Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_08_06_2019

TUESDAY 6th August, 2019

' No.105721

No people-smuggling …Felix slams media reports as deceptive, xenophobic

SEE PAGE 09

…says Haitians have capitalised on free movement to Guyana, other states

‘Ram on collision course with CCJ’ …SG tells High Court order being sought by Ram runs counter to CCJ PAGE

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Future bright for PAGE

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businesses’

…AG tells business forum narco traffickers no longer wrangling with legal investors

GRA removes VAT on local air travel

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Feasibility study on Mackenzie/Wismar bridge commences

SEE STORY ON PAGE 18 ►

Attorney-General Basil Williams addressing the gathering at the Marriott Hotel Monday evening (Samuel Maughn photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

‘Ram on collision course with CCJ’ …SG tells High Court order being sought by Ram runs counter to CCJ …reiterates political actors must be guided by the Constitution

By Svetlana Marshall POINTING to the loopholes in the challenge to House-to-House Registration brought by Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke said the applicant, through his attorney Anil Nandlall, is challenging the conduct of the exercise without challenging the order that created it. To further compound the situation, Hawke said Ram is asking the High Court to grant orders in which the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has refrained from granting. The Solicitor General was among attorneys that made oral submissions on Monday in the High Court before Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire in the case Christopher Ram vs. the Chief Elections Officer, Commissioner of the National Registration, The Guyana Elections Commission and the Attorney-General. Ram is challenging the constitutionality of the ongoing Houseto-House Registration on the grounds that it is in violation of Article 106 (6) and Article 106 (7) of the Constitution, and the letter and spirit of the judgement and consequential orders of the CCJ in the con-

solidated appeals. Ultimately, he wants the Court to rule that the national registration exercise is illegal and of no effect. But the Solicitor General, in representing the Attorney-General, outlined the paradox in Ram’s case. He explained that while there is a challenge to the ongoing House-to-House Registration, there is no challenge to the order that paved the way for the exercise to be conducted. On June 11, then Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson issued an order for House-toHouse Registration to commence on July 20, 2019, for a period of three months. This order, the Solicitor General reiterated, has not been challenged. “There has not been a challenge to the order made by the Elections Commission, embarking on Houseto-House Registration,” he emphasised. Added to that, Hawke told the Court that, in Ram’s case, there is no factual matrix connecting what is sought as against establishing where the breach lies. As he continued to address the deficiencies in the case, the Solicitor General questioned what would be the

Solicitor General Nigel Hawke

consequential orders, assuming the court grants the declarations sought by Ram that the ongoing House-to-House Registration is in violation of the Constitution and the letter and spirit of the judgement and consequential orders of the CCJ. Answering the question himself, Hawke told the Court that Ram is seeking an order compelling GECOM to conduct elections. But he said the High Court must take note of the fact that Guyana’s final appellate court – the CCJ – in pronouncing on the matter, said it is not within its jurisdiction to set dates for elections.

“The court cannot grant orders in a vacuum,” the Solicitor General told the High Court. Pointing to the deficiencies in the order being sought to compel the Chief Elections Officer to immediately take all steps and actions necessary to hold General and Regional Elections on or before September 18, 2019, the Solicitor General said in the construct of mandamus, an applicant must state what the authority failed to do in accordance with the law. “When you look at six (section 1-VI of the FDA), if you strip six, forensically,

‘Judiciary not firm enough’ ATTORNEY-at-Law Anil Nandlall told the High Court that it should not confine itself, as was done in the past, and as the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has done by ‘failing’ to set timelines for the hosting of General and Regional Elections following the historic No-Confidence Motion against the Government. As he wrapped up his arguments on Monday in the case brought against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram for conducting House-to-House Registration, Nandlall told Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire that the CCJ must have regretted not setting a timeframe for the holding of elections. The High Court, he posited, should not make a similar mistake. “The CCJ now must be regretting it, to see how its judgement is being ripped apart and misinterpreted,” Nandlall said, while question-

ing if the High Court is prepared to do the same thing as “the violation of the constitution continues.” The CCJ, while validating the No-Confidence Motion against the government, said it is not within its remit to issue coercive orders and detailed directives, instructing the constitutional players how to act. While the Article 106 (6) and 106 (7) of the Constitution state that elections should be held within three months or during an extended period as agreed by two-thirds of the National Assembly in the form of the resolution, the timeframe has not been extended. The Government has invited the Opposition to return to the House to extend the time, in accordance with the Constitution, on the basis that GECOM is still preparing for election, but it has objected. Outside the courtroom, Nandlall accused the government of failing to comply with the Constitution

and the orders of the CCJ. This time around, he said the High Court must not confine itself. “How long are we going to engage in all kinds of diplomatic and intellectual exchanges when we are not belling the cat? We are not speaking about the elephant in the room, and I beseeched this court not to act with restraint again. We are here because the Court acted with restraint since January, this every court. We went to the CCJ, and the CCJ acted with some degree of restraint and we see what is taking place in the country,” he told reporters. According to him, the Judiciary is not firm enough in its rulings. He told reporters that the Opposition is not asking the Court to fix a date for elections, because that is a matter for the president, but rather the request is for the Court to fix a timeframe for which the President must fix a date for elections.

you will see that they have not identified where exactly, which statutory provision GECOM has failed to satisfy. All they have said take steps, but steps under which law, under what Act. The statutory body must fail to do something the law requires it to do,” the Solicitor General reasoned. Overall, he maintained that the CCJ, in ruling on the matter, stated clearly that it cannot issue coercive orders or directives to the constitutional players. According to the CCJ, Guyana’s Constitution stipulates that only the President, the National Assembly and, by extension, GECOM, can dictate the precise timing of the elections. President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders explained that it would not be correct for the Court, by the issuance of coercive orders or detailed directives, to instruct these bodies on how they must act. “It is not, for example, the role of the Court to establish a date on or by which the elections must be held, or to lay down timelines and deadlines that, in principle, are the preserve of political actors guided by constitutional imperatives. The Court must assume that these bodies and personages will exercise their

responsibilities with integrity and in keeping with the unambiguous provisions of the Constitution bearing in mind that the no-confidence motion was validly passed as long ago as 21 December 2018,” he further explained. Against that background, the Solicitor General told the Court that the order being sought is in direct collision with the ruling of the CCJ. Like the Court, he emphasized that the political actors must be guided by the Constitution. “The court urged the political players to do their job; this is not for the court. Don’t come to the court when you have a job,” Hawke said while noting that the framers of the Constitution inserted a proviso within Article 106 (7), for the National Assembly, by a resolution supported by a two-thirds majority, to extend the time for elections, if the three month timeframe is not sufficient. But that, he said, is still to be done. The Chief Justice will hand down her decision in the matter on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, at 13:30hrs.

…Nandlall says as he demanded that high court set timelines for holding of elections In reiterating the pronouncements of the CCJ, the government and its supporters have said that the constitutional and political players must act, and in doing so, uphold the Constitution but Nandlall reiterated that the Opposition will not return to the National Assembly. “They are hoping for a new lease of life, that Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP will come to the Parliament but Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP spoke already, they are not coming to the parliament,” he posited. While Nandlall and his client did not dwell on the extension that could be granted, the Guyana Bar Association, an added respondent in the matter, conceded that while the Constitution stipulates a threemonth period, it made provision for an extension. On Monday, it was represented by Attorney Sanjeev Datadin. He also contended too that House-to-House Registration was

embarked upon to deliberately frustrate the timeframes of the Constitution, though GECOM and the government have refuted this contention. Meanwhile, inside the Court, Nandlall, who on behalf of his client Christopher Ram, withdrew its statement that Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus had no authority to represent GECOM when the Commission was not properly constituted. It was on the instructions of the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield that Marcus took up the challenge to represent GECOM but Nandlall had argued that it was not within his remit. While fielding a series of questions from the Chief Justice, Nandlall conceded that because GECOM is a party in the matter, it ought to be present and represented.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

‘Future bright for businesses’ …AG tells business forum narco traffickers no longer wrangling with legal investors

…says coalition cleaned up drugs money economy ATTORNEY General, Basil Williams says that the business community should have no fear of the future and should ignore the doomsday rhetoric by the opposition, affirming that the coalition has ‘cleaned up the economy of drugs money’ and has laid out the path for businesses to flourish legitimately. Williams was at the time speaking during a panel discussion Monday evening on the impact of the outcome of the no-confidence motion and the subsequent consequential orders that were handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on businesses here. The Attorney General underscored that government has acted with integrity and in keeping with the rule of law. This means that he said government, though in an interim position, is still legal and will still be legal, after September 18th, a date set out by the opposition, for elections to be held. The AG was responding to his predecessor Anil Nandlall, and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, who were part of the three-man panel, debating the implications of the CCJ consequential orders, for business in Guyana. The debate was hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce and present in its audience at the Marriot, were several members of the diplomatic corps, politicians and most of all, foreign and local investors. In clearing the air, that Guyana’s economy is not in a downward spiral and that commercial business transactions and procurement agreements with contractors are in no way affected, the AG pointed out: “…so all of this doomsday saying and utterances that we have been having about this government, I don’t know where it is coming from, but you cannot be the fastest growing economy in the world, and saying that there is a down turn in our economy, all of the business that is being given out in connection with oil, all that spending is adding to the economy,” he argued. The AG was alluding to the country’s positive growth over four consecutive years, with 2018’s 4.1 percent, being the highest. This was reported by Article IV Consultation Mission, of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – an impartial observer, which also noted that the growth was spread across most sectors. The NASDAQ contributor also noted that Guyana is listed at number 1 among the 5 fastest growing economies in the world. With a projected growth rate of 16.3% during the four-year period 2018-2021, NASDAQ says Guyana is the fastest growing economy globally. “With a GDP size of $3.63 billion (2018 Rank: 160), a growth rate of 4.1% in 2018 and 4.6% in 2019, Guyana’s economy is expected to grow by 33.5% and 22.9% in 2020 and 2021 respectively,” the article mentioned. This growth, the AG highlighted is legitimate, since the APNU-AFC, has made serious headways in rooting out corruption and dirty money, thus transforming Guyana from a narco and money laundering state and creating a level playing field for all businesses across the country, since there are no longer drug competitors for legal investors to wrangle with. The business community was enlightened that the current political situation which led to the government being in an interim state, is only on the basis of the constitutional actors, which is the executive, acting with integrity, as was intended of them to do, by Justice Adrian Saunders, when he laid down

the consequential orders. The consequential orders noted that it would be wrong for the Court to set a deadline or date for the holding of elections in Guyana when the Constitution

and take such action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of this Constitution or of any Act of Parliament on

could go to parliament to get the two-thirds, it is clear, that the constitutional actors, have to be engaged; the President, the Parliament, the leader of the Opposition and GECOM.” “There is no constitutional crises and all of that, we saw the last government prorogued parliament…to avoid a no confidence motion…that happened in this country, and when they think they were ready for elections, they came out and got the licks of Lisbon,” the AG argued. In his presentation, former AG Anil Nandlall, debated that after September 18th,

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By Vanessa Braithwaite

From left: Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran; PPP, MP, Anil Nandlall; and Attorney-General, Basil Williams during the panel discussions (Samuel Maugn photo)

The President has to rely on GECOM’s advice to set a date for elections and that is what the President is doing, all in keeping with the rule of law' ––Basil Williams

Members of the diplomatic corps were out in their numbers at the forum Monday evening (Samuel Maughn photo)

invests that power in the President, the National Assembly and implicitly in GECOM. The AG argued, “What if the court were to fix a date, they fix a date and the date arises and we are not in a state of readiness, what happens? The Court is embarrassed. It is a fundamental thing, the court ought not to enter into the realm of politics, you leave that to the constitutional actors and as they expect, that they will act with integrity…” “The President has to rely on GECOM’s advice, to set a date for elections and that is what the President is doing, all in keeping with the rule of law,” the AG added. President David Granger recently said at the swearing in of the New GECOM Chair, that Article 62 of the Constitution of Guyana, has mandated the independence of the Elections Commission and clearly outlines its responsibility, that is, to independently supervise elections in accordance with the provisions of Article 162. According to Article 162 (1), GECOM shall exercise general direction and supervision over the registration of electors and the administrative conduct of all elections of members of the National Assembly; and shall issue such instructions

the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid. “These are exacting duties and responsibilities. Free, fair, credible and timely elections are essential elements of a democratic state. The Elections Commission is not a plaything. Its independence is a condition for engendering confidence and ensuring public trust in the electoral system and for the efficient execution of elections.” President Granger also renewed his commitment, to provide necessary assistance to the Commission to enable it to conduct elections in the shortest time possible. However, this position has been deemed by Nandlall, as a full disregard for the rule of law, but Williams argued, that the constitution is not fully equipped to deal with snap elections and described the three months laid out, as not mandatory but directory. In this regard, he said government is seeking an extension, which does not necessarily mean another three months; but whatever time needed, for free and fair elections, with a credible register of registrants, to be held. “There is no limit for the extension, it makes no sense, if you

3 months after the consequential orders were handed down, Guyana will no longer be under constitutional rule, but political rule, which will allow for the upsurge in economic and social ills, which he claims, already affecting businesses across the country. The actions taken by the government, leading up to the consequential orders, he said, that by itself affected the economic climate in the country. The consequential orders, he said, must not be treated in isolation to the abrogation of the rule of law which he accused the government of practising for four years. “No prudent investor will invest in a country where the government is unlawful, where the government disobeys the constitution and disregards its own court decision…this toxic political climate has already begun to affect economic activities across this land, from all indications, the situation will only get progressively worse,” Nandlall argued. Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ramkarran also called on the government to respect the rule of law and call elections earliest, as was mandated by the CCJ. The current house-to-house registration he argued will only push the government into an unlawful state after September 18th. The business community is now a state of uncertainty, he argued and this will only worsen after September 18th. “The ship of Guyana is in uncharted constitutional waters, so nobody knows what will be happening after September 18th, because that will be the last day, the government will remain lawful,” Ramkarran submitted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

China lets yuan weaken and stops buying U.S. crops, escalating trade war (REUTERS) SHANGHAI China let the yuan weaken past the key 7-per-dollar level on Monday for the first time in more than a decade and later said it would stop buying U.S. agricultural products, inflaming a worsening trade war with the United States. The sharp 1.4% drop in the yuan comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump stunned financial markets by vowing to impose 10% tariffs

on the remaining $300 billion of Chinese imports from Sept. 1, abruptly breaking a brief ceasefire in a bruising trade war that has disrupted global supply chains and slowed growth. Trump on Monday accused Beijing on Twitter of manipulating its yuan currency. “China dropped the price of their currency to an almost a historic low. It’s called ‘currency manipulation.’ Are you listening Federal Reserve? This

is a major violation which will greatly weaken China over time!” Trump tweeted. Trump did not reveal any specific U.S. response. Some analysts said the yuan move could unleash a dangerous new front in the trade hostilities - a currency war. After Trump spoke, China’s Commerce Ministry said Chinese companies have stopped buying U.S. agricultural products, and that China will not rule out imposing import tariffs on U.S. farm products that were bought after Aug. 3. The yuan's sharp slide sent a shiver through global financial markets. In China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index .SSEC lost 1.62% for its weakest close since Feb. 22, and stock market losses spread rapidly around the world. MS-

CI's main measure of global stock performance .MIWD00000PUS was down 2%, its biggest drop since February 2018. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 Index .SPX tumbled 2.8% and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC slid 3.4%, the largest daily losses since last December. The moves were emblematic of volatility that beset markets in May when tensions between the two superpowers flared up after China reneged on key elements of a deal that was then seen coming together. PBOC DENIES COMPETITIVE DEVALUATION The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) provided the early impetus for yuan bears by setting a daily rate for the currency at its weakest level in eight months, weakening a

long defense that kept the yuan stronger than 7 to the dollar. The move was made with the blessing of policymakers to factor in market concerns around the Sino-U.S. trade war and its effect on China’s weakening economic growth, three people with knowledge of Chinese monetary deliberations told Reuters. PBOC Governor Yi Gang, who has been a key player in U.S.-China trade negotiations, said in a statement posted to the bank’s website that the yuan was now at an appropriate level given China’s economic fundamentals. He said that China would not engage in a competitive devaluation and would maintain the stability and continuity of foreign exchange management policies. [B9N24U009] In an earlier statement, the PBOC linked the yuan’s weakness to the fallout from the trade war, but said it would not change its currency policy and that two-way fluctuations in the yuan’s value are normal. Some analysts said China had been propping up the yuan to avoid derailing trade negotiations with Washington, but with tensions escalating, currency may be added to Beijing’s trade war arsenal. “The fact that they have now stopped defending 7.00 against the dollar suggests that they have all but abandoned hopes for a trade deal with the U.S.,” said Capital Economics Senior China Economist Julian Evans-Pritchard. The central bank set the yuan's daily midpoint CNY=P-

BOC at 6.9225 per dollar before the market open, its weakest level since Dec. 3, 2018. The onshore yuan CNY=CFXS finished the domestic session at 7.0352 per dollar, its weakest level since March 2008. Monday marked the first time the yuan had breached the 7-per-dollar level since May 9, 2008. With the escalating trade war giving Beijing fewer reasons to maintain yuan stability, some analysts said they expect the currency to continue to weaken further to as low as 7.3 to the dollar. Indeed, the flare-up in trade tensions has renewed global financial market concerns over how much China will allow the yuan to weaken to offset heavier pressure on its exporters. “It appears the Chinese authorities no longer see the need to limit the tools at their disposal and that the currency is now also considered part of the arsenal to be drawn upon,” Rob Carnell, chief economist and head of research, Asia Pacific at ING, said in a note. Analysts have previously said that authorities will keep depreciation in check due to concerns about potential capital outflows. Despite slowing economic growth over the past year amid the intensifying trade war, China has not seen a rush of capital flight, thanks to capital controls put in place during the last economic downturn and growing foreign inflows into Chinese stocks and bonds.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

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Colombia to grant citizenship to children of Venezuelan parents

(ALJAZEERA) Colombia has said it will grant citizenship to more than 24,000 children born in the country to parents from crisis-hit Venezuela since 2015, as well as to those who will be born over the next two years, in a move aimed at preventing them from being stateless. These children have been stuck in legal limbo with no identity documents or proof of citizenship in any country. There are few Venezuelan consulates abroad and travel home is often difficult and dangerous, leaving migrant parents, including many who left without a passport, with no way to register their newborns for documentation. "Today, we are supporting these defenceless children who want to have the right to have a na tionality, and we proudly tell them that they are Colombians," Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Monday.

"Colombia has shown the world that the way of xenophobia is the wrong way," he told journalists. 'Crisis won't be resolved soon' Venezuela is mired in one of the worst economic crises in its history, with a quarter of its 30 million population in need of aid, according to the United Nations. More than 3.2 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2016, fleeing hyperinflation and widespread shortages of basic goods. Neighbouring Colombia has taken in the largest number: 1.3 million. Caracas broke off diplomatic relations with Bogota in February over Duque's support for opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself acting president in January. Guaido's move was a direct challenge to President Nicolas Maduro's authority, sparking a power struggle that has ground to an

impasse. Maduro said Guaido and the United States tried to stage a coup against him, while also accusing Washington of waging an economic war against his government. Rafael Pineros, a professor of international affairs at Universidad Externado de Colombia in Bogota, said the Colombian president's move was an attempt to show that his government was part of the solution in the crisis. "Duque wants to make clear that [the Venezuelan crisis] won't be resolved any time soon, and that despite having shown a strong position against the government of Nicolas Maduro, he is respectful towards the plight of the Venezuelan people," he told Al Jazeera. "He wants to show that his government has the same solidarity Venezuela had with Colombia in the past." Plea for aid

Duque said children born in the country to Venezuelan parents will be given Colombian citizenship [Luisa Gonzalez /Reuters]

Duque's order, which will be valid for two more years, allows children born to Venezuelan parents in Colombia from August 19, 2015, to be given citizenship. This means children up to almost four years of age can start accessing Colombia's education and health system. The UN office in Colombia called the government's

move on Monday "a milestone in the prevention of statelessness on the world level" and "a very important step" in guaranteeing "the complete protection" of the children of Venezuelan parents. Bogota, however, has called for more international aid, saying it may soon no longer be able to cope with

the influx of Venezuelans. "The international community must not remain indifferent in the face of the ravages [caused by] the Venezuelan dictatorship," Duque said. Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said on Monday Colombia had received $950,000 from UN agencies.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

Remembering LFS Burnham T

ODAY marks the 34th death anniversary of former President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, probably among Guyana’s most controversial political figures — misrepresented, maligned or admired, depending on who speaks of him or about him. Discussions of past presidents and prominent political leaders, primarily Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham, and Walter Rodney, are usually done within the binary of good and bad. Looking at these men through such simplistic lens denies society knowledge of what shaped their actions and informed their policies. Further, such examination robs the nation the desire for national unity and social cohesion. For the truth is there were variations to their leadership, informed by the environment they operated in, ideological leanings, and positions held in the society. Jagan and Burnham entered politics during the colonial era and embraced the struggles for universal adult suffrage, internal self-government and independence. Their ideological positions, while

varied, did not prevent them from sharing and achieving these common goals. In this his death anniversary, recognising the role Mr. Burnham played in shaping this nation’s identity and path for development cannot be suppressed. Irrespective of one’s perspective on development, it cannot be ignored that Guyana was placed on a progressive trajectory under his leadership. Independence and republican status were won on his watch. It was he who signed the proclamations that put Guyana on a path of nationhood. As with any new nation, infrastructure such as indigenous laws and cultivating identity became necessary. Our country moved from being called British Guiana to Guyana (1966), then to the Cooperative Republic (1970), and our identification likewise moved from being British Guianese to Guyanese. Guyanese were no longer subjects of the British Crown. We became politically free to charter our destiny. The motto ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’ was conceptualised and developed under the Burnham administration.

It is opportune to recall his 1964 Inauguration Speech as premier. Having being dealt the hand of forging nationhood out of six peoples, and where this country’s history includes racial conflicts and distrust, he said: “The problem of racial cleavage, racial antagonism and distress…is still with us…. My government considers it a matter of great importance and utmost urgency… that its duty is to rule in the interest of all people in this country… all the people are equally important, whether they belong to a large group or small group…all Guyanese are important and valued members of our community”. The aforementioned presents a window into Mr. Burnham’s philosophical positon on nationhood, and was evident with the removal of barriers and the acceptance and celebrating of racial and cultural diversity as part of mainstream society. The commencement of building a cohesive society saw one of his first activities being that of inviting the International Commission of Jurists to conduct an

inquiry (1965) into the Disciplinary Force with a view and acceptance of putting systems in place to attract and give equal opportunity to all races. Requirements to join the Force under the British included height and chest size. Such qualifying conditions militated against East Indians’ chances of being recruited. In the rice industry, more lands were made accessible to farmers through the building of the Mahaica/Mahaicony/ Abary project (MMA) in Demerara/Berbice, and the Tapakuma Irrigation Project (TIP) in Essequibo. His government embraced the programme of self-sufficiency, which influenced Guyanisation, inclusive of the Feed, Clothe and House drive, and nationalisation of our bauxite and sugar industries. Education was seen as critical to nation-building and resulted in free education from nursery to university, to equip Guyanese with needed skills. The government held out confidence that Guyanese possess the potential to conceptualise, develop and implement programmes for the country’s

benefit. Institutions such as the University of Guyana (UG), Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), and the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) were established and expanded, and more schools (nursery to secondary were constructed, notably the multilateral schools) were built. With the embracing of cooperative socialism, it created space for a tri-sector economy (state, cooperative and business), and government having control of the state economy. This saw infrastructural development such as the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Canje Bridge, the Linden/Soesdyke highway, the Georgetown/Rosignol road, the New Amsterdam/ Crabwook Creek road, the Linden/Lethem road, West Coast Demerara/East Bank Essequibo road. Where unemployment was high, this approach stimulated the economy and created employment and economic opportunities for many. On the regional landscape, Mr. Burnham influenced such establishment as the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) in

1965-1972, which was the precursor to CARICOM (1973), and the Caribbean Agricultural Research & Development Insti tute (CARDI). Internationally, under his leadership, Guyana embraced a non-aligned policy and established a Foreign Service that was second to none in this part of the region, advancing our national interests and lending support to end colonisation and apartheid around the world. The country’s message and sought-after international solidarity on the border controversy brought support from both the East and West in repelling the aggression of Venezuela. Mr. Burnham was undoubtedly a nationalist who impacted his country, the region and world. What awaits this society — and it is urged that such be done — is the work of our presidents to be truthfully and honestly contextualised, assessed and integrated in our education system.

The Haitians are an issue argued on innate racism Dear Editor

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his is another letter that may or may not be published. In the career field I am in, one is compelled to explore and to study the philosophy of Mythical and belief thoughts towards an interpretation, reference.’ The demon does not know that it is evil, because its practices have become innate, second nature, which makes it demon to its victims not to itself. Likewise the ‘racist’ is unable to differentiate the logic and obvious circumstances that envelope a situation because ‘It’ is unable to separate itself from the irrational compulsions of its innate bigot-

ry. There is an erroneous outcry in some sections of the media “that Haitians are migrating to Guyana en masse” the rhetorical question would be “why should they not?” “Why of all the aliens in Guyana are they separated and castigated?” and “aren’t they CARICOM nationals?” the answer to all of this is. The opposition to the Haitians is because they are Black, Afro Caribbean, Toussaint L’Overture’s children. But so, in their hour of need why can’t they come to the house of Kofi’s children. More Cubans, Chinese, Brazilians have come here than Haitians, no problem. I sat before an Amerindian audience at North West as they pleaded for relief

from any close association with the hordes coming into their community from Venezuela. Premier Jagan brought businesses from India pre Independence, they advertised Independence greetings to the nation in the Guiana Graphic as a separate group, 1966 no problem. Never before have such an obvious political-driven media outcry and hate blitz directed at any of the latter groups mentioned that is currently focused on the Haitians; this is without doubt an abysmal fabricated issue argued by unapologetic ‘innate racism’. When the earthquake rocked Haiti some years ago, ACDA and other Afro- groups were invited to the African Museum

by a group that constituted the late Hugh Cholmondeley and Andaiye among others, they were in a gracious way lobbying for our support for them to build an NGO to bring some level of assistance to Haiti, the idea was shifted when Joan Cambridge offered a hundred acres of land in her possession to create a settlement for dispossessed Haitians in Guyana. I proposed that since the French President had said that Haiti and France should begin a new relationship, it would be good to test that gesture. The problem was that the PPP were the government, so I turned to Professor James Rose, a member of that political group. I asked him if it would be pos-

sible for the PPP to rise above their consistent racism and allow this possibility which the proposing group would participate in, and he never answered. We Guyanese have in our tens of thousands migrated illegally and legally to other countries, we boasted a flourishing back-track system. On the island of Antigua of a population of 65,000, there were twenty thousand Guyanese, other countries accepted us of all races, and we sent back remittances to sustain our people strangled in the public service, others jobless, existing in the fear of our drug violent landscape. I find it quite disgusting, this selective nationalism and pretence of Guyanese interests,

but it is not surprising, since, as a founder member of ACDA I know my social terrain, and can look deeper and identify the facades of discomposure indicative of ‘race hate’ by its scent, behind whatever prop is erected. The citizens of Haiti are welcome as are other legitimate and to be legitimate migrants to Guyana. With me it’s personal as I’ve done their revolutionary history and is possibly in possession of the only legal illustrated document of the same. Regards Barrington Braithwaite

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

It is Gouveia’s manner, tone and language that have been rejected Dear Editor, I write to take issue with Freddie Kissoon’s column published in the Kaieteur News on August 1st 2019: captioned, “Trotman‘s attack on Jerry Gouveia is intellectual fraud”. Kissoon, in supporting the Private Sector Commission (PSC) President, Gerry Gouveia, sought to frame Desmond Trotman’s polemical response to Gouveia’s obnoxious letter to GECOM’s CEO, Mr Lowenfield, as a matter of academic correctness, which Trotman I believe, had never intended it to be. This is a deliberate effort by Kissoon to ignore the offensive nature of Gouveia’s letter. In my opinion, the main reason for Kissoon writing the column at reference has more to do with him being provided with what he sees as another opportunity to attack and throw “stones” at

the WPA, which activity has become his major life obsession than to criticise Trotman. Kissoon in demanding intellectual correctness in the polemics has established the basis for the examination of his contribution to the debate. His utterances in the column demonstrate that is a standard he is unable to stick to in his discourse. Secondary school students are aware that in attempting to analyse a situation or an issue, one needs to uncover and address the main reason or reasons for conflict or dispute. Kissoon, the intellectual and academic, cannot plead ignorance of this core principle of objective examination. Not unsurprisingly, he failed to do what he demanded from Trotman. This specific shortcoming of his underscores why he is recognized in Guyana as the master of the art and practice of double standards when he debates in

"I received no hearing or notification of any allegation of wrongdoing"

Dear Editor

I note a statement by the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth & Sport, Ministry of the Presidency, dated August, 2, 2019, which partially addressed a directive from the Public Service Commission (PSC) for me to proceed on administrative leave. The statement claimed, inter alia, that "Ms. Carmichael was afforded due process to the fullest extent of the public service rules and regulations." This claim is utterly false and misleading. No one from the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth & Sport, Ministry of the Presidency, or the PSC has ever discussed any allegation of wrong doing with me. I was never spoken to, or written to, about any allegation of wrong doing whatsoever. I was never afforded a hearing to discuss or defend myself against any allegation of wrong doing. I merely received a correspondence from the PSC dated April 26, 2019 directing me to proceed on administrative leave. I was not provided with any evidence that led to this action. To date, I do not know the reason for this directive. I committed no wrongdoing and therefore deny any allegation against me. Yours sincerely, Melissa Carmichael

public. Readers should note that he is opportunistically silent on the reason for Trotman’s missive that rebuked Jerry Gouveia. Nowhere in his column did he seek to addresses that reason. Why? I will contend that it is because he sees no offence in Jerry Gouveia’s letter and supports Gouveia’s language and tone as acceptable professional conduct. It is also obvious that his silence is a calculated attempt to fool the public that his intervention in support of Gouveia is as a result of what he will attribute to his “superior” intellect. The public should know that Kissoon’s response to Trotman, represents the extent he is prepared to go to as he commits intellectual fraud. He set out deliberately to obscure from the public’s view the real purpose of Trotman’s, arguments, which are contained in his letter. While Kissoon, on the

one hand, quoted extensively from Trotman’s letter, pointing out what he found to be objectionable: on the other hand, he did not reference any of the issues, not one, which Trotman deemed as obnoxious in Gouveia’s letter. So much for Kissoon’s intellectual fortitude, dishonesty and perverse character. Kissoon has a problem with Trotman’s slave/slave master analogy in relation to Gouveia’s behaviour, hopefully, he will have no difficulty with my observation that Gouveia’s response to Trotman indica0ting he represents more than 60 business entities, is inferring that his words have the backing of a significant section of the business elite. And that this privileged position gives him the right to “talk down” as he pleases to those who don’t have substantial stakes in the economy. In short, his words were intended to give

the impression that he enjoys the support of the rich and powerful in society. This is class and ethnic tyranny. Trotman’s choice of words and his analogy has caused some discomfort in some quarters, on the other hand, it is being celebrated in a large section of the society as a fitting condemnation of Gouveia and the PSC. It is seen as a welcome and spirited defence of Mr Lowenfield, with some persons advocating that Trotman’s efforts should be replicated by others. I am not a betting person but if needs be I will put my money that Gouveia sees his ethnicity more in keeping with Trotman’s observation than that of Kissoon. In fact, he might have felt diminished by Kissoon placing him among the category of persons who Kissoon said he resembles. In conclusion, I believe

that even the casual reader is aware that Trotman’s response to Gerry Gouveia was not intended as a challenge of the right of the PSC and its President to publicly object to GECOM’s house to house registration exercise, but, to have Gouveia and the PSC assume a more objective, non-partisan position in matters of national interest. The matter of credible election in Guyana is one of national interest that requires all of us to put Guyana first. The record will show that many letter writers, via the various media houses, have objected to GCCOM’s house to house registration exercise. None, except Gouveia’s, has attracted a response from Trotman. It is Gouveia’s manner, tone and language that have been rejected. On this, Kissoon is silent. Why? Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

What the constitution says is really what the court says it says Dear Editor I refer to the Stabroek News editorial of Monday, 5th August (Constitutional governance). According to the editor, there now exists a disjunction between what the constitution says (on one hand) and (on the other) what our highest court, the CCJ, says the constitution says. SN and others hold that the former should trump the latter. But this is a fake distinction. Constitution interpretation does not work that way. All this arises in relation to the CCJ's ruling in Section 8 that (i) notwithstanding its defeat and the resignation of the President and the Cabinet, (ii) the Government shall remain in office and (iii) "the tenure in office" of the Cabinet and the President continues (albeit on a caretaker footing). To reconcile the "defeat and resignation" stated in (i) with the survival of a functioning cabinet clearly implied at (iii), the political opposition, SN, and others have concocted the legal witchcraft that a material duality in constitutional interpretation co-exists: what the constitution clearly means and what the courts say the constitution clearly means. But the constitution does not interpret itself. What it says is really a human intellectual endeavour. And has been long established, and correctly declared by the CCJ in section 5 of its ruling: "The judiciary interprets the constitution". It is only that interpretation that matters. Only that that binds. Any other interpretation could only be a wish. True, we may disagree with a court rul-

ing. And, while SN did not so assert in this particular editorial, it has recently argued in its role as the moderator of its blog that section 8 of the CCJ ruling is "carelessly written". But one suspects that SN and others may have found this

bold contention unsatisfactory as it would still leave the ruling (and, therefore, the cabinet) intact. Hence, the attempt to falsely distinguish between what the constitution says and what our highest court says it says. No such division exists

that finally matters. Only the latter carries the day. And we have to live with it until and unless we reform the constitution. Regards Sherwood Lowe

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

Fear of reprisal threatens to scuttle work of CoI --as hearing into deadly 2018 high-seas murder gets underway By Nafeeza Yahya AS the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly April 27 2018 high-seas attack and murders off Suriname knuckled down to business on Monday, it was evident that fear is going to be one of its biggest drawbacks, as many of the fishermen who are willing to talk are reluctant to do so openly for fear of reprisal from the alleged mastermind and his henchmen. The CoI was ordered by President David Granger following the deadly murders in Surinamese waters which left some 16 Guyanese fishermen either dead, or so badly wounded they were feared missing and

CoI Secretary, Attorney-at-law Darren Wade

given up for dead. At the end of it all, just five men survived the horrendous ordeal, while the bodies of three were recovered. Chairman of the Upper Corentyne Fishermen’s Coop, Parmeshwar Jainarine

was the first to testify at Monday’s hearing, which was chaired by Dr. Rishie Thakur and held at the Number 68 Primary School. During his more than two-hour testimony, Jainarine detailed the many challenges Guyanese fishermen

now face, particularly since the tragedy, in their quest to seek protection while trawling in mainly Surinamese waters. He also spoke of the costliness of fishing these days, and the huge losses many trawler owners tend to incur with no guarantees of a recovery, since they don’t have the requisite insurance, and the risk to life and limb they take just to make an honest dollar. He noted that Guyanese who ply their trade in neighbouring Suriname are subject to the regulations governing the industry of that country, and reiterated calls for protection, preferably that biliteral arrangements be put in place by both Guyana and Suriname, notably in the form of military or police patrol in the area where fishing takes place. Jainarine said that if Suriname does not want Guyana to do it, members of his organisation have no quarrel with Surinamese Coastguards doing it, as long as they conduct patrols regularly, and not just to ensure that licences are in order, and that vessels are in compliance. He said that a similar arrangement was in place about 15 years ago, when there was an agreement of sorts whereby the Surinamese coastguards used to offer protection. He also said that one of the reasons persons are afraid to come forward is due to lengthy time it takes for such matters to be tried. He said that one matter he knows of which occurred since 2015 is still engaging the attention of the courts here. He said that while the Upper Corentyne Fishermen’s Coop has 153 regis-

Chairman of the Upper Corentyne Fishermen Coop, Pameshwar Jainarine as he took the stand on Monday

tered vessels, and 56 active members, none of them have any form of insurance, and that it takes as much as in excess of $8M for one vessel to go to sea. According to Commissioner Thakur, “The President insists that he wants to know who are the authors in this thing, because we are of the view he wasn’t sufficiently convinced that it was simply a matter of tit-for-tat. It may be that, but there is another story to be told there, and he wants to know what that story is; not only to bring to a closure for the families who had to suffer as a result of what occurred, but also as a nation to tell ourselves we can’t allow this to happen; our own citizens doing this to each other.” He said that among the challenges he encountered while doing his preliminary investigations, was the difficulty posed in policing the river for the fishermen and fear of providing information publicly. He noted that since the COI commenced its work, he himself was able to meet and talk with some 30 to 40 persons. “People are afraid,” Dr. Thakur said. “I personal-

ly met with 30 to 40 boat owners, fishermen, public officials, trying to figure out what they know, how much they know, what can they tell us; what they are willing to say to us. And that has been quite encouraging; that people are prepared to sit with me and speak. But it would seem they are not willing to come forward and openly identify themselves as persons who have concerns and want to say something. They are still fearful.” Meanwhile, CoI Secretary, Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade told reporters that the hearing will continue for the entire week at the Number 68 Primary, and that members of the public or fishermen who have an interest in the matter are invited to come forward. “Come in and let us get a take on it; your opinions, what solution you think is best feasible to resolve this issue of Piracy,” he said. At the end of the week, the team will then head to Suriname for further investigations.

National cricketer accused of assault granted bail On Monday August 5, 2019, City Magistrate Sherdel Isccas-Marcus, granted $30,000 bail to a National Cricketer who was accused of assault. Thirty-two-year-old Christopher Barnwell appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that, on March 25, 2019, at Thomas Lands, he assaulted police officer Trevor Benn. Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels

made no objection to bail being granted to Barnwell and told the court that, on the day in question, Benn was off duty at the time and was in a cricket match in the opposing team against Barnwell’s. The men had an argument; Barnwell became annoyed, and pushed Benn to the ground where he received bruises. Magistrate Sherdel Isccas-Marcus granted $30,000 bail and adjourned the matter to August 19, 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

No people smuggling

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…Felix slams media reports as deceptive, xenophobic …says Haitians have capitalised on free movement to Guyana, other states

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, has condemned as inaccurate and deceptive, information published in both the Kaieteur News and Guyana Times on the arrival and departure of Haitian travellers to Guyana. The articles have alleged that Haitians are being smuggled, are victims of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and that there are levels of collusion to have the Haitians registered to vote at the upcoming General and Regional Elections (GRE). These are xenophobic, Felix said in a statement issued by the Ministry of the Presidency. Minister Felix, in an interview with the Public Information and Press Service (PIPS) Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency, said it is clear that there is a sinister agenda afoot, aimed at using the arrival of Haitians in Guyana for political mileage through falsified information to deceive and sow seeds of discord among Guyanese. In the first instance, the Minister said the numbers which have been published in the media are wholly inaccurate and misleading. The Kaieteur News reported on August 1, 2019, under the headline, “Out of 8,600 Haitians, only 13 left Guyana legally – Guyana is being used as stepping stone – Minister Felix,” that 8,602 Haitians arrived in Guyana between January 2019 and July 2019 and only 13 have departed. These numbers are patently false, the Minister said. Instead, he said, during the same period, 8,476 Haitians arrived in Guyana and

1,170 departed the country. Forty-eight were refused leave on landing. “No one would deny that Haitians are one of the higher numbers arriving in Guyana from around the Caribbean, but the records produced by the [the two media entities] are grossly incorrect and cannot be trusted to guide the public as to what is really taking place,” Minister Felix said. Records from the Department show that in 2013, 188 Haitians arrived in Guyana with 99 departures; in 2014, 227 arrivals and 113 departures; in 2015, 770 arrivals with 136 departures; in 2016, 722 arrivals with 451 departures; in 2018, 3, 515 arrivals with 291 departures and in 2018, 1,238 arrivals with 85 departures. In 2019, there was legislative adjustment to Schedule II of the Immigration Act, Cap. 14:02, to include Haiti as a beneficiary to the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), which facilitates free movement within the Region and automatic entry and stay of six months in the CARICOM countries. Prior to the amendment, the Act had facilitated the six months automatic stay to other CARICOM member states including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Montserrat, Grenada, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, with the exception of Haiti, whose nationals had required a visa and were only allowed to stay for up to 90 days or three months. Since then, Haitians no longer need a visa to travel to Guyana and are afforded the

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix

same treatment and welcome that other CARICOM nationals have enjoyed. “Firstly, travel was restricted to only those who were granted a visa. This was the case up to 2017. Since then, we have had the CSME regime adjusted to accommodate Haitians into that scheme. As a consequence, Haitians are treated like any other CARICOM national. The benefits of the CSME are available for every CARICOM national and that includes Haitians. A Haitian arriving in Guyana, just like any other Caribbean country, is entitled to be landed for six months and is processed the same way; on a case by case basis,” he said. FREE MOVEMENT Further to this, Minister Felix said Haitians have capitalised on free movement within the Region to travel to Guyana and other states. “I know in some instances, the Haitians have walked over mountains to the Dominican Republic to catch flights to

Central and South America using whatever airlines are available. This, along with the relaxation of the visa requirement, has allowed for freer movement of Haitians around the Region. Many of the news outlets have been making heavy weather of the Haitians who cannot be accounted for. We have large and unprotected borders on the East with Suriname, on the West with Venezuela and on the South with Brazil. It is very easy to travel from certain parts of the Rupununi to Brazil because of the porous borders. For Suriname, there is the decades-old back track, which the Haitians utilise to travel across and then onward to Cayenne,” he said. From January 2019 to July 30, 2019, there were 45, 944 arrivals of Americans; 2,980 arrivals of Barbadians; 5,048 arrivals of Brazilians; 2,548 of British nationals; 12,259 arrivals of Canadians; 1,995 arrivals of Chinese; 41, 272 arrivals of Cubans; 679 arrivals of Indians; 2,900

arrival of Surinamese and 11,119 arrival of Trinidadians. Yet, the Minister said, no concerns have been raised about these other nationalities. As such, he said, the media attacks and the rhetoric being promoted by the two media houses against the Haitians are nothing short of xenophobic and should be condemned by all Guyanese. “This position resembles xenophobia and is even practiced by certain people in power. I cannot see why a CARICOM state, which has now gotten CSME status can be so vilified for passing through Guyana. They are just passing through and yet they are attracting all the negative thoughts and actions of people who are seeking power. We have 8,476 Haitians arriving in Guyana but for example, we have 11,119 Trinidadians also arriving for the same period and no one is making a noise about that but everyone is making noise about the Haitians who simply use Guyana as a point of transit to get to their diaspora in Columbia, Cayenne or Panama,” the Minister said. POLICE COLLABORATION The Minister of Citizenship pointed out that the Guyana Police Force has made checks and to date, has found no evidence to indicate even a single instance of people smuggling or Trafficking in Persons (TIP), relative to the Haitian travellers. As a matter of fact, he said, the Force, since 2014 has not found a single case of Haitians being victims of either of the alleged crimes.

“In effect, the Department has been working with the Police on each report of trafficking in persons and this has been so since 2015. For 2019, the Police encountered 18 cases of TIP, 13 persons were charged and 7 cases were brought before the Courts. The Police, who have been working on TIP since 2014 has never encountered a Haitian who is victim of TIP and similarly, they have not charged any Haitian with relation to TIP and that is instructive as to the nature of the Haitians presence in Guyana. They are not victims of trafficking nor have we encountered them smuggled into any territory or Guyana,” the Minister noted. Minister Felix strongly encourages members of the public who have knowledge of either crime being committed, to report it to the police. “People must stop trying to ensnare officials of the Government with irregular acts of planning to register Haitians to vote in this country. I am inviting the public at large to come forward and make reports if you have any information on any Haitian being smuggled or a victim of TIP or anyone perpetrating that offence. Please feel free to report to the Police,” Minister Felix urged. Minister Felix called also on the public to exercise reason and not to allow themselves to be deceived by the misinformation being peddled by these two publications.

Mechanic dies after employer douses him with gasoline POLICE sources in ‘B’ Division have confirmed that a file pertaining to investigations into the death of a mechanic allegedly at the hands of his boss has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice on how to proceed with the matter. The mechanic, who has been identified as Pauldeo Persaud of Number 2 Village, East Canje, Berbice was reportedly set afire by his employer on July 1, but later died of his injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on July 20. Brother of the deceased, Leon Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that the inci-

dent stemmed from a misunderstanding between Pauldeo and his boss over money he’d owed him for work he’d done. “When meh brother was in the hospital, I ask he what really happen, and he said he ask the boss fuh payment fuh a building he did paint, but de man get vex and throw gasoline pon he and light he up.” The injured man, who’d suffered first degree burns, was initially rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital, but due to the severity of the burns, he was subsequently transferred to the GPHC. A visibly upset Leon said that a statement had been taken from Pauldeo by CID ranks while he was at the New Amsterdam

Hospital, and the businessman had been questioned and released. He said, too, that the police had been initially able to view CCTV footage that showed how the incident unfolded, but that since Pauldeo died, it is, for some strange reason, no longer available. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the detective corporal who washeading the investigation is currently overseas on vacation, and that the businessman and his wife were detained for 72 hours last week, but were released on Friday.

The deceased mechanic, Pauldeo Persaud

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

‘Don’t stop house-to-house registration’ …AG tells court over 110,000 registered, close to a billion spent

By Svetlana Marshall Attorney General Basil Williams has asked the High Court to allow the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to complete the House-to-House Registration before General and Regional Elections are held. “I am respectfully submitting that GECOM should be allowed to complete its national registration because it is only a matter of couple more weeks,” the Attorney General told the High Court on Monday, ahead of its August 14 decision. In his oral submissions before Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, Williams said according to the affidavit submitted by the Elections Commission, more than 110,000 persons have registered since the national exercise commenced on July 20. The Commission, he posited, has already expended close to one billion dollar to execute the exercise. The Attorney General noted that the results desired from House-to-House Registration, cannot be produced by simply doing Claims and Objections. In fact, he said, were GECOM

to abandon the exercise and resort to Claims and Objections, it would be a herculean task to respond to every claim, and every objection within a period of two weeks. “If someone makes a claim or an objection, there has to be a hearing. So how are you going to adopt if we start with 20,000 or 50,000 objections, within two weeks,” the Attorney General reasoned. As outlined in his written submission, the Attorney General took the court through the many changes the National Registration Act underwent to pave the way for the conduct of House-to-House Registration – a process he argued is mandatory every 10 years, by a decision of the Elections Commission. Under the National Registration Amendment Act, Chapter 19:08, GECOM was allowed to use the Official List of Electors (OLE) from the 2001 General and Regional Elections as the base to commence continuous registration. Williams explained that an amendment to the legislation in 2005, also provided for the establishment of one or more offices in each registration district to facilitate, as far as

Senior Counsel Neil Boston

Attorney General Basil Williams

practicable, the registration of every eligible person resident at the qualifying date in a registration district. The National Registration Amendment Bill of 2007 was subsequently introduced in December 2007. Williams urged the Court to analyse the explanatory memorandum of the bill. “The thrust of this Bill is to provide for the required House-toHouse Registration for the purpose of all elections, local government elections and general elections,” the Explanatory Memorandum of the bill stated. From that memorandum,

Williams said, it is clear that there was a clear shift from only office- based registration to House-to-House Registration for all elections. In his written submission, he had alluded to the fact that the Parliament, by the National Registration Act. No. 31 of 2007, assented to by then President Bharat Jagdeo, introduced a section 4 (AA), which paved the way for Registration Officer to obtain as fast as practicable the application for registration of every eligible person, by way of House-toHouse Registration. The Attorney General, in support of his argument that House-to-House Registration is legal, further pointed the

Court’s attention to the National Registration (Residents) Order of 2008. That order, which was issued by the Chairman of (GECOM), ordered persons to register under a process of House-to-House Registration between January 7, 2008 and July 4, 2008. He noted that the intention was to create a new Register of Registrants. He said additionally, the Elections Commission took a decision to conduct House-to-House Registration every 10 years in accordance with Article 162 of the Constitution. The Attorney General said it was on that basis, that the Elections Commission in 2018 took a decision to conduct House-to-House Registration in 2019. He noted that while the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, in his submissions to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), had asked that the Official List of Electors be used, that list expired on April 30. As such he said there is no existing list, and the national registration process would allow for a new list to be extracted from the new Register of Registrants. “The period of six months has elapsed,” he noted, while reminding the court that GECOM has already expended close to a billion dollar in its quest to

generate a fresh list in keeping with its policy. Williams submitted that the Commission’s current legal framework does not accommodate snap elections but the Chief Justice, in response, said GECOM has to operate within context. “The current context must be taken into consideration,” Justice George-Wiltshire said. Senior Counsel, Neil Boston, the attorney representing the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, told the Court every person would be given a chance to register. He explained that if persons are unable to register during the ongoing exercise, when the preliminary list is produced, they would be given a second opportunity during the Claims and Objections period. Once placed on the National Register of Registrants, their names will be extracted and placed on the Official List of Electors, the Senior Counsel explained. He noted that the 2008 list was revised over the years through office based registration, but in keeping with its policy decision, GECOM commenced the process of House-to-House Registration.

Hungry teen remanded CITY Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, remanded, to prison, a hungry teen who was faced with five charges which included armed robberies, possession of ammunition and illegal gun. Eighteen year-old, Quincy Jupiter of 173 Campbell Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, on Monday August 5, 2019, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to two armed robbery charges. It is alleged that, on August 1, 2019 at Louisa Row, Georgetown, in company of another armed with a dangerous weapon (a gun) he robbed Ulric Bristol of a phone, a bicycle along with other items, all valued at $63,000. The second charge stated that, on the same day and place, he robbed Robert Rollins of a phone, a ring and a bicycle totalling $43,000. The third charge also

stated that, on the same day and place, he robbed Roxanne Daniels of two phones and $15,000 cash totalling $131,000. It is also alleged that, on August 1, 2019, at Campbell Street, Albouystown, he had in his possession four rounds of .38 ammunition, knowing he was not the holder of a firearm licence. The last charge stated that, on August 1, 2019, at Campbell Street, Albouystown, he had in his possession a .32 revolver for which he was not the holder of a licence. Jupiter pleaded guilty to the first two charges and he denied three. “I was hungry and had no money” Jupiter said. Police prosecutor Shellon Daniels, told the court that, the day in question Bristol, around 04:30 hours, left his workplace on a bicycle, and, on his way to his residence, he was approached by Jupiter and another male. Jupiter

then pointed a gun to his head and told him to hand over everything on him. Being fearful for his life, Bristol then handed over everything mentioned in the charges above. The men then escaped on bicycles. The matter was reported to the East Ruimveldt Police Station. Later, police on duty, acting on information went to Lot 1 Campbell Street, Albouystown, where they made contact with Jupiter. A search was carried out in a room Jupiter was occupying and on his person; the stolen items were recovered. Jupiter was arrested and taken to the station where he was identified by the victims as the person who robbed them. Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus remanded Jupiter to prison until August 6, 2019, when she will hand down the sentences.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

Local recruitment firm eager to build competency for O&G sector

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- Says Local Content policy should level playing field, generate wealth for Guyanese By Vishani Ragobeer IF you’re heading towards the ever-busy Camp and Regent Streets’ intersection, you might easily pass one unsuspecting building nestled between a commercial bank and a variety store on Camp Street. This building, however, houses a 100 percent Guyanese recruitment and staffing company, which provides services in the emerging oil and gas industry. Strategic Recruitment Solutions (SRS) is that company, and it is the brainchild of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kerri Gravesande-Bart. The manpower company seeks to integrate Guyanese into onshore and offshore jobs. Detailing the genesis of SRS, Kerri disclosed that she was hired by a foreign company to “set up” another Manpower company in Guyana, which also targeted the emerging oil and gas sector. She managed to do so, and that company was well on its way when she realised that as a Guyanese, if she could do it for a foreign company investing in Guyana, then she could do it herself. “I was particularly not happy with the direction for local content in the country because what we noted was that a lot of foreign companies were coming in and it was just easy for them to set up a company,” Kerri said. Kerri and other persons who eventually joined forces to create SRS were all Guyanese who possessed the expertise, the necessary competencies and generally, the ‘know how’. “Our main motivation was to be a company owned and operated by Guyanese...The image we wanted to portray was that Guyanese have the ability to operate within this industry.,” Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SRS Lloyd Bart said, explaining the raison d'être for SRS. CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT When it comes to locals getting ready for the oil and gas sector, and by extension the wider development in other sectors, capacity building is imperative. “For countries like Guyana, new to oil and gas, the indigenous capacity will be limited, so increasing local content will require enhancing the ability of locals to participate,” the second draft of the Local Content and Value

Addition Policy Framework of Guyana states. SRS focuses on providing human resources and as such, its capacity development is focused on appraising recruited persons and providing the prerequisite services. A key component of the recruitment services offered by SRS is that all potential workers are trained and certified from the onset in professional management areas and technical skills training to work in Guyana, and anywhere in the world. “We would go into the (MatPal) Marine Institute, go

take those jobs. Lloyd also highlighted that there are some foreign companies, like Stena Carron for example, which provide onboard training for recruited personnel in order to move them from position to position. Managing Director of the Brass Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF), another local company, Peter Pompey underscored that the country’s ability to equip its human resources is imperative to developing in-country capacity. And as such, stressed that the local technical institutions need to be developed.

Managing Director of the Brass Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF), Peter Pompey

ties in this new and emerging economy. As such, free training courses and seminars are offered to all registered Guyanese businesses that engage the centre. Dr. Peters noted that over 1700 persons from local companies have participated in the oil and gas training course, which constitutes over 500 businesses. For the Operational Health and safety course, over 700 Guyanese have benefitted so far and for Procurement, over 800 persons. She also indicated that over 100 businesses have been supported in more long term courses such as

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kerri Gravesande-Bart with Guyanese workers who have benefitted from the SRS (Adrian Narine photo)

into the technical schools and recruit from there, do a gap analysis to see what training and development these candidates require, put them through that (immediate) training (in Basic Security and Safety Awareness) and put them into entry-level positions,” Kerri related. Different companies have different requirements, he said, explaining that all of these demand internationally-recognized standards. A majority of the prerequisite technical training demanded is not offered in Guyana, however, according to Lloyd. In March of this year, Director of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (CTVET) Floyd Scott noted that of the 250 skills in Occupational Health and Safety standards, local TVET institutions only offer 17 of those. Resultantly, if a company comes to Guyana with intentions of recruiting Guyanese with skills outside of those 17, those Guyanese would have to be trained elsewhere or else foreigners will

“When skills are taught at those institutions, the trainee or the student comes out with a technical requirement that allows them to go directly into play (i.e., work in industries like the petroleum sector),” he said. Furthermore, he opined that this would enable foreign and local companies to have access to a pool of qualified and competent persons. Outside of the training of personnel, BACIF’s Managing Director also stressed that local companies themselves need to develop their practices, whether they aim to work in the petroleum sector or not. When Exxon Mobil began its work in Guyana a few years ago, BACIF participated in the gap analyses conducted and contributed to providing an understanding of the existing position of the industry and some of the challenges faced. Later, when the Centre for Local Business Development (which is funded by Exxon Mobil and its partners) began its work, Pompey noted that BACIF readily took the opportunity to develop its business

practices. In fact, BACIF is currently developing its Occupational Health and Safety framework and a Quality Management system, through consultancy support from the CLDB. “The presence of the oil industry will have a rippling effect in every other sector because the demand of quality, safety and best practice becomes a very focal point of expectation,” Pompey said. The man however noted that the aim of BACIF is not only to develop for Guyana’s Oil and Gas industry alone, but in the context of sustainability and long-term competitiveness of the company. And it is for this reason the company is also working towards ISO 9001 certification, which is the international standard for a quality management system. Deputy Director at the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD), Dr. Natasha Gaskin-Peters related that the aim of the centre is to really build Local Content in Guyana, to ensure that the Guyanese companies are able to benefit from the opportuni-

financial management courses, or human resources management course. 14 Guyanese companies, including BACIF, are also part of the ISO 9001 mentorship programme. LOCAL CONTENT LEGISLATION Another key component of streamlining Guyanese into the oil and gas sector is the country’s official Local Content legislation. “...Local Content is considered the sum of the inputs of local goods and services, including employment, provided in oil and gas operations. This only occurs when operators hire locals as employees or contractors or buy goods or services from them. Local content therefore is the outcome of companies’ hiring and procurement activities, often referred to as backward economic linkages,” the draft Framework noted. Furthermore, the framework highlighted that local content is also only possible when locals (individuals and businesses) are able to provide goods and

services at a standard acceptable to the industry. Pompey noted that be believes that local content is a “good thing” for Guyana, once it is implemented in a way that would truly allow Guyanese and Guyanese companies to benefit. In fact, he stressed that outside of the direct revenues for oil, local content should provide other opportunities that would facilitate wealth generation for Guyanese. From SRS’s perspective, Lloyd noted that indigenous companies have to compete against foreign companies that have massive amounts of funds at their disposal to invest in Guyana. This he says, leads to a ‘leakage’ of revenues that could have been spent in Guyana’s economy. “There are two sides to every coin,” he related however. “There are those companies working to get themselves up to international standards to work in the industry and there are those are just to get into the industry just to get a job so that they can get a piece of the pie.” Cognisant of that, he explained that the local content framework will “level the playing field” for Guyanese businesses that are working to get their standards up and are interested in fostering development in Guyana. Top consideration, the COO opined, should be given to Guyanese companies once they have the capacity to provide the goods or services required. Even so, however, the draft policy also stated: “Recognising that our investment partners may have more experience and preferred ways of doing business, the government will seek to influence them by making it clear that all decisions must first consider the best interests of all Guyanese, including future generations.” Pompey related that the Local Content framework should also function to promote knowledge and technology transfer from foreign companies to local businesses. This, he said, will add to capacity development. Recently, the Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, made known that the final draft of the Local Content Policy has been completed and will be presented to the Private Sector and other stakeholders in about two weeks’ time for their perusal.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

Linden municipality on rates-recovery drive …60% of Lindeners deemed defaulters THE cash- strapped Linden Mayor and Town Council, is currently on a drive to recover outstanding rates and taxes from residential and commercial class defaulters. Currently, 60% of those registered to pay rates and taxes have outstanding balances, bringing the total in excess of $9M. The Council has decided that the means of recovering these monies will be done in phases and the first and second of these,

where defaulters were summoned with notices and then their names publicly listed, were already done. If residents continue to default in payments, legal implications will follow. Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell had related that the establishment of a municipal court is in the pipeline, to deal with such matters. She is urging residents to pay their rates and taxes as the Council, that is also hundreds of millions of dollars in debt,

runs at a deficit every month. “I am asking persons to come into the municipality and pay their debts, our resources are stretched, every month we are running at a deficit. Currently we have 134 staff that we have to pay and this expense is more than $10 M per month,” she revealed. Residents, more so businesses, should not have a challenge of paying their taxes, as the pay scale has not been upgraded since the

Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell

1970s and is as low as $1000 and $1200 per year.

In addition, only a section of Linden has been handed over to the Council and Arrindell mulled asking residents whose communities are not yet regularized under the municipality of Linden, to pay a monthly contribution to the Council, since they still receive services, such as garbage collection. She said some residents have taken the initiative and do so every month. In addition to the monthly expenses, the Council is also taxed with repaying funds monthly to places it is in-

debted to. These include the National Insurance Scheme and the Linden Utility Services, Coop Society Limited (LUSCSL). The council also wants the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to settle its debts, as this would also greatly assist in its financial situation. Calls are still being made for Central Government to look into the plight of the municipality and assist through a cash payout.

GRA removes VAT on local air travel THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has removed the value –added tax (VAT) charged on airfares by local carriers to transport passengers and cargo to several Hinterland airstrips. According to the GRA,

following an agreement between the Government of Guyana and Air Services Limited, the revenue body advised air service operators that no VAT shall be charged on airfares to a few airstrips , many of which are located in

Region Nine (Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu). “Pursuant to the Agreement, VAT is also exempt from airfares to transport passengers or goods to any other rural airstrip, provided that satisfactory evidence is

submitted to the company that the passenger is living in the rural area,” the GRA said. The list of aerodromes named by the GRA includes several in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight and Nine. They

include Baramita and Bemichi in the Barima-Waini region, Imbaimadai, Kamarang and Kaikan in the CuyuniMazaruni region, Paramakatoi, Kato and Orinduik in the Potaro-Siparuni region and

Aishalton, Annai and Surama in the Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu region. Most aircraft operators welcomed the move while others called for a removal of the tax on all domestic travel. Captain Gerry Gouveia noted in a Facebook post that VAT was implemented for domestic flights in 2017 and flights to a few aerodromes were exempted after some amount of lobbying under a special agreement. He said he has been lobbying for the removal of the tax on domestic flights and tourism.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

US$1.4M fireboat heading to Guyana THE US$1.4M fireboat which was constructed in the United Kingdom has been tested and dispatched to Guyana, Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle confirmed, when contacted by this publication on Monday. The fireboat is expected to be stationed at the Demerara Harbor. Angloco Limited, based in the United Kingdom was tasked with the construction

of the massive vessel. The Fire Chief described the vessel’s construction as ‘monumental’. Guyana last possessed a fire boat in 1978. The Fire Chief had noted that over the years there has been much development of Guyana’s waterfronts, adding that there is the potential for more port facilities, which warranted the need for the fireboat. According to the Fire Chief, the vessel will im-

prove the Guyana Fire Service’s marine firefighting and response capability as it will be able to pump in excess of 5000 gallons of water per minute to support aforementioned land based operations. The fire vessel’s construction is one of the Guyana Fire Service’s major projects being undertaken, coming out of the 2017 National Budget. The vessel took approximately one year to construct.

Paul Williams graduates with Masters in Criminal Justice DEPUTY Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams has graduated from the Walden University with a Masters in Criminal Justice and Executive Leadership. According to a press statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Williams graduated on Saturday August 3, 2019 from the university which is located in Maryland, US. The GPF said the graduation ceremony was held at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Centre in the US. Paul started studying for his Masters in November 2016 and concluded February 2019. According to Study Portals, the Walden’s M.S. in Criminal Justice Leadership and Executive

The Guyana Fire Service’s marine firefighting capacity is expected to be enhanced with the arrival of its new fire boat.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams, decked in his graduation outfit

Management programme blends criminal behavioral theory with studies in human services, technology, and homeland security to help broaden management skills. “The Guyana Police Force is pleased to announce and congratulate Deputy Commissioner “Administra-

tion” Paul Williams DSM on yet another great accomplishment in his academic pursuit,” said the GPF. The force extended best wishes to Williams who is enjoying a few weeks of much needed vacation leave.

Seven-year-old girl rescued from burning building A seven-year-old girl was severely burnt about the body after being left alone at their 101 North Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, home on Monday. The child’s 37-year-old mother lives with her three

The remains of the house

children in a one flat wooden structure. The father, who is a fisherman, was out at sea. The injured child was identified as Shanya Persaud and she is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Her other two siblings are nine-year-old Akeem Persaud and 13-year-old Brandon Anthony. Reports indicate that the mother left her three children alone at home and it is unclear how the fire started but public-spirited citizens saw the two boys running outside the house while smoke was emanating from the structure. After seeing the children, the public-spirited citizen ran into the building and found the seven-year-old with burns about her body and recused her. Police said that the girl received burns to approximately 75 per cent of her body.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

New Horizons hands over youth ce

THE New Horizons in collaboration with Guyana’s government, on Monday, commissioned the Yar-

rowkabra Village Youth Initiative Building. New Horizons is a training and Humanitarian exer-

cise within the United States Army which started in the 1980's. Its main aim is to equip the recruits with disas-

ter management training, in the areas of how to administer medical treatment, construction and other skills and trainings, while offering Humanitarian Assistance to third world countries. Their operations are based in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The New Horizons facilitated over 40 community outreach events which reached over 20,000 Guyanese citizens, in the areas of medical and dental servicing as well as emergency medical preparedness. Yarrowkabra Village on the Linden Soesdyke Highway, received a Youth initiative Building which cost USD $180,000 and took approximately 14 weeks to construct. Chairman of The Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) of Yarrowkabra, Debra Wong, said the building was initially slated to host reading programmes in an effort to promote literacy within the community. She stated that she now is poised to ensure that the center will be used not only for reading programmes but also for varying other training programmes to equip the residents of the area with life skills that they would use to better their lives. The center would not only serve as a center of learning for the youth, but the persons trained would use the training they would have received to organize and cater to activities, geared at the older residents, as a way of ensuring that all members of the village have the opportunity to make use of the center. The center would be hosting events to give the persons who were trained the opportunity to use the skills they have learnt to serve members in the community. “we want to talk about inclusiveness, we want other people to be a part of whatever will be done here at the center,” said Wong, as she explained that the center would not only be accessible to residents of the Yarrowkabra village but to all of the surrounding villages that could benefit from it. The government of Guyana had requested the assistance from New Horizons and it also strategically selected Communities within Guyana that are most in need of a boost in the number of resources available at their disposal. “As you are aware community development is at the focal point of the government’s agenda, and any assistance that it can garner, is welcome,” said Representative of the Ministry of Communities, Eugene Gilbert. This Center is just one of three centers that were constructed to completion by New Horizons, the other two being commissioned at Amelia’s Ward and Blueberry Hill in Linden. Colonel Ken Bratland of New Horizons expressed the feeling of accomplishment in the work completed, knowing that their hard work has created something that the residents could use for generations to come, that would be impactful in the lives of many individuals and benefit them positively.

Colonel Ke

Ceremonial

Members of the construction team of the Y imitative Building - Delano Willia

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

entre in Yarrowkabra

C’tyne joiner suffers millions in losses

--as house goes up in flames

en Bratland handing over symbolic key to Eugene Gilbert - Delano Williams

What’s left of Rajpaul’s house after the fire

Cutting of the ribbon by resident Elan Dejounge - Delano Williams Photo

Yarrowkabra Youth ams Photo

Residents of Yarrowkabra and New Horizon members in attendance at the handing over ceremony - Delano Williams Photo

A SELF-employed joiner suffered in excess of $20M in losses after the house he was occupying was destroyed by fire on Sunday evening. The fire, suspected to be electrical in nature, gutted the two-storey wooden and concrete house located at Block ‘E’ Line Path Corriverton, East Berbice. Reports are that it started minutes after a fluctuation of power in the area that day at around 21:30hrs. Rishieram Rajpaul, 50, said he’d fallen asleep on the sofa in the living room during the power outage, but was awoken to heavy smoke surrounding the area. He said that his immediate reaction was to rush downstairs to get some water, but by the time he got back, the smoke had gotten so intense, he was unable to do anything but feel his way around to get out of the house, since by then everything was pitch black, as all the doors and windows were closed. The fire reportedly started in the ceiling of the back bedroom. Rajpaul, who suffered minor burns to his face and hands, said that after he made it to a window,

he called out to a neighbour who came to his rescue, as did the police who were on mobile patrol. He has since sought treatment at the Skeldon Hospital, and having been released, is now seeking treatment at the National Ophthalmology Hospital, as his vision is somewhat impaired. In addition to the entire house being burnt to a cinder, the businessman lost all the tools of his trade, along with work he’d just competed and was awaiting to be picked up by customers. Neighbour, Stanley Singh, who recalled hearing louds calls for help, said he initially thought Rajpaul was being attacked by bandits, so he armed himself with a cutlass and ventured out, but on drawing closer, he noticed the smoke, and Rajpaul barely hanging out from the window. “I jumped the gate and saw him hanging over the window,” Singh said, adding: “I told him not to jump before he get injured, so I pulled a table close to the window and catch him.” An investigation has been launched into the fire.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

Pegasus rising! Work on the Pegasus Hotel expansion project is ongoing. Owner of the Hotel, Robert Badal had unveiled an ambitious US$100M expansion project, including a 15-storey tower and state-of-the-art convention centre. The contractor tasked with constructing the facility is China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). Facilities comprising a seven-storey state-of-the-art corporate office complex would be adjacent to a 15-storey tower offering luxury accommodations of “Grade A” class.

Citizens to benefit from GUTSY’s Youth Forum

By Naomi Marshall

AS ‘Guyanese United to serve our Youth’ (GUTSY) begins its pilot project of coaching 110 children on social and emotional skills, 48 Educators will also be trained to facilitate workshops on social and emotional skills. This was announced at the opening ceremony of GUTSY’s Youth Forum on Monday, at the National Racquet Centre. Over a five-day-period, GUTSY Inc. will be working in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection, to educate teachers, principals and parents on social and emotional learning, parenting and youth guidance. From August 7-9, 2019, at the Leonora National Track & Field Centre and Secondary School, children ages 3 to 12, will also be taught on effective socialization and how to deal with their emotions, which will assist in their development as they mature to their full potential as responsible Guyanese. Participants of the programme will stem from Meten Meer Zorg Islamic Academy, Sophia U Empowerment Group and Josel Academy, and will be joined by workers of the

Child Protection Agency and Youth Ambassadors from the Rights of The Child Commission. According to Car-

come productive citizens of Guyana. “It’s important to teach them these skills because in life, in order for us to be

successful in our lives,” she noted. Delivering the feature address of the event was Minister of Social Protec-

serving the rapid change in social, moral, ethical and religious values around them, and as such, the impact of small family norms, nuclear

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally and members of the ‘Guyanese United to serve our Youth’, on Monday at the opening ceremony

la Meertens, Member of GUTSY, the workshop will focus on areas of self-respect, integrity, honesty, reliance, defense amongst others. Meertens explained that the forum surrounds teaching children about who they are and what it takes to be-

successful, we need to first start with knowing who we are and be self-disciplined in our own beliefs and practices. When we are disciplined in what we believe and what we are capable of doing, then we could be successful and so without the said skills it would be very hard to be

tion, Amna Ally, who said that she is impressed with the work the newly formed non-governmental organization has been doing and its core mission to nurture the growth of the nation’s children. Ally said it was evident that today’s youths were ob-

family system and cognitive driven curriculum increase the stress of adolescents. She continued saying, “This in some cases are reflected by high suicide rates and growing crime among young persons. They are perplexed with the emerging developments and some-

times a system which fail to understand their feelings.” Therefore, she added, there was a burning need to provide the youths of today with a new set of coping mechanisms and system to deal with the demands of life. “That is why I am so pleased that GUTSY has developed this much needed initiative that will over the next few days provide our youths with important tools for development…because unlike motor skills and basic intelligence, decision making skills are not innate but learned,” Ally pointed out. The Minister indicated that she was confident that the initiative will bridge communication barriers between youths and adults, enable young people to handle stressful situations effectively, learn to have healthy disagreements and to make firm stands on their values, beliefs and cultural differences. In closing she added, “I wish to note that our actions today will determine their world of tomorrow. We must overcome the challenges that impede the development of our children so that we can achieve a sustainable development, robust and prosperous nation.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

Benschop clears air on fake profile set up fake profiles without being caught let them think again because they can be caught. I have brought it to Mr. Ramjattan’s attention. I just want folks to understand that they can be sued for these libelous things that they are saying. And hopefully they are caught,” he noted. First announced on July 26, the historic selection of Justice Singh, the first woman to be heading the electoral body, brought to a close weeks of deliberations between President David Granger and Leader of the Opposi-

The post on the fake Facebook profile

POLITICAL activist Mark Benschop says he has made a report to the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) over a fake Facebook profile with his name calling for a riot if house to house registration is stopped by newly appointed GECOM Chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. The fake Facebook surfaced earlier last week, along with a fake Guyana Chronicle online front page with a headline stating “New GECOM Chairperson Plans to Cancel House to House Registration”. Benschop called the posts a political ploy to damage his reputation, noting that calling a riot is something that he would not entertain, particularly given his respect for Justice Singh and any decisions she makes. “Even if Singh is to rule against house-to-house I don’t see the need for people to riot, I don’t see the need for people to protest. But what they did is that they created a fake page in my name. I couldn’t see the page because what they did is that they block me,” Benschop explained in an interview with Guyana Chronicle. Benschop said though he could not see the fake page via his page, it was family and friends who alerted him to the page called “Mark Anthony Benschop Guyana” a fake page to his official page “Mark Anthony Benschop”. The fake page also had the same profile picture as his

official page. “It didn’t surprise me, I’ve been around social media a little too long. They would come up with these dirty little things because they can’t beat you in proper debates so they come up with these silly little things they say, but when it’s time to prove it they can’t,” Benschop said. He believes the page may have been created by supporters of the opposition, People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC). “They created this page with my same photograph and they attempted to make a post saying that this is what Benschop said. The post said that if GECOM’s new chairpersons rules against house-to-house registration then I am calling for persons to riot, which is totally, totally fake,” he maintained. Benschop said while his stance is that he supports house-to-house registration, he would respect any impartial decision made by Singh. “At no time have I ever called for any riot. In fact I wouldn’t and I am making that very clear, especially with this chairperson. Whatever decision she makes I will respect. Even if she rules against house-to-house registration I would respect her decision. But my basic stance is that people should be given the chance to register, all of my post on Facebook are favourable on house-to-house relationship,” Benschop said. Benschop said he has reported the matter to the police and other authorities. He is unsure if the page has since been deleted or still exists. “They can be traced through their IP addresses and if they think they can

Political activist, Mark Benschop

tion, Bharrat Jagdeo, after the resignation of Justice (Ret’d)

James Patterson. Last June, the chairmanship became vacant after the CCJ ruled that the process that led to the October 2017 appointment of Patterson was flawed. Singh took the oath of office on Monday, 29 July, and on Wednesday, 31 July, met with the government and opposition-nominated GECOM commissioners in separate meetings. GECOM has three government-appointed and three opposition-appointed commissioners. The government-nominated commissioners are

sticking to their call for the continuation of house-tohouse registration, which is currently ongoing. Opposition commissioners however are calling for houseto-house to be stopped and elections to be called by September. Following her appointment on Monday, Singh said that she will abide by the Constitution and the Laws of Guyana. “…There is only one way, in accordance with the law, and in accordance with the Constitution, and nothing else,”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

Feasibility study on Mackenzie/ Wismar bridge commences -Regional officials welcome new bridge By Vanessa Braithwaite THE feasibility study for the construction of a new Mackenzie/Wismar bridge has commenced and on Monday, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, related that officers were currently in Linden,

working on the project. Financing for this phase of the project was sourced from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). A total of $US 4.4 M has been secured from the CDB, to enhance Guyana’s transportation sector, and support infrastructural development of interior

communities. The study is expected to be completed in the latter part of 2019 and construction will commence in 2020. Regional officials as well as residents welcome and applaud the David Granger Administration for ensuring that this much needed infra-

structure comes to the town. The current one lane bridge is 53 years old. APNU Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira said, “The construction of the bridge is something that is most needed and it is most welcomed by the people of Linden and by extension

residents of Region Ten. It speaks to government's serious commitment towards the development of our country's infrastructure with an aim of closing the gap between the hinterland and the coastland, making access to markets more realistic and the prospects for investments and the creation of new businesses, a greater possibility,” he said. President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Victor Fernandes also expressed appreciation for the bridge to be constructed, as there is a dire need for same. Fernandes alluded to a situation he witnessed only last Friday where traffic was backed up for almost an hour on both sides of the bridge because of a heavy-duty truck. “It is something that we welcome, we really need it, there is a dire need more than ever,” he said. While the study will indicate where the bridge should be located, whether it should be return to the current location in South Mackenzie, or whether it should be moved to another location on the Wismar shore, regional officials expressed mixed preferences on this issue. Regional AFC Member of Parliament Audwin Rutherford, related that, based on the monies that are made available, the bridge can return to its current location, since the infrastructure is already available. If there is need for more space, and additional infrastructure, Rutherford said the area at Speightland that will link to Christianburg can be considered. “So it is based on the infrastructure needed and the monies available, for me it is more of a technical decision than an emotional decision,” he said. Figueira echoed similar sentiments and stressed that, a location is secondary to

him as he is first and foremost happy that it is coming. “The present location has a lot of history and it's symbolic to the many trials and tribulations the community suffered and at the same time made strong statements to the former administration. If this location is chosen, one has to consider the economic impact it is likely to have not only on the locals but many others who use its services. It provides a link for businesses not only indigenous to the community but several other administrative regions and for traders who come from Brazil,” he said. If another location is to be chosen, the MP suggested an area between Watooka and West Watooka. Fernandes also suggested Christianburg as this would allow for consistency with the flow of traffic that is expected to come into the town, from Brazil, when that thoroughfare is completed. There is definitely need for more space for a multiple lane bridge he said, with additional infrastructure to offset that anticipated traffic. Meanwhile, motorists in Linden continue to complain about the inconvenience caused by utilizing the single-lane bridge, which is controlled by sensor traffic lights. During peak periods, there is always a heavy build-up of traffic even though the bridge spans less than a quarter of a mile. The bridge enables access to both hospitals in the region and during emergency situations, it is deemed a challenge and in the eventuality of a fire on the Wismar shore, the fire truck that has to travel from the Mackenzie shore also experiences difficulties.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

CPA to open special care centre for juvenile delinquents IN keeping with its mandate under the Juvenile Justice Act, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) will soon be establishing a special care centre for juvenile delinquents who are referred to the agency by the court. The agency is required to take referrals from the court, especially if the magistrate finds that a juvenile, who committed a crime, lacks parental care, direction and supervision. According to the Act, it shall be presumed that no child under the age of fourteen shall be capable of, or guilty of, committing an offence. The Act further stated that where a child is charged, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Prosecutor or the attorney-at-law representing the child shall request of the court that an evaluation of the child be done and the court shall order that the evaluation be conducted by a suitably qualified person at the expense of the State.

The person identified to conduct an evaluation of the child shall furnish the court with a written report of the evaluation within thirty days of the date of the order. The evaluation shall include an assessment of the cognitive, emotional, psychological and social development of the child and the person who conducts the evaluation may be called to attend the court proceedings and to give evidence and, if called, shall be remunerated by the State. If the presumption is rebutted the child shall be treated as a juvenile and dealt with in accordance with the provisions of this Act. And if the presumption is not rebutted the court shall refer the child to the Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ann Greene, to be dealt with under the Protection of Children Act and the Director of Public Prosecutions shall withdraw the charge. “The courts referring per-

Director of the CPA, Ann Greene

sons to us…there are children who committed crimes but the court feels that because it is negligent care, they are being referred to us… for this year seven have been referred to me,” said Greene in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle. She said the CPA is now tasked with finding a facility for the juveniles, since those are children who have offended. They are different from the children who are normally in the CPA’s care,

18-year-old accident victim dies TWO months after 18-year-old Bariel Hall was left unconscious, due to him being injured in a hit-and-run accident along Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, he succumbed on Monday, August 5, 2019, while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital. On May 25, 2019, Bariel Hall was out at a J’ouvert party during the carnival season enjoying himself. On his way home, in the wee hours of the morning, he was struck down by a silver-coloured motor car while crossing the road at the intersection of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic. Hall was thrown in the air and landed on the road surface, while the driver of the motor car failed to assist him. Public-spirited persons summoned the Guyana Fire Service ambulance and Hall was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital in an unconscious state. The teen sustained head injuries along with a broken left leg. Bariel underwent surgery for his broken leg and other ailment due to the accident.

He was taken into police custody and was released on $100,000 station bail.

DEAD Bariel Hall

His condition was listed as critical since he was not responding and was breathing with the aid of a tube in his throat. The teen, took his last breath at 07:00 hrs on Monday. The police have since launched their investigation into the cause of death by dangerous driving case involving Bariel. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, last week during an interview was Bariel’s father Barrington Hall, who explained that driver of the vehicle involved in the accident was later arrested by the police after attempting to hide the damaged motor car in Grove, East Bank Demerara.

Reflecting on the day of the accident, Mr. Hall explained that, after his son failed to come home that day, he filed a missing person’s report on May 26, 2019, at the Sophia Police Station and was advised to check the hospital. “I go to the receptionist at the emergency unit and she told me that two males came in that morning as unknown and identified him. I saw my son in the intensive care all hooked up with everything,” Mr. Hall said. Bariel, while hospitalised was cared for by his nurses, who grew attached to him and had hoped for his recovery. His parents were always by his side, since he was his mother's only child. “This is not a sight to look at! It’s heart-wrenching,” Mr Hall said as he looked at his son. According to the teen’s father, neither the driver of the vehicle nor his relatives have contacted him or even visited his son in the hospital, to check on his condition.

said Greene. With the growing need for a facility for juvenile delinquents, the director said she intends on establishing a special care centre which will concentrate on the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. “We are working towards that…I have a plan and everything… the persons who we will take in are those who cannot be sent to the New Opportunity Corp and so forth,” said Greene. As the agency moves

forward with preparations for the centre, they rolled out an interim Child Development Programme which focuses on ensuring that juveniles do not reoffend and offend. The programme was already launched and it includes the seven boys who were referred to the agency. “We want this to be something special…something that will keep them out of trouble and keep them from reoffending. “We want to prevent them from reoffending and offending… we cannot allow them to reoffend… so we will be working in collaboration with the religious community to ensure that the programme is a success,” said Greene, adding that she will evaluate the progress of the programme in three months. If the programme proves to be successful, she said she will be putting it in the agency’s budget for next year. It was reported that a total of 27 cases involving young offenders were before

the Children’s Court at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court last month. The matters were being heard in accordance with the rules and laws of the Juvenile Justice Act. In October 2018, the Children’s Court was commissioned to provide reform rather than punishment for young offenders under the age of 17. The cases that were before the court involved young offenders in crimes such as murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, discharging a loaded firearm and other petty crimes. The offenders are placed into the custody of Juvenile Holding Centre at Sophia and the matters are held in camera away from the public. A probation officer and a child protection officer are attached to the court and are present at each hearing. The Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) is also involved in the pre-screening of juveniles.

Natural resource Ministry urges safe mining practices - In aftermath of recent mining death THE Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, and staff of the Ministry of Natural Resources expressed their condolences to the family of Retta Samuels who died in a mining pit collapse on Friday last. According to the Ministry, from preliminary information received, it is understood that a group, comprising Ms. Samuels, of One Mile Arakaka, North West District, Region One, was on Friday afternoon last engaged in the practice of 'punting,' which is the siphoning off of material from another operation, when a mining pit caved in and caused the fatal

accident. “At this time the Ministry sees it fit to once again urge miners to give full priority to their safety and the safety of others during mining activities. The Ministry also urges that more attention be paid to the mining practices utilized, ensuring that they are safe and in keeping with the regulations. May the soul of Retta Samuels rest in peace and may her family find joy in the memories she has left,” the Minister stated in a press missive. Reports indicate that the 60-year-old woman along with others, were ‘punting’ in the Backdam in a pit owned

by a 45-year-old gold miner. During the process of washing down his four-inch land dredge, the pit reportedly caved in and trapped the woman below the mud and water. Her lifeless body was removed and she was rushed to the Arakaka Health Centre, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The body is currently at the Arakaka Health Centre Mortuary and arrangements are being made for it to be transported to the Port Kaituma Hospital Mortuary for post-mortem.

Body of teen recovered in Pomeroon

THE body of 17-year-old Jafaun Benjamin, called ‘Eber’, was fished out of the Pomeroon River, Region two, on Sunday after he allegedly drowned the previous day. His body was taken to the Suddie Hospital Mortuary pending autopsy. Police said his body was

retrieved by a search party at Teneze Ferme, Lower Pomeroon River, a short distance from the landing where persons in the area saw him go under on Saturday. The teen of Moruca and Grant Melville, Lower Pomeroon River, and a 38- year- old of Moruca was on a farm in the Pomeroon drinking

alcohol. The 38-year-old then left the teenager drinking to head into the backdam. It is alleged that the teenager then went into the river to take a swim but went into deep water and was unable to swim. He was seen by two females and a search was launched.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

SCOREBOARD

Fist Ashes Test..

Lyon rips through England to hand Aussies first win at Edgbaston in 18 years By Peter Hall BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Australia spinner Nathan Lyon ripped through England’s batting line-up as the hosts lost the first Ashes Test by 251 runs after being bowled out for 146 in their second innings on Monday. Chasing the second highest successful run chase in Ashes history (398), England’s day began badly when Rory Burns fell in the second over for 11. The highest successful run chase ever was Australia scoring 404 at Headingley in 1948. Fellow opener Jason Roy (28) looked in good shape until he was bowled when coming down the pitch. Joe Denly (11) and England captain Joe Root (28), who survived two earlier reviews, were also out before lunch. The wickets kept tumbling in the afternoon, with

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England’s middle order collapsing for the second innings in a row as Lyon finished with figures of 6-49 as Australia picked up a first win at Edgbaston in 18 years. “It is frustrating to have finished the way it did,” Root said. “We have to look further back in the game, three days of this game we have pretty much controlled. “We have got the confidence that we can do it (win the series).” Burns, who scored a century in the first innings, did not last long this time round. He lofted a bouncer from Pat Cummings to Lyon at backward point. Umpire Joel Wilson’s poor Test continued after Root was twice saved on review. In total, eight of the official’s on-field decisions were overturned during the Test. Lyon then got his first wicket of the day as he en-

ticed a wild swing from Roy, who missed the ball completely. An inside edge onto pad saw Denly caught off Lyon, before Root’s luck ran out, with Cameron Bancroft taking a fine catch. After Root’s dismissal, it felt very much like a matter of time until England’s resistance was broken and in the first over after lunch, Jos Buttler was clean bowled by Cummins for one. Jonny Bairstow was caught for six after he hit a bizarre shot which flicked off his glove and into the hands of Bancroft at third slip. Ben Stokes was out next ball — Lyon’s 350th Test match victim. Lyon picked up his fifth wicket of the innings as Moeen Ali (4) failed with the bat again. The spinner capped a successful day by dismissing Stuart Broad for a golden duck.

International referees for Schoolboys and Junior boxing tourney THE fourth annual Caribbean Schoolboys and Junior boxing tournament will see the participation of three international referee/ judges. The three will come from Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe and Dominica and will add to the level of officiating during the tournament. Leading the way is Trinidadian James Beckles, the highest-ranked referee/judge in the English-speaking Caribbean. Beckles is a Three-Star official and will host a seminar while in Guyana. One Star Jozef Faddoul of Dominica and Audrey Sabas of Guadeloupe will complete the team of foreign referees. They will join local One-Star Ramona Agard, Richard Braithwaite and Lawrence Assanah as the AIBA certified referees at the tournament. The Caribbean Schoolboys and Junior will be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from Friday, August 16 to Sunday 18. The competition was birthed in Guyana in 2016 and this country has been crowned champion on the three previous occasions that it was held.

Chris Woakes top scored for England with 37 before he was last man out, giving Cummings a fourth scalp on Monday. Australia won the opening game of an Ashes series in England for the first time since 2005, with man-of-thematch Steve Smith’s successive hundreds making the difference. “We did not bat as well as we would have liked on day one,” Australia captain Tim Paine said. “Steve Smith was still in (when we were struggling) at 122-8 in the first innings, so we knew we still had a chance. “He is the best player in the world in Test cricket, and when he is at the crease, we have real confidence. We were superb with the ball today, but having someone like Steve controlling the game helped.”

AUSTRALIA 1st Innings 284 England 1st Innings 374 Australia 2nd Innings C Bancroft c Buttler b Ali 7 D Warner c †Bairstow b Broad 8 U Khawaja c †Bairstow b Stokes 40 S Smith c †Bairstow b Woakes 142 T Head c †Bairstow b Stokes 51 M Wade c Denly b Stokes 110 T Paine (c) † b Ali 34 J Pattinson not out 47 J Cummins not out 26 Extras: (b 11, lb 2, nb 6, w 3) 22 Total: (7 wickets; 112 overs) 487 Did not bat: PM Siddle, NM Lyon Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-27, 3-75, 4-205, 5-331, 6-407, 7-409 Bowling: S Broad 22-2-91-1, C Woakes 13-1-46-1, M Ali 29-1-130-2, J Root 12-1-50-0, B Stokes 22-5-85-3 J Denly 14-1-72-0 ENGLAND 2nd innings R Burns c Lyon b Cummins 11 J Roy b Lyon 28 J Root (c) c Bancroft b Lyon 28 J Denly c Bancroft b Lyon 11 J Buttler b Cummins 1 B Stokes c †Paine b Lyon 6 J Bairstow † c Bancroft b Cummins 6 M Ali c Warner b Lyon 4 C Woakes c Smith b Cummins 37 S Broad c Smith b Lyon 0 J Anderson not out 4 Extras: (b 4, lb 4, nb 2) 10 Total: (all out; 52.3 overs) 146 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-60, 3-80, 4-85, 5-85, 6-97, 7-97, 8-136, 9-136, 10-146 Bowling: P Siddle 12-2-28-0, N Lyon 20-5-49-6, J Pattinson 8-1-29-0, P Cummins 11.3-3-32-4, S Smith 1-1-0-0.

Rampant India set for maiden appearance at Providence

WI looking to salvage some pride By Rajiv Bisnauth A rampant India cricket team has returned to Guyana for the first time since 2002 and will make their maiden appearance at the National Stadium, Providence, today for the final T20 game against the West Indies from 10:30hrs. India arrived for the three-match T20I series armed with performers from this year’s IPL. However, they stuck to the same line-up for the first two games and pocketed an unassailable 2-nil lead heading into today’s final game. On the other hand, West Indies have more on their plate than squad rotation. They’ve done little wrong with the ball in hand so far - even making India sweat in a sub-100 chase, but their batting has let them down. Though they did show improvement in the second game, there’s still a lot left to be desired. A return to familiar climate could just be the kind of boost they need to perform at optimum level considering the line-up they possess. During the pre-match press conference yesterday at the Pegasus Hotel, head coach Floyd Reifer has underscored that while the results in Florida are not favorable, there were some positives which has given him cause for optimism. “It’s not the results we wanted but we are building a team...I thought that the second game we played we put on a better showing, unfortunately the rain came down where I thought we were in a good position to charge towards those runs, but we have a lot of positives going forward for us,” Reifer said. He added that the focus has been trained towards next year’s World T20 when more talent will be exposed. “In building towards next year, the important thing for us is to get that squad together and

play as many games together as a squad...trying to learn each other’s game, strength, weakness, and play as a team. We will be looking at the CPL as well, so hopefully, some good talent can come out of there as well,” Reifer, the former West Indies captain reckoned. Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies interim selection panel has named Fabian Allen to replace Khary Pierre. Allen, 24, has so far played nine T20 Internationals and 10 One-Day Internationals. He last played for West Indies in the recent ICC Cricket World Cup in England where he made his maiden half-century at the international level. Following Sunday’s win in Florida, India’s captain Virat Kohli had said that the Indian team will be looking to experiment and “bring a few guys in” for the final match of the T20I series. “Winning is always going to be a priority. But sealing the series gives the chance to bring a few guys in. The idea is always going to be to win first. But winning the first two games gives the cushion,” said Kohli. After the T20I series, India and West Indies will clash in a three-match ODI series which will be followed by a two-match Test series. The first ODI is set for the Providence Stadium on Thursday. West Indies squad: Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Fabian Allen, Anthony Bramble, John Campbell, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Keemo Paul, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine and Oshane Thomas. India squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (WKp), Krunal Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

Ashes 2019: DR-SOS!

Umpires Dar and Wilson endure Edgbaston nightmare in first Test AUSTRALIA’s 251-run victory in the first Ashes Test raised many intriguing questions. Will an injured James Anderson feature again during the series? Should an out-of-form Moeen Ali retain his place? Is there any way to get Steve Smith out - and will the tourists change a winning XI? It is not just the players who are in the spotlight, however. The umpires' performances are also closely scrutinised - and it was a tough outing for on-field duo Aleem Dar and Joel Wilson in Birmingham. There were more reviews than at a book club meeting. The two men in the middle had a rocky start to proceedings on the opening day, with the use of technology highlighting seven errors. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has already announced the list of officials who will stand throughout the series, with Dar on duty at Lord's next and Wilson back for the third Test, which takes place at Headingley. For both fixtures, the duo will be working in conjunction with Chris Gaffaney, who was busy in his role as third umpire for the opening game.

Following the game, we look back at the long list of successful reviews at Edgbaston. DAY ONE 1.1 overs: David Warner is given not out by Dar despite getting a thin edge down the leg side from Stuart Broad. In fairness to Dar, wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow was the only England player to appeal with any gusto. 14.2 overs: Umpire Wilson turns down a vociferous appeal after England think they have Usman Khawaja caught behind off Chris Woakes. On this occasion, the hosts' review is successful as UltraEdge picks up the finest of edges from Australia's number three. 33.5 overs: England are joyous as Smith pads up to a Broad delivery and Dar raises the finger. The batsman reviews almost immediately and his decision is justified, with HawkEye showing the ball missing off stump. 34.6 overs: Wilson turns down an lbw appeal from Woakes against Matthew Wade. England review and another on-field decision is overturned. 39.6 overs: Dar decides James Pattinson is lbw to

Broad. The batsman opts against a review, perhaps due to the presence of key man Smith at the other end, but replays again show the ball would have missed leg stump. 46.1 overs: Peter Siddle is lbw to Woakes, according to Wilson. A review proves the umpire wrong as a massive inside edge is revealed. DAY TWO 20.6 overs: Australia thought they had England captain Root caught behind off the bowling of Pattinson for nine. Wilson agreed with their vehement appeal, but replays showed the only piece of wood the ball had clipped was off stump, with somehow the bail remaining in place. 33.2 overs: Root again, this time on 14. The right-hander was given out lbw by Dar, Siddle the bowler as the ball cut back in. However, it had also taken a sizeable deflection off the bat, giving the skipper a reprieve. He went on to make 57 in England's total of 374. DAY THREE 2.6 overs: For the second time in the match, England needed the help of DRS to dismiss Warner. The opener

Umpires Wilson (left) and Dar endure Edgbaston nightmare in first Test

was unable to withdraw his bat in time from a Broad delivery from around the wicket, leading to an edge through to wicketkeeper Bairstow. Wilson was not convinced (and neither was Broad initially) but UltraEdge quickly showed up the contact. DAY FOUR 84.2 overs: Broad felt he had Wade lbw after England had taken the second new ball - and Wilson originally agreed. However, he was forced to re-

verse his initial call as the ball was shown to be going over the top. DAY FIVE 12.6 overs: Wilson must have been a little worried when Root immediately reviewed an lbw call, despite there clearly being no bat involved. Indeed, the footage revealed why - the delivery from Pattinson was missing leg stump...and by some distance, too.

16.4 overs: The same umpire-batsman combination were involved again in the morning session, this time Wilson's finger going up when Root was struck on the pad by Siddle. The batsman had a smile on his face as he quickly made a 'T' signal with his arms, knowing very well that an initial edge would save him.(Yahoo Sport).

South Africa fast bowler Steyn calls time on Test career CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has announced his retirement from Test cricket, but will be available for oneday international and Twenty20 cricket, he confirmed on Monday. Steyn, who has battled a recurring shoulder injury that kept him out of the recent World Cup in England, said he has made the decision in order to prolong his international career. “Today I walk away from a format of the game I love so much,” he said in a media release from Cricket South Africa. “In my opinion, test cricket is the best version of this game. It tests you mentally, physically, emotionally. “It’s terrible to consider never playing another test again but what’s more terrifying is the thought of never playing again at all. “So I will be focusing on ODIs and T20s for the rest of my career to maximise my full potential and ensure my longevity in this sport. “I’d like to thank everyone in cricket, no one specific,

because everyone has been a part of my journey. And I look forward to continuing to play for the Proteas in the shorter formats.” Steyn, 36, has amassed 439 Test wickets, more than any other South African, but has only played eight five-day matches in the last three years as shoulder, groin and foot injuries have kept him sidelined. He burst onto the test scene as a raw speedster against England in 2004, but his career flourished two years later when he learnt to gain greater control. Steyn is a bowler with a reputation of being able to take wickets in all types of conditions, his raw pace, accuracy and ability to get movement both ways being his key weapons. “Dale is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats of cricket,” CSA Chief Executive Thabang Moroe said. “From the time he made his test debut against England in 2004 and dismissed their captain, Michael Vaughan, with a superb delivery, he has been one of the standout fast bowlers in world cricket.

“He has led the South African attack brilliantly and has set the standard for our future generations to follow. More than that he has been a wonderful mentor to our next generation of speedsters.”

After 93 Tests and 439 wickets, the 36-year-old Dale Steyn calls time on red-ball career but vows to continue in limited-overs cricket for Proteas

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

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Defeat in Ashes opener poses questions for England selectors

By Peter Hall

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - England will have a lot of soul searching to do about their player selections as well as their tactics after they were thrashed in the opening Ashes Test despite reducing Australia to 122-8 in the first innings. England’s gamble to include paceman James Anderson so soon after he had torn his right calf muscle backfired spectacularly. Although he caused the visitors all sorts of problems when he opened the bowling on Thursday, Anderson only managed to bowl four overs before re-injuring the same calf - thus leaving the team a bowler down for the rest of the match. “He passed every medical testing,” captain Joe Root said when asked if the

Jason Roy charges and is bowled by Nathan Lyon // Getty Images

37-year-old should have been given more time to recover. “He was fit to play. “It’s an easy thing to look back on and say we’d have done things differently. It was a unanimous decision for him to play.” The opening partner-

ship also continued to cause headaches for England as inexperienced batsman Jason Roy failed to get going with scores of 10 and 28 in his two innings. The inclusion of Anderson and Roy will both be called into question before

Former New Zealand captain McCullum announces retirement (REUTERS) - Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum will retire from all forms of cricket when the Global T20 Canada league finishes this weekend, bringing the curtain down on a 20-year professional career, the 37-year-old said on Monday. The explosive batsman, whose decision comes three years after his retirement from international cricket, will not now take part in the inaugural Euro T20 Slam starting this month where he was to represent Glasgow Giants as an icon player. “It’s with pride and satisfaction that I am today announcing my retirement from all cricket,” McCullum said on social media. “My style... has always been full noise, full throttle... unfortunately, the sacrifices needed and commitment required to play that type of cricket have now become too great.” McCullum played in the last of his 101 Tests against Australia at Christchurch in Feb. 2016, where he hit the fastest century in the format (54 balls), finishing his career with 6,453 runs including 12 tons and 31 half-centuries. His final one-day inter-

Brendon McCullum celebrates his century in his final test in 2016. (Photo: Getty Images).

national was against the same rivals earlier that month as he signed off with 6,083 runs from 260 matches. He played 71 T20 internationals scoring 2,140 runs. It was in the shortest format that McCullum was most sought after and he represented a number of Indian Premier League teams including Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. He also played for Brisbane Heat in Australia’s Big Bash League, Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League and Toronto Nationals in Canada.

“I owe it to myself and the teams I represent to close that chapter rather than just plough on regardless of what I know to be true,” McCullum added. “I look back with pride over the way I’ve played the game and what I’ve achieved... in T20 cricket, I’ve enjoyed so many varied challenges, I can leave the game knowing I left no stone unturned.” McCullum’s Nationals, who are fourth in the table, take on Montreal Tigers on Wednesday. The top four reach the knockout stage with the final being staged on Sunday.

the second test at Lord’s as England slumped to a 251run defeat, with Australia winning the opening test of an away Ashes series for the first time since 2005. Root, though, remained defiant. “We’ll turn up to Lord’s (for the next test) and make sure in the next few days we don’t make any shotgun decisions,” Root said. “We’re very clear about how we’re going to select the squad. “Three days of this game we’ve pretty much controlled and been in charge of barring an hour and a half. “It’s easy to forget all of the good stuff we’ve done with a bowler down.” EXPERIENCED HEADS FALTER It was not just Anderson’s injury that caused concern. Experienced regulars Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali all failed to reach

double figures with the bat in either innings. Roy did little to allay fears that his batting style is not suited to Test cricket when clean bowled going for a big shot in his second innings. England’s tame surrender was hard to understand as it came just three weeks after they won the 50-overs World Cup with a thrilling victory over New Zealand in the final. “There has not been much from the World Cup players in this game,” former England coach David Lloyd said. “They have now got a few days to get it out of their system.” Off spinner Moeen also struggled to make an impact with the ball, finishing with figures of 3-172 in the match. In comparison, his Australian counterpart Nathan Lyon grabbed nine wickets,

including 6-49 in England’s second innings to steer the visitors to victory. “England were playing with nine and a half men,” former England captain Michael Vaughan said. “If England had (former spinner) Graeme Swann at his peak, they would’ve won this. “You need your spinner to produce on this wicket and Moeen Ali wasn’t good enough.” Anderson’s fitness and the form of England’s experienced middle order batsmen will all be weighing on the selectors’ minds ahead of the second Test. Having lost a match in which England had the upper hand for the best part of three days, getting the line-up spot on for the Lord’s showdown is now crucial.

GCC youth cricketer gets cricket gear from Toronto businessman GEORGETOWN Cricket Club (GCC) youth cricketer Rahul Singh was recently the recipient of a quantity of cricket gear, compliments of Mohan Singh, proprietor of I Saw It On TV. The Scarborough, Toronto-based businessman, who hails from Guyana, told Chronicle Sport that he was quite impressed with the performances, contributions and dedication of Singh to the game, hence his decision to assist him. Mohan Singh also plays softball cricket in Toronto and is the captain of Canadian Legends in the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) while he also competes in the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Over-40 tournaments. The 16-year-old Rahul Singh is in Mississauga, along with several other Guyanese and players from Trinidad and Tobago to play in the annual Caribbean Super Kings tournament.

Here, Mohan Singh (left) hands over part of the gear to Rahul Singh.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

New Premier League season...

Man. City and Liverpool resume duel with no sign of a challenger By Simon Evans

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The new Premier League season gets underway on Friday and — for all the changes — it is hard to imagine the battle for the title being too different from the last campaign. Just a point separated champions Manchester City from Liverpool with Juergen Klopp’s side forced to settle for second best despite suffering one league defeat all season. City again got the upper hand in Sunday’s Community Shield at Wembley but only on penalties after a 1-1 draw. If the rivalry in the league is to be as close this season, few neutrals will complain after a campaign that saw outstanding football from Pep Guardiola’s City and their Merseyside

rivals. Having won back-toback league titles, Guardiola will be desperate to get his hands on a first Champions League trophy with City but his squad has the depth for a double challenge. Inspirational skipper Vincent Kompany left to become player-manager at Anderlecht but City have invested over 60 million pounds ($72.84 million) in defensive midfielder Rodri while fellow Spaniard Angelino strengthens the options at left back. European champions Liverpool have been quiet in the transfer market but Klopp’s side, with Virgil van Dijk organising the back four and the attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane so dangerous, needed little strengthening. Nothing has happened

FA Community Shield - Manchester City v Liverpool Wembley Stadium, London, Britain -Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp after the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

in the close-season to suggest that City and Liverpool are going to face a significantly stronger challenge from their nearest rivals. LAMPARD WELCOMED Chelsea lost their best

player with Eden Hazard’s 100 million euro move to Real Madrid, and while American Christian Pulisic, who has arrived from Borussia Dortmund, is full of promise, he will surely need time to settle. The arrival of former

Edghill battles hard, but goes down to Colombian in Pan Am Games GUYANA’s lone table tennis representative at the 2019 Pan American Games, Chelsea Edghill, battled hard, but in vain, against seasoned challenger Paula Medina of Colombia in yesterday’s round of 16 challenge in Lima, Peru. Medina, who is ranked much higher than the former Caribbean U-21 champion, won her best-inseven clash 4-0. The games, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, were fast paced, but quite entertaining and both women showed their class. Edghill, 22, gave her all in the clash against the 2011 Pan Am Games bronze medallist (team). The first was won 11-8, before the 30-year-old Medina

United are unlikely to be in the frame despite bolstering their defence with the 80 million pounds capture of England international Harry Maguire, a world record for a defender, and the arrival of full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. They will aim to make progress under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and look for some of their exciting youngsters to come through. Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City and Marco Silva’s Everton, who both ended the season strongly, have kept their key players and look capable of attempting to break into the top six. The three promoted clubs, Norwich City, Sheffield United and Aston Villa, have more limited ambitions and will all be happy to secure top flight survival on their return to the big time.

Steve the Unstoppable: Smith completes rare Ashes double

Despite losing, Chelsea Edghill played at a high level.

fought hard to win at 13-11, 11-9 and 13-11. Medina, who is the highest ranked Colombian player at the Games, at 111, has

moved into the next round of the knockout competition.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday August 06, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

India won by 4 wickets

(2)

Navdeep Saini (India) Today’s Quiz:

(1) What was the result of the second T20 Int’l in the current WI/India series? (2)

Chelsea great Frank Lampard to replace Maurizio Sarri as manager at Stamford Bridge has been welcomed by the fans, but with the west London club under a transfer embargo it is hard to envisage a vastly improved performance. Champions League runners-up Tottenham Hotspur were unable to keep up the pressure on the top two last season but will hope their club-record signing, France midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, gives them some additional quality in the centre of the pitch. Arsenal will again rely on their strike pairing of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for goals and they have added forward Ivorian Nicolas Pepe for a club-record fee but it is hard to imagine them being serious title contenders. Likewise Manchester

Who was declared Man of the Match? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

HAS THE ABILITY Meanwhile, president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association, Godfrey Munroe, in an invited comment, told Chronicle Sport that Edghill has the ability and talent to make an impact at this stage and that this performance augers well for her heading into the 2020 Olympics. “I think she definitely has the ability, despite her preparations the players that she is facing are more funded which is allowing them to play the World Circuit Events and to attend different training camps— which is what is required at this level.”

In his first Test in 16 months, former captain Steve Smith becomes just second man this century to score twin tons in an Ashes Test. (Getty

STEVE Smith's complete dominance over England has gone to a new level with the Australian scoring another brilliant century in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Smith backed up his magnificent 144 in the first innings with Test century No.25 over the weekend in his comeback to Test cricket having been sidelined for the past 16 months. A textbook cover drive off England paceman Stuart Broad brought up the milestone as he removed his helmet, saluted his teammates and received a hug from teammate Matt Wade. Even the pro-England crowd and the Barmy Army withheld their boos to stand and applaud Smith. The 30-year-old is the first batsman to score twin Ashes centuries since Mat-

thew Hayden posted 197 and 103 in Brisbane in the opening Test of the 2002-03 series, and the first in 22 years to achieve the feat in England after Steve Waugh's 108 and 116 at Old Trafford. He is now a member an exclusive club of just five Australians to score twin centuries in an Ashes Test, joining Hayden, Waugh, Arthur Morris (Adelaide, 1947) and Warren Bardsley (The Oval, 1909). AUSTRALIANS TO SCORE TONS IN BOTH INNINGS OF AN ASHES TEST Steve Smith - 144 and 142 at Edbgaston, 2019 Matthew Hayden - 197 and 103 at the Gabba, 2002 Steve Waugh - 108 and 116 at Old Trafford, 1997 Arthur Morris - 122 and 124* at Adelaide, 1947

Warren Bardsley - 136 and 130 at The Oval, 1909 Smith's second innings hundred also takes his tally of Ashes tons to 10, equal second with Waugh for the most by an Australian. Sir Donald Bradman, naturally, has the most for either nation with 19. And if those achievements were not impressive enough, the right-hander now holds the record for most runs after 119 Test innings. Smith's 6446 career runs (and counting) eclipsed the mark of 6440 held by England legend Wally Hammond in 1939. Smith walked to the crease inside the first 10 overs for the second time in the match on Saturday evening with the tourists in strife at 2-27 and trailing England by 63 runs.(Cricket.com.au)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 6, 2019

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Golden Jaguars Nations League game against Aruba to be played in Curacao September 6 By Rawle Toney

THE Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) yesterday announced the venues for the 2019-2020 edition of the CONCACAF Nations League which revealed that Guyana will journey to Curacao to face Aruba at the Stadion Ergilio Hato in their first League B, Group C match. Kickoff time is 19.00 hrs. By virtue of finishing seventh in the qualifying stages of the competition, Guyana was placed in Group C of League B alongside Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba and Jamaica. Following their September 6 encounter, Guyana will return home to host Jamaica on September 9 from 7:00pm at the National

Track and Field Centre. The Golden Jaguars will then travel to Antigua and Barbuda where they will roar at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on October 11 to finish off the first leg of the home-and-away formatted league. Guyana host Antigua and Barbuda on October 15, Aruba on November 15 and will travel to Jamaica on November 18 for their second clash with the ‘Reggae Boyz’. The home-and-away group stage of the 2019 CONCACAF Nations League will be played on FIFA match dates in September, October and November 2019, while the Final Championship will take place in 2020. At the conclusion of the round-robin group stage, the winners of each League A group will qualify to the

Final Championship, while the League B and C group winners will be promoted to League A and B for the next edition of the competition. Additionally, the teams at the bottom of each League A and B group will be relegated to League B and C respectively. It was already noted by president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde, in an article published in Chronicle Sport on July 29, that fans might not see the Golden Jaguars suiting up before their first game against Aruba on September 6. Forde said the high demands by the confederation has brought about a financial burden that’s not only being experienced by Guyana but all the member associations in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). Forde reasoned that par-

ticipation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, more so the lead-up to the Golden Jaguars’ historic showing at the tournament, has left the GFF in a ‘tight spot’ financially. With the entire coaching staff and the majority of the players coming from overseas, Forde said the travel cost for each of their six matches this year will run the GFF between $6M – $8M, adding “…and we do not have a solution to those travel demands.” Instead, the GFF will depend on the fact that the overseas-based players will be back in playing mode since their respective seasons would’ve recommenced, and locally, the players based in Guyana will benefit from a tournament which the Federation will be rolling out shortly.

CONCACAF U-15 Championship…

Nicaragua ‘thump’ Guyana 3 – 0 Guyana to face Bahamas tomorrow IT was not the result Coach Brian Joseph expected when Guyana went down 3 – 0 to Nicaragua in their opening game of the CONCACAF U-15 Championship in Florida, but the Guyanese youths will look to bounce back against the Bahamas tomorrow at 11:00am. Playing at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Guyana looked shabby at best in their 90 minutes of play and their elementary mistakes from early resulted in Dorwin Corrales scoring Nicaragua’s opening goal just four minutes into the day’s action between the two sides. Roger Gomez doubled the lead in the 30th minute as Nicaragua closed the half with a 2 – 0 cushion. However, in the second half, Guyana seemed more comfortable on the pitch, and only conceded one more goal which came just after the resumption of play off the cleats of Osmin Salinas (47th minute). Guyana has been placed in Group E with Nicaragua, Cayman Islands and The Bahamas and following tomorrow’s game against the Bahamas, the Guyanese boys will close their group stage against the Cayman Islands on August 8. According to CONCACAF, the tournament will be played

Team Guyana before kickoff against Nicaragua in the CONCACAF Boys U-15 Championship. (photo compliments CONCACAF)

in two rounds, where for the first-round group phase, the 42 participating teams have been divided into three divisions according to the Concacaf Men’s Under-17 ranking as of 2019, ensuring sporting balance and a minimum number of four matches for each team. Division One will be made up by the top 14 ranked Concacaf teams, as well as Slovenia and Portugal. The 16 teams have been divided into four groups of four teams each (Groups A-D). After round robin play, the four group winners and the four second place finishers will advance to the quarterfinals to play for the Championship. The third and fourth place finishers will play an additional match to determine their final position in the division. Division Two will be made up by the next 15 best ranked CONCACAF teams and Is-

rael. The 16 teams have been divided into four groups of four teams each (Groups E-H). After round robin play, the four group winners will advance to the semi-finals to play for the divisional championship. The second, third and fourth place finishers will play an additional match to determine their final position in the division. Division Three will be made up by the lowest 10 ranked CONCACAF teams. The teams have been divided into two groups of five teams each (Groups I and J). After round robin play, the group winners will advance to the divisional final, while the remaining teams will play an additional match to determine their final position in the division.”

FLASH BACK! Guyana’s Captain Sam Cox was ecstatic after Guyana defeated Belize 2 – 1 in their final Nation League Qualifiers game at the National Track and Field Centre. (Carl Crooker photo)

Guyana’s Emery Welshman to suit up for Hapoel Haifa FC in Israel

Caption Emery Welshman is all smiles after arriving in Israel to begin his stint at Hapoel Haifa FC. (Photo courtesy: Hapoel Haifa FC)

By Rawle Toney GOLDEN Jaguars forward Emery Welshman will suit up this season for Hapoel Haifa FC after inking a new deal recently with the club that competes in the Israeli Premier League “I’ve always wanted to play overseas and after the Gold Cup, this opportunity was at hand,” Welshman told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview yesterday from Israel, while adding that his decision also came after being “…advised by some very close peers and family that professionally, this was the best decision for me.” The 27-year-old, who last played for Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League (CPL), is seen as an important piece in Guyana’s senior Men’s National team, popularly known as the Golden Jaguars. Since making his International debut in 2015, Welshman has scored seven times in the 12 outings for Guyana, and the Canadian-based forward was adamant when telling Chronicle Sport, “Having not even reached my prime yet, I still have a lot to give to football and want to get the most out of it while continuing to live my dream.” Speaking specifically about his new club, Welshman believes that since Hapoel Haifa FC

made a push for the Europa League last year, and also since Israeli Premier League clubs compete at the Champions League, it was the perfect landing spot for him. Hapoel Haifa FC was knocked out by Serie A club, Atalanta, in the third round of the Europa League Qualifiers last season. After an illustrious NCAA Division 1 career with Siena Saints and Oregon State, Welshman found his way on the Portland Timers (U23 side) before joining Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Toronto FC. With stops at Sigma FC, Real Salt Lake, Real Monarchs, Puerto Rico FC, Forge FC and Cincinnati FC, Welshman believes that playing at Hapoel Haifa FC is a good way to make an impact in Europe. Meanwhile, with Guyana set to kick off their CONCACAF Nations League campaign on September 6 against Aruba at the Stadion Ergilio Hato in Curacao, Welshman pointed out that “If the management see me in their plans, I will be more than ready to help.” “I’m very excited about the Nations League…it’s very important for us to have positive results in these fixtures,” the now Israel-based Guyanese forward mentioned.

Fist Ashes Test.. Nathan Lyon grabs his 350th Test wicket and Pat Cummins his 100th, as Australia take 1-0 Ashes series lead with 251-run win over England. (Getty Images)

Lyon rips through England

to hand Aussies first win at Edgbaston in 18 years International referees for Schoolboys and Junior boxing tourney PAGE

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Referees Audrey Sabas (left) and Jozef Faddoul

Ashes 2019: DR-SOS!

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Rampant India set for maiden appearance at Providence

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WI looking to salvage some pride

West Indies head coach Floyd Reifer at the Press conference yesterday. (Adrian Narine photo)

Virat Kohli

Umpires Dar and Wilson endure Edgbaston nightmare in first Test Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2019