M&CC unveils new garbage collection schedule Page 9
Illegal airstrip was busy recently No. 104998
TUESDAY AUGUST 8, 2017
Price: $80
(VAT Inclusive)
…Rupununi residents call for Pa ge 3 thorough probe
Shoddy work
Fly Jamaica blames delays on safety checks, strikes Page 10
…Emergency works for Sand Creek Secondary
Page 16
Guyanese man found clinging to bamboo in Corentyne River Page 12
A resident points out the substandard work on the Sand Creek Secondary School building and attempts to remedy the cracks appearing in the infrastructure (Department of Public Information photo)
CANU seizes 9kg of cocaine ■ Page 14
Nothing trickling down Page 2
…Region 10 contractors, leaders flay procurement system
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Nothing trickling down …Region 10 contractors, leaders flay procurement system …say gov’t spending not reaching residents
By Ariana Gordon SEVERAL small contractors in Region 10 are complaining about what they described as the unfairness of the procurement process there. In fact, many have chided the move by the regional administration, which they say is responsible for the awarding of contracts in the region mainly to contractors from outside of the region. The contractors contend that while government has said it will ensure that 20 per cent of all government contracts are awarded to small contractors, as is stipulated by law, this is not being done in Region 10. Many have also alleged instances of corruption at the level of the Regional Administration and have called on Central Government to intervene, a claim which has been vehemently denied by Regional Chairman, Renis Morian. “We are not seeing the trickle down effects of the money being pumped into Region 10,” said one contractor who requested anonymity. The contractor who is fearful of victimisation said the situation is clearly one of friends and family benefiting. DATABASE OF CONTRACTORS “There needs to be a fair system…they need to have a database with contractors and make an assessment based on performance…there are many competent contractors in the Region, but we are being by-passed and that is not fair.” The contractor told the Guyana Chronicle that while many may want to blame central government for the sloth in economic activities, that blame needs to be placed at the feet of the regional administration. “A lot of things are not going too well…we hearing about the kind of
Region 10 Chairman, Renis Morian
Linden’s Mayor Carwyn Holland
money coming to the region from the government but we not seeing it…,” the contractor lamented. He said too that those tasked with the assessment of contracts within Region 10 are not at all competent for the job. “We need competent people that know the work…engineers or those with similar qualities and experience,” said the contractor of 15 years. He believes that Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, needs to intervene with a level of urgency. “The Minister needs to come, be involved and listen to the plight of the contractors,” while noting that some contractors may not have the financial strength to undertake some contracts, but if given the opportunity can receive financial backing. “But people have ways and means of getting money,” he said noting that the pre-qualification system is heavily flawed. The frustrated contractor said that in many cases contractors are being pre-qualified for contracts they are not qualified for. “I have that very problem…I have my expertise in a particular area but I am being pre-qualified for areas I have limited knowledge…
now that makes absolutely no sense…it seems these people don’t value tax payers’ money.” OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS Another contractor contended that he is not so worried about the use of contractors from outside of the region but noted that the system must be fair. He argued that the regional administration must create avenues whereby local contractors have a chance to compete. “In all fairness, any contractor can bid for any contract across this country but…the system has to be fair…could you imagine contractors with bad records getting the work… that is not good,” the man declared. He too refused to make public his name for fear of victimisation but made it clear that central government is not to be blamed. A third contractor who has some 20 years’ experience told the Guyana Chronicle he is “very much annoyed about the situation.” The man explained that there are external contractors who are awarded contracts and are charging the government or
APNU+AFC member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira
Former IMC Chair, Orin Gordon (Gina photo)
the Regional Administration for the sourcing of raw materials such as sand and laterite, which they are obtaining free of charge. “This is wrong! Absolutely wrong and this is the time central needs to get involved,” the frustrated contractor declared. “People are getting upset and we have worked hard to remove corruption, but clearly our efforts are in vain…we have two women who know nothing about tenders…the Regional Chairman sits on the Tender board and he shouldn’t be there…this is purely friends and family business,” the contractor continued. The man told the Guyana Chronicle that those who have experience in the procurement process were removed from office and as such, the system is in “total confusion”. “It is not central government, it is the people that are placed to govern the Region…central government needs to fix this…” he declared adding that a motion was moved by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in June to have those displaced from their jobs reinstated.
MP AWARE OF CONCERNS Meanwhile, when contacted on Monday, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, told the Guyana Chronicle that he is aware of the concerns raised by the contractors and is in total support of their contention. He made it clear, however, that all contractors are free to compete in the procurement process but noted the system should be fair. “I am saying our local contractors deserve the right to be afforded the opportunity. I am of the firm conviction that in order for us to give empowerment to the people… the locals who should benefit…to become economically empowered…I do believe we have the capability right in the Region to have the contracts completed in a satisfactory manner,” the MP opined. He said in the past, external contractors have “failed with distinction” in not meeting their contractual requirements and pointed to roads deteriorating within five months after completion. Figueira noted that when contracts are awarded, residents
of the region need to be more vigilant and demand value for money. “Should local contractors be awarded, then the local businessmen will benefit, the families will benefit and the community will benefit…and the trickledown effect would be felt.” He continued, “I believe the primary responsibility of the administration in doing the work legally is to seek to empower the locals to be above board economically and I am in support of the local contractors.” Similarly, former head of the Region 10 Interim Management Committee, Orin Gordon told this publication recently that government should not be blamed for any shortfalls within Region 10. He said the APNU+AFC administration has delivered in providing the Region’s highest budget of approximately $3.5B in 2015. Gordon said the unfortunate situation is that the “realization of that money given by the government was not felt within the community. I can’t blame the government, because I know they gave the highest budget ever…the regional budget is about $3.4B and the people did not see it being transformed.” He contended that the regional administration is not being asked to bend the rules, but noted more can be done for local contractors. “Help the constituents so they feel a part,” he said while questioning, “How has the money been spent? What did it do for the people within the community and that is what is upsetting. The government has delivered… at the local level what did we do to assist the people in the community?” He believes that the issuance of contracts to persons outside of the region defeats the purpose of regionalism. “The government has placed Turn to page 8 ►
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Illegal airstrip was busy recently …Rupununi residents call for thorough probe By Alva Solomon THE recent discovery of an aircraft landing strip along a roadway in the Rupununi by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has confirmed the suspicions of residents living in the border town of Lethem who witnessed aircraft overhead the area on several occasions. Reports are that the roadway where the GDF soldiers stumbled upon equipment left behind by persons unknown, was built several years ago by a company which was drilling for oil in the area. The roadway is located five miles west of the Santa Fe Mega farms in the Takutu Basin north of Lethem. It is also located close to the Ireng River which lies on the border between Guyana and Brazil. Last weekend’s discovery has also prompted calls from Lethem officials for a thorough investigation to be undertaken, as many recalled last September ‘s incident when an illegal aircraft was found hidden at Yupukari , a village located within 15 miles of the area where the GDF made Saturday’s discovery. Reports from Lethem are that persons known to the town are being fingered as being involved in the incident. A senior official in the region told the Guyana Chronicle that in recent months, residents had observed several instances in which aircraft were seen circling the unused roadway. “They need to question persons who live or work in that general area and some right in Lethem,” he said.
The roadway which is suspected to have been converted for use as a runway
The roadway was built by the oil company which was granted permission by the former government to drill for oil in the Takutu Basin between 2010 and 2013. After the company left the area, the well-maintained roadway was left behind. It was noted that the roadway was used by the oil company to move heavy equipment from the area via the Ireng River and this was seen as more economical rather than the Lethem/Georgetown trail. The roadway stretches west to the Ireng ; it does not have an eastern exit to connect to the Lethem/Georgetown Highway. Another official reported that he was in a vehicle which was travelling south to Lethem from Annai along the Hunt Oil Stretch several months ago when he observed an aircraft circling the Santa Fe area. He said that since it was late in the afternoon, it appeared “unusual”
and he noted that the aircraft later descended and disappeared. ”I cannot say where it landed but now that they (GDF) made this discovery, it all adding up,” he noted. The Santa Fe Mega agricultural project had constructed an airstrip within walking distance of the main Lethem/Georgetown roadway but the aviation authorities reportedly turned-down its permit. A Lethem official noted that although the farm is located five miles west of the illegal landing strip which the army discovered, persons there would have observed aircraft landing and taking off from the area. “This roadway is well-kept, it is the perfect strip for lots of illegal activities,” he said. Tension In Lethem, the mood was tense over the weekend as persons whispered possible scenarios. Members of the business community noted that the incident strikes at
the need for an improved surveillance of the border by the authorities. The GDF on its Facebook page noted that a patrol reported that the road in the area (trail) appeared to have been converted for use by an aircraft. Additionally, the army said that there were 12 abandoned camps, several dug out trenches, and one chainsaw and aviation fuel, among other items found. The army said the alleged find represents the challenges faced by the security forces in the hinterland over the past few years, pointing out that several illegal aircraft were seized by the State. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation. On September 13 last year, a plane which was registered in Columbia and which was being used to transport drugs was discovered near the village of Yupukari. Reports had also indicated that the area where the aircraft was found was on the radar in relation to the illegal drug-trafficking trade. There were also reports that the abandoned aircraft had previously been sighted circling the area on numerous occasions in the past. The plane bore registration number N767Z, and it was later revealed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, that the United States registration was bogus, since there is another active aircraft in the U.S. with the same registration number. Residents had found the plane almost one month before an official report was made to authorities, according to the preliminary findings of Brigadier (Ret’d) Edward Collins. According to information reaching this newspaper, Collins in his
GDF ranks retrieve items from a dug-out trench close to the illegal runway
report recommended that the two officers be disciplined and also recommended further that an investigation be conducted into whether they knew of the aircraft operations. Collins, who was commissioned to investigate, examine, advise and report on the circumstances under which the foreign aircraft entered into the country, had initially noted that the residents were not forthcoming with providing information to security forces. The Guyana Chronicle later learnt that some of the COI’s findings included poor or non-existent communication chains that would allow for the flow of information. It was noted that, “there is no existing
structure in the Joint Services to disseminate information received by either of the Services deployed in the region.” The COI report also found that the State’s aviation authority is in no position to locate illegal aircraft within the country’s territory, despite the use of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) which the aviation industry adopted some two years ago. The ADS-B system requires communication between the ground team and the pilot to ensure the operation of the system. Unless the pilot activates his system and communicates with the ground crew, then the system is useless.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
North Korea vows to retaliate
--against US sanctions NORTH Korea has vowed to retaliate and make “the US pay a price” for drafting fresh UN sanctions over its banned nuclear weapons programme. The sanctions, which were unanimously passed by the UN on Saturday, were a “violent violation of our sovereignty,” the official KCNA news agency said. Separately, South Korea says the North has rejected an offer to restart talks, dismissing it as insincere. The sanctions will aim to reduce North Korea’s export revenues by a third. The UN Security Council decision followed repeated missile tests by the North, which have escalated tensions on the peninsula.
In its first major response on Monday, North Korea insisted that it would continue to develop its controversial nuclear weapons programme. The state-run KCNA news agency said Pyongyang would “not put our self-defensive nuclear deterrent on the negotiating table” while it faces threats from the US. It threatened to make the US “pay the price for its crime... thousands of times,” referring to America’s role in drafting the UN sanctions resolution. Speaking to reporters at a regional forum in the Philippines capital, Manila, North Korean spokesman Bang Kwang Hyuk said: “The worsening situation on the Korean peninsula, as
well as the nuclear issues, were caused by the United States. “We affirm that we’ll never place our nuclear and ballistic missiles programme on the negotiating table, and won’t budge an inch on strengthening nuclear armament.” The remarks come after reports emerged that the North and South Korean foreign ministers had met briefly on Sunday evening on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila. South Korean media reported that its Foreign Minister, Kang Kyungwha, shook hands with her North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho, in a brief and unarranged meeting at an official dinner event. A South Korean official
told the BBC that Mr Ri had dismissed Ms Kang’s offer of talks as “insincere”. South Korean news agency, Yonhap quoted Ms Kang as saying that Mr Ri’s rejection of the talks proposal appeared to be connected to the new sanctions. “I told him that [the two offers for talks] are an urgent matter that should be carried out immediately with any political agenda put aside, and asked him to proactively react,” she was quoted as saying. The foreign minister of China, which is Pyongyang’s closest ally, told journalists on Monday: “My feeling is that the North did not entirely reject the positive proposals raised by the South.” Wang Yi added that China also supported the
South’s initiatives, and was “100%” committed to enforcing the latest round of UN sanctions. US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson is also at the ASEAN forum, where he spoke about North Korea. Noting Russia and China’s participation in the unanimous vote, he told journalists it was clear there was now “no daylight among the international community” on their desire for North Korea to stop its tests. “The best signal that North Korea can give us [is] that they are prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches,” he added. Russia and China have previously differed with others on how to handle Pyongyang, but in recent months have joined calls for North Korea to stop its missile tests, while also urging the US and South Korea to halt military drills, and withdraw an anti-missile system from the South. Meanwhile, the US military has said it is working
with its close ally South Korea to review guidelines covering the size of missile warheads that South Korea can deploy. The current bilateral guidelines limit the power of South Korean missiles, but Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said these restrictions might be altered. “It is a topic under active consideration here and I would tell you that we would be favourably inclined to do anything which furthers the defensive capabilities of South Korea,” he told reporters. “We will always adapt to the threat as it changes.” On Monday, US President Donald Trump spoke to his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in over the phone about relations on the Korean peninsula. They agreed that North Korea “poses a grave and growing direct threat” and the two leaders were committed to fully implementing the latest round of UN sanctions, the White House said in a statement. (BBC)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday August 8, 2017
Brexit negotiations ‘have not begun well’ Chicken prices soar
THE UK’s Brexit negotiations have not begun well amid “differences” inside the cabinet, a former head of the diplomatic service has said. Sir Simon Fraser, chief mandarin at the Foreign Office until 2015, said the UK side had been “a bit absent” from formal negotiations in Brussels. Sir Simon, who now advises businesses on Brexit, said he was concerned the UK had not put forward a clear position. Downing Street said it disagreed strongly with his comments. The government is expected to publish “position papers” on key issues soon. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour, Sir Simon, who campaigned for Remain ahead of last year’s referendum, said he feared divisions within the cabinet were preventing the government from presenting a united front. “The negotiations have only just begun, I don’t think they have begun particularly promisingly, frankly, on the British side,” he said. “We haven’t put forward a lot because, as we know, there are differences within the cabinet about the sort of
Brexit that we are heading for and until those differences are further resolved I think it’s very difficult for us to have a clear position.” He added: “I think so far we haven’t put much on the table apart from something on the status of nationals, so we are a bit absent from the formal negotiation.” He called on the government to publish further details about its views on issues, including future customs arrangements and the Northern Irish border in the coming weeks. “I think we need to demonstrate that we are ready to engage on the substance so that people can understand what is really at stake here and what the options are.” Downing Street rejected Sir Simon’s analysis. “The last two months, we have had a constructive start to the negotiations. We have covered a significant amount of important ground,” the prime minister’s spokesman said. “As the secretary of state for exiting the European Union said at the end of the last negotiating round, important progress has been made in understanding one another’s positions on key issues.”
‘Totally bizarre’ Last month, Brexit Secretary David Davis said he was confident negotiations would continue as planned after reports Brussels may delay trade talks because of a lack of progress on the “divorce” settlement. At the weekend, the Sunday Telegraph claimed UK negotiators are now prepared to pay up to £36bn to the EU to settle the so-called Brexit divorce bill. Downing Street said it did not recognise this figure. Conservative MP Peter Bone said it would be “totally bizarre” for the UK to give the EU any money, let alone £36bn, adding that such a fee was unlikely to get through Parliament. Another Eurosceptic MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said there was “no logic” to the figure that was being reported. Responding to Sir Simon’s comments, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: “This government is in the middle of the single biggest economic and diplomatic negotiation in our history. “Yet while the clock is running down, key cabinet members are still squabbling over what type of Brexit to pursue.”
--due to bad weather TROPICAL Storm Bret has passed, but seven weeks later locals are still feeling the impact. Imam Rasheed Karim, president of the Pluck Shop Association, is blaming the bad weather for the latest increase in chicken prices. And, he says, this could be the highest increase in live chicken prices in recent years. Karim said poultry farms were severely affected by the heavy rainfall and strong winds caused by Tropical Storm Bret. He said pens were washed away and livestock died. “When Bret passed, there was a lot of flooding, and the chicken pens could not facilitate new batches of chicken,” he said. “They need to dry the pens properly and put fresh saw dust and bagasse and things that they normally put. So that one of the keep backs and cause of the shortage.” Karim said the shortage
was severe, and the wholesale price for live chicken has since increased to $7 per pound in Trinidad, and $8.30 in Tobago. He said retailers are selling the chickens at the same price, in addition to the cost of plucking and preparation. “Right now the situation is drastic. Pluck shops having load shedding; they distributing minimal to everybody. Because of the shortage, the sizes have dropped drastically. If somebody was buying 100 pounds of dead-weight chicken, they need 25 pounds but now the size is about three pound, so they have to get almost double the amount,” he said. Karim said pluck-shop owners have sympathised with consumers and were trying to absorb the costs as much as possible. And he called on Government to intervene by having discussion with pluck-shop owners. “I think this is the highest chicken has been in a long time. The Government
need to intervene, and we need to have dialogue. We face the customers daily and we get the attacks. We are calling on the Government to intervene and let public know there is a shortage in live market and give them the reason,” he said. Karim said pluck shop owners have also been severely affected by the shortage in foreign exchange. He said poultry-producing companies have increased their prices and the explanation was a common one, the shortage of foreign exchange. “Foreign exchange will affect us drastically because every single thing to grow a chicken comes from America, the feed, chicken, eggs, medication, nothing is local. This is an imported country. I think the Government should focus more o food and not luxuries.. Chicken is the cheapest meat in this country and the Government should ensure that this does not happen,” Karim said. (TrinidadExpress)
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Editorial
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Nation-building NATION-building is hard work and relies on constant vigilance, sacrifice, self-critique and reverent commitment to the ideals that would promote, ensure and maintain a unified polity. It is work in constant process and progress. Our society was built and sustained for significant periods on the practice of divide-and-rule, where, with the exception of the Amerindian community, the others arrived from different parts of the world, but every group has brought to this nation’s landscape its unique culture, gave of their labour and expertise, and are deserving of being acknowledged. The cultural and racial diversity that has shaped this national ethos has given us our unique characteristics as Guyanese, forged a nation, and developed nationhood and our sense of belonging. Grappling with these variants in the name of nation-building is an arduous task. Nation-building requires vision, determination and steadfastness. Thus, it is understandable that societies such as our CARICOM counterparts and the USA consider it important to designate a date in their national calendar to commemorate the efforts of their founding fathers and mothers, which presents opportunity for national reflection -- to examine the contributions of these founding fathers and mothers, and to learn from and build on them. The characteristics of nation-building, on which rest the foundation of welding a people together -- and in our case six peoples -- include creation of structures and institutions, such as a national motto, political system, laws, national anthem, national economy, national holidays, flag, folklore and language (in our instance our unique accent, linguistic expression, and structures that have shaped the Creole and English languages).
Where our society has been formed out of slavery, indentureship and colonial experiences, and groups have dominated others, and felt, or were conditioned to feel, that they were better than others, it requires resoluteness to ensure and maintain nation-building. Unfortunately, this has not been without challenges. It should be said that the achievement of Independence (1966) and republican status (1970) have not realised the obliteration of historical thinking and practice of division, and to this attention is turned. After 50 years of independence and 46 years of republican status, Guyana is still considered a young nation on the world stage. However, in a fast-paced world, it stands to the nation’s benefit if youth is not used or construed as a clutch to engage in acts and actions that would give rise to any speculation that we started before we were ready. We are an independent nation. More importantly, we are a republic, which means the destiny we are charting is solely in our hands to mould. The struggles, sacrifices and investment of every group without exception (race, political party, religion, et al) played a part in bringing us this far. The unfortunate truth is that the contributions of groups are honoured, dismissed, or condemned and blown out of proportion (favourably or unfavourably), depending on who is speaking, and about whom. This aspect of our folklore may have been born out of the historical practice of divideand-rule, which has sustained the myth of superiority and inferiority and guided treatment of the other, both at the level of the enslavers and among the enslaved, indentured and colonised. Remnants of it still remain. In the political sphere, it is not unreasonable to say that, having observed the dynamics, this folklore has come to characterise inter-
pretation, acceptance and/or rejection of the contributions of ‘our own’ or ‘the other.’ There is a tendency in political discourse to view persons solely through binary lens. Persons are seen as either good or bad, and there is very little effort, if any, to engage in nuances in assessing someone’s or group’s contributions to nation-building. It has become politically fashionable–-nay, acceptable--to ignore any good, deny it, or bequeath it to another for those on the ‘other side.’ Adversities are not seen as lessons to learn from and move on, or eras in our evolution considered to be deserving of contextualisation and explanation. Rather, there is pre-occupation to view events through inflexible lens, and demand that others follow suit, unconcerned that such an outlook can be debilitating. Appreciatively, we are an expressive people, and we should be heard. The freedom to share ideas, information and knowledge is fundamental and important to human existence, growth and development, and this must be protected and defended at all cost.
Shooting to death of Timehri prisoner must be investigated Dear Editor,
THE reported death of 26-year-old remanded murder accused, Winston Hinds, who was being held at the Timehri Prison and the circumstances surrounding his shooting, have raised many eyebrows and questions that to my mind, require answers. Based on what has been reported, particularly the statement of the shooting purportedly emanating from the Director of Prisons, Mr. Gladwyn Samuels and the information contained in a press release from the Department of Public Information (DPI), I wish to
go on record here as stating that I have grave doubts about the accuracy of the reports from the authorities on what I will refer here to as another in the numerous atrocities that have occurred in Guyana’s prisons. Subsequent to the killing of Hinds, I made it my duty to read all the newspapers accounts, beginning with Kaieteur News, in order to develop a real understanding of what had taken place. In my perusal of the individual media houses reports, I noted consistency on those aspects of the incident that were/are of concern to me. The public has been told by Mr. Samuels (a) that
Hinds and another prisoner were responsible for the fighting that took place among prisoners in the dormitory, and (b) officers intervened to restore order and in the process, Hinds “... darted past a prison officer and in a split second fled into the compound”. In the DPI release Hinds was reported to have “fled into the prison yard in an attempt to escape. Clear and repeated efforts were issued for Hinds to desist, but he refused in every instance and continued running”. And, “Prison officers were left with no option but to curtail his escape. This necessitated the use of live rounds as a last resort, after
every option had failed.” The prisoner was hit in the stomach/abdomen with a single round resulting in his death – end of story. Let us, as reasonable citizens, examine in a non-prejudicial way, what we were told: (a) the prisoner ran out of the dormitory into the yard/compound. This action was in the view of the officer or officers constituted an attempt to escape from prison. To my mind this seemed more like an attempt to escape from the officers in the building by running into the yard. Note, nowhere in the reports can be found a reference to an attempt by Hinds to scale the fence. If
he had attempted to do so there would have been some justification for the officers to shoot at him. Since Hinds was not attempting to scale the fence in his alleged ‘attempt to escape’ it raises the question of the real intent of the officer or officers in the actions they took. (b) A more troubling aspect of this incident is the fact that the prisoner was shot in the abdomen/ stomach, which suggested that the shooter was facing the prisoner. Let me reiterate here that according to the report emanating from the authorities, Hinds was not shot from behind, which would be
more consistent with the pursuit of a fleeing person. The obvious question is why was the prisoner not shot in the leg? Was the shooting a deliberate action of a rouge officer who decided that a “trouble maker” should be made an example to prevent similar behaviour by other inmates? If this is the case, it is a worrying situation. Editor and readers, I will continue to pay close attention to the police investigation into this killing. I ask you to do the same. Regards Tacuma Ogunseye
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday August 8, 2017
I support the Amendments to the Broadcast law Dear Editor, I HAVE been paying keen attention to the debates in the National Assembly concerning the amendments to the Broadcast Law and found it extremely difficult to comprehend the position of the opposition. All of the opposition members centred their presentation around the phrases - Stifling Freedom of Speech, Stifling Freedom of Expression and Stifling Press Freedom. The Broadcast Amendment Bill in my humble view seeks to create a level playing field and also allows for the distribution of much-needed information to the Guyanese people. Media houses will now be mandated to disseminate important and factual data to the public without inciting racism, hatred and generally political one-sidedness. The hypocrisy of the opposition was quite glaring to the ‘naked eyes’ since it was them when in government disturbed Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Expression and Press Freedom. I am absolutely certain that my Guyanese brothers and sisters remembered clearly when CNS Channel 6 was shut down. Chandra Narine Sharma has always and continues to be the voice of the
poor and vulnerable. This man showed the upper echelons of society places and people that one would have thought never existed in Guyana, but rather than to use the good offices which the PPP held for 23 years to improve the lives of the said people, CNS was shut down. Was this Press Freedom? In the eyes of Jagdeo maybe it was. Another action that solidifies the point that PPP is a hypocrite in its quest to suddenly stand up for Press Freedom, Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Speech was the ban that was placed on Gordon Mosely. Gordon who is a popular journalist was banned from entering State House; not Jagdeo’s private house but the house that Mr. Moseley’s tax dollars help manage. He wasn’t banned because he acted unlawfully, but simply because he did what Jagdeo doesn’t like. Was this Freedom of Expression? In the eyes of Jagdeo, maybe it was. Editor, how can we forget when private newspapers were denied government advertising. This particular action was indirectly an imposition on the people of this country since, rather than to allow us Guyanese the option of buying our preferred newspaper, we were forced to buy
the one that government at the time liked. Was this democracy? In the eyes of Jagdeo, maybe it was. Let’s not forget that child who lifted a finger at the passing presidential motorcade. I learnt that the said child was hauled before the court and subsequently sentenced to imprisonment. If what I have learnt is correct then in all fairness, Mr. Clement Rohee should be brought before the court of law too for he had lifted the said finger and showed the entire country, and by extension the world. Was this Freedom of Expression? In the eyes of Jagdeo, maybe it was. There are so many other cases that I can reference, simply to concretize my position and that is, PPP is a mere hypocrite to talk and defend Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Speech and Press Freedom. The actions of the notorious, malevolent leaders of yesteryear, especially from 2006 to 2015, defiled them and therefore they have no credibility to speak on the subject matter to which I referenced. I wonder how one feels inside, saying and holding a position now and when the opportunity was there to hold that said position he/she didn’t. My conscience would have bothered me terribly. I
FITUG supports Venezuela Constituent Assembly
Dear Editor
THE elections for the Constituent Assembly proposed by Venezuelan President, Nicholas Maduro and which is provided for by the Venezuelan Constitution was held on Sunday, July 30th, 2017. The elections which were conducted by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council proceeded according to schedule. The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) sees the completion of the process as a complimentary feat, considering that the Coalition of Opposition Parties, MUD, called for a boycott and the day itself saw several intermittent eruptions of violence in some states. The process also continues in spite of the strange call by the US Administration not to proceed with the elections and even threatening sanctions. As we understand it, the resort to a Constituent Assembly was yet another democratic effort by the Venezuelan President at resolving the prolonged violence and living difficulties that have beset the country and its working people in particular. The threat that the existing situation, instigated by extremists locally and financed by certain external forces, can deteriorate and lead to a civil war is
ever-present. That is why countries of influence within the region and which sincerely subscribe to democracy, its norms and institutions should, especially, show support for such efforts taken by President Maduro. We, in FITUG, have paid special interest in the outcome of the election and noted the encouraging results declared by the National Electoral Council. Over 8,000,000 Venezuelans voted for the Constituent Assembly, more than those who voted for President Maduro in the 2013 elections which he won. This massive turnout by the Venezuelans is a strong manifestation by the people for an end to the on-going unrest in their country and which is resulting in havoc with their lives and their future. Clearly, they braved the violence, were not influenced by the virulent media campaign, and defied the boycott call and disregarded the external threats and sanctions to let their stand be known. We have noted that the Opposition raised the issue of fraud and await further evidentiary details on this. We are dismayed too by the US negative response to this election, particularly its additional sanctions against President Maduro. We note too the similar negative sanctions from some countries which are known to be close allies of the US. At the same time, we
see a positive approach from some countries known for their progressive outlook. No doubt, the Venezuelan situation and the Constituent Assembly are being followed widely, internationally. There are concerns that a deteriorating situation can very well lead to regional instability and that prospect cannot be reassuring that the Caribbean will remain a Zone of Peace. We of FITUG join with the democratic and peace-loving forces across our region and beyond to call on those who have taken a destructive path to know that their actions will have far reaching repercussions outside of Venezuela also. We urge those external forces to behave responsibly, to respect democracy and the people’s wisdom as expressed in the elections, to desist from stoking the fire and avoid, in words and deeds, that which can only promote the destabilization of the country. Now that a Constituent Assembly is to be established, we look forward that it will be allowed to work to achieve its objectives and, importantly, to return the country to normalcy. Regards NAACIE
guess some of us don’t have a conscience. Notwithstanding the above, I am so happy and proud to know that the Government of Guyana took a bold and audacious step in amending the Broadcast Law. Citizens of Guyana will now be properly informed and the dissemination of information can now be done in a more conscientious manner. No more will media operatives feel threatened and obligated to any political party since the amendments are beneficial to the broadcasters and citizens, not politicians. I am more elated to know that the media outlets must now carry public service advertisements for at most one hour daily. Editor, this amendment bill is a welcomed one and if I had the power to tell the President to assent to the bill as early as yesterday, I would have but I know he will peruse it in its entirety and do the necessary to make it law. Regards Ganesh Mahipaul
Who spent Alwin Edwards gratuity?
Dear Editor
COULD the Audit Office of Guyana and Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, explain what happened to Alwin Edwards gratuity after the 2006 Regional and General Election? Edwards was GECOM Logistics Manager but was appointed Returning Officer for Region Four. Was his advance for the 2006 Elections fully cleared? After the 2006 Elections results were declared, Edwards disappeared from GECOM’s radar, leaving behind an outstanding advance of over forty-three million dollars. He also never collected his gratuity of over $800,000 from GECOM’s accounts department. Could the then Accounting Officer, Gocool Boodoo, and the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, explain why a forensic audit was not conducted into the Alwin Edwards’ outstanding advance and the disappearance of his gratuity. Was it a tit for tat? Was Edwards honest in his declaration of
Region Four results? It is impossible that state auditors failed to discover those transactions during their 2007 audit of GECOM accounts after the 2006 Regional and General Elections. Edwards died just before the 2015 Regional and General Elections. Former Georgia President and former Soviet Union Foreign Minister, Eduard Shevardnadze, would have been very proud of Glen Lall and the Kaieteur News for rivalling his TASS News Agency. Mr. Glen Lall and Kaieteur News are trying their utmost to tarnish the distinguish reputation of GECOM’s present CEO, Keith Lowenfield. Let’s leave you with a famous quote from that movie Telefon “The woods are dark, lonely and deep and you have miles to go before you slip.” Yes, Mr. Sharma, according to your oath of office you still have miles to go, do not be dictated by freedom house. Regards Former GECOM employee
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Speeding Guyana Police Force & police City Constabulary collaborating for a safer city constable kills A MEETING was held on Monday between the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to forge collaboration in an attempt to better secure the city. The meeting was held at the Chambers of the M&CC with Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken; Com mander of ‘A’ Division, Marlon Chapman; Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green; Town Clerk; Royston King; Chief Constable, Andrew Foo and members of the Council. The Town Clerk said that the M&CC is seeking collaboration with the Guyana Police Force in light of the recent prison outbreak. King said that while the M&CC was aware of the incident they were not formally notified of the chain of events. King said that while there are discussions between the City Constabulary and the Guyana Police Force, information sharing needs to be more formal. This is important, he noted, because councilors were elected and have a responsibility to secure the communities which elected them. “What we are asking for is something that is more institutionalised, something
pedestrian
– seriously injures others
Commander of ‘A’ Division, Marlon Chapman; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken; Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green and Chief Constable Andrew Foo
that is more formal, something where we can meet on a regular basis and have discussions so we too can be involved in detecting and preventing crime in the city because we have a responsibility,” he explained. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken said that the initiative is one which he welcomes since it will help to lower the crime situation in the city. Hicken also noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will have to be crafted for the collaboration to be effective. However, he pointed out that while the MoU is being crafted there are some immediate actions that will be undertaken. “By
the time we are developing the MOU we can do some standing operating procedures (SOPs) which can start almost immediately,” Assistant Commissioner Hicken stated. He further added that “the MOU gives both sides of the organisation their roles, responsibilities, the if, what and how. In terms of the standing operating procedures, that can work now and we have this collaboration conducted through the Commander of ‘A’ Division”. The way in which information is shared is expected to be ironed out in the MOU. Assistant Commissioner Hicken’ also noted that the collaboration will help
to maximise the use of limited resources as it relates to the deploying of officers in and around the city. According to the Assistant Commissioner, “No organisation should be working in isolation because it takes all the resources in one organisation. If we work in a collaborative effort it gives us more resources generally, not just the human but vehicle and every other aspect of it”. The immediate action taken by Assistant Commissioner Hicken was hailed by Mayor Chase-Green, Commander of ‘A’ Division Marlon Chapman, Chief Constable Andrew Foo and other members of the Council. (DPI)
THE Police are investigating a fatal accident that occurred at 17:30hrs on Sunday on the Mahaicony Public Road that resulted in the death of a pedestrian. Dead is Winston Small, 51, of Lot 2 Catherine Village, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. Investigations have revealed that Police Constable, Jarren Huntley, of Eldorado Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was at the wheel of motorcar PWW 1614 when the accident occurred, and that at the time there were three other occupants. Said investigations have revealed that Huntley was proceeding east along the northern carriageway, allegedly at a fast rate, when he swerved south to avoid an uneven patch on the road. And in doing so, he lost control of the vehicle, which, after colliding with
Nothing trickling... resources for the community to benefit-- blame has to be put on those put to do the work on the community. I am disappointed with that part,” said Gordon who believes the Region is not getting value for money. “I know, I have been in the system… there should be a feedback system, people in community who filter info. How are you assessing the situation? How do you move forward? We have got to get serious-- put blame where blame is due,” declared Gordon. LITTLE TRICKLEDOWN Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland told the Guyana Chronicle in a recent interview that he agrees with the contention that there has been little trickledown effect. “I agree that despite government allocating more to the Region we have not
been seeing much of that allocation being utilised in the township. I also agree that as much as possible, contracts allocated to the region should involve more local contractors as the current situation is that outside contractors get most of the jobs, bring their own workers and the locals are left with little or nothing.” Holland was clear that he could not speak on the regional management, but noted if the municipality had a portion of the allocation, the mining town would have seen direct benefits. The municipality received a budget of $16M, which he deems as inadequate but noted that local contractors are utilised by the municipality. He noted that investors may be turned off by lack of development in the Region and it is the role of the regional administration to “get things
13-year-old pedal cyclist Jaden Alleyne, of Calcutta, also in Mahaicony, swerved back north and careened into two pedestrians, one of whom was the deceased, and Lawrence Semple, 43, also of Catherine Village, before ending up in a yard. Also injured in the mishap, besides the driver, were the three occupants of the vehicle, namely, Delroy Hutson, 35; Odari Reynolds, 23; and Fitzroy Goodridge, 23, all of Eldorado Village, WCB. All of the injured were taken to the Mahaicony Hospital, where Small was pronounced dead on arrival; Hutson and Reynolds were treated and sent away;Goodridge was admitted for observation; and the 13-yearold, the driver, and the other pedestrian, Semple, were transferred to the Georgetown Hospital.
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going” so as to satisfy the agenda of central government. The Linden Mayor cautioned that emphasis must be placed on ascertaining why the benefits from central government are not being felt by the masses. But the Region 10 Chairman told the Guyana Chronicle that local contractors are not being stifled. He explained that local contractors believed when they saw external contractors in Linden it is the maintenance contractors. “We are now getting out $80M of maintenance, which is buildings, patching of roads and so on; that is where the local contractors come in. Those works are now being rolled out…this is all the maintenance work… all the schools, government buildings, health posts,” said Morian. The Regional Chairman
said some 25 tenders have been issued while noting that many of the complaining contractors don’t tender. “They ask ‘if yuh get wuk’ but you don’t get work…you tender for it,” said Morian, adding that many of the local contractors are non-compliant with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). “One of the things that affecting people is that they feel it shouldn’t be tendered, it should be given to them. I am not corrupt, I am not involved in no corruption, I aint want nobody come and ask the chairman for contracts; I don’t deal with contracts,” declared the Regional Chairman who noted that there is no pre-qualification for maintenance works. Contractors are only required to pre-qualify for road work.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
M&CC unveils new garbage collection schedule By Telesha Ramnarine
THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has announced a new schedule for garbage collection in the city’s ten groups, following the complete pull-out of services from their two main garbage contractors last Sunday. After Puran Brothers Disposal Services and Cevons Waste Management decided to withdraw from clearing the city of both its residential and commercial wastes, the M&CC has since recruited Sandip Disposal Services, C&S Waste Disposal, and Campbelles Waste Disposal. According to the new schedule, for Group 1, Campbellville Housing Scheme and section L-M Campbellville will be cleared on Mondays, while Belvoir Court, Prashad Nagar, Bel Air Promenade, New Haven,
Bel Air Village, Blyzeight, North Sophia, Liliendaal, Turkeyen, Atlantic Ville, Pattersen, University Gardens and Cummings Lodge will be cleared on Tuesdays. For Group 2, Bel Air Springs, Bel Air Gardens, and Subryanville will be cleared on Mondays, while garbage will be removed from Kitty on Tuesdays and Fridays. In Group 3, Bel Air Park will be cleared on Mondays; J-K Campbellville on Tuesdays; Newtown Kitty on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; A-D Campbellville on Wednesdays and Thursdays; E-I Campbellville on Thursdays and Fridays; and Lamaha Gardens on Fridays. For Group 4, Lodge will be cleared on Wednesdays; Jacksonville, West Front Housing Scheme on Fridays; Thorn’s Drive, Century Palm Gardens, Meadow Brook,
Tucville Terrace, Guyhoc Park, and East La Penitence on Wednesdays; and Tucville South on Fridays. Festival City, North Ruimveldt, and South Ruimveldt Park, in Group 5, will be cleared on Fridays. In Group 6, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Shirley Field Ridley Square, Guyhoc Gardens, Alexander Village, River View Ruimveldt, Laing Avenue, Meadow Bank, Rahaman’s Park, Houston, Mc Doom, Rome, Agricola, and Evans Phillip Park will be cleared on Thursdays. For Group 7, West Ruimveldt Estate Scheme and West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme will be cleared on Mondays; East Ruimveldt on Tuesday; Middle Road La Penitence on Wednesdays; Jeeboo’s Land, Independence Boulevard, and
Castello Housing Scheme on Thursdays; North East La Penitence and East La Penitence on Fridays. In Group 8, Alberttown, Lamaha Springs and Lamaha Park will be cleared on Mondays; Queenstown on Tuesdays; South Cummingsburg on Thursdays; North Cummingsburg and Kingston on Fridays. For Group 9, Werk-enRust and Wortmanville will be cleared on Tuesdays; while Stabroek, Charlestown and Albouystown will be cleared on Mondays. Group 10, made up of mainly the city’s commercial areas, will be cleared once daily from Monday to Sunday. Groups 1 to 9 will be cleared once weekly. Meanwhile, the Solid Waste Director has said he is confident that his department with assistance from the three smaller contractors
will be enough to get the work done. The money that M&CC will save as a result of not having to pay these contractors will go towards paying off the debt to them, he posited. M&CC owes in excess of $300M. The two contactors indicated last Wednesday via letters that that they intended to withdraw their services on Sunday. “Well, let’s put it this way: We made an offer and they did not see favour with it.” Unlike last month, when they continued collecting commercial waste after withdrawing their residential services, this time around, the contractors have ceased all of their operations. Even so, Narine is confident: “It will be fine.” According to him, the Solid Waste Department will now be covering Groups 7, 8, 9 and 10, while the new contractors will cover the other groups. Just recently, Town Clerk, Royston King told city
councillors that the M&CC was finding it increasingly difficult to honour its financial obligations to the contractors. He said Council had been trying to keep up with current bills, although it has outstanding amounts for the years 2015 and 2016. King said it was “extremely difficult” for the Council to sustain payments to these contractors because the municipality is being asked to do more with less resources. He pointed out that the Council is now doing more drainage works than it did before. Although help has been forthcoming from the Ministry of Infrastructure, it is often inadequate, King noted, and called for the commercial fee to be implemented as soon as possible, and for the container-fee issue to be sorted out. “Council needs every cent of its money owed by defaulters to continue to provide essential City services,” the M&CC said.
Five arrested after gunmen storm Corentyne house A PREGNANT mother, her four-year-old son and her husband literally jumped for their lives as twelve armed men blocked off their street and invaded their home at Number 69 village, East Berbice, Corentyne on Saturday last. While the family is reluctant to give details, reputable sources who spoke on conditions of anonymity believe the act was one meant to execute the head of the household who is said to be a fisherman. However, this newspaper learnt that the family lost over $1.7 million in cash and valuables as a result of the incident which the police have been treating as a robbery. According to reports, around 22:30 hrs, approximately 12 men armed with guns took up strategic positions on the southern side of the Number 69 Village, Public Road and started to fire shots indiscriminately as they barged into the home belonging to Sachin Ramrattan called ‘Kimy’. “Around 10:30 me get wan bad feeling, so me get up and deh pun me bed and me hear wan loud noise like wan bam outside, and when me peep me see some men dressed in black all over
men look like professionals… them men was in the house long, long. They put on the lights and so...how these guys were they could ah clean up this whole street and nobody couldn’t do anything,” the resident said. Meanwhile, a neighbour recalled after she heard the loud banging followed by gunshots she grabbed her children and hid until the calm was restored. She said during that time she made several calls to the police stations and was disappointed to find out they arrived when the gunmen had left. Commander of ‘B’ Division, Paul Williams, has refutThe home of the Ramrattans that was invaded by armed bandits
with mask and soldier boots outside in the street and some inside the neighbour yard, like 12 of dem in total. Them block off the street how them stand up and me think was police, but after them start shooting again, me seh this can’t be police,” a resident related. According to information, while the gunmen attempted to break into the home, the family quickly escaped
through a back window in the upper flat, jumping from roof to roof until they reached to safety. The heavily pregnant wife escaped with minor injuries and was treated at a nearby hospital. The incident has left the family traumatized and fearful for their lives. Another resident recalled that she contacted the police several times but they only arrived when the men made good their escape. She not-
ed also that the men spent over one hour in the Ramrattan’s residence. “At first my brother was going to call all the boys out the village to surround the bandits, but after they see the men them and see four one side with big guns patrolling the street and two in the bottom house and two on the step breaking the grill and another four further up the street, them had to cancel them plan cause them
ed residents’ claims that police responded late. He said the police responded in a timely manner; hence a suspect was apprehended in the vicinity of where the crime was committed. The Commander has confirmed that a total of five persons were arrested and remain in custody assisting with investigations. Among them is a driver of a car who was found a short distance away. A search of his person revealed a small amount of cannabis, and after conducting a search of his home an unlicensed shotgun was found with one live round.
Fire erupts at GPL Vreed-en-Hoop sub-station
THE Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has advised that the power outage Monday evening was as a result of a fire at its Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara (WBD) sub-station. The fire was quickly put under control, however, one of the grounding transformers was affected. It was isolated and power was restored to all areas. GPL apologises for the inconvenience and asks for patience from consumers until the issues are rectified.
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Labourer feared dead after fishing trip in Corentyne River KHARAMCHAND Parbhudyal called ‘Dara’ of Grant 1651 Crabwood Creek, East Berbice Corentyne, left for a fishing expedition on Saturday in the company of three friends, but has yet to return and his relatives have begun fearing the worse. The man’s wife Nagawattie Parbhudyal explained that her husband left around 09:00hrs for his usual weekend ‘drink’ at a nearby shop. She said he was reportedly encouraged by his friends to accompany them to Calabash Creek Island, which is located along the Corentyne River to fish. “Saturday morning when he left home he tell the grandson he going
for a drink and come back, then around 2 pm, his friend and three others come tell me Dara been with them up the River and them nah find he back,” the man’s wife related. She noted that three men explained that Parbhdyal was a short distance away from them in waist high water and while they were taking their lines out and setting their hooks, they raised up and look back did not see him. The men searched for some time, before returning to inform the family of what had occurred. Meanwhile, Tanuja Parbhudyal 26, the missing man’s daughter, told the Guyana Chronicle that she
does not believe her father drowned, since he is a good swimmer and diver and especially because of the fact that they were told that he was in shallow water. “Me nah feel it is possible for him to drown and everyone who went there seh it nah possible from where they say they left he fuh he disappear or drown …if them say that while coming or going he fall off in boat cause everyone know the river deep that would be possible, but for them to say he drown in that water I don’t feel that is so,” the young woman said. She recalled after she learnt of the incident she ventured to the area along with her husband and other
family members but was unsuccessful in locating him. “At around 3:30pm we went but the water was high, so we come back and then my husband and cousins them went back in the night, but was still not able to find him,” the missing man’s daughter related. A report was subsequently made to the Springlands Police Station, and the three friends were taken into Police custody. On Monday two police officers accompanied a search party, as they ventured back into the area but were again unsuccessful in locating the labourer, who works at a logging concession.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Officer accused of ‘cussing out’ junior rank THE trial of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Frank Thompson, who is accused of verbally assaulting Police Constable, LeAndre Gillis, commenced on Monday before City Magistrate Fabayo Azore with the victim being called to the witness stand. The indictment is that on February 22 at Broad Street, Charlestown, Georgetown,
Fly Jamaica blames delays on safety checks, strikes ...says will be back on schedule on Thursday FLY Jamaica Airways has apologised to its passengers affected by the irregular operations beginning August 3, 2017, which it blamed on ongoing strikes by staff of its ground handler in Canada and prolonged baggage screening and checks by US authorities. “While these delays to the airline’s services are regrettable, the airline remains committed to making safety its first priority,” Fly Jamaica said in a release on Monday. With this in mind, Fly Jamaica Airways grounded its Boeing 767 on Thursday, August 3rd, prior to departure from Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. After safely returning to the gate, passengers were fed onboard before being transferred to the airline’s Boeing 757 aircraft. Thursday’s
Fly Jamaica Airways has apologised to its passengers affected by the irregular operations
circumstances have been compounded by external factors at the ports Fly Jamaica Airways operates in and out of daily. An ongoing strike by ground staff of Swissport Canada Handling Inc. — Fly Jamaica Airways’ contracted handling company at Pearson International Airport in Toronto— continues to adversely affect the operations of all airlines they service and have resulted in ramp congestion and significant delays in the offloading of baggage and
deplaning of passengers upon arrival at Pearson, the airline said. At the JFK International Airport in New York, the airline explained that prolonged baggage screenings and checks being conducted by the U.S. Customs & Border Protection on all flights out of Jamaica and Guyana, have added several hours onto the turnaround times, causing additional delays. “Disruptions to the airline’s scheduled service to
and from Toronto are expected to continue to some degree, as long as Swissport Canada Handling Inc. continues to strike at Pearson International. Fly Jamaica Airways’ reservations staff is working around the clock to ensure all passengers are contacted via telephone with revised flight information.” For updated flight schedule information please visit www.fly-jamaica.com and click on the “Customer Advisory: Updated Flight Schedule” banner at the top of the page. All flight schedule updates will be published to this page. Updates to flight times are constantly being made based on actual operation times and are subject to change after customers have been advised or updates have been published online. Fly Jamaica Airways expects to be back on schedule by Thursday August 10, 2017.
CHARGED: ASP. Frank Thompson
ASP Thompson used abusive language towards Gillis. In court, while on the witness stand, Gillis explained that he felt “abused and threatened” when he was assaulted by his superior when led in court by Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Bess. The witness further disclosed that he was threatened by ASP Thompson with an iron bar at the compound of the Brickdam Police Station. The matter is adjourned until August 15 for the witness to be cross-examined by Thompson’s attorney, Dexter Todd. According to reports, on the day in question, Constable Gillis was on patrol duties at Broad Street,
Charlestown, when he was stopped by Hemchand Budhai, who reported to him that ASP. Thompson’s vehicle had crashed into his vehicle which at the time had occupants. Constable Gillis then accompanied Budhai to the scene. It is alleged that ASP. Thompson upon seeing Budhai approaching him started to use a series of indecent expressions towards him,and threatened to kill him and the other occupants in the vehicle. The court further heard that after Constable Gillis told Thompson of the allegation made by Budhai, Thompson then asked the junior rank, “what the (expletive) you gon’ do about it?” According to the Police reports, when being questioned by the junior rank with regard to the accident, the senior rank apparently became abusive toward Budhai and the constable. The ASP, who was subsequently requested by the junior rank to drive to the nearest police station, turned to the junior rank, who then found himself at the end of the ASP’s verbal onslaught. “You know me? Eh? Find out ‘bout me. If me had it me way, you won’t be a (expletive) recruit…Find out ‘bout me. Call ‘A’ Division. I would murder you (expletive) on the ground hey,” he allegedly exclaimed. In a video of the episode that was circulated on social media, the junior rank was heard pleading with the senior rank to desist from such actions. He, however, continued. Thompson was also charged with making use of threatening language towards Hemchand Budhai but that matter was recently dismissed.
22,475 students benefit from hot meal initiative AS efforts continue to increase access to education in Guyana, complementary efforts are being made to provide support to those students who are most vulnerable. For this reason, the Government-sponsored ‘hot meal’ programme was introduced in schools across Guyana years ago. This year, the Ministry of Finance in its 2017 Mid-year
Report revealed that 22,475 students from 165 schools in the hinterland benefited from the programme. It is expected that an additional 2,616 students from 47 nursery and primary schools in the hinterland will also benefit from this initiative. The report was tabled in the National Assembly on Friday by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.
This is in addition to the breakfast initiative which was introduced by President David Granger. That programme is on-going in 36 schools on the coastland, and expansion is expected to continue in the second half of this year. The breakfast programme forms part of a ‘Five B’ initiative which specifically targets children who are vulnerable. The oth-
er Bs include: boats, bicycles, buses and books. In addition to that initiative, 380 teachers are expected to complete training in the second half of 2017, down from the original target of 600. The report stated that the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), in enforcing graduation standards, saw 133 trainee teachers withdrawing. Also, an addi-
tional 200 trainee teachers had to repeat courses across semesters, delaying their graduation. Also planned for this year is the completion of two nursery schools at Yurong Paru and Hiowa in Region nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The Ministry has since said that while construction of Hiowa Nursery has
commenced, the Yurong Paru Nursery is currently awaiting the approval of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). Meanwhile, in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Bamia Nursery is slated for completion in 2017 while the design of Bamia Primary School has been revised with Turn to page 14 ►
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
GRA ups pressure on professional practitioners PROFESSIONAL practitioners who fail to access their Practice Certificate from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) could face up to six months imprisonment along with a fine. This information is being highlighted as the state revenue agency continues to make public appeals to those persons involved in the legal, medical, engineering, accounting and survey fields among others, to adhere to legal requirements regarding their certificates to ply their trade. The GRA said that according to Section 39 of the Tax Act Chapter 80:01, “… professional persons practicing privately for a reward in any year are required by law to be the holder of a Practice Certificate, which must be applied for from the GRA on or before February 28 of each year…” GRA’s communication department told the Guyana Chronicle Monday that the agency has recognised the need to step up its call to private persons to adhere to
their obligations, since the accessing of the certificate not only aids in ensuring the operation of genuine practitioners in their private capacity, but allows the agency to keep records on those type of tax payers. The GRA had reported difficulty in keeping tabs on some private professionals who were not only failing to acquire the certificate, but to also pay their taxes. The agency said that professionals who qualify for their certificates are required to pay $10,000 annually to uplift the document, and outlined those, based on their work circumstances, who are not required to have a certificate despite falling into the specific professional category. GRA in its explanation said that similar to a medical council for example, which certifies practitioners to ensure authenticity and standard in that field, so is the revenue agency required to certify those private operators to ensure their genuineness. Accordingly, it was stated that based on the legislation, “the professional
certificates can be revoked by the (GRA) Commissioner-General for reasons such as a questionable professional behaviour, which results in irreparable damage to his/her clients.” The GRA made it clear that it is an offence for any professional to practice their profession without first obtaining a practice certificate. In accordance with Section 39(9)(a) of the Act, it was stated that any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) which is, ‘you must not practice for reward without a certificate, shall on summary conviction be liable to a fine of not less than one thousand, five hundred dollars nor more than three thousand dollars and to imprisonment for a term of six months and in the case of a continuing offence, in addition to such fine, a sum of one hundred dollars for each day the offence continues subsequent to the date to which the conviction relates.’ The Guyana Chronicle understands that previously an increase had been made
Cop charged with discharging service rifle A 29-YEAR-OLD Police Constable attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) was on Monday charged for discharging his service rifle at a man who allegedly attempted to attack him with a weapon. James Bowman of Mocha, Burnham Boulevard, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was released on self-bail after denying the charge when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan. Particulars of the charge alleged that the constable on June 25, 2017
at Omai Landing, discharged a loaded firearm at Glenn McCardy with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him. Police Prosecutor, Arwin Moore, disclosed to the court that McCardy is currently on remand after recently being charged with drug trafficking. According to the prosecutor, on June 25 at Omai Landing, Constable Bowman observed McCardy with a haversack acting in a suspicious manner. However, when the constable demanded to search the haversack Mc-
Cardy allegedly pulled out a chopper and advanced to the officer. Bowman, who was armed with his service rifle discharged a round a McCardy hitting him in his abdomen. The haversack was searched and 320 grams of cannabis were found. Also the chopper was recovered at the scene. The prosecution made no objection to bail and the officer was placed on his own recognisance. The matter is transferred t o t h e M a h d i a M a g i strates Court for October 17.
to the professional certificate fee but this has been challenged by legal professionals and the matter has been before the courts since then. The GRA has stated however, that a person to whom a certificate has been issued by the Commissioner must display the certificate in a conspicuous place at their premises where he
practices. “Any Professional who fails to display his certificate in a conspicuous place shall in accordance with Section 39(9) (b), be liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars and, in addition to such fine, a sum of fifty dollars for each day the offence
continues subsequent to the date to which the conviction relates.” According to the GRA website, 98 persons received professional certificates from March to August last year; three in Corriverton, 13 in New Amsterdam, four from Linden and 78 in Georgetown.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Guyanese man found clinging to bamboo in Suriname waters LOCAL investigators are currently making checks to
ascertain whether a Guyanese national found cling-
ing to a bamboo stick in Surinamese waters may be
one of the prison escapees who broke out the Camp Street Prison back in July. Surinamese newspaper, Starnieuws reported Friday that maritime ranks in that neighbouring country had apprehended a Guyanese male trying to make his way into the Dutch speaking nation illegally. The report stated that Nickerie Maritime Police had found the man in the vicinity of Parrot Island in the Corantin/Corentyne River Thursday, between six and seven o’clock in the evening, before making contact with local law enforcement agents to make the connection. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that contact was made with Guyanese po-
lice and the necessary action has been taken. Information from the Springlands Police Station is that notice was given by their Surinamese counterparts and a collaborative effort is being made to ascertain the identity of the individual. “We are aware of the matter and ranks have been dispatched,” a senior rank at the police station stated. The Surinamese newspaper related that the suspect had tried to make the crossing into Suriname on a bamboo stick no longer than five meters. They said that, “The man just laid on the bamboo stick and used his slippers as a pagaai (paddle).” The newspaper said that Surinamese ranks believed
that the man was one of the criminals who escaped from the Guyanese prison, but initial contact with local police have proven not to be the case. Crime Chief Wendell Blandum told the Guyana Chronicle that he was not informed about the incident. He said that Guyana has a good relationship with its Surinamese counterparts and whatever necessary information or development brought to the fore will be related to the public. It was mentioned further that Surinamese police and local enforcers will be checking to see whether the man is found within the Guyanese criminal database.
Gov’t to revive co-ops in at boosting Region 10 …aimed agriculture production IN an effort to boost agriculture production in Region 10, Government has expressed interest in having all dormant Cooperative Societies, which have in their possessions hundreds of acres of land, resuscitated, so that these lands can be fully utilised. Speaking on the matter was Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, at a recent press conference, who quoted verbatim from a correspondence from Government, the need to have these Coop Societies resuscitated and to officially grant leases for lands in which applications were made decades ago. Some of these Coops include the Amelia’s Ward Farmers Coop Society; Canvas City Half Mile Development Agricultural Society; Superior Cooperative Society, and the Rock Stone Community Development Council, which has in its
possession 8960 acres of land. It has been noted that the Wisroc Coop Society still has monies in the bank and played an integral role in the development of the Wisroc Housing Scheme. Members of these Coops are being asked to take the necessary steps in having the Societies resuscitated, since not doing so may result in the lands being taken away. “Government is willing on this, these Coop Societies need to show an interest that they are still interest and they need to move,” Morian urged. He also made pleas to the farmers in Linden to make good use of the lands that are available to them for agricultural production. Only two weeks back, an agricultural based Coop Society was formed under the name: ‘A Sustainable Livelihood Vegetable Production and Marketing Cooperative Society Limited.’
The aim is to promote the economic interests of its members in the field of agriculture by arranging for the sale of members’ crops and produce, once they are organically or hydroponically grown, using, in the latter’s case, approved hydroponic fertilizers. The society was installed by one of Guyana’s longest serving Cooperative Officers, Mr. Aubrey Crawford, in accordance with the Cooperative Societies Act, Chapter 88:01. The aforementioned Coops, if resuscitated have as a perfect example, Linden’s longest acting Coop: the Linden Utility Cooperative Society Ltd (LUSCSL), which has been standing strong since 1960. This Coop, which has a membership of over 5000, is still responsible for the provision of electricity on the Wismar shore.
Remanded for E-Networks robbery A 27-YEAR-OLD South Ruimveldt resident was on Monday remanded to prison on nine counts of robbery in relation to the recent armed invasion at E-Networks’ Cornelia Ida store. Orandy Gordon of Nutmeg Street, Festival City, South Ruimveldt appeared before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court and was remanded to prison until August 23 after denying the
armed robbery charges. According to reports, on August 3 two gunmen entered the Cornelia Ida store and robbed two cashiers and seven customers of their valuables after which they fled the scene in a motorcar. The bandits, before relieving the victims of their belongings, ordered them to lie on the floor and then bound their hands with plastic straps.
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‘It’s your House; take ownership’ – Speaker urges eager youngsters as Youth Parliament opens By Svetlana Marshall Guyana’s Youth Parliament opened on Monday with Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland calling on the young leaders to take ownership of the House. “This House is your House; the Parliament belongs to all of us and we must cherish it; we must add to its luster. We must improve it, we must see it as a place to which we can contribute,” Dr. Scotland told the more than 35 secondary school students who travelled from various parts of Guyana to participate in the auspicious event. Youth Parliament 2017 is the third of its kind to be held in Guyana, with participants drawn from all 10 Administrative Regions, with the exception of Region Two. As he addressed the students, who, from all indications, were enthusiastic about the day’s offering, the Speaker made it clear that the week-long forum was not designed to transform them into “politicians”. “The intention is not to make young politicians; I would say the intention is to make young leaders and good communities,” he posited. In addition to debating a wide range of issues, Dr. Scotland posited that during the mock Parliament, they would be educated about Parliamentary Procedures while having a hands-on approach about the work of the National Assembly. “It would also help you to understand how laws are made in Guyana. During your discussions on a particular topic, you will discover that you are going to have different viewpoints, and some will urge their viewpoints very seriously; very persuasively, and that is what happens in Parliament. “You will learn how to urge your point without being rude or disrespectful... You will learn to urge your point, not losing sight of the fact that the other person has an equally urgent point they wish to make,”
An opportunity will also be presented for students to engage with the Speaker, Members of Parliament (MPs), and senior staff of the Parliament Office, who will also serve as mentors and assist them in finalising speeches,and develop elocution/debating skills.
A prize-giving dinner will also be held for the students upon completion of this exercise. The activity is one which is highly anticipated among youths, who have a keen interest in pursuing politics and even those who do it merely for the experience.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, addressing the Youth Parliament on Monday during its opening ceremony
he explained. Chief Administrative Officer of the Parliament’s Office, Ms. Monette Garnett-Christopher, in brief remarks, recalled that the first Youth Parliament was held in 2015 under the stewardship of then Speaker, Mr. Raphael Trotman. “In the year 2015, the Parliament of Guyana under the Speakership of the Honourable Raphael Trotman, commenced Youth Parliament with the objective to ensure young people are involved in Parliamentary Democracy, and understand the principles that underpin democracy while molding future leaders,” she explained. This year, she posited, is no exception, but pointed out that this is the first time it is standing on its own away from Commonwealth observation. WIDE-RANGING The topics that will be debated on Thursday will be wide-ranging but of national interest, she added. “Over a six-day period, you, our future leaders will be engaged in several activities. Most importantly, you will be debating on topical matters such as the Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy, Suicide Prevention, Capping of CSEC subjects and the Oil and Gas Sector,” the Chief Administrative Officer further explained. She said it is the hope of the Parliament Office that at the end of the sixday programme, the young leaders will have a better appreciation for the Parliamentary system, and will be propelled in the direction of greater leadership.
T h e 3 5 s t u d e n t s b etween the ages of 14 and 17, will assume the roles of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Prime Minister, Ministers of Government, Leader of the Opposition, Members of the Government and Oppo-
sition, Clerk, Deputy Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms. In addition to learning about the work of Parliament, the programme seeks to boost the students’ morale, develop debating skills and hone leadership skills.
One of the students responding to a question posed during Monday’s sitting (Photos by Delano Williams)
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CANU seizes 9kg of cocaine – two teens arrested
CUSTOMS Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks on Sunday afternoon seized over nine kilograms of suspected cocaine found in a cooking gas cylinder at 25,
Delph Avenue, Campbellville. Information indicates that ranks seized nine rectangular-shaped objects weighing over nine kilograms of suspected cocaine. Two 17-year-old occupants of the house at the time were both arrested and are currently assisting with investigations.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Basil Morgan freed of 2009 murder but further remanded BASIL Morgan, although freed on Monday of the 2009 murder of Wodette Roberts, was remanded to prison for other pending matters. Justice James BovellDrakes told the Georgetown High Court on Monday that after reviewing the evidence presented in the case he recognised that the state had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Morgan unlawfully killed Roberts. The judge however, directed the 12-man jury to return a unanimous not guilty verdict after which the foreman announced the same. Justice Bovell-Drakes explained to the court that having reviewed the evidence he concluded that only one witness (Roopchand Gopaul) testified to seeing the accused at the scene and even the six police witnesses did not see Morgan kill the deceased. He added that it was only Gopaul’s testimony that placed Morgan at the scene and gave an account of what transpired that time. As such, the judge told Morgan that he was found not guilty and he was free to go. A visibly relieved Morgan uttered a “Thank You Judge” before he was led away to prison. At this point, relatives of Morgan began clapping in the courtroom to the annoyance of the judge who told them to stop forthwith since the court was not the place to do that. He advised them to do it elsewhere.
Basil Morgan, called ‘Brown’
The state alleged that between November 4 and 5, 2009 at Loo Creek Soesdyke/ Linden Highway Morgan murdered Wodette Roberts. Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, who performed the post mortem on the body of Roberts gave the cause of death as asphyxiation due to bronco aspiration of the gastric content (lack of oxygen) compounded by compression injuries to the neck. On November 4, 2009 Roberts left his home in a gold-coloured Toyota Tacoma pick-up along with two other men - Shawn Embleton and Roopchand Gopaul when they were reportedly intercepted and abducted by
eight men, dressed in black clothing and bullet proof vests, who claimed to be searching for arms and ammunition. The armed men handcuffed Roberts and the others and placed them in the tray of the Tacoma pick-up and transported them to Dora. While the two others managed to escape, Roberts was later found dead. The five men were initially charged jointly in 2009 for the murder of Wodette Roberts. The state is being represented by Tuanna Hardy, Tameika Clarke and Seeta Bishundyal, while the defense attorney is Lyndon Amsterdam.
22,475 students benefit...
The suspected cocaine seized by CANU
a view to construct a Grade “B” school instead of a lower grade. The report highlighted that it is now anticipated that the nursery school will be ready for occupation in January of 2018, while the primary school will be completed in time for occupation in September of 2018. These projects were embarked upon after it was realized that there was an overcrowding situation in some schools in those regions. Further, the report noted that at the level of early childhood development (ECD), steps have been tak-
en to strengthen national system, to prepare children for a productive learning life. Some initiatives which were undertaken in the first half include: training 412 teachers in the application of nursery literacy and numeracy standards; conducting parent sensitization with over 500 parents; and training 31 new nursery field officers. The report further stated that over 500 East Coast Demerara (ECD) resource kits were provided to nursery and primary schools across the country. In addition, nursery diagnostic assessments
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(NDAs) are being conducted to assess the effectiveness of early childhood education, and are, according to the Education Ministry, anticipated to be a tool that continuously guides government interventions. It was highlighted too that investments in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) will continue with targeted interventions. There interventions include the development of a TVET financing strategy and a TVET communication strategy, and continued improvements and maintenance of related equipment and infrastructure.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Regional stakeholders in talks to gauge health, nutrition impact on agriculture OVER the next five days, the Caribbean Agro-Economic Society (CAES) will spearhead deliberations on ways to promote “smarter” growth by understanding the impact of health and nutrition on agricultural development. As part of the 32nd Bi-annual West Indian Agricultural Economics Conference, the Society and other local and regional stakeholders will work to enhance food and nutrition security under the theme, “The Pathway to Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Caribbean”. Since its establishment in 1975, the Society has held conferences in various countries across the Caribbean, but this year, their deliberations, which started on Monday, takes place here in Guyana at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel at Providence, on the lower East Bank Demerara(EBD). According to CAES President, Mr. Carlisle Pemberton, all the challenges affecting the industry will be reviewed. ”Problems such
look at the pockets of poverty; limited access to food in some areas; and the impact of climate change on food security. Experts from the Caribbean also said that Guyana is, and has always been considered, the breadbasket of the Caribbean and one of the few countries in the region that has achieved MDG 1 (Millennium Development Goal), which is, essentially, the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. They thus feel that by analysing the performance of the country’s agricultural sector, it will allow other countries to have a better appreciation for food and
nutrition security problems in their homeland. Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Noel Holder, sought to point out some ways in which countries can improve its food security. “Some of the important steps to build food security are to invest in research, evaluation and education,” he said during his opening presentation. The adoption of improved processing practices and policies, including safer transportation and storage infrastructure which reduces food loss and wastage, is also needed, he said. “It is important we take into account, at the same
time, diverse perspectives and approaches,” Minister Holder said, adding: “We must consider very technical issues such as animal health, plant pests, and also economic perspectives, households, and policies given that all of these make up the food system. “Also, we must be cognisant that all of these, and their interactions, are going to be modified by climate change.” He also highlighted the need for more diversified agricultural production and consumption through the inclusion of more nutritious foods such as beans, vegetables, fruits and dairy products.
Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Noel Holder addressing the meeting’s opening session on Monday at the Ramada Georgetown Princess
as low-income earners who can’t afford food; school feeding; problems of food accessibility by young persons and pregnant women; food waste and nutritional problems; diet and shortages of essential minerals,” Pemberton said.
The over 55 participants will also visit agricultural sites around Guyana to have a better understanding of how the country manages food security, given that it has a an abundance of food at its disposal. They are also expected to
Participants at 32nd Bi-annual West Indian Agricultural Economics Conference
Canada opens Montreal Olympic Stadium – to accommodate US migrants MONTREAL is temporarily opening its Olympic Stadium as a shelter to host a sudden increase in asylum seekers arriving from the US. More than 4,300 people have crossed into Canada seeking refugee status since January. The majority of those have crossed into the province of Quebec, straining resources of government and community groups. The stadium received the request for space last Friday. Asylum seekers began to be moved into the building, one of Montreal’s most well-known landmarks, on Wednesday morning. Canada has seen a significant increase in the number of people crossing illegally into the country between official points of entry and seeking asylum. Over 3,300 people crossed into Quebec between
1 January and 30 June. Francine Dupuis, of Praida, a provincial programme for the reception and integration of asylum seekers, told the BBC that another 1,200 people crossed into the province in July, around 90% of them from Haiti. She said the province has experienced waves of people seeking refugee status before, most recently Syrians crossing in the spring, but that last month’s numbers are unprecedented. “Usually it comes and goes, and it stabilises quite fast,” she said. “In this case, what we are fearing is it might not stabilise.” Now, relevant agencies in Quebec responsible for the welfare of migrants when they first arrive are scrambling to find beds and other resources. Praida takes care of housing and the other im-
mediate needs of refugee claimants for around two weeks after they arrive in the province, and then continue to offer mental and physical health services for a few months. The Olympic Stadium will be used as needed until autumn. Other centres have also been opened across the city. Manitoba and British Columbia have also both seen an influx of hundreds of asylum seekers. Most of those who cross illegally have been quickly apprehended by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other law enforcement agencies. Once in custody, they are identified, searched and screened. If they are eligible to make an asylum claim, they are allowed entry and referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Can-
Two African asylum seekers who lost a few limbs to frostbite during the crossing from the US
ada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been under pressure to do more to secure the border amid concerns about the influx. Calls have been made to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement, under which refugee claimants are
required to request protection in the first safe country they arrive in. It is a policy meant to better manage refugee claims, and to avoid socalled “asylum shopping” between countries. But it is also among the reasons the asylum seekers
are avoiding trying to come to Canada at official ports of entry. So far, Ottawa is standing behind the agreement, which came into effect in 2004. Quebec officials will be holding a press conference on the matter today.
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Emergency works for Sand Creek …decries shoddy hinterland Secondary – Min. Allicock construction THE call for more rigorous scouting of hinterland contractors has been made by Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, as he moves to source emergency relief to remedy infrastructural defects at the Sand Creek Secondary School. The school houses some 298 students, from the community and within South Rupununi. During the Minister’s weekend visit to the Region Nine community of Sand Creek, residents raised concerns that the approximately five-year-old structure is unsafe and unhygienic for students. “The walls are separating from the columns and the beams are cracking; it’s very dangerous for our students. They
sent someone to … fix it and they make a makeshift thing,” Dorothy Faria told the Minister during the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) meeting on Saturday. Minister Allicock told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that, “as I understood it we were supposed to have this under control already. My assessment is that this is an emergency. While some remedial work was done we’re seeing the cracks opening again. I’ll take this to my other colleagues and see what we could do to remedy the situation in time for September.” During Minister Allicock’s inspection of the building deep cracks were clearly visible outside the
building including the haphazard attempts to fix them. The school’s compound and corridors were also filled with animal dung, and according to the caretaker the fence was demolished but no one seemed to know why. “I’m going to try to follow-up to see what has happened and it has caused the compound to be in a very deplorable state. It’s like a corral actually,” Minister Allicock said. Minister Allicock expressed dissatisfaction with the contractors who are compliant “on paper but the actual work is not the very best”. He promised to “double check” the contractor assigned to the school with the regional authority. “We need to give our people within
Long cracks along the support structure of the school (DPI photo)
the region more of these contracts because they know the terrain, they understand the makeup of the soil and would be able to be directed by that through the cooperation of the communities,” he stated. While the government has facilitated procure-
ment and project implementation workshops to ensure that regional contractors can bid for projects, it has also indicated it will hold contractors who do substandard work accountable. Recently, remedial works on the Kato Secondary School in
Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) was approved by a Ministerial Task Force. The school’s contractor was made to correct defects in the construction which were commissioned at a cost of $1B under the previous administration. (DPI)
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Cancer journey continues I AM no stranger to beginnings or endings; in fact I always find myself somewhere in the middle, still standing but never standing still. I would love to end this series by declaring myself cancer free but the reality is my journey continues. The next step of prescribed treatment after Chemotherapy is radiation, as is the protocol for treating the majority of cancer in Guyana; for breast cancer patients it is a given. Here’s where it gets controversial for me and I declare this is an opinion I have reached off
my own research and while I am free to share it, I am not encouraging anyone to deviate from their doctors’ orders. Everyone is different and so is their cancer; each cancer responds to treatment differently even if seemingly the same. No two cancer cases are ever alike. That being said and understood the “Lets treat all cancers the same approach” by leading health institutions in Guyana does not make sense to me. Some cancers such as mine can become even more aggressive after chemo and radiation, a chance I knew I
was taking when I did eight rounds of Chemotherapy. Unfortunately, my chemotherapy was not successful in stopping the spread of my cancer. More Chemotherapy and Radiation, recommended as the next step to do what the first set of treatment could not do. Radiation is something we are told is harmful to our bodies, “don’t stand in front of the microwave”, “ Don’t do CT scans less than 3 months apart” so it seems ironic that the very thing that causes cancer would be used in cancer prevention and treatment. Obviously, more research
went into this than what I’ve mentioned and that’s where I encourage readers to seek their own information, I will never tell someone to do xyz because my foundation of understanding is based on and limited to my own experiences and enlightenment. I have decided to forgo radiation in exchange for a complete diet and lifestyle overhaul-- nutrition being something local oncologists never discuss with patients; instead they will tell you to eat what you want possibly in the hope to keep your patronage...perhaps? The local medical climate
in my estimation is one lacking in ethics and empathy, cancer is big business for pharmaceutical companies and bigger business for third world doctors. Yes, I dare to say what most of us already know. Now if we could only get our mediocre public health care up to scratch, then the private health care wouldn’t make such a killing. A three-month waiting list to have an ultrasound done at the GPHC is just not good enough. Doctors do not seem to work with Nutritionists. Advising cancer patients on dietary and lifestyle changes is very important to
keeping us in good health and this component is clearly lacking in our local medical approach to oncology. A comprehensive approach to dealing with cancer (and health generally) is what we are lacking in Guyana. Eat organic, laugh daily, stay fit and most of all keep learning and keep growing mentally. Knowledge, in the ethos of misinformation, is the best weapon against cancer and other deadly diseases. I end this series in my third year of cancer diagnosis thus: I continue to thrive and not just survive.
Region 10 hinterland communities to benefit from improved water supply TWO communities of Region 10 – Numbers 47 and 58 Miles, within the next month, should benefit from improved water supply since the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is on a mission to resuscitate the inactive wells located in these communities. Public Relations officer of GWI, Ms. Leanna Bradshaw, explained to the Guyana Chronicle that No. 58 currently has two wells, but the residents are not benefiting from these and therefore access to potable water is very difficult. One of the potable wells was built by the previous administration and has all of the necessary equipment attached, such as the photovoltaic system, but it was not drilled properly. “It did not go deep enough, so it never produced water, there was a rocky area so that never worked,” she revealed, adding that the other well was built by a Brazilian and is currently operating at half of its capacity.
GWI will be rehabilitating that well and will also install pipelines to residents’ homes. “We were informed that residents have to fetch water very far with this well, so we will be running pipelines to their homes,” Bradshaw said, further revealing that GWI will drill another well in the area since one will not be sufficient and the other available one cannot be resuscitated, given the rocky terrain in which it is located. At No. 47 Miles, there are also two wells that are in a state of disrepair and therefore are not benefiting the community. “We will be installing photovoltaic systems and cleaning them and rehabilitating them and disinfecting them.” Bradshaw said. She said pipelines will not be installed however, given the great distance between homes. Bradshaw said that works are in the planning stages and when works do commence, it will take approximately one
month to finish. Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, during a recent press conference lauded GWI for positively responding to the plights of these communities and said that GWI has also promised to visit the communities of Rockstone and Coomacka that have been experiencing similar water challenges. As it relates to Linden, GWI will also be pumping millions of dollars in correcting structural and implementation faults that have emerged during the executing of a US $412.3 M Linden Water Supply Rehabilitation Programme. Director of Project Implementation, Ramchand Jailal, said during a recent stakeholder meeting in Linden, that GWI will be pumping $60 M towards the Mackenzie plant and West Watooka plant, $60 M to remedy the filtration problem and another $20 M to remedy the distribution system. Other gaps
to be addressed by GWI are the non-revenue water reduction program, in-
stallation of water meters for all customers and the replacement of mains in
Christianburg, Wisroc, Half Mile and Canvas City.
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McLeod restores Jamaican sprint pride with hurdles gold By Ian Chadband LONDON, England (Reuters) - Omar McLeod brought the smile back to Jamaican sprinting as he powered to the 110 metres hurdles title at the World Athletics Championships yesterday before dedicating his triumph to Usain Bolt. Following the shock defeats of Bolt and Elaine Thompson in the 100 metres events, McLeod, another overwhelming race favourite from the Caribbean island, made no mistake as he added the world crown to the Olympic title he won last year. The 23-year-old dominated the race, winning in 13.04 seconds, a metre clear of the defending champion Sergey Shubenkov, the Russian who was competing as an ‘autho-
rised neutral athlete’ with his country’s federation still banned from international athletics. “He’s still legendar! Usain, brother, this is for you!” McLeod, who had celebrated by running across the track afterwards to hug his mother in the London Stadium, told the crowd afterwards. S h u b e n k o v, w h o clocked 13.14, was the first Russian to win a medal in London while Hungary’s Balazs Baji took a surprise bronze in 13.28. World record holder Aries Merritt, of the U.S., who won the Olympic title in the same stadium five years ago, started strongly but faded into fifth place in 13.31 seconds. It was a majestic triumph for McLeod, now the dominant force on the hurdles circuit, after a weekend of huge disappointment for his sprint-loving compatriots as they failed to get a 100m gold for the first time since 2005. “I really wanted to keep the Jamaican flag flying,” he said afterwards. “This one is so special, honestly. There was a lot of pressure coming in, but I channelled it positively. It’s totally different to last year (in Rio) when we had Usain and Elaine winning, which I used to propel me. “I didn’t have that this time so I really wanted to come out and shine my own light.”
He did just that with a performance that left the silver medallist Shubenkov sighing afterwards: “The Jamaican is just too fast.” Indeed, as the only topflight hurdler who has broken 10 seconds for the 100 metres as well as 13 seconds for the 110 metres hurdles, the only worry for McLeod these days is to ensure he does not go too fast between the barriers. On this occasion, just as in Rio last year when he became the first Jamaican man to win a sprint hurdles gold, he offered speed with total control from the gun. It was a consummate display that demonstrated why he has lost just once all summer, and only then when he suffered a bout of cramp in a Diamond League meeting in Paris. With not a breath of wind in the stadium, McLeod was third-fastest away from the blocks but was initially matched by Shubenkov and Merritt. Once he hurdled into overdrive, though, his pursuers could not get close to him but Shubenkov, who was not allowed to compete at last year’s Olympics because of the IAAF ban on Russia, still was not happy with silver. I’m so frustrated. I struggled over the last few hurdles but was leading for the first half so that’s the frustration,” he said.
“I’m just happy to be competing at the world championships and to get a medal. Last year was a disaster, not just because of the Russian ban, so I’m happy to be back winning a world medal.” There was nothing but complete surprise from the bronze medal winner Baji, who roared through the field over the final five metres to snatch his reward with a desperate dip at the line. It was a reward for the 28-year-old’s years of slog which had seen him win 15 Hungarian titles but never a global medal. “I can barely believe what has happened,” he said. “A bronze is way beyond expectations. It’s a dream come true.” For Merritt, it was also an emotional night as he momentarily threatened to complete one of sport’s great comeback stories by winning the world title two years after undergoing a kidney transplant. “It feels great to be back in London where I won Olympic gold. The crowd greeted me very warmly. Of course, I am not happy to be in lane nine but just being in the stadium is enough for me,” said the 32-year-old. “I am not even meant to be running, so I’m ‘more happy’ to be here than not be here. I am back on the world stage, that’s the main thing.”
Mangru, Millington lead Guyana female U-19s to first title AN excellent all-round effort from Mandy Mangru, together with a decisive bowling spell from Plaffiana Millington, led Guyana to a seven-wicket win over Trinidad and Tobago in the final of Cricket West Indies Regional Female Under-19 tournament at the National Cricket Centre in Couva on Sunday. Guyana won on the Duckworth/Lewis method, and were deserved winners after they played unbeaten throughout the tournament to finish on ten points. Mangru took two wickets for eight runs in four overs to help limit TT to 94-9 in 20 overs. Plaffiana Millington was the chief destroyer, grabbing 4-17 in four
overs. Reniece Boyce top-scored for TT with 33, while Renelle Dookie pitched in with 22. Boyce struck five fours in a 40-ball knock, while Dookie faced 20 balls and struck four fours. Chasing a revised target of 86 in 18 overs because of rain, Guyana posted 86-3 in 17.2 overs with Mangru scoring 34. Mangru, who cracked six fours in a 36-ball knock, was ably supported by Shabika Gajnabi, who contributed an unbeaten 20. Gajnabi faced 36 deliveries and hit one four. April Ramoutar was the only wicket-taker for TT, taking 3-17 in four overs. Earlier in the day, the preliminary round
was completed with two matches. At Gilbert Park in Couva, Windward Islands defeated Barbados by 10 wickets. Batting first Barbados scored 529, before the Windward Islands raced to 53 without loss in 7.5 overs. Guyana got past TT by three wickets at the National Cricket Centre in Couva. TT posted 929, before Guyana got to the target of 93-7 in 19.4 overs. The win is Guyana’s first Regional title at this level. The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in a release congratulated the squad, and expressed confidence that our women’s cricket is on the move to match their male counterparts.
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Mighty Moeen spins England to victory and 3-1 series win MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Spinner Moeen Ali crowned his excellent series by taking five wickets as England beat South Africa by 177 runs in the fourth Test yesterday to secure a 3-1 series victory. South Africa, needing 380 to win, were bowled out for 202 on the fourth day with Man-of-the-Series Moeen taking 5 wickets for 69 runs and James Anderson claiming 3 for 16. The only real resistance came from Hashim Amla (83) and skipper Faf du Plessis (61), who put on a 123-run fourth-wicket partnership. But three quick wickets from Moeen put an end to any thoughts of a miracle and ensured England their first home series win over South Africa since 1998. Moeen, who scored an unbeaten 75 in England’s second innings, became the first player to score 250 runs and take 25 wickets in a four-match Test series. “What a series he has had,” said England all-rounder Ben Stokes. “He has come on leaps and bounds as a cricketer and this series has really defined him as a player for us.” It was always going to be a testing time for the tourists’ top order. Stuart Broad
gland made short order of the tail after tea. “The way we have
ENGLAND 1st innings 362 (J. Bairstow 99, B. Stokes 58, J. Root 52; K. Rabada 4-91)
Moeen Ali has Quinton de Kock caught at slip for 1. struck in the fourth over with a beautiful delivery that straightened off the seam and clipped Dean Elgar’s edge, to the delight of Jonny Bairstow, who grabbed the catch. Heino Kuhn then edged Anderson to Cook at slip and on the final ball before lunch Temba Bavuma was given out caught behind, after review, from the bowling of Toby Roland-Jones. There was no meek surrender though, Amla and du Plessis batting with skill and focus in a partnership that threatened to at least
make contest of the Test. But spinner Moeen made the breakthrough, half an hour before tea, with a sharply turning delivery catching Amla leg-before on the backfoot, and he was dismissed following a successful review. Ali then dealt with Quinton de Kock, driving out of the rough and edging to Alastair Cook in the slips, and picked up the wicket of Theunis de Bruyn, caught by Stokes. The spinner then picked up two more wickets as En-
to be contested are cricket, football and volleyball with the winners qualifying to represent the Region in the National playoffs. Among the participating Amerindian villages will be Mainstay, Capoey, St Monica, Kabakaburi, Akawini and Wakapoa. Trophies will be donat-
ed to the winners at the completion of the events which will commence at 14:30hrs with the final of each event contested under lights. Region 2 are the male National defending champions at tapeball cricket while the females previously held the title in 2015.
ASL on board with Guyana Cup AIR Services Limited (ASL) has thrown its support towards the 11th edition of the Guyana Cup, which is billed for this Sunday at the Rising Sun Turf Club on the West Coast Berbice. With over 50 years of experience in the aviation industry, ASL executive assistant Olivia Rodrigues made the presentation yesterday to Roy Jafarally, race organiser of the Guyana Cup. Rodrigues, in brief remarks, pointed out that ASL is proud to be a part of the development of horse racing locally.
England skipper Joe Root, who had enjoyed success in his first series in charge.
SCOREBOARD
Region Two to stage grand Heritage Day of Sports A GRAND day of sports, organised by the Region 2 Administration is set for August 11 at the Charity Community ground as part of the Region’s range of activities in recognition of Amerindian Heritage Month which is officially celebrated in September. Among the disciplines
played as a unit, especially in these last two games has been brilliant,” said
Jafarally, in response, thanked the aviation industry for its support, adding that sponsorship plays an important part in staging the event. Meanwhile, an update from the organising committee indicated that close to 100 of the country’s top horses gained entry for the day’s event. The feature event, which is open to all imported and Guyana-bred three years and up, rated B Class and Lower will go for a distance of 1600m and has a top prize of $2 million. The main supporting race
is the E3 and Lower, which will be contested over 1100m and has a winner’s purse of $1.2 million. Other races on the day include the G1 and Lower (1400m), H2 and Lower (1400m), Two-year-old Guyana-bred (1100m), Threeyear-old Guyana-bred and I1 and Lower (1400m), J2 and K Lower (1400m) and L and Lower Non-winners (1400m). The top five finishers in all eight races would receive cash incentives, with over $15 million in cash and prizes to be distributed on the day. Admission to the venue is $2 000 for adults; children will be admitted free.
SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 226 (J. Anderson 4-38) ENGLAND 2nd innings (o.n 224-8) A. Cook c de Bruyn b M. Morkel 10 K. Jennings c Amla b Rabada 18 T. Westley c sub. b M. Morkel 9 J. Root b Olivier 49 D.MalancdeBruynbMaharaj6 B. Stokes c du Plessis b Olivier 23 J.BairstowcRabadabOlivier 10 M. Ali not out 75 T. Roland-Jones c Maharaj b Rabada 11
S.BroadcdeBruynbM.Morkel5 J. Anderson c de Bruyn b M. Morkel 2 Extras: (b-9, lb-13, nb-1, w-2) 25 Total: (all out, 69.1 overs) 243 Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-30, 3-55, 4-72, 5-129, 6-134, 7-153, 8-211, 9-237. Bowling: M. Morkel 13.1-241-4 (nb-1), K. Rabada 17-450-2 (w-2), K. Maharaj 275-92-1, D. Olivier 12-5-38-3. SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings (Target: 380 runs) H. Kuhn c Cook b Anderson 11 D. Elgar c Bairstow b Broad 5 H. Amla lbw b Ali 83 T. Bavuma c Bairstow b Roland-Jones 12
F. du Plessis c Bairstow b Anderson 61 Q. de Kock c Cook b Ali 1 T. de Bruyn c Stokes b Ali 0 K. Maharaj not out 21 K. Rabada c Westley b Anderson 1 M. Morkel c Root b Ali 0 D. Olivier c Stokes b Ali 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-3) 7 Total: (all out, 62.5 overs) 202 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-18, 3-40, 4-163, 5-173, 6-173, 7-183, 8-195, 9-202. Bowling: J. Anderson 14-716-3, S. Broad 12-5-24-1, T. Roland-Jones 9-1-52-1, M. Ali 19.5-1-69-5, B. Stokes 6-1-26–0, J. Root 2-0-8-0.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Barca chief Bartomeu criticises disloyal Neymar By Richard Martin
BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu hit out at Neymar’s lack of loyalty to the club yesterday and criticised the Brazilian for staying silent up until his world record 222 million euro ($261 million) move to Paris St Germain. The speculation about Neymar’s eventual move to France overshadowed the club’s pre-season tour of the United States in July and, while his teammates were inundated with questions about the player, the forward made no comment on his future until the move was confirmed
last Thursday. “His way of doing things was not the best, it was not the behaviour we expect of one of our players,” Bartomeu said at Barca’s annual supporters’ congress yesterday. “We were always clear and we would have liked a bit more clarity from him. Values are very important to us and players need to feel like they are at the best club in the world.” Bartomeu said the club was now ready for life without Neymar, who scored 105 goals in four seasons with Barca and won two Liga titles, three King’s Cups and the 2015 Champions League.
He contrasted the Brazilian’s fleeting loyalty with one-club men Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta. No player is above Barca; everything has a limit and that is why we did what we did. Messi’s loyalty should be an example for everyone who wants to wear our colours, as should Iniesta’s,” said Bartomeu. The Barca chief said the club had suspected Neymar might leave one day when he agreed a new contract in 2016. “We predicted Neymar could leave so we raised his buy-out clause to 222 million so we would have a stable future. When we started to doubt he would stay,
PSG’s Neymar watches the game from the stands with his father, Neymar Sr (L)
we remained calm because whatever happened would have been good for Barca,” he said. “If he’d stayed we would have kept an exceptional player, and if he went we’d be able to guarantee we could sign other players.” Bartomeu added that the team would move away from its recent axis of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, the most prolific front three of all-time, to focus on building a stronger team overall. “Now we won’t be talking about the Barca of the trident, we’ll be focusing more on the team,” he said.
George through to men’s 200m semi-finals
… Doris out of men’s triple jump GUYANA’S Winston George will be in tomorrow’s semi-finals of the men’s 200m at the IAAF World Championships, after he finished third in his heat yesterday at the Olympic Stadium in London, England, following the disqualification of two athletes. Guyana’s other athlete at the Championships, Troy Doris, however, failed to move past his qualifying round in the men’s triple jump after a 16.43m jump was not enough. Coming off a slow start, in lane seven, George finished with a time of 20.61 seconds, initially ending in fifth position, after getting edged out by Japan’s Shota
IIzuka, who was fourth with a time of 20.58 seconds. However, the disqualification of Canada’s Aaron Brown and South Africa’s Clarence Munyai later bumped George up to a third-place position, paving the way for him to be in the semi-finals. His time was 0.20sec slower than his season-best achieved in Guyana last month at the Aliann Pompey Invitational. Running in the second fastest heat of the day, the Olympian was overthrown on the turn as a cluster of Brown, Great Britain’s Mitchell Blake, and Munyai came away and charged to the finish line. 11:30 hrs Zefferino
South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:20 hrs Desert Lark 08:55 hrs Know The Ropes 09:35 hrs Sao Paulo 10:10 hrs Miss Hyde 10:50 hrs Zud Wes 11:25 hrs Commander Bond English Racing Tips Leicester 09:00 hrs Iconic Sunset 09:30 hrs Major Crispies 10:00 hrs Queen Of Kalahari 10:30 hrs Jo’s Girl 11:00 hrs Cryshed
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The three were the first to cross the finish line, in that order. However, Brown was later hit with the news that the season’s best 20.08 seconds, which was the second-fastest time in the heats, was rendered null and void after he was disqualified for a lane violation. Brown had stepped on the inside line of his lane at the start of the straightaway and end of the curve. Similar news hit Munyai. This moved Blake up as the winner of the heat with a time of 20.08 seconds, and Ilzuka moved into second place, also qualifying for the semifinals. George will now be
Irish Racing Tips 12:40 hrs Himmah 13:10 hrs Vicky Cristina 13:40 hrs Not A Bad Oul Lady 14:10 hrs Imbucato 14:40 hrs She’s So Flawless 15:10 hrs Remarkable Lady 15:40 hrs Massif Central American Racing Tips Philadelphia Park Race 1 Prep Pride Race 2 Tiz All Behind Race 3 Blake Magic Race 4 Friesani Race 5 Delightful Lana Race 6 Dreaming of Neno Race 7 White Bluff Race 8 True Boldness Race 9 Alaapatique
Winston George
Troy Doris
among 24 men moving through, including Wayde Van Niekerk, the 400m world record holder, and Jamaica’s Yohan Blake. Over in the men’s triple jump, Doris’ first jump spanning 16.43m was the best he had for the day, fouling in his second jump and reaching only 16.24m in his third and final jump. This was not enough to take him through to the next round, where USA’s Chris Benard goes in with the best jump after spanning 17.20m with just one attempt. USA’s Christian Taylor was just behind with 17.15m.
Joseph’s 4-72 helps Windies hit back after Dickson ton CANTERBURY, England (CMC) – Alzarri Joseph’s four-wicket haul helped West Indies rein in Kent after the hosts threatened an imposing first-innings total on the second day of their three-day game here yesterday. The 20-year-old speedster claimed four for 72 as Kent, replying to West Indies’ 265 on Sunday’s opening day, declared in the day’s final over on 331 for nine. Opener Sean Dickson topscored with 142 – his fourth first class hundred – while Zak Crawley struck 62, Will Gidman, 42 and Calum Haggett, an unbeaten 29. Occasional off-spinner Kraigg Brathwaite supported with two for 22 as the remainder of the Windies
attack toiled without much success. Resuming the day on one for one, Dickson and Crawley posted a club record 182 for the second wicket as Kent cruised to 183 without further loss. Dickson faced 210 deliveries and struck 19 fours and three sixes while Crawley hit seven fours and a six in a 131ball knock. Due to the pair’s enterprise, Kent moved to 106 for one at lunch and 236 for three at the second interval, with Dickson on 128. Unbeaten on 41 at lunch, Crawley was one of two wickets to fall in the second session, caught at first slip by Kieran Powell off Joseph. Captain Sam Billings made a breezy 25 off 29 balls
with three fours and a six and added 40 with Dickson before he was run-out through good work by Shai Hope at mid-wicket. Dickson eventually fell about half-hour after tea, holing out on the long-off boundary off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo at 259 for four. Gidman added 32 for the fifth wicket with Adam Ball (3) to push Kent up to 291 for four but Brathwaite made key strikes, knocking over Ball and Adam Rouse without scoring, as the hosts lost three wickets for four runs in quick time. Haggett, though, hung around for 44 balls to frustrate the tourists until Joseph struck in successive overs to finally put the innings on the ropes.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday August 8, 2017
New York-based teams sweep titles … Toronto Cup II climaxes with low-scoring affairs By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada --Three players who featured prominently in the Ontario Masters Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) inaugural Toronto Cup, were again at the forefront as their respective teams secured victories when the second edition climaxed at the picturesque University of Toronto ground here on Sunday. In 2015, skipper Anil Beharry, with a fine bowling display which earned him the manof-the-match award, propelled New York Enforcers to the Open title. This time around, he was again brilliant with the ball as his team New York SVC Mafia defeated their counterparts New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) All Stars by five wickets to claim the Open championship. Similarly, it was the batting of former Guyana Under-19 player Troy Gobin and former Canadian player Desmond Cholmondeley with scores of 43 not out and 36 respectively which ensured Our Own’s success versus Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) two years ago. Donning colours for New York Hustlers on Sunday, Gobin (35 not out) and Cholmondeley unbeaten on 40, featured in an unbroken 75-run second-wicket stand which took their team to an easy nine-wicket win over the Ontario Masters Softball International (OMSI) and with it, the Masters crown. Unlike the previous day when the weather was unusually cold for this time of the year, Sunday was picture perfect for cricket but low scores
Ramesh Sunich, of Trophy Stall, hands over the Masters trophy to captain Shameer Sadloo while other members of the victorious New York Hustlers celebrate.
were the order of the day as no teams reached a hundred. The all-New York Open affair, saw NYSCL All Stars bat first and bundled out for a paltry 84 in 19.3 overs with only three players reaching double figures, Jumadeen (15), Nigel Greaves (15) and former Guyana player Damodar Daesrath (11). NYSCL started disastrously, losing both openers in the first over, Amar Singh (0) going via run-out and Vickey Subkaran (one) caught off the bowling of Sewchand Budhu. Thereafter, it was a struggle as SVC were never let off the hook as Beharry (two for eight), Azad Azeez (two for eight) and Budhu (two for 12) restricted them to 84.
Needing just over fours runs per over to achieve victory, SVC Mafia batted sensibly to secure an easy win with four overs to spare, losing five wickets in the process. Rooplall Singh (18), Sarfraz Esau (15) and Budhu (14 not out) were the top scorers. It was all New York Hustlers in the day’s opening encounter as OMSI failed to live up to the pre-game hype, much to the disappointment of their home fans, after defeating pre-tournament favourites GFSCA in Saturday’s semi-final. Set 99 for victory, after dismissing OMSI for 98 in 19 overs, New York Hustlers raced to 100 for one in just 14 overs
SVC Mafia skipper Anil Beharry receives the winning Open trophy from Emma Sunich, daughter of Trophy Stall proprietor Ramesh Sunich.
with Gobin and Cholmondeley sharing an enterprising second-wicket partnership of 75 after captain and former Guy-
ana Under-19 player Shameer Sadloo (five) had departed in the sixth over with 25 on the board. The lone wicket went to Jesh Parasnauth. Earlier, a superb opening spell by Satrohan ‘Blade’ Balkarran, who sent back skipper Shiv Seeram and Sunil Dhaniram (0) in the fifth over, broke the back of the OMSI innings from which they never fully recovered. It took a sixth-wicket stand of 37 between Parasnauth (29) and Terry Mathura (eight) to bring some respectability to the score but once the two departed the innings folded quickly. Parasnauth, who dominated the partnership, struck three fours. Balkarran was ably supported by Eustace Dodson who claimed the last four wickets for a mere 10 runs from his two overs while Ronald Evelyn chipped in with two for 27 from his four. At the impressive presentation ceremony which followed, the victorious team in
the Masters category received US$2500 and the trophy while they were also in receipt of an additional US$500, compliments of Canada-based Guyanese Surendra Persaud. Runners-up OMSI collected US$300 and a trophy. The Open category saw SVC Mafia receive US$2000 and a trophy while the runners-up got US$200 and a trophy. Beharry was named man-of-the-match for his impressive bowling in the Open final while Budhu gained the Most Valuable Player award for his nine wickets and score of 84 runs from four games. Dodson copped the manof-the-match in the Masters division while Balkarran’s sterling bowling efforts, which saw him bag 10 wickets for 37 runs in five matches, earned him the MVP award. Shiv Seeram, the only player to score a century in the tournament, was awarded for his magnificent undefeated 114. All the trophies and medals were sponsored by Trophy Stall (Guyana) and Toronto and on hand to assist with the presentation were proprietor Ramesh Sunich and daughter Emma.
Whatley dethrones Clarke for Mr Guyana title
… Grimes is new Mr Physique THE scores of fans who turned up at the Marriott Hotel on Sunday evening were hoping to see Kerwin Clarke retain his Mr Guyana crown, but, Bruce Whatley had other plans. Whatley, no stranger to the stage and now based in the USA, turned heads, at the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation Inc. Senior National Championships. Whatley used his experience and a little advantage in having a more defined body than his competition in his category to out-pose Ron Loncke and Tremel King,, to set up a final showdown with Clarke, Marlon Bennett (Masters and Lightweight), Caerus Cipriani (Welterweight) and Dwayne Chung (Bantamweight). Clarke, a four-time Mr Guyana and last year’s CAC gold medallist entered as a clear favourite but Whatley, who finished second in the Middleweight at the CAC took the edge on the judges’ scorecards. Some cheered, while some, including Clarke, were dumfounded at the judges’ decision.
Bruce Whatley receives some of his spoils after being crowned Mr Guyana on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, Emmerson Campbell was also in for a shocker after falling to Yannick Grimes in the Men’s Physique category. Campbell had long had the edge of his Buddy’s Gym rival, but when it mattered most, Grimes returned as favourite and relegated the Fitness 53 Gym member to third place behind his gym-mate Lance Gordon.
Alisha Fortune was the lone competitor in the Body Fitness category. The event, according to the GBBFFI president Coel Marks, was an “overwhelming success”, congratulating the athletes for putting on a good show. He thanked those who crammed into the venue to support.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 8, 2017
India’s Saha proves keeping pedigree with Colombo masterclass By Amlan Chakraborty NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - ANY lingering doubt about Wriddhiman Saha’s claim as India’s automatic Test wicketkeeper evaporated after the diminutive glovesman’s virtuoso performance in the second Test against Sri Lanka. Yet another glovesman who suffered in the long shadow of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Saha waited to stake his claim until the former India captain quit Tests in late 2014. Saha, 32, possesses none of his predecessor’s flamboyance or big-hitting ability with the bat but his dexterity behind the stumps, to go with his
determination in front of them, has meant that Dhoni, who now plays only limited-overs cricket, has not really been missed. The second Test against Sri Lanka, which India won by an innings and 53 runs on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, was a moot case. On a minefield of a track at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground, Saha’s keeping masterclass prompted skipper Virat Kohli to term him the best in the business. “Four byes on that sort of pitch speaks volumes of the kind of ability he has,” Kohli said after India’s comprehensive victory at SSC. “He’s right up there in
India’s Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha
world cricket among the very best. He’s the best keeper in this format right
now, I’d say.” On a treacherous track where every other delivery
misbehaved, Saha was exemplary especially in the second innings when the pitch was at its worst. Kusal Mendis had raised 191 runs with Dimuth Karunaratne for the second wicket, rekindling Sri Lanka’s faint hopes of a fightback, when he deflected the ball onto his thigh pad and a diving Saha took a stunning catch to dismiss the centurion. On Sunday, Saha produced another gem of a dismissal, pouching Angelo Mathews’ top-edge to complete a dismissal which ended Sri Lankan resistance. Like he did throughout the match, Saha never took his eyes off the ball, climbed with it and positioned his gloved hand right behind
to take a deceptively easy catch. It was a ritual Saha, who scored a patient 67 in India’s first innings 622-9 declared, religiously followed despite the rigours of keeping wickets for over 166 overs as Sri Lanka batted back-to-back after India enforced the follow-on. Whether the ball skidded, spun, kept low or reared up, it invariably landed in Saha’s reliable gloves once it made it past the bat. He was also lightning fast in stumping Dilruwan Perera. “You saw his keeping today, how agile he is,” Kohli said. “He can create chances at any stage. He’s very safe behind the stumps and he’s been outstanding.”
John wins Regan Rodrigues Unfortunate incident curtails GT Callouts Drag and Dexterity event Memorial 50-miler
TEAM Coco’s Jamal John continued his fine form on Sunday when he sprinted away with top honours in the Ricks and Sari Agro Industries-sponsored 13th Annual Regan Rodrigues Memorial 50-mile cycle road race on the West Demerara. John’s time for the event was one hour 56 minutes 48 seconds. He also won three of the eight prime prizes that were up for grabs. Raul Leal, who won the feature 35-lap Seven Seas-sponsored race that
Jamal John
was held on Saturday in the National Park had to settle for second while
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday August 08, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 34 games (2) Dwayne Bravo-21 wickets Today’s Quiz: (1) Put these in order beginning with the player who scored most runs for the Warriors in 2016? (2) Martin Guptill, Chris Lyn, Dwayne Smith, Jason Mohammed ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE
Kemuel Moses placed third. Briton John was fourth, Christopher Griffith fifth and Shaquel Agard sixth. Jonell Yearwood won two prime prizes while Leal, Agard and Griffith copped one each. The event which was coordinated by cycle coach Hassan Mohamed started from outside the Wales Police Station, West Bank Demerara, proceeded to Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo before turning back to finish at Schoonord just near to the Demerara Harbour Bridge. John, by finishing fourth overall, won the junior category, while Ian Jackson won the veterans Under-50 age group. USA-based Guyanese Randolph Toussiant won the veterans Over-60 age group category and Talim Shaw, the mountain bike category.
AN unfortunate event on Sunday curtailed the GT Callouts-organised Drag and Dexterity event at the South Dakota Circuit. Speedy response by onlookers and officials averted a sensitive situation after a driver and his Honda CRX lost control of his car, which went into the runoff areas before going airborne then flipping twice before coming to a halt in the empty circuit racing stands before the second turn of the Circuit. However, rapid response from the marshals and ambulance officials ensured that the driver was cleared from the wreckage as quickly as possible before being taken by ambulance to town and treated for a fractured ankle. Meanwhile, an official of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) has contended that while the incident was unfortunate, all the safety precautions were in place and responded well. The source noted that while racing is dangerous, drivers and teams need to take more precautions when entering events, citing six-point roll cages for cars and proper safety harnesses and helmets. Before that, however, there were two classes com-
Part of the mangled Honda CRX
pleted, with Rayon Brijpal winning the 1500cc Class and
Balram Ramdeo prevailing in the 1600cc.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday August 8, 2017
Kipyegon adds world title to Olympic 1500m gold By Mitch Phillips
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon added the world title to her Olympic gold when she won a superb women’s 1500 metres final in a white-hot London Stadium atmosphere yesterday, judging her charge to perfection and holding off the field. Kipyegon, silver medallist two years ago, took up the running with 600 to go and was stride for stride with in-form Sifan Hassan until the Dutchwoman faded while the Kenyan stayed strong to cross the line in four minutes 2.59 seconds. Jenny Simpson of the United States, the 30-year-old 2011 champion, also showed great track nous as she slipped up the inside and finished like a teenage sprinter to take second. South Africa’s 800 metres specialist Caster Semenya also powered through on the line to grab the bronze. “I knew it would be fast, it is such a quality field,” Kipyegon
said. “The best was going to win here. It was always going to be quick and competitive.” After a relatively low-key night’s action, the 55 000 crowd roared their encouragement to home hopes Laura Muir and Laura Weightman to create a vibrant atmosphere. Muir had travelled to Rio de Janeiro with real medal hopes last year after a stellar season but failed to live with the last-lap pace in the Olympic final and finished seventh. CROWD FRENZY This time she had vowed not to repeat that error and set the pace from the start and, although it was not a particularly punishing one, her positive move sent the crowd into frenzy. After a slow second lap, Kipyegon and Hassan, the fastest over the distance in the world this year, took it up with 600 to go as Muir and Simpson stayed in their wake in a thrilling last 300. But it was the Kenyan who had the superior staying power
Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon of Kenya celebrates winning the 1500 metres final. as she drove through the line for a brilliant win to follow her 2016 triumph at the Olympics in Rio. Hassan, who slipped to fifth, and then Muir, fourth, ran out of gas over the last few metres, allowing Simpson and Semenya, who has barely run a 1500 in her career but has been unbeatable over two laps, to snatch the minor
medals. “My coach has been telling me all day, ‘Be willing to run your guts out and you’ll be great’, so I did exactly what she said,” Simpson said. “The last 300 metres in particular I ran my guts out and it paid off. “Having the experience is
huge because having the ability to stay calm is so hard. To come out with a medal, I think it was down to keeping my wits about me.” RISKY MOVE Simpson said she has now run a remarkable 17 global championship 1500m races and “learned 17 different ways of
running them.” “I don’t think I’ve ever passed on the inside before but for a nanosecond I saw that gap open. It’s risky, it could have closed, but it worked out,” she said. Semenya, who will start as favourite to retain her world title over 800m, said she had enjoyed her major championship experience of the longer distance. “It’s just the beginning for me, you’ll be seeing more of me in the 1500,” she said. “I like the challenge and I think I can do better.” Semenya, whose entire career has been run in the spotlight of questions about her hyperandrogenism and the claimed advantage her high natural testosterone levels give her, was less happy to discuss that situation. “I’ve no time for nonsense about medication,” she said. “My focus is on being healthy and competing.” Ethiopia’s defending champion and world record holder Genzebe Dibaba looked short of fitness and finished last.
Bunbury to bring in investors for Fruta Conquerors … Taking the club to Portugal for pre-season training a possibility By Rawle Toney ALEX Bunbury, president of Fruta Conquerors football club, told Chronicle Sport that he’s actively working on bringing some investors for one of the country’s most storied teams, in his effort to totally transform the way players are treated and compensated in Guyana. The Canadian football hall-of-fame inductee in a recent interview said, “I plan on investing a lot with
Fruta Conquerors but, I also understand that I can’t do this alone.” Bunbury, who took over the club last year, also told this publication that “the team has worked hard and it’s also my way of rewarding them and paving the way for how footballers should be treated in Guyana”. “I’ve actually spoken to two people who are very interested and I’ll be better able to share that later on when we get some more
work done. But this is just what I promised the guys when I took up the role of becoming president. I believe in the club and what it stands for,” Bunbury said. He added “the more investors we have at Fruta Conquerors, the better we will be able to have the kind of salaries that’s needed in Guyana to really drive and develop the sport and honour these players.” Meanwhile, Bunbury pointed out that his aim is for the club to have pre-season
Alex Bunbury
training ahead of next season’s Guyana Football Federation (GFF) STAG Elite League in Portugal, since it will give them a competitive edge over their local counterparts. Bunbury spent the majority of his professional career in Portugal, playing for Club Sport Marítimo in the country’s Primeira Liga. The Plaisance native is still one of the most popular figures at the club where he holds the record as their all-time leading
goalscorer. “There’s a lot to be done with the club and it’s not out of the realm for us to go to Portugal for pre-season this year, so I’m working on that. Big things are in store for the club this year, I could tell you that much,” said an exciting Bunbury. Fruta Conquerors finished second behind the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and will also feature in next year’s Caribbean Club Championship as Guyana’s representative.
Regional Under-19 cricket..
Barbados, T&T heading for tensefinish; Jamaica eye victory
BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Barbados hit back against defending champions Trinidad and Tobago while Jamaica got the upper hand against Leeward Islands, on the second day of the fourth round of the Regional Under-19 Championship here Monday. At Molineaux, Barbados entered the day trailing by 66 on first innings after being bundled out for a paltry 77 but returned to bowl out out T&T for 116
and set up an interesting final day on Tuesday. Sachin Seecharan once again led T&T with 40 while Avinash Mahabirsingh, batting at number nine, chipped in with 23. The Trinidadians failed to make the most of their first innings advantage, crashing to 18 for four before Seecharan and opener Leonardo Francis – who spent three hours and 140 balls over 17 – revived the innings in a 50-run, fifth
wicket stand.
Left-arm spinner Camarie Boyce was the best bowler with there for 33 while Kemar Burrowes (2-10), Jarion Hoyte (2-12) and Raniel Smith (2-12), all picked up two wickets each. Barbados require 183 today for victory. At Conaree, Jamaica put the Leewards under pressure heading into the final day after securing a first innings lead of 56 runs. Resuming on 114 for four, they were eventual-
Leewards fast bowler Kian
Pemberton … took four wickets against Jamaica.
ly dismissed for 219 with Raewin Senior converting his overnight unbeaten 25 into 38 while Dominic Samuels got 30 and Darren Small, 28. They were 170 for seven at one stage but Samuels and Kristoph Virgo (22) rallied the innings in a 41run eighth wicket stand. Fast bowler Kian Pemberton snatched four for 28. In their second turn at the crease, the Leewards lost two wickets in ending the day on 44 – still 12 runs behind.
At St Paul’s, the contest between Guyana and Windward Islands seemed headed for a draw after the Guyanese batted all day to reach 206 for four and carve out a first innings lead of 52 runs. Resuming on 90 for one, they got half-centuries from Kevelon Anderson who made 60 and opener Javid Karim who converted his overnight unbeaten 44 into 57. The pair put on 81 for the second wicket to lay the foundation for the innings.
Kipyegon adds world title to Olympic 1500m gold P.27
McLeod restores Jamaican sprint pride with hurdles gold
Omar McLeod of Jamaica wins the 110 metres hurdles final.
See Page 23
Omar McLeod of Jamaica celebrates winning the 110 metres hurdles gold
Mangru, Millington lead Guyana female U-19s to first title
The winning Guyana female Under-19 team Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 32 43-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 52 04, 2 2 7- 52 16. Fax:2 2 7- 52 08
See Page 23 TUESDAY, AUGUST, 8 , 2017