents “Escape Fridays” at District Ultra Lounge this and every Friday. Enjoy Heineken specials, music by Guyana’s top DJs, and ladies FREE before 12am ■ If you’re feeling in a fun mood you can get dressed up as your favourite animated character and be a part of the Guyana Animation Network Inc 4th annual summer camp “Launch Animated Experience” at t h e ELT Building ■ Head down to the Pegasus poolside, Ignite Bar and Grill every Friday and Saturday for fun, food, and entertainment!

TOMORROW

■ Pulse Entertainment presents the juiciest party of the year “Body Shots” at Palm Court. Enjoy FREE Barcardi body shots, and Bacardi bottle specials all night. Admission: $2000 (Early bird $1500) ■ This Saturday it’s “Soca is My Energy Vol 2” featuring the party king DJ Energy at the District Ultra Lounge. Enjoy Johnny Walker bottle specials all night ■ Bristol Promotions presents “Bikini Boxxing” at the La Familia Parking Lot (Aubrey barker Road). It’s going to be lots of fun, excitement and entertainment with the best female boxers in bikini, the best DJ’s in Guyana and special referee: comedian “Loli). Admission: $1000 (VIP $5000) ■ The Platinum Auto Expo 2nd Edition at the National Stadium. Catch a live performance by Steven Ramphal, music by Travelers Sound and Lexus Blingerz passing through. Admission: $1000 ■ It’s time to show off your talent. Aracari Resort presents Karaoke and Dance this and every Saturday. Enjoy karaoke, dance and dinner, featuring Reyaz Rafeek and Group

SUNDAY

■ Miss India Guyana and Oasis Café presents “High Chai” a fundraiser in aid of the Miss India Guyana trip to Mumbai to represent Guyana. Head out for a worthy cause and be entertained by exquisite display of fashion music and more at Oasis Café. Tickets: $3000 (Includes chai and snacks) ■ The University of Guyana presents its 3rd annual go-kart fundraising event “Race for Pace” at the GMRSC Ground, in aid of the Student and Staff Support Fund. There’s going to be ladies vs men, alumni vs students, city vs out of the city, and many more exciting races. Admission: Free ■ Marvelous Entertainment presents the re-launch of Marvelous Sundayz at its new location 592 Spot and Night Club (John and Norton Street). Ladies free all night.

Music by Stereo Sonic, Fusion and Boom DJs. ■ G-Money in association with Leprechaun Entertainment presents Summer Sundays at Club Privilege (Main Street, Georgetown). Free entry for first 50 ladies.

Throwback music and finger foods. Music by One Drop from NY, DJ Denzil, Selector Dexter and a special guest DJ and one man band.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 12, 2019

Personality of The Week...

t ee M CHENILLE

BOWEN

―‘Buzz’ Personality of the Week

W

E’VE all heard the saying “A woman should be two things: Who and what she wants.”

This week’s personality has definitely been living up to that saying, as she has been at the centre of almost all the different forms of entertainment and arts, and has been using her platform for the greater good.

Chenille Bowen, who was born in the ‘Cinderella County’ of Essequibo, is a Home Economics teacher by profession, and anything else she chooses to be.

In an interview with ‘The Buzz’, Bowen said that being a true lover of entertainment, she is always very open to be actively involved in whatever she sees has potential to propel into something significant in the lives of others. And this, too, contributes to her personal development and adds to her list of experiences as she lives on.

Apart from being a teacher, Bowen is also an events planner and decorator, former actress, dancer, choreographer,

part-time model, national windball cricketer, stage manager for a few stage productions, Road Manager for the Heatwave Band Guyana, Natural Black, Kady Kish and Mark Batson, and the list goes on.

“My passion is working with youths and entertainment. Seeing people I work with progress, especially if they took my advice, makes me really happy,” Bowen said.

This passion, she said, was sparked when some youths from Essequibo that she would have worked with and help express themselves through dance, eventually formed their own group and helped others.

Now, Bowen has started a new dance initiative to assist in building the capacity of young men in Guyana, to deter them from crime, and have them resort to dance. This initiative is dubbed, “Choose Dance: the Male Invasion”, and is being coordinated through a collaboration with local dancer Jemal Elis from Euphoria Dance Company.

Her ultimate goal, Chenille said, is to open her own Arts and Entertainment company. She believes that Arts and Entertainment can be the saviour for youths who may be struggling through life, either academically, financially or emotionally. Delving into this arena, Bowen said, can help them pull through life, so she will work towards building on what she believes, so as to help make the world a better place.

“Just do what you believe is right, no matter how young or how old you are. Just believe it can be done and stick to your goal,” she advised.

It is with this mentality that Bowen continues to press for progress, so that she can eventually achieve her goal.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 12, 2019

Rampant England end Australia’s title defence to roar into final …new World Cup champions to be crowned on Sunday

By Amlan Chakraborty BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - England snuffed out Australia’s title defence and stormed into the Cricket World Cup final with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over the five-times champions in the second semi-final on Thursday.

Eoin Morgan’s men skittled out Australia for 223 before romping to their target in 32.1 overs in a lop-sided battle between the hosts and the holders at Edgbaston.

Jason Roy (85) and Jonny Bairstow (34) made the chase look like a cakewalk with their fourth successive century opening partnership.

Joe Root (49 not out) and Morgan (45 not out) completed the formalities for England who avenged their group-stage defeat by Australia at a venue where they had won 10 previous matches across all formats.

England, who last made the final in 1992 when they lost to Pakistan, will meet 2015 runners-up New Zealand on Sunday at Lord’s where new champions will be crowned.

“Having beaten India at this ground, we’d have come here with similar confidence, taken the momentum from the group stages,” Morgan said.

“We talk about getting better and better, we set the tone from ball one and got on top.”

“Looking back to where we were in 2015, it’s a dramatic improvement. Everyone in the dressing-room can take credit. We want

to make the most of the opportunity.”

Earlier, Aaron Finch’s decision to bat appeared to backfire with Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer blowing away the Australian top order.

Archer struck with his first delivery to dismiss Finch and later left Alex Carey with a bloodied chin which needed stitches.

By then, the setback had snowballed into a full-blown crisis for Australia.

Woakes (3-20) removed David Warner, Australia’s leading scorer in the tournament, for nine and bowled Peter Handscomb who was making his World Cup debut as replacement for the injured Usman Khawaja.

Archer oozed hostility at the other end, hitting a hopping Carey on the grill of his helmet and dislodging it from his head.

DOGGED BID Carey braved the blow to join Steve Smith in a dogged bid to arrest the free-fall and Australia reached the 100-mark in the 25th over before their middle order caved in.

Adil Rashid claimed 3-54, including the wickets of Carey (46) and Marcus Stoinis, and Archer sent back Glenn Maxwell, who scored at a runa-ball for his 22 before being deceived by a slower ball.

Smith was run out for 85 in the 48th over and Australia could not last their full quota of 50 overs.

Smith and Carey scored more than half their team’s

Luberfiner filters for all podium finishers at second GMR&SC National Race of Champions LUBERFINER, a special brand of oil filters designed for racing will be handed out to all podium finishers at the second round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s National Race of Champions.

This was confirmed yesterday by Vice President, Hansraj Singh, who indicated that the brand’s local distributor, Special Auto, is on board with the event.

“We of course want to thank Special Auto for joining us in this championship. They have been a sterling sponsor of motorsport locally,” he added.

Meanwhile, the company’s proprietor, Shan Seejattan, in an invited comment stated, “These brand of filters are what the professionals use.

I use it in my Group Two race car as well as my endurance cars and even my drag racing cars.”

“So they are high performance filters built to undergo great amounts of racing. The reason we are giving them to the podium finishers is that we want them to see this about the brand.”

The second national race of Champions is billed for July 21st at the South Dakota Circuit.

The sponsors are E-Networks, Tropical shipping, BM Soat Auto Sales, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Miracle Optical, Choke Gas Station, Special Auto, Prem’s Electrical, Nexus Machine Shop, Blue Spring Water, Motor Trend, Ramchand Auto Spares, Power Line Automotive and KGM security.

The club is planning a 21-race programme which is expected to feature both bikes and cars in addition to its newly-installed time attack feature.

total and were among only four Australian batsmen who managed double-digit scores.

Their slim victory chances hinged on their ability to subject England to a similar top-order collapse but Roy and Bairstow batted with the kind of fearlessness which has been the hallmark of this England team.

Roy smashed his fourth consecutive fifty in the tournament, clobbering Smith for three sixes in a row.

Mitchell Starc, who made 29 with the bat, dismissed Bair-

stow and Pat Cummins denied Roy his century but the match had slipped through Australia’s fingers by then.

“Totally outplayed today, the way they had us 27 for three after 10 overs set the tone,” Finch said after Australia’s first loss in a World Cup semi-final.

“One of those days, we didn’t execute as we could have and you get hurt by a good team...We came here with a couple injuries but that’s not an excuse. We came here wanting to win but it wasn’t to be.”

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA innings D Warner c Bairstow b Woakes 9 A Finch (c) lbw b Archer 0 S Smith run out (†Buttler) 85 P Handscomb b Woakes 4 A Carey † c sub (JM Vince) b Rashid 46 M Stoinis lbw b Rashid 0 G Maxwell c Morgan b Archer 22 P Cummins c Root b Rashid 6 M Starc c †Buttler b Woakes 29 J Behrendorff b Wood 1 N Lyon not out 5 Extras: (lb 6, w 10) 16 Total: (all out; 49 overs) 223 Fall of wickets: 1-4), 2-10, 3-14, 4-117, 5-118, 6-157, 7-166, 8-217, 9-217, 10-223 Bowling: C Woakes 8-0-20-3, J Archer 10-0-32-2, B Stokes 4-0-22-0, M Wood 9-0-45-1, L Plunkett 8-0-44-0, A Rashid 10-0-54-3

ENGLAND Innings J Roy c †Carey b Cummins

85

J Bairstow lbw b Starc

34

J Root not out

49

E Morgan (c) not out

45

Extras: (lb 1, w 12)

13

Total: (2 wickets; 32.1 overs)

226

Fall of wickets: 1-124, 2-147 Bowling: J Behrendorff 8.1-2-380, M Starc 9-0-70-1, P Cummins 7-0-34-1, N Lyon 5-0-49-0, S Smith 1-0-21-0, M Stoinis 2-0-13-0

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 12, 2019

ANSA McAl joins hands with RHTY&SC. BCB LONGSTANDING sponsor of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), ANSA McAl (Guy) Ltd, has once again joined hands with Guyana’s leading Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to make a positive difference.

The company is pumping $300 000 into the publication of 1 000 copies of a Youth Information Booklet for youths in the Ancient County, especially those involved in Sports.

Club Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster stated that the booklet was a major part of the RHTY&SC’s highly-successful “Say No/Say Yes Campaign”.

The Club, via the programme, advises youths to say no to crime, suicide, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and yes to education, life, sports, religion, and culture.

RHTY&SC is working along with the Berbice Cricket

Board (BCB) on the ANSA McAl-sponsored Booklet Project to make sure that thousands of youths who play the game of cricket are fully informed of the social ills they face and that they have the information to make correct decisions.

The 40-page booklet will be published at the F&H Printery in Georgetown and would provide information on 25 topics of importance to youths, including the Importance of Education, Importance of Discipline, HIV/AIDS, Suicide, Choosing Friends, Personal Hygiene, Public Manners, Role of a Sports Ambassador, Importance of Religion, Public Speaking, Peer Pressure, Drug Abuse, and Sports Etiquette.

The booklet will also have important information for young cricketers so that they would understand their roles as role models and students of the game.

Foster, who is also the president of the BCB, hailed

RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster receives sponsorship from Gabriella Lopez of ANSA McAl, in the presence of Errol Nelson and Faris Mohamed.

the publication of the booklet as another major effort by the RHTY&SC to offer sports and education as a positive alternative to a life on the streets.

He praised ANSA McAl for its support, describing it as a foundation of the successes of the Club over the years and hailed Brand Managers

Errol Nelson, Gabriella Lopez, and Faris Mohamed for their cooperation. Foster disclosed that the Non-Alcoholic Section of ANSA McAl assisted the Club in successfully hosting its 29th Award Ceremony, and the two organisations would be working together in the future on other projects, including the

Serena to face Simona Halep in Saturday’s Wimbledon final SERENA Williams made light work of Barbora Strycova to reach the Wimbledon final and stand one win away from a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

The American was just too powerful for the Czech in a 6-1 6-2 win that set up a final against Romania’s Simona Halep.

Williams, 37, said she tried to “tap into that younger Serena” in a dominant display that will make her the oldest Grand Slam women’s singles finalist.

She took just 59 minutes to win and continue her bid for an eighth title.

“It feels good to be back in the final,” said Williams, who was runner-up to Angelique Kerber last year and will be appearing in the grass-court showpiece for an 11th time on Saturday.

Williams is aiming to draw level with Australian Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles and also win her first major title since becoming a mum in September 2017.

In 33-year-old Grand Slam semi-final debutant Strycova, she was facing a player she had met three times before without dropping a set.

And she was not going to spoil that record here, estab-

Simona Halep

lishing breaks in the fourth and sixth games before taking the set with her 44th ace of the championships.

While Williams is a firm favourite on Centre Court, the crowd wanted to see more of a match and cheered every half chance, net cord or winner that went Strycova’s way.

But despite the support, the world number 54 seemed lost in the occasion and unable to turn to the serve-and-volley game that had served her so well in the dismantling of British number one Johanna Konta in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile,Simona Halep says she feels “mentally stronger” for the “big challenge” of facing Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.

Halep beat Elina Svitolina 6-1 6-3 to reach her maiden final at the All England Club,

Serena Williams

where she will meet seven-time champion Serena Williams.

The Romanian has won just one of her 10 meetings with American Williams, coming at the WTA Finals in 2014.

“I will believe that I have my chance to win against her,” said Halep, 27.

“Of course, I respect a lot what she has done and what she’s doing.

“But now I feel stronger mentally facing her. We will see what is going to happen.

It’s just a big challenge for me.”

Seventh seed Halep whose previous best finish at Wimbledon was reaching the 2014 semi-finals - wrapped up victory over Ukrainian eighth seed Svitolina in one hour 13 minutes.(BBC Sport)

2019 Christmas Village.

The Non-Alcoholic Section also renewed its sponsorship of the RHTY&SC’s Television Programme.

Brand Manager Nelson hailed the outstanding relationship between the club and the company, as it continued to make a positive difference in the

lives of others. ANSA McAl, he stated, was pleased to be associated with RHTY&SC as it was well known for its good works.

He expressed confidence that the objectives of the booklet would be achieved, adding that they looked forward to similar projects in the future. ANSA McAl, over the last two decades, has sponsored or co-sponsored numerous programmes for the club, including the Annual Awards Ceremony, Annual Youth Review Magazine, Annual Cricket Academy, Christmas Village, charity programmes, Say No/Say Yes Campaign, the ANSA McAl Award of Excellence, Tribute to Outstanding Teachers and Mother-ofthe-Year Award.

From page 39

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Windies A crash to ...

for 30 runs.

West Indies A were hurt by the outstanding left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed who claimed three for 16 while left-arm spinner Axar Patel (2-16), leg-spinner Rahul Chahar (2-32) and 19-year-old off-spinner Washington Sundar (2-37) chipped in with two wickets each.

Captain Roston Chase had earlier snatched four for 19 with his steady off-spin as India also found the going difficult and were dismissed for 190 with seven balls remaining in the innings.

Shreyas Iyer, batting at number three, top-scored with 77 in a knock requiring 107 deliveries and including eight fours and a six.

He put on 95 for the fourth wicket with Hanuma Vihari (34) to dig his side out of trouble at 22 for three in the eighth over.

Fast bowler Akeem Jordan, who took three for 43, was behind West Indies A’s strong start, removing Ruturaj Gaikwad (3) and captain Manish Pandey (4) cheaply.

Vihari had faced 63 balls and counted four fours in the rebuilding effort when he played back to one that turned and was bowled by Cornwall in the 31st over.

Chase then ran through the lower order as India A lost their last six wickets for 56 runs.

Any hopes West Indies A harboured of an uncomplicated victory were then ruined with a clatter of early wickets.

With only three runs on the board, Sunil Ambris shuffled across to the third ball of the innings from seamer Deepak Chahar and was unfortunate to be adjudged lbw to one sliding down leg.

Left-handed opener John Campbelle followed in the fourth over, missing a pull at Khaleel Ahmed and playing on for four while Shane Dowrich nicked one that left him to be caught at the wicket for nine off the bowler’s next over.

When Chase was also squared up by Khaleel Ahmed and caught at the wicket for seven in the 10th over, Windies A were in dire straits.

But Carter and Powell came to their rescue, posting 65 for the fifth wicket to put the contest back into the balance.

While Carter exercised caution in a 98-ball knock that included a single boundary, Powell was more cavalier, striking three fours and two sixes in a 40-ball cameo.

However, once Powell slashed at one tossed up by Rahul Chahar and was taken at first slip on the second attempt

by Vihari, the Windies A resistance ceased.

The second match of the series is scheduled for the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on Sunday.

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 12, 2019

FIFA introduces harsher punishment for racist behaviour (REUTERS) - FIFA is doubling its minimum ban for racist incidents to 10 games and will allow players to make victim statements and participate in the proceedings, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.

Stricter punishments against racism and other discriminatory behaviour was a key part of FIFA’s updated disciplinary code which takes effect from Monday.

“FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee may permit the victim to make a statement, allowing the latter to participate in the proceedings. FIFA will not let down victims of racist abuse,” the body said in a statement.

The changes follow on from several high profile incidents last season in domestic and international football.

Inter Milan were ordered to play two home games behind closed doors after their supporters racially insulted Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

Koulibaly, who received a red card for showing dissent, was banned for two matches, sparking criticism that the victim was being

transfer bans on clubs which default on debts in cases processed by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v Napoli - San Siro, Milan, Italy - December 26, 2018 Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly reacts as he is shown a red card by referee Paolo Mazzoleni while Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi looks on REUTERS/Alberto Lingria/File Photo

punished.

Montenegro were also ordered by European governing body UEFA to play a home game behind closed doors as part of sanctions handed out for the racist behaviour of their supporters during a match against England.

The updated FIFA code expands the scope of what is considered discriminatory behaviour to anything related

to “race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, language, religion, political opinion, wealth, birth or any other status or any other reason”.

A match will be forfeited by the team if their supporters are found to be guilty of racist and other discriminatory behaviour.

“For a first offence, play-

ing a match with a limited number of spectators and a fine of at least 20,000 Swiss Francs ($20,220) shall be imposed on the association or club concerned,” FIFA said.

“Unless there are exceptional circumstances, if a match is abandoned by the referee because of racist and/ or discriminatory conduct, the match shall be declared forfeited.”

The match can be forfeited after the referee has applied a “three-step procedure” for such incidents, which includes requesting a public announcement to call for such behaviour to cease, suspending the match until it stops, and in critical scenarios, abandoning the match altogether.

The updated code also includes the option of imposing

SAFEGUARDING Earlier this week, FIFA also launched a new global program teaching member associations and confederations to safeguard children from abuse.

The new initiative, called FIFA Guardians, will allow members in reviewing their existing safeguarding measures through practical guidance and support materials.

“FIFA has a duty and responsibility to ensure that those who play football can do so in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment,” FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said.

“I am confident that the FIFA Guardians programme will help to mobilise action and guide our 211 member associations around the world in reviewing and implementing their own safeguarding measures to keep children safe in football. FIFA believes this to be every child’s right.”

After 11 years, Federer and Nadal renew Wimbledon rivalry

By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) - It has been a long wait but the most captivating modern rivalry in men’s tennis returns to the scene of its most dramatic episode today when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet for a place in the Wimbledon final.

Much has changed since that epic Sunday night in 2008 when, as the last strands of daylight ebbed away, Nadal dethroned the king of Centre Court in a rain-hit final that will forever be part of Wimbledon folklore.

Centre Court now has a retractable roof as does Court One, for a start, and Federer has two sets of twins.

Nadal’s knees are creakier, his hair thinner and the sleeveless tops and pirate pants he wore as a 22-year-old tyro have been replaced by regular tennis attire.

They have both had dips and comebacks and both have been written off at times. But form is temporary. Class endures.

Federer is approaching his 38th birthday and Nadal is 33, yet they

Wimbledon champions Rafael Nadal (left) and Roger Federer

remain the two central pillars of men’s tennis with 20 and 18 Grand Slam titles respectively.

They have met 22 times since that epic five-setter when Nadal became the first Spaniard since Manolo Santana in 1966 to win the men’s title, proving he was not just a claycourt bully but had evolved his topspin game after losing consecutive Wimbledon finals to Federer in 2006 and 2007.

There have been memorable clashes since — the 2009 Austra-

lian Open final after which a beaten Federer shed tears and the 2017 Australian final when the Swiss ended a five-year wait for his 18th Grand Slam title.

They played last month in the French Open semis when Nadal blew Federer away in a gale on his way to claiming a record-extending 12th Roland Garros title.

Today’s showdown will be the 40th meeting between the duo with Nadal leading 24-15 and 10-3 in Grand Slams.

HOUSE OF HORRORS Federer is seeking a ninth Wimbledon singles title which would move him level on the all-time list with Martina Navratilova while Nadal is eyeing his third, and first since beating Tomas Berdych in 2010.

Since then Wimbledon has often resembled a house of horrors for Nadal with shock losses to journeymen like Steve Darcis, Lukas Rosol and Dustin Brown.

Irritated by being relegated to third seed behind Federer, despite being ranked two, he looks fired-up to reclaim the title and has dropped just one set so far, against Nick Kyrgios in a riveting second-round grudge match.

“Playing against Roger always is a unique situation,” Nadal said after beating Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals. “Excited to be back on this court against him after 11 years.

“Means a lot for me and probably for him, too. Always I say the same: of course, the opportunities to play against each other every time are less, but we are still here.”

It is easy to forget there is no silverware at stake on Friday, with

the winner likely to play defending champion Novak Djokovic, the Serb who could eventually surpass both of them in the all-time Grand Slam title haul, in the final.

But it has the feel of a final.

Federer, bidding to reach his 12th Wimbledon final, has dropped two sets so far, and has looked in fine fettle.

While much water has passed under the bridge since 2008, somewhere in the darker recesses of Federer’s mind will be the bitter imprint of one of his most crushing defeats.

With the clock ticking on their careers, Friday could be his last chance to set the record straight, although he says Nadal is a far superior player to the 2008 version.

“Haven’t played each other in a long, long time on this surface,” Federer said. “It’s going to be tough. Rafa really can hurt anybody on any surface.”

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 12, 2019

Murray says World Cup failure a reality check for West Indies BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Former West Indies vice-captain, Deryck Murray, believes the Caribbean side read too much into their performance against England in the five-match one-day series earlier this year, and it provided a false premise for unrealistic expectations at the World Cup. West Indies held the world number ones and World Cup favourites, England, to a 2-2 draw back in March, triggering widespread hope they could mount a serious challenge at the global showpiece in England.

However, the Windies flattered to deceive, managing just two wins in nine outings in the tournament, to finish ninth in the 10-team standings – only above minnows Afghanistan playing in their first World Cup. “If we are realistic, just before the tournament, Bangladesh had beaten us in a tournament with Ireland, Afghanistan had beaten

us fairly regularly,” Murray told the Mason and Guest cricket radio show here.

“I think there was a bright spark in the tournament that we played with England and we forgot to look at the fact that England came almost on holiday – a little winter break.

They were caught very complacent.

“They played bad cricket rather than we played excellent cricket, although the result was excellent, and I think that buoyed our hopes that we could compete with the top boys.”

West Indies opened their World Cup on May 31 with an impressive seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in Nottingham, further reinforcing their tag as one of the tournament’s dark horses.

However, they then lost six of their next seven matches to be eliminated from contention for the semi-finals, wrapping up their failed campaign with a tense victory over Afghanistan.

Former West Indies vice-captain Deryck Murray

Murray, a member the Windies World Cup-winning sides of 1975 and 1979, said the Caribbean side’s results should not have been a surprise since it merely reflected their form in recent years.

West Indies have gone without a one-day series victory for five years and won just 12 of their last

28 ODIs in the lead-up to the World Cup. “At the end of the day there were so many ‘ifs’. But the problem is with the ‘ifs’ – if this happens, you will win,” Murray contended.

“You can’t just keep hoping that if something [happens], if the board had gone a little further, if this person didn’t drop a catch … but it was all very predictable over the form of the West Indies team that have been representing the colours of over the past few years.

“That’s been the story of the day so why should we go into the highest tournament in the world and suddenly everything goes right.”

The 76-year-old Murray, a former Cricket West Indies director, said the team faced several challenges heading into the tournament, which eventually proved impediments to performance.

More importantly, he said a reality check was needed regarding the West Indies side and their ability to

deliver consistent results.

“We all knew team selection [could have been an issue] – we weren’t sure we had the best 15 players there. That was confirmed,” Murray contended.

“We weren’t sure that the players were fit enough, we weren’t sure that the players were mentally prepared, we weren’t sure we had the right leadership – the coaching staff etcetera – and they were proved all right in the analysis.

“We have to accept and temper our disappointment with the fact that reality stepped in and it’s a very good opportunity for us to say ‘look this is what the reality is, we are the number nine or number 10 team in the world, we have to do things a lot differently’.

“It cannot be business as usual and hope that if we execute, or if we do this or if we do that, it will be alright on the day – that’s not going to happen. We need to change.”

Algeria seal shootout win over Working with franchises to bridge gap key to rebuilding effort: Reifer Ivory Coast to book semi-final berth BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Interim West Indies head coach Floyd Reifer believes the gap between first class and international cricket needs to be narrowed, if players are to be properly prepared for the demands of senior team cricket.

Speaking in the wake of the Caribbean side’s nightmare display at the ICC World Cup in England, Reifer also pointed out that fitness needed to be a key component of selection, and said regional franchises had a major role to play in helping to players to reach their peak.

“Obviously going for-

ward fitness is key. You play cricket at any level or in any international sport – football, basketball or anything you play – all teams pay attention to fitness levels and that’s something we need to pay more attention to as we go forward,” Reifer told the Mason and Guest cricket radio show here.

“We have got to continue to work closely with the franchises to build a system with the fitness levels. And to build our cricket, we have to bridge the gap between first class cricket and international cricket. It’s important that we work together with the franchises to build our

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday July 12, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 2259230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Mahmudullah-103 (vs ENG, Adelaide, 2015) (2) Sri Lanka & England Today’s Quiz: (1) England have played three World Cup finals and lost. Who were their opponents?

(2) Who is the first Australian captain to win a World Cup title?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Floyd Reifer

cricket.”

Reifer was announced to lead the squad to the World Cup after the new Ricky Skerritt administration dispensed of Englishman Richard Pybus after just one series in charge.

However, the Windies struggled to make an impression at the global showpiece, winning just two of their nine games to finish ninth in the standings on five points only above minnows Afghanistan in their first World Cup. Throughout the tournament, all-rounder Andre Russell was plagued by a knee injury which eventually ended his campaign, while seamer Kemar Roach and several other players struggled with niggling injuries.

Reifer, a former West Indies captain, said players needed to be developed in all areas if they were to be properly rounded when they reached the international level.

“That includes the skill-set of players, the players mindset, the ability to win cricket games, situation awareness – all those things we need to improve on as we go on and build our cricket,” he pointed out.

“Everybody knows what is the problem but we still need to find the solutions so I think the solution is we have to work well with the franchises and rebuild our cricket again.

“We’ve got to get guys closer to the international level when guys come in to international cricket … and that only comes with preparation at the lower level and good coaching.”

West Indies will have little time to regroup following their failed World Cup campaign as they take on India in two Tests, three One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals from August 3 to September 3.

SUEZ, Egypt (Reuters) - Experienced striker Wilfried Bony and midfielder Serey Die missed penalties in the shootout as Algeria sealed a 4-3 victory over the Ivory Coast following an entertaining 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final draw on Thursday.

Algeria will now meet Nigeria in the semi-finals at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday as they seek to end their long wait for continental success that stretches back to 1990.

Sofiane Feghouli put Algeria ahead in the first half, but they failed to increase that advantage when Baghdad Bounedjah missed a penalty early in the second period.

Ivory Coast striker Jonathan Kodjia equalised just past the hour mark, after which both sides created chances and had efforts cleared off the line, but were unable to be separated in 120 minutes.

Bony saw his weak penalty saved by Algerian goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi, before captain Die struck the post to sink the 2015 Nations Cup champions and see the North African side advance to just a second semi-final in 29 years.

Max Gradel’s curling 25yard shot was tipped onto the post by a diving M’Bolhi as the Ivorians served notice of their early attacking intent.

And it should have been 1-0 a few minutes later when the wizardry of Wilfried Zaha in the

box saw him fashion a low cross that was perfect for Kodjia, who missed the ball completely.

Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez fired wide at the other end, before they took the lead with a well-worked goal on 20 minutes.

Full back Ramy Bensebaini picked up the loose ball on the left-hand side of the box and laid on a perfect pass for Feghouli to score.

They could have made it 2-0 a minute into the second half when Ivory Coast goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo up-ended Bounedjah in the box, and after a consultation with the Video Assistant Referee, Bamlak Tessema Weyesa awarded the spot kick.

Bounedjah took the penalty himself, but fired over off the crossbar.

A few minutes later, Kodjia’s quick shot from a tight angle looped onto the woodwork, before the Aston Villa forward finally found the equaliser.

Set free by Zaha on the right, he cut inside and let fly from the edge of the box, his shot arrowing into the bottom corner of the net. It was a first goal conceded

by Algeria in the tournament.

Mahrez then managed to beat Gbohouo with his low shot, but Mamadou Bagayoko did brilliantly to clear off the line.

Ivorian Ismael Traore came closest to a winner in extra time when his scrambled shot from a corner was blocked on the line by Mehdi Zeffane.

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 12, 2019

Simply perfect England end 27-year final wait

By Simon Evans

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Cricket can be a game of some complexity and nuance but as England showed in their dismantling of Australia in Thursday’s World Cup semi-final, it can also be a remarkably straightforward sport.

Put simply, if your frontline pace bowlers are bang on the money and your opening batsmen are absolutely on fire, you aren’t going to lose many games in the one-day format.

Such simplicity is a little ironic given how much England have agonised over their World Cup record — they have not reached the final since 1992 and indeed had not won a knockout round match in the intervening 27 years.

In contrast, Australia have won four of the last five tournaments but there was no sign at all of those sharply contrasting pedigrees once play began at Edgbaston.

From the outset, England’s pace attack of Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer delivered exactly what their

Jason Roy

captain Eoin Morgan would have wanted from them — removing skipper Aaron Finch, David Warner and Peter Handscomb to reduce the Australians to 14-3 inside 37 balls.

They were quick and accurate and extracted the maximum possible movement out of the morning surface and although Steve Smith and Alex Carey were able to rebuild, Australia never truly recovered from that opening blitz.

“Today was close to a perfect performance, right from the two bowlers up front,” Morgan said.

“Chris Woakes and Jof-

Jofra Archer

ra Archer bowled a hell of a spell. They put pressure on with early wickets and allowed us to stay on the front foot.”

SENSIBLE START Then, chasing a lower than expected target of 224 to win, England’s opening batsmen Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow did exactly what was needed in such a situation — they batted aggressively but sensibly to reach 50 without loss at the 10-over mark.

By the time Australia broke through, with Bairstow trapped lbw by Mitchell Starc, England were over

half-way to their target with nearly 32 overs remaining.

“The first three or four overs was very intelligent batting. They absorbed a bit of pressure, saw that swing was going to be a little bit of a threat and the way they waited until the bowlers came into their areas to hurt them was very smart,” said Joe Root, who saw England through to victory with a brisk unbeaten 49 from 46 balls.

“Once we got off to a start we were able to put more pressure on them and then felt always ahead in the game,” he said.

Roy’s sublime strokeplay

First 50-over match..

Buxton Cricket Camps set to start on August 3

Windies A crash to 65-run defeat against India A Scoreboard R Gaikwad c Pierre b Jordan

3

S Gill c Chase b Shepherd

10

S Iyer run out

77

*M Pandey b Jordan

4

H Vihari b Cornwall

34

+I Kishan c Chase b Jordan

16

Axar Patel c Powell b Chase

17

W Sundar not out

10

D Chahar lbw b Chase

0

R Chahar c Powell b Chase

8

Khaleel Ahmed c Jordan b Chase

9

Extras (lb1, w1)

2

TOTAL (all out, 48.5 overs)

190

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-18, 3-22, 4-117, 5-134, 6-153, 7-167, 8-167, 9-177, 10-190.

Bowling: Shepherd 7-1-13-1, Jordan 101-43-3, Powell 3-0-16-0, Reifer 6-1-30-0, Cornwall 10-0-41-1, Pierre 6-0-27-0, Chase 6.5-0-19-4.

WEST INDIES A

Left-hander Jonathan Carter struck an unbeaten 41.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, ( CMC) – A familiar batting meltdown thwarted West Indies A’s pursuit of a modest total and sent them crashing to a disappointing 65-run loss to India A, in the opening 50-over clash here Thursday.

Chasing 191 for victory at Coolidge Cricket Ground, the hosts collapsed for 125 in the 36th over with left-hander Jonathan Carter hitting a defiant unbeaten 41 and Rovman Powell ham-

mering a breezy 41.

They were the only specialist batsmen to reach double figures and only two of three overall. Windies A were slumping at 30 for four in the 10th over before recovering to reach 95 without further loss.

And they looked to be regaining their composure when a second collapse followed, with the last six wickets falling TURN TO PAGE

36

►

J Campbell b Khaleel Ahmed

4

S Ambris lbw b D Chahar

0

+S Dowrich c wkp Kishan b Khaleel Ahmed

9

*R Chase c wkp Kishan b Khaleel Ahmed 7 J Carter not out

41

R Powell c Vihari b R Chahar

41

R Reifer b Sundar

1

R Cornwall c Khaleel Ahmed b R Chahar 0 R Shepherd c Pandey b Sundar

1

K Pierre c wkp Kishan b A Patel

1

A Jordan lbw b Axar Patel

0

Extras (lb1, w4, nb4) TOTAL (all out 125, 35.5 overs)

9 125

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-13, 3-18, 4-30, 5-95, 6-96, 7-97, 8-102, 9-125, 10-125.

Bowling: D Chahar 5-0-23-1, Khaleel Ahmed 8-1-6-3, R Chahar 7-0-32-2, Axar Patel 5.5-016-2, Sundar 10-1-37-2.

for his 85 and Woakes’s 3-20 were the two outstanding individual contributions but Adil Rashid’s leg spin delivered three wickets, including the stubborn Carey to break a 103-run partnership with Steve Smith.

To a man, England delivered when it mattered and the transformation of this team, after the debacle of four years ago has been astonishing.

England didn’t get out of the group in Australia and New Zealand - they won only two of their six games and were beaten by Bangladesh.

“It’s been a process for

the last four years. In 2015 we were way off the mark, we struggled against the top teams, and the teams that sat below that,” said Morgan.

“So there was quite a drastic change in the way we played and the way we looked at playing our 50over cricket.”

Not half.

Now comes the chance to be the first England team to win the World Cup and as the chants of “Cricket’s coming home” rang out, there was little doubt the public believe Morgan’s team can deliver.

Morgan, though, is keeping his feet on the ground, aware that New Zealand showed their quality with the impressive semi-final win over India at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

“I think New Zealand throughout the whole tournament has been probably the hardest side to beat and the best side in the group stages,” said Morgan.

“I think their performance in the semi-final was probably their best.

They will be a difficult side to beat on Sunday, so we are looking forward to it.”

THE Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ Cricket Club 14th annual two-week Cricket Camp will commence on August 3 from 09:30hrs at the Club’s ground on the East Coast of Demerara.

President of the Club, Esse Peters, indicated that the camp will facilitate approximately 40 youths, both males and females.

The camp caters for children between ages 7-19, and Peters explained the camp will facilitate participants from Buxton and villages in close proximity.

“The camp is not [to] make money, but to instil good values to the youths, and keep them away from doing the wrong things when they have so much free time, now school is closed,” Peters explained.

He informed that sponsorship has covered most of the cost, which he views as part of community service. Meals for camp for the week will cost $144,000 and Peters is hoping to acquire sponsorship to cover that cost.

Sessions will include technical, practical, physical and off- field activities from 09:30hrs to 15:00hrs daily. Facilitators will soon be identified for daily sessions but

Essie Peters

former Guyana and Berbice Senior Inter-County off-spinner, Sean Devers, has made a commitment to help as a bowling Coach.

The club was founded in 1992 and played in tape-ball competitions before being officially launched as the Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ Club in 2002 when Hooper was appointed West Indies captain.

Peters added that registration is free. The Buxton Club is one of the strongest cricket teams on the East Coast and has produced former National Under-19 all-rounder Clive Andries.

Rampant England end Australia’s title defence to roar into final

Leo Romalho wins latest GuyanaNRA Record Shoot

‌new World Cup champions to be crowned on Sunday 35 PAGE

Joe Root celebrates the winning runs // Getty Images

Luberfiner filters for all podium finishers at second GMR&SC National Race of Champions 35 L PAGE

Shan Seejattan displays a chequered flag in his Luberfiner-sponsored Honda Civic (Ackeem Thomas Photo)

LEO Romalho

EO Romalho with an aggregate of 118 points and 6 V-bulls, won the latest round of the Guyana National Rifle Association Record Shoot held on Sunday last at the Timehri Rifle Range, Yarrowkabra, Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

Romalho was one of two shooters who recorded possibles on the day, both at the 600 yards range; he shot 35.3 with Peter Persaud, who has been turning in good scores consistently, topping Romalho by a single V-bull, having also shot a possible.

At 300 yards, Romalho had a score of 49.1 with his 34.2 at the 500 yards range propelling him to an Aggregate scorer for the day of 118.6, just two off a perfect score for the day.

Persaud (2nd overall) won the 300 range with a score of 49.3 while Lennox Braithwaite (3rd overall) topped the 500 yards range with 34.3, one V-bull better than Roberto Tiwari.

Dane Blair was the lone O-Class shooter on the day and he recorded an aggregate score of 101.2.

Following are the full scores for the day: Name 300 500 600 Aggregate Leo Romalho 49.1 34.2 35.3 118.6 Peter Persaud 49.3 32.3 35.4 116.10 Lennox Braithwaite 48.2 34.3 33.4 115.9 Dylan Fields 45.3 32.3 32.3 109.9 Ransford Goodluck 46.2 30.1 32.2 108.5 Roberto Tewari 44.1 34.2 30 108.3 O Class Dane Blair 41.2 31 29 101.2

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2019