Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_08_15_2019

THURSDAY 15th August, 2019

' No.105730

‘HOUSE-TO-HOUSE LEGIT’

– Chief Justice says GECOM registration exercise not unconstitutional …but process must not deregister eligible Guyanese SEE PAGE 07

‘This court can’t fix a date for elections’ …Chief Justice throws out PPP Sept 18 elections date proposal …tells Ram you cannot “cherry pick” parts of the judgment to suit fixed views

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Private sector credit pegged at $238.8B …despite claims of slowing 02 down of economy …credit growth recorded in mining, quarrying, manufacturing

Anna Regina girl tops at CSEC ... Hinterland students make their mark

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Amisha Ramdin, of St. Ignatius Secondary School, wrote 20 subjects, securing 15 Grade One passes and 5 Grade two passes.

SEE STORIES ON PAGES 10&11►

Guyana CSEC top student, Riana Toney secured 19 grade ones

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

Private sector credit pegged at $238.8B …despite claims of slowing down of economy

…credit growth recorded in mining, quarrying, manufacturing Despite it claims of a slowdown in the economy the private sector here has increased its credit by 5.7 percent to a total of $238.8B for the first half of this year, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan said in his Mid-Year report on Wednesday.

The Private Sector Commission and its other surrogates organisations such as Georgetown Chamber of Commerce have been painting a picture of slow spending and a decline in the economy since the Coalition Government took office. Many persons have criticized these organisations for allegedly parroting the positions of the opposition. Minister Jordan said the evidence in the report tells a different story from what the private sector has been saying.

DOMESTIC CREDIT According to the MidYear Report at the end of the first half of 2019, net domestic credit of the banking system grew by 14.1 percent over the same period last year, to $33.4 billion, supported by an expansion in both private and public sector credit. Total credit to the private sector increased by 5.7 percent to $238.8 billion over the review period, faster than the past three years. “This was supported by an expansion in loans and advances to individuals and businesses, except for businesses in the agriculture sector. The decline in this sector, of 2.1 percent, to $13.1 billion resulted mainly from a contraction

in lending for sugarcane and livestock production of 35.4 percent and 19.8 percent, to $0.9 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively,” the Mid-Year report stated.

GROWTH IN CREDIT IN MINING, QUARRYING In contrast, credit to all other sectors recorded growth, the report added noting that credit to the mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and services sectors increased by 6 percent, 0.5 percent, and 7.2 percent, to $5.2 billion, $26.1 billion, and $70.5 billion, respectively. “The increase in the mining and quarry sector was attributed solely to growth in lending to industries outside of the bauxite subsector, whereas the expansion in the manufacturing sector resulted from mixed outturns in the subcategories. There was

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan

a sizeable increase of $1.4 billion and $0.5 billion in the beverages, food and tobacco, and other construction and engineering subcategories, which was partially offset by a notable decline of $1.2 billion and $0.5 billion in lending to the other manufacturing and rice milling industries, respectively. The outturn in lending to the ser-

vices subcategories, on the other hand, was mostly positive, with major contributors such as the “other services”, distribution, entertainment and catering, and education subcategories increasing by $2.2 billion, $1.7 billion, $0.8 billion and $0.7 billion, respectively.”

Additionally, according to the report lending to

Some of the executives of the Private Sector Commission

households recorded robust growth of 13.5 percent, to reach $32 billion; this was stronger than the past two years, and was supported by an increase in loans and advances for all purposes, with the exception of other durable goods and travel.

Moreover, lending for housing, motor cars and other purposes expanded by $1.4 billion, $1.3 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively.

Of the other major categories of credit, which include real estate mortgages, credit instruments and “other credit”, only the former two increased, by 5.7 percent and 2.8 percent, to $84.5 billion and $3.1 billion, respectively. The expansion in real estate mortgages, which surpassed the half-year growth rate in each of the past three years, resulted from an increase in lending of 5 percent and 14.7 percent for private

dwellings, and industrial and commercial properties, respectively.

Further, growth in credit instruments was solely supported by increased lending for credit cards, while the decline in the “other credit” category of 8.5 percent to $4.1 billion, resulted from a contraction of 8.4 percent and 10.7 percent in securities, and shares and other equity, respectively.

Public sector credit (net), increased by 48.7 percent to $66.6 billion, mainly due to an expansion in Central Government credit by 17.1 percent to $115.6 billion.

Conversely, net deposits of the “Other Public Sector,” which includes Local Government and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), contracted by 34.3 percent to $19.3 billion, whilst the net deposits of the Public Enterprises (PEs) increased by 20.8 percent, or $29.7 billion, on account of higher deposits by Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) Limited and Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. at local commercial banks.

Total liquid assets of the commercial banks expanded by 6.2 percent t0 $127.7 billion. Total reserves deposited with the Bank of Guyana were $75.3 billion, 0.7 percent higher than the level at the end of June 2018. The required statutory reserves of the commercial banks were $48.2 billion at the end of June 2019, creating an excess over the minimum requirement of $27.1 billion.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

‘This court can’t fix a date for elections’ …Chief Justice throws out PPP Sept 18 elections date proposal …tells Ram you cannot “cherry pick” parts of the judgment to suit fixed views

By Svetlana Marshall CHIEF Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire, on Wednesday, confirmed what the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) had done and what the government has been saying-- that the court cannot fix a date for elections here-- dealing the opposition another blow in its pursuit to force early elections.

Justice George-Wiltshire also confirmed that the CCJ did not fix a date or timeframe for the conduct of General and Regional Elections as she declined to grant an order compelling the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to hold elections by September 18. “…the CCJ could not and this Court cannot or-

In summing up the case of Christopher Ram vs. the Chief Elections Officer, Commissioner of the National Registration, The Guyana Elections Commission and the Attorney-General, the Chief Justice said Ram, through his Attorney Anil Nandlall, relied on paragraph six (6) of the July 12, 2019 Judgment of the CCJ while the respondents relied on paragraphs six (6) and seven (7) of the same ruling, in support of their arguments.

In those two paragraphs, the CCJ, in delivering the Consequential Orders, said due to the fact that the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) was passed on December 21, 2018, and general elections should have been held by March 21, 2019 unless a two-thirds majority in

recognition that apart from fixing a three-month period for the holding of an election after a successful NCM, Article 106 (7) also includes an important proviso that the National Assembly can extend the period for the holding of such elections,” she told the parties in the matter.

The Chief Justice, in interpreting the judgement (Consequential Orders) of the CCJ, explained that Ar-

ernment, the clear provisions of Article 106 immediately became engaged.”

“In so becoming immediately operationalised, as regards the holding of elections, which is the foundational issue of this application, Article 106 (7) provides that such elections be held within three months of the date of the passage of the NCM or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire

Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall, speaking to reporters outside of the courtroom. His client, Christopher Ram, pays keen attention.

der that elections must be held by a fixed date,” Justice George-Wiltshire said as she delivered her judgement in a courtroom packed with lawyers, concerned Guyanese and journalists – a position that was argued by the Attorney- General, Basil Williams and his team.

The opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), through Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, in a Fixed Date Application (FDA) had asked the High Court to compel the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield to immediately take all steps and actions necessary and requisite to hold General and Regional Elections on or before September 18, 2019, but the Chief Justice issued no such order.

the National Assembly had resolved to extend the period.

However, the country’s final appellate Court also made it clear that Article 106 of the Constitution invests in the President, the National Assembly and, implicitly, GECOM, the responsibilities that impact on the precise timing of elections. The CCJ stated clearly that it was not within its remit to issue coercive orders instructing these constitutional players how to act.

FLAW IN OPPOSITION APPLICATION Chief Justice George-Wiltshire, from the onset of her judgement, identified a “flaw” in the contentions of the applicant.

“Nowhere in the application or the submission is there a

ticle 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution explicitly outline the procedures that ought to follow a successful No-Confidence Motion. She noted that the CCJ, in upholding the Constitution, said elections should have been held

by March 21, 2019 unless a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly had resolved to extend that period. Justice George-Wiltshire said while the CCJ further noted that the court proceedings challenging the validity of the no-confidence vote had effectively placed the matter on pause and the clock had started back ticking on June 18 when it issued its ruling, it was not an indication that elections ought to be held within three months of that ruling.

In support of her ruling, the Chief Justice turned the Court’s attention to paragraph 9 (e) and (f) of the July 12 Consequential Orders, explaining the CCJ’s June 18 decision, immediately operationalised Article 106 of the Constitution. Notably, paragraph 9 (f) of the CCJ clearly explained that “Upon the passage of this motion of no-confidence in the Gov-

resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of vote of all elected members of the National Assembly shall determine. If the court had said that Article 106 immediately becomes engaged then the June 18 date or the July 12 date when the Consequential Orders judgement was made, could have been days from which the effective NCM could have been counted but this language was not used,” Justice George-Wiltshire explained.

The Chief Justice said to do the contrary would be to re-fix the date of the passage of the No-Confidence Motion, as she shut down arguments put by Nandlall that General and Regional Elections must now be held within three months of the CCJ’s June 18 ruling validating the No-Confidence Motion.

“To hold otherwise that Article 106 immediately became engaged would have resulted in the CCJ refixing the date of the NCM and reconfiguring what the Court referred to as clear provisions of Article 106 of the Constitution. The Court could not and this Court cannot refix

the date of the NCM to June 18, 2019 when it was validly passed on December 21, 2018,” the Chief Justice told the parties in the matter.

She maintained that it is not within the jurisdiction of the Court to reconfigure date of the passed No-Confidence Motion. To do so, she added, would be to disregard the Rule of Law and the Constitution for which the Court is bound to uphold.

The Chief Justice was keen on pointing out that the CCJ, in issuing its consequential orders, stated that Article 106 of the Constitution placed in the hands of the President, the National Assembly and in part GECOM the responsibilities that would impact the precise time of the elections.

“The CCJ, therefore, did not explicitly or by indications in its pronouncements or in the declaration in its orders in paragraph 9 (e) and (f) order that elections ought to be held within three months of June 18, 2019. On the contrary, the CCJ explicitly stated that it is not the role of the Court to establish a date for on or by which the elections must be held. Further, the CCJ could not and this Court cannot order that elections must be held by a fixed date because of the provision that the National Assembly can decide to extend the period for the holding of elections – a provision which the applicant has failed to acknowledge in his application,” Justice

George-Wiltshire ruled.

For her, the language of the court could not have been clearer. The Chief Justice said the applicant cannot “cherry pick” parts of the judgement to suit his fixed views.

Justice George-Wiltshire also ruled that the notice of application by the Attorney-General Basil Williams was correct in urging that the issue is res judicata. The Attorney-General and the Solicitor General Nigel Hawke had repeatedly argued that the issues raised in Ram’s FDA were Res Judicata for ‘Issue Estoppel’- meaning that the matter has already been settled by a judicial decision, in this case, the CCJ. As such, the Chief Justice ruled that she could not grant the order sought by Ram. In this matter, the Chief Elections Officer was represented by Attorney-at-Law Roysdale Forde and Senior Counsel Neil Boston while GECOM was represented by Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus.

The Attorney-General appeared in association with the Solicitor General while Ram was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Anil Nandlall and Ralph Ramkarran among others.

The Guyana Bar Association was also represented in the case by its President Teni Housty, and Sanjeev Datadin, both of whom are attorneys.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 15, 2019

Dow posts biggest one-day drop since October as recession fears take hold

NEW YORK (Reuters) Wall Street sold off sharply on Wednesday as recession fears gripped the market after the U.S. Treasury yield curve temporarily inverted for the first time in 12 years.

All three major U.S. indexes closed down about 3%, with the blue-chip Dow posting its biggest one-day point drop since October after 2-year Treasury yields surpassed those of 10-year bonds, which is considered a classic recession signal.

Dire economic data from China and Germany suggested a faltering global economy, stricken by the increasingly belligerent U.S.-China trade war, Brexit woes and

geopolitical tensions. Germany reported a contraction in second-quarter gross domestic product, and China’s industrial growth in July hit a 17-year low. Advertisement “It was all negative and not much positive today,” said Chuck Carlson, chief executive officer at Horizon Investment Services in Hammond, Indiana. “We’re outside of the earnings season and markets are being batted around by news.”

“It’s a reactionary market right now and probably will continue to be,” Carlson added. “My guess is we’re probably in for this until after Labor Day.” Wednesday was the first time that yields for 2-year

and 10-year Treasuries had inverted since June 2007, months before the onset of the great recession, which crippled markets for years.

The U.S. yield curve has inverted before every recession in the past 50 years. “It could be different this time,” Carlson said. “When you’ve got $15 trillion in global government debt at negative yields, that’s a new animal. “Even if it is accurate in foreshadowing a recession, that doesn’t mean it’s coming tomorrow,” he added.

The CBOE volatility index, a gauge of investor anxiety, jumped 4.58 points to 22.10. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 800.49 points, or 3.05%,

to 25,479.42, the S&P 500 lost 85.72 points, or 2.93%, to 2,840.6, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 242.42 points, or 3.02%, to 7,773.94.

Over 300 of the S&P 500’s components are down 10% or more from their 52-week highs, according to Refinitiv data. More than 180 of those stocks have fallen more than 20% from their 52-week highs, putting them in bear market territory.

All of the 11 major sectors in the S&P 500 closed in negative territory, with energy, financials, materials, consumer discretionary and communications services all falling 3% or more.

Interest rate-sensitive banks tumbled 4.3%.

Macy’s Inc’s shares plunged 13.2% after the department store operator missed quarterly profit estimates and cut its full-year earnings estimates. Rival department store operators Nordstrom Inc and Kohls Corp slid 10.6% and 11.0%, respectively. A U.S. House of Representatives oversight panel called on Mylan NV and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd to turn over documents as part of a review into generic drug price increases.

Mylan fell 8.5% while U.S.-listed Teva shares dipped 10.5%. Facebook Inc slid 4.6% on news that the European Union’s lead regulator is investigating

how the social media company handled data during the manual transcription of users’ audio recordings.

Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 4.44-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 5.33-to1 ratio favoured decliners.

The S&P 500 posted eight new 52-week highs and 51 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 23 new highs and 282 new lows.

Volume on U.S. exchanges was 8.68 billion shares, compared with the 7.47 billion average over the last 20 trading days.

Canada's Trudeau accepts he breached ethics rules, refuses to apologise

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday accepted a watchdog’s report that he breached ethics rules by trying to influence a corporate legal case but refused to apologize, saying he had been trying to defend jobs.

Independent ethics commissioner Mario Dion said Trudeau and his team attempted last year to undermine a decision by federal prosecutors that construction company SNC-Lavalin Group Inc should face a corruption trial. Dion’s scathing 58-page assessment could hurt Trudeau’s chances of retaining power in a general election in October. “I fully accept this report ... I take full responsibility. The buck stops with the prime minister,” said Trudeau, adding that he nevertheless disagreed with some of Dion’s conclusions.

The scandal over SNC-La-

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

valin, which erupted in early February, battered Trudeau’s image as a youthful progressive

at the helm of a government that had vowed to be open and transparent. He is the first Canadian prime minister found to have broken federal ethics rules.

The firm, a major employer in the politically important province of Quebec, wanted to take advantage of a 2018 law allowing it to escape with a fine rather than be prosecuted for bribing officials in Libya.

Advertisement Trudeau has admitted he tried last year to persuade former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to reconsider the prosecutor’s decision to press ahead with a trial. “What we did over the past year wasn’t good enough. But at the same time I can’t apologize for standing up for Canadian jobs,” he told a televised news conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

The affair marked the low

point of Trudeau’s almost fouryear tenure and prompted the resignation of two high-profile female cabinet ministers, his closest personal aide Gerry Butts, and the head of the federal bureaucracy. The case proved politically harmful and Trudeau’s Liberals trailed the official opposition Conservatives for several months in opinion polls ahead of the election. Recent surveys, however, showed the center-left Liberals edging in front of their right-leaning rivals.

Dion found Trudeau had contravened conflict of interest rules forbidding public office holders from trying to improperly further another person’s private interests.

“Because SNCLavalin overwhelmingly stood to benefit from Ms. Wilson-Raybould’s intervention, I have no doubt that the result of Mr. Trudeau’s influence would

have furthered SNC-Lavalin’s interests. The actions that sought to further these interests were improper,” he said.

Advertisement Wilson-Raybould refused to overrule the prosecutor’s decision, and was demoted in a cabinet shuffle in January. She resigned the next month.

She later told legislators she had been subjected to inappropriate pressure over SNC-Lavalin and was particularly critical of the role played by Butts, who has rejoined Trudeau’s team to focus on the election.

“The report confirms critical facts, consistent with what I shared with all Canadians, and affirms the position I have taken from the outset,” Wilson-Raybould said in a statement on Wednesday. “There were multiple attempts to improperly influence my decision.”

Trudeau sidestepped questions as to whether he would

fire Butts and other senior aides.

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer described Trudeau’s behavior as “unforgivable” and said a police investigation was warranted. “He has stated so many falsehoods that no one can believe anything he says,” Scheer told a televised news conference in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it was examining the matter carefully and would take appropriate action as required. The report marks the second time Trudeau has fallen afoul of conflict of interest rules.

In December 2017, former ethics commissioner Mary Dawson said Trudeau acted wrongly by accepting a vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island. On that occasion, Trudeau apologized.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 15, 2019

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Rowley names new Public Administration Minister

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Aug 14, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has named the junior finance minister, Allyson West as the new Public Administration Minister after he had temporarily taken up the portfolio following the sacking of Marlene McDonald earlier this week.

McDonald and several others including her husband, Michael Carew, have appeared in court on several offences of conspiracy to

Senator Allyson West

defraud the government.

She has been placed on two million dollars (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) bail and due back in court in September.

A brief statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said West in addition to her new portfolio would also continue to serve as Minister in the Ministry of Finance. West , an attorney and a former Partner and Territory Tax Leader in the Tax and Corporate Services

Department of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), was appointed to the government in June 2017.

The statement said that in addition, the Prime Minister has also asked President Paula Mae Weeks to revoke the appointment of Garvin Simonette as a Senator. Simonette had been named as McDonald’s replace but step down after it became known that he had been arrested in the United States in a driving under the influence (DUI)

charge in 2014.

Rowley has also announced the appointment of government backbencher, Adrian Leonce as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities.

On Tuesday, Rowley announced that he had removed McDonald, whom he has now fired on three s occasions since coming to office in 2015, as the deputy leader of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM).

Roosevelt predicts Opposition leader wants united front to remove PNM from power victory in general election ROSEAU, Dominica, Aug 14, CMC – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is predicting that his ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) will win the next general election, constitutionally due by March next year, but widely expected to take place later this year.

Speaking at a town hall meeting of his Cabinet in the west coast village of Mahaut on Tuesday night to discuss the recently passed EC$1.02 billion (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) budget, Skerrit also said he was optimistic that the DLP, which won 15 of the 21 seats in the 2014 general election, could also be victorious in the Marigot constituency which is represented in Parliament by Opposition Leader Lennox Linton.

He said as far as the Mahaut constituency was concerned, the DLP had it “locked down” as he predicted a better result that the

2014 outcome. “I will say to you in 2014, we won 15 seats, the last time I checked which was this morning, how many seats labour is going to win in the next election, I count 19”.

He said when the party holds its meeting in Marigot, north east of here on Sunday, he would be in a better position to gauge which way the results could be. “Based on what I am hearing coming from Marigot, when I get there on Sunday, I will know how we stand out there. But based on what I am hearing in Marigot it is 50-50”.

During the meeting, Skerrit said that from September 6 this year, citizens would begin to benefit from the “Dominica-China Friendship Hospital” on the outskirts of the capital.

He said the hospital would have all of the amenities “and top notch equipment that you would need here in Dominica to provide

better medical services to us”. “They (opposition) criticised the Chinese government, but come the sixth of September anyone of us who falls sick in Dominica and would require an MRI you will not have to go anywhere else but the Dominica-China Hospital”.

He said persons under the age of 18 as well as those over 60 “would continue to enjoy free medical care at our new hospital. “So from September 6, you will have access to the first wing of the hospital,” he said. The US$40-million China-funded project forms part of the four-pillar projects agreed to in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the governments of Dominica and the People’s Republic of China when the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2004.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Aug 14, CMC – The leader of the main opposition United National Congress (UNC), Kamala Persad Bissessar, is calling for a united front in a bid to remove the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) from power in the next general election constitutionally due by December 2020.

Persad Bissessar, who became the Trinidad and Tobago’s first female prime minister in 2010 when her UNC formed a coalition with various opposition parties, the labour movement and non-governmental organisations, acknowledged that her People’s Partnership administration had made mistakes “along the way’ before it was removed from office in 2015.

Speaking at a UNC public forum on Local Government in Tabaquite in Central Trinidad on Tuesday night, Persad Bissessar urged supporters to “make me your prime minister again and I give you the assurance, in the presence of God, and the people, that I will repair the damage done by the (PNM) government and restore us to

the right direction”.

“I know that is a tall order, but unlike the charlatans now warming seats in the government, or in a police station somewhere, I take on challenges and take responsibility. Just as I did before, crime will come down and security will be restored.”

The UNC leader promised that unemployment will come down and “people will have jobs they want, in sectors they thrive in, with access to training that will secure their success”. She said that the labour movement “will no longer see itself as an outsider to leadership in how our nation grows and evolves; we will learn from the past and we will do better”.

The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), whose membership includes many trade unionists, left the coalition in 2012, amid concerns that the labour movement was being marginalised by the administration. In her address on Tuesday night, Persad Bissessar said also that “stakeholders and advocacy groups will find a friend again in the government, one

who will not simply say yes for the cameras and then fail to follow through.

“In this friend, you will have someone who will listen, ask questions, and continuously create ways for all interests in our nation to find common ground. My friends, make me your prime minister again and I will govern for all the people of this country…equitably, fairly and justly,” she said, announcing that the party was accepting nominations for candidates to contest the general election.

She said that the government under Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley had brought the country to ruin, with high unemployment, allegations of corruption and mis-management, but added “all is not lost”.

“We must save Trinidad and Tobago from the PNM, and together, we will save Trinidad and Tobago from the PNM. It will not be an easy fight, but when something is worth fighting for, it is the people of Trinidad and Tobago who must always prevail,” she told supporters.

Belize, Jamaica, Cuba sweep CBU awards SAN ANDRES ISLAND, Colombia, Aug 14, CMC – Media houses from Belize and Jamaica swept most of the awards at the 2018 Caribbean Media Awards presented during the 50th Caribbean broadcasting Union (CBU) General assembly here on Tuesday night.

CBU President, Gary Allen, said that 121 entries had been received from all 10 of the member entities from

seven countries across 17 categories.

In addition there were also awards from organisations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, Island Media, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVCC) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).

The entries were assessed by a three-person judging panel drawn from Jamaica and Grenada. In the televi-

sion category, RJRGLEANER in Jamaica won the Best Documentary for its submission “Pothole Paradise,” while the Best magazine Programme went to ICRT of Cuba.

In the Best News Item category, Great belize Productions Limited won with its submission “Pok-Ta-Pok, an Ancient but Re-emerging Sport in Belize, while RJRGLEANER walked away with the

Best Investigative Report on “Controversial FLA License”.

For the coverage of HIV/ AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support, ICRT of Cuba won that category for its submission “in the Fraction of the Moon”, while Best Commercial Spot went to Great Belize Productions Ltd for “The Belize Bank Ltd. First Time Home Ownership Loans”.

Belize also took the top

award in the category “Disaster Resilience, while Trinidad and Tobago’s CCN TV6 was adjudged the winner in the category of Responsible coverage of children issues for its submission “Children Need Help For Surgeries”.

Belize also received the top awards in the Climate Change and Golden Conch Shell categories while ICRT Cuba was adjudged winner in the Best Public Service Spot. In the radio cate-

gory ICRT of Cuba won the Best Documentary and Best Drama programmes, while RJRGLEANER won the Best News Item. The Barbados-based Starcom Network Inc. won the Disaster Resilience award, while the People’s Choice Award went to Great Belize Productions Ltd.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 15, 2019

Divisive politics

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NFORTUNATELY, Guyanese have been the victims of the politics of division— also called divisive politics — for far too long. Some unscrupulous, self-serving politicians have used the tactic of divisive political rhetoric to achieve their own political ends.

In their attempt to consolidate a political base, they have actively worked to divide the Guyanese people; in the case of Guyana, along ethnic lines. In the local context, the current iteration of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is known for its reliance on this deplorable, shameful and disgraceful practice. A practice that has not only resulted in stultified national development, divided families and communities, but has also resulted

in violent clashes between various groups, and even injuries and the loss of life.

With the election of the APNU+AFC coalition to office, hopefully, that dark, shameful era of our history may come to an end.

Divisive politicking is defined as words or actions by politicians which are deliberately intended to separate, and to pull people apart.

It is a dangerous practice that can result in violence, the extermination of an entire group of people, and even the breakup of a country. The most well-known example of the negative results of deliberate political division may be the holocaust that cost the lives of millions of human beings.

Politicians who have used divisive rhetoric tend

to dehumanise their opponents, thereby creating a more divided and dangerous world, says rights group, Amnesty International (AI).

There is no question that such tactics are routinely used by PPP officials. The “us versus them” messages which are peddled by the PPP are unmistakably riddled with racist overtones.

Guyanese should reject all such attempts to divide us, After all, PPP officials use such messages to advance their own, personal, selfish, greedy agendas at the expense of ordinary Guyanese.

Such tactics are a betrayal of all citizens, including their own supporters, and should be rejected in the strongest possible ways.

On the other hand, one of the cornerstones of the AP-

NU+AFC’s policy agenda is the healing of Guyana’s wounds, bridging the gaps between cultures, closing the cleavages among communities, and fostering a united, cohesive society. One recalls that one of the first acts of the administration was the establishment of a Ministry of Social Cohesion. In other words, for the first time in our history, a government is actively working to promote national unity by dedicating an entire ministry to that noble endeavour. Guyanese should praise and support such a visionary undertaking.

President Granger has explained that social cohesion is all about the “combatting of exclusion and marginalisation, creating a sense of belonging and pro-

moting upward mobility.”

His Excellency said, too, that the administration’s commitment to the achievement of cohesion stems, in large part, from the fact that, “differences between various social groups continue to threaten mutual trust and to weaken people’s sense of belonging.” The president elaborated that, “Ignoring the absence of social cohesion risks allowing social instability to fester.” Clearly, such a state of affairs is undesirable and, indeed, abhorrent to any right-thinking, patriotic citizen.”

President Granger intends to achieve this essential objective by reducing the gap between the rich and the poor, providing conditions for equal access to goods and services, fos-

tering equitable opportunities for education, and, importantly, providing access to secure, satisfying, well-paying jobs to all Guyanese, regardless of where they may live. Additionally, we as patriotic citizens must also do our part. We must firmly reject any politician who tries to divide us. We must send a clear message to anyone who attempts to drive wedges between us and our brothers and sisters. And importantly, with elections on the horizon, we must vote only for representatives and leaders who wish to unite us. As patriotic Guyanese, we must support unity, cohesion and progress, and say no to division, separation, and backwardness.

I am steadfastly in the camp of the Rule of Law Dear Editor

R

ESPONCE is being made to Robin Singh’s letter “Et tu, Lincoln?” (Kaieteur News, 14th August, 2019). I am not sure if this Robin is the one who presents himself on facebook and elsewhere as part of “Camp Ali” i.e. a supporter of PPP/C presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali. This notwithstanding, evidently based on the writer’s arguments, he desires of me to be in a camp. Let it be known, I am in a camp. That camp is called the Rule of Law. On the matter of the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) rulings and orders this nation continues to witness the interpretations of persons presented as though these are the decisions of the Court. An

interpretation is different from a decision. In the decision of the CCJ, with regards to when an election is to be held, there was no mention to the 18th September.

Refer to: http://www. ccj.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-CCJ-14AJ.pdf [2019] CCJ 14 (AJ) IN THE CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE Appellate Jurisdiction ON APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEAL OF GUYANA CCJ Appeal No. GYCV2019/009 Between CHRISTOPHER RAM APPELLANT, THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, JOSEPH HARMON, GUYANA ELECTIONS COMMISSION - ccj.org [2019] CCJ 14 (AJ) JUDGEMENT OF THE COURT [1] These cases were

consolidated and heard together on 9 and 10 May 2019. On 18 June 2019, this Court rendered its judgement in which it reached a number of www. ccj.org The 18th September has been an interpretation applied by some. To ask or expect of me to follow the band who have so interpreted, while for Robin it may place me in the category of what he considers a “stab in the back for us all” by a “member of civil society,” shows how polarising and irrational some are becoming in the quest to make their interpretation the Court’s decision.

Robin is being called on to show where in the CCJ’s ruling it stipulates in an order that elections be held by 18thSeptember.

Until the High Court, which has before it a case calling for elec-

tions to be held by such date, so makes the decision, my position stands! 18th September was never mentioned by the court.

Contrary to the misinformation he is peddling, I am fully aware of the Court’s decision for the election to be held within the timeframe as stipulated

by Article 106 of the Guyana Constitution. I have consistently pointed to same and called for its respect. What is clearly missing from the national discourse is that the implementation of the Court’s decisions requires a meeting of minds by the political operatives. This is an appeal yours truly have been repeatedly making and reiterate today.

On the matter of showing respect for Article 13 (i.e. inclusionary democracy) Robin is applying a disingenuous tactic in the hope that wool could be

pulled over the eyes of the people. As a principal proponent for giving true meaning-- via policies, programmes and legislation-- to this fundamental declaration of our political system, once again this nation missed the opportunity to get it right.

The CCJ, on the 18th June, sent back the parties to work out modalities on how they will proceed consistent with the decisions it handed down. Justice Wit said, “We are hoping for a happy marriage between principle and practicality.” This entreaty, was it implemented, would have seen constructive engagement between and among groups, giving life to Article 13. Wit's request went straight over the heads of many, lending impression that even the court may not be able to help us to get the fundamentals

of governance correct. No wonder we are in this conundrum today. Rather than seeking to come together on a common platform which the CCJ’s decisions afford us, some are veering into camps of irrationality and stubbornness. Robin is not excluded.

The PPP/C’s interpretation of the CCJ’s decision on when an election ought to be held and its attempts to corral national thinking and action inconsistent with said decision, shall not find a party in me. I am steadfastly in the camp of the Rule of Law. Who benefits or is offended by such activism, it is incidental.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 15, 2019

7

‘HOUSE-TO-HOUSE LEGIT’ – Chief Justice says GECOM registration exercise not unconstitutional …but process must not deregister eligible Guyanese

By Svetlana Marshall The ongoing House-to-House Registration being undertaken by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is within the confines of the Constitution, and is therefore legal, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire ruled on Wednesday.

The Acting Chief Justice, at the time, was delivering her judgment in a case challenging the constitutionality of House-to-House Registration brought before the High Court by Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, in which, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, and the Attorney General Basil Williams were the named respondents.

Justice George-Wiltshire ruled that the Constitution and the Laws of Guyana provide for the conduct of House-to-House Registration as a form of verification – a position that was argued by the Attorney-General and the attorneys that represented the Chief Elections Officer – Senior Counsel Neil Boston and Roysdale Forde.

As such, she ruled that the June 11 Order published in the Official Gazette by the then Chairman of Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson was in compliance with established laws.

The order paved the way for the House-to-House Registration exercise to be conducted from July 20, 2019 to October 20, 2019 – a period of three months.

The order, cited as the Na-

Court of Justice (CCJ). He submitted to the court that the order was issued days before the CCJ invalidated the appointment of Justice Patterson as Chairman of GECOM and validated the No-Confidence Motion – which triggered the need for early elections.

Chief Justice (ag), Roxanne George-Wiltshire

tional Registration (Residents) Order 2019, stated: “Persons to whom this Order applies shall, in accordance with Section 6 of the Act, be registered under the process of house-to-house registration with reference to October 31, 2019 and the registration shall begin on July 20, 2019 and end on October 20, 2019.” It also applies to all persons qualified to be electors and all who, on the qualifying date of October 31, 2019, shall have attained the age of 14 years old.

Ram, through his attorney Anil Nandlall, had argued that in addition to the national exercise being unconstitutional, it clashes with the Article 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution and the judgment of the Caribbean

the National Registration (Residents) Order 2019 was issued before the CCJ delivered its initial judgment on June 18, and ahead of the July 12 issuance of consequential orders.

The Chief Justice iterated that there was nothing stopping the Elections Commission from

“…it would not be for the court to determine that Houseto-House Registration should or should not be conducted more so that the order includes the registration of persons who are 14 years and over to whom would be issued National Identification cards, this aspect cannot be ignored, also not unconstitutional or unlawful,” Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire said.

But the Chief Justice, on Wednesday, said “there was no conservatory order or other restraining order preventing the then chairman of GECOM from acting, even though his chairmanship was the subject of a challenge in one of the appeals.”

In addition to the fact that there was no Conservatory Order preventing Justice Patterson from acting, Chief Justice George-Wiltshire drew the Court’s attention to the fact that the order merely confirmed a decision of the Elections Commission taken since July, 2018.

Further, she pointed out that

carrying out its functions, and more so, a decision it had taken before a No-Confidence Motion was put before the National Assembly, and before the CCJ delivered its judgment in the consolidated No-Confidence Motion cases and the GECOM Chair appointment matter.

“I do not see how a Houseto-House Registration exercise violates Article 106 (6) and (7).

The CEO and GECOM have no role in the implementation of Article 106 (6) and as regards of Article 106 (7) GECOM could conduct the House to House Registration or any other verification process, for that matter,

in the context of the peculiar circumstances that are extant following the NCM,” the Chief Justice ruled.

While the constitutionally mandated deadline for the conduct of elections subsequent to a No-Confidence Motion has passed (March 21, 2019), Chief Justice George-Wiltshire pointed to the fact that to date there is no date fixed for which General and Regional Elections would be held. She reminded the parties in the matter that Article 106 (7) of the Constitution includes a proviso through which, the National Assembly, by a two-thirds majority of all elected members, could extend the period for the conduct of elections.

Nonetheless, with an election pending, the Chief Justice said the House-to-House Registration could be affected in part. “The speed and timeframe within which House-to-House Registration may have to be conducted may be affected but it does not eliminate it as a verification process,” the Chief Justice explained while iterating that by virtue of the of Article 162 of the Constitution and the National Registration Act, House-to-House Registration is not unconstitutional.

Office-based registration However, in pointing to the National Registration Act, the Chief Justice noted that it also provides for the establishment of offices for the purpose of receiving applications for registration, and as such there are two methods by which registration can be done – House to House or at the Divisional or District Offices.

As such, the Chief Justice

said as GECOM registers electors it may have to consider other methods of verification of the list that could be utilised – whether in conjunction with or separate from House-toHouse Registration. “While pursuant to Article 160 and 162, GECOM is an independent body that is not subject to the control or direction of any person or authority and while it is incumbent on GECOM to produce a credible list and a credible election, it is subject to the Constitution and the laws, and it cannot act as though it is in a normal registration for election cycle. Nevertheless, it would not be for the court to determine that House-to-House Registration should or should not be conducted more so that the order includes the registration of persons who are 14 years and over to whom would be issued National Identification cards, this aspect cannot be ignored, also not unconstitutional or unlawful,” Justice George-Wiltshire said.

In addressing another element of the case, the Chief Justice ruled that persons, who were previously registered, even if they now reside overseas, cannot be removed from the National Register of Registrants unless they are deceased or have been disqualified. As such, persons cannot be deregistered if they fail to register during the ongoing House-to-House Registration and should be allowed to vote in the area or district for which they have been registered.

City Hall appeals to vendors to take health, safety seriously

Dear Editor

T

HE Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown express serious concern with how several vendors treat with their health and safety.

In 2018, they deemed the Stabroek Market wharf as unsuitable for human habitation.

The Council’s Occupational Health and Safety officer have put up the appropriate notices and materials indicating that

the situation there is dangerous and unsafe.

Information reaching the Council state that some person who frequents the wharf removed the notice erected [for] stallholders [and which] reads as follows: In August 2018, a cease order was issued for the vendors to quit occupancy, this was premised on inspections done by the City Engineer's Department. Several vendors continue to occupy the area in spite of

the threat it presents to life and limb. Again, in June 2019, vendors were asked to remove by the way of a cease order.

It is public knowledge that the Stabroek Market wharf has collapsed and that those who continue to ply their trade there, as well as those who continue to support them, are doing so in a disastrous situation.

The Council and vendors have agreed to use the East Bank car/ bus Park to facilitate temporary relocation. To date, some

vendors have not yet occupied their stalls even though they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Council to vacate the wharf area, one hundred and twenty-one (121) vendors have signed the MoU, one hundred and six stalls (106) have been completed so far and twenty-seven (27) of those stalls have been occupied.

[The] Georgetown Municipality is doing its utmost to honour its obligation and to provide a safe environment for its legal

tenants (stallholders). All the Council needs is cooperation.

The vendors have expressed concern about security and sanitary facilities. At Statutory meeting held on Monday, August13, 2019, His Worship the Mayor Ubraj Narine stated that the City Constabulary Department must provide the necessary security protocols to safeguard the goods of the Council's legal tenants. The City Engineer Kenson Boston has since completed the wash-

room facilities.

The Mayor and City Council wishes to thank those stallholders concerned for their understanding and cooperation with the Council in its effort to protect life and limb and to relocate them to a safe area. Once again, the Council urges stallholders to comply with the notices served.

Regards Debra Lewis Public Relations Officer

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 15, 2019

Construction sectors lead economic growth

– finance minister AS a result of government and private sector efforts, the economy continues to grow, as in the first half of 2019, there was a growth rate of four per cent and expansion in the construction sector is leading the way.

This is according to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan during a press briefing on Wednesday at the Ministry of Finance on the mid-year 2019 report.

The minister said this growth compares favourably with the revised growth rate of five per cent for the first half of 2018, which was measured from 2017.

According to Jordon, the growth rate has been achieved in spite of weaker growth in the global economy and relatively unfavourable commodity prices in many sectors.

From the period 20152019, Minister Jordon said every year the economy grew.

In 2015, the economy grew 3.2 per cent; in 2016, growth was 3.4 per cent; in 2017, it was 2.1 per cent; in 2018, it expanded 4.1 per

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan displays a copy of the report during his presentation

cent and 4.5 per cent in 2019.

“If we were to compare the first five years of Mr. Jagdeo’s presidency because he loves to compare, so let’s do the comparison; in 2001, it

was 1.9 per cent; 2002, it was 1.1 per cent; 2003, it was -0.6 per cent; in 2004, it was 1.6 per cent and in 2005, it was -5.5 per cent, the picture is there and it needs no further

AFC reiterates support for conditional cash transfers from oil revenues Dear Editor

T

HE Alliance for Change (AFC) reiterates its support for conditional cash transfers from oil revenues as a means of ensuring that traditionally neglected segments of Guyana's population are able to benefit meaningfully from the natural wealth of our country.

While the AFC is in the process of formulating a more comprehensive policy position to advance to the Guyanese people, we believe strongly that the concept has merit and should not be dis-

missed without the benefit of further examination.

The AFC’s policy will explore several indirect initiatives which can benefit Guyanese, including Low interest loans, improved health Care, free education, enhanced pensions and NIS benefits, greater access to affordable housing, as well as conditional cash transfers. The AFC believes that cash transfers, tied to social programmes and responsible civic behavior, have been proven to work in other countries. There are numerous successful models worldwide which have brought

significant social adjustments to marginalized people and catalysed further socioeconomic progress. One such programme close to home is Brazil's "Bolsa Familia", under which poor families with children must ensure their children attend school and are vaccinated in order to qualify for and remain on the programme. The AFC believes that there is scope for similar initiatives in Guyana.

Regards Sherod Avery Duncan Public Relations, Alliance for Change

analysis,” the finance minister said.

However, the finance minister said global price ranges for Guyana’s commodities were mostly negative for the first half of 2019 when we compared to the same period in 2018.

“For example, the international price of rice declined by 6.1 per cent; timber weakened by 1.3 per cent, these are international prices and not Guyana’s. Sugar remained relatively unchanged but there was a slight increase in June. Aluminum was down eight per cent,” the finance minister noted.

Meanwhile, he said in terms of the four per cent growth in the first half, rice grew by 3.7 per cent in spite of paddy bugs infestations, and there was a record yield in the first crop.

“Other crops grew by 4.8 per cent and this was driven by root crops, spices and vegetables. Gold grew by 4.4 per cent spurred by declarations of small and medium miners; forestry grew by 8.5 per cent and this was driven by small and medium-scale concessionaires; manufacturing which is critical to our economy expanded by 3.6 per cent and this was driven by rice, and like manufacturing, included pharmaceuticals,

beverages, edible items and timber products; construction expanded by 8.2 per cent on the account of both public and private investments,” the finance minister revealed.

SERVICES SECTOR EXPANDED He said that the services sector expanded by 4.6 per cent which was driven by wholesale and retail trade which increased by 5.9 per cent while the transportation and storage sectors grew by 5.5 per cent. Financial and insurance activities increased by 4.1 per cent and other services sector activities by 10 per cent.

Further, the finance minister noted that expansions were also recorded for sand and stone productions, with sand standing at 9.2 per cent and stone with 15.1 per cent, which are consistent with the expanding construction sector.

Nevertheless, the minister said sugar contracted by 2.7 per cent; livestock by 8.1 per cent; fishing by 21.2 per cent; and bauxite by 2.9 per cent.

“Given that majority of the production sectors demonstrated strong growth; these collectively were more than enough to offset a few areas of reduction. Given this buoyant outlook, we have revised the end of year growth

rate to 4.5 per cent from the 4.4 per cent we had revised in April when the IMF mission was here,” the finance minister said.

However, he cautioned that this year’s overall projection could be hampered by the political climate dating back to last December when the no-confidence motion was passed by the National Assembly, in addition to poor weather.

“Political uncertainty can have an impact in growth,” he said.

For 2019, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission projects real economic growth of 4.4 per cent, driven by continued strength in the construction and services sectors ahead of oil production in 2020, and strong recovery in mining.

IMF explained that missions are undertaken as part of regular, usually annual, consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to borrow from the fund, as part of discussions of staff monitored programmes, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

City Engineer Department will commence the installation of manhole covers Dear Editor

T

HE Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown wishes to inform the public that the City Engineer Department will commence the installation of manhole covers in the upcoming week.

This was revealed by City engineer (ag) Mr. Kenson Boston at Statutory Meeting held on Tuesday 13 August, 2019.

According to Boston, forty (40) manhole covers have been made and installation will commence in the Albouystown and Charlestown areas. Councillor Heston Bostwick lamented the danger [that] exposed manholes poses to the vulnerable.

The Council has also determined that an audit on the manholes be done in every community in the City and all the man holes that are exposed will

be covered. Previously, manhole covers were made with metal and they were vandalized leaving the area exposed.

The Council has now taken the decision that the covers will be done with pre-cast concrete since they are durable and difficult to vandalize.

Regards Debra Lewis Public Relations Officer

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

9

Hard work, parental support, faith in God ― CSEC top performers reflect on journey to success

By Vishani Ragobeer SOME of this year’s top performers at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations had much to say about their performance when the Guyana Chronicle spoke to them.

Samuel Haynes of Queen’s College, who secured 18 Grade One passes, was “extremely excited” of his accomplishment which came as a huge surprise to him.

However, he did attribute his success to his unwavering faith in God, and the fact that he put in a lot of work -- going to lessons five days a week, and even every day of the week as it got closer to the May/June exams.

“I wrote this number of subjects to get the Presidential Scholarship, because I have two other (older) brothers and I want them to have equal opportunities just like me, so if my parents have to provide for them, I knew that I had to take this opportunity to try and get it so that I don’t put them under pressure or so,” Haynes said.

Additionally, he knew that he had the potential to do great things but only through his faith in God. “That helped me to overcome any obstacles faced,” he said, adding: “So I feel really excited and grateful.”

Moving forward, he will be pursuing an Associate Degree in Natural Science, at Sixth Form, at Queen’s College. Haynes intends to enter the medical field.

Donlee Castello, Samuel’s friend and colleague, followed closely behind him with 17 Grade One passes and three Grade Two passes.

Speaking to this newspa-

per, he reflected upon his long journey towards success. He recounted that when he wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) in 2014, he did not get the school he wanted to attend. However, he did not let that deter him as he worked diligently over the next year so that he could sit the Ministry of Education’s placement examination. Subsequently, he was afforded a spot at Queen’s College and worked to prove his merit.

The young musical prodigy was another that showed his merit at the CSEC exams this year.

“I’m just satisfied with my performance,” Sharma said of his 16 Grade One and two Grade Two passes. “You got to have your head down, you don’t really have to make sacrifices or anything but just keep focused.”

In the short-term, the young man will be heading to Trinidad and Tobago for

before the start of the May/ June Exam season, he studied late into the nights so that he was sure he understood all of the topics before entering the exam rooms.

“I had originally wanted to write 20 subjects for CSEC but my parents persuaded me to drop a few, as they thought it was too extreme,” he said.

Nevertheless, Roopchand affirmed that he had a “deep passion” for the subjects he wrote and that he genuinely

Form Three, 15 subjects were offered so that students could have ‘a feel’ of subject areas.

He decided to stick within that range. He, however, added Economics to his pile of subjects since it was a business subject he actually liked.

He too wants to study medicine in time.

Aside from the pool of top students who hope to one day enter the medical field, Briana Gopie actually wants to make her mark in the business field

Brianna Gopie

Daniel Roopchand

Cameron Fraser

Jorrel Dos Santos

enjoyed studying them.

Currently, he is indecisive about his academic aspirations but decided that he will either attend Sixth Form at his school, Queen’s College, or he will attend medical school at the University of Guyana.

by becoming an actuary.

“I wrote 16 subjects because I was comfortable with that number and I thought it was enough for me to attain the subjects I will need later in life and still be able to make it to a top position in the country without me having to over exhaust myself,” she said.

Naturally, she was elated at her performance but mostly, she was just relieved. Brianna secured 16 Grade One passes, but academics aside, she has been a well-rounded student.

She loves to dance and has been recognised in 2018 and 2019 by the Guyana Annual Magazine for her poetry. The young girl is also currently a

youth ambassador representing Guyana on a three-week exchange programme in the US, where she will be exposed to training in leadership and civic engagement.

When she returns from that exchange programme, she will be attending Sixth Form at Queen’s College and will then look to further her education in the business field.

Cameron Fraser, another Queen’s College student, secured 15 Grade One passes and a Grade Two pass.

When she spoke to this newspaper, she related that she could not even process what was happening. “I am overjoyed; words can’t possibly encapsulate how I feel. This is such a blessing and I am extremely thankful,” she said.

She was filled with gratitude for all the persons who contributed to her success, especially her mother, who was her ‘rock’ through all the preparations as well as her father, sister, family and teachers.

So strong was her support system that she believed she could attempt this many subjects and do well in all of them. Fraser mentioned that she wanted to push her boundaries and learn as much as she possibly could.

“I spent some of my time trying to take in any information I could get but I also made sure my mental health was in check… studying was a huge part of it all but it could only take me so far, keeping myself collected and focused played a huge part in my success,” she said, in retrospect.

She also aims to study medicine, with a special focus on becoming a neonatologist and to serve Guyana with all her heart.

ed and sustained over the last six months. Among the initiatives included an increase in teachers’ salaries and wages, improved educational infrastructure at more nursery, primary and secondary schools, the improvement of science laboratories, smart classrooms, training of more teachers, the introduction of artificial intelligence and robotics into the curriculum, and the ongoing process of reformation of the curriculum, an exercise not undertaken since 1976.

The Education Minister, Dr. Nicolette Henry has continuously reiterated her commitment to improving the sector and has been consistently doing so over the last six months.

The minister has visited several schools in almost all the administrative regions. More importantly, she has commissioned scores of schools and engaged parents on the importance of their involvement towards the successful performance of their children. (DPI)

MOTIVATION Preparing for CSEC, four years later, Donlee noted that there were three main reasons which drove him to write that many subjects. The first was that he wanted to win the Presidential award, which is a scholarship given to the top student; the second reason was that he wanted to show that nothing was impossible and thirdly, he just wanted the challenge. Donlee will be going back to Queen’s College for Sixth Form, where he hopes to study law.

If you’re a fan of Steel Pan in Guyana, you might have heard the name Vijay Sharma.

CARIFESTA XIV to play alongside the Parkside Steel Orchestra. Beyond that, he intends on pursuing CAPE studies in science and perhaps study medicine in Ireland afterwards.

“Firstly, I feel over-gratified and ecstatic to have made such an achievement and I must say I’m very thankful to God and all who helped me, including my family and teachers,” a soft-spoken Daniel Roopchand, said.

The young man, who obtained 16 Grade One passes and 1 Grade Two pass noted that his preparation for the exams began months in advance, and just about two weeks

REWARDING Much like Roochand, Jorrel Dos Santos noted that the preparations for the exams were definitely arduous. But because they were so arduous, he believes that his success feels all the more rewarding.

Relating why he decided to sit 16 subjects, of which he attained all Grade One passes, he explained that in

Education remains a national priority ...children more equipped to contribute to Guyana’s transformation

MORE children are being equipped to contribute to Guyana’s transformation, and development as the Ministry of Education continues to roll out initiatives to improve educational performance.

The government’s continuous increases in budgetary allocations are ensuring that the quality of education delivered across the country can drive national development.

During the first half of 2019, a total sum of $21.7B was expended, ac-

counting for 41.5 per cent of the allocated amount to the sector. This represents an increase of 21.6 per cent over 2018.

The Ministry of Education has completed a draft of the Education Sector Strategic Plan in the first half of this year.

In June, consultations with stakeholders commenced in Regions Two and Eight.

Discussions in the remaining regions are expected to be completed before the end of the year following which the plan will be finalised.

Minister of Education Nicolette Henry

This will be complemented by a performance expenditure review of the sector. The review will help to guide the changes in keeping with global best practices necessary to ensure that every child is equipped to contribute to Guyana’s transformation.

It will also raise a generation that will be equipped with the necessary skills to ensure a good life for all.

The Ministry of Education means business.

This is evident through the countless initiatives pilot-

‘Best CSEC performance’ 10

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 15, 2019

Education Minister talks up improvements in 21 subjects ...English A, sciences, business subjects see increased pass rates …CAPE also returned satisfactory results

By Alva Solomon GUYANA has recorded improved performances in 21 subject areas with standout grades in 13 subject areas at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Education Minister, Dr Nicolette Henry has deemed Guyana’s performance the best ever. At the same time, there was an increase in Grade One and Two passes recorded for Guyanese students who sat the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) as the overall performances were deemed satisfactory.

This year, a total of 11,467 candidates wrote the CSEC regional examinations.

On Wednesday, during her announcement of the 2019 results of the two regional examinations set by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), that for the CSEC subjects, Minister Henry noted improved performances were recorded in several subject areas

including the sciences, English A , the business subjects and the modern languages.

Minister Henry , who made the announcement at the National Centre for Education Research and Development (NCERD) complex in Kingston, said that students attained passes of 90 per cent and over in 13 subject areas.

Those subject areas included Agricultural Science, Religious Education, and Information Technology. English and Mathematics are two of the more important subject areas in the school’s curriculum and according to Minister Henry, a recorded pass rate of 77 per cent in English A was recorded as against 67 per cent for 2018.The pass rate for Mathematics remained constant at 43 per cent for this year when compared to last year.

In the sciences, there were improvements in Grades One to Three passes. In Biology, passes increased from 64 per cent in 2018 to 77 per cent this year and in Chemistry a

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry announced the results for the two regional examinations on Thursday (Adrian Narine photo)

recorded pass rate of 62 per cent was noted as compared to 56.4 per cent in 2018. In Physics there was an increase from 66.2 per cent recorded in 2018 against 70 per cent this year.

In the business subjects, Principle of Accounts was the highest jumper, with a re-

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry (left) shares a moment with Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson during the announcement of the 2019 CSEC /CAPE results (Adrian Narine photo)

corded pass rate of 83 per cent this year against 74.4 per cent last year. High performances were also recorded in the Humanities and Expressive Arts subject areas with Geography recording an increase from 72.1 per cent last year against 76.3 per cent this year. In the modern languages, passes in the Portuguese subject area increased from 72 per cent to 81 per cent while an increase

from 64.4 per cent to 68.3 per cent was recorded for Spanish.

On the flip side, Minister Henry noted that students performed better last year in a few subject areas. These included Caribbean History, Economics and English B. Those subject areas saw minimal declines in the pass rate. In terms of the performances at the CAPE examination, candidates obtained 100 per cent pass rates

in 31 units including Agricultural Science Unit Two, Environmental Science Unit One, Sociology Unit One and Physics Unit Two among others. A total of 880 Guyanese students wrote the CAPE examinations and Minister Henry said that this year , Mathematics remained consistent with 83.85 per cent grades one to five passes. Of note, was the performance of students from the Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School which offered four units for CAPE for the first time with a pass rate of 92 per cent. While Queen’s College students topped the list of performances this year, Minister Henry said that there were increases in the pass rates at several other schools including the Bishops’ High School, New Amsterdam Secondary, St Joseph’s High and Mackenzie High.

Anna Regina girl tops at CSEC with 19 ones RIANA Ashesha Toney, 16, of Anna Regina Multilateral School (ARMS) on Wednesday cried tears of joy when she received the news she topped Guyana at the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. Toney, the daughter of businessman, Ricky Toney, secured 19 grade ones at the regional examinations.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, the young lady said she did not expect to top the country and praised the Almighty for his abundant blessings.

Leading up to the examinations, Toney said she was very nervous and was anxiously awaiting the results of the examinations. She was overjoyed when she learnt from the media that she exceeded her own expectations.

Toney, a science stream student, told this publication that she loves participating in science fairs and school debating competitions.

"I was very shocked, I couldn't believe it but I thank

God, my parents and my school for the foundation," the aspiring microbiologist said. She is advising students to pay keen attention to their School Based Assessment (SBA) and credited extra lessons to her success.

Her parents, who own Toney Elite Styles, closed their business early on Wednesday to go home and spend time with their daughter.

Shavava Toney, Riana’s mother, said she spent sleepless nights with her daughter, preparing her for the examinations.

The mother said she admired her daughter’s potentials and noted that she was always a brilliant child.

The parents thanked all the teachers of the Anna Regina Multilateral School for their role in Toney’s success.

When asked what will be the future of their daughter, they said most likely she will be attending university. Headmaster of Anna Regina Multilateral School, Laljeet Ruplall, was very excited about the school's performance. He

Guyana CSEC top student, Riana Toney

said he is happy that ARMS produced the national top student and commented that Toney was always a brilliant, ardent and obedient child.

Riana Toney with her proud parents and sibling

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

11

Hinterland students make their mark at 2019 CSEC …scholarship initiative, other measures paying off

By Vishani Ragobeer IN a field of top performers usually exclusively dominated by students from the coastland, a few Hinterland students have forced their way to cement their names, and their communities, in the history books.

Amisha Ramdin, who is a Region Nine girl and a student of the St. Ignatius Secondary School, was one of this year’s top performers. This young girl wrote 20 subjects, securing 15 Grade One passes and 5 Grade two passes.

When the Guyana Chronicle spoke to her on Wednesday, she was overjoyed but also just a bit tired, since everyone in her community wanted to congratulate her either by phone call or by coming to see her.

It was no worries, however, since she related that her endeavours were mainly for them.

“I wanted people to recognise my community, and my region, and not just see [us] as the ‘others’,” Ramdin explained. “I am happy that I was able to put my region on the map.”

Detailing her preparation regime for her endeavours in 20 subjects, the St. Ignatius girl simply recounted that she ensured that she attended all her classes, did extra research in addition to the content she was taught. And she even half-joked that she made sure that she had enough sleep and enough to eat at all times.

The young Ramdin also highlighted that her mother and baby brother were always there to comfort her or give her that extra nod of support, while her Headmistress and her entire community egged her on to cross that finish line.

But even aside from her academic pursuits, the young girl has blazed the trail as an all-rounder as well. Last year, she was part of the annual Youth Parliament which gives students the opportunity to lend their voices to topical national issues. Aside from that, she highlighted that she took part in yearly Mashramani activities, debating, and even sports (which, by the way, she was not particularly excellent at).

Moving forward, the young

girl intends on studying medicine and one day becoming a surgeon.

Amisha’s success is one

instance of what the current administration has been pushing for. Just last month, President David Granger commissioned

Amisha Ramdin from the St. Ignatius Secondary School [DPI photo]

Keisha Jaisingh, from the Sarswatie Vidya Niketan School

Alex Abraham and his mother Vivian Abraham

a $186.3M Tertiary Students’ Dormitory at Liliendaal as his government continues to reduce the disparities between the hinterland and coastland through education.

In addition to this, there is the Hinterland Scholarship initiative which was developed with the goal of assisting and motivating students to aspire their educational, social and cultural potentials.

Here, students from the Hinterland regions are provided with assistance to further their education. Presently 608 students are enrolled in the programme across all ten administrative regions.

It is this initiative that helped to propel this year’s second place performer, Alex Abraham, to his success. The young boy hails from the Karaburi Primary School in Region One, and had secured a spot at St. Roses High School. Currently in the interior on vacation, Abraham’s mother, Vivian Abraham, gave some insights over the past few years.

According to her, when

her son got a ‘top school’ in ‘GT’ she decided to move from Region One and make a life as an educator in Region Four. Alex was awarded one of the Hinterland Scholarships, and so she had some support, but eventually she said that expenses and the cost of lessons eventually doubled the cost of their rent.

Transitioning here also made her a bit fearful for her son’s safety, particularly when he was out late going to the internet cafe to get his assignments done or out at lessons.

“I feel very elated and I must say I am thankful to God for grace and mercy because it wasn’t that easy but I had faith that he would do it. He was determined and I had no choice but to support him,” Vivian said. Keisha Jaisingh, from the Sarswatie Vidya Niketan School, is another student of indigenous heritage who excelled. She hails from St. Cuthbert’s Mission and secured 16 Grade one passes this year.

QC students top CAPE 2019

By Naomi Marshall SHARING the top position at this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) are two students of Queen’s College – Michael Bhopaul and Leonardo Gobin, who both secured grade one passes in eight units.

The subjects Bhopaul secured maximum passes in are Communication Studies and Integrated Mathematics Unit One; Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, French, Pure Mathematics and Physics Unit Two. While Gobin secured maximum passes in Communication Studies and Integrated Mathematics Unit One, Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Pure Mathematics and Physics Unit Two. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Gobin stated that while he is excited about his achievement, he has been humbled by it as well.

Gobin, who grew up in the community of Good Intent on the West Bank of Demerara, said that he applied to do Medicine at the University of Guyana, however, now that he has been listed amongst the top performances, he is hoping to obtain one of the

government scholarships that are usually given to top students, to pursue medical studies overseas.

He is also encouraging students who will be pursuing CAPE in the future to set their priorities straight.

He pointed out, “Know what you want. You should set your goals and focus on them and you will achieve them. Pray each day, pray multiple times a day and God will help you, he will give you the strength that you need.”

Leonardo Gobin

“Right now I am feeling so joyous because God has done a good work in my life, I am extremely elated,” expressed Diego Barnett, also of Queen’s College, who copped the second position in the country at CAPE with grade one passes in seven units and grade two passes in two units.

Barnett who grew up in the Agricola community on

the East Bank of Demerara added, “When I heard my name called amongst the top students I was so excited and enthusiastic, I ran and jumped and shouted.”

Barnett noted that he will be applying to the University of Toronto and the Miguel Hernández University to pursue studies in Cardiology, however, in the meanwhile, he will be teaching at Queens College.

At seventh position is Jeevan Dalip, who is also a student of Queen’s College

Diego Barnett

and has secured grade one passes in six units and one grade three. Dalip told this newspaper that although he put a lot of work into preparing for CAPE, he did not expect to be among the top performers.

“I was confident that I was going to do well because I know how much I have been working, but I didn’t expect it to be this ex-

tra special. I’m grateful for everything,” he expressed.

He noted that preparation for the examination was challenging and required him to attend extra classes outside of school, dedicate time to completing School Based Assessments, while having to find time for revision and studies, “but I found a way to manage all of it.”

Currently, Dalip of Turkeyen is hoping to commence studies in the field of Biology at a university

Jeevan Dalip

outside of Guyana.

The 18-year-old is urging students to “remain level-headed and have a goal that you set for yourself because without that goal it is very easy to get down on yourself and to lose a sense of direction amongst all the work. Have a set goal and work to that as much as possible.”

Copping the 13th posi-

tion in the country is Nial Beaton, a student of the St. Stanislaus College who secured grade one passes in six units.

Beaton told the Guyana Chronicle that the accomplishment means a lot to him and he deserved his achievement, since he has worked extremely hard after failing to do well in one of his units in his first year of CAPE. “I tried to better myself in all areas, try to strengthen my strengths and work on

Nial Beaton

my weaknesses and never give up even though it seemed really hard at the time,” he expressed.

Beaton added, “Just to know that I was once in a situation where I started to doubt my ability because of one bad grade, but just know that anybody could do well, you just got to believe in yourself, don’t ever give up. No matter how many

people tell you that you are not going to do as well as you want to do, you just keep trying. Don’t ever let the work get to you, find a way to relax.”

The young man is currently in the United States of America, where he will be pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health at the Georgia State University on a full scholarship presented to him by the university.

Other names amongst the top performances at this year’s CAPE are Zane Ramotar, Farah Chin, Narinda Persaud, Jelena Arjune, Fidel Da Silva, Amisha Mohanlall, Christian Pile, Pretha Smith, Jamal Thomas and Johanan Clarke.

In May/June, 880 candidates from 10 Secondary Schools and five private centres wrote CAPE in Guyana.

The 15 centres were Mackenzie High, Christianburg/Wismar Secondary, Berbice High, New Amsterdam Secondary, Guyana Private, President’s College, Saraswati Vidya Niketan, Bishops’ High, Queen’s College, St. Joseph High, St. Stanislaus College, Marian Academy, St. Rose’s High, Adult Education Association and Chase’s Academy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

PSC must provide evidence of economic decline

-- says finance minister

By Rabindra Rooplall FINANCE Minister Winston Jordan has said that negative statements about the economy by the Private Sector

Commission (PSC) must be supported by evidence Jordan made the call at a press briefing at his Main Street, Geoegetown office on Wednesday.

“The PSC has a habit of trotting out statements and I have had a number of meetings with budgets sessions where statements are trotted out and they are hardly backed by figures, it’s just statements they throw out there about the economy is in decline; but

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

where is the evidence of this and people will continue making statements,” the finance minister said.

He continued: “Until people bring credible evidence, like the Bank of Guyana report, or the IMF report or Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) report stating that there is a downturn, then they will just be statements.

As far as I am concerned, they are irresponsible statements.

Show me that your sales have declined; you use to make $500M every month but now I am down to $350M, that is the first evidence, but then we have to get the numbers.”

Noting various causes of decline, the minister questioned whether what is happening to the businesses is really because of the economy or is something of the

businesspersons’ creation, or decline due to competition, or people shopping elsewhere.

He said many factors must be considered before broad statements are made.

“We get our monetary data from the Bank of Guyana, we don’t pluck it from anywhere, so you have evidence showing that rather than a declining private sector, credit has been expanding, and we can see evidence of that all over Guyana.

Where is the evidence of decline?” Minister Jordon asked.

A DIFFERENT PICTURE The finance minister said many persons are buying properties and investing in Guyana tremendously. He noted, too, that with the recent oil find, “this is a paradise waiting to blossom, so why would you not invest in such an economy”.

Minister Jordon said on each occasion he meets with the private sector, he asks for the evidence pertaining to claims being made about the economy, “but that is where the problem is, I don’t get it.”

Meanwhile, he noted that political uncertainty and threats of a review by the Opposition (People’s Progressive Party) party has created a setback in the sale of several of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) estates.

“The sale of the estates has been delayed partly due to the political side because nobody is expressing interest when the Opposition says ‘we are going to review sales and so on’ and that happened in the past too where people pulled out.

They don’t express interest in an atmosphere of uncertainty where you’re suggesting this review, which is another word for harassment, will take place so that has not gone down too well,” Minister Jordon said.

Noting that the government is in an “interim” position, Jordan said government has also decided against any major sale of State assets. “I don’t think at this stage, quite frankly, with our status of interim that we would want to engage in any major privatisation at this time,” he said.

Until elections are held, there will be no presentation of budget – Min. Jordan -- the elected gov’t. will then have three months to prepare a budget MINISTER of Finance, Hon. Winston Jordan has assured that government agencies will continue to function even after the current budget comes to an end. He reiterated that until elections are held, there will no budget prepared and presented.

The minister disclosed this during an interview on VYBZ 100.1FM with radio broadcaster, Malcolm Ferreira.

Minister Jordan stated that agencies will continue to function even after the

current budget comes to an end, “the rule is until a budget is passed, spending agencies are held to onetwelfth of the previous year’s allocation. So, it is one-twelfth on the current side, and on the capital side, they are restricted to no new projects. Only rolled over or ongoing projects.”

With a date for elections yet to be determined, and the administration’s interim status, His Excellency, President David Granger has acknowledged

that the government will not pass a National Budget.

The holding of elections at the moment depends on the conclusion of the current House-toHouse Registration or, otherwise, guidance given by the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Chairperson, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh.

Minister Jordan pointed out that after elections are held, the elected government then has three months to prepare a budget. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

GNNL gets new Board of Directors

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo, on Wednesday, presented instruments of appointment to the chairperson and directors of the reconstituted Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL).

The new Chairperson is Ms. Juretha Fernandes, along with Mr. Terrence Moore, Mr. Amar Panday, Ms. Dawn Gardner, Mrs. Ernestine Leonard and Mr. Ganesh Mahipaul, were sworn in as board members. The other member, Ms. Nicola Trotman is currently overseas and therefore could not attend the presentation ceremony.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who holds the portfolio for public information, explained that there

Prime Minister and the new members of the board including its chairperson, Ms. Juretha Fernandes (third from right)

is much work to be done at the state-owned media to ensure that they operate not only as a viable

Youths accused of larceny granted bail

SENIOR Magistrate Leron Daly, on Wednesday August 14, 2019, granted bail to two Rasville, Georgetown residents, who were jointly charged for breaking into a woman’s home and carting off almost $300,000 worth in items.

Nineteen-year-old Andrew Clarke and 20-year-old Destiny Fredericks appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court

and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the charge stated that, between August 9, 2019 and August 10, 2019, at Cane View South Ruimveldt, they ‘broke and entered’ the house of Sarah Adams and stole items totalling $286,000.

Magistrate Leron Daly granted the duo $50,000 bail each and adjourned the matter until September 25, 2019.

business, but fulfill their mandate to let the people know what the government is doing. The appoint-

ment of the GNNL’s new board of directors is effective from June 5, 2019.

Elderly man charged with possession of drugs

Andrew Roderick

A 66-year-old man, who was nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, with over 200 grams of cocaine, will, today, (August 15, 2019) be placed before Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer the charge.

Andrew Roderick, who was an out-going passenger on his way to the United States, was nabbed by ranks attached to the Police Narcotics Branch stationed at the airport, on Tuesday, August 13, 2019.

According to reports, on the day in question, the elderly man was seen acting in a suspicious manner and was searched by the ranks. The drugs were unearthed in a pair of shoes he was wearing.

The two packages which were wrapped in black tape were tested positive for cocaine, were weighed in his presence and amounted to 290 grams.

The cocaine which was found

Exercise Green Heart being conducted in Upper-Berbice River

A TOTAL of 951 Guyana Defence Force (GDF) troops, inclusive of 189 reservists are currently engaged in Exercise Green Heart which is underway in areas between Mara Settlement and Tacama waterfront, in the Upper-Berbice River.

Thirty ranks of the Guyana Police Force are also involved in the exercise.

According to the GDF, the exercise is designed to assess and test the preparedness of the troops to conduct operations in the jungle, and, at the same time, identify deficiencies which could be corrected to ensure full competency in the environment.

During Exercise Greenheart, medical outreaches will be conducted in the various communities in the area.

GDF ranks undertaking Exercise Green Heart in the swamps as training continue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 15, 2019

‘All they asked for were denied’ …AG says CJ ruling vindicates his argument that matters could not be re-litigated

…challenge to no-residency requirement to be on OLE likely

DESCRIBING the judgment of the Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire as “well-reasoned,” Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, on Wednesday, said he was pleased with the decision of the High Court to uphold the Order that activated House-to-House Registration.

The Opposition, through Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, had asked the court for several declarations aimed at blocking and invalidating the national registration exercise as well as compelling GECOM to hold elections on or before September 18, 2019.

All these orders were denied.

“All that the applicant asked for, the court refused just as in the case of the CCJ, and of course the court accepted that the matter was res judicata, they were re-litigating before her,” the Attorney General told reporters outside of the courtroom, shortly after the judgment was handed down.

However, he noted that the ruling made by the Chief Justice on the removal of persons from the National Register of Registrants, from which the Official List of Electors would be compiled, did not form part of the Application filed by Ram nor was it a declaration sought, and as such, the Government, through him, nor GECOM, had the opportunity to contest that specific element.

The Chief Justice, in handing down the decision, ruled that residency was not a re-

quirement and as such Guyanese cannot be easily removed from the National Register of Registrants but Minister Williams differed on this position.

“The important thing about this is that overseas voting was abolished in Guyana, and that’s why the qualification of residency was an additional one that was facilitated under Article 159 (2) (c), which spoke about additional qualifications, could be arrived at by the passage of act of Parliament, and that’s why the National Registration Act and also the Representation of the People Act contain provision for residency,” the Attorney General explained.

He added: “residency is a very important aspect because that is the only way you can locate someone for voting.”

Williams maintained that Article 159 (5) states that GECOM can compile a register as was done in 2008 when a new register was compiled as a result of House-to-House Registration. GECOM, he said, would have to decide whether it will appeal that section of the ruling that addresses the removal of persons from the list.

“But what is very important is that House-to-House Registration is not unconstitutional; no date was ever fixed by the CCJ and she (Chief Justice) wouldn’t fix a date either nor no election ought to be held within three months as they had contended and generally there was nothing that was asked for by the applicant that was successful,” the Attorney General summarised.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams reacting to the judgment of the High Court on House-to-House Registration

For his part, Roysdale Forde, the attorney that represented the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield in association with Senior Counsel Neil Boston, told reporters that the elections body would have to decide its next move. “Subject to further instructions, of my own opinion at this present time, I believe that there is a serious ground, a serious flaw in the decision to that extent and I would advise my client to appeal. The issue was never raised as part of the pleadings in the document. You heard that the court dismissed every application filed,” Forde told reporters outside of the courtroom. GECOM’s Attorney, Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus also indicated that he will be guided by the Elections Commission’s decision.

Anil Nandlall, who represented Ram in association with Ralph Ramkarran, told reporters that his client would be appealing the decision of the High Court. “Obviously,

we will appeal because we do not agree that no timeframe has been fixed,” Nandlall said.

In his submissions both oral and written Nandlall had urged the court to set a timeframe for the holding of elections, in keeping with the declarations and orders sought by his client, but the Chief Justice ruled that his application lacked supporting evidence. But that aside, she ruled that the High Court, like the CCJ, cannot issue coercive orders instructing the President, the National Assembly and implicitly GECOM how they should act. But unhappy with the ruling, Nandlall told reporters that “it cannot be open-ended.”

“The CCJ judgment could not have meant that elections would never be held unless Parliament agrees. Suppose Parliament does not agree.

There is always a timeframe implied. The constitution must be obeyed at its earliest convenience and in relation to

Counsel for GECOM, Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus seen leaving the High Court on Wednesday Photos by Adrian Narine

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall speaking to reporters outside of the courtroom

that, respectfully I am not impressed with that aspect of the ruling and that certainly will excite the review of an appellate tribunal,” he lamented.

However, he was in high praise of other sections of the ruling which dealt with method of compiling the National Register of Registrants.

“The Court made it very clear that House-to-House Registration is not manda-

tory, and it is not the only option available to GECOM. The Court pointed out very clearly and emphatically that GECOM must now determine which one of the two courses of action it will choose having regard to the timeframes that are available,” he said.

According to him, the ball is now in GECOM’s court to determine how it will proceed.

UG, Halliburton host two-day oil and gas session for children THE University of Guyana, in collaboration with Halliburton, hosted day two of its children’s workshop on the science of energy.

The programme was launched as an effort to afford children ages 9-14 the opportunity to learn about the oil and gas industry in a child-friendly environment. The children were able to receive knowledge on where oil comes from.

Professor Paloma Mohamed, who spoke on the success of day one of the workshop, stated that she is anticipating an even more successful day two of the workshop. She encouraged the children to make the best of the opportunity, try to learn as much as they can and ensure they ask questions and get clarification on the oil and gas sector.

Country manager of Halliburton Landmark Caribbean, Fabiola Martinez, told the students of her experience being in the oil and gas sector, using the example that she is afforded the opportunity to come and make a positive impact on the

lives of the future generation due to her job.

Celia Garcia-James hosted an interactive exercise with the children where she equipped them with the knowledge of what is gas, where it comes from and the process it goes through.

She explained energy to the children and the importance of conserving energy, and the impact it would have on the environment and each individual.

The children were given a simple explanation on the process of oil exploration using child friendly activities.

Garcia-James further went on to speak on the importance the oil industry played in saving the lives of whales. She explained to the children that previously, persons would hunt whales to use them as a means of fuel and since the emergence of the oil industry, the hunting of whales has significantly dropped.

The children participated in several activities where they were given the chance to interact with sedimentation and they

were able to conduct an experiment with natural gas.

Garcia-James’ son Sebastian, spoke on his experience living close to an oil and gas field. He explained that the time period for power outages is minimized due to them wanting to ensure the oil companies always have access to electricity to maintain their operations. He further stated that the oil and gas companies put in place measures to develop children within the community in both academics and sports.

“Take advantage of the opportunities that will come to you… be prepared, honouring your God, respecting your parents and teachers, helping one another as fellow citizens and studying hard to build your community, the future of Guyana is in your hands,” said Sebastian in a word of encouragement to the children present at Wednesday’s event.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

Guyana looks to India in pursuit of becoming solar State – President Granger …accredits new India High Commissioner PRESIDENT David Granger, on Wednesday, accredited His Excellency Dr. K.J. Srinivasa as the High Commissioner of the Republic of India to Guyana.

During the simple but significant accreditation ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency, President Granger and the India High Commissioner, while underscoring the strides made between the two countries, committed to strengthen collaboration in the areas of solar power, oil and gas, agriculture and infrastructure development, among others.

In his address, President Granger said, in its pursuit of becoming a solar state, Guyana will continue to work closely with India. In January 2018, Guyana signed and ratified the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance. Three months later, President Granger reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the alliance during his attendance at the First Summit of the International Solar Alliance in New Delhi.

Becoming a solar state is a key component of Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy, President Granger told the newly accredited India High Commissioner.

“The ‘Strategy’ – our road map towards becoming a ‘green state’ – emphasises the protection of our environment, the preservation of our biodiversity, the promotion of renewable energy and the adoption of practical measures to guarantee climate adaptation,” the Head of State explained.

Dr. Srinivasa, in delivering his maiden address as the India High Commissioner to Guyana, recalled that India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Guyana. Guyana and India established diplomatic relations in 1966, and by 1968, the Commission of India which was established in Georgetown in May 1965,

had become a full-fledged High Commission. The Indian High Commissioner took note of the fact that while India and Guyana are miles apart, they have many common characteristics such as their colonial past, predominantly agricultural and rural-based economies and multi-cultural societies.

Noting that the bilateral relations between India and Guyana remain cordial and friendly, the India High Commissioners said President Granger’s attendance at the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance, and earlier and subsequent visits by two delegations of ministers have further strengthened and consolidated the countries’ bilateral relations.

“Excellency, immense opportunities exist for both our countries to further enhance bilateral trade, par-

High Commissioner of the Republic of India to Guyana Dr. K.J. Srinivasa

process in various sectors of Guyana’s economy would continue. Guyana’s leading role in environmental issues and low carbon development strategy has been recognised all over the world, Commissioner Srinivasa said, while noting that India would like to benefit from Guyana’s experience in this field.

In the area of human resource development, the Indian Commissioner said Guyanese over the years have been exposed to countless academic and technical opportunities. To date, more than 500 Guyanese nationals have benefitted from India Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC). From April 2018 to March 2019, 26 Guyanese officials were trained in India in different fields under the ITEC. “In the past, India has extended concessional Lines of Credit through EXIM Bank

President David Granger and High Commissioner of the Republic of India to Guyana Dr. K.J. Srinivasa (centre) standing with members of their delegation. Among them are Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings (third from left) and Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Audrey Waddell (second from right) (MoTP Photos)

ticularly in agriculture and food processing, oil and gas, renewable sources of energy, forestry, drug and pharma-

ceuticals, health infrastructure, education, etc.,” Commissioner Srinivasa said.

He said India is com-

mitted to Guyana’s overall development, while assuring the President that India’s participation in the development

for modernisation of sugar plants, construction of cricket stadium, installation of solar traffic lights, etc. The on-

going LoC projects include the East Coast-East Bank Demerara Link Road Project, supply of a passenger ferry, acquisition of high-capacity, fixed and mobile drainage pumps and upgradation of three primary health centres,” he recalled.

The India High Commissioner also expressed gratitude to President Granger for the support given by Guyana during various elections to the United Nations (UN) bodies and international organisations. “We count on your support in United Nations restructuring, including expansion of Security Council and India’s claim for a permanent membership of the expanded Security Council,” he told the Head of State.

Dr. Srinivasa told President Granger that he is deeply aware of responsibilities and stands committed to the task. “…It would be my endeavour to take our bilateral relations, including trade, on a higher trajectory through continued engagement and solid interactions between the business communities of the two countries,” he said while securing the support of the State.

The relationship between Guyana and India was established long before 1965. Approximately 181 years ago, immigrants from India were brought to Guyana after slavery was completely abolished in 1838. Today, their descendants constitute a large proportion of Guyana’s population. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings and Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Audrey Waddell, accompanied the President. Commissioner Srinivasa replaces His Excellency Venkatachalam Mahalingam.

Man flees after stabbing ex-lover and her new boyfriend A jealous ex-lover is now on the run after he stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her new partner at Hururu Mission, Upper Berbice River, Region Ten, on Wednesday morning.

Dally Gobin,48, and her new boyfriend, Leaymond Smith, 40, were drinking rum at her residence when the suspect, Gilbert Thomas, approached Gobin in a fit of anger and started an argument.

He then whipped out a knife from his waist and allegedly stabbed both Gobin and Smith across their bodies. According to the police, Gobin was stabbed once under her left side breast

while Smith was stabbed twice under both sides of his chest.

The duo was rushed to the Kwakwani Hospital where they were stabilised and then rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC),

where they remain patients.

After the alleged stabbing, the suspect made good his escape.

Police have launched a search for him while continuing their investigations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

President Granger says Raksha Bandhan can foster national unity President David Granger pays keen attention to Ms. Jyotsna Pattel of the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre, on Wednesday morning, at the Ministry of the Presidency

President David Granger (centre) with Ms. Paramdai Persaud, Ms. Sita Narine and Mr. Stanley Singh of the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre, on Wednesday morning, at the Ministry of the Presidency

PRESIDENT David Granger, on Wednesday morning, celebrated Raksha Bandhan with representatives of the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The President said he was grateful for the request from the group to mark the occasion with him as it has the potential to promote social cohesion, by fostering a greater understanding of how other groups celebrate broth-

erhood and sisterhood.

“I welcome the opportunity, not only at a personal level, but also on behalf of the entire country,” President Granger said. While tying the Rakhi (sacred thread) on to the

Ms. Jyotsna Pattel ties a Rakhi on President David Granger's wrist, at the Ministry of the Presidency

President’s wrist, Sister Jyotsna Pattel said the Brahma Kumaris was pleased to celebrate the festival of Raksha Bandhan with him. She said the tying of the Rakhi not only represents a sisterly and brotherly

connection, but the bond of love which each person should have for the other. Ms. Paramdai Persaud, Ms. Sita Narine and Mr. Stanley Singh of the Braham Kumaris, also attended the event.

Commander-in-Chief visits troops at Tacama

President David Granger being briefed by an officer at Tacama

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF of the Armed Forces, President David Granger, on Wednesday, visited troops currently engaged in Exercise Green Heart, which is underway in the Tacama waterfront area, in the Upper-Berbice River.

This exercise is designed to train soldiers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in territorial security and assess the preparedness of our troops to conduct operations in

President David Granger being greeted as he visits troops engaged in Exercise Green Heart at Tacama President Granger makes a point during his visit to troops at Tacama. Next to him is Chief-of-staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Patrick West

the jungle environment.

Exercise Green Heart forms part of annual exercises

conducted by the GDF in fulfilment of its role in defending the territorial

integrity of Guyana. This is President Granger’s second Jungle Warfare exercise visit.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 15, 2019

17

Probe ordered into death of Presidential Guard …as President visits, consoles relatives

President David Granger pays keen attention to Loraine Peters when he visited her home on Wednesday morning

PRESIDENT David Granger has called for a thorough investigation into the death of Police Constable 2045, Winston Cooper of 761 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown after learning of his death on Wednesday morning.

The President made the

call during a visit to relatives in which he expressed his sympathies to them.

The 32-year-old presidential guard succumbed to his injuries after a few weeks of hospitalisation.

Cooper was found unconscious opposite the National Gymnasium by first

Dead: Police Constable, Winston Cooper

responders of the Guyana Fire Service at about 05:30hrs on July 1, 2019 and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospi-

President David Granger gestures as he makes a point to the relatives of Police Constable 2045, Winston Cooper at East Ruimveldt, on Wednesday morning

tal Corporation where he received medical attention.

Reports indicate that the constable may have been a

victim of hit-and-run accident or a robbery.

Police assist students with school supplies, haversacks TWENTY-EIGHT children, ages seven to 12, received haversacks with school supplies on Wednesday at the Blairmont Police Station, Berbice, to aid in their academic pursuits.

Superintendent Mahendra Singh said the children were drawn from across the station district and each child was also given a snack, ice cream and beverage.

Recently, at the Fort

Wellington Police Station, 38 children, also ages seven to 12, were given a haversack each with school supplies.

The children were drawn from across the sub-division’s youth groups.

Students after receiving the haversack with supplies with police officials at the Blairmont Police Station

The children also received Students at the Fort Wellington Police Station with their parents after receiving the haversacks and supplies from police

meals.

“Our intention is to re-

ally give children in need a good start for the school year since the educational welfare of children is es-

sential in developing the communities where police operate on a daily basis,” the superintendent noted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday August 15, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

Spirited debate on opening day of Youth Parliament

By Naomi Marshall THE first sitting of the fifth annual Youth Parliament commenced on Wednesday at the Parliament Chamber, Public buildings, with the motto, “Our generation, our voice: inspire, encourage, impact.”

The event saw secondary school students from the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana assume the seats of the National Assembly, as they spiritedly debated four topics of nationwide importance.

The four motions debated by the youths between the ages 14-17 were the ban on single-use plastics, modernisation of the Copyright law and intellectual property legislation, discipline in schools and enhancing efforts to curbing substance abuse in schools.

Calling the first sitting of the fifth Annual Youth Parliament to order was Hon. Kellisha Peters, Speaker of the first sitting of the Youth Parliament.

Moving the first motion, “Ban on single-use plastics,” was Hon. Rashawn Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, who lead the government’s consensus effort to support the aim of the United Nations to achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources through the improvisation of a ban on single-use plastics.

Wilkinson proposed that although the government sees the step as a drastic one, it is a meaningful step towards the “significant improvement in the life of all Guyanese.”

“Much as we cannot seem to avoid the use of plas-

tics, we also cannot avoid its harmful effects, hence, I do not stand to propose the banning of all plastics, rather, an argument against the continued production, importation and use of single-use plastics,” he stated.

The minister highlighted that Guyana became a signatory of the United Nations Sustainable Goal on September 25, 2015 which states under the 12th goal that sustainable management

by 2020 all countries must achieve the environmentally-sound management of chemicals.

He noted, “A heated plastic releases toxic chemicals,” as such, the completion of goal 12 will be hindered.

Opposing the motion was Honorable Akesiha Halley, Shadow Minister of Natural Resources, who stated that Guyana’s overall consumption of single-use plastics is not drastic when compared

Yes, I know prevention is better than cure but banning single-use plastics isn’t prevention but rather cure for something that isn’t endangering our wellbeing at the moment,” she said.

Charlie Adhar, was the Prime Minister for the first sitting of the fifth Annual National Youth Parliament.

He led his government to triumph in the tabling of two motions in the National Assembly.

The secondary school youth parliamentarians of the first sitting of the 5thAnnual Youth Parliament, pose with Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry (Elvin Croker’s photo)

and efficient use of natural resources must be achieved by 2030.

According to Wilkinson, in order to ensure an efficient completion of the goal, the ban on single-use plastics is indeed a necessary one.

He pointed out that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal agreement, goal 12 states that

to other nations.

She stated that even though countries such as China and Indonesia have high rates of single-use plastics consumption, they did not ban the use of plastic but rather put other measures in place.

“If these countries aren’t affected by plastic consumption, why should we?

The government’s first motion tabled by Honorable Rashawn Wilkinson – the banning of single-use plastics and the second being the implementation of effort to curb substance abuse in schools.

Prime Minister, Charlie Adhar was awarded the title of ‘Best Debater’ while Opposition Leader, Breanna Ramnarain, was awarded

‘Game over for PPP’ …WPA says party must acknowledge that its attempt at railroading the judicial process is defeated THE Working People’s Alliance has welcomed the High Court’s ruling that the ongoing houseto-house registration is constitutional and lawful.

“We respect the ruling in its entirety and urge all parties and organisations to do so. The Chief Justice should be commended for her very balanced and reasoned conclusions,” the party said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the WPA, it has always felt that this recent move to the court was nothing short of “legal and constitutional gymnas-

tics” aimed at the larger PPP agenda of frustrating credible elections. “The CCJ’s ruling and orders were very clear that the court does not have the constitutional right to interfere with the process by which an election date is determined – that is a matter for the President in consultation with GECOM. We salute the court for not tampering with the CCJ’s ruling.”

The WPA added that Wednesday’s ruling is, hopefully, the final blow against the PPP’s effort to get the court to become unnecessarily entangled in the

country’s politics. “We urge GECOM to take onboard the court’s recommendations and proceed with the preparation for elections in a timely manner. The WPA again wishes to congratulate GECOM for not bowing to pressure and for keeping the house-to-house registration timeline within the CCJ’s guideline. “ Finally, the WPA also calls on the PPP to acknowledge that the game is over and that its attempt at railroading the judicial process has been defeated. It must now return to parliament to facilitate

the desired extension of the life of the government.

Refusal to do so would further tarnish that party’s image and render it unfit to lead Guyana. We also urge the PPP’s enablers in the Private Sector Commission and other civil society organisations to recognise that the tide has swung against them and turn a new page for the sake of national harmony. Guyanese should become tired of the PPP’s delaying tactics.

Hon. Kellisha Peters, Speaker of the first sitting of the 5thAnnual Youth Parliament (Elvin Croker’s photo)

‘Best Speaker’.

Meanwhile, Breanna Ramnarain, as the opposition leader, tabled motions for a more collective approach to be taken when dealing with discipline in schools, and for amendments to be made to Guyana’s copyright laws.

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry in her remarks, stated that the Youth Parliament is a good opportunity for young people to get exposure and a better understanding of the practices of the National Assembly.

Henry also said that the annual event also gives young people a platform to let their opinions be heard on matters that are relevant to the country and the youth population.

“A lot of time you get a lot of good ideas being birthed out the youth parliament and I think it’s a really good initiative and one that I endorse and that I have been associated with for the past three years and I look forward to more engagement at this level,” the minister noted.

The students were brought to Georgetown, the Capital City, five days prior to the first sitting of the an-

nual event where they benefitted from the guidance and training of youth mentors, who aided in assisting them in doing research on the fours motions which were debated.

The youths were also exposed to various workshops on parliamentary etiquette and decorum as well as an advisory session with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland.

Additionally, they have had one-on-one sessions with past parliamentarians such as Attorney-at –law, James Bond, and Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, who helped to train them in debating and argumentative techniques.

The youths also benefitted from a session with the Cacique Toast Masters Club on the art of public speaking.

Today, students of the University of Guyana will be given the opportunity to participate in the second sitting of the fifth annual Youth Parliament and will be debating the use of sovereign wealth fund, migration policy, youth participation in governance, and amendment of Article 155 1 (A) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Construction workers remanded until September 11 SENIOR Magistrate Leron Daly, on Wednesday August 14, 2019, remanded two men to prison on a break and enter and larceny charge.

Dexter Forde, a 25-yearold construction worker and Alfred Singh, a 28-year-old construction worker, both from West Ruimveldt, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charge when it was read to them.

Particulars of the charge stated that, between August 10, 2019 and August 11, 2019, at West Ruimveldt, they ‘broke and entered’ the dwelling house of Natasha David and stole items valued at $860,000.

Police prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the men and told the court that, on Saturday August 10, David secured her home and

went to bed. When she woke in the wee hours of Sunday morning, she saw her house ransacked.

David reported the matter to the police and an investigation was launched.

During the investigation, the police received a video from a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) which showed the men entering the woman’s home.

Forde and Singh were arrested and were positively identified by David.

The prosecutor, in her objection to bail, told the court that Forde is currently on $80,000 bail for a robbery under arms charge.

Magistrate Leron Daly refused bail for the men and remanded them to prison until September 11, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

M&CC working to alleviate flooding in Georgetown –– Investigation launched to determine why procedures were not followed THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has announced its readiness to alleviate the current flooding situation in the capital city – Georgetown.

City Engineer (ag), Kenson Boston, briefed the media earlier on Wednesday.

Based on reports received by the municipality, the pumps were poorly attended. The pumps were supposed to be in operation during the continuous rainfall experienced on Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning.

“We have experienced exceptional rainfall which has caused a backup of water within the city. During

The panel during a briefing at the City Council. [In the photo, from left] City Engineer (ag), Kenson Boston; Acting Town Clerk, Sherry Gerrick; Councillor Eketa Edwards; Councillor Denroy Tudor and a member of staff attached to the M&CC

the period of the high tide, the pumps should have been open for the lengthy period until it is time for the doors to open at the low tide.”

According to the Acting City Engineer, the M&CC

has launched an investigation into the situation, stating that systems were put in place for such events; however, the operational procedure was not followed. He said the city works committee

has arranged for the standard operating procedure to be revised so that they will not be a reoccurrence of the situation.

“We are working to improve the system that we

have, and from the investigation, we hope to find the weak points that we will try to strengthen to mitigate or prevent this problem from reoccurring once we have these types of weather patterns,”

Boston emphasised.

Acting Town Clerk, Sherry Gerrick, noted that a report from the investigation is expected. Disciplinary action will be taken against employees who are found culpable in the dereliction of his or her duty while assuring that no complaints of damage have been received.

Meanwhile, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has informed that there was no major flooding across the coast. Also, a follow up with various Regional Executive Officers (REO) in the coastal regions reiterated same.

(DPI)

Minister Ferguson outlines her vision for CH&PA Highest Wednesday rainfall MINISTER Annette Ferguson who has responsibility for housing said that there is a backlog of over 40,000 pending house lot applications on file.

These, she said, were inherited from the previous administration after the transition to the Coalition Government. She was at the time outlining her vision to address this issue and further stated that her office will be working diligently to address related issues.

She was at the time being interviewed on the National Communication’s Network’s (NCN Inc.) programme ‘INSIGHT’ on Voice of Guyana (VOG). In her informative discussion she outlined her vision for Central Housing & Planning

Authority aimed at meeting the needs of the public.

An aspect of the vision she outlined related to CH&PA having a hotline service, thus providing the platform for enhanced communication and consultation between the general public and CH&PA’s staff. The burning question of when and where house lots will be allocated will then be addressed in a more timely manner and applicants for house lots are likely to have a better understanding of the processes and be more hopeful.

The minister however voiced her dissatisfaction regarding the high price marked on house lots.

“The CH&PA is guided by the Housing Act Cap. 36:20 and in that act it

Minister Annette Ferguson

clearly spells out that it is the responsibility of CH&PA to provide housing for the working class of people.

But yet we are seeing these exorbitant prices, for example $1.8M $2M and $3M, for a house lot,” she said.

In this regard, Minister Ferguson pointed out that it is difficult for public servants to afford these high-priced house lots, given the fact that an average person’s pay is beneath $100,000 GYD. In this regard, another aspect of her vision will be to review the pricing of house lots to make them more affordable to all Guyanese.

“My simple appeal to the masses out there, is just be patient. Your government, through the Ministry of Communities, Department of Housing, is working assiduously to address your housing needs,” she stated.

WITH an Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) interacting with an Easterly wave, heavy rainfall battered Guyana’s coastland late Tuesday night into the wee hours of Wednesday morning, resulting in the highest rainfall of 179.7mm or 7.07 inches being recorded at De Kindren Back, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

The Hydromet Department of the Ministry of Agriculture noted that the reading was among rainfall data gathered for the past 24 hours and measured at 08:00hrs on August 14, 2019. That was available for most of the stations.

A weather brief had stated partly-cloudy to cloudy skies with showers and thunder showers over inland areas, with other areas enjoying partly cloudy and

sunny skies with no significant rainfall.

Between 19:00hrs last night and 07:00hrs today, the forecasters had predicted that there would be cloudy skies with moderate showers and thunder showers over Regions Seven, Eight and One (Barima-Waini) in the North West.

In the early morning, coastal areas can expect partly-cloudy to cloudy skies with occasional showers measuring between 20.0mm and 30.0 mm (0.79 and 1.18 inches).

However other areas will have no significant rainfall which should measure 0.0 and 15.0 mm.

Meanwhile, above normal high tides measuring 2.92 metres at 03:54hrs expected today Thursday, August 15 and on Friday at 16:22hrs with a height of 2.74 metres.

‘Maley’ beaten while in remand Taxi driver charged for sexual assault granted bail

THE Prison authorities are currently investigating the assault committed on remanded prison Marlon Bradley known as “Maley”, by other inmates at the Lusignan Prison Bradley, 36, on August 9, 2019, was charged and remanded to prison by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the possession of a gun and ammunition.

He was then taken to the Lusignan Prison Holding 3, where he was beaten and had his hair cut by inmates, while it was being videoed. The video was then circulated on social media by the inmates.

In the video, Bradley is on the prison floor while two inmates forcefully cut his hair

Marlon Bradley known as “Maley” ( Stabroek News Photo)

with scissors. The men, acted on instruction received from another inmate, who is heard in the video saying “Cut off his hair…ayo is bad boy.”

However, the same man is also heard telling the other prisoners “Don’t chop he” (Bradley) as the men tried to

harm him.

Director of Prison (ag) Gladwin Samuels said that Bradley was extracted from the Holding 3 and relocated to the Lusignan Prison.

Bradley was unable to identify his attackers because their faces were covered. However, he was able to identify one person by voice recognition.

On August 4, 2019, Bradley, who is a suspect in the murder of Reginald ‘Reggie’ Atherly, popularly known as “Diesel Boss”, was shot in his leg at Cornhill On August 9, 2019, Bradley was arraigned before Magistrate Daly and was remanded to prison. The investigation into Atherly’s murder is still ongoing.

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, released a 39-year-old taxi driver on $100,000 bail for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, in his motor car.

Rohan Singh was hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates' Court, where the matter was heard in camera.

Particulars of the charge alleged that, on May 22, 2019, at Farm, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Singh, touched a 16-yearold girl without her consent.

Rohan Singh

He was released on $100,000 bail and the matter was adjourned until August 21, 2019.

The Guyana Chronicle

was made to understand that the victim was a passenger in Singh’s vehicle which he operates as a taxi.

It is alleged that the teen requested to be taken to the Diamond Hospital, East Bank Demerara.

However, Singh allegedly stopped at Farm, EBD and raised up the teen’s shirt while rubbing her belly.

It is further alleged that Singh tried to kiss the teen but she refused.

The matter was reported to the police and Singh was arrested.

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Kohli puts Windies to the sword as India complete ODI series win PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Irrepressible India captain Virat Kohli stroked his second successive hundred and 43rd of his career to spearhead a remarkable run chase and send West Indies tumbling to a six-wicket defeat under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern in the final One-Day International here yesterday.

Set a daunting 255 for victory off just 35 overs after rain had caused an earlier three-hour break during West Indies’ innings, India effortlessly chased down the target with 15 balls to spare, to take the series 2-0 and condemn the hosts to their 13th defeat in 22 ODIs this year.

Further, West Indies have now won only four of their last 21 ODIs against India, and their latest defeat keeps them winless on the current tour after suffering a 3-0 whitewash in the preceding Twenty20 series.

Kohli lay the centre of India’s brilliance, carving out a quite superb unbeaten 114 off 99 deliveries to follow up his 120 in last Sunday’s second ODI also at Queen’s Park Oval, and clinch the Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-Series awards.

Dropped on 11, in the sixth over by wicketkeeper Shai Hope off seamer Keemo Paul, Kohli made West Indies pay for the error, hitting 14 fours – the last of which was

a clip to fine leg off seamer Carlos Brathwaite which took his side over the line.

Shreyas Iyer struck 65 off 41 balls while opener Shikhar Dhawan gathered a run-a-ball 36 as India expertly controlled a run chase which could have proved tricky.

Veteran opener Chris Gayle had earlier blasted 72 from 41 deliveries as West Indies raced to a competitive 240 for seven off their allotted 35 overs.

His opening partner, Evin Lewis, struck 43, Nicholas Pooran chipped in with a quick-fire 30 while Shimron Hetmyer (25) and Shai Hope (24) both got starts.

Gayle, in possibly his last ODI, handed West Indies a sensational start as he blasted eight fours and five sixes, dominating a 115-run opening stand off a mere 65 deliveries with fellow left-hander Lewis.

West Indies had ambled to 13 without loss after four overs after opting to bat first, but Gayle then raised the tempo considerably, racing to his half-century off 30 balls with the first of two consecutive sixes off left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed (3-68) in the 10th over which leaked 17 runs.

Lewis also looked in good nick, punching five fours and three sixes as he too got stuck into India’s attack.

With West Indies on top, both openers fell in quick suc-

cession when Lewis miscued a slog at leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and was caught in the deep in the 11th over and Gayle belted Khaleel Ahmed straight to mid-off six balls later in the following over.

The rains arrived at the end of the 22nd over with West Indies on 158 and when play resumed three hours later, they had only 13 overs left in their innings.

Hetmyer and Hope, both of whom had struggled before the break, pushed their third-wicket stand to 50 before also departing in successive overs with the score on 171 in the 26th over, but Pooran lashed a four and three sixes in a cameo 16-ball knock to fire West Indies past 200.

He put on 40 with captain Jason Holder (14) before picking out Manish Pandey at long on with seamer Mohammed Shami (2-50) in the 31st over.

Facing a required run rate of just under 7½ runs per over, India suffered a major early blow when they lost Rohit Sharma in the third over for 10 with the score on 25, run-out at the non-striker’s end after failing to regain his ground in a mix-up over a single.

However, Kohli’s arrival changed the complexion of the game as he added a crucial 66 for the second wicket to transfer pressure back on the

Windies.

Dhawan had struck five fours when he was deceived by left-arm spinner Fabian Allen (2-40) and holed out to mid-off in the 13th over and Rishabh Pant (0) lasted two balls before falling in the same over, also failing to clear Paul at mid-off.

To t t e r i n g o n 9 2 f o r three, India were in need of something special and got it through Kohli and Iyer who put on 120 for the fourth

wicket to take the game away from West Indies.

Kohli was dominant from the start, reaching his half-century in the 18th over off 48 deliveries before marching to three figures off 93 balls in the 31st.

The 24-year-old Iyer, in his ninth ODI, lashed three fours and five sixes and by the time he chipped seamer Kemar Roach to Holder at long off in the 29th over, victory was all but assured.

SCORECARD

WEST INDIES innings C. Gayle c Kohli b Ahmed 72 E. Lewis c Dhawan b Chahal 43 S. Hope b Jadeja 24 S. Hetmyer b Shami 25 N. Pooran c Pandey b Shami 30 C. Brathwaite c wkp. Pant b Ahmed 16 J. Holder c Kohli b Ahmed 14 F. Allen not out 6 K. Paul not out 0 Extras: (b-1, lb-2, nb-1, w-6) 10 Total: (7 wkts, 35 overs) 240 Fall of wickets: 1-115, 2-121, 3-171, 4-171, 5-211, 6-221, 7-236.

Bowling: Kumar 5-1-48-0 (w-3), Mohammed Shami 7-1-50-2 (w-1, nb-1), Khaleel Ahmed 7-0-68-3, Chahal 7-0-32-1 (w-1), Jadhav 4-0-13-0, Jadeja 5-0-26-1 (w-1).

INDIA innings (target: 255 off 35 overs) R. Sharma run-out 10 S. Dhawan c Paul b Allen 36 V. Kohli not out 114 R. Pant c Paul b Allen 0 S. Iyer c Holder b Roach 65 K. Jadhav not out 19 Extras: (lb-4, w-8) 12 Total: (4 wkts, 32.3 overs) 256 Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-91, 3-92, 4-212.

Bowling: Roach 7-0-53-1 (w-1), Holder 4-0-39-0, Paul 5-0-39-0 (w-4), Allen 6-0-40-2, Chase 7-0-43-0, Brathwaite 3.3-0-38-0 (w-2) Result: India won by six wickets (DLS).

Series: India won three-match series 2-0.

Man-of-the-Match: Virat Kohli Man-of-the-Series: Virat Kohli

GCF Elections fiasco continues; AGM & Elections constitutionally adjourned THE Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) Annual General Meeting and Elections which were supposed to be held on Tuesday af-

ternoon at Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) building in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, came to an abrupt end after a vote deemed the meeting constitutionally adjourned.

The AGM, which was scheduled for 15:00hrs, started over 40 minutes later.

Just a few minutes into the meeting, former Assistant treasurer of the GCF, William Howard, made an objection. He pointed out that

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constitutionally an AGM may be adjourned if it was started 20 minutes later than the stipulated time.

Due to Howard’s objection, the motion was put to a vote and carried for the meeting to be adjourned.

This is despite GCF president Horace Burrowes’ earlier claims that only a few of the gathered members would be eligible to vote at the AGM and Elections, due to some of them not be-

ing in ‘good standing’ with the federation - something which would be determined by the federation’s General Council.

Surprisingly, the GCF president revealed that the GCF’s current General Council is made up only of himself, Maria Leung (GCF secretary) and Assistant Racing Secretary Joseph Britton; all of whom are from the same club, United We Stand Cycle Club.

Following the decision to adjourn the meeting, the next step, according to the constitution, is that another meeting be set seven (7) days after at the same time and same venue.

That new meeting, if the constitution is followed, will set the Elections and AGM for Tuesday (August 20). However, it is unclear whether or not Burrowes would still be in the jurisdiction on that date.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

Winfield Brathwaite C’bean Schoolboys tourney

Who’s who in Team Guyana THE recently renamed Winfield Brathwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Tournament runs from August 16 to 18 at the Cliff Anderson National Sports Hall (CASH) in Guyana and the home team are the three-time defending champions.

Today GBA presents a Who’s Who of the boxers, their coaches and managers. Two females are also members of Team Guyana.

■ ISAIAH MOORE (Born January 17, 2001) age 18 Boxing Style: Southpaw Division: Youth Flyweight Gym: Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) School: Charlestown Secondary (wrote CXC) National debut: 2016 C’bean Dev C/ships in Barbados Fights: 30, one loss (disqualification), 19 KOs Isaiah is the son of retired professional boxer Leon ‘Hurry up’ Moore who is now a coach at the famous Gleason’s Boxing Gym in Brooklyn, New York and the brother of Thierry Moore who is making his debut for Guyana in this tournament.

The talented Isaiah is captain of Team Guyana and in age and fights will be one of the most experienced boxers in this tournament and a lot will be expected of him on home soil.

■ EMMANUEL POMPEY (Born December 13, 2002) age 16 Boxing Style: Orthodox Division: Middleweight Gym: Young Achievers (YA) School: New Campbellville Secondary National debut: 2018 in Guyana Fights: 12; 5 wins, 7 losses Emmanuel is one boxer who is expected to make an impact in his second year in this tournament and the coaches will want to see if he has matured and improved from last year.

■ THIERRY MOORE (Born August 1, 2006) age 13 Boxing Style: Southpaw/ Orthodox Division: Junior Schoolboys - Pinweight Gym: FYF School: Charlestown Secondary National debut: This tournament The baby of the team, boxing runs in his blood since his father is a former professional boxing champion and his elder sibling is the captain of this team. This will be a learning experience for him as he represents the Golden Arrowhead for the first time.

■ MARK CRAWFORD (Born December 15, 2002 age 16 Boxing Style: Orthodox Division: Juniors Lightweight Gym: FYF

School: West Demerara Secondary National debut: 2018 in Guyana Fights: 3, 1 win, 2 losses Mark understands the importance of balancing education with sports and is awaiting his CXC results. He had the experience of boxing at this level last year when both losses were at the hands of the same opponent.

Coach Sebert Blake

Travis Invevary

Dwayne Castello

■ RICHARD HOWARD (Born January 29, 2002) age 17 Boxing Style: Orthodox Division: 52kg Gym: FYF School: National debut: 2017 in Guyana Fights: 3, 3 wins, 2 KOs Richard is has fought at this level and is fast building a reputation as a power-puncher and could be aiming for more knock-outs in this tournament.

■ TRAVIS INVERARY (Born May 12, 2004) age 15 Boxing Style: Southpaw Division: 57kg Gym: FYF School: Ascension Secindary National debut: This tournament Travis will be keen to give a good account of himself in his first year at this level.

■ MALACHI JONES (Born December 13, 2004) age 14

Boxing Style: Southpaw Division: 53kg Gym: FYF School: Dolphin Secondary National debut: This tournament While he is yet to fight officially for his country, Malachi is one of the boxers returning from last year’s team. With no opponent in his division available he fought in an Exhibition

February 4, 2006) age 13 Division: Schoolboys Gym: FYF School: East Ruimveldt Secondary National debut: This tournament

■ DWAYNE CASTELLO (Born November 18, 2004) age 14 Boxing Style: Southpaw

Manager Lennox Daniels

Malachi Jones

Jaqwan Milo

Alex Butcher

Fitz Haywood

Fitz Haywood (Born June 8, 2001) age 18 Boxing style: Southpaw Division: 67kg Gym: FYF School: South Ruimveldt Secondary National debut: This tournament Fitz wrote CXC exams this year and awaiting his results

Coach Clive Atwell

Sean Graham

Jevron McKenzie

■ JEVON MCKENZIE (Born January 23, 2002) age 17 Boxing Style: Orthodox Division: 64kg Gym: YA School: East Ruimveldt Secondary National debut: This tournament

Shurlon Stephen

bout and should know what to expect when he steps into the ring this time.

■ JAQWAN MILO (Born September 22, 2004) age 14 Boxing Style: Southpaw Division: Welterweight Gym: FYF School: West Ruimveldt Secondary (formerly David Rose Secondary) National debut: This tournament ■ SEAN GRAHAM (Born

Royan Benjamin

ary

Division: 46kg Gym: FYF School: Ascension Second-

National debut: This tournament ■ ALEX BUTCHER (Born January 2, 2002) age 16 Boxing Style: Both Division: Lightweight Gym: YA School: Sophia Training Centre National debut: This tournament

■ SHURLON STEPHEN (Born August 15, 2003) age 16 Boxing Style: Both Division: 63kg Gym: YA School: South Ruimveldt National Debut: This Tournament ■ ROYAN BENJAMIN (Born Septrmber 3, 2004) age 14 Boxing Style: Southpaw Division: Featherweight Gym: FYF School: West Ruimveldt Nat debut: This tournament ■ ALISHA JACKMAN (Born November 15, 2004) age 14 Boxing Style: Southpaw

ary

Division: Female 60kg Gym: FYF School: St Mary’s Second-

National debut: 2018 in Guyana Fights: 2, 2 wins At just 14, Alisha is one of the better young female boxers in Guyana and is the younger sister of Abiola Jackman who is the other female boxer in Team Guyana.

If handled in the proper way, Alisha has the talent to follow in the footsteps of the likes of top Guyanese female pugilists like Gwendolyn O’Neil, Shondell Alfred and Margaret ‘Chico’ Walcott ■ ABIOLA JACKMAN (Born November 26, 2002) age 16 Boxing Style: Southpaw Division: Female Junior Welterweight Gym: FYF School: Business School National debut: 2018 in Guyana Fights: 1, 1 win ■SEBERT BLAKE (Born December 5, 1973) age 46 Position: Head Coach Gym: FYF As a boxer coach Blake won a bronze medal at the 1997 Pan American Games in Columbia and first got involved in Coaching in 2001.

He was head coach of the National team to the-then Caribbean Development Boxing Championships in 2015 in Barbados when Guyana returned home with 10 gold medals and a silver. This remains Guyana’s best showing in an overseas boxing tournament.

■ LENNOX DANIELS (Born January 28, 1959) age 60 Position: Manager A National Intermediate boxing champion, Lennox got into Coaching at early age and made his debut as National Junior coach in 1988 at the Junior Carifta Games in Jamaica, ■ CLIVE ATWELL (Born November 11, 1988) age 30 Position: Assistant Coach If Clive lived in an ideal World, he would still be fighting but that phase of his career ended at the Giftland Mall on October 24, 2015 during the ninth round of his WBC FECARBOX Lightweight title fight against fellow Guyanese Dexter Gonzales when he fainted and had to do two brain surgeries At that time Clive held the National Featherweight and Lightweight titles and WBC CABOFE Super Lightweight and Featherweight crowns.

A preacher from the Village of Agricola, Clive made the transformation to coaching and this tournament will be his first with a National team, although he already has two wins as coach, in Dominica, where he once lived, and in Trinidad &Tobago.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

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First Test in Galle...

Taylor hits unbeaten 86 after Dananjaya grabs five (REUTERS) - Sri Lanka’s Akila Dananjaya spun a web around New Zealand’s batsmen, picking up all five wickets on a rain-shortened opening day of the first Test in Galle yesterday.

Experienced batsman Ross Taylor held firm with an unbeaten 86 against the guile of Dananjaya to take the touring side to 203 for five when rain forced early stumps. Mitchell Santner was the other unbeaten batsman at the crease on eight.

Both sides selected three spinners for the Galle pitch and the 25-year-old Dananjaya, who in the past has been suspended from bowling in international cricket for an illegal bowling action, made a quick impact.

After New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bat, the opening pair added 64 before Dananjaya struck twice in the space of four deliveries to

send back Tom Latham (30) and Williamson, who was dismissed without scoring.

Dananjaya then induced an edge from Jeet Raval to dismiss the other opener for 33 at the stroke

of the lunch break to reduce New Zealand to 71 for three.

Taylor, a veteran of 93 Tests, staged a fightback for the Black Caps with Henry Nicholls and added 100 for

the fourth wicket before Dananjaya dismissed the latter.

Nicholls failed to connect a sweep shot and was out leg-before for 42 and BJ Watling soon joined him in the dressing room after being out

in similar fashion, to hand the off-spinner his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests.

The two-Test series, with the second match set for Colombo, is the first for both teams in the newly launched World Test Championship, which features the top nine Test-playing nations competing in a league across two years.

Veteran Black Caps batsman Ross Taylor hits unbeaten 86

SCORECARD

Akila Dananjaya celebrates after dismissing Jeet Raval (AFP photo)

Rain washes out first day of Lord’s Test ... Josh Hazlewood to play ahead of Starc

Josfra Archer was presented with his England cap

THE first day of the second Ashes Test between England and Australia was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain at Lord’s.

A break in the weather did allow a 15:30 BST start, only for further rain to intervene.

There has yet to be a toss and the teams have not been officially named.

However, pace bowler Jofra Archer was presented with his England cap, confirming that he will make his Test debut.

At Archer’s request, the presentation was made by Chris Jordan, his Sussex team-mate.

Like Archer, Jordan was born in Barbados and helped introduce the debutant to the English game.

England’s warm-up seemed to indicate that all-rounder Sam Curran would be the player from their squad of 12, to miss out, meaning batsman Joe Denly and left-arm spinner Jack Leach would play.

Even if England had decided on a team yesterday, because it is yet to be confirmed, they can still make changes.

Australia coach Justin Langer said Josh Hazlewood will play ahead of fellow pace bowler Mitchell Starc, with James Pattinson rested after the first Test.

The tourists, the Ashes holders, lead the series 1-0 after a 251-run win in the first Test at Edgbaston.

With the full 90 overs lost to the weather on day one, an additional eight overs will be added to each of the remaining four days.

Further disruption is likely, though, with more rain forecast for tomorrow and Saturday.

There is clear weather predicted for today, when Lord’s will be turned red for the Ruth Strauss Foundation, a charity founded by former England batsman Andrew in honour of his late wife, who died of lung cancer last year. (BBC Sport)

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings Jeet Raval c Dhananjaya de Silva b Akila Dananjaya 33 Tom Latham c Niroshan Dickwella b Akila Dananjaya 30 Kane Williamson c Dimuth Karunaratne b Akila Dananjaya 0 Ross Taylor not out

86 Henry Nicholls lbw Akila Dananjaya

42 BJ Watling lbw Akila Dananjaya

1 Mitchell Santner not out

8 Extras: (lb-2, nb-1)

3 Total: (five wkts, 68.0 overs)

203 Fall of Wickets : 1-64 Latham, 2-64 Williamson, 3-71 Raval, 4-171 Nicholls, 5-179 Watling Bowling: Suranga Lakmal 10-5-14-0 (nb-1), Lahiru Kumara 10-1-37-0, Akila Dananjaya 22-2-57-5, Dhananjaya de Silva 6-0-20-0, Lasith Embuldeniya 20- 1-73-0.

Semenya says she never felt supported by other women JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya, who has been locked in a battle over her testosterone levels with athletics authorities, said yesterday that she has not felt supported by other women in sport.

The South African athlete will not be able to defend her 800-metre title at the world championships in September after the Swiss Federal Tribunal reversed a ruling that temporarily lifted testosterone regulations imposed on her.

“Since I have been in sport I have never really felt very supported, I’ve never felt recognised mostly by women,” said Semenya during a women’s conference in Johannesburg where she

was the headline speaker.

Semenya is appealing the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) ruling that supported regulations introduced by the sport’s governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

These say that XY chromo-

Caster Semenya

some athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) can race in distances from 400m to a mile only if they take medication to reach a reduced testosterone level.

Despite the IAAF receiving support from some current and former athletes, the decision to reduce testosterone levels in women’s athletics has also attracted criticism from human rights organisations. The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution in support of Semenya in March.

“I think it comes more into the international stage when you see your own rivals come with this ... what can I call it ... these rude responses in terms of me competing against them,” said Semenya.

British runner Lynsey Sharp said in May that she had received death threats for past comments she made about the South African.

Semenya, who was greeted by cheers at the conference, said she still saw herself as a middle distance runner.

“Whoever is going to stop me from running is going to have to drag me out of the track,” Semenya said.

The 28-year-old said she was undecided about whether she would switch to longer distances or pursue a career in another sport.

“In terms of changing events I haven’t decided anything about moving up or moving down. I still consider myself a middle distance runner,” Semenya said.

Steyn was not ‘medically ready’ for India tour - van Zyl CRICKET South Africa (CSA) have said that Dale Steyn was not “medically ready” to be selected for South Africa’s upcoming tour to India.

Steyn announced his retirement from Test cricket last week, turning his focus entirely to limited overs cricket, but was one of the notable absentees when the T20I squad for the trip to India was announced on Tuesday.

Another player missing from the T20 squad was all-rounder Chris Morris, whose national contract expired after the World Cup and who did not make himself available for selection for the tour. But it appears that Steyn thought himself available for selection, taking to Twitter to

write: “I did … obviously lost my number in the reshuffling of coaching staff.”

Dale Steyn

Responding to a tweet from journalist Neil Manthorp, who dryly suggested that the selectors might be saving Steyn for “big”

games, Steyn responded: “Apologies to Virat and a billion people for thinking they not.”

However, CSA acting Director of Cricket Corrie van Zyl has suggested that Steyn was not yet fit enough to be selected for the tour. “He is not yet medically ready and our information makes that very clear,” van Zyl told Sport24.

Steyn aggravated an old injury in his right shoulder while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore Kohli’s team - in the IPL in May, and though he was named in South Africa’s squad for the World Cup subsequently, he failed to recover in time and was ultimately ruled out.

Unlike Morris, Steyn is still contracted by CSA, hav-

ing retained his national contract for the 2019-20 season in limited overs cricket. After the trip to India, South Africa’s next limited overs engagements come at home against England in February 2020, with the limited overs leg of England’s tour including three ODIs and three T20Is. Steyn is not the only player upon whose fitness CSA are sweating, with Vernon Philander and Theunis de Bruyn - both named in the Test squad - currently recovering from injuries, Philander to his hamstring and de Bruyn his back.

“Both are on track, but they will have to play one match before the tour to prove that they are fully fit,” van Zyl said.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

Johnson calls 31 locally based players to training for Nations League DESPITE close to four months of inactivity in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Elite League, the country’s top football league, coach Michael Johnson and his technical staff named 31 locally based provisional squad to begin training as the Golden Jaguars prepare for their CONCACAF Nations League participation.

Seven players, according to a release from the GFF, received their first call to Guyana’s Senior National programme.

Charles Pollard, Golden Jaguars’ assistant coach and lead for the Guyana-based team preparation, said the squad was selected by a technical panel including head coach Michael Johnson.

“We’re continuously looking for players with the right combination of technical skill, heart and commitment to represent Guyana. I believe this squad reflects that,” Pollard said.

Pollard added that while the majority of the squad is taken from those who were part of the previous training programme, “we have brought in some new players who have shown creditable performances in the recently-held tournaments and who have to fight for a place when the short list is made.

One of those players is young Ryan Dowding who performed well during the recently concluded GFF-KFC U-20 tournament.”

The Former national defender pointed out that the first sessions will prioritise fitness, since “fitness in the sport, es-

pecially during this time, can never be underestimated. So while some of the guys have been actively engaged in tournaments, others may not have been so active, so the fitness regime will test this to determine their overall readiness and will also point us to areas to focus on.”

Fitness evaluation is scheduled for Saturday.

Track and Field Centre.

The Golden Jaguars will then travel to Antigua and Barbuda where they will roar at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on October 11, to finish off the first leg of the home-and-away formatted league.

Guyana will host Antigua and Barbuda on October 15, Aruba on November 15 and will travel to Jamaica on

Eagles FC’s talisman is one of the seven players to receive their first call-up to the ‘Golden Jaguars’

Guyana will journey to Curacao to face Aruba at the Stadion Ergilio Hato in their first League B, Group C match in the CONCACAF Nations League. Kick-off time is 19:00hrs.

By virtue of finishing seventh in the qualifying stages of the competition, Guyana were placed in Group C of League B alongside Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba and Jamaica.

Following their September 6 encounter, Guyana will return home to host Jamaica on September 9 from 19:00hrs at the National

November 18 for their second clash with the ‘Reggae Boyz’.

The home-and-away group stage of the 2019 CONCACAF Nations League will be played on FIFA match dates in September, October and November 2019, while the Final Championship will take place in 2020.

At the conclusion of the round-robin group stage, the winners of each League A group will qualify to the Final Championship, while the League B and C group winners will be promoted to League A and B for the next edition of the competition.

Additionally, the teams at the bottom of each League A and B group will be relegated to League B and C respectively.

GOALKEEPERS: Alex Murray (Santos FC), Akel Clarke (S.V. Walking Boyz Company), Sese Norville Jr (Milerock FC), Clive Matthews (Grove Hi-Tec FC) DEFENDERS: Sherwin Skeete (Fruta Conquerors FC), Simeon Moore (Santos FC), Kevin Dundas (Eagles FC), Omar Brewley (Eagles FC), Raphael Edwards (S.V. Walking Boyz Company), Kevin Layne (Guyana Defence Force FC), Quincy Adams (Fruta Conquerors FC), Solomon Austin (Fruta Conquerors FC), Anson Lewis (Botofago FC), William Europe (Western Tigers FC), Shemar Fraser (Buxton United FC).

MIDFIELDERS: Ryan Dowding (Santos FC), Leo James Lovell (Den Amstel FC), Franklin Parks (Guyana Rush Saints FC), Daniel Wilson (Western Tigers FC), Jahall Greaves (Fruta Conquerors FC), Deon Charter (Eagles FC), Ryan Hackett (Fruta Conquerors FC), Clive Nobrega (Eagles United), Pernel Shultz (Western Tigers) and Delwin Fraser (Guyana Defence Force FC).

FORWARDS: Jamaal Pereira (Fruta Conquerors FC), Delroy Fraser (Guyana Defence Force FC), Jamal Haynes (Botofago FC), Randolph Wagner (Western Tigers FC), Donovan Francis (Eagles FC) and David Blake (Den Amstel FC).

Track in excellent condition ahead of Sunday’s Guyana Cup

ALL roads will lead to the Rising Sun Turf Club in Rising Sun Village, West Coast Berbice this Sunday, when the 13th edition of the Guyana Cup International Horse Race meet gallops off.

This year, over $18M in cash and prizes are up for grabs and the steeds will

have a clear and immaculate track to trample down, come Sunday.

The track, which is in excellent condition, is located a meagre 45 minutes from Georgetown, and all systems are in place for a fun-filled day.

Over US$50 000 in cash prizes will be handed out

Preparatory works on the Rising Sun Turf Club track was completed this week

to the top performers on race day and a grand mega concert, featuring eight international artistes, is planned after the event.

NINE RACES ARE CARDED. THE DETAILS OF THE RACES AND PRIZE MONEY ARE LISTED AS FOLLOWS:

- C Class and Lower feature race over a distance of one mile, $2M - Three-year-old Guyana-bred, $1M - G3 and Lower, $400 000 - L3 and Lower (open to non-winners from Trinidad & Tobago), $350 000 - Two-year-old Guyana-bred over, $300 000 - J3 and Lower over seven furlongs – $300 000 – L Class for Colts, $250 000 – L Class Filly and Mare, $250 000 Some of the top animals expected to be on show come race day will include Just Call Me Bass, Crown the King (Jamaica), Doublin Fashion (USA), Chameli (Jamaica), Safara (Jamaica), Southern Express (T&T), Silver & Things (T&T), Sitarr (T&T), Kentucky Woman (T&T), Super Easy (T&T) and She’s a Princess.

Guyana’s Terence Vancooten signs new deal with Stevenage FC

Defender Terence Vancooten is all smiles as he signs his new deal with League Two side Stevenage FC

ENGLISH Football League Two club Stevenage FC announced that they have agreed terms for a new and improved contract with Guyana’s Terence Vancooten until 2022.

The 21-year-old joined Stevenage in July 2017 and went on to make 34 appearances during his debut campaign with the club, mostly as a right-back.

Last season, Vancooten played a star role as a central defender in the team’s end-of-season run of five wins and one draw from the final six matches, re-establishing himself as a key member of the First Team.

Vancooten is capped eight times for the Golden

Jaguars, and was a standout player for Guyana at the 2019 Gold Cup in the USA and Chairman Phil Wallace said, “Terence’s assured performances since the start of 2019 have earned him a new contract and improved terms.”

“We are not surprised his ability is attracting the attention of some top clubs.

He is still improving and if he can continue to progress, stay focussed and keep level-headed then we believe he can play at the highest level,” Wallace said.

Vancooten is expected to suit up again for the Golden Jaguars in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Beckles to start seminar today AIBA Three Star referee, James Beckles, arrived in Guyana last night to hold a three-day seminar for local and overseas boxing referees starting today.

AIBA Three Star referee James Beckles

The seminar will commence at 10:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Trinidadian Beckles, will host the seminar in the lead-up to the Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors tournament set to punch off tomorrow at the same venue.

The Three Star official is one of four overseas referees in for the tournament. David Brown and Jozef Faddoul are from Trinidad and Dominica respectively, while Audrey Sabas of Guadeloupe is the lone female.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 15, 2019

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Liverpool win Super Cup after penalty shootout

By Ece Toksabay ISTANBUL, Turkey (Reuters) - Champions League winners Liverpool won the Super Cup 5-4 on penalties against Chelsea yesterday after the game ended 2-2 following extra-time.

With the first nine penalties all converted, Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham saw his effort blocked by the legs of Liverpool keeper Adrian to hand victory to Juergen Klopp’s side in the annual clash between Champions League and Europa League winners.

It was a memorable moment for the Spanish goalkeeper who only joined the club nine days ago and found himself thrust into the side, following the injury to first-choice Alisson Becker in the Premier League opener against Norwich City on Friday.

“Welcome to Liverpool!

It’s been a crazy week,” said the former West Ham keeper, signed as a free agent as back-up.

“I’m really happy for the team, I’m happy to play for Liverpool and happy for the fans. It was a long game but in the end a great finish for us.”

Liverpool, who beat Tottenham Hotspur in June’s Champions League final, have now won the trophy on four occasions while Chelsea have lost their last three appearances in the match.

While the Super Cup does not carry anywhere near the prestige of either of UEFA’s two season-long competitions, the first-ever all-English affair was a good quality encounter played in hot, muggy conditions.

Chelsea went ahead in the 36th minute when N’Golo Kante drove from midfield and found Christian Pulisic, who turned inside and delivered the perfect through ball for Olivier Giroud to confidently slot home.

American Pulisic then beat Adrian with a fine shot after a swift run down the flank but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Liverpool manager Klopp introduced Brazilian Roberto Firmino at the break and he had an instant impact, poking the ball past the advancing Kepa Arrizabalaga and Sadio

Mane tapped into the unguarded goal to make it 1-1 in the 49th minute.

Arrizabalaga then produced a superb double save in the 75th minute to deny Mohamed Salah’s deflected low drive and the Spanish keeper did superbly to get back up and push Virgil van Dijk’s follow-up against the bar.

Mason Mount had another Chelsea effort ruled out for offside leaving the teams level after 90 minutes and forcing extra-time, past midnight local time, and Liverpool struck after just five minutes with Mane driving home after an excellent exchange with Firmino.

But six minutes later, Chelsea were back on level terms with a Jorginho penalty after Abraham was brought down in the box by Liverpool keeper Adrian, and French referee Stephanie Frappart, the first woman to officiate a major men’s European final, pointed to the spot.

Frank Lampard’s side went close to winning the game with Mount forcing a good save out of Adrian and then Pedro driving just wide but with the scores level after 120 minutes the game went into the shootout.

Although Chelsea ended the game in defeat, Lampard, who took over as manager in July following the departure of Maurizio Sarri, will be encouraged by a positive display after his loss of their opening Premier League game 4-0 at Old Trafford.

“I’ve got nothing but pride in the team and the performance, and confidence in what that means,” said the former England midfielder.

“After Sunday, tonight was another level, and we were unlucky not to win.

We’ve got three games now till the international break and we’ll try to win them all,” he said.

Klopp was delighted with the win but aware that his side had come through a demanding game.

“It was a very difficult game for both teams. It was all about winning it and we did that in the end,” he said.

“Nobody in the stadium wanted extra-time, it was a killer. I’m not sure about the penalty but who cares now. We had to fight and the boys did tonight.”

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane lifts the trophy as he celebrates winning the UEFA Super Cup with team mates.

(REUTERS/Murad Sezer)

Indian skipper posts his 43rd ODI hundred, (Getty)

Kohli puts Windies to the sword as India complete ODI series win Page

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Chris Gayle acknowledges the crowd at Queen’s Park Oval. (Getty)

Bartican is week one winner of Let’s GCF Elections Bet Sports’ Fantasy Football League fiasco continues; AGM & Elections constitutionally adjourned Page

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Let’s Bet Sports Brand Ambassador Rawle Toney (right) presents week one Fantasy League winner, Delroy McIntosh, with his Arsenal jersey (Adrian Narine photo) BARTICAN Delroy McIntosh drew first blood in Let’s Bet Sports’ Fantasy Premier League and received an authentic English Premier League jersey for his efforts.

McIntosh, who supports Arsenal, racked up 100 points to come out as the week one winner, while Keno Washington, also of Bartica, was second with 98 points. He won a $500 voucher to either play online, or at any Lottery/Let’s Bet Sports agents countrywide.

Brand Ambassador Rawle Toney was on hand to make the presentation yesterday at the Guyana Lottery Company’s Corporate Headquarters at Lamaha Street, Georgetown.

At the presentation, Toney highlighted that this is the first of many winners and encouraged others to join the league as they too could win.

He revealed; “Our league is reaching far and wide and is open to anyone 18 years or older across Guyana. You just need to sign up and use our code HEA31M. We could have multiple winners, so sign up and play”.

The Fantasy Premier League is an online game, based on the Barclay’s Premier League in England, in which fans can assemble an imaginary team of real life footballers and score points based on those players’ actual performances on the pitch.

Participants are asked to select 11 players from the BPL within a £100 budget to form their Fantasy team. At the end of the season in May 2020, a winner will emerge and two jerseys directly from the BPL will be up for grabs.

GCF president Horace Burrowes

Guyana’s Terence Vancooten signs new deal with Stevenage FC

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019