Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_09_05_2019

THURSDAY 5th SEPTEMBER, 2019

' No.105751

Guyana activates

support plan for Bahamas SEE STORIES ON PAGES 09 & 21

…GBTI donates $3M towards efforts Vehicles with less than 7 tonnes given 'green light' by DHB -work still ongoing to get bridge fully operational

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Gov’t in move to push 12 'green' agenda in schools PAGE

…Environment Department submits ‘modified curriculum guides’ for NCERD’s consideration

Teen pregnancy didn’t stop 13 Eleini La Rose PAGE

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Lethem on the upswing

…former mayor credits transformation to township status, LGE Lethem boasts its first asphalted, concrete thoroughfare which carries four lanes. This road carries underground drainage, two beautiful roundabouts and accompanying pavements (Vaness Braithwaite photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

Vehicles with less than 7 tonnes given ‘green light’ by DHB

-work still ongoing to get bridge fully operational JUST one day after re-opening to light traffic, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation has given the ‘green light’ to small canters/trucks carrying less than seven tonnes.

Although traffic is flowing across the bridge, Public Relations Officer, Krest Cummings said work is still ongoing to ensure that the bridge is fully operational again.

At 00:35 hours on Monday, 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.

Despite the magnitude of the damage, workers of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation were

Trucks in line to be weighed (Delano Williams photo)

able to complete all structural repairs to the bridge in what, Minister of Public In-

frastructure, David Patterson called, record time.

“The crew exceeded

my expectations… our best guess was that the bridge would be re-opened to light

traffic around 18:00 hours 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.

The bridge was opened to light traffic which included cars, buses, SUVs and bikes, but remained close to heavy duty vehicles because the bridge had to be re-aligned. “I cannot say if the bridge was re-aligned but work has not stopped, we are doing work all the time,” said Cummings.

In the interim, vehicles will be weighed and once they do not exceed seven tonnes they will be allowed to cross. She said they have not received word on when the bridge will be fully operational again, but General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, Rawlston Adams had said that the company hopes to complete the

work by Thursday.

Adams, on Tuesday, had said the re-alignment will not impede the flow of traffic, but the alignment is necessary for marine traffic to flow. The bridge has to be absolutely aligned for it to retract. “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.

President gifted art work PRESIDENT David Granger, on Wednesday, met Mr. Bobby Hussein at State House. During their meeting, Mr. Hussein presented a 62cm tall work of abstract art made from a combination of materials including PVC pipe, aluminium, wood and bulletproof glass. Mr. Hussein categorised his creation as an abstract art which speaks somewhat to Guyana’s development. He said, “Mr. President, this globe represents the oil we now have. Guyana has it all now; we have it in the palm of our hands.”

The 63-year-old man, who was once a gold and diamond miner, said his father operated the Ruimveldt Al-

uminium Company in West Ruimveldt some 53 years ago. That factory produced glass-pane windows and glass doors among other things.

Mr. Hussein has continued the tradition of his father by fabricating showcases, aquariums as well as pieces of furniture. President Granger thanked Mr. Hussein for the gift. “It is a real joy to see the product of your labour. It is a pleasure and thank you for your hard work,” President Granger said as he related that gifts presented to him are for the nation’s children which, one day, will be on display for all to see. (Ministry of the Presidency)

President David Granger receives this abstract work of art from Mr. Bobby Hussein

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

Lethem on the upswing …former mayor credits transformation to township status, LGEs

By Vanessa Braithwaite WHILE in opposition President David Granger and members of his government picketed the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), and other government offices, demanding that the over two-decade hiatus from local democracy be brought to an end and that local government elections be called forthwith.

These picketing exercises did not bear fruit and the PPP administration refused to call LGEs. In 2015, when the President Granger-led administration came into government, it wasted no time in calling these elections, with the first being held in March 2016.

This move did not only remove the Interim Management Committees that were running the municipalities of Guyana, but also created an avenue for new townships to be formed; it is the President’s vision that every region be managed by a capital town.

One of the four towns to be created was that of Lethem, which now mans the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region. It was the President's mission to have these municipalities set the stage for local transformation. "Use local government elections to transform Guyana, not to remain stagnant, but to change things; provide better services for the children and residents of these villages," President Granger said at a community meeting in Linden.

While delivering the fea-

ture address at the first-ever National Conference of Local Democratic Organs on July 26th, 2019, President Granger said, "The constitution of our country clearly states that local government is a vital aspect of democracy and shall be organised so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live. All politics is local and we have to ensure at the local level, we involve as many people as possible of all ethnicities, of all political parties and in all communities."

The first Mayor of Lethem, Carlton Beckles, who is now a councillor, affirmed

First Mayor of Lethem Carlton Beckles

of lending guidance to the region and so with the development that has taken place in the township, it is to such a

underground drainage, two beautiful roundabouts and accompanying pavements.

Its lifespan is expected to be around 15- 20 years and was constructed by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. "The work going on out there is an initiative of the first Council, I am happy to know that work has become a reality and the quality of work is eye-catching and that is the step in the right direction," Beckles related.

In addition, the neighbouring community of Tabatinga is also benefitting from an asphalted road project, which will be its first. Tabatinga also benefitted from an elevated

batinga to Lethem and so we have motorists and pedestrians using that bridge," he said.

BRIGHTER DAYS Another hallmark development for Lethem is the installation of more than 200 streetlights in the various communities that were previously enveloped in darkness.

This project not only beautified the township at nights, but also contributed to the economy of Lethem since the residents now feel safer and entrepreneurs can now operate small street corner businesses to provide for their families.

Many persons have taken the opportunity to set up

The Lethem Industrial Site area

how the President's vision has become a reality in the township, in more ways than one can imagine. "The best thing to happen to Lethem, was the local government elections.

Prior to LGEs, we were an NDC and there were virtually little or no infrastructure. With the advent of Local Government Elections and with the President's vision, where he said that these towns must be capital towns, with the aim

magnitude that the benefits are being transferred to the wider region," Beckles posited.

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT Prior to LGEs, Lethem's roadways were practically dirt roads that contributed to the dust-pollution situation in the town. Today, Lethem boasts its first asphalted, concrete thoroughfare which carries four lanes. This road carries

and modern bridge, which makes commuting into Central Lethem easier. Beckles said that project was executed by the first council and while it received much criticism from persons with “political ulterior motives,” the residents are the ones benefitting from its presence.

"The bridge is serving its purpose because if you go there on any given day, it takes a shorter time from Ta-

culinary businesses at the several recreational parks that were established in the various communities. These recreational parks also speak of development that creates avenues for strengthening of the tourism and hospitality sectors, Beckles said.

In the area of sports, Beckles said this also is being realised with the construction of several sporting facilities.

In Tabatinga a sports complex

ground was constructed and is in an enclosed facility and also boasts modern pavilions and floodlights. Others include the Declaration Park, the Mayflower Children Park, the Tabatinga Community Ground and the Culvert City Ground.

INDUSTRIAL SITE Another major boost for Lethem's economic projections is the construction of an industrial estate which is a brainchild of former Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.

The estate, located at Bon Success, is taking shape and will serve as a business incubator for start-up businesses, particularly those in Region Nine. It will also provide the facilities for trade and marketing networks in a large variety of enterprises within the various sectors. It is expected to create opportunities for networking and trade with investors in Brazil and other South American countries.

The facility occupies about 70 acres of land and $1 B has been expended thus far.

Other developments in Lethem since it was declared a town, include the construction of a new fire station; the upgrading of the Lethem Municipal Market; the construction of a life-saving bypass at Manari and the ongoing construction of a new municipal office.

Contestants of Teen pageant call on First Lady

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (seated left) addressing the 18 delegates of the Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship Pageant in the Baridi Benab at State House. Ten of them will compete in the final on Saturday

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger on Wednesday morning, received a courtesy call from 18 teenage girls participating in the Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship Pageant.

During the hour-long conversa-

tion, which was held in the Baridi Benab at State House, she advised them to never let anything restrict them. “You’re shaped by your environment but you don’t have to be confined by it… people become

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (centre) with the 18 delegates of the Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship Pageant. Ten of them will compete in the final, which will be held at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday

comfortable putting labels on other people because that’s how they can deal with you… You must ask yourself who am I and what do I want in this life, and you must always want a bit more, I want the women of

Guyana to want a bit more,” Mrs. Granger said, while informing the teens that there are many careers available in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) sector.

During the conversation a range of topics were discussed including women’s empowerment, women in the arts, business and gender parity. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

UK MPs block Johnson’s call for October election Boris Johnson has faced a double defeat in the Commons after MPs turned down his motion for a general election.

Earlier, MPs backed a bill aimed at blocking a nodeal Brexit if the PM hadn't agreed a plan with the EU ahead of the 31 October deadline.

Mr Johnson said the bill "scuppered" negotiations and the only way forward now was an election.

But Labour leader Jere-

my Corbyn accused the PM of "playing a disingenuous game" to force a no-deal Brexit.

He said his party would back an election after the bill had been passed, but not before.

Both the SNP and the Liberal Democrats also criticised the prime minister's motion as a plot to make sure the UK left the EU without a deal.

But supporters of Mr

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Johnson hit back at opposition members who had been calling for a general election for two years.

Mr Johnson wanted MPs to agree to an early general election on 15 October, saying the bill - which forces him to ask for an extension to the Brexit deadline if no deal had been agreed - left him unable to negotiate a deal.

He needed two thirds of all MPs to vote in favour under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, but the result only saw 298 vote for the motion and 56 against 136 short of the number he

needed.

Labour sources told the BBC the party abstained on the vote, although three MPs appeared to have voted for it and 28 against.

The SNP also abstained.

The bill to block no deal passed all its stages in the Commons in one day, with the support of most opposition parties and 21 Tory rebels, as they tried to push it through ahead of Parliament being suspended next week.

It will now go to the Lords for approval.

Peers are debating a business motion on how to move forward with the bill - but pro-Brexit peers have laid down over 100 amendments to derail its progress.

Speaking after the vote, the PM attacked Mr Corbyn, claiming he was "the first leader of the opposition in the democratic history of our country to refuse the invitation to an election".

05 September, 2019 - 09:00hrs ~ 10:30hrs

He said he "urged [Mr Corbyn's] colleagues to reflect on the unsustainability of this position overnight and in the course of the next few days."

'ACCEPT YOUR DUTY' Earlier, the Labour leader said Mr Johnson's offer of an election was "a bit like an offer of an apple to Snow White from the Wicked Queen... offering the poison of a no deal".

He added: "Let this bill [to block a no deal] pass and gain Royal Assent, then we will back an election so we do not crash out."

The leader of the SNP in Westminster, Ian Blackford, said the debate about an early election was only going ahead because the PM had lost the vote against the bill.

He added: "[Mr Johnson] must accept the will of this House, accept the bill that Parliament has passed, accept your duty as prime minister and go to the European Council on 17 October and negotiate the extension you have been instructed to

deliver."

Meanwhile, the fallout from No 10's decision to withdraw the party whip from 21 Tory rebels who backed the bill to block no deal has continued to face criticism from others in the party.

High profile figures, including two former chancellors and Sir Winston Churchill's grandson, were expelled from the Parliamentary party on Tuesday night.

Now a group of around 80 Conservatives have written to the prime minister, calling on him to re-instate the whip to the "principled, hard-working and dedicated" MPs. In a statement on behalf of the "One Nation Caucus", former minister and Tory MP Damian Green: "Removing the whip from valued colleagues who have served their country and party with distinction damages our hope of winning the next general election."

(BBC)

Wednesday September 4, 2019

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August 30, 2019

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8, 1, 5

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

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Scale of Bahamas hurricane devastation emerges Rescuers have begun to reach areas of the northern Bahamas devastated

by Hurricane Dorian, with aerial images showing a trail of destruction.

PM Hubert Minnis said some areas had been “decimated” and expected the current death toll of seven would rise.

The hurricane winds that hit the Abaco Islands equalled the highest ever recorded at landfall, and Grand Bahama also suffered severe damage and floods.

Dorian has moved off north but still threatens the eastern US seaboard.

Forecasters have warned it could make landfall on the coast of South or North Carolina on Thursday.

Although the hurricane has weakened to a category two storm with maximum sustained winds of 105mph (165km/h), it has grown larger in area.

Mr Minnis confirmed the death toll had risen from five to seven, but added: “We can expect more deaths to be recorded. This is just preliminary information.”

He said the Bahamas was facing “one of the greatest national crises in our country’s history”.

Lia Head-Rigby, who runs a relief group and overflew the Abacos, said her representatives had told her there were “a lot more dead”.

“It’s total devastation.

It’s decimated. Apocalyptic,” she told the Associated Press (AP) news agency.

Aerial images over the Abacos, including the port town of Marsh Harbour, showed mile upon mile of destruction, with roofs torn off, scattered debris, overturned cars, shipping containers and boats, and high water levels.

“There’s nothing left in most of Marsh Harbour,” said Alicia Cook, who evacuated from the area.

“People are starting to panic: pillaging, looting... it’s just no way everyone’s going to get out.”

Bob Cornea also spoke to the BBC in the capital

Wednesday night, then “near or over” the coasts of the Carolinas through Thursday and Friday, it said.

The NHC warned there was a danger of life-threatening storm surges for coastal communities north of Port Canaveral in Florida all the way to the North Carolina-Virginia border.

Dorian is expected to weaken over the next few days but will remain a powerful hurricane.

Scientists cannot say whether climate change is increasing the number of hurricanes, but the ones that do happen are likely to be more powerful and more destructive because of our warming climate, says BBC Weather’s Tomasz Schafernaker. (BBC)

Nassau after being evacuated from Marsh Harbour.

He said he and his wife took shelter on the second storey of their son’s house.

“Water was up to my neck. It stayed like that for two or three hours... My son... he got us out and we got over to safety.

“We’ve been through all kinds of hurricanes, all kinds of storms: never anything that bad. I mean, it was like we were standing in the middle of the ocean. That’s what it looked like. Waves, the water just crashing in over us. Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying.”

Opposition leader Philip Brave Davis described the scenes from a flight over the islands as a “horrible sight”.

Parts of the Bahamas received up to 35in (89cm) of rain.

The situation on Grand Bahama is less clear, as Dorian only moved on late on Tuesday after nearly two days of pummelling, cutting many communication lines.

Most rescue work was being done on an ad hoc basis by locals using boats and jet skis, but it was being hampered by flooded roads, fallen trees and submerged debris.

Rescue teams were “beginning to get on the

ground”, National Security Minister Marvin Dames said on Wednesday, according to AP. Mr Minnis said: “Our priority at this time is search, rescue and recovery. It will take all of us as a caring community government, church, businesses and individuals - to help restore the lives of our people.”

People have taken to social media to post lists of those they have lost contact with during the storm.

The International Red Cross fears 45% of homes on Grand Bahama and the Abacos - some 13,000 properties - have been severely damaged or destroyed.

Some 60,000 people will need food aid and clean water, UN officials say.

A map from the Finnish satellite company ICEYE showed the extent of the flooding on Grand Bahama: At 18:00 GMT, the National Hurricane Center said Dorian was located about 115 miles (185km) east of Jacksonville in Florida and about 180 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina. The storm - moving at 9mph (15km/h) - would travel parallel to the Florida and Georgia coasts through

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

Managing our oil and gas industry GUYANESE hold the expectation that proceeds from the inevitable oil and gas sector will be to their and the nation’s development.

Consequently, any and every news and discussion about this evolving sector would aid better understanding of its challenges and the benefits to be derived.

One of the realities that ought not to be lost sight of is that the sector is not the magic bullet to solving all our problems, in spite of the perception that it will create money which will flow like the river.

Since the acknowledged discovery, Guyana has had the benefit of experts’ who are au fait with the industry, offering their inputs and advice. Notable is the common recognition by all that Guyanese must benefit from the exploitation of their resources. In order to meaningfully benefit from anything, it requires being au fait with the issues and the responsibility involved to make the product beneficial.

It is no secret that this sector brings with it its own brand of politics and greed. Global experiences could teach us that in this environment, politics can be divisive and vicious. Our society, having his-

torically evolved as divided units, continued efforts at forging a polity of One People, One Nation, One Destiny, requires shrewd thinking to avoid such pitfalls.

Given the global thirst and demand for oil and gas, local politics can also become prey to the international dictates of governments and multinationals. Recognition of global events would see the hands of external forces, in pursuit of their self- interest, creating and capitalising on internal instability. Greed (i.e. corruption), local and external, has seen the revenue from this sector not redounding to the benefit of the masses. Government officials and the influential in society are known to collude with multinational oil industries to rob the state, and by extension, deprive its people. One prominent case of such blatant existence is that of Equatorial Guinea.

Proceeding with exploiting the sector for the people’s benefit would also require looking at avenues for ensuring that Guyanese possess the skill sets to benefit from employment. This would require understanding the manpower needs and facilitating necessary training to make it possible. To this end, we

recognize the work being done by Totatec in training young Guyanese to take up jobs in the industry. An employment policy or law requiring a baseline employment for local workers is also worthy of exploring. Questions as to the direct and indirect benefits of employment and economic opportunities ought to be pre-eminent.

Another important factor is that of environmental protection.

Management--extractive, disposal and clean-up -- has to conform to internationally acceptable standards. Where Guyana, in addition to pursuing a green economy is also a signatory to the United Nations Climate Change Agreement, the extractive sector will be required to operate within said guidelines and it would not be in Guyana’s interest to circumvent such protocols. Again, we take note of continuous training being done by ExxonMobil and other stakeholders here to respond to any incident of oil spill. Just Wednesday, we reported that 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 of 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 that 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.

Additionally, structures such as the Environmental Protection Act, State Asset Recovery Act, Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, Integrity Commission and proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund, are well situated to ensure proper management of the new sector, along with

holding to account those who are participating in managing it. Effective functioning is equally reliant on enforcers being adequately trained and equipped with the requisite resources, along with a strong and independent judiciary.

Our parliamentary system, which is the nation’s highest decision-making forum, also needs strengthening. Recommendations in the Sir Michael Davies’ Report, commissioned during the Bharrat Jagdeo- administration, in response to local and international pleas to make the august House more deliberative, are still to be implemented. Management of oil and gas revenue can be the 21st century model for uniting Guyanese across political, racial, and other diversity. Environmental crises, political instability and inequities in countries such as Nigeria and Iraq, the emergence of terrorist groups such as ISIS, funded on the seizure of oil wells, and the invasion of Iraq are a few of several lessons to learn from and seek to avoid.

The police of west side promoting a class system Consider a Dear Editor, I DECIDED to pen this letter out of absolute frustration. As a resident of West Coast Demerara, I am forced to traverse the Demerara Harbour Bridge at least six days per week. Those who live on the west side are aware of how torturous crossing the bridge is on mornings, particularly between 6:00-9:00hrs. On the East Bank, the traffic is relatively well-managed. However, I cannot share the same commendations for our side.

Mr Editor, I speak mainly about the way the police handle traffic leading up to the bridge on mornings. First, several vehicles are allowed special privileges of accessing the bridge using a 'special lane'. The list of people being given special privileges seems to be expanding. I voted for this administration because I was tired of people being exalted above the poor and ordinary man because they knew someone in authority. It, therefore, hurts

to see the police allowing this to continue by allowing so many people access to the special lane because they know someone in the police force and may have some level of seniority in the government. My view is that any special consideration to access the bridge should be afforded to emergency vehicles and government ministers.

Everyone else should be made to join the line and toil in the gridlock traffic like the rest of us. I did some assessment of the situation, and it occurred to me that the regular line of traffic accesses the bridge much faster when there are not many vehicles in the special lane.

It can reasonably be concluded that allowing so many vehicles to access the bridge with special privileges may be further compounding the traffic flow problem.

Secondly, the way traffic is managed is unpredictable. You can never say for certainty what time the additional access road will be closed or how many lanes will be utilised. This

brings me to my final point. The police allow four lanes of traffic to head to the bridge, but these lanes are forced to automatically merge into two lanes (during 7:05-7:25), and one lane otherwise. However, the police make no intervention on how this merging will be facilitated.

This results in several scratches and scrapes as vehicles forge ahead.

I believe what is required on the west side are critical thinkers; brilliant officers who can adequately assess the situation and bring order and predictability to the morning traffic. Above all, let us not have a Guyana, where citizens return to feeling that they must watch the privileged benefit from the easy life, while ordinary citizens sit and suck it up. I am hoping for some intervention from the Commissioner of Police and the President.

Regards Peter Thom

city base

Dear Editor, The west side garbage contractor whose city contractual operations and other commitments have been affected due to the recent bridge mishap should now consider having a base in the city or environs east side of the river.

To not be able to fulfill its obligations because of a situation beyond its control brings little comfort to those who are dependent on the provision of service the company provides.

Regards Shamshun Mohamed

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

The issue of academic fraud is no laughing matter Dear Editor, I read and agree to some extent with the VETERAN Trade Unionist, Lincoln Lewis, who posited in the Sunday's edition of the Kaieteur newspapers on September 1, 2019 that, “Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, should be held accountable for his actions, noting that instead of assisting with the governance of the country, he continues to act recklessly.” I said I did agree to a point Mr. Editor because Mr. Jagdeo is not a normal animal, he has an unquenchable thirst and desire for power.

I say so because he is the only President and compared to other countries in the Region, Prime Minister who has served more than two consecutive terms (12yrs) in office that our constitution allows.

Comes out of retirement to become not only the leader of "His Party", but also holds the General Secretary's position of his party and is also Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. Denying several young people work.

It is important to remind readers also, that his concealed obsession for power came after his failed attempt to gain a third term as presidential candidate for the former Jagan PPP party, so he out manoeuvred all the Jaganites including "ANUG’s" Ralph Ramkarran, – the goat nah bite me man – several others and made the party his own.

He then chose a presidential candidate in whom he believes and fantasise will have this power to satisfy his desire but the indomitable David Granger and the coalition stands in his way.

Mr. Editor every time I hear the name Irfaan Ali, I really feel sorry for him and

I ask the question, how can a real man allow himself to the used like this? Additionally, three things come to mind: fake name, fake degrees and 19 criminal charges. Firstly, Mr. Editor, Jadgeo's PPP Presidential candidate’s correct name is Mohamed Irfaan Ali. This is the name on his birth certificate and on his missing in action degrees. It is not Irfaan Ali. Guyanese should ask why he has chosen to use Irfaan Ali as his public name even though that is not his first name. I don’t want to believe he is he trying to hide from the general public and international community that he is a Muslim? There is no need to, unless there is a strategic reason that he does not want this to be known.

Mr. Editor, last Sunday, Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Hugh Todd, a lecturer at the University of Guyana held a well-rehearsed and scripted interview on one of the local PPP-controlled TV stations, who was part of the friends and family network that Jagdeo intentionally gave radio licence to in an effort for the PPP to control all of the state communications assets (radio, TV, cable, satellite) during its discriminatory-driven rule of 23 years – his 12 being the worst.

Hugh Todd is a wellknown member of the PPP for over a decade. These days, he is seen as a prominent member on all of the PPP’s poorly-attended marches and protests.

He has great ambitions to be a minister and even grandiose ambitions to be the Ambassador to the United States in the intoxicating imagination of the PPP party. On the TV interview with Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Hugh Todd designated himself University of Guyana lecturer but he did not include the fact that he is a strong PPP

member. He did this so as to give the public the impression that “two” intellectuals are having a discourse. This is deceptive and follows the same pattern as Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s deception with his name and his questionable degrees.

Hugh Todd and most likely a soon to be member of the PPP lists, was trying to do the impossible. Todd was trying to legitimise Mohamed Irfraan Ali’s questionable degrees and fraudulent representation of himself as a legitimately certified educated person. This conspiracy between Mohamed Ifraan Ali and Todd shows that the PPP will never tell the truth and will forever try to hoodwink and bamboozle the not so conscious.

Jadgeo's PPP and especially Mohamed Irfaan Ali will always be untruthful to the nation. They will always lie to the International community.

They lied about jobs. They lied about their relationship with Roger Khan who took out a full-page advertisement to confirm his relationship with the PPP, lied about the $10,000 cash grant. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has lied about Pradoville and is facing 19 criminal charges because of his conspiracy to defraud the state of lands and to give it to PPP friends and family including Jagdeo, Rohee and Lisa ‘Visa’ Ramotar, and many others.

Mr. Editor, Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s academic history is one of great mystery, fraud and hidden identity. Mohamed Irfaan Ali was once enrolled at the University of Guyana. He registered in 1996 to pursue a diploma in Accounting but never graduated. Mohamed Irfaan Ali alleges he obtained his first degree from a “phantom” University located on the West Coast of Demerara in Guyana. Every Guyanese knows that no such university

exists. It is also alleged that Mohamed Irfaan Ali used a fraudulent transcript from the same non-existent university to gain entrance to a master’s degree programme at the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in India in 2003.

According to news reports, Mohamed Irfaan Ali secured another Bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 2006 from the University of Sunderland located in the UK. Note however that the University of Sunderland does not offer a degree in “Business Management” but a degree in “Business and Management”.

Thanks to Guyanese Dr. Mark Devonish, who resides in England, it has been revealed that the degree offered by the University of Sunderland is a four-year programme and is not offered online, so it begs the question: how did Mohamed Irfaan Ali obtain this degree while not living and attending classes in the UK? As the facts are presented, please draw your own inferences.

Mr. Editor, Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Mr. Jacob Opadeyi, is a highly-qualified Professor of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad. Geomatics is the branch of science that deals with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data relating to the earth's surface.

He served as Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Guyana, 2013-2016, during which period he was awarded a US$193,000 contract by the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) to deliver to the Deeds Registry a fully-functional & operational Land Management Information System for use by the registry’s

Safe City project is a component of the National Broadband Expansion Programme The Ministry of Public Telecommunications wishes to correct the misinformation contained in the ‘Peeping Tom’ column published in the Kaieteur News on Monday September 2, 2019 under the title “Walk safe and hope for the best”.

The fact is that the Safe City Surveillance System is a component of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications’ National Broadband Expansion Project.

Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes, and Head of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Floyd Levi, first introduced the project on August 14 and 15, 2018 during public discussions on advanced broadcast technologies. They identified the project’s main deliverables as:-

A Safe City Surveillance System which is enabling law enforcement to access critical information in real time, and improve their response time to crises.

Extending the ICT networks into the hinterland to equalise our citizens’ access to information, education, healthcare, business, etc.

On Saturday September 22, 2018, then Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge and China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Wang Yi, signed the agreement to boost Guyana’s broadband access. Then on October 26, 2018, Ministers Cathy Hughes and Winston Jordan, along with China’s Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Cui Jianchun, signed a Concessional Loan Agreement for US$37.6M provided by the China Exim Bank to finance the project.

It is distressing that a supposedly experienced columnist like ‘Peeping Tom’ seemed not to have checked the large store of information that is available from many online sources, including the newspaper that publishes the column. Most media houses continue to publish articles on the broadband project, and their introduction to the high-tech Command Centre for the Surveillance System in July received wide coverage. For emphasis, the National Broadband Expansion project is entirely separate from the Citizens Security Strengthening Programme.

Regards Marjorie Chester Public Relations Officer Ministry of Public Telecommunications

staff.

Adding to Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s now questionable qualifications is his PhD dissertation in an area that is completely foreign to him; - “Design and Development of an Integrated Land Management Model in Guyana”.

Ali’s associate, Dr. Opadeyi is an expert in this field and Ali asserts that Dr. Opadeyi is/was his adviser on his PhD dissertation. This is a rather convenient fact, but as the saying goes, it is a sign of intellectual maturity when you can read not what is on the line, but between it as well and Guyanese usually can.

Mr. Editor, The issue of academic fraud is no laughing matter and if condoned, it could destroy our society in every possible way. We tell our youth and children that education is the key to success. We tell our children that oil is here and Guyana needs to be competitive. We speak about a just society yet we have a presidential candidate who is not only dishonest, but one who is unrepentant.

Academic fraud is a serious offence. What is interesting to note Mr. Editor is that one of the main universities targeted is the University of Sunderland, which is the very same university that Jadgeo’s presidential candidate purportedly received his bachelor’s degree from. It was reported that one can purchase a fraudulent University of Sunderland credential for just £40 (Pounds Sterling). The fraudulent certificates which contain replicas of the university’s crests and embossed seals are sold on the internet.

In 2018, A BBC Radio programme did an expose` on how thousands of UK nationals bought fake degrees from a multi-million-dollar “diploma mill” in Pakistan. According to the documents exposed by the BBC’s Radio programme, between 2013 and 2014, Axact (the company which issued fake degrees in Pakistan) sold more than 3,000 fake qualifications to UK-based buyers.

In 2015, Axact sold more than 215,000 fake qualifications.

Globally from around 350 fake universities and raked in £37.5M in a single year.

In the United States and other parts of the world, academic fraud is a serious crime and it is punishable by a fine and imprisonment. Let’s call a spade a spade and not a fork. If an individual engages in padding or embellishing a credential on their resume it is a crime and it’s a false representation of that person’s accomplishments. In many countries that person can incur criminal charges.

I, like most Guyanese, am happy that our President, David Arthur Granger, who will be re-elected, is eminently and most suitably qualified with authentic legitimate credentials, to continue to lead this big, blessed, bountiful, resources-rich land we call Guyana, for all Guyanese to have a good life.

Regards Jermaine Figueira Member of Parliament Region 10

8

Straight Up with

Mark Benschop

All Guyanese suffered under Jagdeo and the PPP

SOMETIMES people do not like to face reality, and even when they are confronted with the evidence, they are still hesitant and extremely stubborn in accepting the truth.

Politically speaking, this is often times the case with folks who are diehard party supporters and prefer to continually vote for a party that offers very little to enhance their lives, or a bright future for themselves, and family members. Thus the usual comical utterances from party supporters – such as "I born a...and I gon die a..., or my grand faddah was a dis, or my Cha-Cha was a dat..." – which, mind you, is a ridiculous notion and is not confined to any one political party in Guyana. Such trends could be best described as blind loyalty, and for the most part, these blind party loyalists express no remorse for their voting trends, regardless of how cruel they are often treated by 'party comrades.’ Surely, such is something that has been (and unfortunately, still is) the hallmark of the PPP, especially during its 23 years of iron-fist rule.

And, persons throughout the length and breadth of the country can attest to countless examples of horrible treatment meted out to them by high ranking individuals in the previous government, or those attached to Freedom House, or some overnight rich business person with privileged connections. In fact, I am almost certain that most Guyanese have experienced this voting trend and blind allegiances to political parties, as I have within and outside of my family structure. Look, don't get me wrong, people are entitled to support a political party of their choice; it's their constitutional right. Yes, even if that party is ANUG or has a horrible track record of Punishing Poor People, as is the case of the People's Progressive Party (PPP). I wish to focus specifically on the treatment of supporters of the PPP – those very diehard individuals who have endured tremendous hardships, were tormented, slaughtered and ill-treated in the same manner as other non-supporters of the PPP. In fact, we have heard about the 400+ Afro-Guyanese who were allegedly slaughtered at the hands of death squads, the notorious Black Clothes Police, and other criminal gangs, which were said to be connected to the then ruling party. Unfortunately, I have attended dozens of funerals of individuals who were said to be supporters of the PPP, many of whom were brutalised by the police, some who were killed under the disguise of robberies, some drug-related murders, some through vicious pirate attacks, some through suspicious deaths in police lockups, and others by the disbanded Berbice Anti Smuggling Squad. Not to forget, the vicious beating and teargasing of sugar workers, and those citizens who were protesting in front of the Albion Police Station. Yes, I have also witnessed and attended to many persons within the various indigenous communities across the country, where many were discriminated against, beaten, slapped by a presidential guard (allegedly, in the presence of President Donald Ramotar), locked up for absolutely no real reason, other than political spite and other forms of spite by party officials. Thus, it is a fact that most party loyalists prefer not to speak out on many issues of human rights violations and other forms of brutalities during those dark years.

In fact, many of these victims related to me personally that they never felt safe under the PPP, despite the fact that they are party loyalists. Also, there were many business persons (many who complained to me privately, and some via my TV show many years ago) and some were blacklisted from leaving the country. Sadly, no one was spared from the wrath and scorn of the PPP, including my friend (former PNC candidate and AFC supporter) Mr. Balwant Singh, who was victimised under the PPP, numerous rice farmers/millers, police officers, GDF officers, etc.

In closing, it is for those very reasons mentioned above, and more, that I boldly and unapologetically state: Guyanese, should never allow the PPP to ever gain power again, by every legal and democratic means necessary, through free, credible and transparent General and Regional elections. In my next column, I will deal with the issue of the PPP Prime ministerial candidate.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

Gov’t accelerates development in hinterland regions -PM says much in store for indigenous people

GOVERNMENT has accelerated development in hinterland regions over the past four years and intends on continuing with the same pace going forward, said Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.

“Every administration tried a little to focus on indigenous people, to improve living standards…but since this coalition government came in, in the last four years there has been an accelerated pace in which things have been done,” said Prime Minister Nagamootoo during an on-air interview with the National Communications Network (NCN) on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister believes that there has been a general improvement in the lives of indigenous people, who reside mostly in the hinterland communities.

He said development has been interlinked, in the sense that certain amenities were provided in order to ensure a smooth flow.

For instance, the Prime Minister said government has been focusing on improving the electricity supply system in the hinterland.

Places like Mathews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Siparuta, Moco Moco, Culvert City and Mabaruma have benefitted so far. According to the Prime Minister, two of the major projects include the establishment of two massive solar farms in Mabaruma and Annai.

He said government has invested over $270 million in developing a solar farm in Mabaruma and there has been an allocation of $200 million to develop a solar farm in Annai.

Speaking more about the provision of electricity, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said Government has in place a programme for a $450 million hydro project in Kato.

This project is geared at supplying electricity to the Kato Secondary School.

He said when the coalition government got into office in 2015, they found that the Kato Secondary School was unusable.

“The billion-dollar school we inherited was not done to specification…we had to do it from the start…so as part of that we want to develop hydro to provide electricity,”

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

said the Prime Minister. Hydro projects have also been approved for Moco Moco and other areas.

He said improving electricity supply systems is just one aspect of development, noting that once electricity is available, government will be able to provide other services.

“These things will be commissioned so that you have the power to support activities…We have the learning channel that reaches 16 locations through radio but we want to provide television communication to the 16 locations, starting with schools, but you need supplies of electricity,” said Prime Minister

Nagamootoo.

Government has been working to ensure that development is widespread so that everyone can feel the benefits. “We have to bridge the coast with interior and integrate rural with urban… we cannot leave people behind,” Nagamootoo asserted.

As part of picking up the pace in the hinterland, government has also looked at improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare and education. Prime Minister Nagamootoo said all of the existing health facilities have been upgraded and government is also improving the services which are offered. Health is, however, seen hand-inhand with the programmes in education, he said, adding that much is yet to be done. The Prime Minister said a lot more will be done during the “decade of development 2010-2029.”

During that decade, Government will ensure that development is constructed on the platform of education and health.

The hypocrisy of it all Dear Editor, Please permit me a space in your newspaper to respond to a letter that was published in the Stabroek News, dated August 28, 2019 titled, “APNU+AFC gov’t destroying the independence of our institutions”. In that letter the Former President, Donald Ramotar, declares that, “In the last elections campaign, the APNU+AFC made many promises that they had absolutely no intention of keeping”.

APNU/AFC made promises in their manifesto that within 100 days after assuming office there will be numerous changes. One hundred days may have been too short a period to institute sweeping changes from the mess, ‘narco’-state, money laundering etcetera left by the PPP/C administration.

Despite the restrictions the coalition faced, it avoided

public fanfare and triumphalism, the coalition government steered the country forward as a stable and growing economy; promoted and defended its sovereignty and territorial integrity; restored respect for Guyana as a democracy in which all human rights and press freedom are protected; and supported and encouraged social cohesion among our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, plural population.

Let me remind former President Ramotar that despite missteps, this coalition government has worked collaboratively to ensure the journey towards fulfilling its promise to all Guyanese not just a few cronies, families and friends. It was the PPP/C which introduced VAT on the Guyanese populace and the coalition promised to reduce it, which it did, the Berbice River Bridge toll was also reduced.

It is this government that have sought to ensure the

independence of our constitutional bodies by passing legislation that has struck down provisions which sought to undermine the independence of bodies and agencies like the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission, the Parliament Office, the Office of the Ombudsman and the, now much-maligned, GEOCOM to name a few. Why was this not done under your tenure as president Mr. Ramotar?

For Mr. Ramotar to accuse this coalition government of disrespecting the Constitution and “destroying the independence of our institutions” is plain hypocritical. Since the three-month deadline after the no-confidence motion would have expired in the due process of litigation, which was the coalition’s right to pursue constitutionally. Political expediency must not trump the Rule-of-Law. Or is seeking

legal recourse the exclusive purview of the PPP/C? Over these past four years, the policies and programmes of the coalition government have favourably impacted every aspect of life in Guyana, from the coastland to the hinterland, and in our riverine and indigenous communities. No government before has done more within such a short span of time.

Mr. Ramotar makes me recall Matthew 7:5 where I will substitute brother’s with PPP/C and APNU+ AFC: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of the PPP/C’s eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from the APNU+AFC 's eye.”

Oh, the hypocrisy of trying to take the speck out of the APNU+AFC’s eye while the plank has been in yours for 23 years Mr. Ramotar!!

Regards Ceion Rollox

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

Guyana activates support for Bahamas THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has activated its response mechanism to facilitate assistance to the Caribbean island of The Bahamas, which was visited by devastating hurricane, Dorian.

Speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Director-General (DG) of the CDC, Lieutenant-Colonel Kester Craig indicated that measures are being taken to mobilise and dispatch resources to the hurricane-ravaged island.

“The total count of loss and damage is not yet available, but we have already started to take proactive action in anticipation of what may be some of the expected impacts as a result of Dorian,” the DG Craig said.

The devastation is reportedly unprecedented and extensive, with many homes, businesses and other buildings completely or partially destroyed. Craig stated that while relief efforts are being mobilised, the needs of the affected state needs to be assessed and identified before materials and resources are dispatched.

“At the moment, they have listed some needs which include pumps reverse osmosis plants, large storage for water and a few other items and based on what is coming out of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), who is leading the relief coordination, the major need right now is financial support.”

Guyana has also been

CDC Director-General Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig

supporting the relief efforts by having standby teams to be part of the CDEMA

mechanism.

According to Craig, CDEMA has requested an oil and gas specialist in refineries to be identified within the member states, so that they can be deployed to the island as part of the RNAT. The CDC is in contact with the Department of Energy (DoE) and other key partners to identify such an expert.

He noted that Minister of State Dawn Hastings-Williams has been updated on the situation and has already briefed Cabinet on Guyana’s preparedness to respond.

CDC also plans to establish accounts at various commercial banks in Guyana so that persons can make donations for relief efforts in the island. The monies raised would be used to support

response teams deployed, establish and manage shelters and to procure relief supplies.

The accounts’ information will be circulated as soon as they are made available.

In a release, the commission stated that it will also be reaching out to Guyanese living in The Bahamas who were impacted, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to determine what level of support is needed.

On Sunday, September 1, 2019, Hurricane Dorian, a Category Five storm, made landfall on The Bahamas at Elbow Cay, Abacos Islands at approximately 12:40hrs with 185 mph winds.

On Tuesday, September 3, 2019, it was downgraded to a Category Three hurricane, still exhibiting slow

forward movement. As such, the impact on Grand Bahama is still expected over the next twelve (12) hours.

The total population expected to be affected on Grand Bahama and Abacos Islands is estimated at 76,278. So far five persons have been confirmed dead on Abacos Islands.

The commission expressed Guyana’s solidarity with The Bahamas and its people who were affected

by Hurricane Dorian. The commission has also committed to tangibly do their part to contribute to relief efforts in collaboration with CDEMA.

Burning of canes could hamper investment PPP extends sympathy to people of Bahamas in Rose Hall Estate – Officer in Charge THE People’s Progressive Party has extended sympathy and wholehearted support to the Government and people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in their time of need, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian.

In a statement, the party said it is horrified by the unspeakable destruction of life and property on the Abaco and the Grand Bahamas Islands. “At the same time we salute the bravery and selflessness of so many Bahamians to rescue people in their communities under

dangerous conditions,” the party said. It added that Prime Minister Minnis has called this a tragedy of epic proportions and has recognised that the reconstruction of these islands will take years. “We recognise that Bahamas will require consistent regional and global support for a long time to come. Guyana must extend its support to Bahamas as quickly as possible, as it has unflinchingly done in the past for fellow brothers and sisters in the Caribbean who suffered terrible natural disasters,” the PPP added.

Convicted child rapist will know fate today The Rose Hall Estate is among three estates identified for privatization and divestment through the NICIL-SPU.

THE constant sabotaging of canes at the Rose Hall Estate can deter investors’ interest in the facility, Officer-in-Charge, Edward Anderson told Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday.

Over the last 12 months, there have been constant arson attacks on the Rose Hall Estate, one of three estates that have been identified for privatisation. Anderson explained that the fires usually occur in the Providence Section of the estate.

The Officer-in-Charge noted that four rangers have been contracted to keep watch, however, the fires usually occur at nights when they leave premises. Due to budgetary constraints, the Special Purposes Unit (SPU) – the entity that manages the estate – cannot afford more rangers to man the cultivation.

The latest act occurred on Sunday in the Providence Section at four different locations.

The authorities were able to contain the fires by 22:00hrs but not before 40.9 hectares of canes were burnt. The Guyana Police Force has been called in to investigate this more

recent incident.

Anderson told this newspaper that while the canes have not been harvested since 2017, when the estate was closed, the arson attacks could affect investors’ interest in the estate. Last June, the SPU had disclosed that an Indian-Ghanaian-Guyanese consortium was in line to purchase the Rose Hall Estate. This negotiation was expected to wrap up in July, 2019 but on Wednesday, Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited’s Special Purpose Unit (SPU), Colvin Heath-London told this newspaper that the investors will make their decision once elections have been held in the country. The consortium’s primary intention is to remain within the sugar cane industry with the aim of producing sugar, liquid sugar, cosmetics and input for cosmetics.

The other two estates that have been put up for privatisation are Enmore and Skeldon Estates.

CONVICTED child rapist Leonard Albert will on Thursday know his fate as Justice Simone MorrisRamlall at the Demerara High Court is expected to pass sentence.

In July, Albert was found guilty by a 12-member jury for engaging in sexual penetration of a six-year-old boy on June 9, 2012, in the county of Essequibo.

Social worker Simon Gaskin had read the vic-

Leonard Albert

tim’s impact statement to the court, detailing of how the incident has left him scared.

“I feel betrayed and sad,” the victim said in his statement as he explained that he is angry with himself for allowing Albert to rape him.

Albert was represented by attorney Maxwell McKay, who requested a probation report to be done on his client, after which the he will be sentenced. The state was represented by prosecutor Tuanna Hardy.

Correction In our Wednesday, September 4, 2019, Page 5 article headlined `He’s Wapishan; his wife’s Indian’, it was inadvertently mentioned that Miriam Andrew, Guyana’s first female Amerindian attorney-at-law is married to young Guyanese Formula Four racer,

Calvin Stanley Ming.

She is in fact married to Samuel Ming. The Guyana Chronicle regrets the error and any inconvenience it may have caused Miriam Andrew and her husband as well as Mr Calvin Stanley Ming.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

Guyanese Professor Griffith first principal of UWI’s Antigua campus

By Jeff Trotman GUYANESE- born Professor Stafford Griffith is the first principal of the newly established Five Islands Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Antigua.

UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, on Tuesday, introduced Professor Griffith as the interim principal of the new campus, during the ceremonial opening in the main auditorium of the facility. Sir Hilary explained that difficult decisions, requiring wisdom and experience

will have to be made during the formative years of the institution “and we have turned to one of our wisest heads”.

“This is a man, who has been tried and tested, a distinguished scholar, a distinguished Caribbean man, who hails from the interior of Guyana. He has lived here for many years and knows this island and this country very well. “I have worked with him at UWI in the School of Education where he served as Pro Vice-Chancellor. I have worked with him as chairman of CXC. He was one of our leading technocrats, guiding

the CXC over the years in curriculum development, programme development, assessment and measurement. The CXC that we are very proud of today is an expression of his leadership and guidance.”

In a brief address at the ceremony, Professor Griffith stated that the value of higher education for economic development is not a debatable issue. He said that it is well illustrated by the impact in the establishment of a University of the West Indies campus in Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago in terms of the impact on the socio-eco-

nomic development of those countries.

He opined that the new

skilled … highly trained graduates, who can take advantage of the current state of knowl-

Guyanese born Professor Stafford Griffith

campus should similarly impact the growth and development of Antigua and Barbuda.

Professor described the materialisation of the Five Islands Campus as the outcome of the thinking of two visionary leaders, Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Sir Hilary. He said that the former clearly recognises the value that a university campus could bring to bear on the economic and social value of a nation. Noting that Vice Chancellor Beckles demonstrates an unwavering conviction that UWI must play a pivotal role in the further development of the Caribbean by extending its services, particularly in the Eastern Caribbean, Professor Griffith emphasized that the campus in Antigua and Barbuda is a good place for which to do so.

He added that it has the prospect of making similar impact on the development of other countries in the OECS and he urged the other OECS member states “to take advantage of the opportunities that the establishment of the Five Islands Campus provides to the sub region to serve as a catalyst for their further growth and development.

“This campus provides an opportunity for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda to obtain a university education in a number of areas of specialization at a much lower cost than they would have had to bear if they had to travel to another country where they would have to pay airfare and accommodation to complete their university education.

“Moreover, many students will be able to complete their studies while maintaining their jobs and in turn their employers will have an immediate stream of benefits from the improved expertise, even as they pursue their courses of study.”

He pointed out that the global digital age is on the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution “into a world of artificial intelligence and virtual reality,” which pose serious challenges to the region’s competitiveness and economic survival. Consequentially, the region needs to develop “a much larger pool of highly

to him, this phase would be extensively advertised.

“For this second phase,

UWI Vice Chancellor Sir Hillary Beckles

edge and adapt it, indeed, build on it to ensure that we continue in this region to have our fair share of the benefits derived from the global economy.

“The Five Islands Campus as part of the University of the West Indies system that ranks at the top five per cent of the universities in the world has the potential to provide that much needed education and training for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and the rest of the OECS counries,” Professor Griffith said. He added that quality faculties will be established to guide student development so that the campus can fulfill its objective. The interim principal said that during his tenure, he “will continue to work, to lay the foundation for the Five Islands Campus to become an outstanding campus of the University of the West Indies and for that I look forward to your continued support”.

TWO PHASE ADMISSION TO UWI FIVE ISLANDS CAMPUS Pro Vice Chancellor and Interim Principal of the UWI Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda, Professor Stafford Griffith, has disclosed that student admission to the facility will be done in two phases in this first year of operation. He made the disclosure in a brief address after being introduced by Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles at the opening ceremony of the campus on Tuesday in the facility’s main auditorium. Classes began at the Five Islands Campus on Monday but during his address at the opening ceremony, Professor Griffith said that several people have been enquiring about admission requirements for this semester.

He is advising interested persons that registration would be done in two phases with the first phase open to students, who are starting their programmes in the first semester.

He said that some students have already started classes and those, who have not yet started will begin during the course of the week. He advised that the second phase of registration will take place in January 2020. According

we hope to recruit students not only from Antigua and Barbuda but (also) from other OECS countries.” The interim principal said that the first semester will utilize full time and part-time faculty largely from specialists, who are resident in Antigua and Barbuda. This will be supplemented with specialists drawn from other campuses of the University of the West Indies.

Advantage will also be taken of the eagerness expressed by a number of faculties from other campuses to come to this university campus to provide training in their areas of specialization. “So, there will be a mixture of expertise drawn from various places. He pointed out that the standard expected for a course of study at the Five Islands Campus “is the same as that of other campuses of the university. The matriculation requirements … are the same. The courses of study are of the same quality.

The examinations (will) reflect a common standard and the grades awarded reflect the same level of accomplishment.

Five Islands is a full campus of the University of the West Indies – subject to the same regulations as the other campuses of this university.”

He said a core mission of UWI is to undertake research that is relevant to the socio-economic and political development needs of the countries in the region and to create students to engage in this research. In this regard, the Five Islands Campus as part of the reputable University of the West indies will be engaging in research that is socially and developmentally relevant to the people of Antigua and Barbuda, and the rest of the region in a range of disciplines beginning, of course, with those covered by the three schools with which the campus has already started.” Those schools are: Humanities and Education; Health and Behavioral Sciences; Management, Sciences and Technology.

The interim principal said research in those areas are expected to be conducted at the Five Islands Campus “right from the outset”.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

11

CDC Head says oil spill response plan 90% completed AS the country continues to prepare for first oil come 2020, Guyana’s National Oil Spill Response Contingency Plan which is ninety percent complete is being drafted by local experts in key sectors.

According to a press release from the Department of Public Information (DPI), Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, explained that the drafting of the plan was done by local agencies with some technical advice from international bodies.

“We decided to use our in-house experts within the country because these persons understand their roles and responsibilities better than those (international) experts when it comes to developing a plan that is tailored to Guyana and is specific to our environment,” he said.

According to the press release, consultation development of the oil spill response plan commenced in 2017 with technical support from the United States Coast Guard.

It said that, in February 2019, more emphasis was placed on the development of the plan and a National Oil Spill Planning Committee was established. The release said that the committee comprised representatives from the CDC, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Energy Agency, Maritime Administration, Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The release said that since the establishment, the team has met regularly on Tuesdays to identify key roles, responsibilities and to craft the plan.

“We are about 90 percent complete and we are now making final edits and developing some of the annexes,” said Craig.

He explained that the annexes in the plan will be used for guidance on the types of resources, contact information and call-out procedures. The DG emphasised that the most critical aspect in the development of the strategy was the planning process.

“Going through the planning process with key stakeholder would ensure that people know what their roles are,” he stressed.

The release stated that the CDC has already begun procuring oil spill response equipment. According to Lt. Col. Craig, there are approximately four containers containing millions of dollars’

Participants in a Volunteer Emergency Response Team training in May 2019

A participant in a Volunteer Emergency Response Team training in May 2019

worth of response equipment stored at the commission’s warehouse in Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

“We are now working with the main agencies to identify some of the key resources and where they will be deployed because once something happens, you want to have almost immediate response and having the resources deployed and having persons trained in the use of these resources are very essential in responding, containing and minimising the impact of an oil spill,” he explained.

Craig also related that as part of the plan, volunteers are being trained and equipped to respond in the event of an oil spill on or offshore.

It was noted that operators in Guyana’s basin are also required to have an oil spill plan which must be approved by the CDC. In the event of a spill offshore, each operator is responsible for responding and managing that spill.

“The Government of Guyana and its agencies are required to ensure that there is an enabling environment for

Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig

effective response in place… mechanisms would have to be in place to expedite procedures such as customs and immigration in the event international assistance is required to manage an oil spill.

DPI said that the CDC will host a broader stakeholder engagement before the end of October.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

Government in move to push 'green' agenda in schools

…Environment Department submits ‘modified curriculum guides’ for NCERD’s consideration THE Department of Environment has submitted ‘modified curriculum guides’ to the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) for its consideration.

The guides that are in keeping with Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) and the Rio Mainstreaming Project cover a wide range of topics including Climate Change, Biodiversity, Land Geology and Geography, Agriculture and Forestry. These areas were further broken down across the Social Studies, Primary Science or Integrated Science, and Language Arts or English Language curricula for Grades One-Nine.

The proposed ‘Modified Curriculum Guides’ were presented to NCERD Director Jennifer Cumberbatch by the Department of Environment’s Environmental Policy and Education Coordinator, Alvin Doris at the Herdmanston Lodge on Wednesday.

Ahead of handing over the guides to the NCERD Director, Doris explained that the Department of Environment, last October, established a multi-agency working group that was tasked with reviewing the Education Ministry’s curriculum guides for Grades One through Nine.

He noted that the intention was to establish whether

there was comprehensive environmental coverage in the schools’ curriculum. “As you can imagine, there was little to none because our schools’ curriculum had not been revised, in part, for decades,” Doris said.

The Environmental Policy and Education Coordinator said, given the reality, the Department of Environment thought it fitting to contribute to the Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project which entails curriculum reform.

“We saw that the lack of environmental coverage provided us a great opportunity to propose what could be enforced,” Doris said, noting that the working team focused on “infusion” rather than the introduction of new topics. “Where ever we found that there was opportunity for an organic fit of what we proposed, we put it in,” he added.

Onika Stellingburg, the department’s Stakeholder Management Coordinator, said education forms a key part of the government’s Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 and the proposed guidelines were aligned with the 20-year green economic plan.

She explained that, under thematic area ‘G’ – Healthy, Educated and Socially Cohesive Population – there are a

number of key priority actions for the education sector.

One such action is the

management, biodiversity, environmental education and climate change among oth-

The Department of Environment, Environmental Policy and Education Coordinator, Alvin Doris, presenting the proposed ‘Modified Curriculum Guides’ to NCERD Director, Jennifer Cumberbatch, at the Herdmanston Lodge (Samuel Maughn photo)

implementation of curriculum changes to educate on the sustainable development agenda, Stellingburg noted, adding that such was in keeping with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Education for Sustainable Development Policy.

“The idea is that these strategies – the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development Curriculum should also be mainstreamed into our national curriculum so that students can learn key topics such as agriculture, energy, water, disaster risk

ers,” Stellingburg noted.

According to her, the proposed modified curriculum guides, if implemented, can play a critical part in the realisation and fulfillment of GSDS: Vision2040. “The revised curriculum guides will play a part in that because our students will now understand our natural resources, they will have a greater appreciation for what we have in Guyana. They will understand simple concepts such as climate change, health and the environment, waste management, waste minimization because we don’t just

want to tell persons how to manage their waste, we want to help persons to understand how they can reduce the amount of waste they even put out,” the Environment Department’s Stakeholder Management Coordinator explained.

NCERD Director, in receiving the proposed guides, acknowledged that curriculum, in Guyana, has not been renewed in years though there have been several changes. As the world advances, so should the curriculum, she posited.

“Long ago, in the 80s, early 80s, we weren’t hearing much about climate change, we didn’t know anything much about any Green State Development but these are important changes that must be reflected in our new curriculum,” Cumberbatch posited.

Noting that NCERD is the home of curriculum, Cumberbatch said the centre, and by extension the Education Ministry, are thankful for the tangible support given by the Department of Energy through the provision of the proposed curriculum guides.

“I have seen a bit of it and I recognise that some of it is really good, so we are grateful but we have not looked at it in its entirety but we are really grateful for this tangible effort,” she said.

The proposed ‘modified curriculum guidelines’ form part of the Strengthening Technical Capacities to Mainstream and Monitor Rio Convention Implementation through Policy Coordination Project which was operationalised when the Ministries of the Presidency and Natural Resources signed onto the Global Environmental Facility/United Nations Development Programme (2016-2020) project.

The Rio Mainstreaming Project focuses on three conventions: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The Environment Department’s Rio Mainstreaming Project Manager, Michelle Klass; NCERD Curriculum Development Officer, Sandra Persaud; and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Communication, Education and Awareness Programme Officer, Candacie Brower-Thompson were among the officials present.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

Teen pregnancy didn’t stop Eleini La Rose

SHE is an advocate for improving lifestyle choices, preventing illnesses and diseases while promoting safe and responsible sex education to the young women in her area of Santa Rosa. She also makes representation for her staff who work with her at the Kumaka District Hospital.

Her name is Eleini La Rose. At age 17, she found herself pregnant with her first child. Like most young women in similar situations – unqualified and unemployed, she worried about being able to support her unborn child.

Recalling those early days of motherhood, Eleini describes herself as a brave and happy mother. Despite the fact she had no experience in raising a child and financial support was limited, she managed to raise her daughter.

Today at age 34, Eleini still lives in Santa Rosa where she was born. As a Staff Nurse/Midwife attached to the Kumaka District Hospital, she is a role model in her community. The senior nurse obtained her nursing education from the Charles Rosa School of Nursing in Linden. “I started training in 2005 as a registered nurse… after 2009 when I was appointed as a registered nurse, four months later I pursued midwifery so in 2010. I became a registered nurse/midwife and since then I have been working at Kumaka District hospital.”

Eleni explained why she decided to take up the nursing profession – a longstanding passion of hers. “I like helping people and my desire is to help preserve life and as a midwife helping to bring a baby into the world… it’s a

NAREI to clamp down on illegal importation of agricultural commodities THE National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) will soon clamp down on persons who are importing agricultural commodities and regulated articles without a permit.

“In the past, persons were importing without permits and we have thought about it…we would have given persons time to comply with the law, but we have decided that it is time to clamp down,” said Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of NAREI, Brian Sears in an invited comment on Wednesday.

NAREI had issued a notice which advised the public that the importation of agricultural commodities and regulated articles including fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, plants and plant parts, timber and timber products and so forth, require an import permit as stipulated by the Plant Protection Act #9 Part III: Imports.

“Failure to have the requisite permit prior to importation will result in legal actions being taken against defaulters including confiscation of imported commodities as well as the imposition of penalties – fines and imprisonment for the offence

as per the legislation,” said the institute.

Sears said the institute had found that the importation of agricultural commodities was prevalent in border communities such as Lethem and Berbice, where smuggling of goods is pervasive.

“We plan on doing more monitoring in those and other areas to ensure that persons have a permit before they import…we will be checking to see where else it is being done and see if there are staff in those areas…we will also visit supermarkets, shops and stores,” he said.

Most of the monitoring exercises will be conducted by the National Plant Protection Organisation. The mandate of the organisation is to regulate and promote trade of agricultural commodities.

Sears said the organisation is the section of NAREI which deals with monitoring, so they will deploy quarantine officers and take other measures to ensure that areas are properly monitored.

For further information on the process, persons can contact the National Plant Protection Organisation on 220-5858, 220-2456 or 2205217 or email at nppogy@ gmail.com.

joy being a midwife, seeing a baby born caring for them and to help educate the mother on how to properly care

for the infant.”

Through her job, Eleni also seeks to motivate teen mothers; using her personal

Nurse Eleini La Rose – Registered Nurse/Midwife, Kumaka District Hospital

Nurse La Rose and one of her maternity patients at the hospital

story as a reference. She advises them to acquire an education and work towards self-development. “…what I do is let mothers know they can still pursue their dreams and became whatever they want to become,” Eleini explained. For the future, this role model hopes to have the opportunity to pursue a degree in nursing followed by a master's in the same field. Her work

at the District Hospital was recently recognised by the Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence, and PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. William AduKrow. They noted Eleini’s commitment to ensuring that the Kumaka District hospital is a facility where persons can be confident that they will receive quality healthcare. (DPI)

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Ethiopia Princess

Ariana Austin to visit Guyana …as guest at 2019 Women's Leadership and Business Conference WeLead Caribbean has announced the inclusion of Her Imperial Highness Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen of Ethiopia as a speaker to the 3rd Annual Women's Leadership and Business Conference, PowHERful: Transition from Inspiration to Action.

This year's event will be held on September 18 and 19, from 9:00 hours to 4:00 hours at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, WeLead said in a release. Princess Ariana Makonnen was born on January 6, 1984, to an American father and Guyanese mother. She is a member of the Ethiopian imperial family and the House of Solomon through her marriage to Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen, the great-grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Her grandfather was former Georgetown Mayor, John Meredith Forde.

Her Imperial Highness Princess Ariana would be delivering a speech on cultural entrepreneurship which would be followed by a question and answer segment and she is said to be excited to be addressing her Guyanese community, WeLead said.

“Princess Ariana is a philanthropist and entrepreneur with invaluable experience and knowledge to be shared at this year's conference.

We are honored to have her and we look forward to learning from her” said Abbigale Loncke, President of WeLead Caribbean. And to have Yvette Noel-Schure lead our line-up of speakers this year means that we

Her Imperial Highness, Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen of Ethiopia

are going to be in the company of really great women.”

Speakers include: First Lady of Guyana H.E Mrs Sandra Granger, Kerensa Gravesande-Bart, Shalini Beharry, Dr. Vishnu Doerga, John E. Housty, Michelle Nicholas, Jacequelyn Shipe, Maria Fernanda Córdova Sánchez, Latoya A. West-Blackwood, Sharon Lalljee-Richard, Dr. Patricee Douglas, Rosh Khan, Marissa Lowden, Debbie Houston, Ronald J. Daniels, Dason Anthony, Javanni Arthur, Jennifer Cipriani, Cynthia Jagnandan, Avia Maria Lindie, Saelese Haynes, Latoya Jack, Coleen Abrams, Suean Seewnarayan, Marva Langevine, Tamika Henry Fraser among others.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

Radio plays major role in marketing Indigenous products – PM Nagamootoo SEPTEMBER has arrived and with it is the observance of Indigenous Heritage Month. Reminding of the entrepreneurship grants and loans now available to Indigenous citizens, via the efforts of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo says the next step is to ensure these products and services are packaged and marketed both locally and internationally.

Appearing as a guest on the National Communications Network’s (NCN) radio programme ‘INSIGHT’, on Wednesday, the Prime Minister explained that the coalition government’s commissioning of six regional stations will help raise awareness countrywide.

“These will be key to letting the world know but first letting all of our people know, where you could find Indigenous honey, cassareep, craft and other products. The radio stations are vital to spreading the word.”

Prime Minister Nagamootoo spoke of the need for a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote Indigenous products. This plan, he said, would require input from the Indigenous People’s themselves, their associated organisations, including the National Toshao Council (NTC). He also pointed to the creation of new towns such as Bartica, Mabaruma, Mahdia, and Lethem as also being key to this strategy.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

“They will now help to promote the appearance of a commercial centre, where you can bring products into the market, where you can have both wholesale and retail.”

The prime minister noted the impact of ICT hubs countrywide, on increasing this awareness, more than ever before. Addressing the pace of hinterland development, he said the pace will continue under this current administration. The prime minister noted that hinterland developmental projects are all interlinked. “You want radio but you can’t do it without electricity.

You want telecommunication, data. You can’t do it without electricity,” he said.

According to the Prime Minis-

ter Nagamootoo, recognising this, the government moved to boost power supplies in Mathew’s Ridge, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, St Cuthbert’s Mission, Siparuta, Orealla, Morokabai, Moco Moco, Wauna, Sugar Hill and Culvert City among others. There is a push to ensure more use of sustainable energy, he added, hence the construction of solar farms at a cost of $270M in Mabaruma, $200M in Annai and a similar facility at Bartica. Also, a $450M hydro project is planned for the Chiung Falls, which will help to supply the Kato Secondary School that has finally been completed to specification under the current administration.

The building or rehabilitation of road, trails, bridges and culverts, the prime minister noted, demonstrates improvement, achievement, renovation and a changing of the lives and landscape of all hinterland communities. Guyanese, he said, should be cognisant of these positive initiatives led by His Excellency, President David Granger.

“From day one, the coalition since coming to office he said, we have to bridge the coast with the interior. We have to be able to integrate our rural communities with our urban communities. We have to make Guyana whole. We cannot leave any of our people behind,” noted Prime Minister Nagamootoo. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

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US ambassador welcomes fifth Fulbright scholar to Guyana US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, has welcomed Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Norman Munroe of Florida International University (FIU) to Guyana.

Dr Munroe will pursue accreditation of engineering programmes by the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET) as part of a project to transition the University of Guyana (UG) Faculty of Engineering & Technology along a path of global excellence in engineering.

Dr Munroe is the fifth Fulbright Scholar to work in Guyana since 2015.

In a press statement on

Wednesday, the US Embassy noted that the development is in line with the US commitment to help Guyana efficiently manage the anticipated oil revenues for the benefit of the Guyanese people.

Dr Munroe is also expected to participate in the recently-introduced Petroleum and Geological Engineering Programme at the Faculty of Engineering & Technology at the University of Guyana.

The embassy noted that Dr. Munroe will pursue accreditation of engineering programmes by ABET as part of a project to transition the Faculty of Engineering & Technology along a path

Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch and Fulbright Scholar, Norman Munroe

of global excellence in engineering.

It was noted that the ABET accreditation is recognised worldwide through

international agreements and it provides assurance that programmes meet the global quality standards of the engineering profession.

The embassy noted that graduates from ABET accredited programmes will have a solid educational foundation and be capable of leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the environmental and safety needs of the public.

“While in Guyana, Professor Munroe will also seek to initiate research on the prevention of corrosion of pipelines in the Oil & Gas industry that he is currently conducting in his laboratory at FIU,” the statement noted.

Professor Munroe is one of over 800 US citizens globally, who will teach, conduct research, and/or provide ex-

pertise abroad for the 20192020 academic year through the Fulbright US Scholar Programme.

Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields.

The Fulbright Programme is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange programme and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the US and the people of other countries.

Fisherman remanded for wounding drinking partner

SENIOR Magistrate Leron Daly on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, remanded a 27-year- old fisherman to prison for wounding his drinking partner.

Calvin Murray appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court and pleaded not guilty to the offense.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on

September 2, 2019, at Waramuri Village, Moruca Northwest District, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Shane Peters with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm.

Police prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to bail being granted to Murray based on the seriousness of the matter and told the court

that Peters is still hospitalized.

It was alleged that, on the day in question, Murray and Peters went to a party in Waramuri village where they both consumed alcohol and became intoxicated.

Around 22:45 hours, they had an argument. Murray went away and later returned, armed with a cutlass. He dealt Peters a chop

to his left leg, which damaged his (Peters’) muscles and fractured the bone.

Peters’ was rushed to the Kumaka District Hospital and was later referred to the Suddie hospital. An investigation was conducted and Murray was later arrested.

Magistrate Daly remanded Murray to prison until September 9, 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

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Become ‘great’ not just ‘good’ healthcare professionals -- health minister challenges new health-care workers PUBLIC Health Minister Volda Lawrence challenged the latest batch of 21 recently graduated healthcare professionals to strive to become great and not settle for being just good.

“The good physician treats the disease [but] the great physician treats the patient who has the disease,” Lawrence in her recent keynote address said, quoting Sir William Oster, one of the founding professors of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, in the US. “I wish to encourage you to reflect deeply on your response as you prepare to provide the health services which your training abroad facilitated,” the public health minister said, referring to her challenge to 19 general medical officers (GMOs), one physical therapist and one sports massage therapist on the need to choose between settling for being good or striving to become great.

Lawrence reminded the participants that currently, the country’s health-care sector is still “fraught with challenges,” but predicted that this batch of new specialists can make a difference with their devotion, care and versatility.

“Our patients are our priority. They will each come with a different story or problem, but you will be in that unique position not only to treat, but reassure them, demonstrating that you care,” the minister said.

Lawrence also challenged the new graduates to complement each other to help achieve greater outcomes within the five levels of health-care in Guyana.

“I know that each of you is replete with ideas and novel ways of approach which you are anxious to share to effect change, but you must exercise patience.

You cannot expect a change overnight, so your attitude in moving forward cannot be arrogance, condescension, impatience and worse still, withdrawal and complaints,” she counselled.

She also emphasised the importance of exercising, listening, good mannerisms and patience with their patients.

“Words are powerful and when coupled with respect, kindness, confidentiality and professionalism, our patients’ response to this continuum of care will be heightened,” Lawrence said.

The minister’s keynote statement was the fillip for the two-day orientation and

training programme for the new doctors under the theme, ‘An overview of the health system in Guyana, functions of the national health care system and other aspects governing the seven major programmes under the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)’.

“We in the public health sector embrace you with love and hope that this love would be reciprocal and would transcend all barriers and challenges and filter down to the most important people in this circle, the citizens of our beloved country,” Lawrence said in the boardroom of the National Blood Transfusion Service at East & Lamaha Streets, in the capital city.

The two-day programme was facilitated by Dr Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer (CMO); Dr. Karen Gordon-Campbell, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO); and other programme heads and coordinators of the Public Health Ministry.

Dr Tanika Luncheon, technical officer attached to the CMO’s office was also part of the coordinating team.

Meanwhile, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Finance) of the Ministry of Public Health, Glendon Fogenay, told the participants that while they are expected to function as medical personnel, they ought to learn, know and understand the basic functions of the various programmes and departments of the MoPH. While reminding the new officers of the importance of integrity, Fogenay expanded on the aspect of humility when carrying out their daily functions.

“Humility is very important character of a public servant…true humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. You are here as a public servant, and you are here to serve the client,” the DPS said.

At the end of the two days, the 21 health specialists trained in China, Cuba, Jamaica and Russia will be inducted into Guyana’s public health sector. They will be rotated in different working environments such as health centres and health posts throughout Guyana, including those in the country’s sprawling hinterland communities.

(Seated from left) Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer; Volda Lawrence, Minister of Public Health; Dr. Karen Gordon- Campbell, Deputy Chief Medical Officer; and Glendon Fogenay, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Finance) with the 21 new health-care workers at their orientation and training programme

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

CARICOM must strengthen case for development status at WTO

…should be assessed not only on GDP per capita

By Elizabeth Morgan KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sept 4, CMC -When the World Trade Organization (WTO) resumes work shortly, the Members of

the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), like others, will need to be prepared to address the issues on WTO reform which include proposals on special and differential treatment

(S&DT) and differentiation/graduation.

In addition, preparations will commence for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) to be held in Kazakhstan, 8-11 June

2020. Of the fifteen (15) CARICOM Member States, thirteen (13) are WTO Members. The Bahamas is an Observer and commenced membership accession in 2001. CARICOM countries

represented in Geneva are now Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean jointly, and Guyana.

The CARICOM members participate at the WTO as individuals but the Caucus of Ambassadors coordinate trade and other issues making joint representation as necessary. CARICOM Members collectively account for an estimated 0.24% of world merchandise trade and are still endeavouring to diversify and integrate into world trade.

All CARICOM Member States are developing countries with Haiti the only Least Developing Country (LDC). For 2019, however, the World Bank, based on GDP per capita, has classified Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, St. Kitts/Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago as high income countries and the others, including Jamaica, as upper middle income.

CARICOM Members have always supported special and differential treatment (S&DT) for developing countries in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the WTO. In UNCTAD, the Caribbean supported a proposal for a sub-category on Small Island Developing States to highlight their fragility in trade and development.

Such a group exists, as an alliance, at the United Nations (UN) in discussions on sustainable development.

S&DT has been important to Caribbean countries in trade enabling the provision of unilateral, oneway market access through the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)/ European Union (EU) agreements and arrangements with the USA and Canada. The ACP/EU Lomé and Cotonou trade provisions on sugar and bananas were successfully challenged in GATT/WTO dispute settlement championed by the USA and others.

S&DT also enabled Caribbean participation in GATT/ WTO negotiations.

In the WTO Doha “Development” Round (DDR), the CARICOM Members were among those who ne-

gotiated for inclusion of specific development issues, including a work programme on small economies. It was evident as work progressed that the developed countries were not committed to this work programme.

Associated with this was the group on Small Vulnerable Economies (SVEs) which negotiated to have their concerns included in the DDR draft texts.

CARICOM countries support the multilateral system. Mutilateralism has been challenged in the WTO and the UN system by the Trump Administration. Its splintering would be a loss weakening equal participation and alliance-building. CARICOM’s participation in bilateral and plurilateral trade negotiations demonstrated their lack of leverage to secure a development dimension to these agreements and protect their interests. Now classified as high and upper middle income countries, the CARICOM members are at increased risk of graduation from development support programmes and being treated as developed countries in spite of their economic and social deficiencies and vulnerability to external shocks. In the Caribbean’s post Cotonou negotiations with the EU, it will be necessary for their vulnerability to remain a key consideration.

In the WTO, CARICOM Members could lose S&DT and technical cooperation which at this stage is important in the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

The differentiation/ graduation issue for CARICOM goes beyond the WTO into global economic fora such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and deliberations on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. CARICOM needs to further strengthen its case for development status not to be assessed mainly on GDP per capita and for their own differentiation in the WTO as small vulnerable economies.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

GBTI opens account for Bahamas relief fund -- pledges $3M

THE Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI), on Wednesday, committed some $3M in hurricane relief to the Bahamas in addition to setting up a relief fund to which members of the public can make their contributions.

“We see the destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian and we understand the need for the people to get back to their normal lives and it is inherent within us to help,” said GBTI Executive Director, Richard Isava.

The bank is encouraging the general public to use the

GBTI Hurricane Relief Fund to also make their contributions.

Donations can be made to Account Name: GBTI Hurricane Relief Fund-Bahamas. The account number is: 011802963011 The Bahamas was on Saturday hit by the mega storm with winds recording the highest at landfall and resulting in at least seven deaths.

GBTI is Guyana’s first indigenous bank with the largest network of branches spread across the country and strongly upholds its corporate social responsibility.

Man accused of theft makes restitution A 25-year-old father of two was arraigned before magistrate Dylan Bess, on Wednesday September, 4, 2019, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It is alleged that, on August 27, 2019, at Jackson Street, North Ruimveldt, Osafo Johnson, while in the company of others, robbed Howard McPherson of $20,000 cash and one Samsung cellular phone valued at $40, 000.

Osafo pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was

read to him.

The defendant pleaded with the magistrate to be lenient with him and offered to repay the virtual complainant for the items stolen.

The sum of $60,000 was given to the virtual complainant and the matter was dismissed and the defendant was released from police custody.

However, Magistrate Bess placed Johnson on one years’ bond and advised the man to stay out of trouble with the police.

Market vendor granted bail, taxi driver fined for using threatening language ON Wednesday September, 4, 2019, 39-year-old Peter Browne, a taxi driver and 50-year-old Mary Barose, a market vendor were arraigned before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates' court.

It is alleged that, on August 26, 2019, on Brickdam, the duo used threatening language against each other during an argument.

Browne pleaded guilty while Barose pleaded not guilty, when the charge was read to them.

Browne noted that Barose was a nuisance and she often used distasteful comments towards him.

Magistrate Bess released Barose on $10,000 bail. She is to return to court on October 9, 2019.

Browne was fined $10,000.

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Case against former Town Clerk for decision today THE case against Former Town Clerk Royston King challenging the Local Government Commission (LGC) on his ‘wrongful dismissal’, comes up before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Demerara High Court on Thursday, September 5, 2019, for decision.

In January 2019, King was served with a dismissal letter by the LGC after “he did not respond verbally, or in writing, to the charges laid against him,” having appeared before the body on Wednesday, January 23, 2019.

He was dismissed by the LGC, following recommendations made by officials, who conducted an Inquiry into operations of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC).

King had been charged with gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds at the municipality.

However, in February 2019, King moved to the High Court to challenge his dismissal.

In his application, King is asking for the LGC to reinstate him to his previous post immediately and/ or to pay him all his superannuation benefits, inclusive of pension, gratuity, payment in lieu of annual leave, up until he attains the age of retirement, on January 29, 2020.

He is also claiming for cost and aggregative damages for his benefits while on administrative leave and compensation for public embarrassment and humiliation.

The former Town Clerk is calling for interest calculated at 4% per annum from the date of filing of the application, until

Former Town Clerk Royston King

the judgment and at 6% per annum from the date of judgment up until full payment, excluding court cost, is made.

King is being represented

by Attorneys-at-law Maxwell Edwards and Patrice Henry.

The grounds of the application state that the ‘indecent’ haste by the LGC in summarily dismissing King without a hearing and on the recommendations of the COI whose terms of reference did not relate to the recommendations, and the inadmissible hearsay evidence being accepted and admitted, render the dismissal irrelevant.

“I have never acted unlawfully, illegally or criminally during my tenure as a serving member of the Municipality of Georgetown, irrespective of my appointments to attract the attention of the Police or any disciplinary authority,” King said in his court document.

During his employment as Town Clerk, King was paid $408,560 monthly, inclusive of house and entertainment allowance.

Wanted Bulletin Issued for former policeman THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for former policeman, Teon Allen, called “Spoil Child”, in relation to the attempted Murder of Denise Grant and Tiffany Mc Deth on September 2, 2019, at Linden.

The 33-year-old Teon Allen’s last known addresses are Lobora Creek, Linden and Wismar Linden.

In August, 2017, Allen, a former policeman, appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, charged with harbouring wanted men – Mark Royden Williams and Uree Varswyck – who broke out of the Camp Street Prison on July 9, 2017.

Allen of Lobora Creek, Essequibo River, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that between July 9, 2017, and July 23, 2017, in the Upper Demerara Magisterial District, he received, relieved, comforted, assisted and maintained Williams and Varswyck.

WANTED: Teon Allen

Additionally, on January 26, 2017, Allen and two other men were charged with the illegal possession of an AK-47 and matching ammunition.

It was reported that on January 22, 2017, at John Street Campbellville, Georgetown the police swooped down on the location and carried out a search and found an AK-47 assault weapon, 80 rounds of live ammunition and a 9mm pistol.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Teon Allen is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 226-6978, 2258196, 226-2870, 226-7065, 227-1149, 226-7065, 4443512, 444-3297, 911 or visit the nearest police station.

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Amazon Warriors begin Hero CPL 2019 conquest tonight against St Lucia Zouks

By Michelangelo Jacobus HAVING shared last season’s home and away matches one apiece, Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Lucia Zouks will clash tonight, here at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, in the second match of this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors have been runnersup on four occasions with the CPL title proving elusive. However, ahead of tonight’s match, head coach Johan Botha has maintained that their main aim coming into this new campaign is to finish in the top four and take it from there.

Full of talent, the duo of young hard-hitting lefthanded batsmen, Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer, in the middle order ranks are two of the most dangerous batsmen in the tournament and they form part of a strong line-up along with Sherfane Rutherford and Shoaib Malik.

Pakistani international Shoaib Malik will lead the side and he will be a key member of the team while

his countryman leg-spinner Shadab Khan and Australian Ben Laughlin will lead the bowling department as the Warriors look to make a solid start.

Formerly St Lucia Stars and now known the St Lucia Zouks, the Darren Sammyled side will be looking to play hard as they seek a change in fortunes; for they are yet to finish any higher than fourth since the inception of the tournament.

Their squad has seen plenty changes from the initial group of players who were earmarked for the 2019 season, as Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera, Niroshan Dickwella and Beuran Hendricks are all expected to miss the tournament.

In their stead Cameron Delport, Hardus Viljoen, Najibullah Zadran and Colin de Grandhomme have been called up although the latter two will miss out due to other commitments.

However, local boys Andre Fletcher, John Campbell, Obed McCoy and Rahkeem Cornwall will all be expected to rise to the occasion.

The game bowls off at 18:00hrs and is the first of three home games for the

Warriors.

On Saturday (September 7), Warriors play St Kitts and Nevis Patriots while on Sunday (September 8), they will face Barbados Tridents.

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad reads: Anthony Bramble (wicketkeeper), Chris Green, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Ben Laughlin, Saurabh Netravalkar, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton Pestano, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, Shadab Khan, Romario Shepherd, Shoaib Malik (captain), Keagan Simmons, Odean Smith.

St Lucia Zouks squad reads: Darren Sammy (captain), Chris Barnwell, John Campbell, Roland Cato, Rahkeem Cornwall, Colin de Grandhomme, Cameron Delport, Niroshan Dickwella, Fawad Ahmed, Andre Fletcher, Beuran Hendricks, Kavem Hodge, Nitish Kumar, Keddy Lesporis, Andre McCarthy, Obed McCoy, Lasith Malinga, Najibullah Zadran, Thisara Perera, Jeavor Royal, Hardus Viljoen, Kesrick Williams.

Amazon Warriors a well-oiled unit, says Malik ahead of tonight’s game

By Michelangelo Jacobus AS Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) begin their Hero CPL 2019 campaign this evening against the St Lucia Zouks at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, captain Shoaib Malik believes that their preparation as a well-oiled and tightly-knit unit will prove key to their title ambitions.

At the captains’ pre-match press conference hosted at the Marriott Hotel (Guyana), yesterday, Malik’s opposite number, Darren Sammy told media operatives that his team, St Lucia Zouks will be looking to start well against ‘consistent opponents’, the Warriors.

“We’ve got to win games.

You cannot get the title if you do not win cricket matches. That would be our focus. We have the guys in

the dressing room who could make that happen and we are looking to start here against a very consistent Amazon Warriors team”.

Also present at the press conference, was head coach of the Warriors, Johan Botha.

He exuded confidence ahead of the Warriors’ first challenge. He also talked up the strength and depth of the Warriors batting, pointing out that while all eyes will be on Shimron Hetmyer there is an abundance of good batsmen.

“He (Hetmyer) had a great season last year and if he replicates that, then great for us, if he doesn’t we have other top batsmen. We won’t be solely dependent on Hetmyer.”

Among the names Botha highlighted as key batsmen were Malik, Brandon King, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Sherfane Rutherford and marquee player, Nicholas

Pooran.

He also noted that the two practice matches on Monday and Tuesday nights were vital. “The couple of matches went well, our few days of practice sessions were great and everyone is fit.”

Looking ahead of the business end of the tournament, Malik highlighted; “The process is long; we are not just looking at the trophy, we are looking at what we have in our hands and that is to stay consistent in the tournament. The first few games are very crucial for any team and we are looking forward to doing well especially since we are starting at home.”

The game begins at 18:00hrs today.

The Warriors next two games are being played at the same venue on Saturday (September 7) and Sunday (September 8).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

MSC Keith Moseley Memorial Billiards

Trim, Roberts and Grant in playoff set for Sunday IT’S a three-way playoff battle to determine the winner of the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC)organised Keith Moseley Memorial four-ball billiards championship which will be played on Sunday at the MSC venue.

The tournament is being played in honour of one of Linden’s best billiards players Keith Moseley.

In the preliminary round of the tournament last Sunday, Godwin Primo defeated a former Linden billiards champion, Hardcourt Warde, 100-75 points, Troy Roberts won over another former

Linden champion Robert Langevine 100-79.

Avery Trim, with a tournament-high break of 26, knocked out Abdulla Hamid, who is the nephew of the late Keith Moseley, and Stephen Grant got the better of Rupert Da Costa, who had won the Marlon Pearson billiards competition earlier this year also at the MSC venue.

In the quarterfinals, Roberts turned back the challenge of Primo 100-48, Trim eliminated

Ellis Noel 100-53 and Grant blew past Haroon Bacchus 100-32.

Former top player Hardcourt Warde presented a set of billiards chalk to the MSC where he played some of the most memorable games seen in linden and receiving the chalk was MSC Committee member Troy Roberts.

Misbah named Pakistan head coach, Waqar new bowling coach Hardcourt Warde, second from left, hands over billiards chalk to Troy Roberts.

Misbah-ul-Haq (left) and Waqar Younis

(REUTERS) - Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq was named Pakistan’s head coach as well as the chief selector on a three-year contract yesterday, with pace great Waqar Younis joining him as the team’s new bowling coach.

Misbah and Waqar have worked together in the past when the former was Pakistan captain and the latter was head coach.

“It is very humbling for me to join a select group of some of the very best to have coached the Pakistan national sides in the past,” Misbah, who scored over 10 300 international runs in 75 Tests and 162 onedayers, said in a statement.

“It is an honour and more than that, a massive responsibility as we live and breathe cricket.

“I know expectations are high, but I am absolutely ready and up for the task, otherwise I would not have thrown my name in the hat for one of the most challenging and coveted roles in Pakistan cricket.”

Misbah will wield tremendous influence in Pakistan cricket after also taking over as the chairman of selectors with head coaches of the six firstclass association sides as his fellow selectors.

On the 45-year-old’s recommendation, former captain Waqar returned to the coaching staff on a three-year contract.

“We have exciting young fast bowlers in our ranks and there is no better person than Waqar to transform them into modern-

day stars,” Misbah said.

“Both Waqar and I had a candid and frank discussion and we agreed on a number of things, including roles and responsibilities as well as how to take things forward.”

The overhaul of the backroom staff follows the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to not renew head coach Mickey Arthur’s contract after the team’s failure to reach the semi-finals of this year’s World Cup. During the tournament, the PCB had promised a robust review and analysis of the side’s performances, and that of the team support personnel, over the past three years.

Last month, Misbah took charge of a national training camp ahead of the new international season.

His first assignment as the new head coach will be the limited overs home series against Sri Lanka, which will be played from September 27 to October 9.

Pakistan’s first series as part of the inaugural World Test Championship will be in Australia, where Pakistan will play in Brisbane (November 21-25), followed by a daynight Test in Adelaide (November 29-December 3).

Misbah, Pakistan’s most successful and longest serving Test captain, retired from international cricket in 2017 after a distinguished career, but played for Peshawar Zalmi in this year’s Pakistan Super League Twenty20 tournament.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

29

Unbeaten Smith stands firm on gusty opening day at Old Trafford

By Simon Evans MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Steve Smith continued his outstanding Ashes form, striking an unbeaten 60 as Australia recovered from a bad start to reach 170-3 at the close of the rain-affected first day of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford yesterday.

Rain caused a frustrating delay of over two hours after lunch but plans to extend play were abandoned after rain came in again during the break for tea and only 44 overs were bowled on the

opening day.

Gusty winds throughout, with the bails even taken off by the umpires at one stage, made it hard work for England’s seamers while the batsmen had the distraction of stray food wrappers and even a beach ball fluttering over the square, The stoppages and conditions, though, did little to disrupt Smith, who, returning from missing the last Test due to concussion looked like he had never been away as he made his eighth straight Ashes halfcentury.

The series is tied a 1-1 with

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA first innings M. Harris lbw Broad 13 D. Warner c Bairstow b Broad 0 M. Labuschagne b Overton

67 S. Smith not out 60

T. Head not out 18 Extras (0nb 0w 8lb 4b)

12 Total 170 for 3 (44.0 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-28, 3-144.

Bowling: S. Broad 10 -2-35-2, J. Archer 10-0-28-0, B. Stokes 8-0-36- 0, Leach 6-2-18-0, C. Overton 10-0-41-1.

of play, the world’s number one-ranked Test batsman having missed the previous Test due to concussion as a result of being hit on the neck by a Jofra Archer bouncer.

Steve Smith played the short ball comfortably in his unbeaten 60. // Getty

two Tests remaining and victory for the Australians would ensure they retain the urn.

Smith and Marnus Labuschagne put on 116 for the third wicket before the latter was bowled by a beautiful delivery from Craig Overton for 67.

It was a much-needed stand after England, on a high after their remarkable comeback win at Headingley, made a great start, bringing their supporters to their feet with just the fourth ball of the day, after Australia won the toss and opted to bat.

Stuart Broad claimed the wicket of David Warner for

the fifth time in this series with the left-hander caught behind as he made a belated decision to leave the ball but gave a thin outside edge to Jonny Bairstow.

Australia slipped to 28-2 when Broad rapped the pads of Marcus Harris and, after some consideration, umpire Kumar Dharmasena raised his finger and his verdict was upheld by video review.

Australia’s openers have averaged 15.14 – not since 1888 have their top two contributed less during an Ashes series.

The departure of Harris brought the returning Smith to the crease after 38 minutes

Serena sweeps into semis, chalks up 100th U.S. Open win

By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - Serena Williams claimed her 100th win at the U.S. Open in style on Tuesday, dismantling her quarter-final opponent Wang Qiang 6-1, 6-0 in a blistering 44-minute performance that ended any questions over a twisted ankle from the previous round.

“I never thought that I would get to 100,” Williams said after the match, reflecting on the two decades she’s spent playing at Flushing Meadows. “It’s so special. I never want to let it go.”

The eighth-seeded American joins Chris Evert as the only two players to log at least 100 victories at the tournament.

Williams is now only one behind Evert’s mark.

The 37-year-old Williams was dominant from the

start, firing off 25 winners, compared to zero from 18thseed Wang, and winning 90% of her first serve points.

During her fourth-round match on Sunday, Williams slipped and fell while running to the net and twisted her right ankle but said on Tuesday she was feeling “great”.

“It feels good,” Williams said of her performance.

“This is how hard I’ve been working. It feels like ... hard work pays off when that happens.”

Williams pumped her fist in celebration after firing off a forehand winner in front of a roaring crowd to end the contest.

“I am who I am. I’ve always been the person that goes out there and roars and screams and complains and cries and fights,” Williams said.

“I’m extremely passionate about what I do. Most people

that love their jobs are passionate about what they do. That’s just me.”

She also praised the progress made in women’s tennis over her career, calling it the “premier sport for women”.

“It’s the best work in the world that a woman can do, in my mind. I’m a little biased obviously,” said the 37-year-old.

“I feel like we fought so hard for so many years for so many different things. I feel like we still obviously have a way to go, but a lot of that fighting through decades has come through.”

Wang, who had not faced Williams before, was unable to save any of the five break point opportunities against her and said she simply could not stand up to the power from the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

“I cannot handle it. Just too much for me,” said Wang.

ANOTHER BOUNCER To the delight of the crowd, Archer had the ball in hand and it took him three deliveries to attempt another bouncer.

But with England sensing a chance to eat into the Aussie middle order before lunch, Smith and Labuschagne quickly settled and set about upping the run-rate as Archer found it hard to generate his customary pace.

Labuschagne, retained in the side after replacing Smith as a substitute for the second innings at Lord’s and at Headingley, went on to make his fourth straight halfcentury.

“It was tough to get used to (the weather) and get consistent with your movements because it was so windy and there were so many distractions around the ground,” Labuschagne told reporters.

“It doesn’t really matter how you get the runs, it’s

just about the score. It was important for us to dig in and get a first-innings score because there’s some spin out there and it’s really good for us,” he added.

Ominously for England, Smith, who has two centuries and a 92 to his name in the series, looked unruffled as he calmly dealt with Joe Root’s attack.

He brought up his fifty, lavishly driving Ben Stokes for four through cover but the Manchester weather ensured the prospect of a third ton in the series will have to wait.

Travis Head was unbeaten on 18 at the close and England will need to make another positive start today, if they are to restrict the touring side.

“Obviously, it was a frustrating day for us, conditions didn’t really suit running in to bowl but we stuck at it pretty well,” said Overton, who was making his home Test debut after being drafted in ahead of Chris Woakes.

“We’re probably slightly behind ... but we come back tomorrow, get a couple of early ones and we’ll be right back in the ga

Kompany seeks more diversity in governing bodies after Lukaku abuse

Serena Williams of the United States waves to the crowd after her match against Qiang Wang of China (not pictured) in a quarterfinal match on day nine of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

(Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

Williams faces fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina, who she leads 4-1 in head-to-head, in the semifinals.

“She doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” said Williams when asked about the upcoming matchup. “She’s one of those players that do everything really well.

“So I have to do everything well, too.”

(REUTERS) - Soccer’s governing bodies lack the diversity needed to understand the feelings of players suffering racial abuse, Anderlecht playermanager Vincent Kompany said yesterday.

Former Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku, who joined Inter Milan last month, was subjected to racist abuse in a 2-1 Serie A win at Cagliari on Sunday and urged federations and social media to do more to fight racism.

His Belgian compatriot Kompany believes the problem lies with the game’s governing bodies, including FIFA and UEFA. “It goes back to who is expected to make a decision on these issues, and it’s in these organisations that the problems lie,” former Manchester City skipper Kompany told Sky Sports.

“The real racism lies in the fact none of these institutions have representatives that can actually understand what Romelu is going through.”

Kompany has previously said that diversity in club

boardrooms and institutions of power can help tackle racism more effectively than just punishing individual offenders.

“If you don’t have diversity in places of power like boardrooms then you can’t have the right decisions in terms of sanctions - it’s as simple as that,” he added.

An Inter Milan fan group, Curva Nord, said Cagliari’s supporters were only showing Lukaku “respect” when they aimed monkey chants at him.

“We understand that it could have seemed racist to you but it’s not like that,” the group said in an open letter to Lukaku.

“In Italy we use some ‘ways’ only to ‘help our teams’ and to try to make our opponents nervous, not for racism but to mess them up ... we are not racist and so are not the Cagliari fans.

“Please consider this attitude of Italian fans as a form of respect for the fact they are afraid of you for the goals you might score against their teams and not because they hate you or they are racist.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

CONCACAF Nations League to serve as pathway for 2021 Gold Cup THE Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) yesterday confirmed that the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League, which kicks off today, will serve as the qualifying pathway for the 2021 CONCACA Gold Cup, for all 41 Member Associations.

The new centralised men’s national team competition represents a new era of national team football for the Confederation.

Created to maximise the match dates available within the FIFA international calendar, and as part of a wider strategy to provide more competitive football for

all Member Associations, the CONCACAF Nations League group stage will take place in

the September, October and November FIFA windows of 2019.

Another heart-break for Federer in bid for 21st grand slam title

By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK. USA (Reuters) - Fresh from a heart-breaking loss at the All-England Tennis Club, the abrupt end to Roger Federer’s U.S. Open on Tuesday raised questions whether the 38-year-old can deliver on a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title.

Federer had hoped to shake off the agony of his most recent Wimbledon final, where the top prize slipped through his fingers and into the arms of frequent rival Novak Djokovic after he failed to convert two championship points.

But unseeded Grigor Dimitrov thwarted the effort in Flushing Meadows in a five-set marathon, leaving a puzzled crowd to wonder if the Swiss will ever again hoist a Grand Slam trophy.

“I don’t have the crystal ball.

Do you?”, quipped the third seed, after a reporter asked if he expected to win another Grand Slam title at his age.

“We never know. I hope so, of course. I think still it’s been a positive season. Disappointing now, but I’ll get back up, I’ll be all right.”

He batted down suggestions that his Wimbledon performance this year played a role in his surprise U.S. Open upset.

“I didn’t think of it. If you move on, it’s a thing of the past. I do remember playing good semis there, so it wasn’t bad. If I think of that, I’m, like, really happy,” he said.

For Federer, nothing is out of the question - and not without precedent: The oldest man to win the U.S. Open title was Bill Larned, who was 38 years, 8 months and 3 days old when he triumphed.

Of course, that was in 1911.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Thursday September 05, 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 2; WI 0

(2)

28 Test matches Today’s Quiz:

(1) 2019?

How many matches are scheduled for CPL

(2) In which CPL season Carl Hooper was the head coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

After round-robin play, the four League A group winners will advance to the CONCACAF Nations League Finals to crown the first-ever competition champions. The CONCACAF Nations League Finals, originally scheduled for March of 2020, will now take place in June.

Additionally, the group winners from League B and League C will be promoted to League A and B, respectively, while the teams at the bottom of League A and League B will be relegated to League B and C, respectively, for the next edition of the CONCACAF Nations League.

“The CONCACAF Nations League is about uniting the Confederation through meaningful competition, while providing an exciting pathway to the Gold Cup,” said CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani.

“Through this tournament, all 41 CONCACAF Member Associations are able to follow the dream of competing on a more consistent basis,

opening the door for continued development across our entire region.”

As announced in March, the CONCACAF Nations League qualifies the region’s top teams to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The qualifying process for the 2021 Gold Cup will be as follows: CONCACAF Nations League A (8 teams): After group-stage play in November 2019, the top two teams from each of the four League A groups will qualify directly to the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. CONCACAF Nations League B (4 teams): After groupstage play in November 2019, the winner of each of the four League B groups will qualify directly to the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Gold Cup Qualifiers (4 teams): After CONCACAF Nations League group stage play in November 2019, the third-place finishers in League A, the second-place finishers in League B and the firstplace finishers in League C will advance to a two-round

qualifier, to be played in March and June of 2020.

For the first round of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup Qualifiers, the second-place finishers of League B will face the first-place finishers of League C in March of 2020.

After home-and-away play, the four matchup winners will advance to the second round, where they will face the thirdplace finishers of League A in June of 2020. The four matchups winners of Round two will qualify to the 2021 Gold Cup. For the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, all 2019-2020 CONCACAF Nations League matches will be granted a coefficient score which corresponds to qualification matches to a Confederations final competition, rather than friendly international matches played during FIFA International Match Calendar window.

CPL organisers, CWI agree on August start date for 2020 tournament Roger Federer of Switzerland looks at the board between points, against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria (not pictured), in a quarterfinal match on day nine of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

(Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports) And past precedent is likely little comfort for Federer, who laid out for reporters an aggressive schedule of future competition.

“Laver Cup, Shanghai, Basel, maybe Paris, London. That’s the schedule for now. I don’t know if the team have other ideas or not,” said Federer.

“I’m happy to get a bit of a break now, go back to practice, reassess and attack from there.”

In four months, he’ll renew his effort to add to his Grand Slam coffers at the Australian Open, where he collected his last title in 2018. “(I have) got to take the losses. They’re part of the game,” said Federer.

“Looking forward to family time and all that stuff, so...

Life’s all right.”

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Caribbean Premier League (CPL) organisers have struck an agreement with Cricket West Indies (CWI) which will see the popular domestic Twenty20 tournament revert to the August start date.

The tournament, the eighth edition, will be played from August 19 to September 26, ensuring the availability of all West Indies contracted players.

“We are very pleased to be playing our tournament in August and September, a time of year that is perfect for us and our fans,” said CPL’s chief operations officer, Pete Russell.

“Having the best Caribbean cricketers and the world’s best overseas players is the foundation of our tournament and this period gives us that.

“We may be just days away from the 2019 tournament, but we are already making plans for next year to ensure that we continue to see the phenomenal growth and economic impact that CPL

The Caribbean Premier League is set to start in August of next year.

has seen over the years.”

This year’s tournament was initially carded for August 21 to September 27 but had to be pushed back to accommodate India’s tour of the Caribbean which concluded on Monday.

The campaign bowled off yesterday in Port of Spain and will run until October 12. CWI chief executive Johnny Grave said it would be even more critical that all marquee West Indies players were available for the 2020 tournament, especially with the Caribbean side defending their T20 World Cup title in Australia next year.

“The Hero CPL has developed into one of the best and most exciting T20 competitions in the world and we look forward to hosting another successful tournament next month,” he said.“We are pleased that we have once again found a window in our international calendar for the 2020 season to ensure that the best West Indian cricketers can take part, as the tournament plays a crucial role in our preparations and planning for the ICC T20 World Cup in 2020.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

31

Our Own battle to second Masters title

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada – Our Own Sports Club became the first team to capture two Toronto Cup titles when they turned back the challenge of Canadian Legends in last Sunday’s Masters Over40 final, played at the University of Toronto ground, Scarborough here.

Set 106 for victory, after limiting their opponents to 105 for eight in their allotted 20 overs, Our Own reached 106 for seven in 18 overs.

The tense three-wicket victory over their Canadabased counterparts was also reminiscent of their two-wicket triumph over the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) in the inaugural final, played at the same venue in 2015.

As in 2015, Our Own skipper Mahendranauth ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth opted to ask the opposition to take first strike and again his decision proved decisive and correct despite some anxious moments as victory approached.

Canadian Legends huffed and puffed their way to what seemed an inadequate 105 for eight in the face of some damp conditions, occasioned by a wet playing surface and outfield.

Ironically, Troy Gobin, former Guyana Under-19 batsman, who was the mainstay of Our Own’s batting with an undefeated 43 in 2015, led Canadian Legends this time around

MVP Asif Ally receives his trophy and monetary award (personal donation from businessman Saheed Ali) in the presence of Toronto deputy mayor Michael Thompson.

with a top score of 33, holding the top half of the batting together as wickets tumbled around him.

Stuttering at 54 for six in the 11th over, Gobin, who struck a single boundary in his solid knock, received fine support from Shazam Baksh (15), the two adding 49 for the seventh wicket to bring some respectability to the total. Opener Richard Driffield with 16 (one four and a six) also contributed while extras were a healthy 23 (13 wides).

The ever-green Aftab Shamsudeen, who made the early inroads, finished with two for 13, Anil Mahadeo two for 21, Anil Veerasammy one for seven, Parasnauth one for 12 and Imran Ali one for 18.

Like Canadian Legends, Our

Own also stuttered at the top, losing the key wickets of openers Hemnarine Chattergoon and Uniss Yusuf cheaply.

It took the experience of New York-based Asif Ally who anchored the middle and lower-order brilliantly to take Our Own to a deserved victory. By the time Ally was dismissed for a top score of 36, which included four fours, the eventual winners only needed 14 runs to compete victory.

The burly Jai Deonath, who caused the early damage, finished with the impressive figures of three for 16 in his four overs while Shazam Baksh supported with two for six in his lone over.

Asif Ally copped the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, earning a gold chain

Devi Sunich, wife of Trophy Stall’s Ramesh Sunich, hands over the winning trophy to Our Own manager Teddy Hussein.

Player-of-the-tournament Uniss Yusuf poses with his award.

and pendant, sponsored by Gologistics and engraved by Trophy Stall. Chien Gittems

(Canadian Legends) took home prizes for registering the highest score (90) and the most runs (143) while Shamsudeen copped the prize for the best bowling figures – four for 19.

Our Own’s Yusuf was voted the Player-of-theTournament after tallying 128 runs and claiming six wickets.

Apart from capturing the winning trophy, Our Own were also the recipients of

US$2500 while Canadian Legends collected US$200 and the runners-up trophy.

Both teams were also the recipient of medals. The trophies and medals were sponsored by Trophy Stall (Guyana).

The occasion was graced by the presence of Toronto’s deputy mayor Michael Thompson and councillor Jennifer McKelvie of Ward 25 – Scarborough Rouge Park.

Berrettini sinks Monfils in thriller to reach U.S. Open semis

By Frank Pingue

NEW YORK (Reuters) Big-serving Italian Matteo Berrettini took another step in his breakthrough season as he beat Frenchman Gael Monfils 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 7-6(5) at the U.S. Open on Wednesday to reach his first career Grand Slam semi-final.

Putting away the 13thseeded Frenchman took everything that Berrettini had as Monfils, who struggled mightily with his serve late in the match, managed to see off four pressure-packed match

points until the Italian finally prevailed. “Right now I don’t remember any points. Just the match point,” Berrettini said on court. “While I was playing I thought, this is one of the best matches I ever saw.

I was playing, but I was watching also.” Berrettini used booming serves and stinging forehands to overwhelm Monfils, who struggled with humid conditions in Arthur Ashe Stadium until shortly after the roof closed during the third set and brought in cooler temperatures. In the decider, Berrettini broke twice for a

4-2 lead but a rejuvenated Monfils, who despite being bent over in exhaustion after many points, dug deep and raced around the court to fight off three match points to force a final-set tiebreak.

But Monfils ran out of tricks and it was Berrettini who leaned on his powerful serve to prevail and become the fourth Italian man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final in the Open Era. Monfils was very efficient in the first set and had an early 2-0 lead in the second but Berrettini took over and broke the fatigued Frenchman twice before ultimately firing

down an ace to seal a hold to love that levelled the match at 1-1. Berrettini, the 24th seed, broke twice for a 5-2 lead and served out the third set, which was interrupted for about five minutes when rain forced the closure of the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof. That brought more comfortable playing conditions and gave a boost to Monfils who during an earlier changeover had poured cold water over his head. Monfils, with his back firmly against the wall to start the fourth, suddenly looked full of energy and was bouncing on his feet between

points as he got a crucial break and won 88% of his first-serve points to force the decider. For Berrettini, it marked the latest triumph in a season in which the 23-year-old Italian won titles in Budapest and Stuttgart en route to a career-high ranking of 20th in June. Up next for Berrettini, who lost here in the first round last year, will be the winner of the evening match between Spanish second seed Rafa Nadal and Argentine Diego Schwartzman.

Big-serving Italian Matteo Berrettini

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday September 5, 2019

Amazon Warriors begin Hero CPL 2019 conquest tonight against St Lucia Zouks PAGE

27

Some of Guyana Amazon Warriors players go through their paces during their final practice session before tonight’s game against the St Lucia Zouks. (Delano Williams photo)

PAGE

27

PAGE

27 St Lucia Zouks’ Christopher Barnwell bowls to batsman Andre Fletcher in the nets. (Michelangelo Jacobus photo)

Amazon Warriors a well-oiled unit, says Malik ahead of tonight’s game

Guyana Amazon Warriors captain Shoaib Malik (left) and St Lucia Zouks captain Darren Sammy at the pre-match press conference yesterday at the Marriott Hotel, Guyana. (Delano Williams photo)

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2019