Guyana Chronicle Epaper 07 14 2019

14th July, 2019

Gov’t

No.105698

Continues

… accepts ‘interim’ status

… but retains full panoply of legal powers See Stories on Page 03

President David Granger

No relief for Jagdeo PAGE

09

…CCJ rejects September 18 election date proposal Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo

… refused to entertain ordering appointment of GECOM chair in one week

WPA mocks PPP false 14 ‘victory lap’ PAGE

… applauds CCJ for not bowing to pressures

WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds

18 Two dead several injured in Soesdyke smash-up PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

President prepared to appoint GECOM chair tomorrow … as pressure mounts on Jagdeo to submit list, negotiates in good faith

As the stalemate continues over the appointment of a chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) President David Granger has assured that he is prepared to name someone as early as tomorrow if the Leader of the Opposition submits a list of six candidates not unac-

ceptable to him and also negotiates in good faith.

The President gave this assurance during an address to the nation on Friday following the Caribbean Court of Justice handing down of the consequential orders flowing from the no confidence motion and the quashing of the appointment of the

chairman of GECOM. Full text of His Excellency Brigadier David Granger’s address follows: Guyanese, the Constitution of Guyana is sacrosanct and supreme. The independence of the judiciary remains intact and

President David Granger the Elections Commission remains independent. The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has now concluded its deliberations and has issued its Consequential Orders on the consolidated cases related to the appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission and the passage of the No-Confidence Motion.

The Court has noted that, of the greatest public importance, the President and the Leader of the Op-

position should conclude the process of appointing a new GECOM Chairman.

The President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, stated that this is imperative and of utmost urgency. I agree. I have committed since 21st December 2018 to the holding of free and fair elections.

Credible elections are essential to representative democracy. The credibility of the elections is dependent, in part, on the integrity of the Official List of Electors. I maintain that a contaminated list can vitiate the credibility of elections. Guyanese, I met the Leader of the Opposition on 4th July in good faith.

We discussed the process by which the nomination of persons would be submitted to me for the post of GECOM Chairman.

Representatives of both the Government and the Opposition have met three times this week. However, that good faith has not been reciprocated by the Leader of the Opposition.

It was my hope that the two sides would have been able to “hammer out” the list of six nominees in accordance with the CCJ guidelines. It is unfortunate that, despite the meetings between the two sides, the Leader of the Opposition rejected the idea of acting in a consensual manner. He chose to put forward candidates for

the post who have been rejected previously.

Guyanese, it is clear that elections have to be held in the shortest possible time and, therefore, it is crucial to appoint a chairman of the Elections Commission. This could be done as early as Monday if the Opposition is prepared to act in a consensual manner and in good faith.

GECOM and not the Executive is in charge of the elections. GECOM has to advise the President on its readiness to conduct elections. I commit to the holding of credible elections in the shortest possible time. Guyanese, I will devote all my energies until the forthcoming election to serving our people and our country and to delivering good governance.

We live in a country that is moving forward; with an economy that is more resilient - providing better jobs; communities that are safer; in a society that has better infrastructure, greater access to quality education and that is more cohesive.

Guyanese, we are on the right path.

I urge all our people, of whatever background when the election comes, to back myself, and the coalition to secure a better future for Guyana.

May God bless you all.

Gov’t Continues 3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

… says accepts ‘interim’ status, will address urgent issues in public interest

THE Government of Guyana on Saturday said it has welcomed the Consequential Orders issued by President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Adrian Saunders, on Friday even as it emphasises that Cabinet has not stopped functioning and government must continue to provide public services.

Government also agrees with the Court that it is of greatest importance that the President and the Leader of the Opposition conclude the process of appointing a new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

“The Government accepts that it is an ‘interim’ government but emphasises that Cabinet has not stopped functioning and government must continue to provide public services. The Constitution of Guyana at Article 106 (7) states that, notwithstanding its defeat in the National

Assembly, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election,” government said in a statement on Saturday issued by the Ministry of the Presidency.

The Government and Opposition have met three times in the past week to “hammer out” the list of six nominees in accordance with the CCJ guidelines.

According to the government, the process has not yet been completed and the administration intends to continue to approach the matter in a consensual manner, as stipulated by the CCJ. “The Government is confident that a GECOM Chairman could be appointed in a few days’ time. The Government contends that the appointment of a Chairman of the Elections Commission is an important step in continuing the elections process which has already begun.”

Meanwhile, government has reiterated its commitment to holding credible

elections in the shortest possible time, noting that the Elections Commission is responsible for holding elections and not the Executive. “GECOM, therefore, has to advise the President of its readiness to conduct elections. The Government maintains that credible elections are the hallmark of a democratic state. Credible elections are dependent on, in part, the integrity of the Official List of Electors.”

Government said, too, that it will comply with the orders issued by the CCJ that during this ‘interim’ period, it will restrain the exercise of its legal authority. “This means that, while the government will continue its routine management of the country, it will also address urgent issues that are in the public interest.

It is also prepared to consult with the Opposition on matters which require the agreement of both sides.”

President David Granger

Gov’t retains full panoply of legal powers – AG says CCJ ruling great victory for Guyana constitutional democracy ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams said though the Government is now in an interim mode, in accordance with the declarations of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), it retains its full panoply of legal powers.

In an interview on Saturday, the Attorney General, while reiterating that the President David Granger Administration respects the declarations and orders of the Court, said Government accepts that it is now operating in an interim mode until a President is sworn in following the conduct of elections.

He explained, however, that while the CCJ declared that the Administration is now in an “interim mode,” it did not specify what “an interim government” is. The country’s constitution, he said, does not address the notion of an interim government. In its ruling the CCJ President Adrian Saunders explained that in mandating that the Government remains in office notwithstanding its defeat and the resignation of the President and the Cabinet, Article 106 requires that Cabinet’s tenure in office be on a different footing from that which existed before the No-Confidence Motion. He posited that the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, in citing Hogg – the Canadian Constitutional expert, was right to note that: “…the government continues in office as an interim government until the next elections ensue and a President is appointed (or reappointed) depending on the results of that elections.”

Justice Saunders told the parties in the matter, “by convention, the government is expected to behave as an interim government and so restrain the exercise of its legal au-

thority.” He added: “It is this interim role that explains the three-month deadline, in the first instance that the Article lays down, in principle, for the holding of the fresh elections.”

Williams said the Administration has now turned to the work of Hogg in keeping with the advice of the judiciary. “On a proper perusal of the book, they say clearly that the Government retains it panoply of powers,” the Attorney General said while underscoring the importance of governing the country. He posited that to strip the Government of its legal powers would be a recipe for anarchy. “In Guyana we have to continue govern, lest we are overrun by narco traffickers, those who are trafficking persons, of course because of the porosity of our borders,” Williams reasoned.

With Guyana preparing for the Fourth Round of Mutual Evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and by extension the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), he said it is imperative to guide the country as it cracks down on money laundering and other serious crimes. “There cannot be a lapse in government when you are threatened with such serious transnational crimes, and of course we have a border controversy,” the Attorney General added while emphasising the importance of being on guard.

As stated by the Constitution, the AG said Government remains in Government until the next election is held. “The Government needs to be there to continue to government, you must have law and order; but of course the Government is primarily there to offer and deliver services to the public as a whole,” Williams further clarified.

The Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo,

footing from that which existed before the No-Confidence Motion.

Williams said it is clear from the declarations of the Court that the President and Cabinet will continue in Government until a President is sworn in following elections.

He noted too that that the Opposition Leader also asked for coercive orders, instructing the President to name an elections date, but again the Court did not heed to that request. “The court in effect was saying that they couldn’t give a coercive order or give detailed directives to these constitutional actors because the rule is outlined in the Constitution, and our Constitution is the supreme law of the land,” the AG said.

He reminded that Guyana’s Constitution was a result of a referendum in 1980 which gives GECOM the exclusive remit to conduct elections and national registration in the country. “It was a very important decision by the CCJ because it reinforces the doctrine of the separation of powers, that is between the President and Cabinet, the Judiciary and the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Legislature, and you know the doctrine is, none should trample on the other, or interfere Affairs, Basil Williams with the other,” the AG reasoned. through his attorneys Senior Counsel Douglas The Court did not set a set a timeline for Mendes and Anil Nandlall, had asked the CCJ the appointment of a Chairman of the Guyana to order that Cabinet including the President Elections Commission (GECOM), but urged and his Ministers should resigned but such the parties to make appointment of GECOM an order was not granted. President of the chair a matter of greatest public importance.

CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, delivering the The Opposition had urged the court to set orders, explained that in mandating that the rigid timelines but this was overturned.

Government remains in office notwithstandThe Attorney General said the declaing its defeat and the resignation of the Presi- rations and orders of the CCJ are a great dent and the Cabinet, Article 106 requires that victory for the country’s constitutional Cabinet’s tenure in office be on a different democracy.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, July 14, 2019

Iranian oil tanker could be released ‘with guarantees’ Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said the Iranian tanker detained by Royal Marines near Gibraltar could be released, if the UK is guaranteed the oil is not bound for Syria.

The tanker, seized on 4 July, was suspected of breaking EU sanctions.

Iran claimed the seizure was "piracy". Iranian ships later tried to impede a British tanker, the UK claimed.

After "constructive" talks

with Tehran, Mr Hunt said he was encouraged Iran has no desire to escalate the situation.

He said he reassured Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that "our concern has always been destination, not origin of the oil" and that the UK would facilitate release "if we received sufficient guarantees that it would not be going to Syria".

He added that Mr Zarif

The oil tanker was suspected of carrying crude oil to Syria

wants to resolve the issue and was "not seeking to escalate".

A team of about 30 British Royal Marines were flown from the UK to Gibraltar to help detain the super tanker and its cargo, at the request of

the Gibraltar government, the BBC was told.

Authorities said there was reason to believe the Iranian tanker Grace 1 was carrying crude oil to the Baniyas Refinery in Syria.

The refinery is subject to European Union sanctions

SUNDAY July 14, 2019 - 03:00hrs ~ 04:30hrs

against Syria.

Iran denied the tanker was bound for Syria and threatened to seize a British oil tanker in retaliation.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi called the actions a "form of piracy" and called for the ship to be immediately released and allowed to continue its journey.

Iran summoned the British ambassador in Tehran, Robert Macaire, to complain about what it called the "illegal seizure".

Mr Mousavi added that "the move indicated that the UK follows the hostile policies of the US, which is unac-

ceptable for the Iranian nation and government".

Iran has since reiterated calls for the tanker to be released.

Last week, an Iranian official, speaking to state news agency IRNA, warned the UK not to get involved in "this dangerous game".

On 9 July, the UK raised the threat to British shipping in Iranian waters in the Gulf to "critical" - the highest level.

A day later, Iranian boats attempted to impede a British oil tanker in the region, before being warned off by a Royal Navy ship, according to the MoD. Boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz.

HMS Montrose, a British frigate shadowing the BPowned tanker, was forced to move between the three boats and the ship, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

Iran denied any attempted seizure, with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif quoted as saying the UK made the claims "for creating tension". (BBC)

Saturday July 13, 2019

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July 12, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, July 14, 2019

Farewell to ‘a titan of the free press’

When plainclothes policemen came to the Buenos Aires Herald's office brandishing machine guns, the newspaper's staff knew they were coming.

It was 22 October 1975 and the police were looking for the small Argentine newspaper's news editor, Andrew Graham-Yooll.

A visit from armed police would normally have meant certain death, but the office had been tipped off in advance, and someone had already been able to get word out to a lawyer and to overseas news agencies, meaning the raid was on the record.

The staff kept calm and let the men in leather jackets

storm around the office, waving their weapons around and making a show of destroying Graham-Yooll's files from 10 years in the job. He was in their sights because he had attended press conferences for a guerrilla group. This made him a terrorist suspect, they said.

At the time, the military was tightening its grip on the country and was months away from claiming power in a coup.

Anyone considered remotely subversive was being "disappeared" - kidnapped and then jailed or murdered.

Graham-Yooll was briefly whisked away in an unmarked car with his editor, Robert Cox, who had insisted on accom-

panying him. The pair later recalled how they were taken to a police department and held in a cell, where music from a full-volume radio could not block out the sounds of people screaming as they were tortured in the basement.

Eventually, they were both allowed to leave.

That same week, the Buenos Aires Herald's small team did what it always did during that period. It refused to be intimidated into silence and told its readers what had happened, with a satirical column entitled "Wot, no tanks?"

Cox and Graham-Yooll went back to their desks. They had an enormous job to do.

Andrew Graham-Yooll was born in Argentina to British parents and always straddled both cultures

People were disappearing across the country and their newspaper was the only outlet in the country consistently reporting on it.

When Andrew Graham-Yooll died suddenly in London on 6 July, aged 75, Argentina mourned.

"It is not often when a journalist dies here that their death is on the front page across all major news sites," says James Grainger, editor of the BA Times, a new publication where Graham-Yooll had recently been a columnist. "He was a titan."Years earlier, an Argentine news magazine had chosen him as its cover star, dubbing him "one of the bravest journalists of the 1970s". The photograph

shows him stroking his white beard and pointing an accusatory finger at the camera. In reality, he was far less intimidating, with a husky laugh and a humble view of his legacy.

A prolific reporter, historian and poet, he went on to write numerous books, including A State of Fear (1985), which is considered one of the most valuable accounts of the dictatorship.

Yet Andrew was best known for his time at the Buenos Aires Herald, which as a small-circulation newspaper published in English in a Spanish-speaking country, became an unlikely major player in Argentine history.

(BBC)

Brazil's President Bolsonaro offers US ambassador job to son gressman and advises his father on foreign affairs, told reporters he would accept the post if it were offered.

The position of ambassador has been vacant since April.

Mr Bolsonaro was elected last year after a successful campaign he said had been inspired

by Donald Trump. Eduardo would have to resign as a congressman if he did take up the position of ambassador.

Eduardo (L), the third son of Mr Bolsonaro (R), has a strong influence on his father

Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right president of Brazil, has invited his son to become ambassador

to the US. Eduardo Bolsonaro, 35, who is currently serving as a con-

The appointment hinges on his son accepting the position, the president said "I don't want to decide his future for him if the legislation says he has to renounce his position," Mr Bolsonaro was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

Eduardo Bolsonaro has been dubbed Brazil's "shadow foreign minister" at the Brazilian foreign ministry

because of the strong influence he has on his father's foreign policy ideas, BBC Americas editor Candace Piette reports.

Both the president and his son have a pro-US stance, break-

ing with Brazil's traditionally more cautious position, and Eduardo is openly pro-Israeli, whereas in the past Brazil has been careful not to offend Arab nations. (BBC)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, July 14, 2019

Guyana’s constitution upheld THERE was never a doubt that the Caribbean Court of Justice(CCJ) ever intended to insert itself in the political affairs of the sovereign state, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, whether by design, its own unintended efforts, or through the wily plans of others.

It was evident, too, that the distinguished court understood the dynamics of the Guyana political milieu and of the treacherous contrivances that would have caused the particular judicial issues that arose out of the former, to be its pre-occupation, and which it had been asked to decide.

It constituted a challenge of understanding that its sole remit had to be specially confined to that of the judicial question, ensuring adherence to the Rule of Law; while at the same time realising the extant external challenges to this recognizance, which must be solved through consensus, by only the nation’s principal political actors.

One should perhaps be reminded of its decision to

request both parties to arrive at consensus before shaping its eventual Consequential Orders. This meant ensuring that it placed itself at a very safe protective distance, away from the deliberate attempts by those who had sought to inveigle it into the domain of the inner sanctum of the nation’s political affairs, almost demanding that its orders be coercive.

Friday’s decision from the Court issuing the Consequential Orders was a clear demonstration that the Court understood its judicial functions in an unambiguous manner and stuck to the letter and spirit of that which is the sin qua non of every proper, independent Judiciary.

At best, its Consequential Orders upheld our constitution, for it explicitly recognised the sole authority of the President for deciding on a date for national and regional elections, the dissolution of parliament, and the constitutional fact of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), being the sole constitutional adviser

on the preparations and readiness for the critical aspect of national democracy. The orders have therefore upheld the sanctity of the national constitution.

But one must understand the nature of these consequential orders, in that they were not coercive, as the Leader of the PPP/C Opposition had hoped them to be, even going to the very extreme of what were clearly demands, through his counsel, in seeking to bully a September election date, and the time period for appointment of a chairperson to GECOM. The Court’s obvious rejection to these requests, presumptuous in every way, must serve as a shameful rebuke to a political leader whose ploy was clearly of a convenient nature, and a display of both political convenience and grandstanding, designed to sustain the expectations of his party supporters. But at best, it also cruelly exposed the well-known, unabated hypocritical brand of the PPP/C leader, who, as a former president, is well

aware that those orders which he asked for, and did not receive, could not have been conceivably been granted by any court, since it would have constituted a grave case of judicial intrusion or overreach.

It was political dishonesty in all its conception.

Thus, we must ask how could “Jubilant Jagdeo lauds forceful CCJ ruling”, which cannot be described as such, as they are not coercive – a view expressed by one of his counsel, expressing his disappointment that the court’s ruling fell short of his expectations; and which contradicts his client, Jagdeo. Jagdeo, by saying that “In its ruling, [the CCJ] preserves something essential in a democratic society ... the separation of powers. A cardinal principle of modern democracy is that the judiciary and the executive have certain powers that are separate from each other and that there must not be interference [of] one branch into the other”. This constitutes, yet again, another naked example of Jagdeo’s hypocrisy, since his very de-

mands of the CCJ contradicts his quote. He was simply asking the CCJ to make political decisions for Guyana.

It does not need a political analyst to understand, that given the CCJ’s earlier advice, that consensus must be the route towards arriving at this important choice for the next appointment of a GECOM chairperson. It means rising above selfish and dangerous, personal and petty political ambitions, and devoting oneself to country and people. It is a task which the President has taken the expeditious responsibility to lead as Executive, as he reminded the nation, in his recent address to the nation.

It is a call, which he has made to Jagdeo, which equally the leader of the opposition must answer since his office has enshrined constitutional responsibilities, which he is duty-bound to carry out.

We do not interpret the CCJ’s orders as a “victory” for any section of this nation, as exulted by Jagdeo. Instead, we view the Court’s admonition of a consensual ap-

proach, as opening the door for the broader opportunity of laying the groundwork for a pathway towards further dialogue for the coveted goal of national unity. It is a signpost that inevitably comes into national view, at moments such as these in our history. It should be ongoing, irrespective as to the national political environment, as President Granger recognised when he came to the presidency in 2015, by inviting the leader of the opposition to unity exploration talks. But it is an endeavour that always must be, given the fractious nature of our politics.

For Jagdeo, who now speaks of “victory’’ on a purely partisan basis, must be reminded that the real victory will be when all Guyana can sit around the national table, in peace and harmony, with an unfettered understanding, participating in an equal manner in the feast of the national patrimony. That moment, and onwards, will be our real victory.

Not working for a united Guyana Dear Editor ONE ought not to be surprised by Director-General Joseph Harmon’s statement during a recent press conference, in which he accused opposition leader Bharat Jagdeo, of “deceit.’’

Of course he is right, for this has been one of the prime characteristics of this politician, whose daily track record since his party became the parliamentary opposition, has been one of unending deceit, naked lies, and dangerous misinformation with a view

to controlling his party’s support base, in addition to controlling the national political narrative.

Editor, Jagdeo has written a new manual for a different kind of opposition leader – one that does not fit within the known traditional order.

It is quite clear that Jagdeo does not intend, as asked for by the CCJ, any kind of consensual approach at this most challenging time of our political existence as a nation.

He is one of the PPP/C leaders who still believe that it is the right of his party to behave like a big bad po-

litical bully, getting what he demands every time he raises his voice, because his party has the numbers – they did not have them in 2011, or 2015, and will not again, whenever forthcoming elections are held.

It is certain that the nation must have been very surprised, if not shocked, when the very next day after the initial meeting with President David Granger and his team, Jagdeo took to picketing the MoTP, demanding early elections.

Was this action necessary, on a very delicate man-

ner that calls for careful discussions to lead to a list that gives the president enough space for choice as to the best suitable person? Such a tactic, usual for some politicians, will yield no proper and rational result. It is self-defeating, since it is a signal of bad faith, and an attempt at being a “spoiler.”

But editor, the question is immediate: how can he be demanding such immediate elections when there is no chairman appointed to GECOM at this time, and which, from all the available evidence, he is seeking to

frustrate by disputing the President’s role in the listing process of eligible persons for this critical post. This can only have been a ploy, designed to send negative signals to the CCJ, and even an attempt to influence its consequential orders, given yesterday which obviously have left Jagdeo and his opposition party very disappointed, if one were to follow the post-orders remarks by one of Jagdeo’s attorneys, Sanjeev Datadin.

Such attitudes of deception and bullyism, as are some of the known

behavioural constants of Jagdeo, have not led to any positive in his posture as a leader, particularly since 2015. He has certainly become a tragedy for this country, wilfully continuing to derail all opportunities for working together consensually for a unified Guyana.

Regards Earl Hamilton

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, July 14, 2019

PPP GECOM commissioners issue contempt threat to chief elections officer Dear Editors;

NOW that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has, subsequent to its judgments rendered on 18 June, 2019, made deliberate and specific declarations and orders – inter alia: “….. 9. e) The National Assembly properly passed a motion of no-confidence in the government on 21 December, 2018; f) Upon the passage of

this motion of no-confidence, the clear provisions of Article 106 immediately become engaged”; it is now the only imperative to abide with the provisions of the Constitution and its statutory provisions related thereto.

For the avoidance of any doubt, the CCJ in its Judgment at (5) stated: “The Guyana Elections Commission (“GECOM”) has the responsibility to conduct that election and

GECOM too must abide by the provisions of the Constitution.”

Consistent with the orders of the CCJ, GECOM must immediately start preparations for elections and its Chief Election Officer Lowenfield must ensure this in accordance with his statutory functions. Naturally, any official of GECOM who does anything inconsistent with the CCJ’s orders would be in gross contempt of the

LJP urges political maturity Dear Editor THE Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) welcomes the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final arbiter in the matter concerning the no-confidence motion passed on December 21, 2018 and the various Articles of the Constitution of Guyana that were triggered therefrom.

Our position is not to disagree or to agree with the ruling, nor deliberate on the essence of the deliberation today, as they are pellucid.

We are of the view that it

would serve the best interest of our nation to accept the consequential orders as they are clearly outlined in line with the Constitution of Guyana and find a path forward.

The LJP is of the firm belief that the solution rests clearly in the political maturity of the parties to act in a manner that best represents the interests of Guyana and Guyanese and not to divert on a path that perverts the spirit, essence and letter of the Constitution.

In light of the difficulties of the President to accept the nominated persons from the

Leader of the Opposition, the LJP recommends that a better approach be reached outside of geographical Guyana to obtain the objective and restore trust in the electorate.

We look forward to elections at the time mandated by the Constitution of Guyana under Article 106 (7) and that appropriate steps are taken to safeguard the franchise of every Guyanese apolitically.

Regards Liberty and Justice Party

Leaders must act in the interest of free, fair and credible elections Dear Editor: THE CCJ in its consequential orders has challenged Guyana's political leaders to act in accordance with the Constitution and within the requirements of what it has ruled to be a valid

NCM. Our leaders must act at this stage, not in the interest of winning the next election, but in the interest of a free, fair and credible election in the shortest possible time.

After putting in place arrangements for a credible

election, their political campaigns must be designed to win the next election. It is their political campaigns, not the electoral process that must be designed to win elections.

Regards Wesley Kirton

said orders and the Constitution and would thereby attract the appropriate sanctions.

We, therefore, join the call for the proper observance of the rule of

law and declare that we stand ready, as always, to fully support the implementation of constitutionally democratic processes as is required for all of GECOM’s ac-

tivities.

Regards GECOM Commissioners: Bibi Shadick Sase Gunraj Robeson Benn

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

ONLY GUYANA CAN FIX TIMING OF ELECTIONS THE Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has affirmed Guyana’s sovereign right to fix a date for elections, which would make Friday, July 12, 2019 a day that I would remember as “Judicial Sovereignty Day.” The court rightly rejected the invitation from the Opposition to usurp the powers which the Guyana Constitution “invests in the President and the National Assembly (and implicitly in GECOM), responsibilities that impact on the precise time of the elections which must be held”.

NO WINNERS OR LOSERS While I would rather not see winners and losers in what one lawyer described as a “war” over interpretation of our Constitution following passage of the no- confidence motion against the Guyana Government, it became evident that the Opposition didn’t get the result that it had wanted.

It wanted the CCJ to fix a date for new elections, which it erroneously touted to be on or by September 18, 2019 – just above two months away. But in his erudite but measured judgment, Justice Adrian Saunders declared: “It is not, for example, the role of the Court to establish

a date on or by which the elections must be held, or to lay down timelines and deadlines that, in principle, are the preserve of political actors guided by constitutional imperatives.”

The CCJ President declared with purposive authority that the Court would not instruct the President, the National Assembly and GECOM “on how they must act.”

His Lordship stated that while an election should be held within three months of the valid passage of a no-confidence motion, or such longer period as the National Assembly could determine, he unequivocally affirmed that “(T) he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has the responsibility to conduct that election.”

GECOM HEADLESS But as I write, the Elections Commission, which is charged by the

Constitution with the responsibility of holding elections, is headless.

Reminiscent of the use during medieval times of the guillotine, the head of the last Chairman fell at the behest of the Opposition that successfully canvassed that the process by which he had been appointed was flawed.

No new chairman has been appointed. The Opposition Leader is yet to submit a list of six persons not unacceptable to the President from among whom one could be appointed.

Under directives from the CCJ, the Government and Opposition were engaged in hammering out nominees who are eligible for appointment, but it appears that that process was stalled.

The CCJ has advised on a consensual approach that would give the president a role in the identification of nominees, but the Opposition might be walking back on the undertaking that the President could suggest or submit names.

CONSENSUAL

APPROACH When the Guyanese leaders embarked on that “consensual approach” the CCJ must have felt vindicated that the recommended process could work, and that the President and the Leader of the Opposition could conclude the process of appointing a new GECOM Chairman, which it sees as “a matter of the greatest public importance.”

President Granger wants this process to conclude by tomorrow, and it is hoped that this could happen soonest after the Leader of Opposition formally submits a list consisting of six nominees who are not unacceptable to the President.

It is only after the commission is properly composed, and begins to function that any movement towards fresh elections would have meaning.

It is the Elections Commission that has to ensure that there is a credible voters list, and it has to present to the President a work plan with a time-frame within which the list could be verified.

CREDIBLE ELECTIONS In his third broadcast to the nation within the past 10 days, the President stressed: “GECOM has to advise the President on its readiness to conduct elections…The credibility of the elections is dependent, in part, on the integrity of the Official List of Electors.

I maintain that a contaminated list can vitiate the credibility of elections.”

At the heart of the refusal of the Court to intermingle in the electoral process, is the belief that the Guyanese political actors could deliver free, fair and credible elections in Guyana. By throwing the electoral ball back to these players, the CCJ has opened wide the doors in Guyana for parliamentary, representative and participatory democracy. It would require astute leadership in this period to keep these doors open.

The CCJ has now put finality to the judicial processes, and has vested confidence in our national leaders and our institutions to do what is right. In affirmation of our sovereignty, Justice Saunders stated: “Due observance of constitutional democracy and the rule of law in Guyana rests, in large measure, with the conduct of the various branches of government, that is, the President and the Cabinet, the Parliament and the Judiciary.

All must be faithful to the spirit and letter of the Constitution and operate within the parameters given to each by the Constitution.”

CALM AND CONFIDENCE If any thing could be said about the past seven months, one thing stands out as truthful, that is, Guyana has navigated the perilous political and constitutional waters with

calm and confidence.

The coalition government in the interim between the no-confidence vote and the final pronouncements by the Court has carried out its routine functions in the public interest without excesses or arbitrariness, and has engaged the parliamentary opposition on the way forward.

It is expected that parliament could determine by a motion how soon elections can be held, after the re-constituted GECOM provides a timeframe for preparation of a voters list. There is no need for political one-upmanship, as any positive outcome would give a clear message that our political leaders could find common ground in the national interest, and could cooperate and work together.

It should be expected that some detractors would impute betrayal in the face of unreasonable expectations that elections should be held within the next 60 days, and that the Court did not so rule. If it did, there would have been charges of “judicial over-reach.”

In the end, our judiciary has asserted its independence, in spite of occasional criticisms.

This is to be expected, as Lord Atkin admonished, “Justice is not a cloistered virtue. She must be allowed to suffer the scrutiny and respectful, even if outspoken, comments of ordinary men.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

No relief for Jagdeo … CCJ rejects September 18 election date proposal

… refused to entertain ordering appointment of GECOM chair in one week … ignores submission for use of old voters’ list

By Svetlana Marshall DESPITE hailing the consequential orders handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Friday as a victory, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo actually got none of the reliefs he sought in his proposals to the court with even one of the lawyers in his team dubbing the orders as disappointing.

Through his attorneys, Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes and Anil Nandlall, the Opposition Leader, in his submission, had asked the CCJ to order that elections be held within three months from June 18, 2019 – the day that the Court validated the December 21 vote of No-Confidence against the Government. In other words, he wanted elections to be held by September 18, 2019, but the CCJ, in upholding the submission of Attorney General Basil Williams, ruled that only the President, the National Assembly, and implicitly the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) can set timelines and a date for elections.

The President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, in handing down those consequential orders on Friday, said the Court lacks the power to set a timeline or day for the holding of elections, explaining that the Constitution places that power in the ‘hands’ of the President, the National Assembly, and indirectly GECOM. In ‘rejecting’ the submission of the Opposi-

Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, holding a copy of the consequential orders delivered by the CCJ tion Leader, the Court said it that the no-confidence motion simply cannot issue coercive was validly passed as long orders or detailed directives ago as 21 December 2018,” dictating how the President Justice Saunders explained. and the National A-ssembly Article 106 (7) of the should act.

Constitution said notwith“It is not, for example, the standing its defeat, the role of the Court to establish Government must remain a date on or by which the in office, and hold an elecelections must be held, or to tion within three months, or lay down timelines and dead- during an extended period lines that, in principle, are the approved by two-thirds of the preserve of political actors National Assembly. guided by constitutional imJustice Saunders said it peratives. The Court must is now the responsibility of assume that these bodies and the constitutional actors in personages will exercise their Guyana to honour the letter responsibilities with integrity and spirit of the Constitution. and in keeping with the un- Though the Elections Comambiguous provisions of the mission has indicated that it Constitution, bearing in mind is not in a position to facili-

tate credible elections before December 25 due to the fact that House-to-House Registration is now required due to expiration of the Official List of Electors, the Opposition Leader maintains that the Parliamentary Opposition – the People’s Progress Party Civic (PPP/C)-- will not return to the House, in total defiance of the Constitution.

The Opposition Leader did not stop at date for elections, but submitted to the Court that it was not necessary for the Elections Commission to proceed with House-to-House Registration – a process that results in a fresh and credible List of Electors. According to him, the expired list can be used. “…It is respectfully submitted that in order so far as possible to ensure compliance with the constitutional mandate to hold an election no later than March, 2019, the election which must now be held, ought to [be] ordered to be held on the basis of the Official List of Electors in existence on March 21, 2019,” Jagdeo submitted. But by virtue of its decision that only the President, the National Assembly and GECOM can set out a timeline for hosting of elections, the CCJ has also rejected that line of argument by the Opposition Leader and his battery of lawyers.

In the case of Zulfikar Mustapha v The Attorney General, in which the process of appointing Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson was deemed flawed, Jagdeo said now that the post of Chairman of

GECOM is vacant, the CCJ must order both him and President David Granger to ensure the expeditious appointment of a replacement Chairman.

He, therefore, asked the court to set a strict timeline for the appointment of a new Chairman of the Elections.

Jagdeo, through his lawyers, submitted that the CCJ should order the President and the Leader of the Opposition to communicate with each other in good faith, not excluding meeting face to face, with a view to agreeing to a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, within one week of the date of handing down the consequential orders. But the CCJ did not set any guideline in that regard.

Instead, the CCJ said the need to issue consequential orders and directions, in the case of Zulfikar Mustapha v The Attorney General, has been rendered largely unnecessary because the GECOM Chairman voluntarily resigned his office subsequent to the decision.

“It is now a matter of the greatest public importance that the President and the Leader of the Opposition should, as soon as possible, embark upon and conclude the process of appointing a new GECOM Chairman.

This imperative is now of the utmost urgency in light of our decision in the no-confidence motion cases that the motion was validly passed thereby triggering the need for fresh general elections,” Justice

President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders Saunders said.

Moments after the delivery of the consequential Orders by the Trinidad-based CCJ, Attorney Sanjeev Datadin, who represented recalled Member of Parliament, Charrandass Persaud, and endorsed the submissions of the Opposition Leader, said the orders were disappointing. “It was certainly not the ruling that we were looking for. The court has left a lot out,” Datadin told reporters outside of the appellate Court. According to him, the Court has the power to give clear directions on the holding of elections.

“Certainly, it is a position where you won the battle but you lost the war because the Court has not done what it should have done in terms of laying clear guidelines,” the Attorney declared.

Current situation demands mature leadership –– Ethnic Relations Commission THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has called on the political leadership of Guyana to meaningfully engage each other to derive the much desired and mutually agreed solutions so as to break the current impasse.

The ERC made the call in light of the July 12, 2019, rulings and consequential orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the appointment

of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the December 21, 2018, no-confidence vote.

According to the commission, in light of the rulings and consequential orders, it is clear that a political solution has to be found.

“Therefore, in the best interest of our dear nation and its people, the ERC urges the political leadership to mean-

ingfully engage each other to derive the much desired and mutually agreed solutions so as to break the current impasse.

“It is imperative this be done soonest in an atmosphere of respect with unfettered determination by all parties involved to put the welfare of Guyana and Guyanese above any semblance of partisanship,” the ERC said in a

statement.

The commission said while the situation is not devoid of challenges to both sides of the political divide, Guyanese have and continue to be resolute in carving necessary ways and means to overcome hurdles encountered.

The lessons therein, it said, are invaluable, and as such, remains optimistic that with magnanimity and the placement of the nation’s welfare foremost, the current

political situation would be resolved.

The ERC, like all Guyanese, is heartened when both sides engage each other in search of a way forward. Success, through the efforts of working together, therefore, becomes the only option, the commission said.

“The situation is apt for a demonstration of willingness from both sides to genuinely work together in pursuit of a common national goal. It

also affords the opportunity to show and convince that Guyana, through its entrusted political leadership, can deliver that common desire by resolving issues amicably.

That will undoubtedly precipitate a positive impact for harmony and good relations among our Guyanese brothers and sisters, not the least, the political leadership in which we repose our confidence,” the release concluded.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

Understanding Energy

Material Costs

THE different components of offshore oil development pose numerous technical challenges and require top-class engineering capabilities. Platforms and production vessels must be able to drill for, produce and process oil and gas in challenging conditions.

These projects operate in water that is thousands of metres deep, often hundreds of kilometres from shore and immediate logistical support. The infrastructure and tools used must be able to survive hurricanes, massive waves, high winds and the corrosive effects of salt water for decades.

The scale and amount of materials needed for these sophisticated mega-engineering projects are huge. The offshore platforms and related infrastructure use large quantities of materials like high-strength corrosion-resistant steel and aluminum alloys, sophisticated industrial plastics, specialty concretes, and electronic equipment designed to withstand extreme conditions.

These materials are used in the pipe systems, engines, structures, cladding and vessels

that enable production in deep waters. They must be of top-quality and are expensive to produce. This is usually reflected in initial development costs, called capital costs—essentially the money that must be spent before the very first barrel is produced.

These capital costs can be significant - for some deepwater offshore oil producers like Brazil, Norway and the UK, they can be as much as 50 to 60 per cent of the overall cost of producing a barrel. This means that the costs of materials are a primary determinant in when and how these building projects take place. Key materials are costly even in times of low demand; high demand periods, when many offshore facilities are being developed, can drive these prices even higher.

A surge of activity in Brazil is on the cusp of driving that kind of high-demand, with more than 20 floating production storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) on order or planned for the country’s prolific offshore region. 15 more new FPSOs have been announced or are planned to start work in Africa by 2025 and new developments in regions like

the Falkland Islands and Australia will drive demand even higher. Here in Guyana, there has been some indication that as many as five FPSOs might be active by the mid-2020s.

This demand will also raise costs beyond basic materials, driving a need for other key ingredients like skilled labour, qualified subcontractors, support vessels and helicopters, which will be in high demand as well. In this respect, Guyana has been relatively lucky so far.

Development on the Liza Phase 1 project on the offshore Stabroek Block began during a sharp dip in global deepwater development activity, and consequently, in materials prices.

Those are only now starting to increase slowly. The production vessel, Liza Destiny was built during this dip in prices and is already on its way from Singapore’s shipyards after its naming ceremony a few weeks ago.

If all goes according to plan, oil production should begin in early 2020 and Guyana could be taking in tens of billions of US dollars each year by the mid-2020s. More than 5.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent, a common

industry measure that also includes natural gas and other petroleum liquids, have been discovered so far.

With the high number of competing FPSO projects that are expected to start soon, it is very important to continue the fast pace of development in offshore Guyana in order to take advantage of low material costs. Future developments like the Liza Phase 2 and the Payara project will depend on the same materials and services as the upcoming Brazil and Africa projects. Prices for these materials look set to continue to rise for the foreseeable future, which means that delays construction could increase material costs and reduce revenues for the Stabroek block partners and the government of Guyana.

The second and third phases of development in the Stabroek block could add as much as 440,000 additional barrels per day of production by the mid-2020s, on top of the 120,000 barrels per day that Liza Phase 1 will produce. Keeping these developments on track could be critical to lower costs and more revenue for Guyana.

The land of many waters is a paradise for those who possess authority with dishonorable intentions

ON March 2003 at approximately 3:00 pm, my phone rang. I proceeded to answer this call which transformed my everyday existence.

The execution of 17-yearold University of Guyana Student, Yohance Douglas, was unfortunately communicated to me and in my capacity as the Vice President of the University of Guyana Student Society, I was hastily

called to action. Initially, this news brought pain but as the reality sunk in and the shock subsided, I began to reflect on this opportunity to highlight the plague of extrajudicial killings which appeared to be a tacit policy of the then PPP/C administration. I thought this was the opportune time for a massive uprising, nay, a quasi-revolution and, being a student

of history, I conjured images of a beautiful struggle that would have resulted in the fall of a regime.

Sadly, it took just a few days for this naivety to be shattered and dashed. The Guyanese character, as it relates to sustained resistance, quickly emerged and killed my fervour. After just a few days of protest, the crowds dwindled, University of Guy-

ana lecturers continued business as usual and refused to join the peaceful protests, students looked after their self-interest and the general society went about their usual business. The struggle was left with a few political opportunists and was dangerously being pushed into another partisan political squabble between the big parties. In the end, justice was not realized in this case.

One of the indispensable aspects of democracy is the fear of consequences of public actions by politicians or those who possess authority; if this is absent, the masses will be exposed to all kinds of abuses. The clearest sign that the people are serious about an issue and something must be done to rectify the situation, is sustained peace-

ful resistance. This should not be evident only in the early days of the struggle, it must be over a period of time.

A society that cannot produce this in times of genuine and legitimate causes that ought to evoke public outrage, is a paradise for those who possess authority with dishonorable intentions.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

Green State strategy to guide preparation of Budget 2020 – Min. Jordan

THE framework of the ‘Green State Development Strategy’ (GSDS) will serve as a guide for preparations for Budget 2020, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan has said.

The minister was at the time speaking at the opening of a training session targeting heads of budget agencies and financial officers of ministries and government agencies last week. Minister Jordan explained that Guyana’s economic thrust is being guided by a long-term strategy in shaping the policy and programmes for its sectors – the GSDS Vision 2020. The GSDS envisions the delivery of a good quality of life for all, based on sound education, social protection, low carbon development,

new economic opportunities, justice and political empowerment.

Minister Jordan highlighted the GSDS’ core concepts which include, “Transitioning to renewable energy, green towns, urban public spaces, sustainable management of natural resources, green and inclusive economic diversification, building our human capital and institutional capacity, good governance, transparency and knowledge management and resilient infrastructure.”

Minister Jordan advised that these concepts will guide budgeting for 2020 and beyond. He described next year as one that bodes very well for Guyana as it prepares to join the world of oil-pro-

ducing nations. “This will mean substantially improved fiscal space, that is, room for spending substantially more on goods and services and the public sector investment programmes. If we effectively manage the petroleum resources that are anticipated to flow from this new revenue stream, we will be able to accelerate the pace of economic transformation and development that hitherto we have yearned for, but which has proven to be elusive to date,” he explained.

The veteran economist asserted that to ensure good governance and transparent management of Guyana’s petroleum resources, the Coalition Government, “has ensured that a carefully-con-

Stakeholders during the launch of the 2020 Budget Training Session at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC)

sidered legislative framework is in place”. This framework, the finance minister said, has had the benefit of extensive consultations and advice. “Technical assistance has been sought to build capacity to operationalise this legislation and progress has been made to ensure the transparent flow of resources from the oil companies to the Natural Resource Fund and into the National Budget, takes place.”

He cited the withdrawal rule from the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) to the National Budget, as one of the measures that will allow for, “front-loading of development spending while still retaining sufficient resources to be saved for future generations and to be used as a buffer, given the fickle nature of oil prices”.

“Over time, it is expected that the investment of those savings will result in interest earned to feed into the National Budget long after the oil is finished.” Minister Jordan called for the development of skills to support the petroleum and non-petroleum sectors. He also reiterated that all regions must have a regional development plan that is able to realise the objectives of the GSDS. “Plans of Action for Regional Development (PARDS) have already commenced with Regions Nine and 10, being substantially advanced in terms of guiding their Budget 2020 interven-

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan tions. We must use the lessons learned from these two experiences of developing the PARDS to accelerate the development of regional strategic plans in the eight remaining Regions,” he stated.

According to, Minister Jordan, supportive infrastructure and renewable energy must serve to catalyse the necessary development to ensure that coastal and hinterland communities are on an equal footing in terms of services provided. “I look forward to the day when the high schools in Mabaruma, Kamarang and Parmakatoi are able to deliver the same quality of education as a top

performing high school in Georgetown. I look forward to the day when the maternity patient is able to deliver her baby comfortably and safely in the hospital in Region Seven just as she would be expected to do in our national referral hospital.”

These are the goals that heads of budget agencies and senior officials in the public service, must reach for and work towards the transformation and development of our nation through every budget cycle.

“Surely, this is the only pathway to the good life, to which we all aspire,” Minister Jordan advised. (DPI)

GuySuCo partners with GNBS to improve its certification THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is receiving vital support from the Guyana National Bureau of Statistics (GNBS) to address issued relating to its products with certification being the ultimate aim of the partnership.

According to a release from GuySuCo, on Thursday last GuySuCo Executives met with Heads from various departments at the GNBS. The new ‘Sustainable Business Model’ and ‘Strategic Plan’ for GuySuCo for the period 2019 – 2021, is designed to ensure that the corporation operates and is managed at the highest level as a business; as such, qual-

Quality Assurance Manager, Malika Jonas, makes a entities look on ity assurance is being main- its capacity and ensuring streamed throughout the that appropriate systems, supply chain, value chain guidelines and processes and in other aspects of the are aligned with national, business. regional and international According to GuySuCo, standards. the GNBS is viewed as a “The GNBS has comcritical partner in assisting mitted to supporting Guythe corporation in building SuCo in addressing mat-

point as officials of both ters pertaining to its current products (brown, raw and packaged sugar; and molasses), in addition to its value-added products – white sugar, co-generation and ‘Cultural Heritage (Sugar) Tourism’ programme,” the corporation said.

The GNBS will provide support as it relates to certification for white sugar and relative to co-generation; support will also be provided on the required Energy Management standard, ISO 50001.

The new Sustainable Business Model for GuySuCo focuses on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL or 3BL), meaning that its accounting framework will include three aspects: economic (financial), social and environmental. In relation to GuySuCo’s activities in the area of environment, the corporation will be working closely with GNBS on ISO 14000 which is the Environmental Management Standard.

Some standards are cross-cutting, such as the ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Standard.

According to GuySuCo, this will also be integrated into the development of the ‘Cultural Heritage (Sugar) Tourism’ product, a new business stream for the corporation.

“This partnership building session has strengthened the relationship between GuySuCo and GNBS and clarified ways-of-working together, towards GuySuCo becoming a resilient and sustainable business while complying with required standards,” the corporation stated.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

Improvement in all NGSA subject areas needed –– Says Chief Education Officer

CHIEF Education Officer (CEO), Dr. Marcel Hutson has said that there needs to be an “improvement” of pupils’ performances in the four subject areas taught at the primary level to ensure that quality education is provided.

Of the 14,300 pupils who sat the 2019 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), 42 per cent (or 6,006 pupils) obtained a score of 50 marks or more in Mathematics; in Science, the pass rate was 42 per cent (or 6,063 pupils); in English, it was 57 per cent (or 8,151 pupils) and Social Studies, 39 per cent (or 5,577 pupils).

With the announcement

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr Marcel Hutson

of the results of these examinations, Mathematics was recorded as the only subject which showed an increased number of children gaining 50 per cent or more when compared to the 2018 pass rates in all four subject areas.

The 2019 results illustrated that Mathematics redounded. This is attributed to the targeted interventions taken by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to improve performance in this subject.

In 2018, it was reported that 38 per cent of the 14,145 students who wrote the 2018 NGSA passed mathematics. This was below the 45 per cent passes recorded in 2017. In light of this, the MoE continued its ‘Math camps’ where over 1000 children benefited since its introduction in 2018.

Through these camps, Grade Six pupils were afforded the opportunity to attend extra mathematics classes from 09:00hrs to 12:00hrs on Saturdays at various schools.

These camps also followed the $48M the government injected into emergency intervention to strengthen the teaching capacity of mathematics at the Grade Six level in public schools

in 2016-- where the pass rate for Mathematics was pegged at a meagre 13.85 per cent.

“At the Ministry of Education, we’ve always been cognisant of the fact that we need to have programmes to improve the performances of our children,” the CEO said recently, noting that it was for this reason that those ‘Maths Camps’ were started.

Dr. Hutson explained that the camps helped to identify weaknesses children might have had in the subject and led to the creation of strategies that could target those weaknesses. This strategy of identifying weaknesses and subsequently working on those is one he shared that the MoE hopes to extend to the other subject areas.

“We have to be very careful because sometimes we look at the areas we are very weak in and sometimes we do so at the expense of other subject areas,” the CEO noted.

While there has been extra attention given to Mathematics, he said too, “What we want is that we want to see a improvement of all (subject) areas.”

According to one Grade Six teacher of an East Bank

Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry speaking at the announcement of this year’s NGSA results Demerara (EBD) public school, who did not wish to give her name, there has definitely been an increased focus on Mathematics and to a lesser extent, English.

“They (the MoE) have Maths Monitors that come to the schools to assess us when we’re teaching,” the teacher highlighted. “Naturally, as soon as we (the teachers) know the monitor is coming, we would try to focus more on maths to make sure everything is in order… we try to get all the materials, like the counters and so, in order,” she disclosed This teacher shared her belief that the extra focus on Mathematics is not a bad thing, since it is imperative in a technology-driven world. However, she noted that there still needs to be

emphasis placed on the other subject areas.

The Social Studies curriculum, for example, includes content on Guyana and nationhood, the cultural diversity in the country, the electoral systems and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), inter alia.

The teacher further explained that these topics are all still very relevant to children and practical for their development as productive citizens.

As such, the teacher said, “I think they should assess all subjects… just like how they monitor and assess Maths.”

Moving forward, the CEO related that the MoE was awaiting the item analysis for each subject from the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), which is the body the Education Ministry

has been collaborating with for the administration of the NGSA. Once in possession of the analyses, Dr. Hutson highlighted that the MoE would be able to see what were the areas that the pupils did not do as well in and would subsequently craft strategies to target these.

However, the MoE has already begun ‘shifting gears’ in how education is delivered nationwide.

Speaking at the announcement of this year’s NGSA results, Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry had shared that the education system will focus more on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

More specifically, she related that robotics, animation and artificial intelligence will be added to the primary schools’ curriculum.

“If we were to look at what’s happening in the whole global thrust of education, you would realise that ICT has become an important component in education delivery and it is difficult to deliver 21st century without ICT-enabled learning,” the Education Minister said.

“We have to be rapid, we have to be where the cutting edge is and yes, we have to expose our students.”

Region Three chamber commends divisional commander THE Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Chamber of Commerce has commended Divisional Commander Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper on attaining a Master of Arts degree in legal studies, with a major in criminology.

The chamber is also calling on the Guyana Police Force and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, to recommend the promotion of the commander to assistant commissioner of police.

According to president of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Halim Khan, the senior superintendent has had an outstanding track record in Region Three, noting that crime is under control and lawlessness is being kept in check.

“It’s easy to forget all the hard work and sacrifices police officers make for their communities on a daily basis until they are called upon. So the chamber acknowledges the work done by Commander Cooper in being proactive

President, Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Halim Khan in his duties while serving Region Three and we congratulate him in further advancing his qualifications and knowledge in the best interest of society,” Khan said.

The Region Three chamber president said police training and education will help officers develop the tools needed to protect communities.

Divisional Commander ‘D’ Division, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper “The maintenance of public order is a core responsibility of law-enforcement officials that calls for constant, careful balancing of the rights and interests of all sections of the population and Commander Cooper has been doing an excellent job,” Khan said.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

WPA mocks PPP ‘false victory lap’ … applauds CCJ for not bowing to pressures

WORKING People’s Alliance (WPA), a partner in the coalition government, in welcoming the decisions taken by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the no-confidence motion and the GECOM Chair appointment, applauded the court for upholding the Constitution and by extension the Principle of Separation of Powers.

Friday, the CCJ ruled that it has no jurisdiction to set deadlines or a date for the holding of General and Regional Elections, noting that, only the President, the National Assembly, and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have the powers to do such. The Trinidad-based CCJ also steer clear of setting timelines for the appointment of a chairman of the Guy-

ana Elections Commission (GECOM), although the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, had asked it to set rigid guidelines.

“It is heartening that the court did not bow to pressures from the PPP to violate the Separation of Powers principle. In so doing, the CCJ has shown that it is prepared to withstand pressures aimed at dragging the court into the political sphere,” Executive Member of the WPA, Dr. David Hinds, said on Saturday as the alliance reacted to the consequential orders handed out by the court.

Dr. Hinds said while the court’s refusal to name a date for election should not be viewed as a victory for either side, it is definitely a setback for the Parliamentary Opposition

– the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). The PPP, through the opposition leader, had invited the court to breach the Constitution and dictate when elections should be held.

“The PPP deliberately decided not to pursue a consensus position with the government as advised by the court in the hope that the absence of a unified position would have forced the CCJ to issue consequential orders. The opposition leader’s victory lap, therefore, is yet another attempt to mislead the public,” Dr. Hinds said.

He noted, however, while the WPA accepts the court’s declaration that the government is now in caretaker mode, it rejects the idea being peddling by the PPP/C, that government,

during this period should only prepare for elections.

“For us, a caretaker government is a temporary government not a restricted government. It simply means that the government has lost its popular mandate and its continued tenure is dependent in the first place on the constitutional requirements or on a twothirds vote of the National Assembly,” Dr. Hinds explained.

He noted that though the conduct of timely elections must be at the top of the government’s agenda, it should not prevent it from carrying out its normal functions. “There is no such thing as a half-government – there is either a fully-empowered government or none at all,” Dr. Hinds posited.

WPA, he said, therefore endorses the move by government to commence preparations for the annual budget.

“We disagree with the view that such a move is outside its mandate. Preparation of a budget is a necessary aspect of governance that must continue even when there is a political impasse. All governments have a responsibility to ensure that economic planning is not impeded by partisan political machinations. In other words, while the two sides work towards a solution, the budget process should not be held up,” the WPA Executive said.

WPA, nonetheless, renewed calls for the President David Granger and the opposition leader to intensify the search for consensus so as to pave the way for credible elections in a timely manner. Dr. Hinds said ultimately, only a political solution could move the process forward.

The government and opposition have been at loggerheads over the conduct of house-to-house registration, which is expected to produce a credible List of Electors for the conduct of General and Regional Elections.

“WPA continues to believe that going to the elections with a tainted list or one that does not enjoy the confidence of all sides is a recipe for further problems. Until proven wrong, WPA maintains that the most effective way to sanitise the list is by house-to-house registration. Elections are not a beauty contest; they have consequences beyond the ballot box. It follows that the matter of the GECOM chair should be resolved as quickly as possible so that that body could resume its work,” Dr. Hinds said.

He said WPA has taken note of President Granger’s willingness to expedite the process and urges the opposition leader to be less inflexible. Meantime, WPA called on coalition supporters to move into election mode, noting that in the end, every single vote counts.

Meanwhile, the Alliance For Change (AFC), another coalition partner, on Friday, said it respects and accepts the consequential declarations delivered by the CCJ.

WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds “The AFC maintains the court’s position on the appointment of former GECOM Commissioner, James Patterson, and recognises that it is GECOM and GECOM alone that can determine a date and timeframe for General and Regional elections,” the AFC said.

It also took note of the declarations of the President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, with reference to the timing of the elections.

“Article 106 of the Constitution invests in the President, the National Assembly and implicitly in GECOM responsibilities that impact on the precise timing of the elections which must be held, it would not therefore be right for the court, by the issuance of coercive orders or detailed directives to presume, to instruct these bodies on how they must act and thereby pre-empt the performance by them of their constitutional responsibilities. It is not, for example, the role of the court to establish a date on or by which the elections must be held or to lay down timelines or deadlines that, in principle, are the preserve of political actors guided by constitutional imperatives,” Justice Saunders said on Friday.

AFC noted too, that the CCJ emphatically stated, as well, “The President and the leader of the opposition should, as soon as possible, embark upon and conclude the process of appointing a new GECOM Chairman.

This imperative is of utmost urgency.”

AFC reiterated that the process is critical to ensuring public confidence in credible General and Regional Elections.

The party is therefore urging that consultations between the President and the leader of the opposition must continue so that a new chairman can be appointed without delay.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

17 complete triage training at NA Hospital

SEVENTEEN doctors and nurses successfully completed a triage training course and were officially certified on Friday last at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital.

Included among the persons trained are one doctor from the Orealla Health Centre and two nurses from the Fort Wellington and Mahaicony

of emergency is not the best so we have to have a systematical way of addressing it, you have to have protocols and policies that can guide staff to make the right decision.”

To this end, Dr. Bux explained, “One of the biggest challenges here is that the emergency department or emergency response system for the most part of Guyana is

Dr. Zulfikar Bux hands over a certficate to Dr Patricia Hope, following the completion of a triage training course Cottage Hospital.

Triage training refers to the methods used to assess patient’s severity of injury or illness within a short time after arrival, assign priorities and transfer each patient to the appropriate place for treatment.

Speaking at a simple ceremony to hand over the certificates, National Emergency Medical Director of Emergency Services of the Georgetown Public Hospital, Dr Zulikar Bux, highlighted the importance of why and how it can lead to the delivery of effective and efficient healthcare.

“Triage is where patient care starts. It is before you enter the emergency department and most of the time what I found is that the system to sort patients according to the level

very primitive; it needs a lot of work and development and it is one of my goals to ensure that it’s done. I am happy that I can work with personnel from the administrative aspect of the New Amsterdam Hospital to ensure we can deliver this.

The most important concept of emergency is team-based care, because one person cannot do it all, but if you work together as you would have learned in the triage training –If you work as a team you can get so much more done and it help to improve efficiency and effectiveness.”

The concept, which was started at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation several years ago and has seen positive results, on that note; Dr Bux said it is his hope that the

same service is decentralised to the rest of the country and with the training offered at the NARH staff, it is a step in the right direction. “We want the same model where we have developed trained professionals in emergency medicine that is trained doctors, nurses, EMT that can have the basic concepts of emergency medicine well drilled into them, so when we have patients that are sick and need emergent care, everyone is prepared to address that.. .Our goal is to make sure everyone who works in the emergency setting at NARH will have the requisite training and certification on basic course skills for an emergency

department.”

Before the end of the year, it is expected that a trained emergency specialist will be permanently placed at the NARH. Additionally, the hospital will also see the opening of an outpatient unit to better service the needs of persons seeking medical care at the institution. Recognising the need for such training, Chief Executive Officer, NARH Dr Samantha Kennedy when she took up service at the hospital in November 2018, she realised the monthly mortality rate was alarming; as such, she needed to find a way to decrease the numbers as their main goal is to save as many lives as possible.

“Fifty something persons died for the month of November; I said to myself that’s alarming, so I did an assessment to find out what’s the reason and discovered half of those patients died in the emergency room and I asked myself, what is it that we are missing and what could we do to decrease those numbers, so I set a goal and my goal was that we would have a 30% reduction in the death rate on a monthly basis…I am happy to report since we started these trainings from November 2018 to June 2019 that number reduced from fifty something to thirty something.”

She noted they will con-

tinue to work to ensure the reduce the number, as there is still about 40% coming from accident and emergency, but as they continue with the training it will be reduced further.

She urged those trained to apply the knowledge and to know that everything you do in the application of that knowledge will contribute towards saving a life and that’s what we are all about-- improving patients’ outcomes.

Meanwhile, seven ambulance drivers from the New Amsterdam Hospital also received certification after successfully completing oneday training on basic first aid and emergency response.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, July 14, 2019

City residents set face against Nalco’s plans for chemical warehouse …call on EPA to conduct Environmental Assessment to determine impact RESIDENTS in Houston Gardens, Rasville and Roxanne Burnham Gardens are up in arms against the setting up of a chemical warehouse in Industrial Site, Georgetown, and are now demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) puts a halt to it.

Though indicating that it is a “no, no” for them, the residents on Saturday said a Sectoral Environmental Assessment should be conducted to examine the cumulative environmental, social and economic impacts on residents and the surrounding areas, and that report should influence the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to be conducted

by EPA. Earlier this month, EPA announced that Nalco Champions Guyana, an international oil and gas company, applied for ‘Environmental Authorisation’ for the operation of a chemical warehouse facility at John Fernandes Ltd. Inland Terminal

explained. The agency said it is within its remit as outlined in the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05, to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before any decision to approve or reject the project is taken.

From the date of publishing the notice (July 4), members of the public have 28 days to make written submissions on the planned development.

On Saturday, while addressing reporters at Houston Gardens, a short distance from the proposed site, residents of that area and neighbouring communities objected to the proposal. Civil, Geotechnical and Groundwater Hydrology Engineer, Charles Ceres, who lives in Houston Gardens, explained that the residents have already made their written submissions, objecting to the chemical warehouse being set up in that area.

They have provided more than 13 reasons why the chemical warehouse should not be erected in Houston Gardens or anywhere in the

Candida Williams, an educator, said EPA must consider the impacts of having a chemical warehouse in a residential community Photo by Delano Williams

at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and for the transportation of chemicals from the Inland Terminal to John Fernandes Water Street Port. The chemicals would thereafter be transferred to the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels offshore Guyana.

“The facility at the Inland Terminal facility will be engaged in the filtration, storage and warehousing of oilfield chemicals to supply the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, offshore Guyana. The proposed operation estimates that 1,493,000 kg of specialty and commodity chemicals will be imported and stored onsite and will occupy 5,000 square meters with the intent of extending to 20,000 square meters as oil production expands in Guyana,” the EPA

city. Noting that Industrial Site is an unsuitable place to have a chemical warehouse, the residents pointed out that thousands could be affected if there is a chemical leak, many of them children.

In addition to the fact that residential communities are located in the westerly, northerly and easterly directions of the proposed chemical storage facility, the residents are contending that there is no evacuation plan or any system for effectively warning residents of any dangers to human, animal, or environmental health, that can occur anytime at the warehouse.

“All lands in Houston Gardens, as well as their surrounding areas, are zoned as residential and or agricultural,” they further pointed out, and urged that the Envi-

Residents of Houston Gardens, Rasville, Roxanne Burnham Gardens and D’Aguiar Park, among other areas, who are objecting to the erection of the chemical warehouse in Georgetown Photo by Delano Williams

ronmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) includes confirmation from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) on whether lands identified for the warehouse has been altered to reflect commercial or industrial purposes.

Ceres told reporters that prior to this most recent submission, residents had written EPA twice before, with the first letter sent in June 2018 but have not received a response to date.

He explained that in those letters, residents of Houston Gardens and neighbouring communities asked that a Sectoral Environmental Assessment be conducted to examine the cumulative environmental, social and economic impacts on residents, and the surrounding areas of all developments planned by the current owners/leasers of the land in the Houston area.

“We expect that Sectoral Environmental Assessment will precede this ESIA they are talking about because that Sectoral Environmental Assessment is going to inform whether or not any kind of development of this nature should be taking place in Georgetown,” Ceres told reporters.

He and the other residents complained bitterly that industrial developments are taking place in Houston

Gardens without their input.

According to the engineer, failure to consult residents is an indictment on the part of CH&PA and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s Engineering Department.

“I think you know, in their quest to earn money, people in Guyana consider money to be more important than class and I say this simply because what I am seeing reflected here is people’s desire for money fueling the absence of interest for the ordinary people in Guyana,” Ceres posited.

Houston Gardens aside, Ceres contended that the players involved in the setting up of chemical warehouses have disregarded the health and safety of persons living in communities such as Rasville, that are in close proximity to the identified area. “What they are looking at here is the proximity of Rasville, so they figure that the people in Rasville, they are not important, their lives don’t matter. I think that this facility might be better cited in Subryanville where the owners of this inland port

live,” Ceres told reporters.

He said it is imperative that CH&PA analyse the entire development of the area designated for the warehouse, and to consider, like the EPA, the cumulative impacts.

Ceres expressed concerns over possible leakage of chemicals such as Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (BTEX), and the evacuation plan in place, if any. “Now we have no idea how much is going to be released, how much is going to be stored. Another issue

The area at John Fernandes Ltd. Inland Terminal at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown identified for the chemical warehouse (Photo by Delano Williams

17

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, July 14, 2019 for people, that in order to transport the chemicals, they have to pass through communities in Georgetown. What if there is a spill on the road, let’s say Albouystown, those people don’t matter,” he reasoned. Ceres asked too where persons would be evacuated to if all Georgetown is affected, including the hospitals.

These questions, he emphasized, must be answered.

Candida Williams, an educator who also resides in Houston Gardens, said demulsifiers or emulsion breakers and asphaltene inhibitor are among other chemicals that are expected to be stored at the warehouse, if Nalco Champions Guyana is to proceed with its operation. That, she said, is a cause for concern, noting that residents are concerned about the severity of the chemicals.

“If there is a leak or escape of the chemical in the atmosphere, we have an issue, and we have recognised that Nalco does not have an emergency plan, all they have is a plan for their employees but they don’t have a plan for their neighbouring environs. Today, we are here, we are humbly requesting the EPA to not permit this particular facility here because it is going to have some serious

environmental impact on our lives,” Williams said.

Dr. Rohan Jabour, also of Houston Estates, said that the recent chemical spill in Houston, Texas, is a good example of what could happen in Georgetown if this warehouse is allowed to be constructed.

For Ramesh Dookhoo, it is a serious economic and business concern, noting that Banks DIH, one of Guyana’s leading beverage companies, depend heavily on ground water. “We have five wells in the vicinity of D’Aguiar Park and Thirst Park; the whole company (Banks DIH) depends on water for its business…. This is a serious issue in the proximity of a food and beverage plant, five food and Beverage plants,” Dookhoo explained.

He noted that the matter will be reported to the company’s overseas franchise holders and international experts will guide the company on the way forward.

Juliet Julian of Roxanne Burnham Gardens and Emmanuel Bevney, said regardless of the assessments done, the erection of a chemical warehouse in that area or anywhere near to the city is no for them.

In its submission to

By Vishani Ragobeer

at the University of Guyana (UG), where dozens of participants attended while dressed in their favourite animated characters.

President of the Guyana Animation Network (GAN), Francine Leitch, related to the Guyana Chronicle that the camp would have seen full capacity registration this year, with all 100 slots being taken up by interested youths. The

Civil, Geotechnical and Groundwater Hydrology Engineer, Charles Ceres, is among residents objecting to the chemical warehouse in Industrial Site (Photo by Delano Williams)

EPA for approval, Nalco Champions Guyana said safety is its highest priority.

“The health of people and protecting the environment

are our highest priorities.

Working to exceed the standards of national and local environmental regulations, we are always refining our

safety processes and programs, identifying opportunities for improvement, and providing employees with the information and re-

sources they need to make changes. Noting is more important than making sure people go home safely,” the company said.

100 youths to become versed in animation

ONE hundred youths will have the opportunity to become versed in animation and the digital industry as the Guyana Animation Network (GAN) commences its fourth annual summer camp on Monday.

This year’s camp was launched on Friday, at the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT),

Founder of the Guyana Animation Network, Jubilanté Cutting, shares a light moment with two of the young participants of this year’s Animation Summer Camp who are dressed as animated characters Goku and Princess Jasmine

full capacity is attributed to the host of sponsors coming on board to allow children in underprivileged communities to participate in the camps.

The class will be divided into two groups: the five to 10 youths and the 11 to 35 youths.

In the class for the older ones, Leitch explained that the participants will be exposed to animation, virtual reality, game design and coding.

This course, she related, entails the group using a prebuilt, three-dimensional (3-D) model of a local landmark and will build their own characters around that landmark.

“By the end of it, they will be able to have an immersive experience using virtual realty to interact with the characters that they would have built within the model.

The younger class will however focus on ‘flipbook’ animation, which entails the drawing of figures --- the traditional way on paper and online --- on different pages which are then flipped through to create movement of the figures. This group will also be doing ‘stop motion’ animation, which is one of the earliest forms of animation.

The GAN President had told the Guyana Chronicle that Network aims to foster an environment where digital media and specifically animation,

Dozens of persons, some dressed as their favourite animation characters, joined with the Guyana Animation Network (GAN) on Friday to celebrate the launch of this year’s Animation Summer Camp [Vishani Ragobeer photos] can be learnt and promoted in Guyana. And over the past few years, the body has been working to develop the creative skills of Guyanese youth.

Moreover, this year’s animation camp is another stepping stone in the creative development agenda GAN has set out on.

“What we realised when we were preparing to do our first summer camp [four years ago] was that people were not aware of what animation entails, the scope of animation and all that it entails,” Leitch explained. As such, GAN endeavoured to first build a foundation for animation, which was done through the previous three camps.

These camps featured: traditional art, digital illustrating and then, last year, comic art.

MODEL WORK Giving brief remarks at the launch of the camp, Deputy Programme Manager, Information and Communication Technology (ICT4D) at the CARICOM Secretariat, Jennifer Britton commended GAN’s work over the years.

She related that these camps are so impressive that they provide an opportunity for people to learn about animation, a developing industry in the Caribbeean, from as young as five years old. The CARICOM rep-

resentative also acknowledged the range of qualifed instructors, locally and internationally, that would be in Guyana to train the youths.

“Animation is something I think we almost take for granted,” Britton said, while also acknowledging just how easily young people are able to “connect” with the digital field.

Importantly, however, she noted that GAN’s work allows her to see how responsive young people are to this industry. In so doing, she is able to use it as a pilot project as part of her portfolio at the secretariat and perhaps, implement this kind of training across the Caribbean.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

Individuals, companies to access credit reports online

COMPANIES and individuals will now be able to access credit reports and credit scores online, through CreditInfo Guyana’s website.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CreditInfo Guyana, Judy Semple-Joseph, said the online services were launched to remove the hassle of making persons travel to the New Market Street office to enquire about their credit information.

Instead of having to visiting the office, persons would now be able to visit https://gy.creditinfo.com/ and access the online services.

“We know there are persons living in the far-reaching areas so they too would be able to access our services online,” said Semple-Joseph during the launch of the online services, on Friday.

Persons and companies are entitled to one free credit report a year, after which they would be required to pay a fee, which is stated on the website.

Persons, who are required to make payments, can do so through GTT’s mobile money service.

The website also allows persons to file disputes and enroll for CreditInfo’s monitoring services.

Semple-Joseph said the company, over the years, has moved from providing just credit information to providing intelligent information, which lenders utilise for credit risk management.

“There have been faster credit decisions and ultimately quicker loan approvals – within one hour and same day approvals,” she said, adding that more persons are accessing financing from the formal sector.

She said there has also been substantial improvement in the quality of credit data being held by credit information providers

for which, CreditInfo has played a significant role in assisting subscribers in the data cleaning process.

These entities include financial institutions, utility companies, hire purchase companies and trade creditors.

Over the years, there has been an expanded database, which includes more than 60 per cent of the adult population in Guyana compared to zero per cent in 2015. There are 250,000 credit active customers.

CreditInfo Guyana, located in the heart of Georgetown was the second regional presence of the CreditInfo Group and

the first-ever credit bureau in Guyana. CreditInfo Guyana entered the group in 2012.

The main products and services, which they offer, include the provision of full and semi full credit reports with an optional powerful CreditInfo predictor score, available in real-time and batch.

The company developed several specifically-focused modules that address the needs of the financial community and the Small and Medium Enterprise SME sector.

CreditInfo Guyana also offer services that automate the capture and deci-

CEO of CreditInfo Guyana, Judy Semple-Joseph (Adrian Narine photo) sion-making capabilities of new applications for credit, making it easier for credit providers to process new customers and expand their portfolio in line with individual goals and objectives.

These reports and services are particularly tailored to positively transform the lending and credit provision environment in Guyana, through coherent and informed risk assessment, decision-making and strategy.

Two dead, several injured in Soesdyke smash-up A 44-year-old taxi driver and an unidentified woman are now dead and several persons injured following a horrific accident on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway Saturday night.

Confirmed dead is Royston Semple. Guyana Chronicle was unable to confirm the identity of the second victim. According to reports, Semple was driving motorcar HC 2554 when it collided with another vehicle PVV 535 in the vicinity of ‘Hill Foot’ on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. Semple, who did short drops along the highway, was reportedly proceeding in an easterly direction up Kuru Kuru.

Semple was rushed to the Diamond Hospital and then later to Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The unidentified woman reportedly died on the spot and her remains taken to the Diamond Hospital.

The injured passengers were rushed to GPH for treatment.

The wrecked vehicle which was driven by Royston Semple at the time of the accident

The other vehicle which was involved in the accident

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

GPSU calls for full Five to be charged for murder of moneychanger, daughter investigation into nurse’s death THE Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has joined calls for a full investigation to be launched into the death of Nurse Schenise Apple.

Nurse Apple, 26, was discovered dead in her apartment at Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on July 2.

She was attached to the Mahdia District Hospital.

It was reported that Nurse Apple committed suicide; however, her relatives are not convinced that she did, claiming that such behaviour is not consistent with her disposition.

The GSPU, on Friday, said it is necessary for a full investigation to be conducted by the Guyana Police Force into the death of the 26-yearold.

“It is the expectation that a full investigation be conducted to determine the cause of death to bring closure to the family and other relatives and in addition, to prevent future occurrences of this nature,” the GPSU said.

While it is saddened by the death of Nurse Apple, the union reminded that the

youths are the future generation who will propel the country and must be given support and protection where necessary.

“Workers’ welfare must be paramount on the agenda of any institution. Hence, we call on the authorities to ensure that there is adequate 24-hour security at all health facilities and hostels,” GPSU added.

In its statement, the GPSU expressed condolences to Nurse Apple’s family, relatives and friends, while reflecting on her life.

“Guyana has indeed lost a young, vibrant and dedicated individual who from all indications was a committed worker and well liked among her colleagues and friends. “The GPSU notes her willingness to serve in the interior location as exemplified by the fact that even after completion of her stint, requested a further two years period,” the GPSU said.

On July 11, Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence said that she seeking an inquest into the nurse’s death.

This decision was taken after

meeting with Dexter Copeland and Shonette Apple, parents of the deceased.

“It is only in that way we will be able to have a deeper investigation into what really happened, so I am asking for an inquest…

I am happy that I’m taking this step… All the answers to questions must come out in that inquest,” Minister Lawrence said in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The family also asked that the Public Health Ministry be more cognisant of the need for proper security at nurses’ quarters and hostels, especially in far-flung communities.

Minister Lawrence assured that these are some of the many issues she is pushing to address within the health sector.

“This is not a one-off, we will forever keep this in our minds, because we are sending people’s children away from their comfort zone to give a service to the people and we are responsible for their safety,” Minister Lawrence assured the relatives.

THE five suspects in police custody in connection with the murder of moneychanger, Aaron Latchman, and his 18-year-old daughter, Arianna, are expected to be charged this week and placed before the court.

On Thursday, the fifth suspect was held in North Ruimveldt, Georgetown. He is a 37-year-old man, who was previously freed of two murder charges.

Reports indicate that the suspect allegedly provided three men with guns and ammunition which were used to kill the Latchmans at their Better Hope, East Coast Demerara home on July 4.

The killers allegedly told police that the suspect held in North Ruimveldt lives at Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara and after the businessman and his daughter were killed, he took them to a house in Sophia where they “split the money, $150,000 each.”

It was revealed to police that prime suspect has been the mastermind of several of the robberies committed on America Street moneychangers.

Dead: Aaron Latchman and his daughter, Arianna

Police said the motive of the murder was robbery and not an execution.

According to reports, four of the suspects confessed to being a part of the robbery and murder.

Police information technology experts had enhanced security camera footage of the gunmen who fled the scene after killing the Latchmans.

Some of the suspects in police custody include a 44-year-old called “Rastaman” of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, who was caught with the car used during the robbery; a 37-year-old ven-

dor of Sophia called “Redman”; a 25-year-old labourer of Parika called “Marko”; and a 28-year-old of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

An autopsy performed on Aaron Latchman revealed that he sustained multiple gunshot injuries while his daughter sustained a single gunshot injury. The man was shot thrice during a scuffle in his yard.

The bandits appeared to have been familiar with Aaron Latchman’s routine and were reportedly waiting near his home.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

Coomacka, Ituni to receive improved water quality

RESIDENTS of the communities of Coomacka and Ituni in the Upper-Demerara/Upper-Berbice Region are expected to benefit from improved water supply and delivery of the service from the Guyana Water Inc. According to a release from the water company,

Coomacka, where approximately 750 residents live, is receiving little to no water since the distribution system, which was constructed through the Rotary years ago, is now blocked.

Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, and a team of offi-

cials, upon the invitation of the Community Development Council, assured residents during a community meeting on Thursday that the utility company will work to ensure quality water is provided to them. He stated that GWI is pushing ahead to achieve Sustainable Development

CDC members and Coomacka residents at the meeting held on Thursday (GWI photo) Goal (SDG) number six by 2025 instead of 2030.

SDG Six speaks to ensuring access to potable water for all.

Executive Director of Operations, Mr. Dwayne Shako, said the team will work towards completing the upgrade works within the next two months. As an immediate solution, GWI will move to rehabilitate the existing well, address the issue of high iron content in the water, clean the distribution lines and repair standpipes. The utility will also be exploring the practicality of drilling a new well in the community.

The Managing Director explained that even as works are underway for the drilling of two new wells in Amelia’s Ward, Linden, GWI will utilise the same equipment to drill deeper in Coomacka, with the aim of accessing better quality water.

He reassured that with new technology at GWI’s disposal, finding quality wa-

ter underground is now easier, as compared to some 23 years ago when the utility was not equipped with the requisite technology and equipment to sufficiently get the job done.

Dr. Van West-Charles said government’s approval of funding now allows the company to function optimally and afford its customers a better life.

Prior to the distribution of water to residents, GWI will conduct water quality tests and make the results available to the community.

National Director of the National Community Development Council, Mr. Eugene Gilbert, thanked GWI for its swift response in attending to the matter of access to water in Coomacka. He noted that Thursday’s community meeting came on the heels of a recently-concluded Regional CDC Conference.

Meanwhile, GWI has completed the drilling of an additional well at Ituni to a depth of approximately

300ft.

According to the utility company, Dr. Van WestCharles and other GWI officials visited the area on Friday, July 12, 2019, where they inspected the site of the new well. Developmental works are currently being done on the well, which will be followed by test pumping.

Water quality testing will also be done to ensure that the water produced is within the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard before it is provided to residents.

It is expected that the well will produce about 30 cubic meters of water per hour, GWI said. The drilling if this additional well will facilitate extended pumping hours to some 742 residents of that community. Upon completion, the residents will benefit from improved water quality and increased hours of water supply.

Water quality testing will be done on a continuous basis to ensure that the quality of the water is maintained.

Guyana to export 30,000 tonnes of rice to Cuba ALIMPORT, the Cuban rice importing agency, has agreed to purchase 30,000 metric tonnes of rice from Guyana for the period July-September 2019, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager, Nizam Hassan, said.

Hassan said loading operations have commenced in Georgetown.

Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed, said this achievement by the government is the result of intense negotiations between the Guyana Embassy in Cuba and the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade.

The collaboration, he said, is also between MINCEX and ALIMPORT which started in December 2018 and continued throughout the past several months with support from Nand Persaud Group of Companies, A. Cayume Hakh and Sons (ACHS) and GBTI. On May 3, 2019, Minister Counsellor, Heather Seelochan, and Ambassador Halim

Majeed met with Jose Chaple and Jesus Gonzalez from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (MINCEX) and Alejandro Mustalier, President of ALIMPORT, to continue discussions on a government-to-government rice agreement. It was at this meeting that consensus was reached for Cuba to continue purchasing rice from Guyana.

Guyana re-commenced rice exports to Cuba in 2017. In 2017, Guyana exported 15,512 metric tonnes to Cuba and 44,948 metric tonnes in 2018. The hope this year is to exceed the previous year’s exports.

Ambassador Majeed has been in on-going discussion with MINCEX to develop a government-to-government rice agreement that would give Guyana preferential and guaranteed access to the Cuban rice market which requires between 400,000 and 500,000 metric tonnes of rice annually.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

Minister Ferguson visits Road Network Upgrade, Expansion in Sophia –– Residents receptive and supportive despite minor inconveniences

THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has commenced several road work projects in the community of Sophia as part of the Road Network Upgrade and Expansion Programme, CH&PA disclosed in a press release.

On Thursday, Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for housing, Annette Ferguson visited the community to inspect the ongoing works.

Accompanying her were Director of Projects, Omar Narine as well as other technical officers who provided updates on the status of the ongoing developmental project.

The areas visited included Section A-Block X Liliendaal, Section B- Pattensen and Section C- Turkeyen, where works are being done simultaneously. The scope of works includes construction of bridges, culverts, walkways, roads, and concrete drains.

While CH&PA through

various contracting firms is executing the works, residents of the communities are being employed and will continue to be employed at different stages of the project.

The IDB and CH&PA have partnered collectively to realise the project under the adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme.

The IDB is financing USD $27 million toward the completion of the project, as the ongoing works spread across Section A-Block X Liliendaal, Section B- Pat-

Min. Anette Ferguson inspecting works done in Sophia

Min. Anette Ferguson along with Director of Projects Omar Narine, Engineers and Clerk of Works tensen and Section C-Turkeyen.

This project was first started in 2017 at a consultation workshop arranged by Senior Community Development Officer of CH&PA, Donell Bess-Bascom. Bascom told residents that this programme would see the community benefitting from road and sidewalk construction, streetlight installation and upgrades to community grounds.

Responding to questions posed by the Minister, the Engineers at each site reported that the residents have all been very receptive and

supportive of the projects in spite of minor inconveniences caused by the construction process.

However, it was noted that there were a few instances where Engineers and Clerks of Work reported concerns for their safety, given the number of illegal electricity connections in the area.

Nonetheless, the upgrading of approximately 11.055 kilometres of roads to an asphalted concrete surface; the construction of 1.8 kilometres of reinforced concrete drains; the construction of 22.11 kilometres earthen

drains; the rehabilitation of 30 kilometres of macro drains; the construction of 2.132 of reinforced concrete walkways; the construction of 82 culverts and eight interlinking bridges is ongoing.

Also expected, is the installation of 2.0 kilometres of solar street lights in and around areas where social facilities are located.

Another key component of the project will see some 250 low-income households benefitting from core homes and another 2000 families benefitting from home improvement subsidies.

AIA primary dept.

Businesswoman records 100% pass rate shoots miner who

THE Al Ghazali Islamic Academy (AIA), primary department, has recorded a 100 per cent pass rate at the 2019 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

This was announced at the AIA’s Graduation Ceremony on Saturday at the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana’s (CIOG) complex by the Principal of AIA, Bibi Young.

In giving her remarks at the ceremony, Young stated that while most of the school’s success and achievements may not be highly visible from the outside looking in, “it is in the daily unfolding of school where we find some of the most exciting and rewarding stories.”

She noted that over the years, pupils would have learnt valuable life

lessons, discovered hidden talents, found their voices and learnt from their mistakes.

“They have learnt how hard work and preparation are needed for the achievement of goals. This dedication has shown in the results of academic success,” Young added.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Sister Robeena Zaman, Registered Nurse, who encouraged the pupils to be grateful, kind and diligent in every way. She also urged the pupils to pray and read the Holy Quran regularly.

The school has achieved 100 per cent passes from the 18 pupils who wrote the NGSA, of which, 17 gained over 80 per cent and above, while one pupil gained 60 per cent.

Out of the 18 graduating pupils, two were awarded St. Stanislaus College; one, St. Joseph; two, President’s College, while, the remaining students were awarded junior secondary schools.

Upon completion of the NGSA, the grade six pupils were exposed to additional teachings of Islamic Education subjects, as well as a foundation course in Information Technology, amongst others.

The 15 pupils, who would have participated in the Islamic Education course, received an elementary certificate in Islamic Education, while the 10 pupils who took part in the Information Technology course received a Foundation Certificate in Information Technology.

tries to rape her

A 36-year-old miner was shot three times and is in critical condition after he tried to rape a businesswoman at her mining camp around midnight on Friday.

Reports indicate that the female miner is a licensed firearm holder. She used the firearm after the miner allegedly entered her mining camp and indecently assaulted her and attempted to remove her underwear.

The miner was reportedly intoxicated when he was shot on his arms and abdomen. He was taken to the Mahadia hospital by persons at the camp.

The matter was reportedly to the police and the businesswoman was taken into police custody as investigations continue.

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Cricket World Cup 2019 Final

England, New Zealand eye first-time champions’ tag LONDON: The whole of England, host nation of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, will be at a standstill today - with the big hope that four-time finalists will lift the trophy for the first time.

The England skipper has been constantly answering queries over whether he will be able to do what many illustrious predecessors could not do since the inception of the World Cup in 1975.

The first question to Eoin Morgan at the pre-match press conference was on how much this game means to English cricket. Morgan, who has remained calm throughout despite the mounting pressure to win, said: “It means a huge amount to me and everybody in the changing room. It’s a culmination of four years of hard work, dedication, a lot of planning and it presents a huge opportunity to go on and try and win a World Cup.” Asked if he had been visualising himself lifting the World Cup, Morgan said: “I haven’t allowed myself to think about lifting the trophy. Cricket, and sport in particular, is very fickle. If you ever get ahead, it always seems to bite you in the backside. And should we win it, it will be awesome for the game around the country.”

After a pause, he added that lifting the trophy will be great for the coming generation. “I think it will be quite iconic for the young kids’ memory if

they are watching it at home and we manage to lift the trophy,” he said.

For New Zealand too, a first-ever triumph can serve as a tremendous boost for the game in their country.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was asked what would be his message to anyone who has never picked up a bat and ball in his country, and what this opportunity of playing in a final could do for cricket in his country where rugby is the leading sport? “It’s obviously a really special occasion … especially to be involved in a World Cup and representing your country. But what makes it even more special is to turn up here at the home of cricket and be involved in a final,” revealed Williamson.

The buzz in both the countries regarding the final is enormous. Speaking about what is going on around the country, Morgan said: “I think for everybody around the country, the support we’ve had throughout has been unquestionable and that - as a team makes us feel extremely lucky to have that sort of support.”

Morgan is also seeing it as another opportunity to boost the game overall.

“I think it presents another opportunity for both teams and the ICC to sell the game on a huge platform.

Two very strong sides hopefully will produce a really good game of cricket tomorrow. It’s on terrestrial television around the country and

obviously various outlets online. So it presents a huge opportunity for us to sell this great game.”

Morgan is aware of the record that before England triumphed over New Zealand in the round-robin stage this time, they hadn’t beaten the Kiwis in the World Cup since 1983, suffering a string of five consecutive defeats. He is cautious about being too confident and predicts that it could be a win for his side.

“It’s difficult to say because they are such a stable side. They offer threats throughout with the ball and they’re just a stable side with the bat. I think there will be times throughout the game tomorrow where it could be won or lost, but I think it will be a really good game of cricket.”

Williamson was asked whether he was getting a sense of how big it is back home in New Zealand. His response was: “We’ve seen a lot of support come through, which is awesome. I suppose the last World Cup was at home and a lot of the attention was there on your doorstep and we had crowds of Kiwis coming to every game. It was also special that we were playing at home.

“Over here, we’ve got a few scattered in among the majority of opposition crowds but that’s great as well and I know we’re getting a lot of support from a long way off.”

Wait extends for Serena Williams as inspired Halep wins Wimbledon

By Martyn Herman LONDON, England (Reuters) - Serena Williams remained tantalisingly one short of a record-equalling 24 Grand Slam singles titles, as Simona Halep thrashed the off-key American in a one-sided Wimbledon final yesterday.

Halep began the week halting American 15-year-old Coco Gauff’s dream run and will end it at the Champions Ball after dismantling seven-time winner Williams 6-2, 6-2 with an inspired display on Centre Court.

She is Romania’s first Wimbledon singles champion.

The 27-year-old set the tone by breaking the Williams serve in the opening game and raced into a 4-0 lead in front of 15 000 incredulous fans.

She remained rock-solid throughout, making only three

unforced errors in a remarkable display of defence mixed with clinical counter-punching. Williams simply could not respond.

Even when Williams fired herself up at the start of the second set and began thumping the ball with her customary power, seventh seed Halep refused to back off.

Halep weathered the squall then reeled off the last five games of what she described as the match of her life.

Williams has now lost three Grand Slam finals without winning a set since returning to action last March, following the birth of daughter Olympia in September 2017.

But this was the most chastening as she lasted only 56 minutes before biffing a forehand into the net - her 26th unforced error - to end the contest.

It was the second shortest Wimbledon final since Martina Navratilova thrashed Andrea Jaeger in 1983, one minute longer than Petra Kvitova’s trouncing of Eugenie Bouchard five years ago.

“She played out of her mind,” Williams, who had won nine of her previous 10 matches against Halep, said on court after picking up the runners-up salver for the second straight year, having run into a similarly inspired Angelique Kerber last year.

“It was a little bit a deer in headlights for me. Whenever a player plays like that you just have to take your hat off.”

Until yesterday the only other Romanian to reach a Wimbledon final was Ilie Nastase who finished runner-up in 1972 and 1976.

Halep went one better as she added the Wimbledon crown to the French Open she won in 2018.

‘MOTHER’S DREAM’ Halep said it had been her “mother’s dream” for her to hold aloft the Venus Rosewater Dish.

Victory means she becomes a lifetime Wimbledon member.

“I wanted this badly,” she said. “When I started the tournament, I talked to the people from the locker room that my dream is to become a member here. So today it’s real.

“I’m very sure that was the best match of my life.”

After losing to Kerber a year ago, then to Naomi Osaka in a stormy U.S. Open final, Williams, 37, hoped it would be third time lucky to finally move level with Australian Margaret Court on the all-time list of Grand Slam title collectors.

Despite having only five tournaments under her belt this year, Williams, who won her first Wimbledon title in 2002, had looked calm and composed en route to her 11th Wimbledon final.

If she thought she could put down an early marker she was mistaken as three unforced errors in the opening game handed Halep an unexpected gift of an early break.

Halep grew in stature and could not miss. Williams, on

the other hand, looked tight and lacked feel.

There was strong support for Williams, including of the royal variety with friend Meghan Markle joining the Duchess of Cambridge in a crammed Royal Box. But it was Halep who wowed the fans, haring across the turf to whip a superb backhand on her way to a second break which she sealed with a flashing, backhand return winner.

Williams served 45 aces en route to the final but it was Halep who served the first one yesterday to move 4-0 ahead.

It was 13 minutes before Williams even got the scoreboard ticking. “Wake up Serena” someone yelled as Halep served for the first set at 5-2. It fell on deaf ears as a shanked forehand return ended the set after 26 minutes.

Halep knew there would be a backlash and Williams raised the decibel level at the start of the second set, bent double, fists clenched and bellowing after a volleyed winner.

Williams led 2-1 but Halep’s scampering was making her play an extra shot in every rally, many of which were wild ones.

At 2-2 Halep scooped up a ball she had no right to reach and Williams lurched forward to blaze a backhand long.

The end came quickly.

Halep broke again for 5-2 and showed no nerves as she calmly held on to claim the title Williams craved.

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All the work's done, Federer says ahead of Wimbledon final

By Ossian Shine LONDON, England (Reuters) - As Roger Federer prepares to take on Novak Djokovic in today’s Wimbledon final, he knows there is little he can do now to improve his chances of winning a 21st Grand Slam title - all the work has been done.

“This is like a school,” the Swiss 37-year-old said.

“The day of the test, you’re not going to read many books that day. You don’t have the time anyhow.

“It’s quite clear the work was done way before. It’s been a rock-solid year (for me) ... the stars are aligned right now. From that standpoint I can go into the match

very confident.”

With eight Wimbledon titles in his locker, Federer has every right to be confident.

But Djokovic is himself a four-time champion, and can equal the great Bjorn Borg with victory for a fifth crown.

More importantly, the Serb beat Federer in the final here in 2014 and 2015.

“We all know how good he is anywhere, but especially here,” Djokovic said of the Swiss.

“This surface complements his game very much.

He loves to play very fast, takes away the time from his opponent; just doesn’t give you any same looks.

“He just rushes you to everything. So for players, maybe like Nadal or myself

who like to have a little more time, it’s a constant pressure that you have to deal with.

“I’ve played with Roger in some epic finals here a couple years in a row, so I know what to expect. Of

Novak Djokovic

Barbados, Jamaica win to set up CWI U-17 final round decider PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Unbeaten Barbados thrashed hosts Trinidad and Tobago by seven wickets while Jamaica edged winless Guyana, to set up a decisive final round clash in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Under-17 Championship here Friday.

Playing at the National Cricket Centre, Barbados chased down a paltry 79 to win by three wickets while at Gilbert Park, Jamaica superbly defended a modest 104 to win by five runs.

Barbados top the standings with 15.9 points with Jamaica second on 13. The two clashed yesterday at Gilbert Park, in a contest that will determine the champions of this year’s tournament.

It was fast bowler Jaden Leacock who set the stage for Barbados’ victory, producing an excellent spell to capture seven wickets for eight runs from 7.2 overs as T&T crumbled to 78 all out off 28.2 overs.

Isaiah Gomez resisted with an unbeaten 18 but was just one of three T&T batsmen in double figures as they slumped from 30 for one in the 10th over, to lose their last nine wickets for 48 runs.

In reply, Barbados were in trouble at 30 for three in the 12th over but recovered to reach their target in the 23rd over, courtesy of Nimar Bolden’s unbeaten 33 and Kevin Wickham’s 32 not out.

The pair combined in a 51-run, unbroken fourth-wicket stand which carried their side over the line easily in the end.

Jamaica, meanwhile, struggled after choosing to bat and could muster only 104 all out off 47.4 overs, as fast bowler Sheldon Charles (4-26) and Shrawan Chaitnarine (3-11) hurt the innings.

Guyana’s poor form then continued when they were bowled out for 99 off 46 overs, with Zeynul Ramsammy stroking 23 not out while Steven Wedderburn (27), Brandon English (2-8) and Jahieem Bartley (2-12) all picked up two wickets each.

Guyana were sliding at 45 for seven

Barbados fast bowler Jaden Leacock

in the 23rd over but recovered after Ramsammy anchored a stand of 25 for the eighth wicket with Chaitnarine (9) and put on a further 26 for the ninth wicket with Niran Bissu (13).

With the game on edge, they lost their last two wickets for three runs in the space of five balls.

At the Brian Lara Stadium, Teddy Bishop narrowly missed out on three figures as Windward Islands went down to Leeward Islands by 13 runs.

Chasing 195 for victory, the Windwards got 96 from Bishop and 22 from Jedd Joseph, before declining to 181 for nine of their 50 overs.

They had looked on course for victory at 104 for three in the 28th over after Bishop put on 54 for the third wicket with Ojay Matthews (13) and a further 50 for the fourth wicket with Jedd Joseph.

However, Anderson Amurdan snatched three for 19 and Akadianto Willett, two for 32, as the Windwards lost six wickets for 75 runs.

Bishop faced 109 balls and struck 12 fours.

Earlier, Clinton Reece top-scored with 67 while Kenny Sutton got 55 as the Leewards, sent in, gathered 194 all out off 49.2 overs.

Fast bowler Tyran Theodore grabbed five for 42.

course, I’m going to be excited and nervous and everything that you can think of.

“I’m going to do my best to control that in some way and be able to portray my best tennis (hopefully) in a balanced state throughout the match.”

Federer was sublime in beating Rafael Nadal in Friday’s semi-final, whereas Djokovic was not tested nearly so much against Roberto Bautista Agut.

The Swiss will need to match those heights again today to end a four-match losing streak against today’s opponent.

It would be unwise to bet against him managing that, but many commentators make top seed Djokovic the

Roger Federer

favourite.

“For today’s match, it’s hard to not see Novak as a pretty strong, clear favourite for the title because Federer’s weapon is probably his serve, and Novak finds a way

to neutralise that,” said former world number one Mats Wilander.

“Federer’s serve is not that hard, but well placed ... so Novak will get a play on most serves and then he’s in the rally straightaway.

“If you look at everything, then you say that the weakest part of Djokovic’s game is as good as Federer’s, he’s stronger in a couple of places such as movement, the return of serve and the backhand. I think it’s going to be tough.

I think Djokovic is going to feel pressure, that’s for sure, but then for Federer it might be his last chance.”

Grant-Stuart upsets strong field to cop 19th P&P Insurance cycling crown GUYANA’S only para-cyclist Walter Grant-Stuart produced a brilliant piece of cycling yesterday, to upset a field of Guyana’s top cyclists in the feature 35-lap Schoolboys and Invitational event of the 19th annual P&P Insurance 11-race cycling meet.

Riding under overcast conditions at the inner circuit of the National Park, Grant-Stuart stuck with the peloton in the initial stages and eventually broke away with Michael Anthony, National champion Jamual John and Romello Crawford.

Known for explosive finishes, Grant-Stuart came up clutch down the back end, as he left Anthony and company in the dust to cross the finish line in one hour 17 minutes 5 seconds without an opponent in sight.

Anthony had to settle for second while Crawford finished third. Last year’s winner of the event, John, had to settle for fourth place this time around while Curtis ‘Chappy’ Dey and Christopher ‘Chicken Legs’ Griffith were fifth and sixth respectively.

Closing out the top 10 were Briton John, Paul DeNobrega, Paul Choo Wee Nam and Andre ‘Padlock’ Greene in that exact order.

Meanwhile Segun Hubbard came out on top in the Veterans event with Sherwin Sampson crossing the finish line first in the Juveniles race.

The cycling meet was sponsored by the P&P Insurance Company for the 19th year and was organised

by National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed.

Walter Grant-Stuart crosses the finish line unchallenged to win the feature 35-lap event of the P&P Insurance 11-race cycling meet at the inner circuit of the National Park.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

Over-50s to feature in Prime Minister’s T20 tourney …Open category to be contested under lights

By Frederick Halley FOLLOWING the in troduction of the Over50 category in all of the other international tournaments, Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) will follow suit when it stages the third annual Prime Minister’s T20 softball extravaganza during the first weekend in November.

Another unprecedented first will see the Open category played under lights on Sunday, November 3, at Everest Cricket Club ground, Camp Road, Georgetown.

The Over-50 category, which started as a tryout in Canada in 2017 during the second edition of the Toronto Cup and has gained in popularity ever since, is being added to the Open and Over-45 divisions.

In order to get local teams in tune and in top gear for the inaugural staging, the GSCL’s first-ever Over50 competition is set to get underway shortly at several

Defending Over-45 champions, Regal Masters, during their recent stint in New York. (Frederick Halley photo)

venues across Georgetown and its environs and, according to its president Ian John, the tournament will be played on a round-robin basis.

Participating teams will be afforded free entrance with several trophies up for grabs and among the venues listed are Everest, GNIC and

GYO. Meanwhile, John also indicated that several overseas teams from the USA and Canada have already signalled their intention to participate in the Prime Minister’s T20 Cup. He is, therefore, urging local teams to secure their spots since priority

will be given to the first eight in each category.

While the entrance fee remains free, teams are required to deposit a commitment fee of G60 000 or US$300 which will be refunded on the second day of the tournament (November 2). John pointed out that

there have been instances where teams gave their assurances of competing and pulled out at the last moment, placing the organisers in a quandary to fill places, hence the reason for the commitment fee.

John also told Chronicle Sport that the GSCL will allow three 49-year-olds to participate in the Over-50 division.

The GSCL, John pointed out, will have zero tolerance for bowlers who are chucking with off-break and roundarm bowling being allowed and umpires will be given strict guidelines for players to comply with.

While not stating what penalty teams are likely to incur, John disclosed that any issue featuring match-fixing will be taken extremely seriously and teams in violation will be dealt with accordingly.

He cited instances where teams were allegedly accused of fixing games in order to allow other teams to qualify for semi-final spots. The GSCL president assured that the league is aiming to allow all participants a “level playing field,” and a committee will be tasked with dealing with

any issues of this sort.

All teams will be required to attend a meeting on Thursday, October 31, prior to the commencement of the tournament the following day, and their 15-member team list should also include identification photographs which will be placed in a database system.

Once again, cheerleaders will be on hand to entertain the hundreds expected to be on hand for the finals while live commentary will also be part of the day’s proceedings.

While a new Over-50 champions will be crowned, Speedboat and Regal Masters will be going all out to defend championship honours in the Open and Over-45 categories respectively.

Registration forms can be uplifted at Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, 69 Seaforth Street, Campbellville and teams can contact the GSCL Inc. on 225 4802 or 226 4205.

John reminded that the tournament will once again be very lucrative with patrons assured of lots of giveaways when the finals are staged.

Tour de France

Thomas survives crash to finish in peloton DEFENDING champion Geraint Thomas lost time to Frenchmen Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot after crashing 15km from the end of stage eight of the Tour de France.

Belgium’s Thomas de Gendt won after a stage-long breakaway, as France’s Alaphilippe reclaimed the yellow jersey with a late attack on the 230km route from Macon to Saint-Etienne.

He escaped alongside Pinot, who came second to climb to third overall. Briton Thomas, 33, is fifth overall, one minute 12 seconds behind.

Today’s stage is a 170.5km hilly ride from Saint-Etienne to Brioude. ‘ IT WAS A KEY MOMENT IN THE RACE The Welshman had looked strong, occupying a spot near the front of the peloton for most of the day, but was unable to avoid trouble when Canada’s Michael Woods and Thomas’ Ineos team-

mate Gianni Moscon collided in front of him.

Thomas, who was unhurt, became tangled up with Moscon’s bike, which snapped in two.

With the help of Wout Poels, Thomas was able to chase back to a much-reduced peloton, but he was unable to respond to Alaphilippe’s near-simultaneous attack.

“I’m fine but it was just frustrating,” Thomas told ITV4. “It was a key moment in the race.

Woods crashed and took out Gianni and me and I just got tangled in Gianni’s bike.

“By the time I got up to the group I was gassed for a bit and obviously that’s when they started to sprint away. It’s annoying and frustrating but to come back like I did (is pleasing).

“If I hadn’t crashed I could have followed (Pinot and Alaplilippe) and it (would have been) a totally different story then.

“Thibaut Pinot and Julian Alaphillipe have a good kick and

Thomas de Gendt’s epic win was his second stage victory in the Tour.

punch - they are the guys to watch and beat.”

Thomas’ position in the general classification was unaffected, but he lost 39 seconds to Alaphillipe and 28 to Pinot, both of whom collected time bonuses on the final climb on the Cote de la Jaillere as well as at the finishing line.

Britain’s Adam Yates finished in the same group as Thomas, alongside all the other main contenders to move up to 12th overall, 1:47 behind Alaphillipe.

GENDT’S SOLO RIDE TO VICTORY de Gendt’s superb solo capped a day that began with him among a four-man breakaway on the longest stage of this year’s race.

The 32-year-old, whose

only previous stage victory at the Tour came on Mont Ventoux in 2016, won all the classified climbs to move into second in the king of the mountains competition behind Lotto-Soudal team-mate Tim Wellens.

With the chase intensifying behind him, de Gendt then broke clear of CCC’s Alessandro de Marchi and held off Alaphilippe and Pinot’s late charge.

“The pack was closing and I had to go solo to try and stay ahead of them,” de Gendt told ITV4.

“I had amazing legs today. I had a really good feeling all day and with 70km to go I really started to believe in it. It hurts. It really hurts.”

(BBC Sport)

South Africa Racing Tips Scottsville 08:15 hrs Miss Jagger 08:50 hrs Spring Fling 09:25 hrs Pumpkin Queen 10:00 hrs Letaba 10:35 hrs Cosmic Cutter Irish Racing Tips Fairyhouse 08:30 hrs So Wonderful 09:00 hrs Aleef 09:35 hyrs Helen Of Albany 10:10 hrs Surrounding 10:45 hrs Silk Cravat 11:20 hrs Bionic Tonic 11:55 hrs Laura Bullion 12:30 hrs Aasleagh Fawn Sligo 08:45 hrs Indian Admiral 09:15 hrs Argent Et Or 09:50 hrs Amor Verdadero

10:25 hrs Our Brian 11:00 hrs Cailean’s Angel 11:35 hrs Skeaping 12:10 hrs Last Golden Ticket English Racing Tips Perth 09:05 hrs Borice 09:40 hrs Top Of The Charts 10:15 hrs Always Tipsy 10:50 hrs Go West Young Man 11:25 hrs Emerald Rocket 12:00 hrs Boy’s On Tour 12:35 hrs Pronise Of Peace Stratford 09:25 hrs What Will Be 10:00 hrs Iusetaluvheronce 10:35 hrs Adjutant 11:10 hrs Between The Waters 11:45 hrs Vinnie’s Getaway 12:20 hrs Atlantic Storm 12:55 hrs Rasasee

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

Serena’s search for the elusive ‘number 24’ goes on

By Pritha Sarkar LONDON, England (Reuters) - Just how badly things were going for Serena Williams in yesterday’s Wimbledon final against Simona Halep was summed up by a booming plea that came from the crowd: “Wake up, Serena!”

Williams heard the message loud and clear but unfortunately for the American it was one of those days when nothing could save her from the 6-2, 6-2 annihilation she suffered at the hands of Halep in 56 minutes.

A day when Williams had been expected to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of winning 24 Grand Slam singles titles ended with the 37-year-old American suffering her heaviest defeat in a major final.

Since winning the first of her slams at the 1999 U.S. Open, Williams has lost only nine finals at the tournaments that make up the Big Four in

tennis.

But never before had she been up against an opponent she described as “playing out of her mind”.

“For me any loss is not easy, per se. When someone plays lights out, there’s really not much you can do. You just have to understand that that was their day today,” said Williams, who won the last of her 23 majors while already pregnant with her daughter Olympia at the 2017 Australian Open.

“It was a little bit a deer in headlights for me. My opponent played unbelievably.”

The performance was definitely very un-Williamslike. Considering she had beaten Halep in nine of their 10 previous meetings, including at this year’s Australian Open, the American was the overwhelming favourite to win yesterday.

HAILSTORM OF ERRORS Add in the fact that she

Serena Williams (USA) serves during a match against Simona Halep (ROU) on day 12 at the All England Lawn and Croquet Club. (Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports)

had fired down 45 aces and won 83 percent of her service games to reach the final and it seemed as if it was game on for Williams to hoist the Venus Rosewater Dish for an eighth time.

Instead, her game fell apart in a hailstorm of 26 unforced errors. In contrast, Halep’s tally stood at just

three as the Romanian produced what she hailed as the “best tennis of my life”.

“Today nothing really helped. I made way too many errors for a lot of stuff to work,” said Williams, who trailed 4-0 before finally registering on the scoreboard.

The result means Williams has now had three

England favourites but anything possible, warns Williamson

By Amlan Chakraborty LONDON, England (Reuters) - New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has no problem that hosts England have been branded favourites for today’s Cricket World Cup final but says anything is possible.

New 50-overs world champions will emerge at Lord’s after what many consider will be a battle between England’s deep batting lineup and New Zealand’s incisive bowling attack.

England ruthlessly destroyed five-time champions Australia to move to the cusp of their first-ever men’s 50-overs World Cup title, while New Zealand’s crafty bowlers defended a small total against two-time champions India in the other semi-final.

“I think England rightly so deserve to be favourites.

Coming into this tournament from the start, they were favourites and they’ve been playing really good cricket,” a relaxed-looking Williamson told a news conference when asked if his side were underdogs.

“Whatever dogs we are, it’s just important that we focus on the cricket that we want to play and we have seen over the years that anybody can beat anybody regardless of breed of dog,” he said with a smile.

The canine reference appeared to amuse the Kiwi skipper who was also asked how it would feel to play party-pooper in a match which would be broadcast free-to-air on TV. “Party-poopers? You talking about dogs again, hey?” he said with a smile.

“Look, we are really looking forward to the occasion and the end point and the result ... focussing too much on it, I don’t think, is a positive thing.”

England will expect another flying start from openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, who have combined in four successive century partnerships.

Williamson acknowledged the threat they pose, but said nothing can be taken for granted.

“Those two have been fantastic throughout this

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson

whole competition and prior as well,” said the Kiwi batting mainstay.

“There is a huge amount of respect for the match-winners that they have within their side, obviously the top of the order and throughout.

“But the focus for us is very much about the cricket that we want to play and the

performance we want to put on the board and if we do that, we have seen throughout this competition that anybody can beat anybody.”

Williamson was part of the Brendon McCullum-led squad who suffered a heavy defeat in the 2015 final against Australia.

The 28-year-old’s level-headed leadership, along with his prolific form with the bat, has been instrumental in New Zealand’s second straight run to the final.

“I try not to get too caught up in the results and hopefully not too emotional about just the outcome and maybe look at it with a bit more reason ... and then try and move on from that as quickly as possible.”

“There’s always more to the picture than just the end point.

“We look forward to tomorrow (today), treating it with a huge amount of respect because it’s not very often you get the opportunity to be out in a World Cup final, but very much focussed on what we need to try and achieve.”

failed attempts in finals to win that 24th major - she also contested last year’s Wimbledon and U.S. Open showpiece matches.

There is no doubt Williams is a supreme athlete considering she has made it to three Grand Slam finals since suffering multiple complications following the birth of her daughter in September 2017, but the near misses will irritate her.

“In my 20s I was always expected to win but ... seems like every Grand Slam final I’m in recently has been an unbelievable effort to get there,” said the former world number one, who had played only five tournaments this year before her run at the All England Club.

As far as American greats Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe are concerned, Williams needs to get back to basics.

“It’s essential for Serena to play more matches. You can’t fake it. You need those

matches,” said Navratilova.

McEnroe added: “Serena has to get herself even fitter because at that level she can be exposed.”

Williams had faced only one top-30 player coming into the final - Germany’s Julia Goerges in the third round - hence when she came up against former world number one Halep, she found herself ambushed with no way out.

But the champion who grew up practising on cracked public courts in Compton, surrounded by drug dealers and drive-by shootings, is determined to show the world that the Serena Williams story is far from over.

“I’ve got to keep trying, keep fighting and enjoying the sport,” she said.

“I just have to figure out a way to win a final.”

Until she does that, Australia’s Court can sleep peacefully knowing her record is safe - at least for now.

WIFBSC team to 150th Imperial Meeting getting ready to fire from July 18 in UK THE West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) 11-member team to the 150th Imperial Meeting of the National Rifle Association (United Kingdom) in Bisley is raring and ready to take on the rest of the world from July 18.

With sponsorship from a number of entities and individuals, the Council was able to produce a Team Jacket for this historical event. According to Adjutant of the team, Guyanese-based USA shooter Sigmund Douglas, he is happy with the response to the request by all towards producing the jacket.

“I would like, on behalf of the team, to thank all those companies and individuals that have contributed to this project. The team would strive to do their best in the competition which would be tough but we will persevere.”

The companies contributing are Industrial Safety Supplies Inc., Crown Mining Supply and Concept Innovation Security Inc. The individuals are Mahendra Persaud, Assistant Com-

missioner of Police (ret’d) Paul Slowe, president of the WIFBSC Major (ret’d) D. John Nelson JP, Norris Gomez, David Dummont, Lindley Scott, Carl Reid, Nelson Simmons, Wilbur, along with the New Yorkbased trio of, David Lam, Lamart Williams and Abraham Araya.

Guyanese Lennox Braithwaite will perform duties as captain of the team. He, along with John Fraser (Guyanese/USA based), Anderson Perry (Antigua & Barbuda), Rev. Olsen Daniels (Antigua & Barbuda) and Douglas would be arriving in the UK next Wednesday while another Guyanese, Dylan Fields, would be departing today.

Perry and Daniels would be making their respective debut at Bisley. Already in England are Trinidad and Tobago duo of Norris Gomez and Michael Perez (drafted in last week), as well as the UK-based pair of Chalkie White (St Kitts & Nevis) and Caroline Gomez (Trinidad and Tobago).

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, July 14, 2019

Georgetown Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship

LA Ballers impress on opening night, ‘Gold is Money’, Sparta Boss secure group spots THE opening night of the Georgetown Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship lived up to its billing, as one of the most anticipated streetball tournaments. There were eight high octane knockout clashes with a couple of new faces impressing on the night.

When action kicked off at the National Cultural Centre tarmac on Friday night, debutants LA Ballers, consisting mainly of national youth footballers, took on Trap Squad. The youngsters stuck five goals past them without response to book their spot in the Group stage.

Nicholas McArthur opened proceedings with a third-minute goal before Jaleel Hamilton made it 2-0 in the fifth and Rashawn Ritch scored immediately after; Simeon Moore handed the Ballers a 4-0 advantage

Sparta Boss’ Ryan Hackett (green bib) challenges a Judgement Yard player for the ball during their encounter on the opening night of the Georgetown Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship.

in the 12th minute before Hamilton scored his second of the game to put the icing on the cake.

Other newcomers, John Street, battled hard throughout their fixture against sea-

soned veterans North Ruimveldt but it took a special moment from Venezuelan G. Owadr in the 18th minute to decide the winner.

Owadr chested down a lofted pass close to Ruim-

veldt’s goal and volleyed home to spark jubilant celebrations from John Street.

The Venezuelan’s strike counted as a ‘Guinness Goal’ (a goal scored in the final two minutes of the game) which meant the game ended 2-0 in favour of the newcomers.

Meanwhile, Alexander Village edged California Square 2-1 in a close encounter; Leon Yaw struck in just the second minute of the game to put Alexander Village 1-0 up but Meshach Barret equalised in the fifth minute before Mickel Mark handed Alexander Village a 2-1 lead in the seventh minute, a lead that they kept for the remainder of the game.

Streetball juggernauts Sparta Boss took to the tarmac in the penultimate game of the night and handed Judgement Yard a 3-0 defeat; Ryan ‘Bom Bom’ Hackett was the man on target for

Sparta with a goal in the 15th minute. He also struck in the closing minutes to record a Guinness Goal which meant the scoreline ended at 3-0.

Defending champions ‘Gold is Money’ had a comfortable 2-0 victory over Globe Yard in the final fixture of the night, with Jermin Junior and Michael Pedro scoring in the 13th and 17th minutes respectively.

Albouystown-A required penalties (3-2) to get past Upsetters while North East La Penitence hit four past Stabroek Ballers (2 goals) to book their spot in the group stage.

Back Circle also required penalties to beat Norton Street after the end of regulation time saw the scores tied at 3-3. Dellon Kelly, Selwyn Williams and Stephon McLean were the men on target for Back Circle while Carl Griffith netted a

hat-trick for Norton Street.

When it came down to kicks from the spot though, Back Circle prevailed 4-3.

The elimination fixtures continued last night at Burnham Court with eight matches, the results of which will be published in a subsequent article.

Winners of the Georgetown Championship will walk away with a trophy and $500 000 while runners-up will pocket $300 000 with the third-place finishers collecting $200 000.

Fourth-place finishers will find themselves $100 000 richer while the contestants in the ‘Plate’ section will have an opportunity to win a similar prize.

The event will last for seven days with the other playing dates being July 19, 20, 26 and 27. The grand final is scheduled for August 3.

Smith, Warner and Bancroft included Cabal and Farah create men's doubles history for Colombia for Australia v Australia A clash

By Pritha Sarkar

STEVE Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have all been named in a 25-man group for the match between Australia and Australia A in Southampton from July 23-.26.

Having been beaten by England in the Cricket World Cup semi-finals, Australia will now turn their attention to Test action, with the Ashes beginning on August 1.

The tourists will first face their 'A' team, and a squad for both sides to select from for a 12-v-12 four-day match has been confirmed.

Smith and Warner were both involved in the World Cup

for the ODI side, but neither they nor Bancroft have featured for Australia's Test team since they were banned following the ball-tampering scandal last year.

Former skipper Smith and vice-captain Warner served year-long bans, while Bancroft, who has subsequently been playing county cricket with Durham, was suspended for nine months following the incident during Australia's tour of South Africa.

Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell are not included in this squad, but Alex Carey is involved and could get a first Test nod against England after

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday July 14, 2019)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel-225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

Dinesh Ramdin & Deryck Murray

(2)

Oshane Thomas & Shai Hope

(1) (2)

Today’s Quiz:

How many runs and wickets Bangladeshi Shakib-ul-Hassan garnered in World Cup 2019?

Which team ended the preliminary round of World Cup 2019 without a single point?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

an impressive World Cup. Selector Trevor Hohns said of the group named for the warm-up match: "We have picked a group of players for a

serious contest in Southampton which will assist us in finalising our squad for the Ashes series.

"Even though we know what the core of our Ashes squad will look like, the match in Southampton will be a final opportunity for some players to push their cases for inclusion in the touring party as there are still a small number of spots up for grabs.

"On that basis, we are expecting a full-on contest between players who will be hungry to succeed.

“In one way it is a shame that some players will have to miss out as every player in Southampton will have a strong case for inclusion in the Ashes squad.

But the positive is that this group shows we now have a degree of depth, which stands us in good stead both now and in the middle term."

Squad: Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Joe Burns, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Tim Paine, Kurtis Patterson, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah became the first Colombians to win a Grand Slam men’s doubles title when they beat France’s Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(6), 6-7(5), 6-3 in a near five-hour epic at Wimbledon yesterday.

Farah punched away a backhand volley winner on match point before promptly collapsing to the ground in triumph.

“I’m speechless. I kept watching the watch through the first and second sets. I’m like: ‘We finished the second set and it’s been two hours and 15 minutes play. This is ridiculous.

How long is this?’” said Farah.

“From there on, we just kept battling. Once we lost the fourth set ... I put my legs up. I got a rub from my physio.

“We come back to the court, I had a second wind. I felt so good again. I feel like we played unreal that (fifth) set.”

Cabal, who will rise to the top of the doubles rankings when the new list is released tomorrow, added: “We just won Wimbledon for Colombia.

It’s huge for our country. The moment we’re living right now is just crazy.”

The defeat capped a painful evening for Mahut as he rolled around the turf early on in the contest after taking a blow to

Colombia's Juan-Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah celebrate winning the men's doubles final trophies against France's Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. (REUTERS/Toby Melville)

his eye. For a few minutes, it was uncertain if the Frenchman would be able to continue as he was helped to his courtside chair before medics examined the injury and checked his vision.

He came back on court after taking a medical time-out and did not appear to suffer any lingering after-effects as he was soon up a set.

Mahut, who had won the full complement of Grand Slam men’s doubles titles with Pierre-Hugues Herbert, before being dumped by his fellow Frenchman earlier this year, looked like he could be walking off with his second Wimbledon crown as he and Roger-Vasselin produced some high-quality winners to level the match at two sets all.

But another brutal body blow in the eighth game of the

decider left Mahut writhing in pain on the green turf and Cabal and Farah showed little sympathy as they pounced to break for a 5-3 lead.

Mahut is no stranger to Wimbledon marathons having come off second best in the longest ever Grand Slam singles match, an 11-hour five-minute first-round tussle won by American John Isner in 2010.

While the Colombians clambered up the stands to celebrate with their nearest and dearest, Mahut consoled Roger-Vasselin who was crying into his towel as he struggled to come to terms with the near miss.

At four hours 57 minutes, it fell just four minutes short of the longest ever men’s doubles final won by John McEnroe and Michael Stich in 1992.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 14, 2019

GOA president announces Pan-American Games contingent NALINI McKoy has been named Chef-de-Mission of a contingent that comprises 20 male and eight female athletes, who will represent Guyana at the 18th edition of the Pan-American Games in Lima, Peru, from July 26 to August 11.

With the officials, the total contingent will comprise 42 persons.

The contingent was announced by president of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K.A. Juman-Yassin at the Association’s headquarters, Liliendaal on Saturday.

Yassin cautioned persons on how they weigh expectations, given the current gulf between some Guyanese athletes and those of the developed world.

“I am hoping that our players will compete well. I am hoping for medals, but the important thing is for athletes to do their best. It is for athletes to be able to see in their mind that they could win, for them to picture themselves on the podium. Unless they do that it is not going to happen.”

He added, “It is so much a coach can do, it is so much a national association or the GOA can do. At the end of the day, a lot of the responsibility is on the athlete. Parallel to

that, for that athlete to develop and be successful, that athlete needs to be exposed to good training facili-

they will produce better results.

Notable absentees are Troy Doris and Leslain Baird, who, it is

Mexico.

Below is a full listing of the entire team and the discipline they

GOA president K.A. Juman Yassin (centre), General Secretary Hector Edwards (standing far left) and Administrative Secretary and Chef-de-Mission for the Pan-Am Games Nalini McKoy (sitting right) along with some coaches and athletes who will represent Guyana in Peru.

ties, good competition, and unless he/she has those things, they are running against the tide.”

GOA General Secretary, Hector Edwards, explained that the PanAm Games is the stepping-stone for the Olympics since the Games act as qualifier for some disciplines.

Edwards echoed the sentiments of Yassin, that athletes will need support and over time as they mature

understood, are currently not fully fit for competition.

The Games, which started in 1951, are held every four years.

Guyana have competed in 15 editions of the Games, accruing eighteen medals: two gold, four silver and 12 bronze.

However, Guyana have not medalled at the Games since 2011, when it was held in Guadalajara,

will be participating in.

Badminton (July 29-August 2): Narayan Ramdhani, Priyanna Ramdhani, Gokarn Ramdhani (manager/ coach).

Boxing (July 27-August 2): Keevin Allicock, Terrence Poole (manager/coach).

Taekwondo (July 27-29): Justin Choy, Mark Choy (coach).

Squash (July 25-31): Mary

Hassan expects battle with Seebarran in Sport Tuner Class THERE are lots of battles within the war as the second round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sport’s Club’s National Race of Champions gets going in one week’s time.

And one of those is a battle for the Miracle Optical-sponsored Sport Tuner category, which is set to resume on July 21 between Azad Hassan and Raymond Seebarran.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Hassan said, “Yeah, I can’t wait to get back in action in the sport tuner class. I think my main competition this year is Raymond Seebarran, not forgetting the return of Roopnarine Dasrat. The top four competitors are within one-tenth of a second from each other.”

“I think we are about eight points apart but it’s no big distance that can’t be closed down, come next

Fung-A-Fat, Ashley Khalil, Taylor Fernandes, David Fernandes (manager), Juanita Fernandes (official chaperone), Ramon Chan-a-Sue (coach).

Table Tennis (August 4-10): Chelsea Edghill, Godfrey Munroe (manager), Idi Lewis (coach).

Athletics: Winston George (200m), Aliyah Abrams (400m), Emanuel Archibald (long jump), Brenessa Thompson, Julian Edmonds (manager/coach). Track and Field will be held August 6-10 and the Guyanese representatives will arrive on August 2.

Rugby (July 26-28): Claudius Butts, Lancelot Adonis, Richard Staglon, Peabo Hamilton, Vallon Adams, Patrick King, Jamal Angus, Godfrey Broomes, Avery Corbin, Dwayne Schroeder, Ozie McKenzie, Ronald Mayers, Selwyn Henry, Peter Green (manager), Sherlock Sam (coach), Akeem Fraser (physiotherapist).

Swimming (August 6-10): Daniel Scott, Nikita Fiedtkou, Paul Mahaica (manager/coach). (Newsroom)

St Lucia edge Suriname 4-3 in entertaining CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship qualifiers opener

By Rawle Toney

Sunday.”

Hassan says he has a plan for the competition come next Sunday but did not let any details slip.

“I’m feeling good heading into the weekend, feeling pretty confident of myself and the car. From the last time out, we’ve made a few minor changes in keeping with the rules.”

He noted that the last time out, he had some difficulties but promised his fans that he is more than ready for round two.

“I know there were a lot of guys who were looking for better performances from me and the team and I know that this time out, round two, is going to be different.”

His car is sponsored by GUYOIL, Buddy’s Entertainment Complex, Toucan Industries, John Lewis Styles and Zyna Furniture and is being prepared by Emran & Raymond Automotive Services under TEAM ER RACING”

A small but vocal crowd were kept on the edge of their seats as St Lucia held off Suriname in a ‘nail-bitter’ 4-3 win to secure three points when Group A of the CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship Qualifier got on the way at the National Track and Field Centre.

Tanika Bernard finished the night with a hat-trick, netting in the 28th, 57th and 64th minutes for St Lucia, while Britanya St Prix scored in the 14th minute.

For Suriname, Orethea Riley (22nd, 76th) and Candy Chin-see-Chong (90+7) found the net. The two sides started slow, being patient with touches, but it was St Lucia who looked more comfortable on the ball, especially in their attacking third.

St Prix had troubled the Surinamese defence early in the game but she would break away down the middle to hammer in a beauty past the advancing Suriname keeper. However, less than 10 minutes later, Riley

scored her first of two goals (22nd) with a clinical finish to level the scores.

Bernard would make it 2-1 in the 28th minute when she capitalised on a Suriname defensive error. The scores would remain 2-1 at the half and Bernard would net two more goals (57th and 64th) to rest St Lucia in a 4-1 lead.

However, just when St Lucia thought it was already in the bag, Riley scored a beautiful header in the 76th and Chinsee-Chong 90+7 minute; a free kick from almost at the centre line handed Suriname some hope.

However, resolute defending from St Lucia kept the Dutch-speaking country from securing a draw.

The CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Qualifiers is being held from July 13-21. Guyana is placed in Group A along with Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname and St Lucia.

Matches will continue on Monday from 18:00hrs at the same venue.

Cricket World Cup 2019 Final

England captain Eoin Morgan (left) and Kane Williamson, his New Zealand counterpart, pose with cricket’s biggest prize, at Lord’s.

(Image Credit: ICC Twitter)

England, New Zealand eye first-time champions’ tag PAGE

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Wait extends for Serena Williams as inspired Halep wins Wimbledon

Part of the action between Suriname and St Lucia in the opening Group A match in the CONCACAF U-20 Women Championship Qualifier. St Lucia would go on to win 4-3 .

(Samuel Maughn photo)

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Romania’s Simona Halep poses with the trophy as she celebrates after winning the final against Serena Williams of the U.S. at Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Britain. (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)

St Lucia edge Suriname 4-3 in entertaining CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship qualifiers opener 31

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SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2019