Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_09_04_2019

WEDNESDAY 4th September, 2019

Traffic flows again on DHB

No.105750

Production of ID 03 cards being discussed 03 at GECOM North Ruimveldt … as bridge opens to ‘light’ traffic Multilateral … to be properly realigned today, barge owners ‘flying high’ 11 PAGE

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… secures 80 per cent pass rate at CSEC, highest in seven years

Over 800 scholarships granted to Indigenous students 10 PAGE

to pay cost of repairs

The Demerara Harbour Bridge opened to light traffic Tuesday afternoon after being out of operation for one day following an accident early Monday morning (Samuel Maughn photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

GCAA issues first Helideck licence

AS Guyana moves towards oil production in 2020, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) on Tuesday issued the country’s first Helideck Licence for Lisa Destiny, the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The licence was issued to TLC Guyana Inc. in accordance with Part Nine of the Civil Aviation (Air Navigation) Regulations 2001.

The licence has a total of 20 conditions by which TLC Guyana Inc. must abide.

GCAA Director-General Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Egbert Field has said the issuance of the Helideck Licence was necessary, as the country’s developing Oil and Gas Industry advances.

GCAA, he said, is happy to play its part. Director-General Field explained that such a licence permits helicopters

to land on the deck of the FPSO. “The helideck is very important, since it is the lifeline for not only passengers but goods and other pieces of expensive equipment which will be needed on these vessels, and which will be ferried by the helicopters,” Field explained.

The assistance being offered by Ghana was in keeping with the air service agreement that country signed with

GCAA Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Egbert Field presenting TLC Guyana Inc. official, Mathiev Guiraud with the Helideck licence for Lisa Destiny at GCAA’s Headquarters Guyana last November.

The GCAA Director-General disclosed that Liza Destiny’s helideck was inspected in Singapore on August 16, 2019 with assistance from the Civil Aviation Authority of Ghana. “They assisted us, since we did not have the full capacity.

That inspection was successful, and as such, we are presenting our first of, I am sure, many certificates for inspections of the helideck,” the Director-General said during the simple handing over ceremony at GCAA’s

Headquarters.

TLC Guyana Inc. official Mathiev Guiraud received the Helideck licence on behalf of the company.

Guiraud explained that SBM Offshore, the owner of the FPSO, hired TCL to transport the vessel into Guyana.

He said TLC was pleased to work with GCAA, and looks forward to having future engagements with them.

Liza Destiny, the FPSO, arrived in the Stabroek Block from Singapore on August 29.

The FPSO is a signif-

icant component of the Liza Phase 1 development, which involves four undersea drill centres with 17 production wells, the oil exploration company explained, adding that it has a production capacity up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day, and an overall storage volume of 1.6 million barrels. During normal operations, there will be at least 80 persons living and working onboard the vessel. ExxonMobil Guyana remains on target for first oil by early 2020.

Young businessman robbed A YOUNG businessman was robbed of cash and valuables by two armed bandits just after he returned to his Overwinning Village home on Monday night.

Ryanto Albert, 25, and his father Deonarine Albert, had earlier left their business place at 14 Pitt Street, New Amsterdam for home. But, as they were entering their yard, the duo were confronted by two armed men.

Fearful, the elder Deonarine fled the scene, leaving his son at the mercy of the

partially-masked bandits. One gunman hit Ryanto on his head while his accomplice robbed him of $150,000 cash and an Iphone. Following the attack, the thieves discharged a round in the air, before escaping.

The victim was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he is being treated.

Police investigators have recovered a .45 spent shell at the scene.

This is the second time the Alberts have been robbed in recent times. Investigations are continuing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Harbour Bridge opens to ‘light’ traffic –– to be properly realigned today, barge owners to pay cost of repairs

By Navendra Seoraj

THE Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) has been opened to ‘light traffic’ following the completion of structural repairs to damage caused by a tug and barge which slammed into it on Monday.

These include cars, buses, SUVs and bikes. At 00:35 hours, a tug and barge loaded with gravel material came in contact with the bridge, on the southern side, hitting spans 12, 13 and 16, causing it to be shifted completely out of alignment.

Following the incident, the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic.

“Everyone contributed to allow us to bring this back on

stream… we anticipated twothree days, but we are back on track… we have to really commend the workers of the bridge company, the police, commuters, the water taxis and MARAD (Maritime Administration Department) for the work they did and their cooperation,” said Patterson.

Despite the magnitude of the damage, workers of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation were able to complete all structural repairs to the bridge in what, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson called, record time.

“The crew exceeded my expectations… our best guess was that the bridge would be reopened to light traffic around 6:00pm [18:00hrs]

on Tuesday, but some of the guys decided to stay on and complete the work,” said Patterson during an on-air interview with the National Communications Network (NCN), on Tuesday.

Instead of its scheduled, 6:00pm (18:00hours) re-opening, the bridge was re-opened to light traffic at 14:00hours on Tuesday.

Patterson said he notified Commissioner of Police, Leslie James and Commanders of A and D Divisions about the intended opening. He said the bridge was opened to SUVs, minibuses, cars, motorcycles, but laden or empty trucks or canters were not allowed to cross the bridge because it is yet to be fully realigned.

General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, Rawlston Adams points to some of the items that were broken during the accident (Navendra Seoraj photo)

Vehicles traversing the Demerara Harbour Bridge after it was re-opened to light traffic on Tuesday (DPI photo) “We have completed all the repairs to the bridge but, there is work to be done with getting the alignment right,” said the minister.

He said workers, who worked non-stop since the incident, will return to realign the structure, today. The realignment will, however, depend on the tide.

“We will do some adjustments during the next tidal change… the guys will have about 12 hours rest and start again in the morning,” said Patterson.

After the alignment, the bridge will be reassessed and then the authorities will decide when heavy vehicles can travel again.

General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge

Corporation, Rawlston Adams said the realignment will not impede the flow of traffic.

The alignment is also necessary for marine traffic to flow. The bridge has to be absolutely aligned for it to retract, but the authorities anticipate that marine traffic will be flowing again by Thursday.

“We are looking at aligning the structure… we have not been able to connect 13 and 14 and the retractor span stops at 11, so you need those spans to be aligned,” said Adams.

The damage to the bridge was far more extensive than anticipated, said the general manager, adding that there were initially problems with

nine anchors but that number went up to 16 after further inspections.

The bridge company has been bearing the cost of repairs so far, but Adams said once they have completed the exercise, the total cost will be transferred to the owner of the vessel. It is a Panamanian vessel.

Meanwhile, as work continues, Minister Patterson said the water taxis will continue to operate until everything is back to normalcy.

He had said there are 55 water taxis that are functioning fully, while the coast guards were fully activated. For temporary measures, he said the water taxis will be in service until 22:00hrs.

Production of ID cards being discussed at GECOM THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will meet again on Friday after discussions on list of electorates, cross-matching and the production of ID cards regarding the hosting of early elections provided no clear direction on Tuesday.

This is according to Government-appointed GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander, following another a meeting between commissioners and GECOM chairperson, Justice Claudette Singh.

The chairman of GECOM had taken a decision to stop the ongoing House-to-House Registration exercise with effect from Saturday, August 31, 2019.

Alexander said discussions are ongoing, and that no decision has yet been

made, but movements are being made to push things forward.

He said no timelines have been finalised, and such will be done based on recommendations proposed by the secretariat.

PPP-nominated election commissioner, Sase Gunraj said nothing was done to close the gap pertaining to the hosting of elections.

“We sat down and discussed lot of irrelevant discussions. I believe in credible elections in a timely manner; we have failed to come to any meaningful discussions.

But I can tell you, we are attempting this again on Friday,” Gunraj said.

He noted that the processes being discussed will take an inordinately long time to be completed; this includes the production of

GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander ID cards, which will take between 92 and 140 days.

“While those are overlapping events, the issue coming out of that is, those are things that take a long time, and all of the courts so far have spoken on the necessity of elections in a timely manner,” he said.

PPP-nominated election commissioner, Robeson Benn said it appears as if all strategies are being used to further delay elections.

Staff of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation working to complete repairs on the bridge (Navendra Seoraj photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

U.S., France, Britain may be complicit in Yemen war crimes, U.N. report says

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States, Britain and France may be complicit in war crimes in Yemen by arming and providing intelligence and logistics support to a Saudi-led coalition that starves civilians as a war tactic, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

U.N. investigators recommended that all states impose a ban on arms transfers to the

warring parties to prevent them from being used to commit serious violations.

“It is clear that the continued supply of weapons to parties to the conflict is perpetuating the conflict and prolonging the suffering of the Yememi people,” Melissa Parke, an expert on the independent U.N. panel, told a news conference.

“That is why we are urg-

ing member states to no longer supply weapons to parties to the conflict,” she said.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the main parties in the coalition fighting against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement that controls Yemen’s capital, are two of the biggest buyers of U.S., British and French weapons.

The experts compiled a secret list of suspected war criminals. Investigators found potential crimes on both sides, while highlighting the role Western countries play as backers of the Arab states and Iran plays in support of the Houthis.

Panel chair Kamel Jendoubi declined to reveal details of the list of suspects, adding: “What is sure is that we have gathered sufficient facts and sufficient testimonies that

would allow to bring those individuals to justice at a later stage.”

“There are no clean hands in this combat, in this contest,” panelist Charles Garraway said. The report accused the anti-Houthi coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE of killing civilians in air strikes and deliberately denying them food in a country facing famine. The Houthis, for their part, have shelled cities, deployed child soldiers and used “siege-like warfare”, it said.

Neither the Saudi government communications office nor UAE officials responded immediately to Reuters requests for comment. The Houthis drove Yemen’s government out of the capital Sanaa in 2014. The Saudi-led coalition of Sunni Muslim states intervened the follow-

Wed., September 4, 2019 05:00hrs. - 06:30hrs.

ing year to restore the ousted government, a conflict that has since killed tens of thousands of people. The prospect of famine has created what the United Nations describes as the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis, where 24 million people rely on aid.

SECRET LIST The U.N. report said its independent panel had sent a secret list to U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, identifying “individuals who may be responsible for international crimes”.

Its appendix lists more than 160 “main actors” among Saudi, Emirati and Yemeni government and Houthi officials, although it said this was separate from the suspects list. Radhya Almutawakel, chair of independent Yemeni rights group Mwatana, welcomed the report’s findings.

“It sends a message to the parties to stop the war and that they will be held to account,” she told Reuters.

John Fisher of Human Rights Watch called on the U.N. Human Rights Council, which opens a threeweek session on Monday, to strengthen the panel’s mandate and provide “increased resources to preserve evidence, identify perpetrators and analyze command structures”.

The report said: “The legality of arms transfers

by France, the United Kingdom, the United States and other States remains questionable, and is the subject of various domestic court proceedings.” It found that a Joint Incidents Assessment Team set up by Saudi Arabia to review alleged coalition violations had failed to hold anyone accountable for any strike killing civilians, raising “concerns as to the impartiality of its investigations”. “Of one thing we are pretty sure - things are going wrong in the (coalition) targeting process,” Garraway said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

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He’s Wapishan; his wife’s Indian – together they gave the country its first female lawyer of Indigenous extract

By Wendella Davidson THE old adage, “it takes a village to raise a child”, certainly holds true for Miriam Angelique Sonu Andrew, the first woman of Amerindian extract to be admitted to the bar in Guyana. Miriam, who currently works as a Legal Assistant at the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, is of mixed ethnicity.

Her father, who hails from the village of Sand Creek in the Rupununi, is Wapichan, while her mother is Indian. Miriam, who is the last of their two children, turns 26 on September 14.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday, Miriam, who was born in the city and had her formative education at St. Agnes Primary, recalled the family living on Regent Street, but being subsequently forced to move to the East Coast just before she wrote ‘Common Entrance’.

She said that had it not been for the love and support of family and kind relatives, who provided a place for herself, her sister and mom to stay, and sister for herself, mom and sister by offering them a place to stay, she might very well not have been able to attend St. Joseph’s High School.

She recalled tragedy again striking the family when her mother, its sole

breadwinner at the time, lost her job. But being the resourceful woman she is, her mom did the best she could to ensure that her two daughters received a sound education. In 2010, Miriam obtained with 11 passes at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, which afforded her a place at the Bishop’s High School to continue her studies. In 2012, she graduated with an Associate Degree in General Studies, having obtained eight passes at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

With her sights firmly set on becoming a lawyer, Miriam enrolled at the University of Guyana (UG), and in 2015 obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB), graduating with a distinction.

And, on account of her being among the top 25 graduates in her class, Miriam was afforded automatic acceptance into the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad & Tobago so she could obtain her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) and finally be admitted to practise law. She views the acceptance as “monumental” and the final step to realising her dream.

However, with the astronomical cost of attending the acclaimed law school, Miriam’s hopes of attending, even with the support of both parents although they were now separated, was

uncertain.

NO GIVING IN According to Miriam, the thought of her not attending Hugh Wooding made her feel demoralised, but she was not about to give up. As such, she wrote to every conceivable agency she could with the hope of securing a scholarship to help offset the expenses.

With no positive answers coming forth, she repeated the process on numerous occasions. In the end, it was the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs which came to her rescue, and offered a scholarship to cover only the tuition fees. Even though the scholarship meant that she would have had to find money to cover other miscellaneous expenses, Miriam said she was grateful.

Her mother and sister and other family members, including her father, had worked tirelessly to meet the lodging and living expenses in Trinidad.

Describing being initially in Trinidad as “quite a journey”, Miriam explained that initially she found it difficult to settle in as she was not accustomed to being separated from her family. However, her classmates were quite supportive, she said.

Determined to not disappoint her family, friends and sponsor, Miriam said she began to focus more on her studies and became more

surrounding a rape and civil matters that involved issues of custody, maintenance and access; a trial surrounding a commercial matter; meeting with clients, and the drafting of wills, among other things.

Miriam Andrew, Guyana’s first female Amerindian attorney-at-law (Adrian Narine photo )

involved in school activities.

This led to her serving as the Vice-President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Vice President of the Human Rights Committee (HRC) and also a member of the Gavel Editorial Team.

Additionally, she opted to complete the elective Mediation Advocacy Course and be certified. She also completed the Human Rights Clinic, a Specialty Clinic within the Hugh Wooding Law School.

Miriam, as a requirement of her legal training at Hugh Wooding, did a 10-week internship at Singh & Singh Chambers during the 2016 vacation break. The internship allowed her to be exposed to the full spectrum of the legal system, that included criminal and civil matters ranging from a criminal trial

HONOUR ROLL On graduation day, October 7, 2017, Miriam became one of only two Guyanese on the Principal’s Roll of Honour, a privilege awarded to only nine graduating students out of a class of 218.

The other Guyanese, Saeed Hamid, who she described as her “good friend, roommate and study partner”, graduated as the top Guyanese law student. And according to her, she will be ever grateful to him for the love and support he showed her, in good and bad times.

Miriam was also awarded the Oswald J Wilson Memorial Prize (Best Performance in Landlord and Tenant, that was shared with Trinidadian, Karina Wiltshire); the Phelps & Company Prize for the Best Performance in Civil Procedure and Practice I, that she also shared with another student.

She also copped The Cameron & Shepherd Prize, awarded for Best Performance in Civil Procedure and Practice I and II by a Guyanese Student.

While at Hugh Wooding, Miriam co-founded with Hamid, ‘The Foundation for the

Realisation and Elevation of a New Society (FRENS)’, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), which focuses on children and persons with disabilities. She currently serves as the president.

Recently, as part of a `Back-to-School’ project, the organisation presented backpacks, stationery, shoes and socks to 60 children of the Santa Rosa Amerindian community.

With her passion for Human Rights Law and Environmental Law, Miriam’s job at the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs allows her to meet and try to assist Indigenous Peoples, even those who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

The attorney, who said she has the utmost admiration for Amerindians and is proud to be one, is urging Indigenous youths, especially the young women, to not let persons define who you are, seek to shatter any perception of a stereotype that persons will try to push on to you, set yourself a vision then get out and actively pursue and seize those opportunities; always remember the people who helped you to climb that ladder, be humble and respect not only yourself but others with whom you work.

She is married to young Guyanese Formula Four race car driver, Calvin Stanley Ming.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Good work ethics in the work place CONVERSATIONS about Guyana meeting the requirements to confront challenges that exist in the 21st Century primarily focus on the lack of skills and, to a lesser extent, that of work ethics, though both are equally important in achieving the desired results.

Every company, corporation or government will have programmes and deadlines supported by a level of quality control in determining outcomes at appropriate cost.

As Guyana trains, and our skills migrate and are utilised in other countries, Guyanese are known to be commended for the way they perform, and the benefits derived from their participation. Obviously, among our emigrants are those who have been demonstrating high levels of reliability, dedication, cooperation, and character

that would bring about a high level of productivity. These are some of the key requirements that speak to a good employee.

Guyana is at the threshold of again being open to an influx of foreign investors in our natural resources sector, but what confronts the nation is the perception that our work ethics are lagging behind; and dare it be said, in all sectors of society. It matters not in which sector this is more pronounced; that it is prevalent, it is deserving of being addressed on a national scale. And it matters not whether government or a non-governmental organisation takes the initiative, given that it has to be taken up.

It is not unusual to hear a worker blame late attendance on transportation or having something to do at home before leaving, though the condition of employment stipu-

lates the time to be at work.

Time management is important in any operation, yet it continues to be treated with scant regard. On the other hand, the prevailing management culture has contributed to the malaise or carefree attitude of workers to the business at the workplace. It is unrealistic to expect persons to work and live in an environment where conditions of employment, regardless of one’s performance, remain static, and wages/salaries are not improved until the law that sets the minimum standard changes. Yet, these are common practices. Notably, in the private sector, many workers are paid the legal stipulated minimum wage regardless of their skills or capacities to perform.

Cultivating and practising good work ethics within an organisation has two contributory factors: From

the employer and from the employee, and if both are considered good, then productivity will be high. The issue of reliability, where an employee is always punctual and can be relied on to work through the hours assigned, has to be supported with the reliability of the employer to pay wages/salaries on time, and favourably addressing other conditions of employment as stipulated by laws and, where possible, organisations’ benefits and incentives.

As the two groups hold their side of the contract, there will emerge a level of cooperation, not only between the management and the managed, but among the workers in total. The development of any organisation requires educating workers and operatives on the task required, and providing them with the required tools and

We need to find ways of living with each other Dear Editor, TO those who read the letter published in the Stabroek News of Saturday, July 31, 2019 titled “Constitution provides clear path through obstructions and partisan views being thrown in its way”, I say, these are fine words; a sentiment I might have expressed as a schoolboy before entering the real world in the early 1950s.

We need to commend Ryhaan Shah for expressing an ideal for which we must strive ceaselessly to achieve. However, the truth is, our world east, west, north and south is

made up of fragile human souls, who, for some strange reason, put on those proverbial blinkers as we seek to govern, be it in the Mosque, Temple, Synagogue or Church; be it in the sports club, or in the community. This has been a severe weakness from the dawn of civilisation.

This, for example, explains the emergence of the Protestant Church in Christendom.

In Guyana, as elsewhere, we need to seek ways of living with each other that create some level playing field, and the elusive goal, justice for all.

For now, I’ll avoid the

tedium of human history, save to state, thanks to our inherent weakness, wars and battles for physical supremacy have shaped the planet, Earth we inhabit.

A Constitution can be no more than a guide, but like the requirement in all of our ‘Holy Books’, it is who and how we interpret these several injunctions.

How decent and proper are our leaders?

Daily we hear issuing forth from certain quarters bellicose remarks. These are not helpful.

But the billion dollar question is: Will we learn from our experiences.

After being in the hustings for three generations,

it is that unwillingness or inability to learn from our human experiences that is bothersome; did I say burdensome?

But then, should we conclude that this ignoring of past experiences and the unwillingness to find compromise is a recurrent recipe for a journey down the rocky road of stupidity and stubbornness. Ms. Shah and others must prevail upon our leaders to sit and talk; to make compromise in the nation’s interest, so we have peace, not conflict.

Regards, Hamilton Green

an environment conducive for them to effectively and efficiently perform.

Correspondingly, workers should recognise they have a responsibility to perform and deliver consistent with their assignment. The existing atmosphere wherein workers use the employer’s computer and paid time to post and converse on Facebook and other social media, or do their own work are displays of poor work ethics.

Though some would contend that their personal phones are being used to connect to social media, even this is wrong, because the time-off taken to use one’s personal phone is paid for by the employer to conduct the employer’s business. While the employer is expected to honour his obligations, so, too, is the worker.

It is disappointing that persons would enter an or-

ganisation, public or private, to transact business and those paid to deliver the goods or service are treating the customer with little regard, or can be seen taking time out to be on their personal phones, delaying the time that a customer would have programmed him/herself to transact the business. This newspaper, as a microcosm of the society, is not absolved from the issues, responsibilities and concerns being addressed.

And it is reasonable to assume that, like us, others feel this matter is deserving of being placed on the national agenda. It would help if a national conversation can begin, not with the intent of pointing fingers, but of addressing where the society, as a whole, has gone awry and what can be done to return good ethics to the workplace.

DHB accident affecting city garbage collection in some areas Dear Editor, THE Mayor and Council of the City of Georgetown wishes to inform the general public that there has been a disruption in the regular scheduled collection of waste in the City.

This situation has affected Groups 2 & 10; this includes the central business district.

The main contributing factors in this regard is that one of the main contractors, Puran Brothers Contactors Company, is based in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

The accident that occurred on the Demerara Harbour Bridge has affected the mobility of the garbage trucks.

The Mayor and Council of the City of Georgetown is working assiduously to restore regular collection accorded to these two groups. The Solid Waste Management Department has put in place an emergency collection system to bring fast relief.

At this time, the Council is seeking the full cooperation of all of its citizens to avoid the indiscriminate disposal of waste, and to exercise patience as we address this issue. The Council apologises for the inconvenience caused.

Regards, Debra Lewis Public Relations Officer

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

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PPDI sets record straight 40.9 hectares of cane set on fire on cricket booth …SPU says arson acts

THE Power Producers and Distributors Incorporated (PPDI) has set the record straight on its decision to secure a private booth at the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for US$10,000, noting that it is a long standing arrangement and that 20 per cent of the cost is being borne by staff.

“Indeed we have secured a private booth for the cricket. The cost is split between the company 80 per cent and employees 20 per cent,” a top source close to the stateowned company said. The source was responding to a Facebook post by PPP troll, Robin Singh, who intimated that while some parts of the country suffered power outage on Monday night, the PPDI was renting a booth for cricket. However the

PPDI source said the rental of the booth covers entry for 16 persons per game for five games. The source added that when staff were courted to join PPDI, they were told that, they will be employed with conditions no less favorable than what they had enjoyed at Wartsila.

“At Wartsila, we always had a private booth since Cricket World 2007 when the price was US$42,000 for four games and entry for 12 persons per game,” the source clarified.

Regarding the blackout early Tuesday morning, the PPDI source said this stemmed from an incident at the Sophia Control Centre. In fact the Guyana Power and Light, in a statement, said at approximately 00:57hrs on Tuesday, a 13.8 kV feeder breaker at the Sophia substation suffered a failure resulting in a system disturbance which affected service to customers in Berbice and sections of East Bank Demerara. Customers residing in West Demerara

were not affected. Power restoration commenced immediately with all areas being re-powered at approximately 03:25hrs with the exception of customers from ‘A’ to ‘E’ Field Sophia. These customers are without power as they are powered through the damaged F6 feeder emanating from the Sophia Sub Station. Consequently, our emergency crews were dispatched to the area and preliminary inspection of the damage includes rehabilitation of the circuit breaker.

According to GPL, remedial work is expected to conclude at approximately 16:00hrs. Thereafter, affected customers will be re-powered. GPL said it remains cognisant of the inconveniences and offers its sincere apologies to customers.

ongoing for over 12 months

POLICE are investigating reports of over 40 hectares of canes being set on fire at the Providence section of the closed Rose Hall Sugar Estate.

Reports from the NICIL, Special Purpose Unit that is tasked with managing the closed estates are that the setting of fires to cane fields has been a constant for over the last 12 months. “This has been a constant over the last 12 months, but based on budgetary constraints we cannot afford more rangers to man the cultivation,” a source at the SPU told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday. “We have engaged the police in the investigations and they have promised to

follow-up this matter,” the official added.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the latest act occurred on Sunday at Providence at four different locations. However, authorities were able to contain the fires by 22:00hrs but not before 40.9 hectares were burnt. Contacted on the issue, GuySuCo said the cultivation is not under its control. It said that the Providence cultivation falls under the Rose Hall Estate which has been closed and is managed by NICIL/SPU. It is not clear how long the canes have been in the field and whether there was any intention of harvesting same.

Better cooperation will bring mutual benefits to Guyana

Dear Editor,

HISTORY is replete with nations having their moments of challenge. Whether threatened by external forces, or by internal domestic tensions that threaten the indivisibility and viability of the State, these challenges would have been instances that have demanded a coming together, first, of all primary political socioeconomic groups, and of the citizens, to cooperate for strategy to protect and defeat the particular threat to the existence of the particular nation, if it originates from beyond.

It is even more incumbent that the same urgency be summoned to confront domestic challenges, for, in both instances, the socio-viability of the State is threatened, particularly its cohesiveness. Therefore, it is the coming together of every organisation, inclusive of every citizen, that must pool especially their mental and intellectual energies to overcome obstacles which obstruct the greater good. For it is only genuine cooperation, of working together in times of national challenges that strengthens and protects

a nation.

As an example, there is more than broad support among all Guyanese when it comes to the question of the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, in which the latter has dishonestly opened an ever since-settled border dispute with Guyana; legally settled at the Paris Tribunal in the 1899 Arbitral Award that definably settled the issue.

Beyond all doubt, it is a given among all Guyanese, irrespective of political affiliation and ethnicity, that every square inch of sovereign land is theirs as Guyanese, as a nation and people.

Unfortunately, however, the latter understood cohesiveness has been absent from our political development as a nation.

The No-Confidence Motion of December 21, 2018 and all that it has entailed is both a stark example and reminder of the political divide that has been at the heart of our existence as a nation. And since we are all au fait with the issues that have since occurred, the opinion would not be detained, except to say that there are challenges that demand a higher call to country rather than the promotion of

grandstanding; inflammatory rhetoric, and politically selfish ends that cannot benefit Guyana as a nation.

There have been stern tests to government and nation, but, “Cometh the hour, cometh the man”, would be apt in describing the very strong and steady leadership provided by President David Granger as he seeks to give guidance and calmness, despite the undisguised environment.

In reiterating this fact, we must understand primarily that all politics is said to be adversarial, and that this has taken very extreme forms in Guyana since 2015.

However, despite the fact of whatever background that exists, and which has been fueling this kind of uncivil behaviour which can do no good to current attempts at making Guyana a better place for all Guyanese; despite the differing contentions and approaches to whatever crossroads we may be at as to the right answers or solutions, it is only a coming together of all various contenders and their respective bodies, be it political: all political parties; economic: all business and commercial organisations or their umbrella representative

body; the religious bodies or their representative grouping; trade unions and umbrella professional bodies, such as the media and other interest groups and NGOs, such as civil society.

We would refuse to believe that there are not still good Guyanese and patriots who do not have the greater good of their country as a first priority, rather than their individual selfish agenda, and that they cannot bring a reasoned debate to whatever issues are current. Further, we would refuse to believe that reason has fled, and has been replaced by the impossible and the irrational, which again, cannot result in any positive outcome or result for country and people. And this is all said with the fact that a nation and its true moral quality is best tested by adversity, that demonstrates its honesty about itself – what it truly represents.

This is indeed a phase in our modern history that challenges every Guyanese organisation, irrespective of political affiliation, or even socio-ethnic base; every Guyanese who professes love and care for their country, and respect for their fellow Guyanese, irrespective of race, to

join together for the big effort of rising above partisanship of all types, and narrow political enclaves, so that we all can move Guyana to the summit of its great potential.

But we must understand that such a Promised Land can only be entered by the inevitable recognition that ALL must cooperate for Guyana, not by empty rhetoric, but by real COOPERATION that this moment demands.

At times like these, we are reminded of that uptempo national song, ‘Let us cooperate’ composed by W.R.A. Pilgrim. The song

may have been composed for a specific occasion of national importance. The lyrics call for unity and sacrifice to overcome challenges, and at the same time reassures Guyanese that we are indeed up to the task.

Indeed, at this junction of our history; we can co-operate for Guyana, let us co-operate for our land, let us resolve to fight together, see we do it right together.

Can we do it? YES, WE CAN. Regards, Earl Hamilton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Application for resignation 2014 triple of Cabinet, President for murder trial September 9 hearing aborted

By Clestine Juan

THE application filed by former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall seeking an order compelling the Cabinet, including the President, to resign, will be heard by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire on September 9,2019, at the High Court.

Nandlall approached the High Court on the issue although the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has already ruled on the matter.

In a Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed on Monday, August 26, 2019, Nandlall in seeking the order compelling Cabinet to resign, said such ought to be the consequence of the no-confidence motion passed against the government last December in accordance with Article 106 (6) of the Constitution.

Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Basil Williams is listed as the respondent in the matter.

Nandlall is also seeking a Conservatory Order restraining the Cabinet, inclusive of the President, from meeting, making decisions as, or performing the functions of Cabinet.

This application, however, comes close to two

Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Basil Williams months after the CCJ addressed the functionality of government and its Cabinet in light of the successful no-confidence motion, and pursuant to the Constitution.

According to Articles 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution, the Cabinet, including the President, shall resign if the government is defeated on a vote of confidence; however, notwithstanding that defeat, the Government must remain in office, and hold an election within three months, or during an extended period approved by two-thirds of the National Assembly.

President of the CCJ Justice Adrian Saunders, in rul-

ing on the matter, said while the judiciary interprets the Constitution, the provisions outlined in Article 106 (6) and (7) require no gloss on the part of the court.

“Their meaning is clear and it is the responsibility of constitutional actors in Guyana to honour them.

Upon the passage of a vote of no-confidence, the Article requires the resignation of the Cabinet, including the President.

The Article goes on to state, among other things, that notwithstanding such resignation the government shall remain in office and that an election shall be held ‘within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine…,’” Justice Saunders reasoned as he delivered the consequential orders at the Trinidad-based CCJ last July.

He made it clear, however, that until elections are held, the President remains the President and the government must operate as an “interim government.”

Justice Saunders explained that in mandating that the government remain in office notwithstanding its

Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall defeat and the resignation of the President and the Cabinet, Article 106 requires that Cabinet’s tenure in office be on a different footing from that which existed before passage of the no-confidence motion.

He posited that Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, in citing Hogg, the Canadian constitutional expert, was right to note that the government continues in office as an interim government. Since the delivery of the consequential orders, President David Granger and his government have adopted an interim mode.

Trevor Benn to chair high-level UN committee COMMISSIONER and Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), Trevor Benn, has been elected to chair a high-level United Nations committee, the Committee of the Whole.

According to a release from the GL&SC, Benn is representing Guyana at the 14thConference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Conference to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in New Delhi, India and he has received the full confidence of more than five thousand delegates attending the high-level meeting, to chair the committee.

The Committee of the Whole is a working group set up by the conference of the parties to facilitate discussions on specific is-

sues. When the committee concludes its work, it turns it over the COP to finalise and adopt during a plenary session. The GL&SC said Benn will chair the high-level committee throughout the duration of the COP: September 2-13, 2019. The committee is sessional and will conclude its work at the end of this 14th session of the COP. This is the first time Guyana has been elected to chair the committee, the GL&SC said.

Benn expressed appreciation to the delegates representing over one hundred and fifty countries, for the confidence they have placed in him to chair the meeting over the next two weeks.

Commissioner Benn assured the delegates that their confidence will not

be taken for granted and promised to work diligently to address the issues under consideration and for which the various delegates have interest.

He informed delegates that they were assembled at a very critical juncture in the history of the UNCCD and that it is no secret that of the three Rio Conventions, the UNCCD has received the least political support, and indeed the least resources; yet, the reliance on their collective work is overwhelming and remains vital to every sphere of life, and in particular, to our livelihood and in the fight to combat desertification, and drought.

“I want to once again thank the delegates for the confidence they have expressed in me and through

me, Guyana, to chair this committee. I will not take this election to the chairmanship lightly. I will work along diligently with you, we all share one common cause, and it is important that we work towards achieving that which we set out to achieve,” he said.

Benn reminded the delegates of the need to be willing to demonstrate flexibility in securing outcomes in the interest of the Convention.

The GL&SC said Guyana continues to be recognised for the successful hosting of CRIC17 earlier this year. Benn is accompanied by officials from the GLSC, Office of Climate Change, Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

THE trial pertaining to the 2014 murder of two sisters and their father was on Tuesday aborted

by Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court.

The trial had commenced on August 21,2019, against Ganga Krishna called ‘Buddie’ and ‘Scientist’, a 74-year-old businessman, formerly of North Road, Bourda, Georgetown and his assistant, Avishkar Bissoon, 26, of Sheriff Street, Campbellville, who are facing three counts of murder.

Two charges stated that on November 17, 2014, at Lot 65 King and Robb Streets, Georgetown, the men murdered Clarissa, 14 and Tressa Rozario, 11, in the course or furtherance of arson on their dwelling house.

The last charge stated that on December 21, 2014, the men murdered 63-year-old Hilrod Attlee Thomas, also called Rudolph Thomas.

The two accused were represented by Attorneys

Ganga Krishna and Avishkar Bissoon Mursaline Bacchus and Dexter Todd, while the state was represented by prosecutors Seeta Bishundial and Lisa Cave.

The Guyana Chronicle was made to understand that there was a development in relation to the trial, which led to an inquiry. The judge, based on the inquiry,decided that the trial had to be aborted in the interest of justice. Consequently, the accused will have to face a new trial at the next practical sitting of the Demerara Assizes.

According to reports, on November 17, 2014, around 02:00hrs, Clarissa and Tressa Rozario were peacefully asleep at their Lot 65 King and Robb Streets, Georgetown home, along with their father, Thomas. It is alleged that while they were asleep their house was set afire and they died in the inferno.

Their father managed to jump through a window to escape the flames but he sustained second and third-degree burns. On December 21, 2014, he succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

It is alleged that Krishna was the mastermind behind the fire, while Bissoon acted as his assistant.

The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that investigations in this matter took the police two years, then a drug addict reportedly confessed that he was offered money to set fire to the disputed building.

The police believe that the building was torched to drive out individuals who were also claiming ownership of the property by prescriptive rights.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Retired teachers honoured

THE Department of Education in the Mahaica-Berbice Region, on Monday, hosted a brunch for 50 retired teachers at the Latchmansingh Primary School on the West Coast of Berbice.

In offering brief remarks, Minister of Education, Dr Nicolette Henry, told the retirees that Guyana is a better place because of the service they have given to their country.

She said she personally, the Ministry of Education and the Government of Guyana are eternally grateful for such selfless service.

She called on the Region’s Department of Education and the Retirees to work in ensuring greater

Minister Henry greeting the retired headteachers collaboration between the two parties. Dr Henry said that the wealth of knowledge that they (retirees)

possess can only assist with the development of the education sector.

Outside of the afore-

Some of the retired headteachers of Region Five at the appreciation forum

mentioned, she said that such exercises are good since in this case, it brought together individuals who may not have seen each other for some time. Minister Henry said the event is the Ministry of Education’s way of saying thank you for the services you provided to this country.

There was also a presentation done by Retired Chief Education Officer, Ms Geneveive WhyteNedd.

The event was also attended by the Regional Education Officer (REdO) Ms Dion Lewis-Clarke and other education officials.

Philippino seaman killed aboard ship at local wharf A 30-year-old man of the Philippines , who was on board the Dutch ship FWN RAPIDE I, lost his life on Monday after a deck cover fell into the vessel and injured him.

Reynald Bala-oy Manuel Jr. lost his life around 22:40hrs on the day in question while on board the motor vessel, which was docked at a city wharf on Water Street, Georgetown.

The police on Tuesday revealed that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding Manuel’s death.

It is alleged that on Monday, Manuel and othReynald Bala-oy Manuel Jr er crew members were in the process of making ready the twin deck cover on the vessel, when a wire rope allegedly burst.

This caused the deck cover to fall into the hatch of the vessel and as a result Manuel sustained multiple injuries.

His body was examined by a medical technician who pronounced him dead. It is currently at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that two other crew members were also injured and were treated.

In two months’ time, Manuel would have been celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his wife, who is currently at home in Pangasinan, Philippines.The woman told this publication that she was awaiting word on her husband’s death.

The man’s body will be taken to his country of origin and the agency with which he was working, is expected to help with the cost.

Mazaruni Prison gets $10M speed boat AS the first phase of the Mazaruni Prison is expected to be completed before year- end, a new speed boat that can carry 14 persons in the event of

an emergency was handed over to the Guyana Prison Service on Tuesday.

The $10.9M boat constructed by Guyana National Industrial Company

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels receives the keys from Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Security, Daneilla Mc Calmon

(GNIC) was handed over to acting Prisons Director, Gladwin Samuels by Public Security Ministry Permanent Secretary, Daneilla Mc Calmon at GNIC wharf.

The boat was built following a request from the Ministry of Public Security for the Guyana Prison Service.

“Over the years we have acquired a number of speed boats but they were either constructed of wood or fiber glass, we would have seen rapid deterioration of those boats which resulted in only one being in operation, so because the first phase of the Mazaruni expansion will be completed before the end of the year,” he said.

The prison director said this will result in an additional 200 prisoners being housed at the prison and it

The new boat in operation is necessary to plan ahead and ensure all the necessary resources are in place.

He said the boat will also be used to quickly shuttle high profile prisoners to the hospital.

“While this is a step in the right direction and is the

acquisition of a first vessel of such nature, I am confident with the continuous growth of Mazaruni Prison we will see additional river assets being added to the location,” the prison director said.

CEO of GNIC, Clin-

ton Williams said marine transportation is critical to the Mazaruni Prisons and the company has since produced its second vessel for the prison and is capable of servicing aspects of the oil and gas sector.

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Over 800 scholarships granted to Indigenous students

MORE than 800 scholarships have been issued to Indigenous students, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe has said.

The minister disclosed this information during an exclusive interview on the National Communications Network (NCN) radio programme “Insight”.

In addition to the 800 plus scholarships issued across the levels of National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) for 2019, some 67 additional scholarships were granted for Tertiary and Vocational InstituMinister within the Ministry of tions.

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, T h e s e i n - Hon. Valerie Garrido-Lowe clude institutions such as the Burrows School of Art, the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC), Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), Carnegie School of Home Economics (CSHE) and the Government Technical Institute (GTI).

It was also disclosed that 62 scholarships were awarded for students who will be leaving the hinterland to come to the city to undergo their studies at the Secondary Level. For those who would have fallen just short of the mark for a full scholarship, the ministry will still offer assistance, possibly in the form of uniforms for the year and monthly allowances. A total of 96 students would have qualified for this assistance. Minister Garrido-Lowe also highlighted that as a part of the Heritage Month activities, the scholarship division will also bring students from the hinterland regions for tours of the various landmarks and monuments within and around the city.

“Every year we try to allow at least two villages to bring their students down. Because when they write their Grade Six exams, they may have to say something about Parliament Building, or the Botanical Gardens and they have never seen these landmarks, they may have only seen them in pictures.

So, we try to give them some exposure where they can visit these places.”

Minister Garrido-Lowe commended the Education Ministry for its continued support in helping to teach the Hinterland Students. “I’d like to congratulate the Ministry and Minister Henry, who has been doing a great job. She has been very focused on her job.

I always find that whenever I seek assistance, she is always ready to help.” (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Amalgamated Transport & General Co-operative Credit Union Limited celebrates 60th Anniversary –– Chairman, Richard Samuels encourages youths to become shareholders

ON Tuesday September 3, 2019, the Amalgamated Transport & General Co-operative Credit Union Limited (AT&GCCU LTD) held a thanksgiving ceremony at its Urquhart Street location celebrating its 60th anniversary and the distribution of bursaries to the young shareholders.

Several youths, who recently wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), were awarded certificates and bursaries at the ceremony.

In his feature address, the chairman of Amalgamated Transport & General Co-operative Credit Union Limited, Richard Samuels, expressed immense gratitude towards the members and staff of the union who were

in attendance.

“Today is an auspicious day; I am honoured to be here to celebrate with you the 60th anniversary of the Amalgamated Transport credit union. I encourage you all to invite others. Get your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren involved so that we can continue to build this organization,” he said.

Glyniss Beaton a member and director of the credit union explained the importance and benefits of joining the credit union. She said “I have a daughter in the credit union for 23 years and a son who is 18 years in the credit union. I am encouraging parents to get your children involved with the credit union as it benefits them in the future.”

Ms. Beaton further ex-

plained that having children involved in the credit union provides them with stability and a sense of responsibility as they prepare to further their education at the secondary and tertiary levels.

In 1959, four employees of the Transport and Harbours Department who were also members of the Union formed the Amalgamated Transport & General Co-operative Credit Union Ltd. Those persons saw the exploitation of their workers, not only in wages and salaries, but also by popular and unscrupulous moneylenders.

This manner of exploitation aroused social consciousness in the minds of those four employees; hence the Amalgamated Transport 8L General Co-operative Credit Union Ltd was

formed.

The Credit Union was registered on the 3” September 1959 under section 6 of the Co-operative Society’s Ordinance Chapter 88:01.

In the year 1970, the Credit Union welcomed employees of the National Insurance Scheme; in 1972 Guyana National Printers and Guyana National Newspapers also became affiliates.

In the year 1973, the Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction and Georgetown Sewerage &Water Commissioners became members.

Other employees welcomed into the society over the other years were Bank of Guyana, Go-Invest, G.C.I.S., Guyoil, National Parks Commission and others.

Members of the Amalgamated Transport & General Co-operative Credit Union Limited (AT&GCCU LTD)

New Port Kaituma Hospital to be operational by year end THE Ministry of Public Health is expected to ink a $150M contract which will see the commencement of corrective works on the Port Kaituma Hospital Complex by the first week of September.

A team led by Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence recently conducted an assessment visit to the complex to examine the area where the works will take place. The works to be done include access points for accident and emergency patients, outpatients, rehabilitation of other areas to accommodate audiology, radiology and other specialised areas. The ministry’s procurement manager, Seewchan explained that the goal is to ensure that all the necessary services are now available in the Port Kaituma district.

“When the hospital was initially designed, it didn’t cater to some specialised areas, particularly for radiology … so, we are trying to have that completed with the specific pieces of

material which are required to be used in the radiology department,” he said.

Minister Lawrence noted that based on the scope of works to be done, the staff can move into the new complex as soon as November. Seewchan added that it is the ministry’s intention for the works to be done promptly as the primary goal is to relocate all existing and new services to a more spacious and conducive facility soonest.

Based on the new facility’s capacity, there is the likelihood of the new Port Kaituma Hospital becoming the new regional hospital in the Barima-Waini. It will also cater to improved workspace for staff and better healthcare delivery for patients. Seewchan continued to explain, “having visited the Port Kaituma old hospital you would see the challenges not only our health workers are being faced with but the patients also. There is the lack of ventilation, electricity to

do basic testing and so on but I think with this new hospital being in place having that huge complex, having the mortuary, generator, admin office, a section for infectious diseases and a housing quarter for the doctors and nurses I think that will facilitate better service.”

In 2014, the previous administration contracted R. Bassoo and Sons, and Kalitech as the supervisory consultancy firm overseeing the project.

The initial project was valued at $700M. Since the Coalition administration assumed office in 2015, the Public Health Ministry has reformulated a plan for the new complex which includes provision for all the necessary services some of which were not catered for during the initial stages.

During this process where corrective works will be carried out the ministry says it will comply with strict standards and guidelines which were not adhered to initially.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

North Ruimveldt Multilateral ‘flying high’ … secures 80 per cent pass rate at CSEC, highest in seven years

DEFYING the odds, North Ruimveldt Multilateral School secured an 80 per cent pass rate at the 2019 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations–a significant increase when compared

North Ruimveldt Multilateral School top CSEC student Erykah Baptiste to the 2018 pass rate of 66 per cent.

In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Head-teacher of North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, Allison Cosbert, explained that since 2012, the school, located on Mandela Avenue, has shown marked improvements at the CSEC examinations; however, this is the first time in seven years that the school has performed this well.

Sitting in one of the classrooms, Cosbert noted that the school, which acquired ‘List A’ status in 2015, achieved a matriculation rate of 71 per cent in 2019 when compared to 32 per cent the previous year. That means 71 per cent

CSEC examinations in 24 different subjects, of which 100 per cent passes were secured in 13 subjects.

The school acquired 100 per cent passes in English Language, Agricultural Science, Food Nutrition and

Johanna Davidson

Daniel Wharton

of the 41 students that wrote the CSEC examinations passed five or more subjects inclusive of Mathematics and English Language. In 2017, the school had achieved a pass rate of 67 per cent and a matriculation rate of 23 per cent.

Noting that the school’s success is the result of teachers’ commitment and students’ determination to defy the odds, Cosbert disclosed that this year, students wrote

Health, Textiles Clothing and Fashion, Family and Resource Management, Electronic Document Preparation Management, Information Technology, Principles of Business, Office Administration, Technical Drawing, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Building and Furniture Technology. It also achieved a 96 per cent pass rate in Social Studies, 93 per cent pass rates in Principles of Accounts and Economics,

92 per cent in Integrated Science, 87 per cent in Human and Social Biology, 86 per cent in Biology, 75 per cent in English Literature and Chemistry, 73 per cent pass rate in Mathematics, 68 per cent in Geography and a 60 per cent pass rate in Physics.

The head-teacher noted that while in other schools children are bogged down with lessons, the majority of the CSEC students at North Ruimveldt Multilateral School were taught in school.

Cosbert noted too that emphasis was placed on Mathematics and English for that reason, 71 per cent of them

were able to achieve passes in five subjects inclusive of these two primary subjects.

Cosbert disclosed too that this is the first time in the history of the schoolthat students wrote 11 subjects,and acquired passes in all. Topping North Ruimveldt Multilateral School at the 2019 CSEC examinations is Erykah Baptiste, who secured seven Grade Ones, and four Grade Twos.

Baptiste secured Grade Ones in English A, Office Administration, Principles of Business, English B, Geography, Social Studies and Principles of Accounts. She acquired

Grade Twos in Economics, E.D.P.M, Integrated Science and Mathematics.

Baptiste told reporters that her success was a result of strong support from her parents, and teachers, in particular Quesi Adams who went the extra mile to ensure that she and her colleagues utilised their time to study.

The aspiring accountant has applied to the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service (BCCPS) in pursuit of her dream. Explaining her reason for applying to the college, Baptiste said at See page 12

Head-teacher of North Ruimveldt Multilateral School Allison Cosbert (left) and Miss Donnessa McDonald (right) sitting in the presence of the school’s top performers at the 2019 CSEC examinations. (Photos by Adrian Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Broadcasters urged to cater for persons living with disabilities –– warned about the legal consequences of not having systems in place

CHAIRMAN of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Leslie Sobers, has urged broadcasters to cater for persons living with disabilities.

“Our citizens with disabilities, especially those with hearing impairment, in the context of broadcast material, ought to be treated equally like all other citizens,” said Sobers during his remarks at a recent stake-

holder engagement.

Last year, the authority had urged broadcasters to pay attention to the necessity of catering for persons living with disabilities by allowing them to have access to broadcast material.

By doing that, broadcasters would be demonstrating social responsibility and indicating their efforts to combating discrimination.

Although it would be

a demonstration of social responsibility, Sobers said there are legal consequences associated with broadcasters, not putting in place, a system to allow accessibility for persons living with disabilities.

Broadcasters were reminded that they have to abide by the obligations of the Persons Living with Disabilities Act, Chapter 35:05. He said Section 26 of

the Act outlines that persons in charge of every national television station shall provide a sign language inset or subtitles in at least one daily news cast programme and in special programmes which cover events of national significance.

The Act states that a person, who fails to comply with that section, commits an offence and is liable on reconviction to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months.

Despite there being laws in place to protect persons living with disabilities, some persons have not been abiding by them. Sobers said that to not cater for the needs of the persons living with disabilities, is an act of

discrimination.

“We are mindful that some means of complying would be expensive, but at least we would urge broadcasters to make an attempt…it would not be that much impacting if you were to have one major new cast with the caption running in the bottom or someone versed in sign language, interpreting the news,” said Sobers.

He reminded broadcasters that last year Guyana attended the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) conference in Jamaica, where it was revealed how far below Guyana is as a nation on the index of countries that cater for persons with disabilities.

Chairman of the GNBA, Leslie Sobers Sobers urged broadcasters to be mindful of that and to note that Guyana is set to present another report on the advancements in catering for persons living with disabilities. Guyana will do so during an ITU conference in Ecuador during November.

“I urge you to let us work towards eliminating any level of discrimination so that our people who have hearing impairment will be able to access information,” said Sobers.

North Ruimveldt ...

From page 11

a time when securing a job remains a difficult task due to a lack opportunities or extremely high requirements, the College, after laying a foundation, guarantees its graduates employment with the Public Service.

Johanna Davidson, who also wrote 11 subjects, obtained six Grade Ones, four Grade Twos and one Grade Three.

While thanking her parents and teachers, Davidson said she would not have done it without the support of her colleagues.

“I prayed a lot, and God helped me. He provided a lot of people along the way; I had a lot of lovely teachers throughout the five years. My colleagues, I couldn’t have asked for a better set of students to work with, and so I am glad and grateful that we all pass,” Davidson said.

She, like Baptiste, expressed special thanks to Quesi Adams. “He works and goes to the university, and he would come…and bring text books, or some work for us to do,” she said while noting that once Sir Quesi was around there was no idle time even during lunch.

Meanwhile, Daniel Wharton, an aspiring pilot, secured passes in nine subjects with Grade Ones in three, Grade Twos in four and Grade Threes in two. Describing himself as a “people’s person,” Wharton told reporters that his involvement in the Guyana National Cadet Corps as a Cadet influenced his drive for success.

His parents and teachers also played significant roles in his drive for success.

“My mom, she was always there for me. She went to the end; she went the extra mile and ensured that I got everything I needed…financially and spiritually, she helped me a lot, and the teachers also played a very important role, they helped us, and kept pushing us to do better,” he

related. Wharton, 17, will also attend the Bertram Collins College but it is his primary goal to join the Guyana Defence Force, where he plans to pursue his career as a pilot.

The other top students are: Mikaela Foulkes (11 subjects), Shanique Morris (11 subjects), Savannah Austin (10 subjects), Faith Fraser (10 subjects), Aaliyah Trotman (9 subjects), Abigail Barkoye (9 subjects), Zishel Williams (9 subjects), and Shaquan Green (8 subjects).

Donnessa McDonald, a teacher at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, said the school’s achievement is testament of the school’s capability to perform alongside country’s top High Schools. She said that for too long North Ruimveldt Multilateral School has been stigmatised.

“When people hear about North Ruimveldt Multilateral they put us in a category…because they think we have a lot of fighting. Parents, would call me before their children are enrolled here, they are usually hesitant because I guess the school had a name back in the day but since it was commissioned as a ‘List A’ this is the first time we have so many students,” she noted.

According to her this year, 124 students enrolled into the school when in the recent pass less than a hundred came because their parents would transfer them.

“But we have all teachers and we do get results…I know that out pass rate will be more than 80 per cent next year and the following years, because we have the students and we have teachers, and we are willing to try our best so that they can always excel at CSEC. North Ruimveldt Multilateral School has a population of approximately 400 students.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Octogenarian among 17,321 who received computer training

By Rabindra Rooplall

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) Zara Computer Training Centres located in Georgetown, Berbice and Essequibo have trained 17,321 persons in various computer courses over the past seven years, Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus said.

Bacchus, who is head of the centres, reported that as of August 2019, some 2,366 persons were trained, noting that the training commences with foundation courses that go straight up to PC repairs, networking and Adobe Photoshop.

The three centres have 35 trainers.

Of the 17,321 persons trained, Superintendent Bacchus said 416 are policemen and policewomen; 124 nurses; 11 Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks; 34 Guyana Fire Service ranks; eight City constables; 115 from various government ministries and the remainder civilians.

Superintendent Bacchus said the oldest person who received training in Berbice was a 68-year-old, the oldest in Essequibo was an 87-year-old and in Georgetown, a 78-year-old befitted from the computer training programme.

“We see a lot of eagerness from the communities but we can only train various classes in an eight-hour schedule weekly, two hours

per day for each class,” Superintendent Bacchus, who is the officer responsible for the centres, said.

Additionally, he said, in Georgetown, a CXC programme is also offered.

Reflecting on how Zara Computer centres became reality, Superintendent Bacchus said the centres were birthed from a partnership between former Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, and the Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj Foundation in 2012.

The superintendent said the first centre was in Berbice and it was equipped with 30 workstations, server, projector, networking and air-conditioning. The venue, he said, is conducive for all forms of training.

That centre was handed over to the police on June 2, 2012 and 400 persons were trained within the first year of its launch.

Another venue that was identified as in need for a computer centre, he said, was the Richard Faikal Police College on the Essequibo Coast. A centre was also built there and was handed over to the GPF in June 2013.

In understanding the demands for computer training and development, he said the Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj Foundation asked where else in the force needed such a facility to train persons and the

Officers Training Centre (OTC), Eve Leary was identified as the third venue.

This venue, he said, was handed over in November 2013. The cyber security centre, which was commissioned in 2008, was identified as an office that can be upgraded for the benefit of all policemen at the Felix Austin Police College.

That centre, was rebranded the GPF Zara Cyber Security Centre where much training was done, while internationally-trained policemen handled the cyber security centre.

The Zara initiatives foster a better understanding between the communities and police, whereby civilians would visit the centre to have training done.

The Zara team usually visits Guyana for a oneweek period, especially for graduations.

The superintendent explained that with the motto “Education is the Great Equaliser”, the Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj Foundation seeks to unlock the potential in every individual by partnering with non-government and government organisations in communities in New York and Guyana.

The foundation, he said strives to diversify its work to include development in education, community programming, technology,

Civilians participating in one of the many Zara Computer Training courses at the Officers Training Centre

and mental health.

Specifically, he said the foundation has focused its time and resources on building and sustaining centres to offer free programmes in Information Technology, after-school tutoring, SAT prep classes,

mental health and career development.

The Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj Foundation has also provided scholarships, financial aid, and sports equipment to individuals and community-based organisations.

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Head of the Zara Computer Training Centres, Superintendent, Shivpersaud Bacchus

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

ExxonMobil Guyana, other stakeholders participate in oil spill response training

MORE than 100 persons have participated in emergency response training organised by ExxonMobil Guyana as part of its continued effort to prepare in the unlikely event of an oil spill.

The two-day activity followed extensive training in the Incident Command System and included representatives from state bodies such as the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Maritime Administration (MARAD), ExxonMobil said in a release.

ExxonMobil Guyana Production Manager, Mike Ryan, explained that the intent was to ensure the teams are mobilised rapidly and as safely as possible to minimise any impact to the environment. “We’ve designed our facilities to make sure the oil remains where it is supposed to be; in the pipes and in the tanks. But we train really hard, we practise really hard, that in the unlikely event that something happens, we’re ready to go,” he further explained.

Ryan was pleased about the participation of key gov-

ernment stakeholders. “We are learning a lot from each other. We must make sure we fully understand the roles of all agencies in Guyana; looking at all these scenarios so that we can act promptly and minimise impact.”

Meanwhile, CDC Director General Lt Col. Kester Craig, indicated that activities such as the one organised, are complementary to the national response plan.

“There may be gaps and the exercise will definitely help us to put things together.

You cannot wait until there’s

A section of the gathering at the training

Officials in discussion during the training

ExxonMobil Country Manager, Rod Henson and CDC Director General Lt Col. Kester Craig in discussion an event to test your plan,” he posited.

ExxonMobil Guyana has been actively involved in national response preparations.

There have been several demonstrations in coastal regions, the latest being on the Shell Beach in May. This particular exercise

brought in expertise from abroad through ExxonMobil’s regional response team, working alongside the local team and agencies.

12 months’ imprisonment for wounding and assault

MAGISTRATE Dylon Bess on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, sentenced a man to a total of 12 months’ imprisonment for stabbing a woman to her abdomen and beating another woman to her head with a bucket.

Peter Thompson of Durban Street, Lodge, was on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was found guilty of the two charges. He was out on $100,000 bail during his trial.

Particulars of the first charge stated that, on April 30, 2018, at Durban Street, Lodge, Thompson assaulted Andrea Howard causing bodily harm.

The second charge stated that, on the same day and at the same place, he unlawfully wounded Drucilla Thompson. The matter was prosecuted by prosecutor Delon Sullivon.

According to reports, all parties in the matter reside in the same home at Durban Street, Lodge.

On the day in question, both victims were asleep when they heard shouting from outside of the room. As they rushed to see what was happening, Howard saw the defendant standing at the door with a bucket in his hand.

The man took the same bucket and hit Howard to her head. During the same altercation, it is alleged that the defendant pulled out a knife and dealt Drucilla Thompson several stabs to her abdomen.

Thompson was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she received treatment.

Magistrate Bess sentenced the defendant to three months imprisonment on the assault causing bodily harm charge and sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment on the unlawful wounding charge.

The sentences will run concurrently.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

New city littering by-laws in coma

THE new set of littering by-laws that were approved by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) about a year ago, which can see persons being fined as much as $100,000 for the practice, are still at the committee level, Mayor Ubraj Narine has said.

At a press conference on Tuesday at City Hall, the Mayor said the Council operates by committees.

“Sometimes you call these committees, get a quorum, and move forward. But you can’t call that committee every day,” he advised.

Explaining why the City Council has been less than aggressive in its pursuit of the new by-laws, the Mayor said many of the councillors are new. “We have to go through one by one, phase by phase,” he expressed.

Councillor Gregory Fraser, who was also present for the press briefing, pointed out, during an invited comment, that the new by-laws are an addition to the laws governing the municipality.

“We can’t just act on them. We have to process them; they have to go to the minister and then to the legislative branch for them to debate it and have it passed. Then they have to go to the president for him to assent to it.”

Meanwhile, the M&CC had said that it wanted the

a period of no less than 24 hours, but not exceeding 120 hours.

“I believe that because we do not have these penalties and fines in place, people find an incentive to do what they’re doing. It’s unfair to the city, it’s unfair to decent-minded Guyanese and we have to stop it,” former Town Clerk Royston King had stated. “This applies to even someone throwing a cigarette butt

Councillor Gregory Fraser new system for littering in place by the end of October 2018. It would have seen the imposition of fines for littering ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, with imprisonment as the consequence of a failure to pay.

Every person who contravenes the by-laws would be subjected to the aforementioned fines, which are to be paid within 72 hours from the time notice is given of the imposition of the fine. Failure to pay attracts an additional fine of $10,000 for every 24 hours payment remains outstanding.

Furthermore, according to the proposed by-law, every person who remains in default of payment for more than 72 hours commits an offence, and upon summary conviction is liable to imprisonment for

on the ground, to someone throwing a bag away with unwanted stuff. It applies to everyone found littering,” he clarified.

According to the proposed by-laws, litter means any solid or liquid material or product such as rubbish, refuse, garbage, paper package, container, bottle, cans, manure, human or animal excrement, the whole or part of an animal carcass,

coal, wood, gravel, earth, sawdust, glass, plastic, nails, stables, tacks, scraps or metal, and expended tobacco products. It also refers to the whole or part of any article, raw or processed material, vehicle or machinery of any type.

Regarding empty lots around the city, the by-laws state: “No person shall throw, place leave or deposit litter upon private property without the con-

sent of the owner of the property. Where on any grounds, yard or vacant lot or property there is litter the owner shall move such litter from the land, so that the land is left in a clean condition.”

Furthermore, “No person shall urinate or defecate in the city except in a public washroom or portable or other such facility provided specifically for those purposes.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

CDEMA hoping to begin assessment by Wednesday BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sept 2, CMC – The Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Monday said that it hopes the all clear would be given on Wednesday to allow for a proper assessment of the damage caused by Hurricane Dorian that has weakened slightly after hitting the Bahamas as a Category Five storm.

CDEMA executive director, Ronald Jackson, told a news conference the agency and authorities in Nassau had hoped that the all clear would have been given by Tuesday, but the slow movement of the storm that had weakened to a Category Four storm, was making that impossible.

“Pessimistically we are thinking that this is likely to be Wednesday before the all clear is given. The implication of that is it will delay any ability to get into these two islands (Abaco and Grand Bahama) and to collect specific information on the level of the impact,” Jackson told reporters.

“I know there are questions abound as to the casualties reported based on a number of reports on social media (and) people are trying to find out whether these numbers are indeed factual, whether they are higher, … we don’t know.”

He said the teams would be required to get on the ground and provide the information to the authorities. CDEMA over the last weekend deployed two teams to Bahamas too coordinate the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM). “This deployment is in direct response to a request from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The rapid needs assessment teams are expected to support assessments on the family islands most impacted by Dorian in the aftermath of the event.

The teams will support the government of the Bahamas in rapidly assessing the damage from the hurricane and in prioritising needs,’ CDEMA said.

Jackson told reporters that the teams would cover the two affected islands with a population of 78,000 people. “So the teams will be going in to do their assessments,”

he said, noting that the hurricane had defied the forecasts of the various agencies that had been monitoring it. “It is not my word, it would have baffled the forecasters, it has done what they did not anticipate. First it was supposed to have petered out,” Jackson said, noting that while the storm had passed through the Lesser Antilles “it was supposed to pass over Hispaniola which was supposed to weaken it and turn it into a depression.

“It chose a different path that took it between the channel between Puerto Rico and Hispaniola and it strengthened there as it moved on towards the Bahamas. It was supposed to be a Category One hurricane, maybe Category Two going into a storm when it hit the US mainland, (but it has become a Category Five)”.

Jackson said regardless of the intensity of the storm, CDEMA s not fixated by the strength of the storm, adding “what we look at is making sure that on our side we are prepared to offer response support to the governments”.

In its latest bulletin, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that the Grand Bahamas Islands will continue to “experience catastrophic winds and storm surge” as Hurricane Dorian “inches westward” with sustained maximum winds of 155 miles per hour (mph). The storm is now 25 miles, north east of Freeport, Grand Bahama and is moving “very slowly” towards the west at one mile per hour (mph). “A slow westward to westnorth-westward motion is forecast during the next day or so, followed by a gradual turn toward the northwest and north. On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will continue to pound Grand Bahama Island through much of today and tonight.

“The hurricane will then move dangerously close to the Florida east coast late tonight through Wednesday evening and then move dangerously close to the Georgia and South Carolina coasts on Wednesday night and Thursday,” the NHC added.

DHB accident hinders city garbage collection in some parts THE mayor and councillors of the City of Georgetown has informed that there has been a disruption in the regular scheduled collection of waste in the City due to the accident on the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

This situation has affected groups two and 10, which includes the central business district. According to the M&CC, the main contributing factor in this regard is that one of main contractors – Puran Brothers Contactors Company – is based in Region Three.

The accident that occurred on the Demerara Harbour Bridge has affected

the mobility of the garbage trucks.

“The mayor and councillors of the City of Georgetown is working assiduously to restore regular collection accorded to these two groups. The Solid Waste Management Department has put in place an emergency collection system in place to bring fast relief. At this time the council is seeking the full cooperation of all of its citizens to avoid indiscriminate disposal of waste and to exercise patience as we address this issue.

The council apologies for the inconvenience caused,” the M&CC said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Banks DIH awards bursaries to children of employees, shareholders

BANKS DIH Limited presented bursaries to 23 children of employees and shareholders who were successful at the 2019 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) during its annual presentation ceremony on Saturday August 31st, 2019 at the Sports Club, Thirst Park.

The bursary awards were presented by Mr. George Mc Donald, Co-Managing Director/Marketing Director during the ceremony attended by the recipients, parents and senior executives of the company, including Mr. Andrew Carto, Human Resources Director.

In a release, the company said the feature address was delivered by Mr. David Carto, Procurement and Operations Executive who congratulated the awardees and encouraged them to be

motivated and strive for excellence.

“You have worked hard to be successful at the NGSA and you must be committed to remain successful during your years at secondary school,” he added. The recipients were: i) Employees’ children: Nathan Kellman, Uvraj Arjune, Israel Van Buckley, Duveena DeAbreau, Anique Fields, Mandisa Doodnauth, Macy Barclay, Tejasvi Kishur, Akeela Smith, Mauricisa Payne, Devyani Singh and Ronnel Roach. ii) Shareholders’ children: Shivali Challu, Ajala Maharaj, Dasha Venture, Lakeram Ramnarain, Saskiyah Wilkinson, Julia Bacchus, Julia Bacchus, Joshua Naraine, Khemesh Persaud, Marzuku Smith and Alwyn Adams.

GWI to drill new well at Katoka THE community of Katoka, Region Nine has welcomed the news of a new well there, which will be drilled next year.

This was revealed by Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, who, along with a team visited the community and met with residents on Saturday last. Dr. Van-West Charles told residents that the drilling of the new well will be catered for under the 2020 budget.

He added that while this project will be undertaken in the new year, a team of technical personnel will return to the community shortly to map the area and ascertain their demand/supply needs.

Executive Director of Hinterland Services, Mr. Ramchand Jailal said the mapping will also determine the number of wells needed to be drilled and lengths of pipelines to provide a better source of water supply, especially in the dry season.

GWI will also be looking at ensuring the school’s sanitary block and health centre are receiving adequate water and functioning optimally.

Once the well is drilled, the new water supply system will be powered by a photovoltaic system. In Nappi Village, plans are afoot to construct a new trestle which will be connected to a new well to serve the community.

The trestle will help to serve an additional 20 households who will gain access for the first time. For this purpose, 1300ft of pipelines are to be laid to connect these households.

Meanwhile in Moco Moco, works are moving apace to supply a secure source of potable water for the community. Since the drilling of a new well at the end of July, 2019, a control panel is being built, the well site has been fenced and excavation works have commenced for the laying of four-inch transmission lines, of which the community is assisting with installation. Thus far, approximately 400 metres of pipeline has been laid. Upon completion of the distribution system, water will be pumped from the well, directly to the transmission lines.

A trestle and storage tank will be constructed in the future to enhance the water supply system.

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Mr. George McDonald-Co-Managing Director/Marketing, Mr. Andrew Carto-Human Resources Director and other executives of Banks DIH Limited pose with the Bursary awardees

New Port Kaituma Hospital to be operational by year end The Ministry of Public Health is expected to ink a $150M contract which will see the commencement of corrective works on the Port Kaituma Hospital Complex by the first week of September.

A team led by Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence recently conducted an assessment visit to the complex to examine the area where the works will take place. The works to be done include access points for accident and emergency patients, outpatients, rehabilitation of other areas to accommodate audiology, radiology and other specialised areas. The ministry’s procurement manager, Seewchan explained that the goal is to ensure that all the necessary services are now available in the Port Kaituma district.

“When the hospital was initially designed, it didn’t cater to some specialised areas, particularly for radiology … so, we are trying to have that completed with the specific pieces of material which are required to be used in the radiology department,” he said.

Minister Lawrence noted that based on the scope of works to be done, the staff can move into the new complex as soon as November. Seewchan added that it is the ministry’s intention for the works to be done promptly as the primary goal is to relocate all existing and new services to a more spacious and conducive facility soonest.

Based on the new facility’s capacity, there is the likelihood of the new Port Kaituma Hospital becoming the new regional hospital in the Barima-Waini. It will also cater to improved workspace for staff and better healthcare delivery for patients. Seewchan continued to explain, “having visited the Port Kaituma old hospital you would see the challenges not only our health workers are being faced with but the patients also. There is the lack of ventilation, electricity to do basic testing and so on but I think with this new hospital being in place having that huge complex, having the mortuary, generator, admin office, a section for infectious diseases and a housing quarter for the doctors and nurses I think that will facilitate better service.”

In 2014, the previous administration contracted R. Bassoo and Sons, and Kalitech as the supervisory consultancy firm overseeing the project. The initial project was valued at $700M. Since the Coalition administration assumed office in 2015, the Public Health Ministry has reformulated a plan for the new complex which includes provision for all the necessary services some of which were not catered for during the initial stages.

During this process where corrective works will be carried out the ministry says it will comply with strict standards and guidelines which were not adhered to initially.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Harbour Bridge incident delays garbage collection

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is calling on citizens affected by a delay in garbage collection to exercise patience and keep their refuse on their premises for the time-being.

Mayor Ubraj Narine called an emergency press briefing on Tuesday to inform that garbage collection in Groups Two (Kitty/Subryanville) and Ten (central Georgetown and the commercial district) was interrupted as a result of the accident which occurred last Monday on the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

The trucks attached to Puran Brothers Disposal Services, located in Region Three, could not make it over to Georgetown, and the company had said it would send the trucks over via pontoons. However, Narine said the company experienced difficulties with that option as well.

The mayor said resorting to the use of smaller contractors would prove too costly

Town Clerk (Ag) Sherry Jerrick offered that some citizens, especially in the commercial areas, are not law abiding, responsible and civil in that they do not have garbage receptacles.

If they did, she reasoned that one day of non-clearance would not result in what is taking place on the streets at the moment.

PPP Councillor, Bishram Kuppen to the Council, and he called on business owners to respect the environment and desist from dumping illegally.

“Garbage is not today story, but it has been reduced under this government. I’m begging the public to bear with us,” Narine said, adding that the situation was unexpected and one that the Council was not prepared for.

The garbage pile-up in Kitty recently

DUMPING IN KITTY Mayor Narine took umbrage at People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor Bishram Kuppen’s taking to ‘Facebook’ to post how the mayor and town clerk are out of touch with what is happening in the City.

Kuppen, a member of the Finance Committee, also posted photos depicting how garbage was piling up in the Kitty area.

The mayor explained that the pile up was due to machinery that went down and that needed tires to continue working. These tires, he pointed out, are not ones that can be sourced immediately. The municipality would have to make contact with the companies from which they came, which would take some time.

Narine said he works hard on the ‘ground’ and that he and Jerrick are always accessible. He questioned what Kuppen is doing for the Council. “We must work collectively and not bring politics into this. If you’re going out to ‘bambase’ the Council, then you’re ‘bambasing’ yourself because

Mayor Ubraj Narine (second, right) at Tuesday’s press briefing, along with Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine; acting Town Clerk, Sherry Jerrick (second, left); and Deputy Town Clerk (ag), Candace Nelson you’re part of the Council.

Kuppen ought to know better,” the mayor said, adding that the councillor should instead bring his ideas and strategies to the Council.

The mayor also pointed out how in many instances, after cleaning certain areas, the officers go back there the next day and find them exactly the same again. “So why blame the Council and the government?” he questioned.

Meanwhile, Kuppen, in his post on social media, said the garbage in Kitty had been accumulating for days. “The stench was over-powering.

But you can’t expect better from the APNU+AFC controlled City Hall. Every time they report that they have the situation under control, chaos returns the following week,” Kuppen stated.

He added: “This time the problem was again reported as the unavailability of tires to replace the punctured tires for the tractor. But I attended a Finance Committee meeting last Friday but nothing

was mentioned about this.

Mayor Ubraj Narine and Town Clerk (ag) Jerrick are out of touch with what is happening while citizens continue to suffer due to the continued incompetence and mismanagement of the Council.”

Head of Solid Waste Management Department Walter Narine, who was also at the press conference, offered that the garbage situation should be rectified within 24 hours. He said the municipality was using whatever resources it had to clean the City block by block.

In the meantime, he

encouraged business owners to hold their garbage on their premises until it can be picked up. He noted that placing it on the streets would make for more mess as persons of unsound mind might interfere with it.

The solid waste director said it was unfortunate that Kuppen made such a post on social media, and noted that the councillor did not post photos of the area after it was cleaned.

The area was cleaned immediately after the issue was highlighted, Narine informed.

Taxi driver remanded for attempted murder SENIOR Magistrate, Clive Nurse, on Tuesday, September 03, 2019, remanded a 42-year-old taxi driver to prison on an attempted murder charge.

Morris Carter of Durban Street, Georgetown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the offense.

It is alleged that, on August 27, 2019, at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Carter wounded Matthew Gilbert with intent to commit murder.

Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson who represented Carter asked the court for reasonable bail and told the court that, on the day in question, his client was at the wash bay in Sandy Babb Street, when he was confronted

by Gilbert.

The men, Thompson said, got into a fight and both received injuries but Carter was the only one charged.

Police prosecutor Christopher Morris objected to bail being granted to Carter based on the nature of the offense.

Morris told the court that, based on police investigation, on the day in question, Gilbert was at the wash bay when Carter approached him.

Carter then asked Gilbert for the remaining $2,000 which he had owed for a $7,000 finger ring he had purchased, but only paid $5,000.

However, it is alleged that Gilbert did not have the money and asked to pay his debt off at a later date.

Morris also told the court that Carter became annoyed and pulled out a pair of scissors and stabbed Gilbert to the left region of his chest.

The injured man was then taken to Kitty Health Center and was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he received further treatment.

Magistrate Nurse refused bail and remanded Carter to prison until September 26, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

China’s opening-up ‘key’ to opportunity (China Daily)--JUAN Francisco Carrasco, the China manager of a Chilean mussel company, St. Andrews, is considering participation in November’s China International Import Expo after getting a feel for what he said was China’s “big effort” at the first expo last year to further open its markets to foreign countries.

“It will be an ideal opportunity to sign more agreements with partners that will probably attend the fair,” Carrasco said, because increasing demand for imported seafood from Chinese consumers is creating an important market for the company.

This year’s expo will be held in Shanghai.

So far, more than 3,000 companies from around 150 countries and regions have signed up, surpassing last year’s prospective attendance.

The expo, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2017, is part of China’s new round of high-level opening-up to further expand access to its markets.

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China continues to embrace the world by striving to build an open global economy in the new era.

Xi has repeated China’s confidence and determination to further open up to the world on various international occasions, offering the country’s answer to current complex and profound global changes, which were not seen over the past century.

“Expanding opening-up is a key provided

by China to deal with the ongoing changes in the world, including the rise of protectionism and unilateralism,” said Zhou Fangyin, a foreign policy researcher at the Guangdong Institute for International Strategies.

According to Zhou, China’s further opening-up will help promote cooperation with other countries as it provides concrete opportunities for foreign companies to make investments and do business in China.

“This may even alter the way that global changes finally evolve,” Zhou added.

At the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, in June, the Chinese president announced major measures aimed at breaking new ground in opening-up and delivering high-quality development.

They include further opening of the Chinese market, expanding imports and improving the

business environment.

On June 30, a day after the summit concluded, China released its two revised negative lists for foreign investment market access, easing restrictions in agriculture, mining and manufacturing.

The lists, one for pilot free trade zones and one for the rest of the country, contain fewer measures limiting access. Pilot FTZs now have 37 items that restrict foreign investors, down from 45, while non-FTZ areas have 40 items instead of the previous 48.

In March, China also released its first Foreign Investment Law, which will take effect on Jan 1.

“We applaud and benefit a lot from China’s reinforced efforts to further open up and optimize the business environment,” said Fabrice Megarbane, CEO of L’Oreal China. “Passage of the Foreign Investment Law is a good example this year. It makes us more confident about further development in China.”

An increasingly open, fair, predictable and favorable business environment protected by legislation is helping L’Oreal develop with lower costs and greater efficiency, Megarbane said.

Su Hao, a professor of international relations

at China Foreign Affairs University, said China is not just boasting about further opening-up but is taking concrete steps to open its market wider to foreign investment and build an open world economy.

“As a beneficiary of globalization, China is now making its own contributions to uphold free trade, as well as providing its own wisdom and solutions for the world,” Su said.

Opening-up is a strategic decision made

by China based on its need for development, he added.

In a speech at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in 2018, Xi said what has happened proves that opening-up was key to China’s economic growth over the past 40 years. In the same vein, he said, high-quality development of China’s economy going forward can only be achieved through greater openness.

Regarding the current China-US trade tensions, Zhou, the researcher, said China “is doing exactly the opposite of the US” by steadfastly advancing reform and opening-up at its own pace in accordance with its own timetable and road map.

“Facing the unilateralist and trade protectionist policies of the US, China is not simply

making confrontations,” he said. “Instead, it is intensifying its efforts to open up while taking reasonable and necessary countermeasures.”

According to Zhou, the world economy would suffer if China were to behave in the same way as the US. But China’s current opening-up can help keep the world economy developing on a rulesbased track that features freedom and openness, thus easing the negative impact brought by Washington’s trade protectionism, he said.

“Given the uncertainties faced by the world economy, China’s pledge to open up will provide confidence for other countries and stabilize global market expectations,” Zhou added.

At the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo, Xi urged other countries to make an effort to improve their business environment and address their own problems.

“They should not hold a flashlight in hand and do nothing but check out the weaknesses of others and not of their own,” he said.

China Foreign Affairs University’s Su said some Western countries have felt the pressure from the progress achieved by developing countries such as China, so they turn to measures that suppress or block the development of companies from those countries.

“This is against the trend of globalization and the development of world economy,” Su said, adding that from being the world’s factory in the past to today’s world market, China has become the engine of global economic development through its own efforts to reform and open up.

US supermarket giant Costco opened its first outlet on the Chinese mainland last week in Shanghai. The reception by customers was so enthusiastic that it had to suspend business in the afternoon because of overcrowding.

“This demonstrates again that there is no way world prosperity can be separate from China’s development,” Su said.

Megarbane said L’Oreal is confident about developing opportunities in China, as it believes that China will become the most attractive destination for investment, given the government’s determined, long-term efforts.

“President Xi once compared China to a big sea. I believe the sea can receive hundreds of rivers,” he said.

Sharing the fruits of China’s knowledge

(China Daily)--MEDARDO Sanchez, an agriculture expert from El Salvador, traveled with 10 of his compatriots for nearly 50 hours to reach Hainan Island on July 15-the longest journey of his life.

The contingent had come to find solutions for agricultural problems in their homeland.

“As a tropical country, it is a shame we have to import many lichees every year because of the low yield of local fruit trees. To our dismay, some only grow flowers and bear no fruit,” said Sanchez, an adviser to El Salvador’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.

The 25-day training course on production technology of tropical fruits for developing countries held in Hainan, China’s only subtropical province, made his long journey worthwhile.

“I believe with the new skills learned in Hainan, lichee trees in my country will be able to bear more fruit and the output of pitaya (dragon fruit) is likely to grow 10 times from the current yield,” Sanchez said at the closing ceremony on Aug 9 in Haikou, the capital of the province.

Judy Ngina, an agriculture expert from Kenya, said the course, which included lectures and practical classes from academics from the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science at Hainan University was enlightening. Subjects covered included tropical crop cultivation, propagation, fertilization, pest management and processing of tropical fruits, she said.

“We will take home a wealth of deep-

er knowledge on planting, harvesting and post-harvesting technology of tropical fruits and cannot wait to put it into practice,” she said.

The training course involved 28 participants from seven developing countries: El Salvador, Ghana, Kenya, the Philippines, South Africa, South Sudan and Uganda.

Over the past 15 years, with support from the central and Hainan governments, CATAS has organized more than 100 training courses for 4,000 participants from 95 countries.

The academy was established in 1958 and has played a major role in developing China’s tropical agriculture industry, said Liu Guodao, vice-president of CATAS.

Apart from training and exchange programs in Hainan, Chinese tropical agriculture scientists and researchers have offered assistance overseas that has been warmly welcomed.

“Wherever we go, we carefully find the problems and offer our best solutions. Instead of giving fish to the local people, we teach them how to fish,” Liu said.

Liu, who has just wound up a trip to Panama, said 10 agricultural scientists from Hainan spent 42 days in the country, inspecting farms and giving local researchers, technicians and farmers on-the-spot training and guidance.

In April, seven months after El Salvador established diplomatic relations with China,

Liu led a team of Chinese experts to conduct investigations into the country’s agricultural resources. The Chinese experts outlined medium-and long-term development programs for El Salvador’s tropical agricultural industry.

Over the past 10 years, more than 50 agricultural experts have been sent to locations around the world as varied as the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region and Central Africa to help guarantee local food security, according to a report from CATAS. The transfers of technologies on tropical farming have generated major changes in the agricultural sectors of the countries and were commended as a model for sustainable cooperation by Jose Graziano da Silva, former director-general of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

The Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center in the Republic of Congo, built in 2011 with Chinese government grants, has played a major role in upgrading local farming and introducing new crops.

Output of cassava, a staple food in the Republic of Congo, has jumped from 9 metric tons per hectare to 51 tons in eight years.

“With seedlings provided from the center, monthly income of local farmers increased by more than 1,000 yuan ($140), which is 1.5 times their former monthly income,” said You Wen, who stayed in the country for more than two years to provide training support to the local farmers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Bahamas warns that death toll could rise … as CARICOM expresses solidarity over Hurricane Dorian

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Sept 4, CMC – The 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping on Tuesday said the devastation being experienced in the Bahamas as a result of Hurricane Dorian, is reminiscent of the situation that existed two years ago when several regional countries were bashed by hurricanes Ma-

ria and Irma.

CARICOM chairman and St. Lucia Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet, in a message, said that the region stands in solidarity with Bahamas, where five people have already been confirmed dead as a result of the weakening Hurricane Dorian, which is slowing moving away from the archipelago. Bahamas National Security Minis-

ter, Marvin Dames, said the death toll will increase after indicating that a few children would be among those killed by the storm. “I caution Bahamians everywhere that that chances that we find more persons dead, those chances are real,” Dames told reporters, adding “It’s certainly a concern for us. This was a crisis of epic proportions. We want to be responsible; we

want to be caring.

“As we report these things we’re taking into account the sensitivity around this…The reality of it all is, unfortunately, we will see more deaths. I can’t see any way out of it “Unfortunately, what we’re getting is a few of them are children.

We’re at the beginning of this. This is a very unfortunate occurrence for us.

Maybe the worst that we’ve experienced, certainly in our lifetime.”

Chastanet in his message said “today, the hearts of the people of the Caribbean are

Hurricane Dorian has battered the island of Bahamas heavy,” adding that the Bahamas has been “devastated by a dangerous hurricane as our region continues to experience the effects of climate change”.

He said he is “saddened by the early reports coming out of The Bahamas which are reminiscent of the severe devastation experienced by a number of CARICOM states just two years ago when Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit us.

“On behalf of the Community, I extend deepest condolences to all who have lost loved ones to this devastating storm. The Caribbean Community expresses its full solidarity with the Government and People of The Bahamas at this time and stands ready to give whatever assistance is required to deal with the effects of this tragedy.”

Chastanet recalled that at the last CARICOM summit held in St. Lucia in July, regional leaders considered options for financing member states’ actions to build resilience to the effects of climate change, including the establishment of a Resilience Foundation. “It is my fervent hope that this matter will be given new impetus in the coming months. Immediately, the emphasis must be on assisting our brothers and sisters in The Bahamas in getting back on their feet in the quickest possible time.”

Chastanet noted that the Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) had taken the lead in coordinating Regional Response Mechanism (RSM) and deployed two Rapid Needs Assessment teams to The Bahamas. He said these teams will assist the Bahamas government to assess the situation and facilitate the provision of immediate relief in the aftermath of the hurricane.

“As soon as we have a needs list prepared we will share this information with the public and the wider Caribbean family. I urge all our citizens, here in the region and throughout the Diaspora, to lend support to the recovery effort. “I also appeal to the international community, governments and institutions, to come forward and partner with us in helping The Bahamas through the difficult days and months ahead. I call on all the people of the Caribbean to continue to keep The Bahamas and all countries

affected by or currently in the path of Hurricane Dorian in our thoughts and prayers,” Chastanet said.

In its latest bulletin, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that Hurricane Dorian was “finally moving away from Grand Bahama Island” but that dangerous winds and life-threatening storm surge will continue throughout Tuesday night.

It said the hurricane which had maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour (mph) was about 65 miles north of Freeport in Grand Bahama and was moving northwest at five mph. A slightly faster motion toward the northwest or north-northwest is expected later on Tuesday and a turn towards the north is forecast by Wednesday evening, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast Thursday morning. “On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will gradually move north of Grand Bahama Island through this evening. The hurricane will then move dangerously close to the Florida east coast late today through Wednesday evening, very near the Georgia and South Carolina coasts Wednesday night and Thursday, and near or over the North Carolina coast late Thursday and Thursday night.” NHC said that data from reconnaissance aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds remain near 110 mph with higher gusts and is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next couple of days.

There have been reports that at least 21 people have been airlifted to New Providence as the rescue efforts continue. Residents of Abacos and Grand Bahamas have been relating their experiences with some saying that they had no words to describe the damage caused by the hurricane that hit the country as a Category 5 storm with winds in excess of 180 mph.

People have been posting photos of their friends and relatives in the Abacos who had not been heard from since before the storm and Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis on Monday urged people not to post videos to social media that would further worsen the situation.

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FROM BACK PAGE

Heritage Sports set for September 20-22

Essequibo) are currently the reigning male football champions, while Pariuma Village in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) are the female champions.

In cricket, Laluni will look to defend their title in the male category, while St Cuthbert’s Mission in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) will defend the female version title.

THE Everest Cricket Club (ECC) ground has become the home in recent years for the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs’ Heritage Month Sports celebrations.

This year’s sporting activities and family fun day will be held under the theme, “Maintaining our Traditional Practices while promoting a Green Economy”.

Activities are scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs daily and all of the events will be held at ECC ground, except the swimming events, which will be hosted at the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast

Demerara.

Activities will run from Friday, September 20, to Sunday, September 22, 2018.

The Heritage Games will begin with a grand opening ceremony commencing at 10:00hrs on Friday, after which the events would promptly begin.

There will be three days of power-packed activities which would showcase preliminary matches in cricket, football, volleyball, archery and swimming on Friday and Saturday, paving the way for the finals to be staged on Sunday.

The Ministry of Indig-

enous Peoples’ Affairs is expecting that more than 600 sportsmen and sportswomen from Indigenous villages across Guyana’s 10 regions will be competing in the Games, and several cash prizes and trophies will be up for the taking.

In addition to the headline sports, the weekend’s activities would offer a number of novelty sports, such as: piwari-drinking, hot tume poteating, firewood bursting competition, lime-and-spoon race, and other traditional novelty games.

Gold Rush in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper FROM BACK PAGE

Reggae Girlz strike hard over unpaid salaries SEVERAL members of Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz history-making World Cup squad, including Bunny Shaw, Havana Solaun, Toriana Patterson, Allyson Swaby and Lauren Silver, have declared that they will not play another match for Jamaica until they are paid money they are owed from their World Cup campaign.

Each has posted a No Pay, No Play poster on their Instagram pages stating their position.

Under a banner declaring No Pay, No Play, the girls posted: “This is an issue that goes simply beyond “getting paid.” It’s about the girls following in our footsteps. It’s about leaving something better off than when you found it. We signed contracts and have yet to be paid.

“The Reggae Girlz are the first Caribbean team ever to qualify for a World Cup. The hours of hard work and dedication put in by this team doesn’t have a

monetary value. It’s about so much more than money.

Women’s soccer has taken a back seat for too long. It’s time to take a stand.

“For this reason, I, along with my teammates won’t be participating in any tournaments until being paid,” the post said.

In response, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts said he does not know what would have triggered this latest protest from the Reggae Girlz. The players are owed US$120 000, Ricketts said, and half that amount was transferred through Sagicor Bank last week.

In the meantime, team manager Jean Nelson had been in communication with the players informing them that some money had been transferred to their accounts ad that the balance would be paid once they received US$750 000 earned at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup the end of September.

FIFA, Ricketts said, is to pay over that sum at the end

of the month.

However, the players insist they have not been paid.

“My teammates and I have not received any money. Our agreement ended on August 30 and today is September 2 and there is nothing pending,” Lauren Silver confirmed, indicating that the players had formed their own union in anticipation of something like this happening.

“We, as a group, just always wanted to have a line of communication open with each other. Like most companies have a union but since it was a repetitive action, we as a team have been trying to work together more.”

She did acknowledge that Jean Nelson did communicate with them but the bottom line is that they still have not been paid.

“Jean has communicated with us to the best of her ability but at the end of the day she is not responsible for our salary,” she said. (Sportsmax).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

NAMILCO 50th Anniversary Sports – Essequibo

Imam Bacchus CC defeat NAMILCO Thunderbolt Team to win T20 showdown

A well-paced half-century from opener Parmesh Parsatam and an equally responsible 37 from his partner Navindra Persaud guided Imam Bacchus Cricket Club to a comfortable eight-wicket win over the NAMILCO Thunderbolt Team when the NAMILCO 50th Anniversary Sports programme, Essequibo leg, came off last Sunday at the Imam Bacchus ground, Columbia, in the Cinderella County of Essequibo.

A colourful crowd including well over 50 NAMILCO staff members, host Sam Baksh of the famous Imam Bacchus & Sons – host of the day’s proceedings - along with NAMILCO’s Fitzroy McLeod (Finance Director) and Atomaram Lakeram (Personal Assistant to Managing Director Bert Sukhai), all soaked up an absorbing day of action in very sunny conditions.

The programme, which had been pushed back for a few weeks owing to the

prolonged rainy season, was well received by the participants and dozens of spectators.

After winning the toss and deciding to take first strike, NAMILCO Thunderbolt Team started well, but were kept in check by some steady bowling from the home team. Opener Travis Persaud looked the part in his innings of 38 off 26 balls decorated with eight (8) fours, timing the ball well as he set the foundation for their eventual total of 117-5.

But once Persaud succumbed to the Imam Bacchus bowling attack, his teammates were not able to get the better of the pace and spin attack even though they got starts. Sudesh Persaud was left unbeaten on 18 when the overs ran out.

Support came from Abdool Razzak (17) and Daniel Basdeo who was left not out on 12. N. Cadogan and K. Persaud were the pick of the Imam Bacchus bowlers with two for 12 and 13 runs, respectively.

Imam Bacchus & Sons CC team captain collects anniversary trophy and cash from NAMILCO’s Fitzroy McLeod and Atomaram Lakeram.

Needing to score 118 to win off their 20 overs, Imam Bacchus CC were very businesslike in their approach, led by openers Parmesh Parsatam and Navindra Persaud. The duo blasted the ball to all parts of the ground as neither of the NAMILCO Thunderbolt Team bowlers escaped the willow.

Parsatam hit the boundary ropes on eight occasions in his match-winning 51 before he fell. And even though his opening part-

ner, Navindra Persaud went back for 37, the foundation for victory was already laid for the winning prize of $50 000.

Formalising the win were Yogeshwar Lall and Latchman Rohit who were left unbeaten on 16 and 13 respectively when the win was achieved. For their efforts, NAMILCO Thunderbolt Team collected $10 000; both teams were presented with trophies.

During brief opening

and closing ceremonies, host Sam Baksh expressed delight at being able to host the programme for the NAMILCO 50th Anniversary celebrations. He said that Imam Bacchus & Sons was more than elated to welcome Executive and Staff of the National Milling Company of Guyana.

McLeod, in his remarks, stated that Imam Bacchus & Sons has been a faithful partner of NAMILCO from the time it started business

in Guyana and the company thought it fitting to host such a programme there.

Sincere gratitude on behalf of Managing Director Bert Sukhai - who was unavoidably absent - was extended to Mr Baksh, Imam Bacchus & Sons, players, staff members and fans by Sukhai’s Personal Assistant, Lakeram.

He stated that the company was more than happy to give back to the community as they celebrate this milestone. A similar programme was held in the Ancient County of Berbice in May of this year.

NAMILCO is also the title sponsor of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) national Intra Association Under-17 League which involves all nine (9) Regional Members Associations. The two entities inked a five-year deal back in 2016.

NAMILCO was the first company in Guyana to sign a multi-year partnership deal with the federation.

Eight member associations in race to African World Cup qualifiers to be host 2023 women’s World Cup live-streamed worldwide ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - Africa’s lesser-known soccer teams will enjoy worldwide exposure in the next week after FIFA announced that their opening World Cup qualifying matches would be livestreamed on its website and on YouTube.

World soccer’s ruling body said it had invested in the production of the broadcasting feed for the games and that the initiative would give fans in Africa and around the world unprecedented access to the African qualifiers.

“Bringing this exciting action to a global audience for the first time underscores FIFA’s ongoing digital transformation and its ongoing efforts to support football development in Africa,” FIFA

said, adding that it would announce which matches would be shown on its website.

Twenty-eight teams will be involved in the first round a knockout contest where ties are played over two legs on a home-and-away basis. The 14 winners go into the group stage to join the continent’s 26 ranked teams.

The first-round ties involve two sides, Angola and Togo, who qualified for the 2006 World Cup and have since fallen down the rankings. Angola face Gambia and Togo meet Comoros.

Other matches include Somalia v Zimbabwe - with Somalia’s home leg to be played in neighbouring Djibouti - Sao Tome v Guinea-Bissau and Chad against neighbours Sudan.

(REUTERS) - Eight member associations will continue their bid to host the expanded women’s World Cup in 2023, soccer’s world governing body FIFA confirmed yesterday.

FIFA agreed to increase the number of participating teams for the 2023 event from 24 to 32 following this year’s edition in France, and it subsequently reopened the bidding process.

Bidding member associations include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea, which is interested in a joint bid together with North Korea.

Belgium, which registered its interest last month, as well as Bolivia, was not on the latest list.

“FIFA has dispatched

General view as The United States celebrate winning the women’s world cup v Netherlands at Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - July 7, 2019 with the trophy.

(REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo)

updated bidding and hosting documents to all eight member associations, which will have until December 13 to submit their bid book, the signed hosting agreement and all other hosting and bidding doc-

uments,” FIFA said in a statement here.

“Up until the deadline for bid submissions, any member association wishing to join an existing bid will be permitted to do so provided it also submits

a bidding registration to FIFA.” The tournament’s expansion was pledged by FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the end of this year’s World Cup, which was won for a record-extending fourth time by the United States.

Interest in the women’s game has arguably never been higher, with broadcast records broken all over the world in the June-July showpiece.

Almost 59 million people watched France beat potential 2023 hosts Brazil in the last 16, becoming the most viewed women’s soccer match of all-time.

FIFA will conduct official inspections for relevant member associations in January and February 2020, and the hosts are expected to be named in May.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Overton replaces Woakes in England side for Old Trafford Test

“It’s a great incentive for the group to carry that feeling forward and transfer it into a performance,” he said.

“It’s about doing it in the first innings here, making sure that we get ahead of the game and are not playing catchup.”

Craig Overton has taken 32 wickets at an average of 21.34 in the County Championship this season.

ENGLAND captain Joe Root expects Craig Overton to show “character and fight” when he replaces Chris Woakes for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford today.

Seamer Overton was called up as a replacement for James Anderson, who is out of the series with a calf injury.

He made his Test debut in the 2017-18 Ashes series in Australia and dismissed Steve Smith for his first Test wicket. “Craig looked a real threat in Australia,” Root said.

He told Test Match Special: “He did fantastically well there, showed a great amount of character and fight and he’s a real competitor so I expect exactly the same this week.”

The five-match series is tied at 1-1 with two Tests remaining, following England’s astonishing one-wicket victory at Headingley.

Somerset bowler Overton, 25, has taken seven wickets at an average of 42.28 in three Tests with his most recent appearance in the defeat by New Zealand in Auckland in March 2018.

Root said England felt Overton, at 6ft 5in, would be more likely to “exploit the conditions” in Manchester and extract that “extra bit of bounce” from the surface.

All-rounder Woakes has taken nine wickets in the three Ashes Tests in the series and scored 112 runs in five innings, having also played every match of En-

gland’s victorious World Cup campaign.

“It’s hard for Chris to take, he’s been a proven performer for us throughout the summer,” said Root.

“I don’t see it as him being dropped - it’s about trying to find the best way of taking 20 wickets. “Craig made things happen on unresponsive surfaces in Australia so we feel he could be a real handful.”

‘WE DON’T WANT TO PLAY CATCH-UP AGAIN’ England have changed their batting order for the fourth Test, having been dismissed for just 67 in the first innings at Headingley before Ben Stokes’ stunning 135 not out saw them chase 359 to win.

Joe Denly will open alongside Rory Burns, while Jason Roy moves down to four, where he has more regularly batted for Surrey.

“We’re still trying to find out best formula in the top order, but we feel like we’ve got the right players in so it’s just reshuffling the pack,” said Root.

“It’s a good opportunity for Joe to hopefully get in and make a big contribution at the top, while Jason will hopefully show everyone what a world class player he is, as he has done in one-day cricket.”

Australia will retain the Ashes with victory at Old Trafford and Root said his side were determined to make the win at Headingley “part of a special series” and “not just a one-off match”.

PAINE ‘LOSING SLEEP’ OVER GETTING STOKES OUT Australia captain Tim Paine has not named his team, with the tourists set to decide between Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc for the final spot in the pace attack.

Marnus Labuschagne will bat at three in place of the omitted Usman Khawaja, with Steve Smith returning to four after he missed the third Test because of concussion.

Paine admitted he made mistakes with his field placings as Stokes and Jack Leach put on a 76-run 10th-wicket stand at Leeds but said he “hasn’t lost a hell of a lot of sleep” about his position as captain.

However, he said he “has lost a bit of sleep” thinking about how to dismiss all-rounder Stokes, who is averaging 81.75 in the series.

“He’s a class player and he’s really confident at the moment - we’ve got some plans for him but we’ve just got to execute them better,” said Paine. “Nathan Lyon has actually bowled really well to him, he’s created a number of chances and we’ve let Nathan down a bit with our fielding.”

Paine added that he expects Smith, who has regained the number one spot in the ICC Test batting rankings, to be unaffected by missing the last Test after he was struck in the neck by Jofra Archer at Lord’s.

England XI for fourth Test: Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Joe Root (capt.), Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wkp.), Jos Buttler, Craig Overton, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Meet the ‘Golden Jaguars’

By Rawle Toney

Guyana will kick off their CONCACAF Nations League (League B) campaign tomorrow against Aruba in Curacao. Under new Head Coach Márcio Máximo, the Golden Jaguars will be aiming to claim three points in their first match away, before returning to face Jamaica at home on September 9 at the National Track and Field Centre.

Name: Sheldon Holder Club: Morvant Caledonia United Position: Forward

Name: Terell Ondaan Club: Grenoble Foot 38 Position: Forward

Name: Pernell Schultz Club: Guyana Police Force Position: Forward

Name: Alex Murray Club: Santos FC Position: Goalkeeper

Name: Akel Clarke Club: S.V. Walking Boyz Company Position: Goalkeeper

Name: Quillan Roberts Club: Forge FC Position: Goalkeeper

Name: Samuel Cox Club: Hampton & Richmond FC Position: Defender

Name: Sherwin Skeete Club: Fruta Conquerors Position: Defender

Name: Kevin Layne Club: Guyana Defence Force Position: Defender

Name: Matthew Briggs Club: HB Køge Position: Defender

Name: Liam Gordon Club: Dagenham & Redbridge FC Position: Defender

Name: Neil Danns Club: Unattached Position: Midfield

Name: Clive Nobrega Club: Eagles United Position: Midfield

Name: Daniel Wilson Club: Guyana Police Force Position: Midfield

Name: Delwin Fraser Club: Guyana Defence Force Position: Midfield

Name: Kelsey Benjamin Club: Morvant Caledonia United Position: Forward

Name: Keanu Marsh-Brown Club: Newport County Position: Forward

Name: Stephen Duke-McKenna Club: Queens Park Rangers Position: Midfield

Name: Ryan Hackett Club: Fruta Conquerors Position: Midfield

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

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Coleman now free to compete in Doha after USADA withdraws case

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has withdrawn its case against sprinter Christian Coleman, the fastest man in the world this year.

Coleman, 23, had been charged with missing three drugs tests and was facing an automatic one-year ban.

USADA said it had withdrawn the charge after receiving guidance from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Coleman is now free to compete at the World Athletics Championships, beginning in Doha on September 28.

The American ran a world-leading time of 9.81 seconds in the Diamond

League in California in June.

WHY HAS USADA WITHDRAWN ITS CASE? Under the ‘whereabouts’ system, athletes must let officials know where they will be for one hour every day as well as details of overnight accommodation and training. Failure to do so - a ‘filing failure’ - three times in a 12-month period could lead to a rule violation under the World Anti-Doping code.

USADA said clarification from WADA had been sought around the interpretation of the current International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI),

Christian Coleman won the men’s 100m at the US National Championships last month.

India’s Kohli calls Bumrah the most complete bowler around

India’s Jasprit Bumrah has taken 62 wickets in 12 Test matches, at an average of 19.24.

(REUTERS) - India captain Virat Kohli has declared Jasprit Bumrah as “the most complete bowler in world cricket” after the quick’s stellar performance in their 2-0 series sweep against West Indies.

Set an improbable target of 468 late on day three, West Indies lost their final six wickets for 51 runs and were bowled out of 210 to hand India a 257-run win in the second Test at Sabina Park on Monday.

Bumrah finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 13 dismissals at an exceptional average of 9.23, which follows his impressive performance at this year’s World Cup. “There is not much you can say about Jasprit, the way he has been bowling,”

Kohli told a news conference. “All we can say is we are really lucky to have him on our team.

“He confuses you with angles, with swing, he’ll set up for the outswinger, then bowl the inswinger, and it’s coming at a pace, and then he can hit you with bouncers as well. So, I think he is the most complete bowler in world cricket right now.”

Bowling at sustained pace and moving the ball through the air and off the seam, Bumrah ripped through the Windies batting order twice in the series, including a hat-trick in the first innings spell of 6-27 in the second Test.

His devastating spell of 5-7 in the first Test made him the first bowler from Asia to take five-wicket hauls in

Australia, England, South Africa and the West Indies in only his 11th Test.

“He has absolute control of what he is doing. So when he steps out on the field, he knows how much he can contribute for the team,” Kohli said. “It is really pleasing to see a guy who was tagged as a T20 specialist, he came in and took over the one-day scene, and now he is taking over Test cricket.”

Kohli was also impressed with Hanuma Vihari’s assuring presence at the crease as the middle-order batsman enjoyed a breakthrough series in the Caribbean.

The 25-year-old finished as the top run-scorer with 289 runs that included a century and two half-centuries.

“I think the find of the series has to be Hanuma Vihari,” Kohli added. “The way he has batted under pressure ... his skills were outstanding, his temperament was top notch.”

India’s series sweep helped them claim the top spot in the inaugural World Test Championship with 120 points ahead of their home series against South Africa.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka, who shared their series 1-1, follow with 60 points each.

This concerned the date on which a failure to update an athlete’s changed whereabouts information should be considered to have occurred.

USADA recorded filing failures for Coleman on June 6, 2018, January 16, 2019 and April 26, 2019.

Two of the three tests were directed by USADA, while a third was initiated by the Athletics Integrity Unit.

However, as the ISTI states that filing failures relate back to the first day of the quarter, Coleman contended that his failure to update which was discovered on June 6, 2018, should relate back to April 1, 2018. (BBC Sport)

Relentless Rafa knocks Cilic out of U.S. Open

By Rory Carroll

NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal faced his stiffest challenge yet at the U.S. Open but raised his game to beat Marin Cilic 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Monday and continue his quest for a fourth Flushing Meadows title.

The second-seeded Spaniard was in cruise control as he took the first set behind some superb serving and stout defence but the big-hitting Croatian battled back to snatch the second.

That was as good as it would get for Cilic, however, the momentum shifting decisively in Nadal’s favour when he jumped in the air to hit a spectacular overhead smash that electrified the crowd.

Cilic would double-fault later in the game to give Nadal a 3-1 lead and he would never threaten again on a hot and humid night in New York, with Tiger Woods among the star-studded crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium cheering on the Spaniard.

“It means a lot to me to have him supporting,” said Nadal. “He’s an amazing inspiration, all the things that he accomplished in sport, the way that he managed to keep fighting that hard.”

Rafael Nadal

Nadal fired a forehand winner on match point to seal the victory and make his 40th quarter-final at a Grand Slam event.

“For some moments in the second set I felt there were too many points in his hands,” said Nadal.

“He was pushing me back ... after (the) second set I thought something needed to change.”

The 33-year-old has had a relatively stress-free time at the tournament so far, dropping just one set and getting a walkover in the second round.

Next up for the 18-time Grand Slam champion is a meeting with Argentine Diego Schwartzman, who

toppled Alexander Zverev in their round of 16 clash earlier in the day.

The diminutive Argentine has faced Nadal seven times and lost every meeting but has proved a difficult test in the slams, forcing the Spaniard to go four tough sets at the 2018 Australian and French Opens.

“He is one of the most talented players on our tour,” said Nadal, who sometimes trains with Schwartzman.

“He has everything, amazing control, amazing speed.

“He has the ability to read very well your shots and to understand very well the game. It is not a surprise he is there.

“I know people can think that Zverev was favoured before that match. Honestly for me, today, Schwartzman was favoured.

“I saw him play a couple of matches during this tournament, he was playing great. “I need to play my best in the next round to have the chance to be in the semifinals.”

Nadal is on a collision course with third seed Roger Federer and could meet his old rival in Sunday’s final if both players advance. Federer was down to face Grigor Dimitrov in the quarters yesterday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

No‘quick fix’ to fragile Windies batting, says Holder KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Captain Jason Holder said there was no “quick fix” to his side’s batting problems, after they collapsed in the second session on the fourth day to lose the decisive second Test by 257 runs here Monday.

Set an improbable 468 for victory at Sabina Park, the home side were 145 for four at lunch, before losing their last six wickets for 65 runs to be all out for 210 in their second innings, half-hour before tea.

West Indies were dismissed in their first innings for 117 and it followed their dismal showing in the second innings of the Antigua first Test when they were bundled out for 100 – their sixth lowest-ever total against India. “I don’t think it’s a quick fix. I think it’s a situation in the Caribbean where we are not really spoilt for choice in terms of batsmen coming through the region,” Holder said.

“We have got to put things in place to make sure we keep developing players, make sure players are doing the right thing to be successful at this level.

Experienced West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite (centre) … managed just 28 runs from four innings in the series.

“There is still a lot more emphasis to be put on franchise level and first-class cricket, and that’s where we are going to build players.

They’ve got experience and scenario-based experience, and when they come on to (play) Test cricket, it becomes a little bit easier.”

There was a complete failure of the batting group throughout the series with none of the specialist batsman averaging over 18.

Shamarh Brooks, in only his second Test after making his debut in the Antigua match, was the only West Indies batsman to get a half-century in the series when he made exactly 50 on Monday’s fourth day.

Experienced opener Kraigg Brathwaite had an especially wretched series, scraping 28 runs from four innings. He averages 12 over his last nine Tests.

Holder said it was important now that players took the time to examine their games during the next few months. “It’s a tough question and we don’t have any answers as yet (to the batting woes),” Holder noted.

“I think it’s an individual thing and we need to pay special atten-

Experienced West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite (centre) managed just 28 runs from four innings in the series.

tion during this off period. We have a bit of time off and it’s up to the guys to take ownership of their individual games.”

However, Holder was full of praise for the bowling group, especially the fast bowlers who shouldered the bulk of responsibility during the series.

Seamer Kemar Roach was outstanding but bowled without much luck to grab nine wickets at 22 runs apiece while Holder finished with eight wickets, also at an average of 22.

“Kemar has been outstanding.

I said to him in the dressing room and generally that he is one of my

motivating factors. To see the effort that he comes and gives it just really pushes me,” Holder pointed out.

“Shannon (Gabriel) went off in this game and we had Miguel (Cummins) going off in the last game so it wasn’t an ideal situation for us as fast bowlers. We’ve been in the field every single day except for this day so it’s been a situation where it’s been a heavy workload on the fast bowlers.

“But every single time I called on Kemar, every single time I called on Shannon they’ve never said no and for me that’s been motivating enough. Ideally, I wouldn’t

have liked to bowl so many overs but that’s just how the game has gone.

“Somebody has to bowl the overs. It’s a situation where we’ve got to put our heads together as a bowling unit and get the job done.”

West Indies were completely outplayed in the series and have now gone 17 years without a single Test win over the powerful Indians.

Holder said, though, the home side had reaped success in the recent past so, though the series result was disappointing, there should not be cause for despair. “I think in Test cricket we’ve done reasonably well over the last two or three years,” Holder contended.

“This is a bad series for us obviously but we’ve had lots of success in Test cricket, not primarily winning series but we’ve won quite a few Test matches in the last two or three years, so I’m not too disheartened by the Test performance.

“I think we’ve got enough in this Test group to encourage us to keep going. We’ve just got to put it together more often than not. We’ve got match-winners with the ball and we’ve been finding one or two bright spots with the bat but just not consistency.”

Teams from Europe’s Big Five leagues spend 5.5 billion euros in transfer window (REUTERS) - Spending by teams in Europe’s Big Five leagues totalled a record 5.5 billion euros during the close season transfer window, financial analyst Deloitte’s Sports Business Group said yesterday.

The outlay was 0.9 billion euros (£817 million) more than the previous record set in 2018, with England’s Premier League clubs spending 1.55 billion euros with a net spend of 635 million euros.

Spain’s La Liga clubs

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday September 4, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 1. India won by 257 runs 2. Hanuma Vihari (IND) Today’s Quiz: 1. What was the result of the just-concluded WI/IND Test series?

2. How many Test matches India has won under Virat Kohli's captaincy?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

spent 1.37 billion euros - exceeding 1 billion euros for the first time - while Italy’s Serie A (1.17 billion euros) Germany’s Bundesliga (740 million euros) the French Ligue 1 (670 million euros) all set new records.

“Spending across clubs in Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues has reached record levels in this summer’s transfer window,” said Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

“This unprecedented level of spending has been driven by a number of factors, including additional income from new league broadcast cycles, participation in, and subsequent distributions from, UEFA club competitions.”

Jones said club-specific factors such as management changes and improving playing squads to achieve on-pitch objectives were also contributing factors.

“The improved financial

Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann scores their first goal at Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain.

(REUTERS/Albert Gea)

performance of European football clubs has also reduced the need for clubs to sell their best players,” he added.

Spain’s Atletico Madrid signed 19-year-old striker Joao Felix from Benfica for 126 million euros while Barcelona landed France international forward Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid for 120 million eu-

ros.

Real Madrid ended their long pursuit of Eden Hazard by signing the Belgium winger from Chelsea for a reported fee of 100 million euros. Net spending in the Premier League fell by 50 million pounds since the league’s deadline day on August 8.

“Looking to the Premier League, this summer’s

transfer expenditure fell narrowly short of record levels, and net spending was at its lowest level since summer 2015,” Jones said.

“While this level of net spending as a proportion of revenue of 11% is the lowest since summer 2011, we still expect wages to increase at a greater rate than revenue in the next couple of seasons.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 4, 2019

35

OMSCC Toronto Cup 3 Climaxes … Softball Cricket Canada capture Open title

The victorious SCC players and supporters in euphoric celebrations following their win. (Pictures, courtesy of Bobby Ramlagan)

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada – The third edition of the Toronto Cup, organised by the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) climaxed at the picturesque University of Toronto ground here on Sunday with Softball Cricket Canada (SCC) emerging winners in the Open category.

On a day when intermittent showers persisted throughout, and with hundreds of spectators in attendance, SCC got the better of Canadian counterparts Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) Rebels in the reduced 15-over affair, much to the delight of their players and supporters.

Set a challenging 114 for

victory after OSCL Rebels fought their way to 113 for five in their allotted overs, SCC reached the target in 13.5 overs, thereby registering their first triumph in an international tournament following their formation last year.

The eventual winners were given a rapid start by Avinash Sookdeo (26) and Shawn Deonandan (11), racing to 24 in the second over before the latter departed.

That momentum was maintained by the hard-hitting Zaheer Allard as along with Sookdeo they plundered a further 43 for the second wicket in just over four overs.

By the time Allard departed in the sixth over after slamming a four and two six-

es in his 26 off just 14 deliveries, SCC were well on their way to achieving their second consecutive win over their opponents after defeating them in Saturday’s preliminary round.

Sookdeo, whose 26 included three towering sixes, fell in the eighth over but Azam Haniff with 20 (two fours and a six) from 18 balls kept the middle-order intact despite a few inroads in the latter part of the innings which proved to be futile.

Bowling for OSCL Rebels, Trevon Garraway grabbed two for 26, Richard Latiff two for 26 from three overs after going for 17 in his first, Riaz Kadir one for 18 and Yoodhanlall Sukhlall one for 26.

MVP of the final, Sunil Ramkissoon, receives a chain from Crystal Ramdehol, daughter of Devi Sunich of Trophy Stall.

Earlier, a magical opening spell by Sunil ‘Skadachie’ Ramkissoon, which saw him send back Latiff (0), skipper Troy Gonsalves (seven) and Surujpaul Deosaran (one) had OSCL Rebels reeling at 14 for three in the third over after they were asked to take first strike.

However, the consistent Garraway (42) once again came to his team’s rescue, sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 66 with Krishna Deosaran (12) with extras, including an incredible 36 wides, also making a healthy contribution. It took the return of Ramkissoon to break the stand as Deosaran departed. Garraway, who was undefeated at the end, struck

three fours and two sixes.

Ramkissoon, who was later named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final, finished with four for 13 from his three overs while Bolanauth ‘Bunty’ Sukhu took one for 19. His winnings included a chain with a pendant, compliments of Go Logistics which was engraved

by Trophy Stall.

Garraway, former Guyana Under-19 player, who had scores of 60, 20, 45 and 42 not out, tallying 167, was rewarded for the player registering the most runs in the Open category. SCC skipper Loaknauth Ramsuchit’s 78 versus OSCL Rebels in the preliminary round was the highest individual score while Dan Patram, who claimed the only hat-trick

in the tournament and SCC’s Richard Dias (best catch) were the other recipients of prizes.

Apart from the winners’ trophy, which was sponsored

by Trophy Stall, the winners also took home US$1500 while the runners-up received a trophy and US$200. The players from both teams were garlanded with medals, also from Trophy Stall.

The other participating teams in the Open category were Steel City Warriors and Gladiators, both Canada-based sides.

Among those in attendance were Toronto’s deputy mayor Michael Thompson and councillor Jennifer McKelvie of Ward 25 – Scarborough Rouge Park.

Trevon Garraway collects his prize for scoring the most runs in the Open category, from Zarah Sunich, daughter of Roger Sunich.

Pooran optimistic ahead of Hero CPL 2019 Season … Green ready to play key role again

Chris Green will once again be looking to play a key part in the Guyana Amazon Warriors set-up.

GUYANA Amazon Warriors’ most recent acquisition, the exciting young wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran is full of optimism ahead of his new side’s Hero

CPL campaign which begins tomorrow when they face the St Lucia Zouks.

At the official media launch on Monday at the Marriott Hotel (Guyana), Pooran revealed; “I am looking forward for this season with the GAW, who is the most successful team in CPL, they haven’t won the title as yet but they have been to four finals.”

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old hard-hitting left-hander pointed out; “There is a lot of talent here in the team. The fans may give us a hard time, but we are young and we’ll make mistakes, but we’ll have some good games, I believe the team is well balanced and we can take it over the finish line this time around.”

On the other hand, Chris Green, a seasoned T20 player who has graced leagues worldwide has said the composition of the GAW team looks excellent, and is also of the belief that the team can push further and

GFF congratulates Michael Johnson on England U-21 appointment

win the title.

“We’ve got some exciting local players who made a name for themselves last year; the likes of Shimron Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford. Hopefully this year we can see others stepping up to the plate and other younger players coming through for us.”

Having captained the Warriors in the majority of their games last season, Green said he would love to once again play a pivotal role with bat and ball to help his team clinch the long-evasive CPL title.

Green referred to Guyana being his “home away from home”, and shared that he would be most happy to pass on some of his experience to the youngsters.

The tournament kicks off today in Trinidad and Tobago, with matches in Guyana starting on September 5 with Amazon Warriors playing St Lucia Zouks, while on Saturday, September 7, Warriors play St Kitts

Nicholas Pooran is looking forward to the Hero CPL 2019 campaign with his new side, Guyana Amazon Warriors. (Adrian Narine photos)

and Nevis Patriots.

On Sunday, September 8, Warriors will face Barbados Tridents.

Heritage Sports set for September 20-22 See Page 29

Reggae Girlz strike hard over unpaid salaries See Page 29

Michael Johnson THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday, via release, extended its heartiest congratulations to former Golden Jaguars’ head coach, Michael Johnson, on his appointment as Specialist Coach with the English Football Association (FA).

Johnson will work along with Aidy Boothroyd with the Men’s U-21 team and his appointment is part of FA’s elite coach placement programme done in partnership with the Professional Footballers’ Association.

Johnson served as head coach in Guyana for just over a year taking the Senior Men’s National Team to their inaugural appearance at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a creditable performance.

According to the English FA, this is the next stage of a programme, initially rolled out in 2018, to help solve the challenge of under-representation of Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) coaches.

The overall aim, FA stated, is to ensure the diversity of support staff better represent all players across teams but also to continue to grow the talent pipeline of BAME coaches working at the top level of the game across international and domestic football.

The Reggae Girlz are the first Caribbean team ever to qualify for a World Cup.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019