Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_09_08_2019...

8th SEPTEMBER, 2019

' No.105754

Guyana signs pact to protect Amazon

…expresses deep concerns for the health, safety of Brazilians SEE STORY ON PAGE 03

…recommits to preservation of the Amazon Rainforest

Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo, Bolivia's President Evo Morales, Peru's President Martin Vizcarra, Colombia's President Ivan Duque, Ecuador's President Ivan Moreno, Suriname's Vice President Michael Ashwin Adhin and Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman in Letecia, Colombia at the historic signing

Prepare to play a lead role 12 PAGE

…Min Jordan urges Guyoil realign for oil and gas industry

Drug-fueled

violence escalated under Jagdeo 02 PAGE

…Braithwaite says PPP was losing ability to govern the country

Bahamas Hurricane

Evacuees liken devastated areas to a war zone 14 PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

Drug-fueled violence escalated under Jagdeo …Braithwaite says PPP was losing ability to govern the country

RIGHTS activist and social commentator, Barrington Braithwaite has long contended that violent crimes fueled by extra-judicial killings here escalated under the watch of the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration. But even before that, he is now saying, there were signs that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was losing its ability to govern the country. As Braithwaite contends, under Jagdeo’s watch as president (which spanned August 11, 1999 to December 3, 2011), there were three massacres: The Lusignan Massacre, where 11 people were killed; The Bartica Massacre, where another 12 were killed; and the Lindo Creek massacre, where eight miners were slaughtered. Besides, there were countless extra-judicial killings, with some activists estimating that around 400 Afro-Guyanese males were gunned down. Braithwaite had designed the Buxton Monument, on which is inscribed the names of over 450 Guyanese who were murdered during the period at reference. He has long advocated for justice to be served for the crimes committed against humanity. And as he sat down recently with the Guyana Chronicle for an exclusive interview, Braithwaite turned back the pages of history to May 1996 when 20-yearold Jermaine Wilkinson was killed, allegedly at the hands of a serving policeman. For Braithwaite, Wilkinson’s death was one of the early signs that the PPP/C Administration was losing its ability to maintain peace, law and order. Wilkinson died on a hospital bed hours after he was shot by a member of the Police Impact Patrol, Robert Beresford, who had earlier in the day arrested him in Albouystown. His death had ignited a series of street protests, which had resulted in Beresford being charged with manslaughter. “According to an eyewitness who was there when Beresford shot Wilkinson,” Braithwaite said, “he gave his gun to Wilkinson’s brother to hold, and tried to lift Wilkinson, causing many who witnessed the incident to assume that Corporal Beresford was high on something.”

As Braithwaite observed, “it was highly suspected at the time that the police were dabbling in drugs.” Cocaine had penetrated the country by then, he said, as he cited the December 1994 case of ‘Baby Arthur’, a former soldier named Hubert Headley, who, with the aid of a cane-cutter’s cutlass, chopped to death several persons, including his own mother, and a white dog at the Friendship Middle Walk, on the East Coast Demerara. That incident occurred on

Rights Activist, Barrington Braithwaite

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

December 9, 1994. ‘Baby Arthur’ was a known cocaine addict at the time he committed the beastly act in his village. He was reportedly shot dead by the police minutes later, after he famously refused to “surrender”, and was proceeding menacingly towards them, dancing and singing while turning the odd cartwheel, machete in hand. From then on, the gun and drug-related crimes would continue unabated, but by the early 2000s, the situation, according to Braithwaite, had spiraled out of control. He contends that by July 2001 when the ‘Mandela Trio’ was gunned down by the ‘Target Special Squad’, extra-judicial killings had been officially sanctioned. “There was a ‘green light’ on executing people back then,” Braithwaite opined while contending that under the Jagdeo Administration, the Ministry of Home Affairs, led by then Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj had empowered the ‘Target Special Squad’.

The situation, he posited, had quickly moved from bad to worse by February 23, 2002, when five of Guyana’s most dangerous criminals escaped from the Camp Street Prison. ‘The Famous Five’, as the gang came to be known, comprised of Dale Moore, Troy Dick, Andrew Douglas, Shawn Brown and Mark Fraser. Four members of the quintet were on remand for charges of murder and robbery, while Fraser was serving a 25-year sentence for robbery under arms. The presence of the five men on the streets saw a massive crime wave sweep across Guyana. DRUG LORDS “When they escaped,” Braithwaite said, “their target seemed to have been a specific ‘drug lord’ or perceived drug lord. Then they started taking contracts, but there was a kind of ‘handsoff’ on these guys.” Noting that he did not grow up “covered or sheltered”, Braithwaite disclosed that he knew Shawn Brown, as well as Dale Moore and his father.

Convicted drug lord, Shaheed Roger Khan

While some have suggested that the escapees had fled to Buxton almost immediately, Braithwaite explained that it was only after the ‘Target Special Squad’ had killed Shaka Blair, a Buxtonian father of three, on April 6, 2002 that the criminals turned to Buxton. According to him, prior to that, the escapees were housed approximately five houses from where the then Minister of Home Affairs was living at the time. “These guys were managed,” the rights’ activist said. He disclosed, too, that ‘Death Squad’ informant, George Bacchus, was also known to him and shared some dark secrets with him. It was Bacchus, who, before he was murdered in his sleep, disclosed that he was invited to the home of the then Home Affairs Minister, and was asked to supply then suspected ‘hitman’ Axel Williams with information. The Stabroek News on June 27, 2004, reported that Bacchus, in one of two sworn affidavits, which was handed over to the police after he was shot and killed, impli-

cated the PPP Home Affairs Minister, linking him to the ‘Death Squad’. “The affidavits, dated June 11, were drawn up by attorney Basil Williams, on the instructions of the self-confessed ex-informant, who claimed to have been a regular visitor to the home of the internal security minister,” the Stabroek News reported. Bacchus had levied the allegations against the minister, after his brother, Shafeek Bacchus, was killed in a drive-by shooting. Again, according to the Stabroek News, there were three persons who were charged with the murder of Shafeek Bacchus: Funeral Home owner, Ashton King; Sean Hinds; and Mark Thomas, who subsequently died. According to Bacchus, he later learnt that the information he was providing to the Home Affairs Minister, Axel Williams and the two policemen, were not only being used to execute criminals, but law-abiding citizens as well. Stabroek News reported that Bacchus took note of the fact that even after most of the 2002 prison escapees had been killed, the executions continued. He was reportedly shown another list of names by Williams for the supply of information on where to find those persons. “...I did not provide any information on those persons, and in fact warned some of them on the list to be careful and go into hiding," Bacchus was quoted by the Stabroek News as saying. In that very article, the Stabroek News reported: “The ex-informant said when Minister Gajraj did nothing about his reports that the men were still killing, he began to tell people about their activities, and that he rather suspected that the ‘hitmen’ were annoyed, because they had started to behave strangely towards him. This caused him to grow afraid that they would kill him too, and as such he decided to share his suspicions with persons whom he described as ‘important people’ ROGER KHAN By 2003, convicted drug-trafficker, Shaheed Roger Khan had inserted himself unto the scene. Between 2003 and 2006, Khan had set up a criminal network in Guyana,

a network that included active policemen and a number of former ranks, ostensibly to go after criminals, but at the same time protecting his narco-trafficking interests. He was nabbed in neighbouring Suriname in 2006 while fleeing local police, and was later handed over to U.S. authorities, and was sentenced. He has since completed serving his sentence, and is scheduled to return to Guyana soon. Although the PPP government had sought to distance itself from Khan, the drug-trafficker had stated publicly in a paid advertisement in local newspapers that he was fighting crime on behalf of the Jagdeo-led government. Khan had also implicated then Government Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy in his escapades, and documents bearing the then minister’s signature authorising the purchase of a sophisticated wire-tapping device were produced in U.S. courts during Khan’s trial. Khan was responsible for a number of murders, robberies and shootings, and Braithwaite believes that he, along with the intellectual authors of the crimes committed between the early 2000s and 2009 should be held accountable. “Roger Khan made himself the poster-boy, and if he is the poster-boy, you have to go after him and follow the tentacles,” Braithwaite said, adding: “Selwyn Vaughn, who had infiltrated Khan’s group, confirmed that he was responsible for Waddell’s death… How do you not deal with that? He didn’t kill Ronald Waddell in Brooklyn; he was killed here in Guyana.” Vaughn had made the disclosure while testifying before a US Court in the ‘Roger Khan’ case. According to Vaughn, Khan had ordered the killings of political activist Ronald Waddell, and boxing coach Donald Allison. “What he served a sentence for in America was for selling drugs to America, what he did here has to be dealt with here,” Braithwaite told this newspaper. He was keen on noting that Khan is not the only one responsible, emphasizing that many of the intellectual authorities and hitmen are still alive, simply ‘clothes in different garments.’

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

Guyana signs historic Amazonian pact to protect tropical forest GUYANA joined six fellow Amazonian countries on Friday in Letecia, Colombia to sign a pact to protect the world’s largest tropical forest. The pact, signed at a time when the Amazon is under threat from fires, aims to coordinate disaster response and satellite monitoring, the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana said in a statement Saturday. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, who represented President David Granger, signed on behalf of Guyana. Colombia’s President, Ivan Duque; Bolivia’s President, Evo Morales; Ecuador’s President, Lenin Moreno and Peru’s President, Martin Vizcarra were the Heads of State who signed. Suriname’s Vice-President, Michael Ashwin Adhin, and Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Ernesto Araujo, signed the pact on behalf of their respective countries. Minister Trotman, in delivering a message on behalf of President Granger, reiterated to the South American leaders that, “our President is the visionary who conceptualised the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) for Guyana – it is our lighted path towards attaining a ‘green’ and sustainable economy and is open to be shared and improved upon.” “An inferno in the Amazon, two-thirds of which is in Brazil, and the reason for us being here, threatens the rainforest eco-system and also affects the entire globe,”

Minister Trotman related. “The effects of damage to the Amazon go far beyond Brazil and its neighbours. We are the lungs of the earth, we must all breathe to live. Therefore, our presence here is in recognition of the value and importance of the Amazon, and the Guiana Shield, and our role as custodians, stewards and guardians of it,” Minister Trotman asserted. The world's largest rainforest, the Amazon, which produces approximately 20 per cent of earth's oxygen and spans eight countries, Guyana included, covers 40 per cent of South America, and is inhabited by 30 million people and, is home as well to vast numbers of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, most of them, unique to the region and where a new plant or animal species is discovered every two days. More particularly, Guyana is part of the Guiana Shield, which, in the words of President Granger, "is the single most important zone of biodiversity in the world today." Trotman reminded the forum that Guyana committed 371,000 hectares of its pristine rainforest, Iwokrama, to the Commonwealth in 1989 in Kuala Lumpur at a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. “Then, we sought to advance the sustainable management of tropical rainforest. We believe this remains a good model for sustainability. His Excellency, President Granger has pledged another two million hectares to con-

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman

servation and steps have been taken to affirm this pledge. He said Guyana’s presence at the forum is a result of the country’s deepest concerns for the health and safety of our Brazilian brothers and sisters, in particular, and for the preservation of the Amazon rainforest that links all of our states. “It was in this continent some 27 years ago in Rio, when our nations gathered, along with the international community, under the guidance of the United Nations, to craft what was heralded as the blueprint for sustainable development by both governments and

the more than 50,000 people from non-governmental organisations, the media and the peoples of our eight countries – not least the Indigenous Peoples, who were present. Under the guidance of the UN, the Rio Principles and Agenda 21 came into being. Today we meet in sobering times – our forest resources are on fire as are others across the world. The tropical forests of the world are under threat from multiple realities. And we are gathered to acknowledge this and to find a way forward. The loss of biodiversity, forests, and the home of our Indigenous Peoples to

whom we all owe a debt of gratitude, are all a clarion call to action.” Quoting Guyanese poet laureate Martin Carter: “Like a jig shakes a loom all are involved, all are consumed,” Trotman told the gathering and further added that, “We are enjoined by Principle seven of the Rio Declaration which sets out that: “States shall co-operate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem. In view of the different contributions to global environmental degradation, States have common but differentiated responsibilities. The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies place on the global environment and of the technologies and financial resources they command.” Indeed, he said all the countries represented have common, but differentiated responsibilities “and this is the true essence of why we are gathered here today. Our common responsibility amplified over the more than two decades of international, regional and national agreements, not least the Amazon Cooperation Treaty, demands of us all a joint solution to our shared resource, whilst at the same time, rrecognising our sovereign rights as stated.” “Guyana wishes to offer its full support to Brazil, Bo-

livia and Colombia who are currently on the frontline of a new environmental reality. Even now, we are gathering resources at home to send to our sister Caribbean state the Bahamas that has been laid bare by the brutal forces of Hurricane Dorian. The loss of life, the loss of their built heritage, the loss of their biodiversity through the vicious winds and water are a scaled model of what has, and is occurring, is the Amazon.” “Our countries’ vulnerabilities will require our collective strengths and contributions to develop mitigation measures that will build our resilience to the negative impacts of climate change. It is Guyana's sincere wish that at today's end we would have achieved this objective, and can demonstrate to the world, that we of the Amazon Region are committed to the protection and preservation of our forests. Guyana stands ready to stand, to work and to fight with brother and sister states in order to preserve and protect our Amazon Rainforest.” Guyana’s ambassador to Brazil, George Talbot, joined Minister Trotman who was accompanied by Head of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Project (FCPF), Mr. Clayton Hall. Minister Trotman and Mr. Hall travelled with the Surinamese delegation yesterday and returned to Guyana last evening.

Balwant Singh Hospital offers dialysis sessions at subsidised cost CITING an increased demand for dialysis in Guyana, Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital, on Saturday, announced that it is offering dialysis sessions at a subsidised cost of $12,000 per session. According to a release, the hospital said its centre is currently open on Monday to Saturday from 07:00hrs to 19:00hrs and will soon be offering a Sunday clinic so that it can accommodate patients who are still able to work. It was noted that in addition to the demand for the sessions, there is an even greater need for dialysis to be done under adequate supervision, which is done by the hospital’s in-house nephrologist. The hospital said the price of $12,000 is on par with the not-for-profit Doobay Dialysis and cheaper than other private

centres. CEO of the hospital, Dr Madhu Singh said, “Before choosing a dialysis centre, patients must enquire about whether the centre offers direct supervision of their patients by a nephrologist. We have made the efforts to have a full-time nephrologist who provides this service. We are the only private dialysis centre that offers this service along with our highly-competitive prices”. The hospital said its resident nephrologist is Cuban, Dr. Justo Tamayo Velazquez, and has been in Guyana for over a year and oversees dialysis as well as conducts routine checks on dialysis patients. “It is important for the safety of a dialysis centre to have a nephrologist supervising the patients’ sessions and

Nephrologist, Dr. Justo Tamayo Velazquez, who works with patients in the Dialysis Suite at Dr Balwant Singh's Hospital

making appropriate adjustments,” the hospital said. Dr. Velazquez has more than 25 years of experience in nephrology with several years of teaching experience. He has served as the president of the Board for the Nephrology specialists in Cuba, the hospi-

tal added. “The incidence of renal failure in Guyana is high because of the extremely high prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Patients need to be educated in the risks of not taking their medications and

making lifestyle changes,” Dr Justo said. In addition, he said that, “early diagnosis and treatment of renal impairment is essential to a good outcome. Prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes is better than dealing with the complications.” The Regulations to the Health Facilities Licensing Act 2007 (Act No 26 of 2007) in Section 28, requires that every dialysis centre be supervised directly by a nephrologist, and the hospital said that it is meeting this requirement. Hemodialysis is a treatment that filters and purifies the blood using a machine. Dialysis keeps the fluid and different molecules and ions in the blood in balance when the kidneys cannot carry out this process efficiently. Most patients on dialysis have sessions done about two-three

times per week, in order to maintain a good fluid and electrolyte balance. The dialysis treatment process is not standard and it is often tailored to a patient’s needs in order to maintain fluid levels and other parameters within the desired ranges. Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital first introduced this service here in 2010. The hospital said, initially, it was introduced as part of the inpatient services for critical patients with renal failure, but then expanded to an outpatient service. Currently, the hospital’s centre has five machines, and the institution would be expanding this to eight machines within the next month. The hospital said it conducts two to three hundred dialysis sessions per month for outpatients.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

Russia, Ukraine in landmark prison exchange Russia and Ukraine have completed a long-awaited exchange of prisoners. Those freed include 24 Ukrainian sailors and - controversially - a “person of interest” over the downing of flight MH17 which killed 298 people. The swap is hoped to ease tensions between the two neighbours. Greeting the Ukrainians at the airport, President Volody-

myr Zelensky said: “We have to do all the steps to finish this horrible war.” Russia said it was glad its citizens had returned home. Relations between the two countries deteriorated dramatically in 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and Russian-backed rebels began an insurgency in two regions of eastern Ukraine. More than 13,000 people

08 September, 2019 01:00hrs ~ 02:30hrs

Volodymyr Tsemakh was seized from a separatist-held part of Ukraine earlier this year

have been killed in the conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In April, Ukrainians elected a new president. Mr Zelensky said his top priority was to end the conflict. Russian officials have said progress towards a prisoner release is vital for improving the “atmosphere surrounding a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis”. Negotiations on the extremely sensitive issue were held in complete secrecy, with both Ukrainian and Russian officials stressing that any leaks could derail the swap. Russia has not yet confirmed the names of the prisoners who have been released by Ukraine. It arranged a low-profile arrival at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport, with initial reunions kept behind closed doors.

In Ukraine, the scene was very different. The prisoners freed by Russia reunited with their relatives on the tarmac at Kiev’s Boryspil airport, surrounded by the press. The Ukrainian government has since published a list of the 35 prisoners released by Russia. It includes 24 Ukrainian sailors whom Russia detained off Crimea in November last year. They were captured along with three naval ships as they attempted to pass through the Kerch Strait, the only route to access to Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov. Shots were fired by the Russian navy during the operation, injuring several Ukrainians. In May an international tribunal ordered Russia to release the sailors and vessels. Ukrainian film-maker Oleg Sentsov, jailed for 20 years in 2015 for plotting terrorist acts in Crimea in a trial condemned as political by the US and EU, has also arrived home. He was considered Ukraine’s number-one political prisoner in Russia. Roman Sushchenko, a Ukrainian journalist detained in Moscow in 2016 for what Russia described as “conducting espionage activities”, was among those freed. Also on the list are two far-right Ukrainian ac-

tivists, Mykola Karpyuk and Stanislav Klykh, both arrested in Russia in 2014. They were accused of fighting on the side of Chechen rebels in the first Chechen war in the 1990s and were later jailed. Russia has not officially confirmed the names of its freed citizens. But the most significant and controversial person Ukraine sent to Russia is Volodymyr Tsemakh, reportedly a commander of air defences for Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine. Mr Tsemakh, 58, is a “person of interest” in the Dutch-led investigation into the 2014 shooting down over Ukraine of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, which led to the deaths of all 298 people on board. Also included is Yevgeny Mefedov, jailed over deadly clashes between pro-Russian groups and Ukrainian nationalists in the Black Sea port of Odessa in 2014. Russian-Ukrainian journalist Kyrylo Vyshynsky, accused of treason by Ukraine, was also heading home. Two former Ukrainian army soldiers who Ukraine says defected to Russia during the annexation of Crimea, Maksim Odintsov and Aleksandr Baranov, are also on the list. WHY IS MR TSEMAKH’S INCLUSION ON THE LIST CONTRO-

VERSIAL? He is believed to have been a commander of air defences at Snizhne in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, one of the Russian-backed rebel areas in eastern Ukraine. Snizhne is close to where investigators say the missile which shot down the Malaysian Airlines plane in 2014 was fired. A team of international criminal investigators said in 2016 that the missile had been brought from Russia and fired from a field controlled by Russian-backed separatists. In a daring operation in June, Ukrainian special forces reportedly smuggled Mr Tsemakh out of rebel-held territory, and he had been due to stand trial in October. Although he is not a suspect, international prosecutors have said they would like him to remain in Ukraine so they can ask him further questions. Last week, they urged the authorities in Ukraine not to allow him to travel to Russia. However, in a court decision on Wednesday he was released from custody. The Dutch government said it was disappointed with the Ukrainian decision to send him to Russia. (BBC)

Saturday September 7, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

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Hurricane rescue efforts stepped up in Bahamas Rescue efforts have been stepped up in parts of the Bahamas worst hit by Hurricane Dorian, as hundreds scramble to flee the destruction. Cruise liners, private planes and helicopters are all being used to help those still trapped in the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama. The death toll stands at 43 but is expected to increase further. Meanwhile, Dorian has gained strength off the US east coast and is heading to the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. US forecasters said on Saturday that the storm had sustained winds of 100mph (155 km/h) and had increased from a category one to a category two hurricane. Dorian was at category five when it made landfall in the Bahamas last Sunday with winds reaching 185mph. Officials believe hundreds of bodies are yet to be found in areas flattened by the winds or smashed by storm surges. Dr Caroline Burnett-Garraway, medical chief of staff at Princess Margaret Hospital in the capital Nassau, said two refrigerated trucks were being sent to the area, adding: “We’ve ordered lots of body bags.” Thousands of survivors have been lining up in Freeport, Grand Bahama, hoping to board cruise ships offering free passage to Florida. There were similar scenes in Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco, where people queued for private boats to take them to safety. Evacuees from Great Abaco have been arriving in Nassau, bringing with them stories of worsening conditions in the storm-ravaged islands. At the main Abaco airport on Saturday, Chamika Durosier was hoping to find a plane to safety. “The home that we were in fell on us. We had to crawl - got out crawling,” she said. “It’s been almost a week and people are still here. People have no food. People have no water. Dead bodies are still

Hurricane survivors waiting to be evacuated in private boats at Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco

Many homes in the Abaco Islands were smashed to pieces by the storm

around and it’s not sanitary.” UN officials said about 70,000 people in Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands were in need of assistance. The World Food Programme (WFP) said about 90% of homes, buildings and infrastructure in Marsh Harbour were damaged and that thousands of residents were sheltering in a government

building, a medical centre and an Anglican church with meagre supplies. “The needs remain enormous,” said WFP spokesman

Herve Verhoosel. “Evacuations are slowly taking place by ferry, as hundreds of residents reportedly flee daily.” The Royal Navy said it

was deploying 18 extra medical staff to join the ship RFA Mounts Bay that has been delivering aid since the storm passed. Another UK ship, HMS Protector, is taking on supplies in Bermuda and will sail to the Bahamas on Monday. The US Coast Guard said it had sent nine cutters to the islands and that six of its helicopters had rescued 290 people so far. Dorian is churning northwards along the Atlantic coast of North America, and has been battering eastern US states as it heads towards Canada. At 14:00 local time on Saturday (18:00 GMT) the storm was about 180 miles (290 km) south-east of Eastport, Maine, and heading for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The Canadian Hurricane Centre predicted landfall near Halifax, Nova Scotia, later on Saturday and issued hurricane warnings for parts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Canadian broadcaster CBC said thousands of residents in Nova Scotia had lost power on Saturday morning as high winds and heavy rain swept in. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned of storm surges in the Gulf of St Lawrence, the south-west Coast of Newfoundland and eastern Nova Scotia. On Friday, hundreds who refused to evacuate Ocracoke Island in North Carolina were stranded when the hurricane made landfall there. (BBC)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

What constitution is being disobeyed? H

ARDLY a day passes without the opposition and its cheerleaders haranguing the society with messages of doom regarding the rule of law. It seems as if every opposition member and detractor of the government has become a constitutionalist. The newspapers and airwaves are inundated with tales and narratives from these new-found experts on the constitution. They accuse the government of non-compliance with the dictates of the constitution by not resigning and calling elections forthwith. But we ask—what constitution is being disobeyed? What constitutional crisis? If one were not familiar with Guyana’s politics, one would get the impression that Guyana is in a constitutional crisis. But nothing could be further from the truth—there is no constitutional crisis in this country. What obtains is a concerted effort on the part of the opposition and its cohorts to create hysteria as part of their effort to force premature general and regional elections

with a voters’ list that is heavily tainted. They have obviously decided that painting the country in unflattering terms would benefit their political fortunes. This publication takes a very dim view of such behaviour from a party that has set itself out as the next government. We hold the position that there must be a point where partisan politics stop and commitment to the country begins. While we accept that parties will vie for power and in the process push the envelope to the brink, we feel that political commonsense and morality must find a central place in the scheme of things. The PPP knows full well that the government is still in place because of a train of lawful developments since December 2019. After disagreement on whether the no-confidence motion (NCM) of December 21 was properly passed, the government side resorted to the judicial branch to settle the matter. They did so under the universally accepted principle of Judicial Review, which provides for the challenge of

the actions of the Executive and Legislative branches of government. We are certain that had the PPP been in the position of the government, it would have taken advantage of Judicial Review. The truth is that the initial challenge of the NCM was a directive by the Speaker of the National Assembly who advised that the matter be sent to the courts for a full and final view. Since then the challenge has triggered a series of further challenges and counter challenges. As we write this editorial, there is a challenge to part of the most recent ruling by the chief justice. In fact, the refusal by the PPP to cooperate with the government as recommended by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has been the reason for the current round of court challenges. The irony is that it is the PPP which is guilty of frustrating the constitutional imperatives. The CCJ has made it clear that the solution to the political impasse lies in political consensus by the major actors—the PPP and the APNU+AFC Coalition in con-

junction with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This was in clear response to the PPP’s demand that the CCJ impose a political solution by naming a date for election. The court emphatically refused the demand by citing the doctrine of Separation of Powers. The matter would have ended there had the PPP got together with the coalition in consultation with GECOM. As is well known, their allies moved to the court to challenge the legality of house-to-house registration initiated by GECOM in its quest to create a credible voters list, a prerequisite for free and fair elections. The PPP wants a strict constitutional solution to a political problem. It creates a constitutional crisis and then yells at the court to solve the fictitious problem. It then hollers at the government for not going along with the hoax. The PPP and its allies take a very narrow view of constitutional supremacy. As far as they are concerned, the only aspect of the constitution that matters is Article 106-6. They silence the other rel-

evant aspects of the constitution in pursuit of their narrow pursuit of power. But Article 6-6 is not meant to be a stand-alone article—it must be read along with Article 6-7. The PPP wants to push crooked elections down the country’s throat to satisfy its narrow and autonomous reading of Article 6-6. This must not be allowed—credible elections are also a sacrosanct constitutional right. This is the very PPP, as Elder Eusi Kwayana and others have pointed out, that has a history of disdain for the constitution. As recent as 2015, the PPP defied settled constitutional norms when faced with a NCM—it did not even allow a debate of the motion. We urge citizens across the political divide to ignore this rhetoric of constitutional disobedience from the PPP. The government is constitutionally in place. Guyana is not a pariah state.

Local Government Commission urgently needs to appoint a new town clerk Dear Editor

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T is no coincidence, accident or unfortunate circumstances that have caused Georgetown, our capital and once ‘Garden City to have become one of the least livable cities in the world. It is a result of deliberate wilful, wanton and uncharitable actions by a few persons. Since January of this year the substantive town clerk was fired by the Local Government Commission(LGC)

after a Commission of Inquiry found him guilty of gross misconduct. The person placed to act in his stead has since been sent on administrative leave in the midst of financial documents not being produced to the Audit Office of Guyana for a forensic audit into City Hall; yet up to now neither the municipality, the LGC nor the Ministry of Communities has found it necessary to appoint a new, competent and substantive town clerk. In Georgetown, which

still follows an archaic colonial system, the mayor is the leader of the city council but has no greater official authority than any other council member; in fact, the mayor’s responsibilities are primarily to preside at council meetings and to act as head of the city for ceremonial purposes, so it is therefore the role and functions of the town clerk are very important as that person is responsible for managing the municipality’s budget, overseeing city personnel, making recommendations

to the mayor and other city leaders on a variety of issues, etc and, as a consequence, should be filled at all times with urgency. Of course, one would expect that it would be filled by someone not only with a Masters Degree in Public Administration, but with good writing and public speaking skills, knowledge of municipal and administrative laws and procedures and an understanding of management theory and practices, as well as dispute- resolution

procedures. The office holder must also be someone who is trustworthy, respectful, ethical, and with an approachable character with the utmost integrity. But what do the authorities do? They go in-house and select someone way down the food chain of junior rank, someone who does not have the experience, the capacity, the temperament and the wherewithal and stick them in the position temporarily.

It seems as though gone are the days when the position of town clerk was considered to be one of prestige, authority, respect and influence. One can only hope that the LGC would look to fill the position of town clerk of Georgetown urgently with a proper candidate. Regards Kishore Das

OP-ED

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

By Margaret Burke

AGRICULTURE is a vast sector, which continues to grow and expand in Guyana. The country possesses land that is bursting with the richness of natural agricultural potential; highly fertile and ready to give rise to whatever she receives. Other than on the coastland and hinterland, the country still has expanses of virgin land. However, with help and directions from the APNU+AFC government, farmers are not just returning to the land, they are looking to expand. At the same time, many of them are showing tremendous interest in learning the new methods and techniques, that the government is making available to them. This is an effort to help enhance their production and yielding capacity. A priority for this APNU+AFC coalition government is a policy to transform the economy, producing more jobs and bringing a better life for people. For this reason, this government, through the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has continued to make every effort to ensure that much emphasis is placed on this sector, especially in relation to training and development of the agro-processing industry, which now forms a significant aspect of agriculture in general. In fact, in 2018 the New GMC reported an 18 per cent increase in exports when compared to the corresponding period of 2017. The agency

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Agro-processing transforming the agricultural sector

stated that record levels of increase in the quantity of non-traditional agricultural commodities have been processed at their facilities for export to countries such as Antigua, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and the United States of America (USA). The main facilities being used for the preparation of the commodities for export are the Central Packaging Facility at Sophia and the Parika Agro-processing packaging facility at Parika. Training and development The government is very deliberate in its effort to diversify and raise the levels of farmers’ enthusiasm in Guyana. While agro-processing is not quite a new area in this country, it is now gaining momentum. It speaks to the manufacturing that processes agricultural raw materials of every kind, including forestry, livestock and seafood products. At the same time this sector is geared to add value through the various processes that facilitate the transformation of original, raw agricultural products to jams, jellies, pepper and other sauces, ham and sausages, pickled meats and many more. Training and development are now systematically being done by the Ministry of Agriculture. This ministry is supported by the New GMC, the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), as well as the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA). GMC advancing the cause

However, the New GMC, which is a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, has not only been given the responsibility to promote the development and exportation of non-traditional agricultural commodities; it also plays a pivotal role in training farmers, agro-processors and exporters of agricultural products across Guyana, providing a wide range of training programmes. These include training in cost of production, marketing strategy, post-harvest management, jam-making and seasoning, business accounting for agro-processors and farmers, packaging and labelling, agri-business development, marketing, and of course agro-processing. These training sessions have been done in almost all of the 10 administrative regions of Guyana, and GMC states that they have additional training planned for Agriculture Month in October. The New GMC has explained that their main aim is to give technical guidance to agro-processors. At the same time they plan to further aid in their development, as well as that of every farmer and even potential farmer. In so doing, the GMC collaborates with other government and international agencies in an effort to get specialist assistance and be able to offer the best to these farmers. WOMEN IN AGROPROCESSING The Women Agro-processors Development Network (WADNET) is made up of some 11 community-based

groups of women and continues to grow, since many more women are expressing interest. Though the majority of the groups are from the hinterland, others are spread along the Soesdyke /Linden Highway, in Region Four and in Region Five on the West Coast of Berbice. WADNET’s support comes directly from government – the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and local agencies that collaborate with it. These include the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), which has been offering tremendous support. Although the group has been around for about nine years, over the past four years, with help from the New GMC a remarkable amount of work has been done to facilitate training and providing many needed resources to encourage them along. The groups within the network have so far been able to secure local and international markets, with prospects being great for the rest of 2019 and even better in 2020. Many of the groups are involved in the processing of raw agricultural materials a variety of hot peppers, seasonings, peanuts, fruits, cassava, coconuts, forestry products and even traditional medicines into value-added products. Many jobs are being created out of this particular adventure. As a group, WADNET members have been able to generate income for themselves. They continue to make use of some of the raw materials, while adding

value to the rest. Additionally, they are also contributing to employment for other farmers, who are encouraged to cultivate additional, raw produce, which is purchased and utilised for agro-processing. The GMC also held training sessions with women from the Coomacka mines in agro-processing. They recently visited the area and were told by the women that because of the training they are now in the process of making better labels and their mixes are better. The GMC was happy to report that these ladies spoke of the great response they now receive from customers. The same types of sensitisation sessions were also done in Region Five and also at the Belladrum Shade House Group on the West Coast of Berbice. Groups in Region Nine received assistance with packaging materials such as bottling, as well as the designing of their labels for display. RAID The Rural Infrastructural Development Project (RAID) is a multi-million dollar project under the arm of the MoA, and in collaboration with the New GMC, training in capacity-building was done for farmers in the four rural communities. These communities included Buxton, Mocha-Arcadia, Ithaca, and Beterverwagting/Triumph. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), facilitated the training sessions with farmers. Many sessions were also done at Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara.

The Guyana Marketing Corporation has committed to facilitate further training in these communities to provide the necessary guidance farmers need to be successful in the farming and agro-processing industry. GSA Agro-processing training at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) is also experiencing rapid growth. Earlier this year the school proudly displayed many new products. These products are all set for local and international markets. The GSA noted that this year’s agro-processing programme was the largest in the history of the institution. Many outstanding students graduated from this programme, making names for themselves with the products they produced. Some of them have even had their products launched on the local market with help from New Guyana Marketing Corporation. Over four short years the government of the APNU+AFC coalition has shown what can be done with agriculture – just one main sector of this great country. Much effort was put into the work already done, while there are plans to do far more. Also of reality is the fact that many farmers have now felt an awakening and are now ready and rearing to get on with it.

GECOM is not the preserve of any political party

Dear Editor

S

OME time ago, I penned a letter to your newspaper pointing out PPP/C GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj’s disrespectful statement about the President’s meeting with the commission as a waste of his time”. For reasons best known to you, the letter was not published. I am very certain that my comments/observations were confined to Gunraj’s

behaviour which underlined a fundamental problem surrounding his understanding of the President’s prerogative, and his desire of communicating with the national electoral body for an informed position on its continuing preparations for national and regional elections. And since this commissioner has again gone public in criticising the “GECOM no way close to decisions on holding elections” as reported in News Source, Sept. 3.9.10, I am again ex-

ercising my right as a citizen to register on a pattern that has become very obvious, as far as the political opposition side of commissioners is concerned. First, such comments either lay bare the deliberate PPP/C policy of seeking to hurry the GECOM into premature decisions, as rightly pointed out in one of your recent editorials, or perhaps displaying total ignorance of the commission’s policy of in-depth discussions done collectively, for consensual

positions for moving the process towards national elections. Second, to rant about “…and dealt with lots of irrelevant discussions ….’’, is an attack on the policy of the chairperson whose no-nonsense position of no ‘’walk outs’’ has put a halt to the bullyism and petulant actions of the opposition trio, who mistakenly believed that GECOM as a constitutional body had been there to do their bidding. Her stern position has not found favour

with a well- known line of PPP/C political action, which has been negative on the functions of the GECOM. Thirdly, exploring all options for the delivery of credible elections in a timely manner is still the ultimate goal of GECOM. At least, the latter was acknowledged in his recent rants. It is good that commissioner Gunraj is aware of these two imperatives, except that he must act in a mature manner in the national interest, as the hour

demands. His action thus far, betrays this important understanding, being reminded that GECOM has a responsibility to the constitution and the entire nation. It is not the preserve

of any political party, or chosen few. Regards Earl Hamilton

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BIG PROGRESS,

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

SMALL COMMUNITIES

THE celebration of Indigenous Heritage Month should give us an opportunity to reflect not only on the big progress unfolding in the many small hinterland communities, but on the role of our indigenous peoples in preserving and protecting our land and our collective life. Over many years I have heard cynics warning against government “giving away” lands to indigenous communities. But for me, it is not about giving away. It is about “giving back” communal lands to our First Peoples. If we could learn anything from the Amazonian rainforest fires in nearby Brazil, we should see the “giving back” process as an investment of confidence in our indigenous peoples who have occupied our rainforests for centuries, and who have so far saved them from indiscriminate destruction. They have been the guardians of our rainforests, our rivers, our fish stock, birds and animals, and endangered species that mirror our pristine, beautiful, rich and unique Guyanese life. BENEFICIAL USE Our government is also interested in the beneficial use of our land resources. This is why government is encouraging hinterland communities to draft Village Improvement Plans (VIPs). This is not a condition for land-titling or extensions, but as a strategy to access financial and other resources

to make these communities better. No one can today deny the positive changes in the life and condition of hinterland (Amerindian) communities. Our indigenous peoples are no longer totally cut off from each other, or from the coast, though we are separated by vast expanses of savannahs, forests, mountains and swamps. During the past four years, the APNU+AFC Government has tried to bridge the divide. It has, between 2015 and 2018, invested some $48 Billion on expanding, maintaining and constructing roads and bridges in the hinterland. An additional $38.5 Billion was approved to continue this process in 2019. Essential services which were previously available only in cities on the coast, are being delivered at newly created hinterland towns at Bartica, Mabaruma, Mahdia and Lethem. LIGHT IT UP These towns and other locations are only now “connected” as a result of improvements to the electricity supply system at locations such as Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Siparuta, Orealla, Moraikobai, Moco-Moco, Wauna, and the Culvert City Housing Scheme. Limited electricity distribution networks have been provided at Arakaka and Moruca, in Waini-Barima (Region One). Supplying electricity to these

far-off, isolated communities remains a big challenge, but expectations are running high as well, with "Light it up” campaigns in places such as Waramadong (Region Seven), Aranaputa Valley (Region Nine) and in the Matarkai Sub Region, (Region One). At Mabaruma, in the Barima-Waini (Region One), a $272M solar farm was built. A similar energy facility, costing $200M will be erected at Annai, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), together with a $450.2M Hydropower Plant at the Cheung Falls, Kato, Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) to supply electricity to the residential Kato Secondary School. Two other hinterland hydro projects, at Moco Moco and Kumu, are in the pipeline. The emphasis on power supply was to facilitate the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) to set up ICT Hubs in hinterland communities and villages, and for radio/ television outreaches. Today, some of the most remote parts of Guyana, where our Indigenous peoples live or work, are just a phone call away! Even getting around inside villages could be a problem as settlements are criss-crossed by rivers and creeks, and bridges and culverts are needed to navigate them. This is why the modern bridges at Moruca and Wakapau have been hailed by residents as landmark

achievements. IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION Our government has been doing as best as it could with our limited financial resources to improve transportation to hinterland communities by air, land and river. Some 57 airstrips have been upgraded and constructed, including those villages with exotic names such as Baramita, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Bimechi, Mahdia, Kamarang, Monkey Mountain, Kato, Paramakatoi, Kaikan, Eteringbang and Kurupung. The aerodrome at the centre of Guyana’s green lungs, Iwokrama, was lengthened from 762 metres to 1,219 metres, to accommodate bigger aircraft. In addition, $834M was approved to upgrade Lethem Airport, at the border with Brazil, into an international hub. Our government has since approved a sum of $2B to do additional upgrades at other airstrips, and for installation of lights and other safety features. The most visible displays of progress in hinterland communities are the new concrete roads in Mahdia, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma. In the township of Lethem, the internal roads are being upgraded to a four-lane carriageway, with pedestrian walkways and streetlights! Aranaputa, famous for its

peanut butter and honey, declared a new Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) village in North Rupununi, now has paved roads for the first time. The Deep South of Guyana is faced with periodic flooding, which resulted in works to fix over 350 km (215 miles) of major access roads, and to repair bridges joining remote villages such as Kraudar, Aishalton, Shea, Baishaidrum and Achiwib. New bridges are being built at Aranawau, Achimerawau and at Maribonter Creek. New culverts have been constructed at Katoonarib, Aishalton, Shulinab, Mountain point and Achiwib; with a new reinforced, concrete bridge on Falls Top to Port Kaituma main road. PROFLE OF DEVELOPMENTS This profile of developments in areas where our indigenous peoples live cannot be complete without mention of road upgrades at Aranaputa, St. Ignatius, Culvert City, Kaicumbay, Parishara, between Oronoque Junction and Port Kaituma District Hospital and between Kumaka and Kwebanna Main Access Road, Moruca. The North-West District is one area in Guyana that has to be accessed by water, and for this both the Lady Northcote and MV Kimbia have been renovated. For travels to and

emergencies from the riverain communities of Orealla, Bartica, Kwakwani and the Pomeroon, new water ambulances have been provided. In response to the slick but sick politician who told indigenous communities that they cannot eat roads, airstrips and bridges, I wish to say that all these facilities are about people. These facilities in turn help in the promotion of businesses. Under the Hinterland Employment Youth Scheme (HEYS), for example, some 2,051 businesses were established and supported; more than 300 Indigenous youths are currently enrolled at the Bina Hill Institute for skills training. With electricity and telecommunication facilities available, some 154 villages and communities have successfully implemented Community Development Projects (CDPs), 44 of which are fully operational and profitable business ventures in hinterland communities. Over 200 villages continue to benefit from Presidential Grants with 1,119 Presidential Grant cheques given to villages. Next week, My Turn will examine developments in education and health in our indigenous communities. Until then, enjoy Indigenous Heritage Month!

MPs continue to receive pay, but not working

Dear Editor: I am on record advising Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo to call for an end of the parliamentary recess. Now that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has advised the Commission it will not be ready for an election before March 2020, it is even more important for the Opposition to return to the National Assembly and work. The CEO is the technical

officer and it is upon his expert advice the Commission will be making their decision on the readiness for election. The harassment of Justice Claudette Singh S.C is malicious, misguided and un-necessary. It must stop. Whereas Justice Singh is the Chair of GECOM with oversight responsibility for elections, neither she nor the Commissioners have the technical 'competencies' to execute the election processes on their own. They are dependent

on such 'competencies' and advice of others in order to arrive at a clear decision. The bureaucratic process allows for the CEO who is responsible for the day to day management of National Registration Centre and ultimately the electoral process, in turn, to be dependent on similar 'competencies' of its various departmental heads and functioning officers. The National Registration Centre is responsible for registration, executing the

preparatory work for elections. GECOM is responsible for the management and execution of the election. The “shortest possible” time is dependent on the Centre fulfilling its obligations to satisfy all the requirements in executing a credible election. What GECOM has to do is strike a balance between credible election and the shortest possible time. It is not just achieving one at the expense of the other. This argument is not unknown to

Mr. Jagdeo who was president and charged the responsibility for announcing a date for election based on the advice of GECOM as to its readiness. The point to note is, while GECOM is doing its job maybe not to the liking of some, the National Assembly is not doing its job, but members continue to receive pay. As a trade union leader steep in the concerns of labour, fair work for fair pay and just conditions it is both-

ersome to see the abuse of taxpayers’ money. Nowhere else in our labour landscape is earning without pay possible or condoned. What aggravates the situation is the fact that we the hard-working taxpayers, with no such privilege, are the employers. When Government took the question of the no-confidence vote to the court, this nation witnessed both Government and Opposition TURN TO PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

In four years this government Straight Up has moved mountains with

Mark Benschop

INITIALLY, I wanted to focus today's article on the options for the PPP's Prime Ministerial candidate. However, in retrospect, I have decided against it, and instead, the spirit has led me to focus on issues that are far more relevant to the masses. In other words, whoever that person is, he/ she would be no different than the guy who was a mere figurehead for over two decades–if, God forbids, another political tragedy occurs through a PPP victory. Sadly, each time I interviewed that individual, who is thus far the longest serving person in that capacity, I had to maintain a straight face, even as the lyrics of Marvin Gaye kept percolating through my mind – “I'm Your Puppet” – for obvious reasons. “I'm just a toy, just a funny boy. That makes you laugh when you're blue. I'll be wonderful, do just what I'm told. I’ll do anything for you, I'm your puppet, I'm your puppet. Pull them little strings and I'll sing you a song, I'm your puppet. Make me do right or make me do wrong, I’m your puppet…” Quite fittingly, he and his political masters and visionless comrades received an enthusiastic and appropriate send-off, as they suffered an embarrassing defeat at the 2015 polls. And even as the nation is preparing for elections, possibly early next year, good will continue to triumph over evil. In the words of John Connolly (The Infernals), “no matter how hard evil tries, it can never quite match up to the power of good, because evil is ultimately self-destructive. Evil may set out to corrupt others, but in the process corrupts itself.” So, let us take a quick look at some of the government's positive achievements over the past few years, just a short time in office. This is not to say that they have been perfect in every area, but when compared to the huge mess they inherited, massive unemployment, corruption at every level of government, billions of dollars wasted on substandard infrastructural works, highest crime rate in the country's

history and the damage to democracy, anyone with even the slightest conscience would agree that Guyana has been lifted out of the gutter, darkness, fear, and economic stagnation, with the defeat of the political Lagoo Bagoos.

EDUCATION On the educational front, what has impressed me is its policies which seem to be bearing fresh fruits all across the country. I am particularly impressed with the recent announcement that over eight hundred (800) teenage mothers have recently been placed in learning institutions in all of the 10 administrative regions. With over 500 being enrolled in technical and vocational studies, the remainder opted to return to secondary school. The Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, is quoted in the media as saying: “by sending girls back to school, they will be better equipped with life and other skills and, ‘that investing in girls’ education is investing in the development of a nation’.” This sentiment has also been repeated before by President David Granger and the First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, both of whom believe in education as the key to creating a brighter future for Guyana. Taking a look at the recent successes of the CSEC results, a 73 per cent pass rate is evidence enough to uplift our spirits, and give us an indication of how well developed Guyana is set to become, with citizens who are educated and well informed about a variety of topics. According to the Minister, '13 subjects recorded a pass rate of 90 per cent or more. These include Agricultural Science (Double Award) with 99 per cent, Religious Education with 100 per cent, Information Technology with 98 per cent, Physical Education and Sport with 100 per cent and Industrial Technology – Electrical with 93.4 per cent. Chemistry, Biology and Physics all improved. Biology moved from 64 per cent to 77 per cent. Chemistry recorded 62 per

cent as against 56.4 per cent in 2018 while Physics recorded a pass rate of 70 per cent, approximately four per cent more than the 66.2 per cent recorded in 2018.” And, the positive beat goes on. Additionally, there is the recent batch of newly-admitted young people to the University of Guyana (UG) an unprecedented 4,000 plus, for the 2019/2020 academic year, which is said to be the highest number since the establishment of the university in 1963 – all of this, despite the unjustified negative picture that is being painted by some who believe that they have all the remedies to fix UG and all of Guyana's problems. I urge you to ignore those negative soundbites, and let us continue to keep hope alive. And be reminded (especially our beloved President Granger) by the words of Anthon St. Maarten (Author of Divine Living) “Never surrender your hopes and dreams to the fateful limitations others have placed on their own lives. The vision of your true destiny does not reside within the blinkered outlook of the naysayers and the doom prophets. Judge not by their words, but accept advice based on the evidence of actual results…” ICT DEVELOPMENT We will turn now to the subject of technology, a rapidly growing part of our lives. Doubtlessly, unlike the sluggishness in the past, the coalition government has done more in this area within its short span of time in office, especially when compared to the wasteful years of the PPP, with the billions of dollars wasted on the 'One Laptop for friends and families of those from Freedom House by the previous political outdated robots. The failed 'One Laptop' per family initiative under the PPP, did nothing for citizens, as its main objective was to ensure that millions of dollars go into the pockets of political cronies, and the recipients being misled into believing that the government was caring. Far from that, since it was quickly revealed as a presumptuous

MPs continue to receive ...

exercising an equal right to pursue legal justice which is upheld in the constitution. In the exercise of this the matter was taken all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice which delivered its verdict on 18th June. As a consequence, the “within three months” period which an election could have been held was exhausted, bringing into focus the other proviso “or such longer period,” which requires at least twothird votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly as per Article 106(7).

It is a stretch of credulity to give the impression that that three months’ period would have started from June. Parliament only functions effectively when both sides are seated and deliberating. That's why the Opposition receives pay from government Treasury to work in the Assembly and function always as a government in waiting not like a guerrilla warlord with no knowledge of civilised politics and meaningful constructive on-going negotiations only willing to create mayhem. There are

pressing matters of national import deserving of parliamentary attention such as oil and gas and giving meaning to Article 13. The issue of a resigned Government whilst constitutional is mere technicality and a matter of ego drive which is a pity because our nation suffers. The constitution is clear as the courts will rule. What remains unclear and can be mutually agreed to is the continued and realistic functioning of an interim government. In the absence of the interim Government

political ploy and cheap cosmetics in order to make it appear as though the regime was concerned about improving Information Communications Technology in Guyana. Well, such was when a sophisticated laptop computer was placed in the hands of a notorious convicted drug lord, and his criminal enterprise, or the so-called Intelligence Agencies, which was used to track and spy on political opponents. Surely, the evidence is glaring enough for anyone to see, that the Honourable David Granger government, is creating tremendous opportunities for all Guyanese in the area of technology, by ensuring that every community across Guyana has access to the internet, radio and television stations and other modern technologies that would make life easier for everyone, especially for the nation's young people. In these areas, specific kudos is due to the Minister of Public Telecommunications, Mrs. Cathy Hughes, and her staff.

SPORT Sport is yet another area which was largely ignored by the PPP. However, in my honest opinion, I do believe that the then Director of Sports, Neil Kumar, despite major shortcomings, intellectually or otherwise, tried his best. What may have contributed to his failure (and the PPP’s) was their obvious lack of a macro vision, and the relevant minister’s inability to take sports to another level. Hence, in this regard, they have failed our sportsmen and women. Unlike, what was the norm under despotic PPP regime, sports is now being looked at with greater importance, and for the most part, all sportsmen and women/boys/girls are being respected at every level. Oh, I should note that while it has begun with what appeared to be a ‘helter-skelter' start, those responsible have quickly gotten their acts together and for that I do believe that sports and young people are 10 times better today, than they were prior to 2015. Mind you, it is not as perfect as

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and interim Opposition working out such a plan then precedents are being set, good and bad for which both parties are responsible. The whirlpool of chaos, confusion, half-truths, lies and racial animosity is further tearing the nation apart leaving any future government the task of rebuilding our exhausted tolerance with each other, our camaraderie and cohesion as One People, One Nation with One Destiny. The challenge of our Republic is clearly outlined for those-

I expected, but with the right kind of people in control, I remain optimistic, and so should all Guyanese, that things will most definitely get better as time goes by. Hopefully, in the very near future, we will not be saddled with too many people being responsible for sport, and youth. That being said, sport is now alive and kicking throughout the country. JUSTICE FOR ALL Finally, I wish to touch on the area of persons seeking justice, and timely access to the courts. In this area, yes, more can be done but, when compared to the widespread perception of corruption in the judiciary, and hundreds of persons who were left to languish in prisons, during those dark and brutal PPP years in office, I can say without any apologies, having firsthand knowledge of the system that this government is on the right track in ensuring that respect is restored to our judicial system. More magistrates’ courts are being established around the country, even in areas that never had any, or where some were left to fall to pieces, and respect is shown for the rights of those who are caught up in the system. Indeed, these are just a handful of accomplishments under this APNU/AFC government, in just a short space of time. And, anyone who believes that nothing has been done, is being totally dishonest, bitter, has a personal axe to grind with either the President, prime minister, or others in the government, or they are obviously wearing tight black, yellow and red blinkers. Whatever it is that these selfish folks cannot see, the truth is, in four years this government has moved mountains. And, in moving mountains, they have created so many overnight 'talk show' hosts as well, who will attempt to paint a dim picture of the new and improved Guyana, but, most Guyanese are smart enough to ignore the pessimists.

"Born in the land of the mighty Roraima... To guard Guyana's Lands To foil the shock of rude invader who'd violate her earth To cherish and defend forever The state that gave them birth" The self-inflicting injuries we continue to create over elections and the passions invoked through partisan politics distracts and hinders forging a unified nation committed to defence of this nation’s vital interests. And for this we must hold the interim Opposition and particularly its chief proponent accountable along with the

interim Government. This is no monopoly game where one can get a 'free pass'. What this nation is still witnessing is continuous effort at political dumbing down of supporters, the absence of political will, and the discharging of civic responsibility to ensure the political process work for all. Towards this end it means ensuring the operatives come together and chart a way forward consistent with the law and time-honoured principles. The politicians must do their work. Regards Lincoln Lewis

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

Understanding Energy

Emergency Response AS first oil is now only months away, Guyana is ramping up emergency response training to ensure it is prepared for any worstcase scenarios. More than 100 people participated in a two-day training session last week to prepare for rapid response and management in the event of a spill. Representatives from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) trained alongside employees of the companies drilling in the Stabroek Block. It is industry practice to hold emergency response training, despite the fact that the chances of an oil spill are statistically extremely low. Furthermore, the floating

production, storage and offloading vessels like those that will be operating offshore are considered best-in-class in terms of safety systems. Exercises like this help all the relevant government agencies, companies and others familiarize themselves with the spill response plans, learn techniques in managing disaster response from experts and gain experience working alongside personnel from other teams and branches of government. Exxon’s regional response team and its local personnel were also part of the exercise, which the company organised and funded. As officials from the CDC told the press, part of the aim of these exercises is to play out scenarios in realistic ways and find any gaps in planning or communication

that could pose a problem in a real-life situation. CDC Director General, Lt. Col Kester Craig, told journalists that the exercises could help complement and field test the government’s own response plans. The latest drill focused on the Incident Command System, or ICS, the organisational hub for responding to any disasters. The ICS would be responsible for dispatching resources and manpower. According to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, an ICS is a vital management system “designed to enable effective and efficient domestic incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organisational structure.”

Oil spill response can require the cooperation of many different agencies, neighbouring countries, companies, environmental groups and more. This makes coordination vital in the execution of actions like search and rescue, monitoring and cleanup. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard maintain a similar ICS. They generally consider five major areas of work: command, operations, planning, logistics, and investigations. Guyanese representatives participated in an even larger regional exercise in March, held in St. Kitts, that included officials and staff from 15 Caribbean countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada,

Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. That event was funded by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a global safety and regulatory body for the shipping industry that is part of the United Nations. These exercises were conducted in tandem with the government’s efforts to finalize its own National Contingency Plan, which the IMO helped draft. Since agency and company preparedness are already well underway, the finalised version of that plan will be more about putting a version of the plans that are already in place into official government code than drafting something new. The operating companies themselves also have well-established plans of their own,

honed over decades of experience and shaped by experts and researchers in chemistry, ecology, industrial engineering and other fields. Exxon publishes its general oil spill response field manuals online. These plans often include intensive community-level training, public information and outreach to determine what unique needs local areas are likely to have in the event of a disaster. Although spills from modern offshore drilling are rare, creating better working relationships between these government agencies and companies help officials respond more effectively and rapidly to all kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made.

THE TRANSITION IS ALMOST COMPLETE …from a drug economy to a law and order society SOMETIME in early 2001, a drug dealer stood in the middle of the dance floor of a popular nightspot, guns hanging out both pockets, and told a patron that he could kill him and nothing will come out of it. In 2006, James Jordan, a mechanic, was caught red-handed in an extra-marital affair with the friend of a known drug dealer. He was cornered at his home and subjected to threats under the death duress of the maxim gun and told in no uncertain terms, if he persists, he will die. After that encounter, this mechanic lost all his government contracts and was pressured by the tax authority to pay up. These incidents characterized the curious and dangerous relationship between the drug underworld and the state pre-2015. The confident tone of the lawless, echoed and resonated through every crevice of the Guyanese society pre-2015, pointed to the ignominious confirmation that

Guyana had become a pariah drug-filled lawless society. THE STREETS The pre-2015 streets rejoiced in diabolic opportunities that were brought by the drug empire, opportunities which can be regarded as pyrrhic victories. These ranged from contract killings from as low as GY $200,000 to GY $1,000,000, guns for hire, contracts to damage or injure opponents, arson contracts and, of course, the sale of the ubiquitous ‘white substance’. Street soldiers, rogue police, mules, thugs and more purchased ‘Allions’ and enjoyed the ritual of the Seawall lime with bottles of Ciroc. They dabbled in blood money and the street economy appeared to be ‘booming’ but it was an empire on sinking sand. The tradeoff was wanton execution of loved one's add an ambiance of constant violence and Guyana becoming a pariah nation appearing on numerous financial blacklists. The

ascension of the coalition government to office immediately ended the blood party and the transition began. Immediately after 2015, the streets proclaimed ‘money aint running’, frustrated by the change. As the transition to normalized economy began to sink in 4 years later, the streets are now seeing there is a life beyond drugs and mayhem. Construction jobs have reached up to GY$10,000 per day and numerous opportunities abound with the imminent oil and gas economy, the transition is almost complete. In the second term, there is no doubt, the coalition government will consolidate these excellent efforts. THE STATE The state apparatus in the pre-2015, vis-a-vis the drug empire, was a guaranteed friend of this scourge. The state was accessible to drug lords. This accessibility became quite easy due to the simple pleasure of the night-

life. Heads of state and senior state functionaries frequented nightspots owned by the operators of the underworld, private rooms were secured to cut deals. This unapologetic public posture by representatives of the highest level of the state with the slum Lords who bestrode the capital with impunity, confirmed that we were smacked down in the narco-state. There was no fear of the judicial system by those who possessed billions from the trade, it was well known that the judiciary was compromised and access granted at a fee. Rogue senior and junior policemen knew the players and refused reports that came in against them. During the transition that began with President David Granger at the helm, saw the emergence of an independent judiciary; the entire nation knows that the courts are now a place where bribery is no longer a casual affair. Serious police reforms have led to a stringent Guyana Police Force. The mere

perception of this has been well for Guyana, the lawless think twice before they commit acts. In this transition, the sight of the President or Ministers in open view of the public mingling and socializing with drug dealers is completely non-existent. The state is no longer accessible; it is no longer open season. The transition is almost complete and it is reasonable to estimate that in a second term, drug empire will take its final breath. THE ECONOMY Those who have posited research and submissions on Guyana as narco-state from the economic standpoint have not highlighted the mundane economic impact of the drug trade on legitimate businesses. Pre-2015, a legitimate business had to compete unfairly with the numerous businesses operating based on the proceeds of the drug trade. In a simple setting, a person who established an honest clothing business

had to sell an average pair of jeans at GY$6000. The clothing business owned by the wife or girlfriend of a drug baron could sell those same jeans for GY$3000 because it is not her only source of income and she could subsidize her overheads. Customers would instinctively go for the cheaper option and the genuine businesses went out of operation. The transition to a law and order society is a welcomed thing for many businesses, they no longer face this challenge. CONCLUSION The transition is almost complete and will receive full consolidation in a second term of this no-nonsense approach to the drug trade.

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Increase in UG intake, scholarship applications positive signs – Public Service Minister MINISTER of Public Service, Hon. Tabitha Sarabo-Halley has credited the large increase in scholarship applications and enrollment at the University of Guyana (UG) this year, to the remarkable work the government has been doing in the education sector. The minister appeared on the National Communications Network’s (NCN) “INSIGHT” on Friday, where she spoke about, among other things, the award of scholarships to young Guyanese. According to Minister Sarabo-Halley, her department has received many applications this year for studies at UG. “I think it is indicative of something from this government, which is an indication

that the government has put in the minds of young people how important education is and how important tertiary education is,” she said. The rise in the numbers at the University of Guyana and for scholarships is a good sign for the government and should indicate how the administration should deal with matters in education, she noted. The University of Guyana, earlier this week, reported that its enrollment so far for the 2019/2020 academic year stood at some 4,000 – the largest ever in its history. News of the large enrollment has come a mere month after His Excellency, President David Granger announced that his government will use funds from Guyana’s

Reg. 3 plans to build on education improvement — Essequibo Islands-West Demerara launches Education Month REGIONAL Education Officer (REdO) of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Annesta Douglas, has said that the education sub-division in Region Three is on a mission to improve the grades of students in the region. Douglas made these remarks on Friday, during the ceremony to launch Education Month in the region. Education Month’s celebration 2019 is being observed under the theme, “Education: the key to national development.” “We will continue to embrace the Ministry of Education’s overarching goal which says to contribute employability and reduction of poverty by increasing performance at all levels and reducing the disparity between subgroups,” Douglas stated. According to the education officer, the district has seen recent improvement. At the National Grade Six Assessment Examination (NGSA) 1n 2018, the region obtained 61 per cent and 62 per cent in 2019 for English Language. In Mathematics, 39 per cent was gained in 2018 and this year the region received 40 per cent. Science results also saw improvement, while Social Studies was the only subject which showed a decline. “For CSEC, in 2018, we were at 44.8 per cent and in 2019 we are at 45.1 per cent. There was also an improvement there,” she said. These results, the REdO noted, are from students who gained passes in Grades One to Three, including Mathematics and English Language. Douglas said the Education

Department plans to build on this improvement. The REdO said the Department of Education has initiated work strategies and will be utilising all its resources to ensure results gained by students maintain a consistently high level at the end of each academic term. Also present at the launch was Regional Executive Officer (REO), Jennifer Ferreira-Dougall, who underscored the importance of education. “It helps in the reduction of poverty, boosts economic growth and increase income. Education can promote gender equality, reduce child marriages and promote factors like peace and economic stability which are all responsible for national development and progress in a country,” the REO explained. In his feature address, Assistant Chief Educational Officer Technical, Patrick Chinedu Onwuzirike, highlighted the importance of students’ involvement in Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET). He noted with the upcoming oil and gas sector and the direction the world is heading, those additional skills and knowledge will be an asset, since hundreds of jobs will be available in Guyana. The small ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting to open an exhibition of Indigenous arts and craft provided by several secondary school students across Essequibo Islands-West Demerara. This was held to mark both Education and Indigenous Heritage Month that are both being observed in September. (DPI)

oil wealth to restore free university education. The production of oil is set to commence in less than four months. The Public Service Minister said her department is still combing through the applications to ensure everyone is given equitable opportunities to study. She urged applicants to be patient during this time. “Because of the large number of applications, it is taking longer than we anticipated to go through all of

Minister of Public Service, Hon. Tabitha Sarabo-Halley (DPI)

those applications to ensure that persons who are deserving or would have met all of the requirements would receive those scholarships.” Meanwhile, Minister Sarabo-Halley said young Guyanese are also flocking the Bertram Collins College of Public Service. The college reported that it has received over 600 applications. However, only 60 persons from that total could be facilitated at this time. “Persons are flocking institutions because of the gov-

ernment’s investment and interest in the education sector. I see it as a good challenge for the government as we are moving into a different era. We recognise that the young people are hearing what we are saying and are responding to what we are saying,” she pointed out. The minister reminded that President Granger has been pushing for “a new public service.” The “shift”, she said, is happening. (DPI)

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Prepare to play a lead role …Min. Jordan urges Guyoil to realign for oil and gas industry

MINISTER of Finance, Winston Jordan, urged the Board and Management of the Guyana Oil Company to realign itself towards playing a role in Guyana’s oil and gas industry. Speaking on Friday at the launch of a new GUYOIL facility at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara, he urged the company to take advantage of the new business opportunities with the emerging oil and gas sector. “You all are aware, that the impressive developments in the petroleum industry in Guyana are attracting global attention,” he said. “Foreign investors on a daily basis are

coming to Guyana, as they seek to participate in the new oil discovery. As a company with many years of experience in the downstream value chain, GUYOIL must take advantage of new business opportunities that will arise, so that the company can benefit directly from the country’s oil sector,” said the minister. According to Jordan, GUYOIL must also prepare itself to move “beyond its current role of stabiliser of domestic prices,” towards participating in the re-distribution of the country’s oil wealth to the society, in general, when oil production

starts. “You must become an industry leader, going where others fear to tread, thereby helping the government to bring equity to the regions and communities. You will need to expand your facilities, build capacity and acquire new skills, where necessary,” urged the minister. Jordan said that increased economic activities have precipitated a significant rise in the number of vehicles entering the country. “The standard of living of Guyanese will continue to improve, as the country is poised for high and sustainable growth levels. This growth will translate

MINISTER of Finance, Winston Jordan

into more motor vehicles being imported for private and commercial purposes, among other things,” said Jordan. He noted that with the production of oil, the government’s plan is to diversify the economy, to develop the indigenous and new economic sectors, in order to avoid becoming heavily dependent on the petroleum resources. “These developments will have implications for the services offered by GUYOIL. Therefore, you should prepare adequately to respond to the changing needs of your customers” he said.

GYSBI has created 250 oil and gas jobs so far – Lars Mangal THE Guyana Shore Base Inc., an ExxonMobil contractor offering shore-based services to exploration activity in the Stabroek Block, has so far created 250 jobs – 96 per cent of which are filled by Guyanese. One of the key investors within GYSBI is TOTALTEC, the oilfield services company started by Guyanese Lars Mangal, a former high-ranking employee of world renowned oil and gas services company, Schlumberger. According to Mangal, TOTALTEC combined their international expertise with landowner and major local port operator, Muneshwer’s Ltd., and brought in other international partner companies

to create Guyana’s first integrated offshore logistics and supply shorebase; and the only facility dedicated entirely to serving the local oil and gas industry. He said that while the incredible growth of GYSBI is a historic achievement, “the tremendous impact of its people development is the achievement of which TOTALTEC is proudest.” He said that central and critical to this was the formation of TOTALTEC Academy, which was established in early 2018. According to the CEO, TOTALTEC Academy has developed programmes to international standards and have successfully trained over 250 young Guyanese for operational roles required by the

industry. He said TOTALTEC was able to successfully transition laid-off workers from the sugar, bauxite, and gold mining industries, providing them with new hope and future prosperity. “TOTALTEC’s Academy graduates are manpowered out to major operators in Guyana’s oil and gas sector such as Schlumberger, GYSBI, and Jaguar Oilfield Services, and other clients,” he said. He noted, too, that gender diversity is a priority in their recruitment, “and we are justifiably proud of the performance of our Guyanese females, who comprise 7% of our workforce – (a high percentage in the industrial sector in an operational capacity).”

Mangal said TOTALTEC has adeptly demonstrated the local knowledge and international expertise needed to forge successful and mutually beneficial partnerships for successful operation in Guyana. “GYSBI is an example of a successful partnership between Guyanese and international companies working together, and other examples include Jaguar Oilfield Services. The success of TOTALTEC Academy is driven in large part by TOTALTEC partnering with First Competence Ltd. of Aberdeen, which is an Approved Learning Centre certified by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA),” he said. He added that TOTALT-

EC has more recently formed a strategic alliance with MATPAL Marine Institute, to create the Maritime Safety Training Institute (MSTI) to offer IMO Certified training for seafarers. “This alliance provides new, integrated training programmes, geared to accelerating the development of a world class Guyanese workforce to participate in both the maritime and oil and gas sectors. These synergies would further benefit Guyanese young people, offering them a wider array of employment options, both onshore and offshore,” said Mangal.

PUC to hold public hearing --on new GTT billing format, other matters

THE public is invited to a public hearing to be conducted by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on September 12, 2019, in the Ballet Room of the Cara Lodge, on Quamina Street, Georgetown. At the forum, the watchdog body, will of its own volition and based on a complaint filed by one Mr.

Ramon Gaskin, conduct an investigation into the billing format of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), and other matters with or connected to the said issue. Relative to Gaskin’s complaint, the PUC, in a notice to GTT, a copy of which is on the PUC’s website, stated that Gaskin “indicated

that his bill (Invoice Number 46214055) received for the billing period May 01, 2019 May 31, 2019 was presented in a new format.” The Commission said that having examined a copy of the new bill, it has noted, with concern, that: “On the face of it, the telephone bill does not reflect an itemised list of (a) cellular calls, and

(b) overseas calls, which would have been itemised in previous bills, and afforded consumers the ability to check and verify their activities for the preceding month.” The PUC goes on to say that having realised that “this new format would have been disseminated to other consumers throughout Guyana,” they requested a response

from GTT. And in complying with that request, the PUC said, GTT advised “that effective May 2019, a new bill format was disseminated to residential customers living in and out of Georgetown. This bill provides a summary of all charges for the specific month that it refers.” GTT further stated, the PUC said, that customers wishing to see the

details of any/all bills can do so Online, and detailed the process that should be followed, while adding that customers who encounter any difficulty in registering for the Online access can contact the company for assistance. The company also offered Gaskin its sincere apologies for any inconvenience the charge may have caused.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

Two new schools commissioned in Region Seven REGION Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) Chairman Gordon Bradford announced Friday that the government is set to commission schools in a number of villages within the region. He made the observation at the commissioning of two spanking new schools in the said Region, one at Kamarang and the other at Paruima. Speaking at the commissioning of the school at Kamarang, Bradford said, “Your Regional Democratic Council, and by extension your government, will be constructing a new primary school just like this one, for the first time in the history of our country, in Eterinbang, where there is no school. “On this we would like to thank the Ministry of Education for its support in helping us to garner the funds, so that we can have that school there. “We have signed the contract, visited the area and turned the soil and the construction has begun for that beautiful school. All for the children’s education.” Speaking also at the commissioning was Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, who said, in not so many words, that the government is just getting started, “as more schools will continue to be built and commissioned around this country.” Noting that the construction of the schools at Kamarang and Paruima are in keeping with the Ministry of Education’s aim of ensuring equal access to education to everyone within the country, Minister Henry said: “The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Education, is on a mission to provide equal educational opportunities to

The ceremonial ribbon cutting to officially declare open the Kamarang Primary School

Minister of Education Nicolette Henry, handing over the key to the school’s Head teacher, Alex Crammer

Attendees at the comissioning ceremony at Kamarang

A cultural presentation during the commissioning ceremony

all Guyanese, and therefore schools are being built on the coastland as well as in the hinterland.” Touching on the rapid developments taking place in science and technology, Minister Henry said, “The world is now facing complex, new and emerging problems which we have never faced before, and so the global community and individuals are required

to find new solutions.” And in a veiled reference to the coming of ‘first oil’ in a matter of months, Minister Henry said, “Our country is about to experience significant changes in our socio-economic status, and to cope with these changes and to ensure that those changes result in the development of our society, we have to begin to build our human capacity

so that we can deal with complex problems, and that we could have the knowledge and the skills required. “Ultimately, this involves creating educational opportunities for every child in the country.” As she went on to say, “If a community is to improve its economic and social wellbeing, it needs people with the right experience; with the right skill set, and the right education to maximize the benefits for as many generations as possible.” Minister of State Dawn Hastings, who was also at the

commissioning, encouraged those children at the function to use all the opportunities for growth a sound education would afford them. “I implore you, take your education seriously. You have no excuse; you cannot say to me or any other minister in your government that you do not have a comfortable school building whereby you can sit and learn together.” She also spoke of the significant increase the region has been seeing in its budgetary allocation, particularly where the education sector is concerned, she

said this was one way of the government ensuring that hinterland communities are given equal opportunities to educate themselves. The two schools that were commissioned that day together cost the government a little over G$30M. And while the primary school at Kamarang is set to accommodate 163 pupils, they both come equipped with a library, a designated information technology area, and staff rooms to ensure the learning environment is as conducive as possible.

Jordan lauds Guyoil’s clean energy efforts demonstrated in new facility MINISTER of Finance, Winston Jordan, has lauded the Board and management of the Guyana Oil Company for supporting the government’s ‘green’ initiative as the state-owned corporation commissioned a new facility that is said to be fully solar powered The new lube bond and office facility which are located at the Providence, East Bank Demerara, were commissioned on Friday. Speaking at the commissioning of the facilities, Minister Jordan said that he had no doubt that this investment, while supporting the country’s long term development

strategy, will reduce the company’s expenditure, improve its profitability, and put it in a better position to make larger dividends and other transfers to the treasury. The minister noted that the commissioning of the facility is also taking place at a time when the government, in pursuit of its ‘green’ agenda, is putting together an energy plan with an appropriate energy mix, utilising solar, wind and hydropower, among other clean energy sources. He noted that the government is aware that low cost, reliable and affordable energy supply is critical to

economic growth and development, and has started to invest in renewable energy projects. “I understand that this building is 100 per cent solar powered, in keeping with the company’s strategic objective of ‘energy conservation in alignment with Guyana’s ‘green’ initiative’. Solar power ranks highly amongst the cleanest and most ‘green’ energy sources, since no pollution is created in the process of generating electricity. Evidence has also shown that although renewable energy requires upfront capital, it is one of the low cost energy options available, the most compelling

reason for its utilisation globally,” he said. Jordan said that while the company was a net contributor to the economy, there is some effort needed to overcome some declines in sales. “Unlike many of the commercial corporations that still shelter under the public umbrella, Guyoil has been a net contributor to the treasury. However, while this position is not threatened with reversal anytime soon, GUYOIL has faced some challenges, in recent times, that have had an effect on sales volume, sales receipts and the bot-

tom line. I know that the board and management will be working assiduously to reposition and realign the corporation as quickly as possible,” the minister said. “Be that as it may, I would like to applaud the Board of Directors and Management of GUYOIL for taking the initiative to go ‘green’. Transforming Guyana into a ‘green’ economy requires the support of all stakeholders, particularly key stakeholders like GUYOIL,” the minister said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

23 complete boat-building project in Baracara

IN a move which is likely to boost the transportation capacity of Baracara, Berbice, 23 members of the community recently completed a four-month boatbuilding project facilitated by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). The community lies 42 miles from New Amsterdam in the Berbice area and is only accessible by an hourand-a-half speedboat ride. According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), residents depend on logging and the cultivation of coffee, rice, and ground provision for their livelihoods. Boats are, therefore, a crucial means of transport in the daily lives of the Baracara inhabitants. The group of new boat-builders graduated on September 5, 2019. Board Chairman for BIT, Clinton Williams, in his remarks to those gathered, stated that the agency has, over the years, provided young people in all the regions

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott,(fourth left); CEO of BIT Richard Maughn; BIT Board Chairman, Clinton Williams (fifth left) and officials from the agency and regional representatives hand over the keys to the boat to community members (DPI photo)

across the country with vocational skills. He added that a total of 25,000 persons will be trained in various skills by the end of 2019. “Our mandate here at the Board of Industrial Training is to ensure persons who are school dropouts and from

depressed communities received the skills they need to start their own business or expand their education,” he said. Williams disclosed that in the near future, oil giant ExxonMobil will be collaborating with the Board of

Industrial Training to introduce similar boat- building projects to other riverine communities in Regions Two and Six. He added that this partnership meets the requirement for international companies entering Guyana to provide capacity-building

for citizens. He also added that due to the demands for skills development in the country, the Basic Needs Trust Funds has collaborated with BIT to finance five major projects valued at $180M to increase the number of skilled persons to fill the gaps. Speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Cassandra Amsterdam explained that she owns a small grocery shop in the village but decided to learn an extra trade after hearing about the project. “It was very beneficial; I learnt a lot and I am glad I didn’t just sit around but instead earned a certificate and learnt from scratch how to build a boat.” Claymont Amsterdam, a life-long resident of Baracara, applauded the government for the initiative. “All we know here is farming. So, when we have to take our produce to the markets, we would pay persons who own private boats to take us out. Now that we know how

Evacuees liken devastated areas to a war zone

NASSAU, Bahamas, Sept 7, CMC – Hundreds of evacuees were arriving in New Providence on Saturday from the devastated islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama with horror stories of dead bodies still not yet recovered and describing the devastated areas left by the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian as similar to a war zone. “People are confused right now, people are confused, people are angry, people are tired. We eat everything in this boat because there wasn’t no food. I had to leave my wife, my children, so many people laying on the ground in the mouldy house,” Lorenzo McKenzie, one of than 600 residents who arrived on a mail boat. He told reporters that while the water had subsided, the area looked like “Baghdad. “It looks like Desert Storm hit Freeport. Everyone taking their stuff out, throwing it outside, people try to salvage what they had, in Hawksbill it’s totally devastated,” he said. The government has warned that it expects the death toll to rise significantly than the 43 deaths recorded so far as search and rescue teams enter areas that had been devastated by the storm when

Hurricane survivors waiting to be evacuated in private boats at Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco

it hit the archipelago with winds in excess of 180 miles per hour (mph) last Sunday. In a statement issued on Friday night following a Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said that 35 people had died in Abaco and eight in Grand Bahama, the two islands hardest hit by the storm. Minnis said that the deaths were a stark reality the country faces following the storm and that with many

people still missing, the number of casualties will significantly increase. “The loss of life we are experiencing is catastrophic and devastating. The grief we will bear as a country begins with the families who have lost loved ones. We will meet them in this time of sorrow with open arms and walk by their sides every step of the way. “To those who have lost loved ones, I know there is absolutely nothing we can say

that will lessen your pain and loss. We offer you our shoulders to cry on, our prayers of comfort and our promise that your loved ones will never be forgotten,” Minnis said, urging the media and the country to respect the loss of life. Bahamasair has resumed service in Abaco and has started emergency relief flights into Marsh Harbour. But the airline said it would advise of emergency relief flights for Freeport as soon

as the all clear is given. The airline also said that all persons wishing to leave Abaco will be provided passage free of charge. The residents arrived here on three commercial boats and McKenzie told reporters that the level of death and devastation had left many people shaken and confused. He said also that Grand Bahama residents were expressing fear that the relief materials being sent to the islands

to build a boat, we can raise the funds to build our own boats from scratch and even into the business of boat repairs to bring in an income,” Amsterdam noted. Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott, urged the graduates to also seek self-empowerment which will add to the transformation of the Baracara community. “You are now able to build a boat, there will be no need to pay someone to do the job... this government purpose supports every Guyanese in every region, and with the government’s support, it is now up to you, the residents to work together and seek empowerment.,” Minister Scott added. A 30-foot boat was built by the participants of the training exercise; the material and engine were donated by BIT. The vessel will aid in the transport of their agricultural produce to the New Amsterdam Market.

Bahamas Hurricane would not reach those most in need. “People don’t have insurance. My sister sleep in an attic for four days over the bridge. A neighbour across the street, his wife died, people drowned, people dead. People dead in Freeport – this ain’t no joke,” an emotional McKenzie told reporters. Several psychologists and therapists have announced plans to launch a crisis management counselling initiative to provide assistance and support. Social worker and family therapist, Jenna Christie, told the Tribune newspaper that the initiative will help to stabilise survivors, give them a sense of control, and restore some level of normalcy and hope to their lives. She described crisis counselling as being crucial for survivors as having food and water. “It is of the utmost importance. A lot of persons look at the basic, tangible, physical items that they need, but they also need this,” she said. The Bahamas Red Cross has appealed for manpower saying assistance was needed to help pack and lift boxes, as well as to operate machines.

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Wabbani Décor: Giving the home that personalised look WABBANI, an interior décor company with a vision of promoting self-sustainability, has made its way into Heritage Village. Though just one year in the business, the company caused quite a stir while at the Village, attracting many to its booth, as it is well nigh impossible to pass by the elaborate designs without being drawn in and wanting to find out more. Programme Coordinator Shamir Khan gave quite an insight on just what the craft company is all about. He explained that many persons tend to look at certain items and say that they are lifeless or bland, but the craft company aims to show them that with just a little vision, everything can be beautiful. They work on creating hand-crafted pieces that would give the home a more personalised look; simple things like basketry inserts with a smooth finish, so persons could use it for their kitchen cupboards, cabinets and recessed doors. In addition to handwoven basketry, the company also makes cotton lampshades, cowhide chairs and stools; doors and tables made of ‘Mucru’, and knobs made of river clay. Khan said the idea behind the river-clay knobs is to use kiln-dried earthen materials to make modern, everyday items. “We have clay knobs. This is all made from river

clay; this is all hand-made as well. Eversley Austin from the Burrowes School of Art came and taught us how to prepare our clay; how to process it. And then he made us moulds, so now we can make more moulds, and more neat,” Khan said. The objective of the company, he said, is not only to share the talent of the persons in it, but to also develop the community in which they operate, and give persons there the opportunity to be able to develop themselves. “One of our missions is that the revenue generated can go back into the community that has been participating with us, for the collective benefit of us all,” Khan said, adding: “In our community, jobs are very minimal. A lot of persons in our community would leave and go out looking for jobs; many of them leave their families, and it puts a strain on the family. “So, right now, with the Wabbani jobs, we get to keep family together. Of course, we do not have the opportunity to help everyone, but those who are interested in craft, we accommodate as many of them as we can.” Wabbani, the company, has been in operation for just over a year, and has already been able to assist many of the families within the area to obtain gainful employment.

Sydney James’ reign at SOCU ends – Min. Ramjattan ALTHOUGH the contract of former embattled head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Sydney James has not expired, he will not be returning to the agency, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said. “I think his (James) contract has not expired but he is on administrative leave and somebody else named Althea Padmore has taken on his function. So, he is not going to come back,” the Public Security Minister noted According to Commissioner of Police, Leslie James the former SOCU head is ill and that has resulted in a delay in investigations into allegations made against him. “What I can tell you about Mr. James, I understand that he has fallen ill recently and we are following up on that. It is dependent on how soon he recovers from his illness, then we will continue speaking with Mr James. But as you know,

Former SOCU head Sydney James

there has been a designated Head of SOCU in the person of Ms Althea Padmore and there is a handover that is currently in progress, but Mr. James is currently sick,” the Commissioner noted. The former SOCU head was sent on administrative leave after a special audit had unearthed several instances of mismanagement of funds and falsification of documents at the entity. The audit was ordered by the Police Commissioner in February.

Wabbani River Clay knobs

Programme Coordinator of Wabbani, Shamir Khan

Wabbani wool Lampshade

Wabbani Handwoven Basketry insert placed on the Mukru table

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

AFC restates commitment to private sector development after meeting with PSC

Following a meeting with the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Friday the Alliance for Change (AFC) has reiterated its commitment to private sector development as means of creating jobs and opportunities for Guyanese people. The party said it also made known its willingness to work collaboratively with the PSC for the achievement of common objectives. The AFC team described the

Officials of the two bodies following the meeting

meeting as cordial and encouraging with a broad range

of topics discussed. The primary purpose of

the meeting was to seek the PSCs inputs on a range of

initiatives which the AFC is committed to further developing and pursuing. According to the party,

the meeting also discussed the current political situation in Guyana with the AFC repeating its stated position that it wished to see elections held as early as possible, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining public confidence is the process. The AFC also acknowledged in the meeting that a prolonged delay in the holding of elections would negatively impact business and investment in Guyana. The AFC said both organizations agreed to continue their engagement.

Coalition resurrected Integrity Commission – Harmon

DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, said the Integrity Commission was given a new lease on life under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government. “It was dormant for a long time before we came into office,” Harmon told reporters at the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday, in response to a question on whether government is willing to elevate the Integrity Commission to a constitutional body, and provide it with sufficient finance given recent complaints that its work has been stymied due to the shortage of funds. In responding to the question, the Director-General reminded that the commission was inactive for an extensive period, and it was the APNU+AFC Government that reconstituted the commission after it took office. “We have reconstituted that commission; we have provided them with the financial resources necessary for the work; we have provided them with facilities for the offices to do their work; we have guaranteed the independence of this commission,” Harmon explained. While noting that the Integrity Commission was the subject of a review in the past, the Director-General said because the government is operating in an interim mode, elevation of the commission to a constitutional agency is not an issue it can treat with at the moment. The Integrity Commission was reconstituted in February, 2018 when Kumar Doraisami was appointed chairman, and Pandit Rabindranauth Persaud and Rosemary Benjamin-Noble named Commissioners.

In June 2017, the Integrity Commission (Amendment of the Code of Conduct) Order 2017 was gazetted by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. In keeping with the 10 Principles of Public Life – accountability, dignity, diligence, duty, honour, integrity, loyalty, objectivity, responsibility and transparency – the order addressed issues of bribes, discrimination, gifts, conflict of interest, use of official influence, handling of classified information, use of public property, sexual misconduct and entertainment. The expansion of the existing Code of Conduct, the prime minister had explained, brings the Act in line with the legislation governing the State Asset Recovery Unit and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which states that employees of these state agencies must declare their assets in accordance with the Schedule II of the State Asset Recovery Act. The Integrity Commission Act was assented to on September 24, 1997. Public officers and positions listed under Schedule One of the Commission’s Act should disclose their financial assets and liabilities on or before June 30 each year. When a public officer ceases to be a person in public life, he or she should disclose his or her assets and liabilities to the Commission within 30 days from the date that individual cease to be a person in public life, the legislation states. In the past, the functioning of the Integrity Commission had been a controversial issue, though the previous administration had sworn in members in 1999. That Commission’s Chairman, Bishop Randolph George, resigned in 2006, and has not been replaced to date.

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‘Folk Festival’ in NY brings back nostalgia --sees more than 5,000 in attendance! APPROXIMATELY 5,000 persons, including First Lady Sandra Granger, attended the 2019 edition of the Guyana Folk Festival in Brooklyn, New York that was held under the theme, “Ma’iupe (working together) through the Festival Arts.” President of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc., Dr. Vibert Cambridge told the Buzz in an Online interview that the festival, held during August 25 to September 1, serves to reaffirm “our Guyaneseness” and provides an opportunity for old friends to meet up. The annual folk festival season features such signature events as: Caribbean summer workshops, an awards ceremony, ‘Kwe Kwe’ night, literary hang and symposium, and a family fun day. In 2019, a special event, called the ‘Valerie Rodway Centenary Concert’ was added. “As far as we know, there has never been a concert of this nature; a concert devoted entirely to the works of Valerie Muriel Rodway,” Dr. Cambridge said. Furthermore, a number of Guyanese who have contributed positively to the arts and to the development of the country were awarded. First organised by the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in the early 1980s, the festival has been held over the past 19 years, with the goal of showcasing the nature and scope of Guyana’s folk heritage. As of the year 2000, though, the Guyana Folk Festival in Brooklyn has been organised by the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. (GCA). The GCA is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation committed to promoting Guyanese culture. Their mission is to document, showcase and celebrate the multiple roots of Guyana’s cultural heritage. Through the annual festival and the programmes of the Guyana Arts and Cultural Centre, the GCA preserves cultural heritage, and makes it available to inspire future generations of Guyanese at home and abroad. According to Dr. Cambridge, the event also provides an opportunity for inter-generational dialogue, inter-ethnic interaction, showcasing and encouraging Guyanese creativity, cultural education, documentation of cultural heritage,

demonstrating Diaspora engagement, and sharing the wide diversity of Guyanese heritage and creativity with the host culture. Most of the events were streamed, and as of September 5, 2019, more than 17,000 persons had viewed these events Online, Dr. Cambridge told ‘The Buzz’. Overseas-based Guyanese Kunti Sharon

Richards especially appreciated the diversity that was present at the festival this year. “There were African singers as well as Indian music, and also dancers from Trinidad and Tobago,” she said in an invited comment with this publication. “It brought back nostalgia, and I was able to

meet some of my schooldays classmates from St. Mary’s School. I look forward to this event every year; experiencing the excitement of Guyanese culture, my roots,” Richards said. Meanwhile, the leadership of the GCA also includes Ave Brew-

ster-Haynes; Edgar Henry; Claire Ann Goring; Rose October-Edun; Maurice Blenman; Juliet Emanuel; Patricia Jordan-Langford; Eustace Stephens; Penny Bascom; Ronald Lammy; Claire Patterson-Monah; Verna Walcott-White; and Clive Prowell.

GCA President, Dr. Vibert Cambridge

The festival allows old friends to meet up There was diversity in the performances

Dancers from Tobago’s Roxborough Police Youth Club (Photos courtesy Dr. Vibert Cambridge)

First Lady Sandra Granger at this year’s festival in New York

Overseas-based Guyanese, Kunti Sharon Richards (right) with her pal, veteran Guyanese journalist Tangerine Clarke

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Local businesses taking ‘front seat’ in oil and gas sector -- winning work on and offshore By Navendra Seoraj A LITTLE over four years ago, the average Guyanese and even Guyanese businesses were unaware of the country’s oil and gas potential until May 2015 when ExxonMobil announced its first of now 13 discoveries offshore Guyana. Despite being unfamiliar, at that time, with the workings of the petroleum industry, Guyanese businesses, within a span of just four years, have taken a front seat in oil and

gas sector. Two years ago, only a few companies had started winning work in the sector and now Guyanese companies are winning work offshore. They are even working on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), said Director of the Centre for Business Development, Patrick Henry. “Guyanese businesses are working with prime contractors, winning work directly from Exxon and that just shows how quickly the busi-

ness community saw what an opportunity this was and how quickly they upskilled and invested and grabbed a share of the contracts and are continuing to grow with the sector,” said Henry during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle. Guyanese businesses have been contributing to the oil and gas supply chain which includes services such as transportation and even professional services ranging from lawyers, accountants and even auditors. The sec-

Director of the Centre for Business Development, Patrick Henry

tor also needs specialised services onshore to provide supplies, parts, chemicals and other inputs. Henry said all companies that won contracts in the sector are up to standard and there has been a big movement of businesses winning work. Most of the businesses, which won contracts, were able to get up to standard through assistance from the Centre for Business Development. “There has been a very rapid transition of the supply base in Guyana and very rapid transition of businesses to get to that level quickly, it has been impressive… Guyanese businesses deserve all the credit,” said the director of the centre. The demand on the centre, the amount of businesses going through, the continual interest and the amount of businesses winning work, not only shows the enthusiasm, but it shows that Guyanese businesses rose to the occasion. “It was a new industry, new opportunity, but they made an investment in staff, physical infrastructure and they are being rewarded with winning contracts based on those investments… I think the enthusiasm you can see is that the companies have been doing work, won work, winning more work and expanding, so it is exciting times to see,” said Henry. ON GOOD TRACK With businesses working both onshore and offshore, he said the private sector is well on its way to benefitting from the oil and gas sector. Though Henry credited the development to the businesses, the centre also deserves some credit for the technical and professional work it has done with those local businesses. The Centre for Business Development was established by ExxonMobil in 2017. It is managed by DAI Global. The mandate of the centre is to help Guyanese businesses broadly understand the oil and gas sector and join the oil and gas supply chain for ExxonMobil or prime contractors. “We have three areas of training and one IT (Information Technology) product called the Supplier Registration Portal that allows businesses to get information and get discovered by the sector,” said Henry. SUPPLIER REGISTRATION PORTAL The supplier registration portal was built by a Guyanese companies, Brainstreet and version 75. The portal allows Guyanese businesses to get on a system, put information about their business and allow the international prime contractors for Exxon

to access those businesses. The prime contractors pull locals on to bid lists and issues requests for expressions of interest. That portal was started in 2017 and today there are about 1,700 Guyanese businesses on that portal. According to Henry, the portal has a large group of businesses that are continually getting information about what is happening in the sector and they are making business decisions on whether they should compete for contracts. The portal updates businesses about contracts through texts and emails but soon the centre will be launching an app which will allow users to access information faster. Businesses can also access information through the traditional means such as seminars. The centre runs a series of three seminars called Introduction to Offshore Oil and Gas. During the seminar, businesses are taught what is happening 125 miles offshore Guyana, what is an FPSO and even how to make smart investment decisions. There are also two sessions called procurement for local suppliers and the point of those sessions is to give businesses an idea of how the oil and gas sector does procurement differently and how they get businesses to go through a pre-qualification process. Henry said the sector also has a big programme in health, safety, security and the environment. He said there is a big focus on safety, in the sense that the centre tries to ensure that local businesses put safety first. The programme teaches local businesses about the use of various equipment and how to conduct work in a safe manner so that everyone could get home safely. Then the centre does something else called ISO 9001 mentoring and that is focused on getting individual businesses up to an international compliance level. After the centre guides businesses to get up to that standard, they can easily jump into the oil and gas supply chain. “Through all these programmers, the businesses get a big overview of the industry, the requirements, how to get involved and what to do… then there is a certain segment of businesses that look at themselves and say I need to upgrade my financial management, human resource management system, inventory controls and supply chain management in order to get involved,” said Henry. Over 1,000 businesses have participated in the seminar and about 200 have been involved in longer courses which teach them how to upscale and upgrade staff and workers.

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Support for Guyanese affected by Hurricane Dorian

THE number of Guyanese affected by Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas is yet to be ascertained but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that it has a person on the ground to relay any information that becomes available. This is according to a representative of the ministry at a meeting at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Friday. The meeting was called to discuss collaboration at a national level to provide support to Bahamians and Guyanese living in the affected country. Director-General of CDC, Kester Craig, called the meeting to order in the presence of representatives of various organisations who stand ready to provide whatever support is needed. The Ministry of Presidency has designated the CDC to coordinate such efforts. Some of the organisations present were Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC), Red Cross, Digicel, the Guyana Police Force, and Ministry of Social Protection. The Government of the Bahamas issued an Im-

The representative from the Ministry of Health encouraged that a system be set up so that Guyanese here can report on their relatives in that country at the CDC. He also advised that persons going to help from here should ensure that they are covered with the relevant vaccines. The Department of Citizenship representative said

that department was on hand to provide help with replacement of important documents, and other services. UNICEF reportedly has a team on the ground, and a GWI representative said the water company may be able to help with sanitation, infrastructure repairs, and water quality. On Sunday, September

1, 2019, Hurricane Dorian, a Category Five storm, made landfall on The Bahamas at Elbow Cay, Abaco Islands, at approximately 12:40 hrs with 185 mph winds. The Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, which collectively have a population of approximately 76,000 people, have been severely affected.

The meeting to discuss collaboration at a national level last Friday

mediate Assistance Supplies List through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, specific support for the Water and Sewerage Corporation based on pre-impact data and needs analysis undertaken was issued through the National Emergency Operations Centre. The list includes wash needs (potable purified water, hygiene kits, and water pumps), shelter needs (tents, insect repellent, blankets), food needs (canned stuff, dried fish, and rice), health needs (health personnel) and reconstruction and recovery needs (portable generators, chain saws, outdoor lamps). Senior Response Officer at CDC, Salim October,

reported that the Bahamian Government has indicated its interest in financial donations primarily, as the length of time items may take to ship there might be too long. The CDC has set up a bank account # 651-993-8 to channel donations towards this cause, October informed, and cash donations are also being accepted at the office. Craig offered that it may be best to focus on providing assistance that may make the most impact so that efforts will not be duplicated. Furthermore, he noted that some amount of coordination can take place there because the entire country was not devastated; the capital is still intact.

Representatives of a number of organisations were present to see how best they can lend support

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Storm-hit Mahdia Primary to open Monday -- residents recall frightening moments of destructive wind

EVEN as residents recall the horrific scenes of Friday afternoon’s storm, efforts are underway to ensure that the Mahdia Primary School, which felt the brunt of the rainstorm, is ready for school on Monday. A team from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), along with Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, is in Mahdia in the Potaro-Siparuni where an assessment of the damage sustained during the storm is being undertaken. CDC head, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, noted in a Facebook post that the Regional Disaster Risk Management System has been activated in the town the freak storm visited. The storm blew away roofs of homes within minutes. Approximately 45 per cent of the zinc-sheet roof of the Mahdia Primary School was ripped off by the heavy winds.

that in all his life at the town, he had never experienced such a situation. Lorianne Ranjee, a resident of Mahdia, told the Guyana Chronicle that the situation was frightening for the few minutes that it lasted.

Another resident reported that a few houses were left without roofs while trees fell along the roadway linking the town with the coast. She said late Friday afternoon following the storm, passengers were left stranded after the

roadway was blocked by a fallen tree. “It was serious, someone said if it lasted an hour it could have been worst,” she added.

Regional Chairman, Bonaventure Fredericks; CDC Head, Lieutenant, Colonel Kester Craig; Regional Executive Officer, Mitzy Campbell and other officials access the damage done by the storm (CDC photo)

The CDC, through the regional mechanism, which was set up to provide first response during emergencies, has provided cleaning supplies, zinc sheets and other construction materials to facilitate urgent repairs to the structures.

Craig said fortunately, neither the pupils nor teachers of the school were injured in the incident. A woman, however, was medivaced to Georgetown for treatment. Harley Joseph of the Mahdia Town Council told this newspaper, on Friday,

Repairs being undertaken to the Mahdia Primary School (CDC photo)

Mabaruma mayor accused of ignoring government projects THE Mayor of Mabaruma , Chris Phang, has been ignoring projects for which funding was allocated through annual government subventions and he has also instructed staff to ignore the Acting Town Clerk. This is according to officials of the North West District town council who reported recently that the mayor has been displaying scant regard for projects which were conceptualized under the previous town council, especially those which are tied to the Green State agenda of the government. Recently, residents of Mabaruma told this newspaper that since being elected last year, Phang has shown no respect for government’s policies and regulations. Although the Town Clerk is responsible for the day to day administration of the council, critical information that would be useful to assist that official in carrying out her responsibilities, is often withheld by the Mayor, a councillor reported recently. Calls to the number provided for the mayor have gone unanswered. It was noted that Phang informed staff of the council to completely ignore the Acting Town Clerk, Maria Basheer, and that they should report directly to him since he accused the official of having ties to the APNU+AFC government. According to a PPP councillor, the Mayor has been abusing the seat of office which he holds. He said the mayor has been threatening workers attached to the town’s Community Infrastructure Im-

Mabaruma Mayor, Chis Phang and Deputy Mayor, Carolyn Robinson

provement Project (CIIP) with dismissal if, in his (Phang’s) opinion, they adhere to government policy or are seen as supporters of the government. Following last year’s Local Government Elections (LGE), the Opposition garnered more seats on the council and as such, controls the voting process whenever the council is tasked with making decisions on the town. Reports are that the previous council, which was equally shared in numbers by the government and opposition, had undertaken a number of projects in the town. Since he was installed as mayor, Phang has refused to acknowledge those projects which are tied to the Green State Agenda .These include a Green Park at Hosororo/Wanaina play field which was initiated by the previous council in collaboration with the Ministry of Communities. President David Granger had declared the park officially open in October 2017. In an attempt to change

programmes funded by the Ministry of Communities’ annual $18M subvention, reports are that the PPP-dominated council is crafting plans to pursue projects for which contracts are already guaranteed for supporters of the PPP/C, of which the mayor is a member. Tempers flared at Mabaruma recently when information revealed that a contract was awarded to a close relative of the Deputy Mayor of Mabaruma to carry out works on a playfield at the community of Thomas Hill. Persons in the area are upset that the project was not completed by the contractor and remains a white elephant although funds were fully paid to the contractor. Reports are that the functions of the Superintendent of Works are being absorbed by the mayor and recently , several months ago the official started to take aim at the Acting Town clerk after she made queries to several issues being undertaken by the council. Almost weekly, the mayor

has been issuing letters to the Acting Town Clerk and reports are that the mayor is peeved that contracts, the majority of which were previously awarded to associates of the Opposition party , are now being awarded in a fair manner. The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at Mabaruma usually awards contracts to the town council and according to an official there, this is viewed as an opportunity for the municipality to make a profit since it is the only form of income-generation the coun-

cil has at its disposal. The collection of taxes from business persons was floated by the previous town council as another opportunity for the council to gain funding for its projects, however, at last year’s LGE, the PPP campaigned on the promise that it will ensure that this does not occur. The Mabaruma town council has been operating on a deficit budget, and according to a town council official, while there were proposals from the previous council to change

this pattern, the current council appears not to be willing to find ways to make money to sustain itself. Phang has been criticized by residents for his inability to lead the council. They said that an incident several months ago, in which the mayor read the speech of Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, instead of his at a function in which a state facility at Mabaruma was commissioned, was a sign that the mayor is not equipped to lead the council.

Burn victim fighting uphill battle on road to recovery

By Navendra Seoraj

SEVEN-year-old Shania Persaud, who was severely burnt, is fighting an uphill battle on her road to recovery. “Shania has been fighting an uphill battle and despite her doctors’ incredible efforts to treat her extensive injuries, her wounds are not healing,” said the Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) Foundation in a post on Facebook. More than 90 per cent of Persaud’s body was burnt while she was trapped in her home in Mon Repos, which went up in flames on August 5, 2019. Persaud miraculously survived the fire by walking out of the house as it was burning. It was reported that she was cov-

Seven-year-old, Shania Persaud

ered in flames, but neighbours quickly went to her rescue. The child was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Little Shania was later flown to the US for further

treatment. The Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) Foundation and the Rotary Club of Demerara had took on the case to assist Persaud with getting treatment for the third degree burns which she sustained. SHEA had secured treatment for Persaud at the Shriners Hospital in Galveston, Texas. Doctors at the hospital, after trying everything possible, were left with no choice but to amputate one of her legs, a few fingers, and a section of her ear. “She also has internal damages that are difficult to treat. The doctors have given poor prognosis for recovery,” said the Foundation, urging that persons should keep the child in their prayers. The Foundation is unsure how long it will take for Persaud to be treated but they are prepared to stand by her.

Growing up Lokono SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 8, 2019

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--Looking back on his childhood with Dr. George Norton

By Wendella Davidson DR. George Norton, Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, is a Lokono by birth, one of the nine Indigenous Peoples native to Guyana; a peoples that we previously referred to as Arawak. An Ophthalmologist by profession, Dr. Norton is “the first of the last five of 10 children” born to Archibald Norton of ‘Caria Caria’, a little village within Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), and Marjorie Powley of the Upper Demerara village of Malali. The pair would subsequently settle at Riverview, another Upper Demerara community, where Dr. Norton and his nine siblings were born. In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Friday, Dr. Norton said that his father worked as ‘a squarer’ with various timber grants wherever work was available. What this meant, he said, is that his father, armed with a “broad-axe made of solid steel, and weighing between 10 to 12 pounds, would square logs into 12 x 12 timber to earn a living.” Being a ‘Squarer’, which is fast becoming a dying

Dr. George Norton, M.P., and Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport

breed these days, Dr. Norton said his father would be away from the home for about a month at a time, but always tried to make it back for two weeks, much to the delight of his children. He fondly remembers how, as children, he and his siblings would sit around their father and listen in fascination as he regaled them with the exploits of ‘Brer Nancy’, ‘Brer Rabbit’, and ‘Brer Tiger’, among other childhood favourites, to which he often added a few sing-along songs for good measure.

A mean storyteller, his father would also borrow a few phrases from the ‘Dutch Arawak’ dialect spoken by native Lokonos, to spice up his stories and further hold the interest of his children. According to Dr. Norton, his paternal grandmother was fluent in both ‘Dutch Arawak’ as well as English, and had it not been for his mother’s structured upbringing, he, too, would have been bilingual like his ‘granny’. So ‘correct’ was his mother, Dr. Norton recalled, that she insisted that his sister teach him to read standard reading books, thereby limiting his exposure to the ‘Dutch Awarak’ dialect. All he now remembers is what sounds like “Halacoba”, the ‘Dutch Arawak’ equivalent of ‘Hello’; to count from one to 10; and perhaps ask and answer a few simple questions like, ‘Where are you going?’ But, there is yet hope, he said, as with the news circulating that the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs is contemplating holding classes to teach the various indigenous languages, he hopes to be among the first batch of students. CITY LIFE After writing ‘Common Entrance’, as the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) was popularly known back then, Dr. Norton

was awarded a place at the prestigious Queen’s College, which meant that he had to leave his beloved Riverview. He described his move to the city as “a culture shock’, as he found it very difficult to sleep at nights, because of the noise from passing vehicles; something he did not have to deal with hitherto. He also had difficulty adapting to the different lifestyle, accustomed as he was to rushing to the river to take a bath and prepare for school; going to the farm, and generally being involved in rural community activities. But, as with everything else in life, he soon got used to it, and after completing his studies at Queen’s College, where he wrote and was successful at ‘A’ Levels, Dr. Norton would teach for a while, before heading off to Cuba, where he would enroll at the Superior Institute of Medical Science, graduating in 1984 with a Degree in Medicine, and later specialising in Ophthalmology. He fondly recalls that it was while in Cuba that he met his wife, `Sara’, who hails from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. That union bore two sons: George Jr. and Biniam, which in Amharic means ‘My right hand’. Happily, both boys, who now live in the US, would follow in their dad’s footsteps and also attend Queen’s College. Looking back, Dr. Norton said that his arrival in Cuba

was nothing short of “an ideological shock”, due to the Cubans materialistic way of looking at life. For instance, he found it quite strange that persons, even young children, would openly proclaim that they do not believe in God. Upon his return to Guyana, he first served as a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). POLITICAL INTEREST Speaking about his interest in politics, which he’d developed since before leaving Cuba, Dr. Norton said he’d always been an admirer of the late LFS Burnham, especially his philosophy. He’d also tended to read a lot about Socialism, so it came as no surprise when, in 1992, he became active in the political scene here. Currently the Vice- Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), and a Member of the Party’s Central Executive Committee, he once served as its Director of Hinterland Affairs. Besides his special interest in Sports, Youth and Culture, Dr. Norton is also a strong advocate for the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples. He entered Parliament in 2001, and has, ever since, been a vibrant representative of Amerindian Communities throughout Guyana. He

served in the Tenth Parliament of Guyana as APNU’s Shadow Minister of Public Health and Disease Control, and also served as Minister of Public Health from May 2015 up until January 2017, when he was appointed by President David Granger as Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport. Asked about his relation to the latter discipline, Dr. Norton said that as a youngster living in his native Riverview, it was second nature to be involved in sports. Even while at Queens’ College, he recalled, he was not only into distance running, but also played football. He also played a bit of football while living in Cuba, so much so that these days, it is a normal routine for him to run every afternoon from the Pegasus Hotel to the Mon Repos Market and back. He hopes to one day witness a Guyanese athlete mount the podium at an Olympic meet and claim gold for Guyana. He also has this burning desire to one day participate in the famous New York marathon, and be among the thousands of people running in the same direction. His wife, Dr. Sara Norton works as an ultrasonographist at the Woodlands Hospital in the city.

Republic Bank gets approval to takeover Scotiabank in Caribbean

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), in consultation with the ECCB Monetary Council, has approved the application for the transfer of the assets and liabilities of the Bank of Nova Scotia to the Republic Financial Holding Limited(RFHL) in several regional territories. According to a release, the Trinidad and Tobago-based bank has received the green light to take control of the operations of Scotiabank in Anguilla, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, pursuant to Section 43 of the Banking Act. Discussions on the future

of Scotiabank’s operations in Antigua and Barbuda are ongoing, the release said.

the Bank of Nova Scotia’s operations in ECCB member countries.

It was noted that the ECCB Monetary Council met on 6 September, via videoconference, to discuss the ECCB’s assessment of the Republic Financial Holdings Limited’s application to acquire

The ECCB undertook a review of the proposed transaction to assess Republic Financial Holdings Strategic Plan 2018-2020, its condition to support the operations of the acquired

banking business of Bank of Nova Scotia as well as all of RFHL’s subsidiaries. In addition, the implications for the stability of the ECCU banking system and the technical/human resource capacity of RFHL to effectively govern its subsidiaries across multiple jurisdictions were discussed. In completing its assessment, the ECCB consulted with the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT), RFHL’s home regulator. The ECCB is in the process of communicating the requirements for finalisation of the transaction between RFHL and BNS and will continue to monitor the process to ensure full regulatory compliance, the release stat-

ed. The ECCB believes that Republic Bank’s corporate banking record and its extensive network of correspondent banks will bode well for the ECCU banking sector. The ECCB said it is resolute about its mandate to protect the EC dollar and will continue to maintain high levels of foreign reserves while protecting the stability of the banking system. Citizens and residents in ECCB member countries are encouraged to stay abreast of developments in the financial sector. Days after an announcement was made regarding the sale of the bank in November 2018, the Government of Guyana said the sale of Scotiabank to Republic Bank is regretted

and raises concerns about an over-concentration of banking services, market domination and the ‘too big to fail’ risks, with the Trinidad-headquartered bank now in possession of 51 per cent of both assets and deposits of the banking systems. The bank, which has operated in the Caribbean since 1889, said that it would refocus its business in the region by selling its insurance operations in Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago to Sagicor Financial Corporation, with whom it said, it will partner to sell insurance products in those countries.

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SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Greyville 08:25 hrs Anuchke’s Wimgs 09:00 hrs Bella Bellarina 09:35 hrs Tweed Valley 10:10 hrs Caprera 10:50 hrs What A Thrill ENGLISH RACING TIPS York 08:50 hrs Clan Royale 09:20 hrs Passion And Glory 09:55 hrs Dakota Gold 10:25 hrs Convict 11:00 hrs vContrebasse 11:30 hrs Roulston Scar 12:00 hrs Blue Medici FONTWELL 09:40 hrs Glutnforpunishment 10:15 hrs No No Cardinal 10:45 hrs Chapmanshype 11:20 hrs Archimento 11:50 hrs Downloadtheapp 12:20 hrs Brooklyn Belle IRISH RACING TIPS Listowel 09:00 hrs A Wave Of The Sea 09:30 hrs Staratum 10:05 hrs Demi Plie 10:35 hrs Zola 11:10 hrs Wicklow Brave 11:40 hrs Ask Susan 12:10 hrs Lou Trek

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Zadran, Afghan fifties move Afghanistan closer to victory TEENAGE opener Ibrahim Zadran scored 87 on debut as Afghanistan put themselves in a strong position to win their one-off Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram. Replying to a first-innings total of 342 from the tourists, Bangladesh added just 11 to their overnight score and were all out for 205 after just 17 minutes of play on day three when Rashid Khan completed his second five-wicket haul in Tests. Seventeen-year-old Zadran and Asghar Afghan (50) enhanced Afghanistan’s lead with a 108-run stand for the fourth wicket and the tourists were 237-8 and leading by 374 runs when bad light stopped play after a power failure at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.Mohammad Nabi (3-56) clipped Taijul Islam’s off stump with the third ball of the day and Bangladesh’s first innings ended when Nayeem Hasan was unsuccessful with a

Ibrahim Zadran goes over the leg-side during his maiden half-century. (BCB) review after being trapped leg-before by Afghanistan skipper Rashid. Shakib Al Hasan (3-53) got the hosts off to a strong start when Afghanistan batted again, removing Ihsanullah (4) and Rahmat Shah (0) off successive balls in the first over. Afghanistan were 28-3 when Hashmatullah Shahidi (12) fell to Nayeem. However, Afghan and Zadran steadied the ship, the former

registering a half-century for the second time in the match, before clipping Taijul (2-68) to Shakib at leg slip. Bangladesh spilled three chances to remove Zadran and they were made to pay as the youngster racked up six fours and four maximums in a thoroughly impressive display. Mominul Haque eventually pouched him in the deep off Nayeem (2-61) and

Nabi’s final Test innings with the bat - he will focus solely on white-ball cricket after this match - saw him add just eight runs. Rashid scored 24 off 22 deliveries, finding the ropes six times in an enjoyable cameo, while Afsar Zazai (34 not out) and Yamin Ahmadzai (0no) were in the middle when stumps were called with Afghanistan very much on top. (Yahoo Sport)

Johnson’s unbeaten 154 leads GCC to commanding position ...

From back page

and quality bowling Jeetendra Sookdeo 44 from fast bowler Ron(3x6, 2x4) added 126 as aldo Alimohamed and the home team cruised teenage off-spinner early. Darrius Andrews. GCC’s dominance For UG, they were continued as teenager able to save face, led Mavindra Dindyal and by a fightback from the skipper also batted leg-spinner Omesh well together, but DanDanram and quality ram, who had taken fielding, after they all the wicket of Sookdeo, but imploded earlier in broke the partnership the day. when he had the youngTheir humiliating ster caught at point as experience in the midhe played an extravadle had left them all gant-looking shot. out for 47 in 21 overs. The leg-spinner, Former West Indies who bowled on both U-19 all-rounder Alisides of the wicket, was mohamed dominated able to nab two more the top order with 3-7 GCC’s Darrius Andrews (left) nabbed four wickets on his scalps, but GCC did not from six overs, while first-division debut, while teammate Robin Bacchus blasted need all that firepower, Darrius Andrews on his his way to 86 runs. as Johnson took confirst-division debut spun trol of the innings. His out the tail with 4-12 from five overs. Stephon Wilson stroke plays were crisp and spanking. He mixed aggression supported with 2-5 from six overs. with smart shot selections, which his opponents could not For UG, only one of their batsmen reached double defend. figures, Persaud on 10. At the close of play GCC were 357-8 from 69 overs, In their turn in the middle, former national cricketer, with a lead of 310. Johnson was not out on 154 (12x4, Bacchus, stormed his way to 86 after blasting six fours and 6x6) from 130 balls. At the other end, Andrews, who seven sixes. For the opening wicket, the 30-year-old and has so far faced 13 balls, is yet to get off the mark.

Scoreboard

AFGHANISTAN 1st innings 342 BANGLADESH 1st innings (o/n 194 for 8) Shadman Islam c Afsar Zazai b Yamin Ahmadzai 0 Soumya Sarkar lbw Mohammad Nabi 17 Liton Das b Rashid Khan 33 Mominul Haque c Asghar Afghan b Mohammad Nabi 52 Shakib Al Hasan lbw Rashid Khan 11 Mushfiqur Rahim c Ibrahim Zadran b Rashid Khan 0 Mahmudullah b Rashid Khan 7 Mosaddek Hossain not out 48 Mehedi Hasan b Qais Ahmad 11 Taijul Islam b Mohammad Nabi 14 Nayeem Hasan lbw Rashid Khan 7 Extras: (b-4, lb-1) 5 Total: (all out, 70.5 overs) 205 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-38, 3-54, 4-88, 5-88, 6-104, 7-130, 8-146, 9-194. Bowling: Yamin Ahmadzai 10-2-21-1, Mohammad Nabi 246-56-3, Zahir Khan 9-1-46-0, Rashid Khan 19.5-3-55-5, Qais Ahmad 8-2-22-1. AFGHANISTAN 2nd innings Ihsanullah lbw Shakib Al Hasan 4 Ibrahim Zadran c Mominul Haque b Nayeem Hasan 87 Rahmat Shah c & b Shakib Al Hasan 0 Hashmatullah Shahidi c Soumya Sarkar b Nayeem Hasan 12 Asghar Afghan c Shakib Al Hasan b Taijul Islam 50 Afsar Zazai not out 34 Mohammad Nabi c Mominul Haque b Mehedi Hasan 8 Rashid Khan b Taijul Islam 24 Qais Ahmad lbw Shakib Al Hasan 14 Yamin Ahmadzai not out 0 Extras: (b-4) 4 Total: (eight wkts, 83.4 overs) 237 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-4, 3-28, 4-136, 5-171, 6-180, 7-210, 8-235. Bowling: Shakib Al Hasan 16-3-53-3, Mehedi Hasan 12-335-1, Taijul Islam 24.4-5-68-2, Nayeem Hasan 17-2-61-2, Mominul Haque 10-6-13-0.

Injured Dwayne Bravo ruled out of CPL 2019

DWAYNE Bravo’s finger injury has ruled him out of the entire CPL 2019. Bravo, part of the Trinbago Knight Riders squad, was initially ruled out for “a significant part” of the tournament, and the franchise decided to appoint Kieron Pollard as the captain before the season got underway, due to Bravo’s expected absence. However, while initially expected to play some part at a later stage, Bravo confirmed that the injury was severe enough to rule him out of the tournament altogether. “The next aim for me is rehab to try to get my fingers moving again, it is going to be a long process ... I will back playing competitive cricket in about two months’ time,” Bravo was quoted as saying by the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Pollard, who like Bravo is from Trinidad and Tobago, will be turning out for his home franchise for the first time in the CPL. Trinbago have made a solid start to this edition, winning their first two matches. Barbados Tridents bring in Duminy and Lalor for Wahab and Imad Wasim, Former South Africa batsman JP Duminy and Australian fast bowler Josh Lalor are set to join Barbados Tridents for the 2019 CPL season. The pair will replace Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz and Imad Wasim, who had to leave for international commitments. Duminy, a veteran of over 300 international matches across formats, will be making his first foray into the CPL, having previously played in T20 leagues in India, Pakistan, England and South Africa. Lalor, a 31-year-old left-arm seamer, was one of Brisbane Heat’s standout players in the 2018-19 Big Bash League, claiming a hat-trick against Perth Scorchers and a five-for against Sydney Sixers. Lalor has an experience of 37 T20s for 42 wickets with an economy rate of 7.92. Tridents will open their season against Guyana Amazon Warriors today at the Providence Stadium. (ESPN Cricinfo).

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The Madholalls should be recognised in Essequibo for their sporting prowess By Elroy Stephney I was indeed impressed with the rapid transformation of the Reliance ground on the Essequibo Coast. In fact, an interim management committee (IMC) was established on the advice of former Essequibo Under-19 Inter-county batsman Ravindra Madholall, about two years ago on one of his regular visits to his homeland. The body was primarily tasked with reviving the sport in the village after many years of dormancy after the ground was abandoned and left to the mercy of stray animals. The Reliance Grounds Committee was then formed under the chairmanship of Trevis Simon. Immediately there was intent and a transitional phase began at the site. Historically, during the early 1990s, the older members had taken the decision to plant rice there which they did for one crop as a fund-raising venture - an act perhaps that has never been replicated in the world! Situated in Central Essequibo, the Reliance ground is now equipped with a main pavilion that can easily ac-

The Madholall siblings sharing a light moment commodate in excess of five hundred (500) spectators, washrooms for both males and females, a canteen and boundary ropes. The gated facility was also re-graded and more dirt was thrown to elevate the surface so as to negate flooding. It is now an amazing sight and significantly, fans, who have since gathered in large numbers, are equally thrilled by the atmosphere whenever matches are held, primarily on Sundays. It is no coincidence therefore that I am now advocating for the naming of the stands at the venue after the Mad-

holalls; a household name in Reliance and indeed across the country. I had great pleasure and lasting memories competing with and against the siblings namely Rovendra, Ravindra, the late Shivanandan and Narendra Madholall. Unquestionably, they have been the pride and joy of the little village including the late S.N. Lall, popularly known as Hamlet, who was their father. While there has been a significant interest to develop the game in the village, I believe it is an opportune time also to symbolically recognise those local heroes.

Henry Olonga takes ‘no pleasure’ from ex-president Mugabe’s death ZIMBABWE’S first black Test cricketer Henry Olonga, who was forced to flee the country after protesting against Robert Mugabe, says he takes “no pleasure” from the ex-president’s death. Mugabe died aged 95 on Friday. He was ousted during a military coup in 2017 following years of violent repression and economic ruin. “People have been saying perhaps I’ll have a drink as a toast, but I get no pleasure from his death,” Olonga said. “In fact, it makes me incredibly sad, because for all he could have represented, he failed to scale the heights of someone like Nelson Mandela. He became a megalomaniac, a power-hungry tyrant, a dictator and a man who subjugated his own people while purporting to be representing them.” Olonga, who now lives in Adelaide, Australia, wore a black armband in support of a pro-democracy protest in Harare at the 2003 Cricket World Cup, which was jointly

Henry Olonga playing for Zimbabwe against New Zealand in 2003 - one of his last matches for his country, aged just 26. hosted by Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa. He was joined by captain Andy Flower, and the pair issued a statement to journalists at the Harare Sports Club in which they denounced the “death of democracy” in their homeland. The action made headlines across the world - and effectively ended their international careers. Olonga was exiled from his homeland and faced death threats, fleeing to England and never playing for Zimbabwe again. (BBC Sport)

In retrospect, Rovendra Madholall was the darling of Essequibo fans as his attractive stroke-play was quite pleasing to the eye. He dominated club cricket on his way to achieving several records including the highest individual score of 179 at the inter-committee Under-19 level - a feat that had just eluded me after scoring an unbeaten 175 against Pomeroon almost two decades ago in a similar tournament. Such was the impact of Rovendra that gaining his wicket was always a prize and much delight for the opposition. Yet however he didn’t replicate similar success at the senior inter-county level though he played some invaluable innings, including an attractive unbeaten half-century to steer North Essequibo to a memorable victory against Albion in a national competition. He would later elevate himself to becoming a Guyana youth player and joining an elite few from Essequibo to have achieved such status. In contrast, Shiv Madholall’s flair as a left-handed batsman, his hostile bowling and athleticism in the field made him the most sought-after cricketer.

Rovindra (left) and Ravindra Madholall at an awards ceremony in Canada His affectionate personali- Shivnandan’s combination ty and strong sense of humour is now beginning to be manalso attracted keen attention ifested by their youngest in the dressing room. He was brother Narendra Madholall such an impact player whose whose left-handed elegance die-hard attitude made the along with his colossal presgame very special since there ence is quite amazing. was never a dull moment Ravendra Madholall, when Shiv was in action. on the other hand, was very He went on to wear na- stylish. His mental toughtional colours and was the ness made him a formidable first Essequibian to captain leader. He admirably led the President’s XI in the Re- the village to many titles. gional Under-19 champion- On my next visit therefore, ship held in Guyana in 2001. I would love to see portraits Unfortunately, Shiv per- of the Madholalls being ished at the blossoming age proudly positioned at the of 31 when most cricketers Reliance ground in recogwould have been at the height nition of their outstandof their game. ing contribution as well as His demise was a tre- the main pavilion being mendous loss to the cricket- named in memory of the ing fraternity. Rovendra and late Shivnandan Madholall.

Kane nets hat-trick as England romp past Bulgaria By Martyn Herman LONDON, England (Reuters) - England’s serene progress towards Euro 2020 continued as captain Harry Kane grabbed a hat-trick in a 4-0 demolition of Bulgaria in Group A at Wembley yesterday. Kane opened the scoring after 24 minutes and struck home two penalties after the break as well as providing the assist for Raheem Sterling to get on the scoresheet. The Tottenham Hotspur striker’s second hat-trick for his country took his tally to 25 goals from 40 appearances and put him ahead of 1966 World Cup final hero Geoff Hurst on the list of alltime England scorers. Gareth Southgate’s side have now scored 14 goals in their opening three Group A games and lead the table with nine points from Kosovo (8) who beat the Czech Republic 2-1 earlier on. England host Kosovo for the first time on Tuesday when another victory will leave them looking virtually assured of reaching next year’s tournament that culminates on home soil. It was not a perfect display by England with Bulgaria having three good chances, one when the score was 0-0, but England proved far too strong as they left the visitors languishing at the bottom of the group with two points from five games. “First half, we got caught on the counter a couple of times. We said at

England’s Harry Kane celebrates scoring their fourth goal to complete his hat-trick at Wembley Stadium, London. (REUTERS/David Klein) halftime we needed to try and come out and get an early goal and that’s what we’ve done,” Kane said. “It’s a good result we hope to take into Tuesday.” Bulgaria had never beaten England in 10 previous encounters, scoring only twice, and despite starting reasonably solidly and having the game’s first chance through naturalised Brazilian Wanderson, they were the architects of their own downfall. The expected home onslaught had failed to materialise in the opening

quarter but England were gifted the lead. Southgate would have been concerned by some slackness in his defence and Galin Ivanov wasted a great chance to head his side level when he was picked out by Ivelin Popov’s cross. Shortly after the break Wanderson was played in and his fierce effort from a tight angle was saved by Jordan Pickford. Stung, England immediately counter-attacked and Marcus Rashford was sent clear and as he turned back inside in the area he was tripped by the sliding Nikolay Bodurov. Kane dispatched the penalty with ease and six minutes later he teed up Sterling to score off his thigh from close range. With the points in the bag England sent on Chelsea youngster Mason Mount for his debut while Jadon Sancho also got some game time as he replaced Sterling with 20 minutes left. Kane was also given a breather but not before he had earned and converted his second penalty in the 73rd minute after being hacked down by Bulgaria substitute Kristian Dimitrov. Kosovo have emerged as the unlikely closest challengers to England in the group and will arrive at Wembley in good heart after goals from Vedat Muriqi and Mergim Vojvoda secured their victory over the Czechs in the day’s other Group A game. Patrik Schick had put the Czechs ahead.

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Nadal battles past Berrettini to reach U.S. Open final

Rafael Nadal has now made three Grand Slam finals this year, previously losing at the Australian Open before winning his 12th French Open By Rory Carroll NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal moved to the brink of a 19th career Grand Slam title on Friday by beating Matteo Berrettini 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-1 to reach the U.S. Open final. Nadal put pressure on the underdog Italian’s serve from the start but Berrettini saved six break points to set up a first set tie-breaker. Berrettini raced out to a 4-0 lead thanks to some uncharacteristically sloppy play from the Spaniard and the 23-year-old had two set points at 4-6. But Berrettini suddenly got tight and Nadal took advantage, wearing

him down in the extended baseline rallies and capturing the set when the Italian sent a forehand long for his 20th unforced error, leading Nadal to let out a roar. Nadal broke Berrettini on his 10th opportunity to take a 4-3 lead in the second set and cruised to the finish, absorbing Berrettini’s powerful forehands and redirecting them to his weaker backhand side to see off the first time slam semi-finalist. “The first set was a little bit frustrating because I had a lot of break points and you don’t want to be in a tiebreak against a player like Matteo,” Nadal said. “I survived that moment and finally

I had the break ... I think I started to play with more calm and was more aggressive. “I just tried to stay focussed on the next point.” Nadal tipped his hat to the 24th seeded Berrettini, who came through several epic battles to reach the semis in New York. “He’s young and he has everything,” he said. “He’s already one of the best players in the world.” Next up for Nadal is a showdown with big-serving Russian Medvedev, who was a straight sets winner over Grigor Dimitrov earlier in the day. The pair’s only previous meeting took place in the final of last month’s Rogers Cup in Montreal, where Nadal was a 6-3, 6-0 winner. “He’s one of the more solid players on tour,” Nadal said of the 23-year-old, who will be appearing in his fourth consecutive final and first at a Grand Slam. “He’s taking steps forward every single week, having an amazing summer. I need to be playing at my best. “As always in a Grand Slam final you can’t expect an easy opponent.” Victory in today’s final would leave Nadal just one Grand Slam shy of Roger Federer’s men’s record of 20.

Felix wins on return 10 months after giving birth U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix marked her return to international competition 10 months after giving birth by winning the Great North City Games 150m. Six-time Olympic champion Felix, 33, beat Britain’s Ashleigh Nelson and Beth Dobbin in 17.37 seconds in Stockton. Richard Kilty won the men’s 100m in 10.57secs on a track built on the town’s high street, in an all-GB field. Britain’s Abigail Irozuru secured the women’s long jump title while Eilish McColgan won the women’s mile. It was a British U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix clean-sweep in the men’s 150m, with Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake’s time of 15.43secs enough to edge out Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Kilty who was racing in his hometown. Meanwhile, in the Tees Valley, Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock edged Germany’s Felix Streng in the men’s IPC 100m in 11.53secs, with Greece’s Michail Seitis taking third. GB’s Sophie Hahn won the women’s IPC 100m race, beating Netherlands’ Marlene van Gansewinkel and team-mate Sophie Kamlish. (BBC Sport)

Man of many faces, Medvedev now a Grand Slam finalist By Amy Tennery NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - Will the real Daniil Medvedev please stand up? Medvedev, Russia’s mercurial 23-year-old breakout star of Flushing Meadows, was until this year an unknown quantity but now looks capable of beating

anyone. The crowd-goading villain turned contrite everyman, Medvedev is a man of many faces so it came as little surprise when a reporter at a media conference on Friday accidentally called him by the wrong name. After reaching his first Grand Slam final with a

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Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) (2)

Guyana Amazon Warriors Kary Pierre (TKR)

(1) (2)

Who is the Guyana Amazon Warriors head coach? Who is the Warriors manager?

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straight-sets victory over Grigor Dimitrov on Friday, it is unlikely anyone will make that mistake again. Medvedev, who has won 20 of his last 22 matches across four tournaments, has barely had time to reflect on what he has achieved over the past couple of months. “This summer’s been ... so fast and long at the same time. Long because I’ve played so many matches,” said Medvedev. “At the same time so fast because ... I didn’t have any moment to just sit down and look back and say, ‘Okay, I’ve done amazing things.’” Among those amazing things, Medvedev hoisted the trophy at Cincinnati, a tournament that saw him topple 16-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic before beating David Goffin in the final. His Grand Slam record has been tougher to rec-

oncile. After reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open he crashed out in the first round at Roland-Garros before exiting Wimbledon in the third. “This year I lost two really tough five-setters, at Roland-Garros, leading 2-0, having a break in the fifth,” Medvedev said. “Wimbledon, having a break in the fifth. I lost them, but it’s a great experience to know how it is to not let this happen again.” ‘THE DEMONS GO OUT WHEN I PLAY’ Early on at the U.S. Open, the fifth seed embraced his role as the guy everyone loves to hate. His on-court antics, which included angrily snatching a towel from a ballperson and showing the crowd the middle finger, have cost him $19 000 in fines.

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev Facing a hostile crowd after his third-round win over Feliciano Lopez, Medvedev dished it back, telling spectators he “won because of you”, goading the jeering masses in the style of an oldschool wrestling heel. Medvedev then changed tact after his quarter-final win over 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka, telling the crowd, “I have to say sorry guys, and thank you.” After clinching his U.S. Open final berth, Medvedev reiterated a simple goal he has made for himself during the tournament: Try to be a better person. “I actually have no idea

why the demons go out when I play tennis,” said Medvedev. “I was working hard because every time I do something wrong on the court, I’m sitting with myself, I’m not like this in normal life. Why does it happen? I don’t want it to happen like this.” He will need the crowd on his side in today’s final when he faces Rafael Nadal, who pummelled him at the Rogers Cup. “Talking about Rafa, it’s tough to find words,” said Medvedev. “He’s one of the greatest champions in the history of our sport. He’s just a machine, a beast on the court.”

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Australia smell victory as England left needing another miracle By Simon Evans MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Australia took a giant step towards retaining the Ashes in the fourth Test at Old Trafford yesterday after they left England needing 365 runs to win with eight wickets remaining heading into the final day. After declaring their second innings on 186-6, with a lead of 382, thanks to yet another outstanding innings from Steve Smith, who made 82, Australia heaped the pressure on England with two wickets late in the day. Pat Cummins grabbed two wickets in two balls to leave Joe Root’s side reeling, before the hosts regained some composure to reach 18-2 at the close. Australia were the better side in all three departments with Cummins, Josh Hazle-

wood and Mitchell Starc all troubling England and benefitting from sharp catching, but it was once again Smith’s batting that proved a class apart. On a day in which every other batsman struggled to cope with good length pace

bowling, Smith, who has now compiled nine straight half-centuries against England, looked utterly unfazed. “None of us expected the innings Smithy went out with, he was incredible. We’d have

Stuart Broad had his off stump ripped out the ground by Mitchell Starc. (AFP)

Perez, Singh blast centuries as DCC dominate Diplomats RAYMOND Perez and Sachin Singh propelled home team Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) to emphatic opening-day dominance over Diplomats Sports Club yesterday in their GCA/Noble House Seafoods second division encounter. The top order batsmen blasted centuries as they dismantled the visitors’ bowling attack to swing the pendulum early in the two-day clash. Perez finished with 192, while Singh scored 115 to push DCC to a whopping first-innings score of 389-4 off 59 overs. In reply, Diplomats closed the day on 61-1

DCC century-makers Sachin Singh (left) and Raymond Perez. from 18 overs. For Perez, the knock was his highest in any form of cricket. He proved the aggressor in the middle after joining Singh when DCC lost opener Brandon Jaikaran for 26 (5x4). The 20-year-old laced the boundary early in his innings. His positive stroke plays kept the runs flowing. He and 17-year-old Singh, who has been a dominant force at this level at home, batted Diplomats into near submission. When Singh fell for 115 (15x4, 2x6), Perez unleashed a plethora of sixes which skyrocketed his total. Unfortunately, like Singh, he too fell attempting a big shot. His 192 included 18 fours and 11 sixes. Shemar Yearwood finished with 20 not out (3x4) before the home team declared. In the middle, Diplomats lost S. Hughes for five, while D. Bobb retired hurt on six. M. King and R. Mohamed who have somewhat settled at the crease with scores of 18 (3x4) and 19 (3x6) respectively will look to increase their scores when play continues this morning.

been happy to get through the night but Smithy was unbelievable,” said Cummins. Victory for Australia, who bowled England out for 301 early in the day, would ensure they retain the urn, taking a 2-1 series lead into the final Test at The Oval next week. Although England’s astounding comeback win in the third Test at Headingley will give them some hope, the winning target looks well

out of reach for the hosts who must hope they can somehow bat through the day. “I think we can do it. We’ve had a chat in the changing-room, we’re certainly not going out thinking it’s all over. There’s no use playing at this level (if you don’t),” said England coach Trevor Bayliss. “They believe they are good enough to bat for 98 overs and save the game.” Australia had half an hour at the end of the day to attack England’s top order and paceman Cummins had instant success. With the third ball, Rory Burns found a leading edge and looped his shot to Travis Head at mid-off and then, with the next ball, he cleanbowled England captain Root. Jason Roy kept out the hattrick ball and England made it to stumps with no further casualties. EARLY INROADS Though Australia had a first-innings lead of 196, Stuart Broad again caused them early concern, trapping David Warner lbw for a duck - the third successive time he has dismissed the left-hander without scoring. Marcus Harris was also leg-before to Broad, failing with his review attempt, and when Marnus Labus-

Steve Smith celebrates reaching 50 again. (PA photos)

chagne was trapped in front by Archer, Australia were wobbling at 24-3. There was no debate about Travis Head’s departure, as Jofra Archer sent his middle stump flying but, once again, first-innings double-centurion Smith took charge. Matthew Wade made 34 in support and then captain Tim Paine added 23, while Smith moved within sight of becoming the first batsman to score a double-century and a ton in an Ashes encounter and only the eighth to do so in any Test. Yet he mistimed a big shot off spinner Jack Leach, which was pocketed by Ben Stokes in the deep, to depart for 82 off 92 balls, another

superb innings decorated with 11 boundaries. Earlier England narrowly avoided the follow-on after they were bowled out for 301, leaving Australia with an imposing lead. Their innings crumbled thanks to a fine combined effort from Australia’s pace attack with Hazlewood ending with four wickets while Starc and Cummins picked up three each. Starc amply justified his inclusion for this Test with the key breakthrough wickets after England resumed on 200 for five, removing Jonny Bairstow (17) and Ben Stokes (26). Jos Buttler offered some resistance with his 41 before he was bowled by Cummins.

Webster, Narine take down Tallawahs despite Russell fireworks PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Opener Tion Webster struck his maiden Twenty20 half-century while Sunil Narine fashioned a strong all-rounder performance as reigning champions Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) won their second match in as many outings with a 22-run victory over Jamaica Tallawahs here Friday night. Sent in at Queen’s Park Oval, TKR rallied to 191 for four with Webster anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 66 off 49 balls while Narine lashed a whirlwind 46 from 22 deliveries. Captain Kieron Pollard came late to stroke 33 not out off 21 balls as the hosts gathered 47 from the last five overs without surrendering a wicket. In reply, New Zealander George Worker struck an unbeaten 46 off 33 balls but it was West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell who lit up the venue with 44 off just 24 deliveries. Captain Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton chipped in with 28 apiece but off-spinner Narine (2-23) and New Zealand seamer Jimmy Neesham (2-27) stifled Jamaica’s run chase, leaving the visitors with defeat in their opener. For the second game in a row, TKR were off to a weak start when Lendl Simmons played down the wrong line to left-arm spinner Christopher Lamont and was bowled for 11 with as many on the board in the second over. However, Narine then launched a pun-

ishing counter-attack, crunching four fours and three sixes in a 74-run, second-wicket stand with Webster who counted seven

Tion Webster made his first T20 fifty (Getty Images) fours and a couple of sixes. The left-handed Narine was racing towards his seventh T20 half-century when he was deceived by a slower ball from seamer Shamar Springer and holed out in the deep in the ninth over.

And when Neesham (6) pushed a return catch to off-spinner Steven Jacobs in the next over at 93 for three, TKR were beginning to stumble but two healthy partnerships allowed them to regain their momentum. First, Webster put on 47 for the fourth wicket with Denesh Ramdin whose 21 required only 16 balls, before adding a further 51 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand with Pollard who hit four fours in his knock. Narine then set back Tallawahs early in their run chase when he bowled New Zealander Glenn Phillips for six in the third over with 15 on the board. Gayle attempted a counterattack, blasting three sixes in his 20-ball stay at the crease but perished in the sixth over when he skied pacer Ali Khan to deep mid-wicket. Rovman Powell also fell cheaply for one, two overs later, before Worker and Walton added 49 for the fourth wicket to prop up the innings. However, by the time Walton found Neesham at long-on trying to dispatch Narine at the end of the 13th over, Tallawahs were in dire straits at 93 for four and in need of something special to get the 99 required from 42 balls. Russell then teed off, bludgeoning four fours and as many sixes as he dominated a 67-run, fifth-wicket stand with Worker. However, his charge came too late as Neesham made telling blows at the death.

Bianca becomes Canada’s first-ever Grand Slam champion … beats Serena Williams in gripping final

Bianca Andreescu kisses the US Open trophy after beating Serena Williams in straight sets. (Getty Images)

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EENAGER Bianca Andreescu stunned Serena Williams in gripping US Open final to claim a first Grand Slam title and deny the American a 24th major. Williams, 37, did not cope with the 19-year-old’s quality in a 6-3, 7-5 loss. Canadian Andreescu, in the main draw here for the first time, lost a double break in the second set before taking her third match point and falling to the ground in disbelief. “This year has been a dream come true,” Andreescu told the crowd. “I am beyond grateful and truly blessed. I’ve worked really hard for this moment. To play on this stage against Serena - a true legend of the sport - is amazing.” To the disappointment of a stunned home crowd, Williams has now lost four successive major finals. “Bianca played an unbelievable match,” Williams said. “I’m so proud and happy for you, it was incredible tennis out there.” Williams, seeded eighth, looked edgy throughout as she aimed to match Australian Margaret Court’s tally of all-time major wins, handing over three of Andreescu’s five breaks of serve with double faults. By contrast, 15th seed Andreescu played with the confidence which has marked her out as a star in a stunning breakthrough year. She is the first Canadian to win a tennis major and the first teenager to win a Grand Slam since Maria Sharapova claimed the 2006 title at Flushing Meadows. Andreescu kept her nerve to take a third match point with a forehand down the line, dropping her racquet to the ground and then, after a warm hug with Williams, lay on the court with her arms spread out as she contemplated her achievement. After returning to her feet, she used a hastily-arranged step ladder to climb into her player’s box and embrace her nearest and dearest, including parents Nicu and Maria. Before the match, Andreescu said if someone told her 12 months ago she would be facing Williams in the US Open final she would have thought they were “crazy”.

Tellingly, in a sign of her unwavering confidence, she said she would not have felt the same if they told her the same thing a fortnight ago. Twelve months ago she lost in the first round of qualifying at Flushing Meadows and was ranked outside the top 200 in the world. But she has become the most talked-about young player on the planet following a remarkable rise this year. Andreescu, whose Romanian parents Nicu and Maria migrated to Canada in the 1990s, had only played six tour-level matches at the turn of the year. Since then she has won prestigious WTA Premier title at Indian Wells and Toronto, rising to 15th in the world as a result, and raking in of £1.79M of her £1.97M career prize money. Now she will rise to fifth in the world and take home another $3.85M (£3.13M) after this success. Andreescu was fearless throughout her maiden Grand Slam final and unfazed by the occasion of playing an American icon on the biggest tennis court in the world. ‘ANDREESCU IS THE REAL DEAL’ – REACTION Tennis great Billie Jean King: “Congratulations to Bianca Andreescu on winning her first major title at the #USOpen. She is Canada’s first Grand Slam singles champion! The Future is now. A phenomenal effort by Serena Williams, until the very end. 2019 Cincinnati Masters champion Madison Keys: “Congrats Bianca Andreescu on your first Grand Slam. So happy for you! Always a fighter, always inspiring - win or lose - Serena Williams. Such a great match to watch.” Wimbledon champion Simona Halep: “Congratulations Bianca Andreescu on an amazing performance and your first Grand Slam! Romania is very proud of you.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: “Congratulations Bianca Andreescu! You’ve made history and made a whole country very proud.” (BBC Sport)

… Bacchus, Johnson’s unbeaten 154 leads Andrews and GCC to commanding position Alimohamed also also shine shine against UG … Bacchus, Andrews and Alimohamed Leon Johnson was spectacular in the middle.

NATIONAL captain Leon Johnson delivered a masterful century as the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) placed themselves in a commanding position against the University of Guyana (UG) on the opening day of their 2019 GISE/Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall First Division en-

counter, yesterday at the Bourda ground. Although Johnson dominated the clash with an unbeaten 154, there were a number of other standout performances, including a half-century from opener Robin Bacchus See page 28

Injured Dwayne Bravo ruled out of CPL 2019 See story on page 28

Dwayne Bravo ruled out for the entire CPL 2019 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019