Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_08_13_2019

TUESDAY 13th August, 2019

' No.105728

Tullow strikes oil …makes first discovery offshore Guyana at Jethro-1 well

SEE STORY ON PAGE 03 ►

The Stena Forth Class 3 drillship which operated at the Jethro-1 Well (Daily Business Group photo)

…exceeds pre-drill estimates of 100 million barrels of recoverable resources

Registration moving smoothly in hinterland

…GECOM says several communities being covered thus far 02 PAGE

APNU, AFC set 4-week timeline to revise 08 Cummingsburg Accord PAGE

Special unit to push Amerindian Land Titling coming PAGE

15

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Registration moving smoothly in hinterland …GECOM says several communities being covered thus far

By Tamica Garnett HOUSE to house registration in the hinterland regions has been moving along smoothly, with registration having started in several areas including in Lethem and Annai in the Rupununi and Mabaruma and Santa Rosa in Region One, and expanding in the Moruca sub-region.

“We haven’t had any adverse reports from those areas, no challenges,” report-

ed Public Relations Officer of GECOM, Yolanda Ward.

Ward noted that the Commission has not experienced any issues as it pertains to accessing the communities.

Over 174,000 persons have been registered so far through the GECOM ongoing houseto-house registration exercise, which first began on July 20. The registration is being carried out to compile a new official list of electors, which would be needed for credible elections to be held.

In the township of Mabaruma, resident Cleveland December has already ensured that his children have been registered. He has not been registered as yet, owing to being overseas, but is looking forward to getting his name on the list before the registration period is completed.

He sees registration as vital to ensuring everyone has a chance to exercise their right to vote, particularly youths. “It started about three weeks ago, and they have

Public Relations Officer of GECOM, Yolanda Warde

registered my children. I think it’s something that is very important because a lot of youths that want to vote are anxious to be part of the process. Before it is finished I will ensure I’m there. I’m only on holiday but I will make sure I’m there to have it done,” December noted.

Registration has not yet reached the Indigenous community of White Water in the Mabaruma sub-region district, but 27 year old Diaz Domingo has been seeing the enumerators who have started registering, and he is

eagerly awaiting his turn to get registered.

“It started in the Mabaruma sub-district, when we’re travelling to the town we would see them on the road coming up the road but they haven’t reached White Water as yet, but hopefully soon.

Personally I feel it is the way to go to get registered, I feel good about it, I think everybody should get registered for the voters list to be updated to have credible elections,” Domingo commented.

“I know of a lot of young people in the area who are first timers to vote and being registered means you would be able to vote.”

The countrywide houseto-house exercise is in keeping with a decision of the commission on February 19, 2019 and in accordance with Order No. 25 of 2019 dated June 11, 2019. “Registration is a legal requirement according to the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 and therefore all eligible persons are mandated to register.

House-to-House registration is a new registration exercise and therefore all eligible persons must register, even if they were previously registered,” GECOM has asserted.

According to the commission, upon conclusion of this exercise, a new National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB) which is reflective of the current Guyanese population will be created. Subsequently, the OLE will be extracted for

the purpose of conducting General and Regional Elections. “Guyanese citizens by birth, descent, naturalisation or registration, 14 years and older by October 31, 2019 or a citizen of a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for a period of no less than one year preceding the qualifying date, are all eligible for registration,” GECOM stated. It has urged residents to have the relevant documents required for registration ready and be on the lookout for GECOM’s registration officials in their area.

Last Friday at the commissioning of two offices in Corentyne, new chairman of the commission, Justice Claudette Singh said: “In order to vote, you must be registered.” “That is your first task; you must be registered before you exercise your constitutional right to vote.

“It is a democratic right.

You are free to exercise that right to vote; you are free to exercise that right for any party and candidate of your choice,” Justice Singh said, adding: “But that very Constitution says something else: It says that in order to vote, you must be registered. So you must be registered before you exercise your constitutional right.” She also made the point that there was very good reason why GECOM has gone the extra mile to ensure that there was not just one but two offices to serve them in Central and Upper Corentyne. “We are providing the service to all persons to get registered, so, you will urge your friends, family and relatives, so they can exercise their democratic right to vote by the Constitution,” Justice Singh said. “No law can be inconsistent with it; any law inconsistent with the Constitution will be struck down by the courts. That is the Supreme Law, and we are governed by the Constitution.

So you will be obeying the Constitution when you register, and when you do your voting,” she added.

Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Keith Lowenfield also TURN TO PAGE

03

►

Tullow strikes oil

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

3

…makes first discovery offshore Guyana at Jethro-1 well …exceeds pre-drill estimates of 100 million barrels of recoverable resources

By Svetlana Marshall TULLOW Guyana B.V – a subsidiary of UK-based oil company Tullow Oil plc, has made its first oil discovery offshore Guyana at Jethro-1 well in the Orinduik Block. Though the data from the Jethro-1 discovery is currently being analyzed, the company’s spokesman, George Cazenove, on Monday, told Guyana Chronicle that it is likely that the well exceeds Tullow’s pre-drill estimates of 100 million barrels of recoverable resources.

In making the announcement on Monday, Tullow Oil explained that the Jethro-1 was drilled by the Stena Forth drillship to a total depth of 4,400m in approximately 1,350 metres of water. “Evaluation of logging data confirms that Jethro-1 is the first discovery on the Orinduik licence and comprises high quality oil bearing sandstone reservoirs of Lower Tertiary age. The well encountered 55m of net oil pay which supports a recoverable oil resource estimate which exceeds Tullow’s predrill forecast,” the company explained.

Tullow Oil Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paul McDade said the discovery is as a result of the significant work done by the company and its subsidiary. “This substantial and high value oil discovery in Guyana is an outcome of the significant technical and commercial focus which has underpinned the reset of our exploration portfolio. It is an excellent start to our drilling campaign in the highly prolific Guyana oil province,” McDade said.

According to the company, this new discovery significantly de-risks other Tertiary age prospects on the

Orinduik licence.

Here in Guyana, Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe said the discovery in the Orinduik Block is another major development for the Co-operative Republic of Guyana (CRG).

Like Tullow Oil, he believes that the discovery adds to the further de-risking of the deep and ultra-deep zone.

Dr. Bynoe noted, too, that the discovery offers significant potential for the diversification of Guyana’s hydrocarbon production base.

“The Department of Energy (DE) is encouraged by the prolific rate of discovery in the CRG and will continue to work assiduously and conscientiously to extract optimum value from these resources for all the peoples of our country,” he assured the nation.

Dr. Bynoe said the new discovery demonstrates the vastness of the country’s natural resources, and assured that all Guyanese stand to benefit significantly from the oil discoveries.

Tullow Oil’s spokesman told Guyana Chronicle that the results from the evaluation of the data from the Jethro-1 discovery would be released later in the year.

“That (the evaluation) will take some time as we match up various data sets but we expect to be able to say more about Jethro over the remainder of the year,” Cazenove explained.

He said, however, even as the data from the Jethro-1 discovery is being analyzed, preparation is being made for the drilling of the Joe well also in the Orinduik Block.

The non-operated Carapa-1 well is also expected to be drilled later this year on the adjacent Kanuku Block test the Cretaceous oil play.

“Joe will start drilling in

Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe

elections; that is our mission,” he stressed, adding: “Our presence is to ensure that the Mission, which is enshrined in the Commission and all our offices and officers across Guyana understand fundamentally what that mission is. “We have a vision, and that is

Tullow Oil’s spokesman George Cazenove (Adrian Narine photo)

A section of the Stena Forth drillship in operation (Tullow Oil photo)

the next week or so with a result expected in the second half of September. Carapa will start drilling in September with a result expected in the fourth quarter of the year,” Cazenove explained disclosed.

Overall, Tullow Oil has injected US$80M into the drilling of the three wells offshore Guyana.

With U.S oil giant Exxon-

Registration moving ... seized the opportunity to remind his audience of the mission statement and the vision of GECOM. “We are constitutionally responsible for the conduct of all elections in Guyana, and our Commission is responsible for the supervision of general, regional and local

Mobil putting its gross recoverable resource estimate to more than six billion barrels of oil equivalent in the Stabroek Block, Cazenove said is cognizant of the country’s potential.

According to a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed between the Government of Guyana, Tullow Guyana B.V and Eco (Atlantic) Guyana Inc, the country could benefit from as much as 60 per cent in oil profit, including a one per cent royalty once the explorations are successful and the companies start pumping for oil in the Orinduik Block.

FROM PAGE

2

to maintain and further develop the capacity for us, as GECOM permanent staffers, to conduct credible registration. That is to say, every Tom, Dick and Harry who is a resident in Guyana must be registered in keeping with the particular Order...”

However, with just one discovery in the Orinduik Block, Cazenove said it is too early for Tullow to disclose its projected year of production if findings continue to be favorable.

According to the Petroleum Contract, which was signed on January 14, 2016, once the recoverable costs have been satisfied, the profit will be shared between the

government and the contractor for each field, based on an established system. This could see Guyana receiving a profit share as high as 60 per cent and as low as 50 per cent.

For the first 25,000 barrels of oil, Guyana is in line to receive a profit of 50 per cent. For the next 25,000 barrels, the country’s profit would increase to 52.5 per

cent and 55 per cent for the next 15,000 barrels. For the subsequent batch of 15,000 barrels of oil, Guyana would benefit from a 57.5 per cent profit and 60 per cent profit for more than 80, 000 barrels of oil. The profit will be shared between the government and contractor on a monthly basis.

Article 15:06 of the Petroleum Agreement indicates that a one per cent royalty is included in the government’s share of profit. “The government’s share of profit oil specified in Article 11 includes royalty payable by the contractor at the rate of one per cent of crude oil produced and sold, and delivery to the minister, pursuant to Article 14 of his share of profit oil equivalent to royalty shall constitute payment of such royalty in kind,” the agreement states.

The agreement also provides for associated gas produced from an oil field within the contract area to be used for the purposes of the operations of production and production enhancement of oil fields, such as gas injection, gas lifting and power generation.

Tullow Oil is a leading independent oil and gas exploration and production company, which has interests in 90 exploration and production licences across 16 countries that are in West Africa, East Africa and ‘New Ventures’, which includes Guyana and French Guiana. In Guyana, Tullow Guyana B.V. is the operator of the Orinduik block with a 60 per cent stake. Total E&P Guyana B.V. holds 25 per cent with the remaining 15 per cent being held by Eco(Atlantic) Guyana Inc.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

Trump targets legal migrants who get food aid (BBC) US President Donald Trump's administration is to make it more difficult for poorer legal migrants to extend their visas or gain permanent resident status (a green card).

The rule targets migrants who rely on public benefits,

such as food aid or public housing, for more than a year.

Their applications will be rejected if the government decides they are likely to rely on public assistance in future.

The rule change would reinforce "ideals of self-suf-

ficiency," officials said.

The new regulation, known as a "public charge rule", was published in the Federal Register on Monday and will take effect on 15 October.

Who will be affected?

Immigrants who are already permanent residents in the US are unlikely to be affected by the rule change.

It also does not apply to refugees and asylum applicants.

But applicants for visa extensions, green cards or US citizenship will be subject to the change.

Those who do not meet income standards or who are deemed likely to rely on benefits such as Medicaid

(government-run healthcare) or housing vouchers in future may be blocked from entering the country.

An estimated 22 million legal residents in the US are without citizenship, and many of these are likely to be affected.

Civil rights groups have said the move unfairly targets low-income immigrants. The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has said it will sue the Trump administration to stop the regulation from taking effect.

But the White House said the current system favours immigrants with family ties rather than those who "are self-sufficient and do not strain our public resources".

TUESDAY August 13, 2019 - 03:30hrs ~ 05:00hrs

A change that fits Trump's larger goal Although much of Donald Trump's rhetoric during the 2016 presidential campaign was directed at what he saw as the dangers of undocumented immigration, it has been clear for some time that this is just part of a larger goal to reduce US immigration levels in total both illegal and legal.

Since his inauguration, Mr Trump has cut the number of refugees admitted to the US each year. The White House blocked a Senate compromise immigration proposal in January 2018 in part because it did not include changes to the legal immigration system.

During those negotiations, Mr Trump reportedly made comments about preferring immigrants from places like Norway, rather than "shithole" countries.

Now the administration is making it more difficult for less affluent individuals to obtain legal US residency - or perhaps even enter the country at all.

This sets up an election clash next year between a president sharpening and broadening his immigration rhetoric and Democrats, many of whom have said they believe all immigrants, legal or otherwise, should be eligible for public aid.

Why is the rule change happening?

President Trump has made immigration a central theme of his administration.

This latest move is part of his government's efforts to curb legal immigration.

"To protect benefits for American citizens, immigrants must be financially self-sufficient," a White

House statement read after the rule change was announced.

It said two-thirds of immigrants entering the US "do so based on family ties rather than on skill or merit".

More than three-quarters (78%) of households headed by a non-citizen with no more than a secondary school education used at least one welfare programme, it added.

Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service, announced the regulation at a press conference on Monday.

He said finances, education, age, and the level of an applicant's English-language skills will all be considered in green card applications.

"No one factor alone" will decide a case, he added.

The Trump administration has also cracked down on illegal immigration. Last week, about 680 people were arrested in Mississippi on suspicion of being undocumented migrants.

Pictures emerged of children crying after being separated from their parents.

Officials said they took steps to ensure any children were properly cared for.

The number of wouldbe migrants apprehended at the US southern border with Mexico has been rising over the last two years.

However, the number of undocumented immigrants in the US is falling, according to recent analysis from the Pew Research Center.

In May, President Trump put forward proposals for a new skillsbased immigration system, designed to favour younger, better educated, English-speaking workers.

Saturday August 10, 2019

02 03 04 14 17 28 16

August 9, 2019

M

01 03 06 15 20

02, 06, 07, 09, 20

1, 2, 6

5, 1, 3

04, 07, 09, 16, 17

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

5

Brazil prosecutors move to ban Bolsonaro's son from ambassador job (BBC) Brazilian prosecutors have moved to ban President Jair Bolsanaro's son from becoming ambassador to the US. The public prosecutor's office filed an injunction on Monday asking a federal court to rule on the experience needed for anyone to serve as a diplomat.

Opposition lawmakers have also asked the Supreme Court to block the appointment, calling it nepotism.

It comes days after Mr Bolsonaro said US President Donald Trump had approved the appointment of his son, Eduardo.

However, the nomination

still requires approval from Brazil's Senate.

According to Brazilian magazine Epoca, prosecutors asked a court in Brasilia to rule on the "merits and services" required for any non-diplomats serving as ambassadors.

The prosecutors added that there would be "danger of harm if a person is nominated without adequate preparation".

Eduardo Bolsonaro, 35, is a congressman who heads the foreign affairs committee in the lower house.

He has no previous diplomatic experience, but has been dubbed Brazil's "shad-

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

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

Earlier this year, he joined his father in a private meeting with US President Trump during a diplomatic trip to Washington.

Both the president and his son have a pro-US stance, breaking with Brazil's traditionally more cautious position. Eduardo is openly pro-Israeli, whereas in the past Brazil has been careful not to offend Arab nations.

President Bolsonaro has defended Eduardo's nomination as ambassador, saying his son is a friend of the Trump family, which would help strengthen ties between the two countries.

Last week, the Brazilian president said he had received a handwritten letter from President Trump approving the nomination, describing it as "a great ap-

pointment".

Mr Bolsonaro uses several of his relatives as advisers.

His eldest son, Flavio, is a senator, while Carlos Bolsonaro is a Rio de Janeiro city council member.

Mr Trump is also known for appointing family members to political positions. On the White House website, his daughter Ivanka Trump is listed as an adviser to the president, focusing on "the education and economic empowerment of women and their families as well as job creation and economic growth".

Argentine peso and markets plunge after shock vote would be enough to change voter perception."

Argentina is currently in

Argentine stock markets and its currency have both plunged after Conservative Argentine President Mauricio Macri suffered a shock defeat in primary elections on Sunday.

In early trading, Argentina's main Merval stock index fell 32%, while the peso slumped 25% against the dollar.

Some of the country's most traded stocks have lost one third of their value in just two hours.

Mr Macri's loss has sparked fears of a change to the market-friendly regime.

There have been big drops in companies such as cement producer Loma Negra - down around 50% - and electricity distributor Pampa Energia which is off around 30%.

The presidential elections take place in two months' time. Left-wing candidate Alberto Fernรกndez - who defeated Mr Macri in the primary - is now seen as the front-runner in presidential elections due in October.

His running mate is

former president Cristina Fernรกndez de Kirchner, who presided over an administration remembered for a high degree of protectionism and heavy state intervention in the economy.

Analysis by Daniel Gallas, BBC South America Business Correspondent Argentina is a country that has suffered with all sorts of economic problems that are taught in textbooks.

But even by its standards, this market meltdown is unprecedented.

In just two hours, a third of the Merval index (which accounts for the most traded stocks in the country) was wiped out in value.

Investors are now pushing the "sell" button, as many believe it will be impossible for President Mauricio Macri to win the upcoming election in October.

If he loses, this will be the end of a pro-business agenda to save Argentina's economy that has been implemented since Mr Macri came to power in 2015, which includes IMF loans,

austerity measures and the end of capital controls.

Sunday's primaries were seen as vindication for "Kirchnerismo" which have for years denounced Mr Macri's plan as ineffective. The country is in recession and still suffering with inflation and poverty.

There are still two more months to go until the election - but few believe there will be surprises as big as this one coming up again.

Edward Glossop, from the London-based consultancy Capital Economics, said Mr Macri's government could pull out all the stops to try to shore up popular support.

This could include easing budget curbs imposed as part of Argentina's agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

"An outright loosening of the purse strings is possible.

The IMF would probably turn a blind eye to this, since it is in its interest for President Macri to secure re-election," he said, but added: "We doubt that these efforts

a recession and posted 22% inflation for the first half of the year, one of the highest

rates globally.

Poverty now affects 32% of the population.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

'Two Morning More'

T

HE announcement of the new discovery of oil in the Orinduik Block by Tullow Oil must be great news for all Guyanese who dream of a Guyana where all its citizens can look forward to a better life. There is no doubt that the coming of Oil next year is cause for optimism.

As some forward-looking observers and commentators have pointed out, our country stands on the brink of a brand-new era. They contend that the developmental challenges Guyana inherited from colonialism could now be effectively tackled.

Whereas previous governments have had to contend with an inadequate rev-

enue base, the government that comes to power after the next election will not be similarly handicapped. We fully endorse that perspective. Those Guyanese who have constantly engaged in campaigns of doubt and pessimism regarding the coming Oil economy are doing a disservice to their country. Obviously, Guyana must learn from the mistakes of other oil-producing countries.

We must also pay attention to our inherent social and political problems that could serve to undermine our potential for transformation. But to hold these concerns up as reasons for Guyanese not to be excited is downright dishonest.

Those who traffic in this

kind of hopelessness have their own sinister agenda.

While Guyana has made marked strides since Independence five decades ago, we have never had the kind of resources needed to realise the Independence dream of socio-economic liberation. The laudable transformative policies such as universal access to education and housing for all which were attempted during the early years can now be afforded the infusion of the necessary funds needed for their sustainability. In other words, we would be in a better position to realise sustainable development.

That was the dream of our foreparents at the time of Emancipation and Independence.

There is not much that could be done about the related problems that fall outside of our control as a small country with little experience in the oil business.

We will obviously make mistakes; this is the nature of the global economy whereby small underdeveloped countries suffer because of their vulnerability. Multinational corporations have tremendous leverage that cannot be matched by countries such as ours with limited bargaining power and inadequate technical capacity. It is the very expected wealth that would, in the long run, increase our capacity in these areas.

The overarching challenge for the government in the short run would be how

to effectively manage the unprecedented wealth so that all sections and sectors of the country benefit. The government would face pressure to satisfy the demands from the various groups and interests. It would also be pressured to contain the expected corruption that accompanies virgin oil economies.

That is why it is important for the country to choose wisely at the coming elections. Management of this new dispensation requires shrewd and purposeful leadership. But above all, it requires leadership that has the people, especially the poor, at heart. We cannot afford reckless leadership at this time. Guyanese must make the determination about who governs based on the track

record of the competitors.

Those who thrive on the demonisation of opponents have no place in government at this time. The new government must be one that governs in the interest of all the people regardless of ethnic or social identity.

While we are not encouraging the nation to be complacent or raising expectations to unreasonable levels, we think that optimism rather than pessimism should be the order. Pay less attention to the prophets of doom.

Think about the potential that would be unlocked by what lies before us and rally behind reason. Better is coming. As the old folks would say: Two morning more!

It is the right of the government to defend the right to credible elections Dear Editor, I AM writing in response to the article titled, “All are involved, AG, GTUC urge end to political stalemate”.

Of course, “All are involved”, meaning both the political opposition and the government, more so the PPP/C opposition, given the fact that it has been their orchestration of the treachery of the NCM, and all that has since resulted. It is a truth that has conveniently escaped those also complicit in Guyana’s biggest act of political brigandage.

But Editor, here we are, witnessing before our very

eyes, the classical ‘con’ of those who would have engineered, and primarily are responsible for the mess, as had been the case with GuySuCo, seeking to hold the government responsible for same.

This is where one realises how dishonest some sections of this nation have become. It is unbelievable what has been occurring in this country.

TRUTH IS THREATENED! One would tend to agree with the Attorney-General that there ought to be agreement between the two principal actors, which is not unreasonable, given the fact that it is lawful, and would be in keeping with the national

Constitution. Moreover, it has a precedent that occurred in the Hoyte’s administration, in consultation with the then leader of the opposition.

What is so difficult for the Opposition to revert to this legitimate principle, as it had done in 1990?

However crooked the causative factors that have brought about the current impasse, elections are to be held, but they must be credible, flowing from a national exercise of house-to-house registration, which stands at the heart of the current political stand-off. And since it is the government’s responsibility to ensure the holding of

those elections, then it is its moral duty to ensuring that there are no shortcuts to such being a credible exercise.

No government that presents itself as democratic and upholds the inalienable right of citizens to elect a government and leaders of their choice will abdicate such a responsibility. This has been government’s position, and continues to be so. And Guyanese who believe in honesty and transparency ought to be appreciative that such a democratic principle is being upheld, in the face of shady and politically expedient arguments that can only spell social crises for this nation if

heeded. In fact, free and fair elections must not be compromised or held hostage to any option, except credibility.

One notes the GTUC statement”...both parties must eschew the thinking of sticking to their guns, noting that there is a meeting of irrational aggression versus stoic defiance…”

Given the noble and just principle which the government, in its wisdom, is seeking to uphold, credible elections through a sanitised Voter’s List, it cannot be faulted for ‘sticking to its guns’; for defending the right of the citizens whose mandate it seeks to

represent, one of which is the democratic right to free and fair elections in respect of the democracy in which they live. It is a cause worth any “stoic defiance” against the more than “irrational aggression” displayed by those who continue to use the media for disinformation and “grandstanding” that serves their less than honest interests.

Regards, Earl Hamilton

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

7

Linden grateful for refurbishment of Watooka Guest House Dear Editor, WHILE the pomp and ceremony for the recently refurbished Watooka Guest House has been completed, a number of persons are still singing the praises of the significant efforts of one individual. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Industrial and Commercial and Investments Limited (NICIL), Colvin Heath-London has been singled out for his role in facilitating the major refurbishment that was effected to the Watooka Guest House.

As such, Minister Valerie Patterson-Yearwood dubbed it his extraordinary contributions. Minister Pat-

terson-Yearwood, in commending Heath-London, described his efforts and contributions as being very significant, declaring that while he isn’t from Linden, he has certainly come through for the people of Region Ten. The minister said that she is heartened to see what the facility used to be, to what it is today, describing it as awesome in its present state. She pointed out that in years gone by, there were several challenges persons staying at the facility faced, including faulty and leaking ACs, malfunctioning toilets among other things. Describing Heath-London as a man with a great heart, the minister said that the people of Region Ten should be

excited over the fact that Heath-London has certainly demonstrated his commitment and dedication to ensuring that the Watooka Guest House is beyond expectations.

“To what this facility used to be, I can say that this man certainly had great plans, and he has truly demonstrated his vision and the plans of his heart, so that we should continue to congratulate him for the giant steps that he has taken thus far.

She said that over the past eight months, she has had several experiences that many persons may not know about. Among some of the experiences were the flushing of the toilet, and it would make noise for about

five minutes, while there were a number of other things that was missing from the room. She quoted the late Miles Munroe as saying that vision is of the eyes and not the heart. She described the CEO as that man who had demonstrated true vision, and while there was talk about no money, she said she is happy that Heath-London was able to find money to effect the refurbishment of the place, describing it as being beyond expectation.

“What we see now it is certainly beyond expectation, and for those who knew what this used to be, it is certainly beyond expectation and certainly taken vision to bring this to where it is today. I am very

AFC urges youths to grab hold of educational opportunities Dear Editor, PROVIDING inclusive and equitable education, as defined in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, can only be achieved by making education accessible to all. The integration of technology within our classrooms is becoming a basic necessity in our efforts to transform the dynamics of education in Guyana, and providing an opportunity for our youth to compete at an international level in the globalized world that we live in.

The YFC urges all youths to grab hold of all educational opportunities, keeping in mind that an educated nation is the key to building a sustainable economy. As we look forward to the hundreds of investment opportuni-

ties that are before us in Agriculture/ Agro-processing, Forestry, Tourism, Information & Communication Technology, Mining, Energy, and Manufacturing, we have to gear ourselves to meet the expected high demands that will soon reach our shores. As youths, we need to press forward with the daring, courageous and ambitious personalities that we possess.

YFC would like to take this time to recognise all the organisations that work tirelessly to bring awareness to cultural, legal and political issues affecting youth, and to individuals who sacrifice time, resources and effort to advocate on behalf of young people in Guyana.

The YFC is dedicated to the fight to ensure young people have their views equitably represented at all levels,

and we salute and encourage all other organisations that represent youths to never get weary in such an honourable endeavour. There are many vulnerable and unrepresented groups of young persons in our society, and we all have a part to play in ensuring equality, equity and justice is enjoyed by every young person.

We commend the thousands of youths that are stepping forward on every platform and claiming their space in society. Let us continue to claim and protect the future that belongs to us.

To all youths and those who advocate on behalf of youths, we wish you a Happy International Youth Day 2019!

proud that he has bigger and greater plans, as I can feel his heart, and I would like, on behalf of the residents of Region Ten, to say a big thank you.

“There are some people who have eyes and can’t see, and there are some who would say what must be done, but wouldn’t do it.

But you have eyes; you saw; and you did. Even though he is not from here, he has made Linden and the entire Region Ten proud. And for that, we are thankful,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Renis Morian, in reaffirming his pleasure, said that NICIL has certainly shown leadership and oversight, something that is missing in several

other regions.

He thanked Colvin Heath-London, declaring that with the kind of leadership he has brought to NICIL, the public can expect greater things. “I am personally, and on behalf of the residents of Region Ten, very proud, and would like to continue expressing our appreciation to NICIL, as it’s evident that with Heath-London’s vision, we will continue to see greater things from NICIL,” he stressed.

Regards, Region 10 Regional Democratic Council

With the coming oil, the sugar industry could be saved Dear Editor, THE recent letter by Dr. Ramsammy of the PPP on the plight of sections of the economy that have been negatively impacted by the closure of several sugar estates makes many doubt if the strategy for improving the industry is as solid as it could be.

If we are to consider the forecasted increase in GDP for our nation's economy, it is easy to see that the upcoming oil boom and the resulting increased per capita income, whether distributed directly as suggested by some WPA members or trickled down via a capitalist model, that the future improved buying power of the population should be more than sufficient to save

the entire industry. Thus, it is premature for our nation's current leadership to pursue closure of estates which provide the very important task of sustaining the lifeblood of our villages and small towns.

This will also mitigate any risk from the pursuit of a purely trickle-down capitalist model associated with the usage of our oil revenue.

We must remember that we have one of the best products on the market, and that a premium price is paid for similar knockoffs which lack the heritage and prestige associated with our ‘Enmore Crystal’ and ‘Demerara Sugar’.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

APNU, AFC set 4-week timeline –– to revise Cummingsburg Accord

OVER the next four weeks, teams from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) will be negotiating changes to the Cummingsburg Accord – the February 14 agreement that brought them together ahead of the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

The Cummingsburg Accord is due to expire on February 14, 2020 but with General and Regional Elections expected this year, the parties have agreed to revise the accord ahead of the elections.

“It was agreed by the two parties that a revised Accord would be more desirable than drafting a completely new Accord at this stage.

There was consensus that the finalised Accord would be agreed within four weeks of the most recent meeting,”

the AFC said in a statement on Monday.

The AFC negotiating team is being led by its General Secretary David Patterson and includes National Executive members Dominic Gaskin and Dr. Vincent Adams, while the APNU team is led by its General Secretary Joseph Harmon.

The AFC confirmed that there is a broad agreement between the two parties that the existing Accord can be amended for better alignment with the Constitution and can accommodate additional guiding principles that may previously have been omitted.

However, it noted that the existing accord remains in effect, until its life expires or it is amended by mutual agreement.

“The AFC remains fully

President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo led the coalition at the last general and regional elections

committed to coalition politics in the national interest.

Coalition politics in this regard reinforces our core belief of a functional multi-ethnic, ‘multi-viewic’ society to unleash the energies of all

Jubilant response to community projects- PM Nagamootoo PEOPLE are jubilant that the Coalition Government is going to them with working solutions for issues in their communities, so said Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in his latest column, which was published in the Sunday Chronicle under the caption, “Exciting times on all fronts”.

He was at the time commenting on the $1.5 billion package that was rolled out last week in La Parfaite Harmonie, a sprawling housing scheme of some 20,000 residents on the West Bank Demerara. According to Minister Ronald Bulkan, the funds would be used for streets, sidewalks, drainage, street lamps and playgrounds, and as subsidies to build core homes; and grants to upgrade low-income homes, in La Parfaite Harmonie.

During the mini-outreach, community leaders were informed that within two weeks a new police station would be commissioned, and two new wells would be constructed. The initiative for the Parfaite event was taken by Member of Parliament, Hon. Joseph Harmon, who is also the Director-General in the Ministry of the Presidency. In attendance were the Prime Minister, several government ministers and officials, and the top brass of the Guyana Police Force.

In his article, Mr. Nagamootoo observed that the housing scheme had grounded to a halt under the previous government which fell short of money to complete essential infrastructural works, “leaving behind a neglected community, and

a nest of discontent”.

Similar sentiments of satisfaction were expressed by residents of Mahdia, the once-neglected mining town in the heartland of the Potaro-Siparuni Region. This region is noted for the Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls, the ever-green Parakarima Mountains, gold and diamond mines, and an unimaginable expansive spread of green, tropical foliage.

In Mahdia, the Prime Minister narrated how he was driven around in what he called a “Patmobile” by Public Infrastructure Minister, Hon. David Patterson, as they inspected the new concrete roads, “where once there were huge craters and red dusts”.

“I recalled in my childhood years the comic books that I loved, with Batman in his Batmobile coming to the rescue of distressed folks in the dangerous Gotham City,” the Prime Minister said as he credited the Infrastructure Minister for new roads in places such as Mahdia, Lethem, Bartica, Mabaruma and elsewhere in Guyana. The promised works in La Partfaite Harmonie, however, drew sour comments from the Stabroek News. In its editorial yesterday, the newspaper opined that the $1.5 billion for “much-needed upgrades for La Parfaite Harmonie” fell outside the remit of a government with “caretaker status”. The reported “jubilant” response of the people does not support this contention.

our people regardless of race, class, religion or gender enabling all Guyanese to enjoy their fullest potential,” it said.

A review of the Cummingsburg Accord, the alliance posited, has engaged

its full attention since 2017.

However, recently the party met jointly with its Coalition partner and discussed a path forward in view of General and Regional Elections.

The revision of the Cummingsburg Accord was central among discussions when the AFC held its quarterly National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting last Saturday at the Arthur Chung Convention Center.

In a recent interview, the APNU General Secretary assured the Guyana Chronicle that the Cummingsburg Accord will be revised ahead of the next General and Regional Elections. He said the APNU and AFC have been meeting, and the revision is the subject of active discussion.

“We are looking at the revision right now,” Harmon

told this newspaper, while further disclosing that parties have agreed to principles that would guide them going forward.

“The important thing, however, is that we have agreed on some basic principles which will guide the relationship between the APNU and the AFC. Those statements of principles are agreed to and therefore it is clear that in the next elections we are going forward as APNU and AFC, a coalition,” the APNU General Secretary said.

According to him, ahead of the elections, the coalition will issue a statement on the Cummingsburg Accord, which will detail how they will proceed. However, he iterated that the APNU and AFC will remain a united force.

Lindeners revel in the change a little light can bring their communities --thanks to the LMTC’s ambitious street lighting project THE Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC) has undertaken a massive street lighting project which will see communities that were hitherto in darkness now being lit for the very first time.

The development follows the Ministry of Communities presenting the Council with 350 street lights for distribution amongst the municipality’s eight constituencies, not equally, but according to their needs.

Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell said Monday that Constituency Five, which is the areas around the Wismar shore, has been completed, while Constituency Eight is currently being targeted.

She said that a decision was taken to start on the Wismar shore because there was a greater need in those communities for street lighting, since many of them have none at all, and were prime targets for criminal elements.

The project has reportedly been favourably received by residents, many of whom had to learn to live with the darkness for many years.

The Council is currently partnering with the Linden Electricity Company Inc. (LEI), the Linden Utility Services Coop Society Limited, and the Community Development Councils, to ensure that unlit communities are given priority.

Among some of the unlit communities on the Wismar shore that will benefit from the project are Blue Berry Hill; Wisroc; Buck Town;

Street lights going up in certain sections of Linden for the very first time

Acccabre Drive, Kara Kara; South Amelia's Ward; Phases Two and Three Amelia's Ward; Kara Kara; and Retrieve.

Residents of Canvas City are in high praise of the LMTC for the initiative, and by extension the Central

Government, since the community is brighter and therefore more welcoming at nights. "Last night I was surprised when I entered my community of Canvas City. Thank you very much; we applaud your great efforts," wrote Nkasi Giles on social media. "This is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it,” said Latoya Pellew, another resident. “Our community finally has lights after more than 10 years. Kudos to the Town Council for such great work," she added.

This community lighting project will not only enhance visibility in the areas for which they are intended, but those areas themselves will also be given a social boost, since residents will no longer be so vulnerable to crime, particularly at nights.

The project is also in ‘sync’ with the municipality's adaptation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; particularly those having to do with the responsible consumption and production of energy.

As such, residents will now be sensitised on how to become smart consumers of this very important commodity.

In addition to the lighting project, the LMTC is using its $18M subvention for road repairs, and the desilting of culverts and drains, amongst other infrastructural upgrades within the constituencies.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Min. Ramjattan unveils exciting, innovative crime-fighting plan --one that involves schoolchildren and communities in their school environment

By Wendella Davidson WITH Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries being regarded as crime hotspots these days, CARICOM heads and their national security ministers have come up with an innovative plan to take a more evidence-based approach to crime-fighting.

And that plan, according to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, is to use primary and secondary school children to help determine the root causes of crime.

Speaking last Friday on the National Communications Network (NCN)’s programme, INSIGHT, Minister Ramjattan made the point that while crime is solvable, we in Guyana live in a part of the world that these days has the ignominy of having the highest crime rates of anywhere else in the world; even countries besieged by war or internal conflict.

Using statistics to bolster his argument, Minister Ramjattan said: “Our crime rates, especially our murder rates, are higher than even war-torn Syria… It’s unbelievable, but it is something that is true; 56,000 murders occur in Brazil every year, that is far more than the people dying in the Syrian War. Honduras went up to 68, 000 one year.

In Jamaica, the homicide rate is about 55 to 100, 000 people; they had about 2,400 last year. Trinidad is extremely high, again reaching about 38 to 39 per 100,000 people.

In Guyana, it is 15; one of the lowest, but Barbados has the lowest; about 11.”

But to get back to the issue of CARICOM heads

piloting their innovative plan in regional schools, Minister Ramjattan intimated that it has already been put in motion, as surveys were done at primary and secondary schools here in Guyana, as well as in Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, and Antigua and Barbuda.

And the idea is that at the end of it all, an analysis of all the data that was collected from the surveys at the schools will help determine what is going wrong.

What’s also interesting is that the project not only involves conducting surveys in schools, but the communities in and around where those target schools are located as well, in the hope that the information that was gleaned will help the authorities arrive at a workable solution.

According to Minister Ramjattan, following the analysing of the data, efforts will be made to incorporate whatever local inputs they will have had into the designing of an action plan, in the hope that the end result will be a better citizen and a decline in the crime rate.

Noting that about 20 communities have been identified as “hotspots”, though he didn’t say where, whether those communities are here in Guyana or elsewhere in the Caribbean, having conducted surveys at schools countrywide, Minister Ramjattan said there is now a firm idea of what needs to be done.

What is needed, however, he said, are the counselors; the education officers and teachers within the target schools to have an input as to what is the best action plan.

He said, too, that ef-

forts will be made for the “hotspots” at reference to be properly illuminated, and as an added security measure, have CCTV cameras installed in and around the areas so as to deter those wanting to commit a crime to have second thoughts about it.

He said that by taking away certain incentives from at-risk young people and students and instead placing them into clubs to play steel band or become involved in art or other activities, the inclination to misbehave or indulge in stealing, or vandalising will also be removed, and hopefully result in a decline in the crime rate.

MORE EXCITING NEWS But the exciting news does not just end there for Guyana, as, according to the minister, plans are also afoot to professionalise the Guyana Police Force (GPF) through exposing its members to academic training. He reasoned that by possessing such academic capacity, the Force can then start to work on its own strategic plan and have them implemented.

“That is what is soon going to happen to this country and take us places,” Minister Ramjattan said, while cautioning that the execution of such a vision will depend on a number of things, such as available resources, the leadership of the Police Force, culture change and institutional transformation.

He also spoke briefly on the planned establishment of ‘Champions for Change Clubs’, the funding for which will be provided by CARICOM through the European

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

Union (EU), to do things like buy equipment, construct buildings or pavilions and upkeep the grounds so that people could go there and play whatever games they like, and later become professionals in their respective disciplines.

GOING DIGITAL And, speaking briefly also about the GPF’s recent move to digitise and computerise its operations, Minister Ramjattan said the aim is to have all police stations outfitted with such equipment so as to enhance its crime-fighting capability.

Explaining the effectiveness and the intended development of crime-fighting, he said the aim is to have information on a suspect who commits in the city and escapes, to within ‘real time’ be immediately be sent to Skeldon, Lethem and subsequently all police stations.

“We are going there; that’s a development,” he said, adding: “I have come to realise that it is technology plus professional personnel that is going to take us places, and that is what we are doing

now. We are getting the support from Carib Secure, the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).”

And, through an arrangement with a huge company in China that produces some fantastic cameras that allow a 360-degree view, even in the air, a Safe City project has been set up, whereby through the high-resolution equipment that is temporarily housed at the National Database Centre at Liliendaal, on the lower East Coast, Minister Ramjattan said that faces can be enhanced, as can car licences and locations among other things.

He said too that several police vehicles are also equipped with cameras and radios, and from the security room at the Control Centre, operators have access to all of the cameras across the city, which they can monitor on a big screen, if needs be.

The system, he explained, is a component of the US$32M National Broadband Project that was funded by the Chinese Government over two years ago, for which a permanent headquarters is soon to be constructed.

STRIKING THAT BALANCE Speaking of which, Minister Ramjattan said it was brought to his attention that a certain media outlet and other ‘doomsayers’ have been accusing him of breaching privacy laws.

In his defence of the project, he said: “We have to make a balance between security and privacy. If you want to catch crimi-

nals, you will have to have some amount of privacy encroached upon.”

As he went on to say, when the Americans and Chinese do likewise, they are commended for being great, but now that Guyana is seeking to follow suit, they are being criticised in editorials, and that if letter writers are of the view that there may be a breach of privacy laws, they should take the matter to court.

This new approach of the Force’s, he noted, “will deter criminality within the streets of Georgetown, which is a hotspot, and as we get more monies from our oil and natural-gas resources, it will then be implemented at Skeldon, Linden, Lethem and within the entire country, within the period of a year.”

And while he did mention in passing, the upgrading of the 911 system, the rehabilitation of police stations countrywide, and the upgrading of the DNA laboratory, he didn’t go into any details, except to say there is need to promote more gender-equality in the Police Force, in terms of encouraging more females to enlist in the officer corps, and to expand the Force’s community policing groupings countrywide, especially in areas next to our borders with Venezuela and Brazil, where at times it is difficult to post personnel.

Police destroy 300 cannabis plants at Whim

A cannabis cultivation farm with about 300 plants was destroyed by officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF)’s “B” Division on Sunday.

According to information from the GPF, officers of “B” Division found the farm during an eradication exercise at Crown Dam, Whim which is located about five miles from the Whim Public Road.

The plants measuring one foot to about five feet were set alit by the officers. No arrests have been made so far but investigations are

ongoing.

In June, it was reported that officers of ‘E’ Division destroyed approximately 8,000 cannabis plants on a farm located at Five Miles Backdam, Ituni Trail.

A number of officers from the Mackenzie Police Station, acting on information, went into the hinterland area and conducted a narcotics eradication exercise.

The police discovered a marijuana farm estimated to be about three acres. The farm had about 8,000 cannabis plants ranging from

A section of the farm before it was destroyed

two to five feet which is equivalent 13.5 kilogrammes. They also discovered about 13.6 kilogrammes of dried cannabis plants. A make-shift camp was also part of the discovery. The ranks destroyed all the plants and dried cannabis by fire and the grid location was recorded.

No arrest was made.

It was the 16th marijuana eradication exercise that occurred in Region 10 for 2019. Officers said that marijuana cultivators are becoming braver in the division, since discoveries are being made

closer to inhabited lands.

Commander of ‘E’ Division, Linden Lord, agreed that the division continues to battle with this category of crime, but ranks will continue to be proactive in keeping their ears to the ground to receive intelligence-led information as well as remaining active and vigilant in not only Linden but outlying areas, where the fields are normally discovered.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Gov’t considering salary package for public servants GOVERNMENT intends on working with unions to create a total salary package for public servants, instead of granting incremental increases.

Over the years, Government has been granting yearly salary increases to public servants, but this is a tradition, which Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan said Government is hoping to change.

“What we want to do going forward is work with the unions on a total package, so you will know where your salaries will be rather than the yearly story,” said Minister Jordan during an interview on the National Communication’s Network’s ‘Insight’ Programme on the Voice of Guyana, on Saturday.

Basically, the minister said they will create, for instance, a five-year plan which will show the required in-

crease instead of announcing it yearly.

“We want to hope that we would not have to go through it every year… but we want to set something you could look forward to, something once you have produced and you were appraised, you could get,” said the minister.

In the interim, going forward, he said there will most likely be an election, but once that is over Government will be up and running right away.

Jordan said they will get straight into business and public servants can expect a bigger salary increase than what they will get in 2019.

In looking at salaries and benefits, Government also intends on ensuring that there is equity among the regions.

He encouraged persons to be more concerned about having a proper and decent wage instead of what their

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan

bonus would be.

the fight to get a good, decent

“They have to make cer-

salary because pension is

tain that they do not give up

based on salary not bonus,”

said Jordan, adding that pensions will be something to value.

Government’s intention is to address the pension which retired public servants receive, said Jordan. There are public servants whose pensions were decimated in the 80s and 90s with the constant devaluations. He said there are General Managers who retired and their pensions are minimal.

“We would like to see something happen,” said Minister Jordan, adding that the retired public servants deserve a better pension.

Jordan had said that negotiations have already begun for salary increases for teachers and other public servants.

“They can look forward again this year, to a salary increase. We’re already in negotiations with the teach-

ers. The President has set up a high-level committee on the public service, to look into issues, particularly the wages and allowances of public servants.

“So, we are hoping that can be concluded in time for the figures to get into the next budget,” the minister said during a press briefing early July.

“Our people can look forward to improved benefits, whether they are in the social sector or educational sector, and at the personal level as we go into 2020,” said the minister.

Last year Jordan presented a $300.7 Billion Budget for the year 2019, an increase of 12.6 per cent from 2018.

Gov't should buy shares in Exxon …Greenidge suggests, says oil resource not a curse

By Tamica Garnett FORMER Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, believes acquiring shares in Exxon Mobil is an option that government could explore in the future when resources start coming in from the oil and gas industry, scheduled to come on stream next year.

Greenidge noted that government is no stranger to private investments, and suggested that a step towards owning shares in Exxon would be a worthwhile investment for the country. “The government is at liberty to acquire shares in Exxon, it can be a partner in Exxon. [Currently] government partnership is largely one of sharing exploitation of resources, but we can use some of the resources to buy some of the shares of Exxon,” Greenidge said as he delivered remarks on Sunday at the Buxton First of August Movement (FAM-Buxton) annual Eusi Kwayana Emancipation Symposium.

“We have bought shares in private companies before. So there are options in looking at the future that oil and gas has for us, you have to look

carefully at what can be done, what has been done.”

Greenidge, who is currently the Foreign Secretary was one of five panelists who gave remarks at the event, the others being Attorney, Nigel Hughes; University of Guyana History and Caribbean Studies Lecturer, Dwayne Benjamin; IDPADA-G Administrative Officer, Glenyss James; and FAM-Buxton Coordinator, Dr. David Hinds.

This year, the event was held under the theme, “The Coming Election and the African Guyanese Emancipation Agenda” with a focus on the theme’s connection to the coming oil and gas industry.

With 13 oil discoveries since 2015, Exxon Mobil is scheduled to begin Guyana’s maiden oil production from the Liza Phase 1 development in early 2020, expecting to initially extract an estimated 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

There have been conversations on the looming industry, its management and just how much Guyana will be able to benefit from the resources garnered.

Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Exxon has the country

poised to receive 2 percent royalty on petroleum produced and sold. The Department of Energy has since noted plans to raise the royalty on future oil licenses issued, though the plans are not expected to affect current licenses.

OIL IS NOT VOODOO Greenidge dismissed fears that the oil and gas industry could leave Guyana in a worst state. Globally, there is what has become known as the “resource curse” or “paradox of plenty”, whereby despite the vast resources countries fail to see massive economic development.

However, Greenidge said, it is how the resources are managed, and not the resource itself, that plays a crucial role in ensuring countries do not befall the curse. “The biggest nonsense is a story that tells it’s going to leave us worst off than we were before, we didn’t say that when we discovered bauxite in the 1900s, manganese in the 1950s, the fisheries in the late 1960s.

Oil is not voodoo, it is not magic, it is a commodity.

To an economist there is no difference between a barrel of

Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge

oil and a roll of cloth, they are commodities, they are used for different purposes but the difference of consequence is the management,” he noted.

“The price of oil today is so high that if you possess oil you can do magic in a very short space of time because of the income it commands.

You have a resource you must manage it sensibly.”

Oil and gas discussions are taking center stage as the country gears for its next elections. Greenidge told those

gathered that citizens have a role to play in ensuring this good management of the resources by holding those in power accountable.

“There are responsibilities for you as members of the electorate. I don’t have all the solutions for you but everyone has responsibility to be aware, make sure your voice is heard.

A party has a manifesto. It promises to do certain things, you see that they don’t do it and you have to let them know that you are concerned about their failure to do it. That is what some of the more mature economies do. Don’t wait until the end of their five years,” he said.

“You are an intelligent constituency look at what your government is doing and ensure that when resources are available the resources are used for the benefit of the country. When it comes to oil the main benefit to the country will be the income coming from the various taxes, you cannot look at the royalty alone and pronounce on the utility and appropriateness of royalty.”

Many have much riding on their expectations of the economic boom that the oil

and gas industry is expected to bring to Guyana. Greenidge also sought to address the issue of the border controversy with Venezuela and that country’s claim to certain sections of Guyana’s territory, including offshore areas where oil exploration is currently taking place. Greenidge outrightly dismissed a suggestion in a section of the media by a University professor that Guyana should relinquish some amount of territory to Venezuela to end the controversy.

“There was a story saying the government is exaggerating the risks, there’s no risk in relation to Venezuela all you have to do is give Venezuela 20 percent, give them 20 percent of all your ocean resources and take more money from Exxon. Is any part of the fees to Exxon going to be worth more than 20 percent of the resources in our seas, which is not just petroleum? And yet that man is given credence in a newspaper in Guyana. I am not aware that either the latter government, or the current one has a mandate to give away 20 percent of our resources,” Greenidge noted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Profits from petroleum industry to be pumped into education

11

-Guyana the best in the Caribbean in terms of prospects for youth says President Granger GUYANA is on the brink of an educational evolution and to capitalise on it, Government has conceptualised a programme called “the decade of development, 2020-2029,” which President David Granger hopes will be fueled by some of the profits from the budding petroleum industry.

President Granger made those remarks during a conversation on youth development with a student of the University of Guyana, Vonetta Herman, on International Youth Day, which was celebrated on Monday.

He said if petroleum revenues come after 2020 in the amounts which the Government anticipates, they already have the concept for the decade of development for Guyana to work with.

Already, Government has placed much emphasis on the education sector. A sum of $52 billion was included in the 2019 budget for the sector.

“This is for education, this is for the young people… it is going into the reform of the curriculum, providing better access to education and building more schools,” said President Granger.

On the topic of building more schools, Government hopes that during the decade of development, there will be a first class secondary school in every region.

Over the years there have been six “top schools” in Guyana and the country has never been able to create other top grade secondary schools. President Granger said every year over 15,000 students, who write the National Grade Six Assessment

(NGSA) try to get a spot in one of the “top schools.”

“My ambition is to have a first grade school in every region…it is a work in progress but we hope to bring education to the villages and regions,” said the President.

Focus will be placed on improving and making education available in the hinterland regions, since the President pointed out that there was a time when hinterland education was the stepchild of the education system.

Despite what would have occurred in the past, President Granger said it is part of his Government’s policy to take education to students and communities rather than having students travelling to the towns.

He believes that education is the most important thing because it will have an effect on equality and employment, so children in the hinterland must have equal access and opportunities.

“Education is going to open people’s eyes for the need for equality…having the necessary qualification will allow you to compete on an equal basis… all Guyanese are entitled to the same benefits,” said the President.

Being entitled to education is one thing, but being able to access education has been an issue which President Granger sought to resolve by distributing about 29 school buses, 14 boats and over 4,000 bicycles to communities so that children can go to school.

“We have been improving access and we have also been looking at the curriculum so that when they get to school

they will be exposed to improved methods of teaching,” said President Granger.

With the advent of the petroleum industry, Government will also be looking to improve access in the sense of making education free from nursery to the tertiary level.

Free education is a constitutional entitlement and every Guyanese child, who qualifies, will benefit from free education, said President

President hopes that Guyana will be the best educated nation in the Caribbean.

THE BEST

President David Granger

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry

Granger.

“In the short term I would like to see students attend university by abolishing fees…university education will become free…everyone who matriculates will enter university,” said President Granger, adding that Government will also look to open new campuses in other areas such as the hinterland regions.

When all is done, the

He already believes that Guyana is the best country in the Caribbean in terms of prospects for young people.

“I believe you all will inherit a prosperous country,” said the President, adding that when oil starts to flow, people will travel to Guyana to invest in various areas such as eco-tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, food processing and so much more.

There will be abundant job opportunities and even opportunities to become self-employed, said President Granger.

He made reference to the fact that a lot of young people are unemployed, but said that Government is doing things to correct the situation.

Among the initiatives geared

at correcting the situation are the Guyana Youth Corp, the Linden Enterprise Network Inc. (LEN) and Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme.

President Granger said the job opportunities are there and a lot more will be created with profit from the petroleum industry.

He encouraged young people to get into agriculture, packaging, manufacturing and even information technology.

Growth and development, however, leads back to education and the President believes that the cutting edge of education will be Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“We have begun the process of education reform which involves, curriculum reformation, strategic planning and shifting to more technologically-enabled learning experience,” said Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry in her message on International Youth Day. She said the Government is committed and determined to placing young people at the forefront of national development, making sure thatregardless of where they call home- all of the students must have equal access to the resources and opportunities that will allow them to cultivate their abilities and reach their full potential.

Here in Guyana, the Government is committed to achieving universal access to quality education. To this end, the ministry of education continues to work with stakeholders to improve the quality of education delivery.

The Youth Innovation Programme, the reintegration of our teenage mothers into formal education and the Public Education Transportation System (PETS) better known as the 5Bs are all initiatives that are rolling back inequality for thousands of Guyanese youth.

Under the theme “transforming education,” International Youth Day will examine how Governments, young people, youth-led and youth-focused organisations, as well as stakeholders are transforming education so that it becomes a powerful tool to achieve the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

According to the United Nations, this theme is intended to highlight efforts to make education more inclusive and accessible for all youths, including efforts by youths themselves.

“I also on this occasion, endorse UNFPA’s position that the crucial role quality education plays in youth development is well recognised.

In addition, comprehensive youth development benefits society –at-large….what is less known is the fact that young people themselves are active champions of inclusive and accessible education.

“Youth-led organisations, as well as individual youths, together with various stakeholders and Governments, are concretely transforming education so that it becomes a fundamental tool both for sustainable development and for the full inclusion of various social groups,” said Minister Henry.

Carpenter electrocuted while fishing at Coverden A MOTHER of three is left to fend for herself after her husband, 34-year-old Orlando Ramnarine, was electrocuted during a fishing trip at Coverden, East Bank Demerara, on Monday.

As Guyanese joined their Muslim brothers and sisters in the celebration of Eid-ulAdha, the Ramnarine family was left to mourn the loss of their sole breadwinner.

“It all happened so fast...

I don’t know what I’m going to do now... the day started so well,” said Ramnarine’s distraught wife, 22-year-old Aronva Parmanand, in an

invited comment.

The father of three, who was a construction worker, took his family on a fishing trip to a farm, at Coverden, which is overlooked by Parmanand’s father.

Parmanand recounted that while everyone was having fun, Ramnarine went to throw his “cast net” in a nearby trench on the farm.

“He throw the cast net and like it hook on a livewire that was hanging from an electrical poll...all we see is he start shaking up and then he fall on the ground,” she said.

Dead: Orlando Ramnarine

After Ramnarine fell to the ground, Parmanand’s brother, Oneil Parmanand, who was also on the trip,

went to see what happened to Ramnarine.

“I went and I hold de man and like I get a shock and that is when we realise that this man get shock up,” said Oneil, adding that Ramnarine died on the spot.

Aronva said she was left baffled because it all happened so quickly and she did not even know her husband was dying in front of her.

She said after the incident occurred, they called in the farm owner who told them that the hanging livewire was reported to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) on several

occasions.

Moments after the incident happened, staff of GPL arrived at the scene and cut the hanging wire.

“GPL arrived before the police so we were a bit suspicious about what was happening,” said Aronva, adding that they notified the police about what happened.

The man’s wife said she was still trying to process what happened because the family usually goes to the farm for recreation yet something so tragic happened.

“I don’t know what I gone do now... my husband used to

bring in the money... I can’t work because I have three young children who don’t stay with nobody else,” said Aronva.

The woman was so distraught that she could not stay alone at her home in Sarah Johanna. She said she will be staying with her family for a few days.

The mother of three said she would welcome any help that persons can offer. Persons interested in making a donation to the family can make contact with Aronva aka Samantha on 682-6868.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Muslims celebrate ‘feast of sacrifice’ countrywide

MUSLIMS countrywide celebrated the festival of Eidul-Adha which means “feast of the sacrifice” on Monday which was marked by special prayers and feasts.

Later in the day, Mus-

lims used the opportunity to visit families and friends and to give gifts and money.

Additionally, some believers set aside certain amounts of money to prepare food and to buy clothes for those who are

in need.

Acting President of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Gulzar Namdar, said the practice of Qurbani can be traced back to the Prophet Ibrahim, who

(Standing next to the concrete post) Imam Halim Khan watches over preparation and parcelling of beef for distribution.

had dreamt that God ordered him to sacrifice his only son, Ismail.

In his devotion to God, Ibrahim agreed to follow his dream and perform the sacrifice, but God intervened and sent a ram to be sacrificed in Ismail’s place, Namdar said.

Imam Namdar, who is also the President of the Meten Meer Zorg Islamic Complex, explained that Ismail was spared because Ibrahim proved he would sacrifice his

Khan, said every year during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around the world slaughter an animal-- a goat, sheep or cow-- to reflect Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, for the sake of God. He said when families receive Qurbani meat it fosters a real sense of hope for them and allows them to celebrate the important occasion along with millions of other Muslims across the world.

symbolise casting away evil.

He said this is the second Islamic festival of the year and follows Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.

“Elsewhere around the world, people welcomed the start of Eid-ul-Adha with large gatherings for prayers,” he said.

Member of the Kitty Masjid, Dan Rahim, said as detailed in the Quranic story of

Meten Meer Zorg Islamic Complex preparing beef for persons visiting the venue.

son as an act of piety, despite the loss it would have caused him. “The continued practice of sacrifice acts as a reminder of Ibrahim’s obedience to God… the meat is also distributed to the poor and less fortunate people within the community because you want the day of the festival to be a day of enjoyment, a day of rejoice for everybody around you in the community irrespective of their religion,” he said.

Imaam of the Meten Meer Zorg (East) Masjid, Halim

The Imam explained that Eid-ul-Adha usually begins on the last day of the Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Any Muslim, Khan said, who has the financial means to undertake the pilgrimage, is expected to take part in it at least once in their lifetime since it constitutes one of the five pillars of Islam.

Almost 2.5 million pilgrims, Khan said, took part in a symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina, where they threw pebbles at a pillar to

Preparations at the Kitty Masjid

Ibrahim, it is still common practice for people to distribute meat during the festival, often sacrificing their best halaal animals in the process.

He said that Muslims will also chant the Takbeer, which is the Arabic phrase “All?hu Akbar”, or “God is great”, before and after Eid prayers. Rahim said that the festival traditionally lasts four days, with the first day marking the end of the yearly Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Tiger Bay residents reassured of govt's priorities RESIDENTS of Tiger Bay, Georgetown were apprised of government’s priorities concerning improving several sectors.

This was conveyed during a community meeting hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dr. Karen Cummings and Minister within the Ministry of Communities, with responsibility for Housing, Hon. Annette Ferguson.

More specifically in the areas of Housing and Foreign Affairs, it was explained that these areas are receiving continuous attention by the government as they seek to provide adequate and suitable living solutions while sensitising residents on the government’s foreign and diplomacy agenda.

Minister Cummings indicated that the government has been dealing with the influx of Venezuelan migrants and other foreigners entering the country. She encouraged the residents to take advantage of the many opportunities available.

“If something good wasn’t happening, they would not have been com-

NICIL [National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited] they too have control over lands,” she remarked. The minister that she had recently spoken to the Commissioner of the GLSC, Trevor Benn on the release of lands for the establishment of housing schemes.

Together, the two ministers urged the residents to embrace progress in Sueann Gibbons, a resident of Tiger Bay

formational developmental initiatives designed to benefit all Guyanese. “If you look

Minister Cummings stated.

Addressing the issue of housing opportunities, Minister

Godfrey Powers, a resident of Tiger Bay.

around you can see some of those transformative changes.

Ferguson said every effort is being made to ensure that

A section of the gathering at the community meeting

ing… I am tasked to protect our territorial sovereignty and integrity and so I do that,” she said. She noted since assuming office in 2015, the administration has embarked on several trans-

Great sums of money have been budgeted for and spent of infrastructure development, housing development education, improved public health care, security, improved wages and salaries,”

house lot applications are addressed as priority is being placed on the backlog of applicants.

“We have to work with Guyana Lands and Survey Commission [GLSC] and

support of what else is to come. While the residents agreed with the developments highlighted, they spoke of what they would like to see in the community. Godfrey Powers, a youth in Tiger Bay, said he can testify to the changes that came under the current administration.

However, he hoped for the beautification efforts in the

community be supported by the government. He called for regular engagements between government officials and the young people in Tiger Bay. He was supported by Sueann Gibbons who echoed similar sentiments. Residents also called for the reconstruction of a community Centre to replace the previous West End Centre. (DPI)

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Gov’t engages Mon Repos residents

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo, on Sunday afternoon, led a team of government officials to the community of Mon Repos, East Coast of Demerara, where they met with residents.

The community meeting was part of a larger exercise which saw ministers and government officials fanning out across the Demerara-Mahaica Region (Region 4) to engage with citizens. The meeting was held at the Mon Repos Primary School. Prime Minister Nagamootoo encouraged the residents to get registered during the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) House-to-House Registration process. He reminded that participating in the exercise allows them to be on the list of eligible voters. Also, it would provide them with a National Identification card.

“Make sure you put your name on the National Register… 14 years and above, there will be a new roll that will be complied,” he stated. The Prime Minister further explained that “you will be able to have identification to go to the bank, to apply for a loan, to apply for land; you’ll need your documents.”

He called on them to encourage their family and friends to partake in the process.

The government's focus on education was also reiterated during the community meeting. Regional Information Officer of Region Three, Ganesh Mahipaul, reminded that in keeping with His Excellency, President David Granger’s vision for an educated nation, the administration has invested in the sector since assuming office in 2015. Mahipaul further highlighted that the administration has made several strides in ensuring development in the education sector, including improved infrastructure and better wages for teachers.

He explained: “That is what we mean when we say we have to have an 'educated nation'…

We get the educated nation by providing the

Prime Minister, Hon. Moses Nagamootoo

Regional Information Officer of Region three, Ganesh Mahipaul

A section of the gathering at the community meeting in Mon Repos, East Coast of Demerara

resources,” he stressed.

He added that improved results at both the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations are testimony that the government’s continued investment in the sector has proven successful.

Several issues were highlighted during the community meeting including the rehabilitation of the school’s playfield and the availability of sport equipment. Residents were left satisfied after the Ministry of Communities, Department of Community Development representative, Ernest Elliot assured that the Mon Repos Primary School's playfield will be rehabilitated.

The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to donate sports gear to the school.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke to several residents who commended the government for engaging them at the grassroots level. “This is something we have not had before 2015, and I think it’s a good effort,” shared Godfrey Webster, a Mon Repos resident. Samantha Singh, another resident of the community, echoed similar sentiment, deeming the meeting as a fruitful one.

Over the last few months, the Coalition Government has ramped up their engagement with citizens across Guyana. Just recently, a ministerial delegation travelled to Mahdia in the Pataro-Siparuni region, (Region 8) where they took their services to the residents there, as well as to surrounding communities. (DPI)

'Councillors are elected to serve the people' - Min. Trotman MINISTER of Natural Resources, Hon. Raphael Trotman, has sent a stern warning to persons who are elected to serve the people but are neglecting their duties.

At a public meeting held on Sunday afternoon, at the Camptown Community Centre in Campbellville, Constituency 3, Minister Trotman did not shy away from telling residents that he was disappointed at the state of their community, and the fact that they were not being properly represented at the municipal level.

“If you are a councillor for a community, you are a Councillor for everyone, and it is quite sad to see the state in which you are being made to live.” He added, “so, if it is that your councillor, whoever he or she is, has abandoned you, some of us have to take over.”

The Natural Resources Minister conducted a walk-

about in the community where he met with residents to listen to their concerns.

Following the walkabout, he engaged more residents at the community centre.

Later, as the meeting got underway, Minister Trotman’s

reasoned that the councillor for the community needed to be replaced.

Agreeing with Anderson, resident Adrene McAlmont said they [the residents] have suffered for way too long.

“The councillor for this

Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Raphael Trotman noting residents' concerns at the Camptown Community Centre on Sunday

Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Raphael Trotman listening to Campbellville resident, Ivor Anderson, following a community meeting

sentiments were echoed by resident Ivor Anderson, who

area, I don’t know where to find him, we are not seeing

him, we seeing Mr. Mentore [Deputy Mayor of Georgetown], but we not seeing the councillor.”

In this regard, Minister Trotman noted that he will be accompanying them to the next statutory meeting of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), to raise their concerns. Among the other matters that received

the minister’s commitment were - immediately assisting with the clearing of old tyres in and around the community, which contribute to mosquito infestation, and relaying to the relevant agencies, matters such as clogged drains, illegal construction on government reserve, health matters and rehabilitation of the Camp-

town Community Centre.

Minister Trotman will be returning to the community later this month.

Sunday's meeting and walkabout in the area is part of a larger outreach being conducted by the ministers of government to meet and listen to the issues of citizens at the grassroots level. (DPI)

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Better infrastructure for Industry/Plaisance – Sparendaam/Plaisance bridge link to be rehabilitated – Vryheid’s Lust/Plaisance Community Ground to be revamped

bridge is a genuine commitment to the residents of Plaisance/Sparendaam. He reiterated that the government is concerned about the quality of life of its citizenry. Minister Bulkan spoke of his ministry’s increased support to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). He explained that the Local Government system was so badly damaged and degraded that there was no effective system of governance at the community level.

“Our communities themselves had been overcome

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

Director General, Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon listens to the concerns of residents

RESIDENTS of the Industry/Plaisance Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) will benefit from a new community ground and a new bridge that links the Sparendaam Scheme to Plaisance.

The bridge is a major thoroughfare in the community, and several residents have indicated that it has never been repaired.

At the community meeting held at the St Paul’s Primary School, Plaisance on

Sunday, scores of residents turned out to engage with Minister of Communities, Hon. Ronald Bulkan and Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon.

“Once it is within the resources available to us, at every level, at the RDC, at the NDC, at Central Government, we will bring the power of the state to these communities to ensure that the quality of life of our citizens is improved and made

better,” DG Harmon explained. The Director-General said that funds will be made available and the projects will be part of the government’s Rapid Impacts Projects. “You don’t have to wait until next year in the [2020] budget to get that bridge fixed, we are going to find the resources and fix that bridge this year,” he added.

The Director-General also assured the residents that the rehabilitation of the

Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon interacting with residents during the outreach in Plaisance

with numerous problems.

So, the next step for this administration was to provide meaningful support to be able to help restore capacity within [these communities],” Minister Bulkan remarked.

Both officials underscored the importance of being registered. Almost every villager, young and old, indicated their interest in being part of the Houseto-House Registration exercise. The community

meeting and walkabout were part of an ongoing series of outreaches, and community engagements to meet citizens to better understand what affects them so as find resolutions. (DPI)

Gov’t to establish special unit to deal with Amerindian Land Titling VICE PRESIDENT and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, has said that his ministry is in the process of establishing a permanent unit to deal directly with the Amerindian Land Titling Project (ALT), in an effort to accelerate its work plan.

The project, which began in 2013 and should have been completed in three years, has been granted an extension to December 2021, as such a review of the budget is being undertaken and there are plans to expand the staff.

Speaking Sunday afternoon on the National Communications Network (NCN) programme `IN-

SIGHT” on Voice of Guyana, Minister Allicock explained that under the initial time span granted for the project, it was expected that over 60 villages would have been titled and demarcated.

Describing the project as an “ambitious” one, the minister said the exercise proved to be tedious and time consuming, and at the end of the period, several communities had not even had their issue addressed. Others also reneged on earlier decisions, at the last minute, just at the point of approval.

But the minister expressed confidence that with the new approach, the project will be completed, even as he called on the village leaders

and residents to not only complain but also assist by coming up with ideas.

The minister spoke too of other challenges including the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), which allows for the respective communities to be fully involved in the process, and must be adhered when demarking lands in indigenous communities.

In 2013, when the ALT project was signed by the previous government, it was to have been undertaken with $2.2B budget, but in 2017 the project was extended and a further $165M was set aside to aid the completion.

According to the minister, as

the ministry seeks to ensure that there is development within each community, it has recognised that there needs to be more unity within the communities, before much serious development can take place.

Nevertheless, there have been some achievements, the first being the creating of a National Toshaos Council (NTC) which represents the 10 administrative regions in Guyana, with 215 villages and communities and nine indigenous groups with some 100, 000 people, and the hosting of its first conference Meanwhile, a 10-point plan that was given in August 2015 by President David Granger is being

followed and communities are now coming together to understand the bigger picture, even as the minister urged that residents develop their Village Improvement Plan (VIP) that is a key aspect.

Leaders have to begin to step up their game and take responsibility for their actions, make suggestions and come up with solutions, he reiterated.

According to Minister Allicock, upon coming into government, a foundation was laid with the main focus being having a green economy leading into a good life.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

106 Indigenous youths participate in exchange programme

The Department of Social Cohesion on Monday marked International Youth Day 2019 with the extension of the Inter-village Social Cohesion Exchange Programme.

Young people representing 15 Indigenous communities congregated at Kato Secondary School for the launch of the first programme of its kind in Region 8, and the third such nationally. In an invited comment some of the participants shared their expectations of the exercise. Marisa Albert, one of the young participants from

Chenapau said, “I would like return and do new things for my village because …. I would like to encourage others to get involved in some of these things that I would have learnt and improve themselves.”

Like Marisa, Doris Francisco from Kurukabaru plans to “learn new things so when I return home, I can share it with my people.” Kato resident, Kemal Robinson said among the things he hopes to take away from the exchange program are “… discipline, cooperation and how to interact with other young people.”

Coordinator(ag) within the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Social Cohesion, Natasha Singh-Lewis Minister of State, Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams,

(ag) Singh-Lewis explained.

The Department of Social Cohesion will seek to achieve this goal through various teachings, particularly understanding conflict-resolution.

“Our differences can only

Minister of State, Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams being greeted by one of the participants of the exchange programme

Some of the youths, from 15 Indigenous communities, who gathered in Kato for the 8-day Inter-Village Social Cohesion Exchange Programme

in her feature address, urged the 106 youth participants to play their role in Guyana’s development. “I want to encourage you to make the full use of the eight days here; intermingling with each other, sharing ideas, sharing your dreams, sharing your visions and you will be an active participant in developing North Pakaraima, Potaro-Siparuni Region and your country as a whole,” said Minister Hastings-Williams.

Spearheading the programme was Coordinator(ag) within the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Social Cohesion, Natasha Singh-Lewis. According to the acting coordinator, the youth will learn to appreciate the differences that exist between their cultures.

“We want to ensure that all of you understand that we are different, but that is not a bad thing. We must work out differences. We must aim to work together,” Coordinator

mean one thing. It is our strength,” the Coordinator (ag) reiterated.

While the programme has much in store for the indigenous youth, the Department of Social Cohesion has expectations towards the near future. “Coming out of this training, it is not just a oneoff training. You will have to develop projects that will indicate development for your communities. That project will help you to demonstrate what you have learned here,” Singh-Lewis noted.

The Coalition Government has invested approximately $19M in the exchange programme being hosted in Kato, Region 8.

This exercise seeks to provide Indigenous youth with the skills needed to advance their communities.

Members of the Regional Democratic Council along with Kato’s Toshao were also present and gave brief remarks.

Thieves target West Berbice variety store THIEVES broke into a De Edward Village store over the weekend and carted off a quantity of items, including a security camera, footage from which may have led investigators to the perpetrators of the crime.

Fashion World Variety Store, located at D' Edward Village, West Bank Berbice, a short distance from the Berbice River Bridge, is believed to have been broken into between 19:00 hrs on Sunday and 08:30 hrs on Monday.

Proprietor, 28-year-old Narine Chaganlall, better known as Gavin, who lives at Rosignol, said that before leaving for home, he’d secured the store, which is housed in a two-storied build-

ing, in a fenced yard.

But as soon as he returned the next working day, he immediately knew that something was amiss, and after making a quick inventory found that amongst items missing was a GL Audio car amplifier; a Sony 110V amplifier; two Dewalt grinders and a Dewalt saw; a tool kit filled with tools; a Milwaukee drill; a quantity of cosmetics; and about twelve Stand fans, all valued in excess of $500,000.

The digital video recorder for the security cameras inside the building was also stolen.

The matter has been reported to the police, and an investigation has since been launched.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

17

Minister Cummings in ECD walkabout …hears concerns about roads, security MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Dr Karen Cummings, along with a few members of the Region Four Regional Democratic Council, on Monday, participated in a walkabout in the villages of Belfield and Nooten-Zuil on the East Coast of Demerara.

Dr Cummings was joined

by Chairperson of the Grove/ Haslington NDC, Maureen Philadelphia and other representatives: Ulita Moore and Michael Spencer.

The team visited several residents in the areas both young and old, lending a listening ear to their concerns and encouraged them to be registered in the current houseto-house registration exercise.

Minster Cummings also encouraged youths awaiting Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results to pursue job opportunities in the oil sector and further their education at tertiary institutions.

The principal concern of the residents during the walkabout was deplorable conditions of some internal roads in their villages. At Nooten-Zuil, an agriculture-based community, several farmers expressed concerns about the conditions of the road used for transporta-

A resident of Nooten-Zuil requested a hug from Minister Cummings

tion.Heavy machinery such as combine harvesters and tractors use the same road to access the rice fields, thus damaging the roads further. A few younger residents expressed concerns of security in the areas, with several detailing complaints of residents being robbed in the wee hours of the morning while returning home from work. A brave young man who goes

by the name Nazim began a watch group along with a few residents in the area, but this initiative did not last very long.

In the walkabout the minister and her team were able to devise several strategies to help with this problem, suggesting that the villages can join forces with the neighbouring village’s (Victoria’s) policing group.

Many also expressed displea-

sure with the overgrown bushes along the roads and trenches in the areas. The minster collected several names and numbers of residents in the area to further discuss and find resolutions to the issues that were brought to light in the walkabout.

Minister Cummings also urged the residents in Nooten-Zuil and Belfield areas to not depend entirely on the re-

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Karen Cummings, engages a resident of Belfield

gional democratic council to clean the areas. The residents she said should also take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean. However, she hopes to commence

a cleaning campaign with the RDC and the residents of Belfield and Nooten-Zuil.

This she hopes will promote safer and healthy living environments.

Burn the fat, avoid sugary, fatty foods …Health Ministry underscores critical nature of diet, exercise

By Naomi Marshall

THE consumption of sugary and fatty foods is increasing amongst Guyanese, and it may be inferred that persons are not engaged in adequate physical activities.

This sentiment was shared

by Guyana’s Food Policy Director, Ministry of Public Health, Dinte Conway, during an interview with Guyana Chronicle.

According to Conway, sugary and fatty food consumption is a huge problem in Guyana, contributing to the country’s high rate of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which are connected to several risk factors including unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.

A country profile carried out by the World Health Organization, stated that in 2016 Guyana had a number of 6600 deaths of which, 68 percent were due to NCDs. According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) website, NCDs, also known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors.

One of the driving forces

Guyana’s Food Policy Director, Ministry of Public Health, Dinte Conway

of NCDs is the globalization of unhealthy lifestyles.

The website stated, “Unhealthy diets and a lack of physical activity may show up in people as raised blood pressure, increased blood glucose, elevated blood lipids and obesity. These are called metabolic risk factors that can lead to cardiovascular disease, the leading NCD in terms of premature deaths.”

Excessive sugar consumption is a key factor in promoting overweight and obesity, tooth decay and diabetes, while

the over consumption of trans fatty acids, has been linked with an increased risk of heart disease, infertility, endometriosis, gallstones, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and some cancers.

Conway stated that in 2002, the Guyana Food Consumption Survey showed the over-consumption of calories in the country, “where we are supposed to be consuming 2500 for a man and 2000 for a woman, we were consuming 2849 and 2738 calories, respectively, and so the calories were coming from too much carbohydrates or starch foods, and too much fatty foods and not the right foods like fruits and vegetables which were being consumed at a lower level than desired.”

In addition, she noted that it is important for Guyanese to read product labels, since enormous amounts of sugars and fats are hidden in a lot of foods.

“You might look at a small packet of something and think that it’s just something small but when you look at the content of the salt, sugar, fat, etc. they are very high; especially the foods that we give our children such as corn curls, chips and cheese stick, juices, etc.,” the Director explained.

Currently, the Ministry of Public Health uses and pro-

motes its ‘Food Based Dietary Guidelines’ which encourages persons to do the following: breast feed exclusively for the first six months, eat different types of food from all the different food groups daily, eat more green and other coloured vegetables daily, eat different kinds of fruits daily, limit the use of sugary foods and sweetened drinks, use more natural seasonings and less salt and salty products, reduce your intake of oily and fatty foods, if you drink alcohol do so in moderation, use at least 30 minutes daily for physical activity.”

The food based dietary guidelines for Guyana were developed in 2002 and revised in 2017 to meet the following population objectives: promote healthy choices with respect to variety, quantity and quality of food and prevent overweight and obesity and reduce the occurrence of non-communicable diseases. The guidelines also attempt to prevent the development of nutritional deficiencies and promote increased levels of physical activity.

According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, consistent exercise helps avoid or manage many health issues and concerns, including: stroke, metabolic syndrome, high blood

pressure, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, many types of cancer, and arthritis.

It can also help improve cognitive function and helps lower the risk of death from all causes.

In an interview with Guyana Chronicle, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Boyle, stated that apart from gyms, the seawalls and the National park that persons would normally utilise to carryout physical activates, there is a lot more that has to be done to encourage the partaking in physical activities.

Boyle said that as Guyana develops, more emphasis needs to be placed on the infrastructural design of cities and housing schemes, which should include spaces and places for people to exercise safely.

“We need to have pavements so that people who are not living near to the seawalls, who do not have cars to drive to the seawalls can run, walk, ride bicycles and exercise in their neighbourhoods and feel safe,” Boyle added.

Meanwhile, Conway is assuring the public that the Ministry of Public Health is not attempting to eliminate the use of sugary and fatty foods but it

is encouraging persons to limit the consumption of such foods.

Conway said that it’s time Guyanese adjust themselves to healthier methods of cooking.

Instead of always deep frying foods for example, she said that persons can bake, roast, grill, boil, steam and stir fry their foods.

She added, “Guyana has a lot of fruits and we can mix the sour one with the sweet ones you don’t have to put sugar, or if you putting sugar, minimal sugar.”

In attempt to help the issue of the over-consumption of sugary and fatty foods, the Ministry of Public health has been conducting outreaches across the country to educate the public on how to live healthier lives.

“We need to be take care of our health as these illnesses put a burden on us, our families and the state. The Ministry of Public Health could give you the healthy tips and advice but at the end of the day you are the one that have to take control of your health,” Conway told this newspaper.

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

D’Urban Backlands squatters remain hopeful …urge swift move to regularisation

By Naomi Marshall RESIDENTS of Durban Backlands, a community of squatters, remain optimistic as they await a decision by government to regularise their community.

The community which has been in existence for over 40 years can be found behind the Chinese Embassy, located on Mandela Avenue. However, for those 40 plus years the community has not been able to tap some services due to its state as a squatter settlement.

Back in March this year the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) commissioned 29 standpipes in the community pending its regularisation. Minister of State Joseph Harmon and GWI’s Managing-Director, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, commissioned the water network system. This now allows the more than 3,000 residents squatting in Durban Backlands, to have access to potable water 24/7 at 29 strategic locations.

GWI managing-director had said that the move to address the issue which spans decades aligns with the theme for World Water Day 2019, that is, “Leaving no one behind.”

As part of government’s mission to bridge the social divide between the coastland and the hinterland, the ‘served’ and the ‘underserved,’ GWI will be commissioning a number of projects throughout communities across the country to improve their access to potable water.

Dr. Van-West Charles told the residents that GWI’s programmes are guided by the United Nations (UN’s) Sustainable Development Goal No. 6, which underscores the importance of providing “clean water to all,” and President David Granger’s quest to eradicate the inequities on the coast or the coast and the hinterland of Guyana. He said in the case of the Durban Backlands Squatting Area, GWI, in deciding on the project, took into consideration the essential nature of the commodity (water), and its importance to good health and proper hygiene.

IT’S OUR HOME During a sit down interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Community Representative, Kyle Solomon, said that although residents have been lacking some services the community is where they call home.

He added, “nevertheless, we have not loss heart, we remain optimistic that they are

going to get to it and we understand sometimes the challenges that these agencies would normally face that would cause them to not act in the speediest of manner.”

Resident of the community for over 30 years, Gorge Byass, stated that the residents are not prepared to move, if regularisation of the community is declined. “If they say we have to move, we aren’t prepared for that cause a lot of people build real foundation here and a lot of people won’t want to move from the community like that,” he added.

However he stated, “If they have to relocate us to somewhere else, then they got to give us an offer but the government aint coming up and tell us nothing about what going on.”

Byass described the community to be one of unity and added that the life there is nice despite the lacking of necessities.

“Life here is nice and we don’t get no problem like people thieving or anything,” he said.

PROGRAMME FOR SCHOOL DROP-OUT In the meantime, Byass is requesting that the government provides programmes for school drop outs in the community, create jobs, and recreational centers for the residents. “Everybody ain’t get like permanent jobs but when the day come, we got work we got to do like emptying containers and that is how we live we life here but we does live real happy,” Byass explained.

However, already government back in June launched a comprehensive Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Empowerment Programme aimed at helping to prevent sexual abuse and empowering at risk teenagers in the D’urban Backlands area. The programme is hosted by the Ministry of Social Protection’s Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) in collaboration with the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA). It began in May and will be concluded in July.

Probation Officer at CCPA, Sharon Henry, had explained that the objectives of the programme are to help teenagers realise their self-worth, make positive choices and decisions, protect themselves, and delay sexual activities and associated consequences. “So during the sessions we’re helping these children to understand themselves, help them to build

Kenisha Logan, resident of the Durban Backlands community for 12 years

Resident of the community for over 30 years, Gorge Byass

Community Representative, Kyle Solomon

self-esteem, teach them about HIV and how to eliminate teenage pregnancy, not only with girls but boys who contribute to it and teach them to wait on the right time to have sex”, Henry related.

The Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Empowerment Programme was implemented following a community exercise in the D’urban Backlands area in conjunction with the Ministries of Public Health and Social Protection held in April, which recognized that the empowerment of teenagers – particularly the female ones who are seen as prey by male adults – is crucial.

The programme targets thirty teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 years old in D’urban Backlands. The sessions are facilitated by the Programme Officer responsible for Comprehensive Sexuality Education at GRPA, Chelsie France.

The Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Empowerment Programme was piloted in 2016, officially launched in 2017 and continued in 2018; it is set to be conducted across the Regions. To date it has reached teens in Regions One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight and Ten. The programme is aimed at disseminating adequate information to teens/adolescents and provide support for them to make informed decisions about getting involved in sexual activity that can result in unwanted pregnancies and STDs. It is implemented in collaboration with key stakeholders and Non- Governmental Organisations partners including the Guyana Police Force, Blossom Incorporated, ChildLink and Youth Challenge Guyana.

Meanwhile, commenting on the stand pipes Byass in-

dicated that the community is grateful for the standpipes and calls it “one foot forward,” however he stated that persons are more awaiting the land to be approved.

Carmalita Collins, resident of the community for 15 years, said that the community is striving to cooperate and live as one until things could be better. “We just trying to live and live the right way. You just have to hustle and save in the meantime so by time things show up on you, you already know what you heading for,” she said.

Kenisha Logan has been a resident of the community for 12 years and stated that living without the basic services has been tough for her and her family. She added, “We glad if the ministry could do something because is long we waiting

(File photo) Young residents take a drink at one of 29 stand pipes that were commissioned by the Guyana Water Incorporated at Durban Backlands Squatting Area

and we want everything regularise.”

Currently in Guyana, there are over 216 squatting areas, of which many are currently in varying stages of being upgraded towards the attainment of housing scheme status.

One hundred and fifty-four of these have been brought under the regularisation programme and are being transformed into standardised housing areas.

However, the remaining areas are either road reserves, sea defence reserves, other drainage reserves such as the banks of canals and are categorized as zero tolerance areas, in that, they cannot be regularised.

Carmalita Collins, resident of the community for 15 years (Delano Williams photos)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 13, 2019

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

23

RACING TIPS American Racing Tips Finger Lakes Race 1 Paddy All Day Race 2 She Loves It Race 3 Rollo Lothbrok Race 4 Sounds Good Race 5 Honorable Profit Race 6 My Man Mo Race 7 Thefinalcrazydude Race 8 Invaluable Will Canadian Racing Tips Fort Erie Race 1 Cakeism Race 2 Princess Moro Race 3 Fleck South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:20 hrs Day Trip 08:55 hrs Miss D’Aray 09:35 hrs Dark Crystal 10:10 hrs Brave Tiger 10:50 hrs Kenny Trix 11:25 hrs Lasata English Racing Tips Nottingham 09:00 hrs Leapers Wood 09:30 hrs Cloud Drift 10:00 hrs Olympic Odyssey 10:30 hrs Kyllang Rock 11:00 hrs Af Andem 11:30 hrs Ugo Gregory 12:00 hrs Deinonychus Ffos Las 09:15 hrs Sincerity 09:45 hrs Ventura Bounty 10:15 hrs Royal Council 10:45 hrs It’s How We Roll 11:15 hrs Monica Sheriff 11:45 hrs Goscote 12:15 hrs Greely

Police athletes dominant at 10th Jefford Track and Field Classic ATHLETES attached to the Guyana Police Force Track Club dominated the 10th hosting of the Jefford Track and Field Classic in Linden on Sunday, winning most of the marquee events.

The Jefford Classic, hosted at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground over the last decade, has blossomed to become the country’s premier grass track event.

Unlike the previous years when the lucrative cash prizes went to the clubs, the organisers for the 10th anniversary decided to ensure that the athletes are directly compensated.

Cassie Small won the 100m (12.02s), 200m and 400m (one minute, 03.7s), while Natasha Alder also came up big, winning the women’s Shot Put (12.55m) as well as the women’s Discuss event (37.92m).

In the Shot Put, Aneesa

DeAbreu (12.20m) was second, while Saphina Vanderstoop (10.80m) came third.

Vanderstoop (33.90m) was second to Alder in the discus event, while DeAbreu (32.43m) took the bronze.

Meanwhile, Davin Fraser clocked 10.37s to win the men’s 100m ahead of Noelex Holder (10.62s) and Owen Adonis (10.8s).

In the women’s 800m, Javina Sampson ran two minutes, 28 seconds to beat Kezra Murray (2:30.01) and Aliyah Moore (2:33.5). And in the 400m, Sampson (1:04.0s) was second to Small, while Moore (1:07.0s) was third.

Winston Dummett won the men’s 400m, running 52.1s. Samuel Lynch (52.9s) and Daniel Melville (53.1s) were second and third respectively.

The men’s 1500 metres saw Anfernee Headecker putting on a show when he ran

four minutes, 23.6s to edge Linden’s and fellow Police Track Club athlete Winston Messenger (4:26.7s) and Royston Fordyce (4:27.4s).

Anthony Williams leaped a distance of 6.83m to win the male long jump ahead of Damon Williams (6.72m) and Tremaine Brown (6.63m).

Tasnica Lovell (5.32m) defeated Shaundel Browne (4.88m) and Leoni Adams (4.69m) to win the female long jump event.

All the athletes received their cash prizes at the presentation ceremony, along with their respective medals.

The Guyana Police Force won both the male and female 4X100m and 4X400m relays.

Edison Jefford said he was pleased with the athletes’ performance at the event.

Biles soars to sixth title at US Gymnastics Championships

(REUTERS) - American Simone Biles reasserted her position as the world’s unrivaled number one gymnast with an amazing winning performance at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Mo., on Sunday.

Biles became the first woman in nearly 70 years to capture six U.S. senior women’s all-around gymnastics titles – matching Clara Schroth Lomady, who won her sixth in 1952.

Biles marked the occasion by becoming the first woman to attempt and land a triple-twisting, double back maneuver during her floor routine.

Bile was, however, not quite content even with that unprecedented move.

“It was a lot better. It wasn’t as good as in some of the trainings,” Biles told reporters.

“I’m just happy that I landed it because I feel like after night one my confidence got shot down. So I was really worried about it going into today,

that’s all I could worry about.

So I was really happy.”

Four-times Olympic gold medalist Biles, who will head to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the prohibitive favourite, finished with a total score of 118.500 to beat Sunisa Lee (113.550) and Grace McCallum (111.850).

“I feel like each (title) gets better and better,” she said.

“Because it’s like the fifth and, then, the sixth, so it just keeps getting more exciting.”

Officials looking to include cricket in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics - MCC (REUTERS) - Cricket could be included in the Olympics in the future with the 2028 Games in Los Angeles being the earliest it can be staged, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) said on Monday.

The MCC, custodian of the sport’s laws, had its World Cricket Committee (WCC) discuss the inclusion of cricket in multi-sports events at Lord’s on Sunday and Monday.

Last played in 1900, the sport’s Olympic return has been on the agenda of the International Cricket Council (ICC) but India’s powerful board (BCCI) was not keen on the idea, fearing it might lose its autonomy and be answerable to the country’s Olympic committee.

“There is still much to be done if cricket is to be included in the Olympics, with Los Angeles 2028 the earliest likely opportunity, and the ICC continuing to work internally to align cricket to pursue the sport’s Olympic ambitions,” the WCC said in a statement.

However, the BCCI is finally set to come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping Agency, with its compliance paving the way for their cricket teams to take part in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

In June, women’s Twenty20 cricket moved a step closer to featuring in the 2022 Commonwealth Games after being nominated by organisers for its potential inclusion in

Birmingham.

Cricket has not featured in the Commonwealth Games since its maiden appearance in 1998 when the South African men’s team won the gold medal in Kuala Lumpur.

“The WCC is pleased to see that Women’s T20 Cricket is likely to be included at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, having supported this in their last meeting in March,” it added.

“Cricket is also due to return to the Asian Games at Hangzhou 2022, likely again to be in T20 format. Including cricket at Hangzhou 2022 is the perfect opportunity to showcase the sport to the market in China.”

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

'I've never been better', says Archer ahead of Ashes debut

LONDON (Reuters) - England fast bowler Jofra Archer says he has fully recovered from a side strain and is raring to go as he looks poised to make his test debut in the second Ashes test against Australia at Lord’s on Wednesday.

Archer, who missed the first test after picking up his injury during England’s

World Cup triumph last month, proved his fitness when he took six wickets and scored a century for county side Sussex’s second XI last week.

The 24-year-old was included in England’s 12 in the absence of record wicket taker James Anderson, who bowled only four overs in the first test at Edgbaston before

Jofra Archer is expected to take the place of injured James Anderson for the second Test at Lord's

injuring his calf again.

“I’m probably more ready than I have ever been. I bowled 50 overs in one game for Sussex which I think was past the overs they told me to bowl, it was good practice,” Archer told reporters. “(My fitness) has never been better. (The side strain) just needed to settle and we couldn’t get that gap in the World Cup. After that, it settled in a matter of days.

“Don’t expect any miracles, I can only come in and do what I can and give my best. I can’t work miracles but I will try to.”

Australia coach Justin Langer had said the key to dealing with Archer, England’s leading wicket-taker at the World Cup with 20 victims, was to “keep wearing him down” and make him

bowl more spells.

“I think Justin Langer has another think coming,” Barbados-born Archer added. “I’ve played a lot more red-ball cricket than I have white-ball cricket.

“I do think it’s my preferred format anyway. I personally believe in test cricket you get a lot more opportunities to redeem yourself.

“If it’s 50 overs, when you don’t have a good 10-overs, that’s it. You have ample chances do it in redball games. Test cricket is pretty much the same as first-class — know what your strengths are and stick to them.”

Australia led the Ashes 1-0 after their 251-run win at Edgbaston.

India U-19s clinch tri-nation tournament INDIA cruised home in the final of the tri-nation Under-19s tournament in Hove, with eight balls to spare, a win set up by their top order comprising Yashasvi Jaiswal, Divyaansh Saxena, and Priyam Garg, who all struck fifties chasing 262.

Openers Jaiswal and Saxena made 50 and 55 respectively, stitching together a 104-run stand in 22 overs that laid the platform for captain Garg to capitalise on with a 66-ball 73.

(Scores: india Under-19s 264 for 4 (Garg 73, Jurel 59*, Saxena 55, Jaiswal 50, Rakibul 2-55) beat Bangladesh Under-19s 261 (Joy 109, Emon 60, Mishra 2-33, Tyagi 2-49) by six wickets After the opening pair fell within three overs of each other - both to left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan - and No. 4 batsman Pragnesh Durgesh Kanpillewar departed for 2, Garg took charge of the chase, hitting four fours and two sixes en route to his second successive half-century.

Garg top scored for his side and was ably assisted by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who chipped in with a 73-ball 59 not-out, adding 109 runs for the fourth wicket with his captain. Garg departed with India U-19s only 27 shy of victory, leaving Jurel to shepherd their side to the target in the company of Tilak Varma, who sealed the chase with a four.

Bangladesh Under-19s put up 261 after opting to bat, the bulk of the run-scoring done by first-drop batsman Mahmudul Hasan Joy and opener Parvez Hossain Emon. Emon was

Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a crucial half-century in the Under-19 tri-series final Getty Images

involved in two fifty stands to take his side past 120, before falling to left-arm pacer Sushant Mishra for a 64-ball 60 in the 23rd over.

Mishra also took out Towhid Hridoy - for a duck - in the same over and not long after Bangladesh U-19s lost another pair in quick succession as Shahadat Hossain and captain Akbar Ali departed for single-digit scores in the 32nd and 33rd overs respectively.

Much of the repair job thereafter was shouldered by Joy who made 109 off 134 balls - studded with nine fours and a six - before falling off the final delivery of the innings.

Shamim Hossain's 32 at No. 7 was the only other noteworthy contribution from the Bangladesh U-19s line-up, while Mishra and right-arm pacer Kartik Tyagi's figures stood out among the India attack, both taking two wickets apiece. (ESPN Cricinfo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

25

Joshua promoter defends Saudi fight as game changer for boxing LONDON (Reuters) - Anthony Joshua’s promoter has defended a decision to stage the Briton’s heavyweight title rematch with Mexican-American world champion Andy Ruiz Jr. in Saudi Arabia and said it could change boxing forever.

Eddie Hearn told a news conference on Monday that Joshua and his opponent had signed up for the Dec. 7 fight to be hosted in an open-air stadium in Ad Diriyha, near the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The choice of venue has been criticised in some quarters, with Saudi Arabia coming under heightened international criticism over its human rights record.

Madison Square Garden, New York, United States Anthony Joshua is given the count Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo

Previously unbeaten Joshua lost his IBF, WBA and WBO titles to Ruiz at

Matthew Briggs heads to Denmark with HB Køge

Matthew Briggs donning the uniform of his new club HB Køge.

GUYANA’s Matthew Briggs is anxious to get into action with his new club HB Køge, after recently inking a deal with the side that competes in the Danish 1st Division.

“For me, this is the start of me getting back to the level I belong at and I felt that I needed a fresh start away from England and club HB Køge gave me the opportunity to do so and I can’t wait to get started,” Briggs told Chronicle Sport yesterday from his base in Copenhagen.

The 28-year-old is capped four times for the Golden Jaguars and was part of Michael Johnson’s selection for the country’s historic showing at the CONCACAF Gold Cup this year.

Per Rud, HB Køge Di-

rector, described Briggs as a “strong defender who has top level experience in England.”

“He is an interesting player who can help sharpen competition in central defense. Briggs has played both Premier League and Europa League, but has played in some of the slightly lower ranks in recent years. However, he has some qualities and skills that we believe we can benefit from,” Rud stated.

Briggs, once the youngest player to ever suit up for an English Premier League club (Fulham), also played at Peterborough United F.C, Bristol City, Watford, Millwall, Colchester United, Chesterfield FC, Barnet, Maldon & Tiptree, and Coggeshall Tow.

New York’s Madison Square Garden on June 1, with a rematch in the contract.

“We had approaches from Saudi Arabia, from Dubai, from Qatar, from Abu Dhabi,” said Hearn of the rematch. “And there’s been numerous conversations in the past about staging events in that region.

“We have to realise that there is another world out there outside of Cardiff and Madison Square Garden, and we have an obligation to grow the sport of boxing to new areas and regions,” he added.

“This event could change boxing forever. If Saudi Arabia are going to invest in these kind of fights, with the population that they have and the potential to grow the sport, you could be seeing a

Kohli goes past Ganguly in ODI run-scoring charts VIRAT Kohli scored his 42nd ODI century in Portof-Spain on Sunday against West Indies. Here are some of the milestones he passed on his way there.

8 - Number of centuries against West Indies in ODIs. Only Sachin Tendulkar has more hundreds against a single opposition, which is nine against Australia. Kohli has eight tons against two other teams - Australia and Sri Lanka. Tendulkar also has eight hundreds against Sri Lanka. No other batsman hs more than seven centuries against a single opposition.

34 - Innings taken by Kohli to complete 2000 ODI runs against West Indies, which is the least by any batsman against a single opposition. The previous record was 37 innings by Rohit Sharma against Australia. Kohli is the first batsman to score 2000 runs against West Indies. The previous record was 1930 by Javed Miandad, whom Kohli

passed in this innings.

72.57 - Kohli's average against West Indies, the best among all batsmen with 1500-plus runs against a single opposition. He has five hundreds in his last eight innings against West Indies.

8 - Kohli is now the eighth highest run-getter in ODIs. He went past Sourav Ganguly's tally of 11,363 runs in this innings to take eighth position. Now only Tendulkar sits above him among Indian batsmen on the list.

11 - Number of innings without a century by Kohli in ODIs before this knock.

He played nine innings in the World Cup in England and Wales without getting to the three-figure mark.

The last time he went more innings in a row without a century was 13 in 2015, which had also spanned the World Cup. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Virat Kohli completed 2000 runs against West Indies in just 34 innings

big change in the dynamics of the sport.”

Amnesty International UK’s head of campaigns Felix Jakens said the fight was “likely to be yet another opportunity for the Saudi authorities to try to ‘sportswash’ their severely tarnished image”.

“As with other sporting stars going to Saudi Arabia, we’d call on Joshua to inform himself of the human rights situation and be prepared to speak out,” he added.

Hearn cited a list of international sporting events hosted by Saudi Arabia in recent years, including the all-electric Formula E motor racing series, European Tour golf, the Italian Super Cup,

boxing and WWE wrestling.

The country recently announced it will host in 2020 the world’s richest horse race, with a purse of $20 million.

“This is such a huge occasion for boxing, an iconic moment,” said Hearn. “With the response that we’ve seen, mainly good and some negative, I guarantee you with curiosity the whole world will be watching this fight.”

The BBC reported Saudi backers were paying a $40 million site fee.

Australia spearhead Cummins wants to play all five Ashes Tests LONDON, (Reuters) Australia paceman Pat Cummins wants to play all five matches in the Ashes series and is looking forward to rejoining the fray in his first Test at Lord's on Wednesday. The 26-year-old took four for 32 in England's second innings at Edgbaston as Australia romped to a 251-run victory in the first Test -- his maiden away outing in cricket's oldest international rivalry.

With Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc chomping at the bit after missing out on the opener, Australia are not short on pace-bowling options but Cummins is keen to retain the spearhead role.

"Personally, I'll be hoping to play every game, and if I'm fully fit and bowling well I expect to, but it's good we've got plenty of bowlers here," Cummins told reporters in London.

"I came in pretty fresh for (the first) Test match and luckily we had a big break, so I knew that was the carrot at the end of the game that we were going to get 10 days off, so it was pretty easy to tear in that last day.

"I feel really good, I haven't really done much in the last few days and just built up nicely. I feel 100 percent."

Cummins has received conflicting advice about which end is best to bowl from at Lord's, which famously has a slight slope, but said he had

Australia’s top-ranked pace bowler Pat Cummins

not noticed much difference when he played at the famous old ground in one-dayers.

The top-ranked Test bowler in the world at the moment, Cummins will again be hoping to fire down the opening ball in England's first innings.

And worryingly for the hosts, who must win the series to reclaim the Ashes, he is sure he can do better than the 3-84 he managed in England's first innings in Birmingham two weeks ago.

"I felt like with each spell I got a little bit better and better," he added.

"I haven't played a lot of red ball coming into the first day's play, and I think just trying to find that tempo of Test cricket, it's slightly different to white ball.

"I think mixed into that the excitement and the nerves of first spell in Ashes over here. I was pretty pumped up ...

"Definitely by the end of the game I felt a lot better than that first spell."

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

Kako and Kamarang win football titles in Upper Mazaruni District Games KAKO Cobras and Kamarang Tunnel Tigers were crowned male and female football champions respectively when the Upper Mazaruni District Games concluded on Sunday night in Jawalla Village in Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Both teams needled Paruima Village (male and female teams) 1-0 to lift the 2019 Upper Mazaruni District Cup trophies.

On Saturday night, the home team, Jawalla Village, defeated Kaikan Village (male and female teams) to win both third place trophies.

Kako Cobras were crowned male football champions.

The females won 2-0 and the males 1-0.

Fifteen villages took part

in the football competition this year, including Jawalla, Waramadong, Chinowe-

The Kamarang Tunnel Tigers won the 2019 Upper Mazaruni District Cup.

ing and Abou in Group A; Sanjuan, Quebanang, Phillipai and Arau in Group B;

Peru basks in success but problemsahead for Pan Am Games

By Steve Keating LIMA (Reuters) - For two weeks the warmth emitting from the Pan Am Games took the bite out of the winter chill in the Peruvian capital but as they drew to a close on Sunday, some cold, hard questions about the future of the multi-sport showcase hung heavy in the air.

As the closing ceremonies got underway, Peru was already basking in the afterglow of a highly successful endeavour that clunked along at times but in the end delivered the goods for 6,600 athletes from 41 nations.

“You know, we are not perfect,” said Lima 2019 president Carlos Neuhaus during the final news briefing.

“But the Games are here and everyone has competed and everyone has enjoyed it.

“These days have been difficult. But finishing this great effort that not many people thought would be possible, I thank you.”

In short order, the logistical snarl-ups Lima organisers wrestled with will be forgotten, if they have not been already.

What will linger for some time, however, is a super-charged sense of national pride at what was, from a sporting perspective, a spectacular Games for the hosts with a record 11 gold and 39 total medals.

Three gold medals had given Peru their best ever Games four years ago in Toronto but they nearly matched that tally in the opening hours in Lima when Gladys Tejeda and Christian Pacheco swept the marathon titles.

Organisers were helpless to do anything about Lima’s chaotic traffic or cold weather but delivered first class ven-

Kamarang, Kako, Isseneru and Wax Creek in Group C and Paruima, Imbaimadai,

Kaikan and guest side, the District Sports Council 11 in Group D. The teams battled in three rounds before the quarter-finalists were decided.

The 2019 Games, which started on August 4, attracted over 800 participants as the villages also competed in volleyball, cricket, archery, athletics, and table tennis.

The aquatic competition was cancelled due to high water and strong current.

Meanwhile, it was announced last weekend that Kako Village would be the host of the 2020 Games.

New Era Entertainment Futsal Championship

--Fixtures decided for tomorrow’s semi-final showdown

VIII Pan American Games - Lima 2019 - Closing Ceremony- Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru Performers in front of the Pan Am Games flame during the closing ceremony.

REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

ues —including a brand new Olympic sized pool — that will be the legacy of these Games.

“This is like a football game, you don’t lower the guard until the whistle blows,” Neuhaus told Reuters just hours before the start of the closing ceremonies.

“I’m happy seeing the kids, the athletes with the medals and seeing the faces of the people of Lima.

“We have these Games and for us it was a very good result, the best thing of this is the athletes, people will be more interested in more sports.

“The main sports in Peru are football and volleyball then surfing, so now we have opened the opportunity for all the young kids to do other things.”

MARGINALISED COMPETITION Next to host the Games in 2023 is Santiago with the countdown for the Chilean capital starting in earnest on Sunday.

But the body under real pressure is the Panam Sports Organisation (PSO), which needs to find a way to breathe some relevance into an increasingly marginalized competition.

While Peru can claim to have hosted a successful Games, the regional governing body would have a harder time taking any credit.

The United States once again dominated the show with 120 gold, more than double the tally of Brazil in second place, and 293 total medals.

Only three countries — Brazil, Mexico and Canada — won more total medals than the U.S. haul of golds.

Despite the spectacular medal hauls, though, the Pan Am Games were largely ignored in the U.S. and Canada.

The biggest story to come out of the two week competition for the U.S. media were the podium protests by two of their gold medallists.

Fencer Race Imboden took a knee while his national

anthem played and hammer thrower Gwen Berry raised her fist into the air in an attempt to bring attention to social issues back home.

Canadian Press sent one reporter and a photographer to provide on-site coverage, while the country’s national broadcaster live streamed the Games but had no on-air programming.

Coverage by U.S. outlets was equally thin with no major newspapers credentialled and broadcast rights holder ESPN focussing on its Spanish service.

It was not just the media but top athletes who in many cases made the Pan Ams a low priority, leaving many of the sports with a distinct lack of depth.

The PSO conceded that these issues needed to be addressed, but so far have revealed no details of how they plan to generate interest in the lucrative North American markets.

THE remaining four teams in the sixth annual New Era Entertainment (NEE) futsal tournament will clash tomorrow night at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) hard court which will stage the semi-finals of the tournament that will see over $2million in cash and prizes being doled out.

The remaining four teams are already assured of at least $50,000 which will go to the fourth place finishers of the tournament but everyone will have their eyes on the $600,000 first place prize.

Tomorrow’s fixtures will see Hard Knocks clashing with Dave & Celina’s All Stars in the first semi-final at 20:00hrs while High Rollers will match skills with NK Ballers for a place in the final. Following the first semifinal, an exhibition match between the Police Force and the Fire Service is scheduled before the feature clash.

The quarterfinal round of the event concluded on Saturday last at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) hard court with some exciting but not so surprising victories.

Following their road to the semifinal, Dave & Celina All Stars were the first to qualify on Saturday last after edging Germans United 2-1, courtesy of goals off the heels of Benjamin Opasu and Solomon Austin.

Hard Knocks looked like the team to beat after a convincing 8-4 trampling of Royal Warriors in the quarter-final fixture.

Daniel Wilson will be looking to continue his form for Hard Knocks when they clash with Dave & Celina’s All-stars tomorrow night in the opening match.

Hard Knocks were spearheaded by Daniel Wilson and Pernell Schultz who banged home four and three goals, respectively, while Colin Nelson added the eighth.

High Rollers slipped into the final four after scraping past LA Ballers by a solitary goal during their 11goal thriller. Omar Brewley netted a hat-trick for the semi-finalists while Johan Simmons, John Regis and Shane Haynes all contributed with one goal each during the victory.

Donovan Francis netted a hat-trick to lead NK Ballers to the final semifinal spot after they got past West Side Connection 6-4.

The curtains will fall on the event on this Saturday followed by an after party. The winning team will pocket $600,000; second place $250,000 and teams finishing third and fourth will take home $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 13, 2019

27

Lady Jags coach optimistic of good performance in Curacao WITH Guyana set to participate in the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship first-round Qualifiers in Curacao from August 17 – 25, Head Coach Akilah Castello said her side’s eightweek preparation saw improvement from the Lady Jags, and that all systems are in place for the side’s showing in the Dutch territory.

Castello said the 20-man squad will comprise eight international-based players and 12 from the Guyana-based squad in training four days a week at the GFF’s National Training Centre. With an optimistic mind, Castello said she’s “expecting positive results from this group along with our international-based players who’ve been preparing as well for this U-17 girls’ competition.”

“We have some good talent in the likes of Jalade Trim, Shamya Daniels and Samantha Benfield, who played in the last

U-15 championship, and Jenea Knight who also played both in the U-15 and U-20 levels who, we believe, will seek to make valuable contributions at this level,” the Lady Jags coach stated.

Guyana has been placed in Group D along with the Bahamas, Curacao and St. Vincent and The Grenadines.

Guyana will open against Curacao on August 21, followed by a clash against St Vincent and the Grenadines on August 23, and will face the Bahamas in their final Group D match on August 25.

According to CONCACAF, there will be 32 participating teams. The qualifiers comprise the lowest ranked 16 teams, based on the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Ranking as of July 2018, where the top finisher of each group will advance to the knock-out stage of the championship. Those teams are Anguilla, Antigua & Bar-

Head Coach Akilah Castello

buda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Guyana, Honduras, Martinique, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines and US Virgin Islands).

The remaining 16 teams, consisting of top ranked teams, based on the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Ranking as of July 2018, will participate in the Finals Championship.

Each has been placed in four

The Guyana-based members of the Lady Jags team for the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship first-round Qualifiers in Curacao from August 17 – 25.

groups – E, F, G and H – and will play round-robin following which “the top three finishers in each of the groups will join the winners of Groups A, B, C and D (from the qualifiers) in the round of 16,” according to Concacaf.The 16 teams participating in the group stage

Winnipeg Hawks prevail in super over to lift Global T20 Canada title …Russell’s heroics fail to ignite defending champions

AS if Saturday’s cliff-hanger, which ended off the last ball, wasn’t enough, Sunday’s final of the second edition of Global T20 Canada produced a heart-stopping thriller which saw Winnipeg Hawks dethroning inaugural winners, Vancouver Knights, at the CAA Center, Brampton, Ontario, Canada, in the first super over of the tournament.

The super over became a reality following the histrionics of Andre Russell who bulldozed his way to a boundary-studded unbeaten 46 off 20 balls, clobbering three fours and five sixes as Vancouver Knights ended on 192 for six in pursuit of Winnipeg Hawks’ 192 for eight in their 20 overs.

Russell’s heroics were, however, in vain as the defending champions could only muster nine for two in the super over, with Winnipeg Hawks achieving the required 10 off four deliveries. The dangerous Russel, who, the Windies Cricket Board (WCB) said was using the tournament as part of rehabilitation from a knee surgery, entered the fray with Vancouver Knights needing 54 from 19 balls, and he did not disappoint the bumper sold-out crowd which, like last year, was the biggest of the three-week festival. By the start of the last over, bowled by Pakistani medium-pacer Kaleem Sana, the deficit had been reduced to 17 with Russell at the non-striker’s end at the commencement of the over. With last year’s man-

of-the-match, Saad Bin Zafar, completing a single off the first delivery, Russell smashed the second delivery straight over the bowler’s head for a six.

This brought the equation to 10 from four.

Sana’s next ball was adjudged a no-ball and Russel obliged by smashing the free hit over the boundary, as it became three from three. With the next delivery being a maiden ball, it was three from two.

In a mad rush for three off the final delivery, Saad Bin Zafar (27) failed to beat the cover fielder as himself and Russell only completed two as the spectators were left in awe.

Earlier, Winnipeg Hawks were given a rollicking start of 73 in six overs by man-ofthe-match, Shaiman Anwar, and Chris Lynn (37) with the former going on to hit a brilliant 90 before departing in the 16th over; his knock laced with eight fours and seven towering sixes.

The consistent Lynn stroked four fours and three sixes while JP Duminy contributed a useful 33 off 27 balls with one four and two sixes.

Russell, who was used sparingly as a bowler during the tournament, picked up four for 29 from his four overs.

Vancouver Knights started disastrously, losing the wickets of Chadwick Walton (01), Tobias Visee (0), Daniel Sams (21) and Russie van der Dussen (23) and were 53 for four in the eighth over before Pakistani Shoaib Malik (64) and Saad Bin Zafar featured

Dwayne Smith and some members of Winnipeg Hawks celebrate winning the Global T20 Canada.

Andre Russel in action in Sunday’s final.

in a face-saving fifth-wicket partnership of 86 in 10.1 overs with Malik dominating the stand. Malik’s dismissal in the 17th over, after striking six fours and three sixes off 36 balls, seemed a telling blow for Vancouver Knights until Russell arrived and transformed the game but, as faith would have it, his effort was all in

vain.

Skipper Rayad Emrit, who also suffered at the hands of Russell, finished with two for 37 while Paul Van Meekeren took two for 40.

On Saturday, Winnipeg Hawks were powered to victory off the last delivery of the innings with Anwar once more among the runs with 52 off 23 balls , hitting six fours and three sixes after sharing another enterprising opening stand of 76 in 6.1 overs with Lynn whose 35 (three fours and three sixes) came off 20 balls. Duminy spanked a quick-fire undefeated 50 off 34 balls with three fours and three sixes to ensure victory towards the end.

Opponents Brampton Wolves had earlier reached exactly 200 for seven with several of their batsmen getting into the thirties but none going beyond. Emrit claimed three for 43 and Sana two for 25.

of the Final Championship are Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States.

The knockout stage of

the competition; round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final - will be played in its entirety in a single match elimination format, with the finalists and third -lace finisher automatically qualifying for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2020.

More fight needed from Windies middle order, laments Reifer PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – West Indies head coach Floyd Reifer has urged the middle order take more responsibility following yet another batting collapse which led to the home side’s 59-run defeat to India in the second One-Day International here Sunday. The Windies were 148 for three in the 28th over in pursuit of a revised target of 270 off 46 overs but lost their last seven wickets for 62 runs to be dismissed for 210 off 42 overs on a good surface at Queen’s Park Oval. Opener Evin Lewis top-scored with 65 while Nicholas Pooran, batting at number five, got 42 but no other batsman passed 20.

“We’ve got to continue to learn from this experience. The guys in the middle order have to show a bit more fight and a bit more grit, more determination to build those long partnerships,” Reifer said.

“Again, we were in front of the game [but] we just find a way to give away our wickets.

It’s just a matter for us now to learn from our mistakes … and try to dig deeper and work out a way out we’re going to handle the stressful positions that we put ourselves in.”

A pleasing aspect of the batting was the return to form of Lewis, who has struggled of recent. He struck an unbeaten 40 in the rain-abandoned first ODI in Guyana and again looked in good touch with his sixth oneday half-century.

Reifer said behind the scenes the Trinidadian had been working hard to turn around his form.

“He has been doing a lot of work in the nets. In the last couple of days we’ve worked on

his head position, trying to get his head behind the line of the ball [and] hitting the ball more in the ‘V’ instead of falling over the wicket,” Reifer explained.

“That’s something he was [aware] of and he worked on it for the last couple of days and you can see the results. He’s getting consistent with the bat and let’s hope he can go on and make a big hundred for us the next game.”West Indies would have been satisfied at the halfway stage of the contest after limiting the powerful India batting lineup to 279 for seven off their 50 overs.

Capain Virat Kohli stroked 120 – his 42nd ODI hundred – while Shreyas Iyer struck 71, the pair posting 125 for the fourth wicket which proved the bedrock of the innings.

Once they were separated, however, West Indies pegged back the Indians, with seamer Carlos Brathwaite leading the attack with three for 53.

“I thought the bowlers bowled very well to restrict India … I thought it was a very good effort from the bowlers,” Reifer said. “Guys bowled lines and lengths, with variations of pace. I thought Carlos Brathwaite bowled really well, Roston Chase had a very good spell [and] all the other bowlers chipped in. [Sheldon] Cottrell again [was] a champion so I thought the bowling unit did well. “I thought the fielding was up to par as well. We can improve some more on the fielding but it’s an improvement and we’re doing better in that area. So I thought the bowlers bowled very well to keep India under 300.” West Indies take on India in the final ODI here tomorrow..

A section of the jubilant crowd that was on hand at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground to witness the 10th edition of the Jefford Track and Field Classic.

Police athletes

DOMINANT

at 10th Jefford Track and Field Classic SEE STORY ON PAGE 23 ►

Cassie Small easing over the finish line to win the women’s 400M at the Jefford Track and Field Classic

Lady Jags coach optimistic of good performance in Curacao PAGE

27

Head Coach Akilah Castello

Guyana Police Force athlete Davin Fraser breezing his way to win the men’s 100m at the Jefford Track and Field Classic in Linden.

(Delano Williams photos)

Biles soars

to sixth title at US Gymnastics Championships Kansas City, MO, USA; Simone Biles performs during the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

SEE STORY ON PAGE 23 ►

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 13, 2019