Guyana Chronicle Epaper 11-10-2019

10th November, 2019

HAPPY

Youman Nabi To all Guyanese

’

More resources to power up villages No.105817

… President unveils four-point plan to help Victoria lead revival of village movement

PAGE

03

Thousands thronged the Victoria Community Centre Ground Saturday night for the village’s 180th Anniversary during which President David Granger unveiled a four-point Village Improvement Plan for the community (Carl Croker photo) Partners and media operatives signing the banner to indicate their commitment to joining the campaign to bring awareness to road safety (Adrian Narine photo)

APNU objects to 93 Father of six dead persons on 15 killed in Timehri voters list in Region 5 hit-and-run 22 PAGE

PAGE

WPA frowns on critics

PAGE

02

… says would not be blackmailed into leaving coalition

2

WPA frowns on critics

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

… says would not be blackmailed into leaving coalition … recommits to ideals of government of national unity

THE Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has said it will not be blackmailed into leaving the coalition, noting that APNU+AFC is the only avenue right now to a genuine government of national unity and reconstruction.

In a statement on Friday, WPA said it has noted the cheap criticisms of it on the issue of Dr. Walter Rodney and the WPA’s membership of the APNU and the APNU+AFC Coalition. “WPA frowns on those who have sought to use Rodney’s name for cheap political gains.

Rodney has, in death, become a plaything for a group of political hypocrites. Many who today sing praises to Walter Rodney never joined

his cause when he was alive or in the difficult period following his assassination.”

The party said some had dismissed him as an adventurist while others taunted him as an “ultra-leftist and a “Black Intellectual.” According to the WPA, the then leader of the PPP, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, went as far as telling supporters that Rodney promised Guyana a Christmas present, but they instead got his body on a platter. “These same people today maliciously try to tie WPA’s membership of the APNU and the APNU+AFC government to a fictitious betrayal of Walter Rodney and our party’s core principles. They have made that line part of their narrative aimed at breaking up the coalition.”

“WPA will not allow its critics to misrepresent what Rodney stood for. We wish to remind Guyana that in 1979 Rodney was one of the key architects of the WPA’s

proposals for a “Government of National Unity and Reconstruction,” which was aimed at putting an end to one-party governance. He spent a lot of time on the political platform arguing for mass support for such a government.” The WPA said that at that time it did not see a role for the PNC in such a government on the grounds that it was not a democratically-elected government.

“But, in 1985, Brother Eusi Kwayana, on behalf of the WPA, announced that our party would join the PNC in a unity government if that party agrees to free and fair elections. As we know, the PNC in 1990 in negotiations with the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy, which included the PPP, WPA, the DLM and other forces, under the mediation of President Jimmy Carter, agreed to free and fair elections,” the party stated.

According to WPA its

The Working People’s Alliance says its role in the current election campaign will be more visible movement, therefore, to- could bring the desired heal- asserted. wards partnership with other ing that our country cries out NATIONAL political forces with which for. But in the meantime, we RECONSTRUCTION they differ ideologically and are prepared to work with all Additionally, the politically is consistent with forces that are committed to the Rodneyite principle of incrementally work towards WPA said it has not joined any party; but national unity and reconcil- that end. iation. “WPA continues to We see the APNU and rather joined with other believe that ultimately only the APNU+AFC as avenues parties in pursuit of one a broad-based government to a genuine Government of the core principles of of all political forces under of National Unity and ReSee page 13 a power sharing government construction,” the WPA

More resources to power up villages

3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

… President unveils four-point plan to help Victoria lead revival of village movement

By Navendra Seoraj and Naomi Paris PRESIDENT David Granger on Saturday night said his administration will devote greater resources to finance Village Improvement Plans (VIPS) and has also committed to helping Victoria, East Coast Demerara once again lead the revival of the Village Movement here.

President Granger made the commitments while addressing a massive gathering at the Victoria Community Centre Ground as the residents there celebrate 180th Anniversary of the villagethe first bought by freed slaves. Enriched with dramatic cultural items which recaptured the scenes of the village first known as Northbrook, the large gathering was well entertained throughout the three-hour long programme.

Also in attendance were several ministers of gov-

ernment including Minister of Public Security who is performing duties of Prime Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan; Fourth Vice President, Sydney Allicock; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, who is also Chairman of the Village Day Committee; Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally; Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan; Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Karen Cummings.

Seizing the moment, President Granger congratulated the village for staying the course. “Guyanese will be forever grateful to Victoria – the great grandmother of all villages. We acknowledge that we are all the offspring of the Great Village Movement which Victoria started 180 years ago on 7th November 1839.”

President Granger said this anniversary touches everyone

in Guyana. “Victoria lit the flambeau that enlightened us to the dream of equality of all people, the prospect of economic prosperity and to the true meaning of liberty from enslavement.” He said the village showed how ordinary folk, with little education, scant savings and meagre means, could transform their conditions of life and-led the way to becoming a model for economic self-sufficiency and democratic empowerment.

To this end he committed that his Government will devote greater resources to financing Village Improvement Plans (VIPS), designed by villages for villagers.

“These plans are pistons for powering-up the villages. I offer you a new model, a new motor, for the improvement of all villages,” the Guyanese told the crowd. “Your Government has a plan to help Victoria to lead the Village Movement again – just as it did 180 years ago.

President David Granger engages elated residents of Victoria during the annual Victoria Village Day, on Saturday (Carl Croker photo)

It is a four-point Village Improvement Plan (VIP) which can serve as a model for the economic and social revitalisation not only of Victoria but of all of the country’s villages.”

PROTECT INSTITUTIONS The first point he said is to protect institutions, noting that villages established in the wake of Emancipation rested on four pillars – the home, the church, the school and the farm.

According to the President Village Improvement Plans should aim at strengthening these traditional pillars of our villages. “The home as a place where happy families live; the churches (or other religious houses) which are custodians of the society’s moral values; the farms, markets and workplaces which provide incomes; and the schools which ensure that every child has a place,” the Head-of-State said.

The second point is to improve infrastructure such as drainage and irrigation and farm-to-market roads. According to President Granger VIPs will improve access to modern sanitary services, solid-waste collection and recycling facilities and a healthy environment. The third point he noted is investment which is needed to restore abandoned farmlands; accelerate agro-processing; expand housing for new and future generations; and promote ‘green’ development in small-scale renewable energy systems to power homes and small businesses.

The fourth point is to intensify the use of information technology to provide information services to farmers and fishers about the weather and tides and See page 20

President David Granger addresses the gathering

Learn the lessons from Prophet Muhammad I EXTEND greetings to all Guyanese but, especially, to the Islamic community, on the sacred occasion of Youman Nabi.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (On whom be Peace) birth is commemorated on the occasion of Youman Nabi. It is a day when Muslims and non-Muslims recall his life and labours and reflect on his total obedience to God as evinced in his ideals, teachings and service to humanity.

The Holy Prophet (On whom be Peace) taught by example. He preached mutual understanding and respect.

He showed compassion, kindness and love towards others. These virtues strengthen human relations and foster happy households, happy families and happy communities.

President David Granger The Holy Prophet’s (On whom be Peace) exemplary life of working together to build a gentler more genial world – characterized by the values of compassion and grace and in which differences are respected – should be contemplated by all Guyanese, on this sacred day.

4

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 10, 2019

Indian top court gives disputed site to Hindus There was heightened security in Ayodhya, a town in north India, ahead of the Supreme Court’s verdict on a site claimed by both Muslims and Hindus.

Early on Saturday, the town looked deserted as residents stayed inside their homes, waiting for the decision to be announced.

Some had even stocked up on food in advance, just in case the decision provoked anger, violence and eventually a curfew in this historic town.

But when India’s top court delivered its verdict, Hindu-majority Ayodhya slowly went back to normal, with people

back in the streets.

A heavy police presence did not deter locals from venturing out and expressing their happiness or reservations about the landmark judgement.

In a verdict that disappointed Muslims, the court awarded Hindus control of the site, paving the way for the construction of a temple.

A 16th-century mosque, known as Babri Masjid, had been at the site until December 6, 1992, when it was destroyed

by Hindu mobs. The country later witnessed some of the deadliest religious riots since independence, in which thousands of mostly Muslim Indians

were killed.

Hindus believe that Lord Ram, the warrior god, was born at the site in Ayodhya and claim that the first Mughal emperor Babur built the mosque on top of a temple there.

On Saturday, five judges led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also directed the Indian government to allot five acres (two hectares) of land to Muslims to build a mosque, and acknowledged that the demolition in 1992 violated the rule of the law. The Supreme Court directed the government to form a committee within three months to lead the construction of the temple. Hindus in Ayodhya hailed the judgement, saying it respected the interests of both Hindus and Muslims.

Some congratulated each other on the streets as others chanted “Jai Shree Ram” (Hail Lord Ram), a religious slogan that was politicised in the early 1990s during the Ram Temple Movement, which led to the demolition of Babri Mosque.

“It is a historic day for all Hindus across the world and I am really proud at how the

Supreme Court handled the entire issue. There couldn’t have been a better judgement than this,” Bharat Das, a Hindu priest at a temple in Ayodhya, told Al Jazeera.

“I even welcome the decision by the court to provide alternate land to Muslims. This verdict will strengthen the bond between the Hindus and the Muslims in the country.”

Rajendra Tiwari, who owns a small shop in the town, welcomed the judgement for economic reasons.

“If a huge Ram temple is built in Ayodhya, it will boost the local economy as more tourists would flock to the town,” he said. “This would mean better business opportunities for people like me.

“The economy of Ayodhya is totally dependent on Ram and if there are no tourists, we will have nothing to eat.

“Even Muslims can’t deny that fact. The people of this town, irrespective of their religion, should prosper and this decision has done that.”

MIXED REACTIONS AMONG MUSLIMS Reactions among the Mus-

10 November, 2019 03:00hrs ~ 04:30hrs

lim community in Ayodhya were mixed.

Some welcomed the decision, others rejected it, and there was a feeling of resignation - that Muslims had no choice but to accept the court’s decision. There was also a sense of relief, that the outcome ends a dispute that had become the biggest fault line between the two communities in India.

“We want closure and the Supreme Court has shown us the way. We have no issues if it [the temple] is built there but we would have been happier if the court had specified the place where the mosque would be built,” said Babu Bhai, a member of the Babri Mosque Citizen Resolution Committee.

Akram Khan, a resident, welcomed the decision: “Senior members of our community, who were also part of the negotiations, have already said that they respect and welcome the court judgement, so there is no reason why we should differ.

“Our five generations have witnessed so much hostility because of this dispute and if this is how the court feels it should be addressed, we welcome it.”

Meanwhile, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board

said that it was not satisfied as it promised to evaluate legal options, including filing a review petition.

GOVERNMENT, OPPOSITION ON VERDICT Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the verdict should not be seen as a victory or loss for anybody.

“The calm and peace maintained by [1.3 billion] Indians in the run-up to today’s verdict manifests India’s inherent commitment to peaceful coexistence,” Modi said. “May this very spirit of unity and togetherness power the development trajectory of our nation. May every Indian be empowered.”

Opposition parties welcomed the court’s decision and called for peace and harmony in the country. However, there was some backlash from opposition politician Asaduddin Owaisi, the president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen.

“If the Babri Masjid wasn’t demolished that day, what would the judgement have been today?” he said.

“There has been discrimination against Muslims and no one can deny it. We are fighting for our legal rights.”

Saturday November 9, 2019

11 13 16 19 23 28 18

November 01 2019

D

5

10, 14, 17, 18, 22

6, 5, 4

8, 3, 5

3, 8, 13, 14, 15

6

8

10 21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 10, 2019

5

Brazil ex-President Lula walks free from jail Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been freed after more than 18 months in prison.

The left-wing former leader, known as Lula, was greeted with rapturous applause from crowds of supporters as he walked out of the jail on Friday.

He was held in a prison in the city of Curitiba on corruption charges.

A judge ordered his release after a Supreme Court ruling that defendants should only be imprisoned if they have exhausted their appeal options.

The 74-year-old ex-president, who led Brazil between 2003 and 2010, is seen as a leftist icon in the country. As he left the prison, he pumped his fist in the air as a victory sign.

Lula, pictured next to his girlfriend Rosangela da Silva, told the crowd he would establish his innocence (BBC photo)

“I didn’t think that today I could be here talking to men and women that during 580 days shouted good morning, good afternoon or goodnight, no matter if it was raining or 40 degrees [Celsius],” he told the crowds.

He also promised to prove his innocence, before

hitting out at the “rotten side of the judicial system”, which he accused of “working to criminalise the left”.

Lula was favourite to win last year’s presidential election but was imprisoned after being implicated in a major corruption scandal. The race was won instead by far-right

candidate Jair Bolsonaro.

Criticising Mr Bolsonaro’s economic policies, Lula vowed to keep fighting for impoverished Brazilians.

“People are hungrier, they have no jobs, people work for Uber or delivering pizzas on a bike,” he added, specifically criticising insecure work and the gig economy.

After Lula’s release, President Bolsonaro said the ex-president was “momentarily free, but guilty”.

He asked supporters on Twitter “not to give ammunition to the scoundrel”.

Lula will be barred from standing for office because of his criminal record.

He has consistently denied all the accusations against him and claims they are politically motivated.

“Our judicial battle con-

tinues, our focus is to get the legal case nullified,” his lawyer Cristiano Zanin said.

Justices voted to reinterpret the country’s penal code in a decision issued on Thursday.

It overturns a three-yearold rule which mandated immediate prison time for convicted criminals after they lost their first appeal.

Brazil’s corruption scandal, known as Operation Car Wash, initially centred on the state-run oil company Petrobras, but subsequently billions of dollars of bribes were uncovered - and dozens of high-profile business leaders and politicians were jailed.

The mandatory imprisonment rule was seen as helping prosecutors secure convictions and unravel the scandal

by encouraging suspects to negotiate plea deals.

But critics claimed it violated Brazil’s constitution, which states that no one can be deprived of their liberty without due process of law.

Lula was jailed in 2018 after being sentenced to more than 12 years in prison, later reduced to eight years and 10 months, for receiving a beachside apartment from an engineering company implicated in the Car Wash investigation.

Earlier this year, he was sentenced to another 12 years after being found guilty of accepting bribes in the form of renovation work at a country house from construction companies. (BBC)

Bolivian police join protests against President Morales

Police have joined protests in several Bolivian cities over the disputed re-election of President Evo Morales.

Mr Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous president, accuses opponents of trying to depose him.

But the country’s defence minister said there were no plans to send the military to quell the police “mutiny”.

There have been 17 days of deadly protests against Mr Morales, who is accused of rigging last month’s election to secure a fourth term.

Mr Morales - Latin America’s longest-serving leader - denies any wrongdoing and says he will not resign.

Demonstrations on Friday were the first to include large numbers of police, though the scale was unclear.

Initial reports indicate uniformed officers joined protesters in La Paz, Sucre, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Potosí and Oruro.

Speaking to local media, several uniformed officers

Several uniformed police officers were pictured waving flags and signs on the roofs of police stations (BBC photo)

called on Mr Morales to resign, and said they would stop him from turning Bolivia into a dictatorship like his allies in Cuba and Venezuela.

There were also reports of police leaving the streets of La Paz and returning to their station buildings.

In a tweet, President Morales denounced the protests as an “attack on the rule of law”. Defence Minister Javier Zabaleta, speaking with state television, called for calm and

said he was confident police would “continue to fulfil their constitutional job to safeguard the people”.

Bolivia has been rattled by protests, strikes and road blocks since the country held a presidential election on 20 October.

At least three people have died during clashes. The mayor of a small town was also attacked by protesters earlier this week, who dragged her through the streets barefoot,

covered her in red paint and forcibly cut her hair.

Tensions first flared on the night of the presidential election after the results count was inexplicably paused for 24 hours. The final result gave Mr Morales slightly more than the 10-percentage-point lead he needed to win outright in the first round of the race.

The Organization of American States (OAS) is conducting an audit of the votes, and results are expected to be published next week.

But Carlos Mesa - the candidate who finished second - has spoken out against the audit, saying that his party was not consulted.

A former president him-

self, he asked Bolivia’s congress on Friday to pass an

emergency bill to prepare for new elections. (BBC)

6

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

Victoria, the Village Movement and the human spirit THIS weekend, Victoria village observed its 180th anniversary as an organised community.

The significance of the anniversary should not be lost on the rest of Guyana.

As is well known, Victoria was the first village set up by the formerly enslaved Africans who only the year before had walked off the dreaded plantations as free people. In a historic leap, they went from bondage to pioneers of the greatest restorative movement in the so-called New World. The 18 decades since the birth of Victoria spans the life of modern Guyana as we know it.

As we celebrate with the people of Victoria their special moment, it is worth reflecting on the meaning of the movement that was spawned by their fore parents. The Village Movement was an active blow for humanity. Here were people whose humanity was stifled and officially denied for centuries, looking the world in its face and proclaiming their worth not by slogans, but by putting their minds and bodies to building free spaces. The village was conceived as a free space where the sons and

daughters of chattel slavery could live as full human beings.

The Village Movement led by Victoria, therefore, humanised the formerly Wild Coast where the trade in bodies as beasts of burden was the basis of the political economy of that time. These victims of captivity saved their meagre monies earned during that misnamed period of “Apprenticeship” between 1834 and 1838 and bought lands from their tormentors and turned them into free spaces. They did that without the benefit of university degrees. What they had was something which no university degree could buy—a humanist freedom instinct.

That’s why the village also meant freedom. With freedom on their minds, the Victorians and the other pioneers turned their real estate into livable spaces. They created religious and educational institutions as symbols of freedom.

Denied education on the plantation, they nevertheless understood the linkage between formal and informal learning and freedom. They also understood the linkage between education and spiritu-

ality. That is why they constructed their schools next to their churches—linking the intellectual with the spiritual.

They then created their political economy. With the genius engendered in the belly of bondage and resistance to bondage, they allocated lands for economic activity. Man and woman shall not live only by ideals, but by the sweat of thy brow. For two centuries and more their labour was exploited for the enrichment of others, but now the means of production shall be put to work for their own enrichment. What we now know as Guyana’s modern economy has its roots in the genius of Victorians and the village pioneers of the most formidable movement spawned by Guyanese.

And the Village Councils were meant to be institutions of self-governance— democratic self-governance. As we look back 18 decades, we must take comfort that our fore parents were people with vision for the future. They knew self-governance was an important tool of freedom—there could be no freedom without the right to determine the rules by which the citizens live.

The village was also an affirmation of identity—what identifies the survivors of enslavement from their enslavers. There is something unique about being a Victorian or Buxtonian or a native of Belladrum that cannot and should not be erased from the consciousness. Those who exist outside of that experience will always be bereft of that consciousness.

A Victorian is the product of that village experience that is unique in its history and evolution.

Today, Guyana must not only remember the past, but we must honour it in the most active and concrete manner.

We cannot be happy with the state of our villages. As we embark on a new phase of the freedom envisaged by the villagers in 1839, there must be a desire to renew the villages in ways that free them from institutional crisis. Let us take a leaf from the book of the courageous Victorians and think about the collective village and not the individual villager.

The ancestors are watching as we mingle with the Victorians on their special day. In the end, it is about what the human spirit can do.

SN and DPI must meet and have ads matter resolved

Dear Editor,

IN seeking resolution to any issue, the facts have to be identified and the truth has to prevail. Let me from the outset make it known that no government should be using state advertisements (ads) to muzzle any media house.

In the issue of what is being touted as a withdrawal of ads by the Department of Public Information (DPI), a Government of Guyana agency, efforts have to be made in identifying the facts towards finding a resolution. In the specific case of Stabroek News (SN) where it is being alleged that the government is denying the papers ads for political purposes, such must be examined and laid to rest.

The nation was told that the present impasse emanated from non-payment by DPI for ads published by SN. It is in the public space where it is established that SN had said to the DPI it will not carry any ad for the agency until the debt is

cleared. It should be said in normal business arrangement one of the first steps that would have been taken was engagement between the parties and a payment plan agreed, which the customer would be expected to honour. At the same time, it is being noted SN’s stated skepticism of the debt being honoured in the no-confidence environment and should there be a change in government. In the meantime, the DPI wanting to continue its work found alternative avenues to advertise as it sought to honour its debt which the nation was told has since been cleared.

No government has the right to get involved in the internal affairs of employers’ organisation, be it newspaper, manufacturing or any non-governmental business, for the right to non-interference is protected under international conventions. In this specific case, it is a business transaction between two parties that created an impasse and it has to be

dealt with using the tools in negotiating normalcy but taking the facts on board.

The facts in the public domain are: i) The contract between the two parties was severed/put on hold by SN when it refused to publish any more ads until the outstanding debt was cleared; ii) The DPI in the intervening period took its business elsewhere; iii) When the debt was cleared the DPI was advised by SN it can resume the placement of ads, which is a return to the status quo; iv) The DPI to date, based on its (non) placement of ads in SN, has signalled a disinclination to renew the relationship on term(s) set solely by SN. There existed a contract, written or unwritten, for the newspaper to publish ads and the intervening incidents have created an atmosphere of lost confidence between the parties. The issue of state ads is not a right, but what needs to be considered is the environment within

which we live. It is for this reason that the parties need to sit down and have the matter resolved.

As an aside, on the issues of fair and accurate reporting, the media as the fourth estate shoulders a responsibility to always strive for the truth. This responsibility in our polarised society is particularly needed if we are to prosper and live in peace and harmony; and it is not unfair to state that since the no-confidence vote, some sections of the media have made it a trying time for the society in deciphering fact from fiction, lies from truth, doing more harm than good to the body politic. Correspondingly, where government or any feels there is inaccurate or unfair reporting on any given issue, civic duty necessitates a response to set the record straight.

The responsibility goes both ways.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

Op-Ed

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

By Margaret Burke

STUDIES continue to show that deliberate efforts to provide sustained schooling for children, not only ensure an ‘educated nation – in relation to Guyana,’ but also provide jobs, while reducing crime.

It is said that crimes committed by teenagers are at the highest somewhere around age 18, though it can be at a much lower age also.

This is an important period of time, when teenagers should be either about to successfully conclude high school; approaching further technical or vocational training; getting a job or going on to even higher learning.

Whatever the situation, well-established research findings have shown that education reduces crime and anti-social behaviour. Centuries of studies by researchers and criminologists have discovered, with certainty, that there is that positive correlation of crime and education.

However, because of the complexity of human nature, this rule cannot be generalised across all peoples.

There are some exceptions.

For instance, researchers have pointed to findings where there are possibilities that highly-educated people can also be inclined to commit criminal acts; that persons may use their increased abilities and knowledge to mastermind criminal activities. Also, that they may use their weird sense of ‘intelligence’ to easily plan and execute financial crimes such as money laundering, embezzlement, bribery, computer crimes, as well as other forms of heinous actions.

Nonetheless, countless researchers continue to put forward the point that the

more educated an individual is, the more likely he or she is willing to ponder the immediate or future consequences of committing a crime or other antisocial behavior, thus being likely to cancel the action all together.

EDUCATION POLICY Guyana’s situation in relation to education policy-induced crime reduction is a clear one. It has been established that stable jobs and good wages can decrease the chances of people getting involved in crime.

President David Granger has iterated that education is critical to national development and that every child must attend school. He has established in direct and in-direct ways that especially the young people must be kept busy; being involved in academic studies, including STEM subjects; vocational training that would help them to acquire immediate jobs, either as entrepreneurs, or within the public or private sectors.

“The most important legacy that we can bequeath to our children is a sound education. You cannot go anywhere in life, especially in this competitive age, without a sound education.”

“It is in the Constitution; I didn’t invent it. It is an entitlement of every Guyanese child. I urge and insisted that when we get more money particularly through petroleum revenues… part of it will be dedicated to education. You cannot achieve anything in life without being educated,” President Granger stated.

He labelled crime as one of “the greatest impediment to human safety and prosper-

Education for more jobs and less crime ity,” adding that crime has to be curtailed in order for the people of Guyana to feel safe and to be able to enjoy to fruits of their labour. For this reason, even as he addressed students, teachers and staff of the Ministry of Education for Education Month, soon after taking office in 2015, he said: “…Education is the gateway to that good life.

Education is the mother of good jobs; education is the mother of employment; education is the mother of enterprise.”

SUPPORTED BELIEFS Studies have shown that there is a connection between education and crime.

There are empirical evidence that shows the possibility of a person’s lack of education may lead to a pathway that is more susceptible to crime and antisocial behavior. But, as was established before, this is not a hard and fast rule, since the opposite can be considered true as well.

However, it has also been established that the lack of education and educational attainment can limit a person’s IQ, thus making him or her more vulnerable to others for exploitation and the possibility of an easy target to criminal activities.

Therefore, it can be presumed that education can determine how a person evaluates himself or herself, which in most cases can be in a positive manner.

Research further shows that a highly-educated person is more prone to be more ‘social’; have a high self-esteem; feels a greater push to engage people at high levels and more acceptable for the job market. At the end of

the day such persons will have a better quality of life which, according to criminologists, would make them less motivated to be involved in crime.

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, in a recent address to students said, “Today’s students need 21st Century skills like critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and use of digital technologies. In this regard, the Ministry of Education is currently focusing on reforming the curriculum to aptly prepare and equip our students with these and other skills relevant for the 21st Century.”

“Our 2019-2030 Education Sector plan is being designed to bridge the disparity that exists between the hinterland and the coast, the implementation of new technologies for the delivery of education, provision of vocational and technical training for out-of-school youths, thereby giving them a second chance, among other critical aspects of educational growth.”

‘Giving them a second chance’, is what the coalition government seemed bent on doing for the young and not-so-young people of this land. There is obviously a concerted effort by the government, through all of its various ministries, which include education, public telecommunications, social cohesion – especially sports and culture, to bridge the divide between the uneducated and education.

The chances of young people becoming less vulnerable and more motivated to stay away from crime and other antisocial behaviours becomes much more likely today.

Would Maxwell E Edwards accept that Justice Claudette Singh could have erred?

Dear Sir, Mr Maxwell E Edwards made an elaborate attempt in your November 7 edition (“Ramkarran’s misleading criticisms of GECOM plan exposed”) to demonstrate that my article, “The Ghost of Esther Perreira,” published in my blog, conversationtree.gy, on Saturday last and the Stabroek News on Sunday last was misleading.

The core of Mr Edwards’s view is that article 159(2)(c) of the constitution was enacted sometime after 1997. He did not say when it was enacted, nor did he identify the law. He seemed to imply that in the Esther Perreira case,

Justice Claudette Singh would have had to uphold the voter ID law if 159(2)(c) had been in the constitution. Article 159(2)(c) extends the qualification to vote from Guyanese over 18 to those who “satisfy such other qualifications as may be prescribed by or under any law.” Mr Edwards argued that had such a provision existed in the constitution in 1997, Justice Claudette Singh would have had to uphold the voter ID law in the Esther Perreira case.

I am sorry to disappoint Mr Edwards. Article 159(2)(c) was in the 1980 constitution. I can fathom no reason why Mr Edwards would falsely assert that it was not when a mere cursory

glance at the 1980 constitution would confirm that it was. It was indeed argued before Justice Claudette Singh that article 159(2)(c) protected the constitutionality of the voter ID law. Justice Singh rejected the argument and ruled that the voted ID law was unconstitutional. I know because I represented one of the respondents in the case and was present during most of the 18-month hearing.

Now that Mr Edwards has been shown the light of day, would he accept that Justice Claudette Singh could have erred?

Regards Ralph Ramkarran

7

8

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

Abuse, contempt displayed for human rights of Indigenous Peoples Dear Editor, SO it is leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LPJ) Lennox Shuman, who has finally voiced publicly about the brutal abuse and exploitative behaviour towards the leaders of his Indigenous brethren, the toshaos, meted out by Nigel Dharamlall, a former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs in the PPP/C administration.

The fact that such disclosure is now made-coming from this new political leader who, himself, might have personally experienced this act of degradation--lends credence to earlier reports, and complaints emanating from among Indigenous peoples who were afraid to publicise such issues.

For any senior state functionary to cuss and chase leaders of any ethnic community,

amounts to a most serious insult and denuding of their important office of leadership, inclusive of their people; no more or less, to the elected leaders of Indigenous communities.

This, is not only disrespectful and barbarous that is akin to reducing this well deserving segment of our nation of one nation, one destiny with utter contempt; but served to consign them to a position of mere strangers, or national appendages.

Editor, this is shameful and shocking from such a senior level of public service.

But although known, even within the inner sanctums of Dharamlall’s party and government, there was no known public evidence of a reprimand at those times – according to sources such abuse of authority had been multiple – for such grievous insults.

In fact, it would seem that because of such

an apparent omission that this now opposition party member of parliament, has continued unchecked, as had been the instance when he made disparaging remarks, without reason or cause, against the person of President Granger.

Dharamlall’s is a perfect example of the abuse and misuse of both power and authority, in a very important office that has to do with the lives and welfare of citizens. How could the Dharamlalls of this country be entrusted with political power again?

A most revealing aspect of Shuman’s statements has been concerning the role of the then much vaunted Community Support Officers (CSOs) who numbered in excess of 2000. To now be told that they were serving in the capacity of spies on their communities, further inform us as to the repression which the PPP/C regime had imposed on Indige-

nous communities, removing their rights to determine and decide what were important for the socio-economic development for their regions. This was typical of Stalinist political culture which the PPP/C knows only too well.

Editor, the CSOs, ever since disbanded, have been trained in skills that empower them in entrepreneurial endeavours for self-sustenance. They now see themselves as important contributors to their self-development, their communities for self-reliance, and to the nation.

This particular revelation by Shuman, has given more than an open window to the PPP/C’s monstrous misuse of human capital, particularly the youth of this nation.

Regards Carla Mendonca

Shuman exposes his penchant for callousness Dear Editor, IN reference to an article published in the Guyana Chronicle on November 8, 2019 and titled “PPP abused, exploited Toshaos,” Lenox Shuman, Chairperson, Liberal and Justice Party (LJP), made disparaging remarks about me and the office I once held.

Whilst it is the stated position of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) that it will not engage in attacks on the smaller emerging political parties, for we feel there is space in the PPP/C to accommodate these smaller parties, it will be remiss of me not to respond to Shuman’s vitriol, since he singled me out.

His reported comments towards me and the office I once held, including staff with

whom I served, the majority of whom were Amerindians, are wholly false, totally malicious and patently disingenuous.

Shuman is reported as saying, “Many of the chiefs, many of the toshaos who visited the Ministry of Amerindian People’s Affairs during the PPP’s tenure were cursed and chased out, and verbally abused by the then Permanent Secretary, Nigel Dharamlall.”

Editor, during my tenure, which ended in May 2015, anyone who worked with me can attest to the immediate attention I gave to any visiting toshao / village representative to my office. During my time in office, Shuman was not a chief or toshao. As a matter of fact, I only first met Shuman in 2016; as such, his utterances are a figment of his devious imagination.

The recent announcement by Shuman though, that he held talks to join his party, LJP, with the PNC-led APNU, is probably the raison d’etre of his unhinged comments.

Personal attacks are a well-known political strategy of the APNU+AFC perpetuated by its mouthpiece, the much-maligned Guyana Chronicle.

It was only last year this very Guyana Chronicle carried articles detailing Shuman’s mismanagement of his village council and village affairs during his unsuccessful tenure as a one-term toshao. Now, the Guyana Chronicle has become the trumpet of Shuman, which clearly establishes a formal link between Shuman and the PNC-led APNU. So whilst Shuman wallows in the unsuccessful modus operandi of the APNU+AFC,

I will remain on the high ground with the PPP/C and continue to serve my country with unwavering distinction. Editor, let it be known that I do possess a tremendous lot of credible information on Shuman that can cause his political aspirations to quickly dissipate, but I will not indulge in a tit-for-tat with someone who is currently an imposter and not yet qualified to stand for public office in Guyana.

I do wish Shuman well and I remain hopeful that the renunciation of his Canadian citizenship will be successful to allow him to contest the upcoming national elections.

Yours faithfully, Nigel Dharamlall M.P. PPP/C

You can do it, we can do it Dear Editor, IN March 2020, Guyanese will cast their votes to decide which party will govern us as we become an oil- producing nation. This has huge implications for all of us, as it is pivotal we choose leaders who will put aside partisan differences and make prudent decisions that will be beneficial for all.

I want to encourage my fellow citizens to explore governance options outside of the PPP and PNC. There are several new political formations who intend to contest for leadership; each of these groups was born out of frustration with the way our country’s governance has been shaped by the two major forces who have governed post-independence. I’ve lived

in Guyana all my life, and am yet to see transformative change happen.

Sure, we have had moments when a few new roads have been built, schools commissioned and other endeavours undertaken to improve our quality of life, but we must ask ourselves the direct question: ‘Have I seen holistic development, constitutional reform and consistent policies that have really improved my circumstances?’ Partisanship and racial divisions have littered our journey to 2020, and this is because we, the people, have allowed ourselves to ‘play it safe’ and vote for what we are accustomed to, instead of what we deserve.

There are many who view the formation of new political parties as opportunistic moves to position and cash in on our imminent oil rev-

enues, and while I understand the skepticism, I would like to point out that this is the first time in our country’s history that we are positioned for oil. Many of the new groups have come about because their core membership understands how important the next election is, and we can ill afford to continue chasing our tail as a nation.

I encourage my fellow Guyanese to take their time, listen to the new groups and ask hard questions. There is no obligation to vote for anyone, including the traditional giants. We should however feel obligated to invest our votes wisely to ensure we have competent minds, untainted by partisan history leading our country into new horizons. We have the power to hire and fire our leaders, let’s ensure we shop around smart. Go to

the community outreaches, public meetings and other campaign activities, and ask as many questions as you can about what the new groups want to do and how they intend to do it. We must vote for leaders who have a plan and are able to walk us through their vision so we can see the endgame as being beneficial for us all.

It will take courage, patriotism, pragmatism and an open mind for our country to install the leadership necessary to realise our potential as a progressive, inclusive and wonderful nation of proud people.

You can do it, we can do it.

Sincerely, Shazaam Ally The Citizenship Initiative

9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIMENT AS a result of inter-party engagements over past weeks, speculations have been running wild over the health of the coalition government. For me, as an old hand, I see no reason for alarm, as the partners are in transition mode to a qualitatively higher form of cooperation.

The first-term experience has shown without a doubt that the six-party alliance, which President Granger has graphically portrayed as the “Big Benab,” has worked well for Guyana. At the political level, there have been hiccups, primarily over trust after the no-confidence vote against the government, but no major fallout.

At the performance level, for those who judge achievements by statistics, Guyana has experienced steady economic growth. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected a 4.4% GDP rate for 2019; even if this were to dip slightly, it would not upset the upbeat and optimistic trajectory into next year, given first oil, that Guyana’s economy is expected to balloon by 86%; that by 2024, GDP will expand by leaps to reach US$15 billion.

COALITION AHEAD In the more recent pre-oil years, Guyana has experienced steady economic growth but the IMF’s projection, according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, is a “stratospheric leap.”

That optimism has been given a gigantic boost by NASDAQ, which has predicted on the basis of oil finds estimated at six billion barrels, that Guyana would become the fastest-growing economy in the world.

It is clear that Guyana, under the APNU+AFC coalition government, is ahead in overall performance, which has led President David Granger to assert with ease that the coalition will return to office at the 2020 elections with a handsome majority of 36 out of the 65 parliamentary seats!

This empirical evidence of success should guide the political partners to hammer out tactical issues over this weekend, having already agreed on the strategic position of entering the 2020 elections as the APNU+AFC coalition.

Experience would show that while the coalition is ahead, and winning the race, there is no need to experiment.

TWO EPISODES Looking ahead at the 2020 contest, my mind raced back to two episodes that I find amusing, but at the same time very apt. The first is about Bright Steel, my father’s champion horse that had always won his races by several lengths and, on one occasion, by a whole furlong.

During the late 50s at D’urban Park, Bright Steel was racing against a foreign horse named Pop Gun. It was, as Edward Luckhoo had announced on radio, “Bright Steel/Pop Gun; Bright Steel/Pop Gun.” But as the horses neared the tape, Pop Gun edged his way closer to the front and was running neck to neck with Bright Steel. In a sudden but swift move, Bright

Steel made a grab as if to bite Pop Gun’s ear. The race ended in a photo-finish, and Pop Gun won by a nose’s length! Bright Steel’s experiment, while he was ahead, to intimidate his rival, cost him the race.

My second vignette was that of the boy who was in love with a girl from my village. He was taking part in a grass-track motor-cycle race at the Whim cricket ground. He was leading in the race by a long distance; however, as he swung the final turn, he rose from his seat and let go of the cycle’s handles. He was heard shouting the name of his lover as he threw his arms into the air.

The next thing I saw was him being thrown into the air. The bike, like a raging and unruly juggernaut, dislodged him as it tumbled on the wet grass. The experiment by the love-struck motor racer of being cock-sure of victory failed, even though his antics were motivated by the purest pangs of unrequited love.

The coalition is obviously in front of the political race, and there could be no doubting the likelihood of its return to government with a bigger majority.

It is therefore not the time for it to experiment, that is, to tinker with the winning APNU+AFC brand.

WINNING FORMULA A part of the winning formula was based on principles, one of which was that the APNU would identify the presidential candidate, and the AFC the prime ministerial candidate.

Though I have stayed clear from the negotiating teams, I gather that the conclusion is trending towards the respective partners retaining the above two slots.

This time around, based on experience, every care ought to be taken to avoid the flaw in the 2015 formula, which is, that the prime minister would become the Chairman of Cabinet. There ought to be a caveat that the coalition partners should not contract for any unconstitutional outcomes.

The status quo requires that the President is the designated Chairman of Cabinet. He also appoints the prime minister and other ministers, even when he does so upon recommendations from coalition partners.

In my case, after being appointed prime minister, the President navigated his constitutional command by delegating to me functions of chairing Cabinet. That was done without any fuss or fanfare.

The President has allowed me full grasp of the reins over Cabinet and its major business sub-committee, even as my sour detractors saw this as a personality issue and tried to belittle me.

PERSONALITY POLITICS Personality politics has invariably attracted irreconcilable problems. We have only to look at Guyana’s contemporary politics where a toxic mixture of ideological and personality differences resulted in the 1955 split of the country’s first united, national liberation movement.

It later undermined unity in the pre1992 elections Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD), when the minority parties demanded as a basis for a power-sharing

government, the presidency, together with one-half of parliamentary seats!

Having given the PCD its name and taking part in those talks, I found that that demand has been an experiment in unreasonableness. I had argued then that the 10 per cent groups could not negotiate for parity with a 40 per cent party. Instead of finding a compromise, the mini-parties walked from the talks.

Sometimes it is important to know when to step aside or to walk away.

During the run-up to the 1997 elections, although I had ranked among the Top Five in the PPP’s leadership, I declared that I was not running for either party or state posts.

With the death of Cheddi Jagan, the PPP was thrown into a succession mode; I pleaded for cohesion in the party’s leadership.

I shared during several high-level leadership meetings tragic experiences in Ethiopia and Afghanistan, and the implosion of the Grenada revolution; these were due to squabbles for positions, about which Cheddi had repeat-

edly lectured us.

VICTORY IS ASSURED Those experiences notwithstanding, the post-Jagan PPP was to experiment with internal manipulations to achieve gang control of both the party and the government.

The gang resorted to crude rigging of leadership contests, even in the choice of a presidential candidate for the 2011 elections. That resulted in disaffection at the party’s leadership and resignation from it. I was among those who made the correct decision to walk away from the corrupt rump. As a consequence, in 2011, the PPP lost its majority in parliament; and by 2015, it lost the government after an unbroken 23 years.

There are many other experiences from which our coalition partners could learn.

There is therefore no need for any costly experiment. Victory is assured, but the coalition partners must quickly lock down the principles that our people, not personalities, come first!

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

The Coalition is the best choice

THERE is no perfect political party, or coalition or government. Anyone who tells you that is fooling you. The coalition is not perfect, but it is more perfect than its competitors. And there is a lot of fooling coming your way in this electoral season. Bob Marley calls the “Crazy Baldheads” and he warns: Here comes the conman Coming with his con plan We won’t take no bribe We’ve got to stay alive Political bribery was always part of Guyanese politics, but it was normalised by the PPP. That party not only bribed its supporters, but more importantly it sought to make bribery a part of its plan to woo support from the opposite constituency. It lavished a lot of bad money on some shady and not-so-shady people and encouraged them to use that money to recruit soldiers for the PPP. This is how the ‘Phantom Squads’ were born.

With elections around the corner, the Phantom is at work again. They are com-

ing in your midst again trying to buy you over with their bad money. The PPP still has a lot of bad money. The rich people they created with government money and other State assets are now giving back some of that money to the PPP. They intend to use that money to buy or suppress the coalition’s vote.

The PPP and its cohorts have no respect for half of the population; they think that they can buy them with a little bit of money. That’s what they think you are worth — a few thousand dollars. They think people are gullible to the point of self-destruction. They will use some of your own friends to seduce you into their trap. So, you have to resist that plan. You are worth more than that. A little bribe here and there is not the answer to your problems. Bob Marley again warns of the Rat Race: Don’t forget your history Know your destiny In the abundance of water The fool is thirsty

The PPP cannot be allowed back in power; their track record is frightening.

They rule by fear and by the gun — ask the people of Linden and the families of the over 400 men gunned down. They govern by economic gangsterism — taking the country’s resources and sharing it out to their friends and family. They rule with one race in mind rather than all races. Guyana cannot go that route again. The choice at the election is as clear cut as it can get.

NUMBER ONE, there is a choice is between a one-party outfit that is grounded in ethnic dominance and a coalition of parties that reflect the ethnic diversity of Guyana. Guyana can ill-afford ethnic conflict as we become an oil-rich nation.

NUMBER TWO, there is a choice between a party with a record of Human Rights violations and the denial of civil liberties and a coalition with a spotless record when it comes to upholding human rights. Nobody can point their finger in Granger’s face and accuse him of jailing his competitors or ordering the police to

shoot at them. This is a serious thing. The Phantom Squads are gone. The Roger Khan’s are defanged. There is a very clear choice between a party that built up a criminal State and a coalition that tore down the criminal State NUMBER THREE, there is a choice between a party that shares Guyana’s wealth to its friends and its members and a coalition that shares Guyana’s wealth to the Guyanese people. Everybody knows some big boy who benefitted from the PPP. From Pradoville One to Pradoville Two, the evidence is there for all to see.

NUMBER FOUR, we have a choice between a party that looks out for one race and a coalition that looks out for all races. The coalition distributed resources in all communities. From Berbice to Georgetown to Lethem, all communities benefitted.

NUMBER FIVE, the choice is between a Presidential Candidate who is uninspiring and invisible and a President who is dignified. There is no way Irfaan can put his foot in Granger’s shoes — it’s like chalk and cheese.

Understanding Energy

Depletion Policy

EXXONMOBIL’S announcement that first oil will come earlier than expected has prompted increased focus on the long-term trajectory of Guyana’s oil production. This trajectory will be governed in part by the rate at which oil is developed and depleted in coming years.

This rate of depletion can be governed by a government’s “depletion policy,” which may consist of production controls or caps to manage the rate at which oil is taken from the ground. Guyana’s PSA gives the government the right to impose a national policy at any time to limit production rates down to the “minimum technically efficient rate.” That’s the lowest production rate at which the sophisticated machinery used for oil extraction can still operate efficiently.

While the PSA gives the government full right to establish and implement a depletion policy, it has not yet done so, and the question must be asked if it is even the right answer for Guyana.

Given that Guyana is only just about to enter the early production phase, it is not nec-

essarily an immediate concern. Why would a government introduce a depletion policy?

Generally, depletion policies are meant to address the fundamental fact that each barrel of oil extracted from the ground cannot be replaced. It is one way to preserve some of the production potential and therefore revenue for future generations.

However, Guyana has already taken steps to address this concern through the most common alternative, the creation of the Natural Resource Fund – our version of a Sovereign Wealth Fund. Funds such as the Natural Resource Fund can be a much more effective way to ensure that future benefit from today’s oil.

Depletion policies defer oil production and revenues into an unknown future to be realised – a future with the rapid growth of rival energy sources. Producing oil today and placing a large proportion of the revenues into a Natural Resource Fund is essentially choosing a way to earn interest for future generations. Such a policy is like putting money into a long-term savings bank account

that begins earning low risk interest on large sums of money immediately.

The extraordinary pace of Guyana’s discoveries would make it very difficult to generate a specific depletion policy at this time, since the scope of reserves is a rapidly moving target. Guyana is also lucky enough that its reserves are so large that even if development and production proceeded as fast as possible, it would take decades to deplete just what’s been found so far.

Furthermore, advancements in production technologies are rapidly improving companies’ ability to extract oil and gas. Because projections about the proper rates of depletion are based on current technology, advancements often fundamentally alter the equation, allowing better, more efficient production.

The U.S. provides a good example of this phenomenon. From the late 1970s into the early 2000s, US oil reserves and oil production declined sharply from a high of 39 billion barrels to less than 20 billion by 2008. There was oil still in the ground trapped in shale formations and undiscovered fields, but low

oil prices and a lack of technology meant that finding and extracting this oil wasn’t cost effective or feasible and so it wasn’t considered reserves.

But since the late 2000s, the technology of hydraulic fracturing has made this oil more easily obtainable and higher prices have incentivised more development. US oil reserves have jumped back up from below 20 billion barrels above the all time high of 39 billion.

Calculations for depletion policies generally have to assume that an amount of oil is static at the beginning and declines over time as more is extracted. But the kind of technological and price shifts that regularly rock the oil industry make that assumption tricky, especially in a country like Guyana when so much territory remains unexplored.

All of this means that Guyana will need to be thoughtful in considering whether a depletion policy is the right answer to generate value for the nation. An overly strict or inflexible policy might have far reaching implications for Guyana’s oil production and essentially clashes with the objectives of creating a well-endowed Natural Resource Fund that will grow the value of and carry the benefits of the oil for many generations to come.

With so much riding on the profits from that production — from social spending to new infrastructure and debt reduction — policies to restrict it should always be implemented carefully.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

ONE of the most conspicuous characteristics of the Guyana state apparatus under the APNU+AFC coalition government is the complete absence of the vindictive state.

It is one of the intangible, immeasurable benefits of the change that came with a new government in 2015. Some express concern about government policy-making in some areas but fail to highlight the fact that the republic now breathes freely without the fear of reprisals or attacks from the state.

Let me be clear, the present status quo should not be considered as some gift being offered by the government or some magnanimous gesture; this is how it should be in a parliamentary democracy, the state apparatus should never be used as a mechanism to advance the personal, petty agendas of those who exercise tutelage over the people.

Having considered this, it is no surprise that as the date for regional and national elections draws closer, Guyanese are anxious, nay, scared by the thought of a return of the spiteful state which existed pre-2015, undergirded by a puppet presidency armed to the teeth with oil revenues.

WHAT IS A VINDICTIVE STATE? The French Marxist philosopher describes the retaliatory state apparatus as one that is characterised by coercion and the use of violence as an unofficial policy to settle disputes and deal with perceived enemies and disposed to seek revenge. The repressive state uses all resources at its disposal to crush any manifestation of a challenge to those who exercise aegis over a polity. Some examples are close to home in the Caribbean: The Francois Duvalier regime (Haiti) 1957-1971; the Raphael Trujillo regime (The Dominican Republic) 1942-1952; the Bharrat Jagdeo regime (Guyana) 1999-2011; the Donald Ramotar Regime (Guyana) 2011-2015.

Both Duvalier and Trujillo are part of the pantheon of the ignominious exemplars of diabolical rule and cannot be easily paralleled, but for all intents and purposes of this discussion, the examples hereunder are drawn from the experiences of the Guyanese people under the latter regimes mentioned.

THE VINDICTIVE STATE AND THE MEDIA

11

Spectre of possible return of the vindictive state

The most vengeful regimes are intolerable of dissenting views, a simple expression of disagreement, even if constructive, is considered the work of an enemy.

This sad state of affairs was on regrettable display every day of the Guyanese existence pre-2015. The withholding of state ads from Stabroek News; the threats of execution of journalists; the selective distribution of radio licences; the targeting of those media operatives who expressed anti-government views on social media or in the letter columns of the newspaper; the use of the state newspaper to besmirch anyone who was perceived as anti-government; the denial of job opportunities for journalists who leave the profession and the stifling of owners of private media who held independent views.

All of the aforementioned occurred before 2015 and the nation is haunted by the possible return to these darks days; the same players who perpetuated the system are around and very much alive waiting to pounce again with increased and renewed venom.

THE VINDICTIVE STATE AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE The Public Service invariably gets caught up in the whirlwind of any vengeance being exacted by the state.

In developing countries, the state is usually the largest employer and citizens depend heavily on the government for employment. It is for this reason that the public service becomes ground zero for the machinations of those who possess state power. Normally and dangerously so, the first order of business of any spiteful government is the purging of the public service of independent public servants and those who are perceived as not too friendly with the incoming regime. This is sadly best exemplified in the pre-2015 period and the players who once perpetrated the purging of the foreign service; the vicious non-appointment of Genevieve White-Nedd as chief education officer; the withholding of salary and benefits from members of the judiciary who did not rule in favour of the state; and the removal of career public servants who did not agree to join party activities, are still around and licking their chops to once again reign down terror.

This is the spectre that haunts the nation.

THE VINDICTIVE STATE AND COMMUNITIES Evidence of the coalition government being devoid of the viciousness of the pre-2015 period can be seen in the development of communities.

The pre-2015 vindictive state looked at electoral maps and identified communities that did not vote in favour of the custodians of the state and sought revenge by denying basic needs within those communities. This also included the destruction of the social fabric of those communities with extra-judicial executions and consistent police harassment. The coalition government has brought this dastardly practice to a complete end, even to the chagrin of some extreme supporters.

Some communities are mortified by the idea of this occurring again.

THE VINDICTIVE STATE AND BUSINESS No one was spared from the wrath of malicious government in the pre2015 period. A businessman went on a casual night out on the town in 2014 and during this engagement, he had a few beers and expressed his frustrations with the government’s policies. It was the worst decision he had ever made in his life; he had communicated his displeasure to someone very close to a high state functionary. As a consequence, the tax authority came after him with ferocity. He could not survive this challenge and migrated.

This is just one example in a catalogue of transgressions by the state vis-a-vis the business community in the pre-2015 period.

THE VINDICTIVE STATE AND THE STREETS Street power or street terror is always present wherever this Leviathan raises its head. The pre-2015 Guyana provided no departure from this phenomenon.

Death squads and drug gangs that owed allegiance to the state were always on call to extinguish political enemies.

Again, those who perpetuated this system are alive and well, a sad indictment of the failure to successfully prosecute those who were complicit in these practices.

CONCLUSION The vindictive state cannot survive in an open society; once there are elections and democracy is vibrant, citizens have the power to prevent the rise or return of this poisonous politics. Fear must be transformed into a resolve to vote; it is a national duty.

12

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

Eid Meeladun Nabi Message from the President of the CIOG

IN the name of Allah (SWT), The Merciful, The Compassionate O Allah bless our beloved Muhammad, the light of lights, the secret of secrets, theantidote fordepression and the key to the door of ease, Muhammad the selected one,and upon his family the pure ones, as much as the bounties of Allah and His blessings.

Asalaamu-AlaikumWa-RahmatullahiWaBarakatuh.

May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah (SWT) be with you all.

Hadhrat Ubayy ibn Ka`bRadiyalláhu Anhu relates: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I send much blessings on you. What proportion of my dua should I devote to you?”He said, “As much as youlike.” I said, “A quarter?”

He said, “As much as you like, and if youincreased it would only be better for you.” I said, “Then a half?” He said, “As much as you like andif you increased then it would only be better for you.” I said, “Then two thirds?”

He said,“As much as you like and if you increased it would only be better for you.”

I said, “I’ll devote all of my Dua to sending blessings on you.” RasululláhSallalláhuAlayhiWasallam said, “In that case itwill suffice you from your worries and your sins will be forgiven.” ~ Tirmidhi My brothers and sisters in Islam and humanity, on this most auspicious occasion of observing the birth and life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘AlaihiwaSallam), I extend to you on behalf of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana greetings on the Mawlid. I pray that Allah (SWT) continue to blessus and accept all our devotion and service. Ameen.

Perhaps the greatest mercy that Allah (SWT) bestowed upon humanity was sending

His Blessed Messenger Muhammad (SAWS).

God Almighty describes His best Creation thus: And you are of the highest standard of character (Quran 68:4) The Prophet’s (SAWS) character was of such high moral excellence that Allah (SWT) Himself mentioned its greatness.

The Prophet (SAWS) was destined to be the best human being ever to live on Earth— the most virtuous, the most patient, the most loving, the most courteous, the most merciful among men, the best to his wives, the best to his friends, the best to his family, the most honest, the most trustworthy, and so much more that even his enemies testified to it. We are reminded in many narrations that when the Prophet (SAWS) was born the thrones of kings shook, palaces crumbled,idols in the Kabaa fell, and fire that was worshipped extinguished.

The Prophet (SAWS)was of such a high and sublime character that, after years of persecution, hemarched triumphant into the city of his birth at the head of the largest army ever assembled in Arabian history. With his head bowed in humility, He declared a general amnesty and granted war criminals refuge.

The Prophet’s (SAWS) magnanimity was so powerful that it led to a mass conversion among the citizens of Makkah. Even Abu Sufyan, his archenemy, embraced the religion of Islam. In the months that followed, almost all of Arabia dispatched representatives to swear allegiance to the Prophet (SAWS)and to enter into the faith of Islam.

During a period of twenty-three years, Muhammad (SAWS), Peace be upon Him, had succeeded in uniting a feuding people trapped in cycles of violence into one people with a sense of destiny and a mission that

would transform the world. He (SAWS) elevated the low, and he lowered the elevated that they might meet in that middle place known as brotherhood. He (SAWS) infused in them a love of learning, unleashing a creative power that would lead to some of the most extraordinary scientific breakthroughs in human history.

The spirituality He (SAWS) inspired in his people led to the construction of seven hundred mosques in the Spanish city of Cordoba in the West, and a restoration of Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem in the East. In its precincts his followers built the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra), as a testimony to the oneness of God. The Prophet (SAWS) died on the same day he was born, in the same house he had lived in for ten years in Madinah, on a small bed made of leather stuffed with palm fibers, in the arms of his beloved wife Aisha (RA).His dying words were, “Treat your women well, and do not oppress your servants, the prayer, the prayer, don’t be neglectful of the prayer. O God, my highest companion, my highest companion.”

The occasion of celebrating the birth and life of our Master and Guide Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) should be used to strengthen our will to follow His (SAWS) example. We oftentimes pride ourselves on the strictness of our adherence to the way of this blessed Messenger (SAWS) in various aspects of our lives. However, are we emulating Him by trying to be merciful to our fellow man? If we aren’t, we should understand that our adherence to His Sunnah is wanting.

Would the Prophet (SAWS) approve if he witnessed division amongst us that is tearing us apart? Let us practice mercy on issues

where differences are valid and avoid harsh words and work together in accordance with our sacred law. O mankind, truly we have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that you may recognize one another (Quran 49:13).If we follow our creator’s directive to learn about, appreciate and respect each other, we will replace ignorance and prejudice with understanding, sensitivity, mutual respect and unity.

We should remember that our love for the Prophet (SAWS)will be a means of our being with Him (SAWS) Inshallah. Let us spend these days in increased Salawat upon the Prophet (SAWS), his family, and pray for all of Humanity. Let us repent to Allah (SWT) and renew our commitment to following the Laws of Allah swt by following the middle way; the way of Rasoolullah (SAWS).

I ask Allah (swt )to bless all of you and join us in praising our Beloved Prophet (SAWS) O Allah, bless our Master Muhammad, who opened what was closed and sealed what was before. He makes the truth victorious by the truth and he is the guide to Your Straight Path. And bless his Household as it befits his immense stature and splendor.

Oh Allah! Bestow Your Mercy and Blessings upon Muhammad whenever he is remembered, and bestow Your Mercy and Blessings upon Muhammad whenever he is not remembered. May the Peace and Blessing of the Most Merciful be upon each and everyone one.

Wa-Alaikumus-Salaam WaRahmatullahiWaBarakaatuh.

Shahabudeen Ahmad President CIOG

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

‘Rice doing well’ – Region Six farmers tell Minister Holder RICE farmers in the Upper Corentyne area, on Friday, told Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder that “Right now rice is doing well in Region Six” but if he intervenes “it will be even better”.

Their response follows a question from the minister regarding the overall state of the rice industry in the region.

According to the farmers, despite some setbacks earlier in the year, “Right now, yield is good, price is good, paddy bug is low but we need to water to start the new crop.”

The farmers are up in arms over the unavailability of an adequate supply of water for the new crop which is scheduled to start soon.

They told the minister their fields have been prepared and are awaiting water from the main canals but they were told the region has only $10M available. This amount would not enable the region to pump enough water to supply all the farmers, especially those in the frontlands.

The water situation is one that has been plaguing farmers for years and is mainly due to blocked up canals and inadequate fuel.

Minister Holder said these matters fall under the Regional Administration but there are attempts to change this arrangement.

He explained that the

From left: GRDB General Manager, Nizam Hassan; Prime Minister’s Regional Representative, Gobin Harbhajan; Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder and NDIA CEO, Fredricks Flatts at the meeting with rice farmers on Friday government, having recognised the issue, proposed at Cabinet level to have the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) take control for primary Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) systems, including pump stations, away from the regional administrations across Guyana.

The regions, he said, would be responsible for internal drains. This proposal was agreed upon and the regions were supposed to warrant the funds that were allocated for D&I from their budgets to the NDIA so that adequate fuel can be supplied to the pumps and machines for irrigation and cleaning of canals.

However, when the time reached for the funds to be warranted, the Regional Administration of some regions, including Region Six, reneged on the agreement, thus resulting in many of the issues currently being faced.

Holder said the regional administration should be blamed and called on farmers and councillors to apply pressure on them to change.

NDIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frederick Flatts said, last year, there was a similar situation of fuel shortage and the NDIA stepped in after an agreement was reached with the Regional Administration.

A section of the gathering of farmers who met with Minister Holder and team on Friday

“NDIA decided to take fuel in after receiving a letter stating that the region will hand over the funds but after completing the task, no monies were handed over.

Now, same thing is happening again this year. The Region does not have enough money to purchase fuel it would appear,” he said.

Meanwhile, farmers expressed their dissatisfaction at the condition of the Seafort Canal that is clogged up due to overgrown vegetation.

NDIA representatives explained that today, an excavator will be deployed to clean the area. The engineers noted that with the overtopping at Mahaicony, resources had to be diverted there to save 1000 acres of rice.

The farmers, however, are asking for a second machine to be present as well as longer hours of operation, given their timelines for the start of the next crop. The Agriculture Ministry team promised to look into their request.

The farmers also expressed dissatisfaction with the Number 52/74 Water Users Association.

They noted that water should have already started pumping but the association governed by farmers did not make the request to the region.

Police continue clampdown on coloured lights

On Saturday Sergeant Haslyn George and other ranks carried out a Traffic Enforcement Exercise in Region Six targeting coloured

lights on motor vehicles.

In a release police said several fitnesses of vehicles were also revoked in the process.

The enforcement

exercise follows on the heels of the Traffic Headquarters clampdown which commenced last Thursday around Georgetown and other regions

where a number of vehicles were impounded for coloured lights, tint and several other offences.

The campaign will continue.

WPA frowns ...

13

From page 2

our party—national unity and reconstruction.

“WPA’s membership of the partnership does not diminish our independence. Far from it, our independent praxis is now needed more than ever.

But we will not allow others to dictate for us how that independence should be manifested. Some of our leading members have publicly and consistently taken the coalition to task on key issues over the last five years and they will continue to speak out against wrongdoing and in support of a wholesome politics. WPA has never discouraged such critiques because they are consistent with our traditional values.”

The party said it is the only party in the coalition whose members have spoken out against the wrong turns made by the Coalition Government. “That the President has on more than one occasion tangled with our leaders in the public domain is glaring testimony to that fact.

WPA’s participation in the coalition is not grounded in blind loyalty to any other party— our loyalty is to Guyana and the pursuit of a wholesome politics.”

CASH TRANSFERS Further, the WPA said more recently, the issue of the cash transfer proposal has brought to the fore the WPA’s independence of thought and the ideological difference between the WPA and its partners.

“Our stand with the poor and the powerless is not premised on cheap electoralism, academic abstraction or political gimmickry, but on a deep commitment to a humanist politics. But our ideological difference does not blind us to a larger need for national consensus,” the WPA said. The party said it respects diversity and plurality as key components of Guyana’s political and socio-economic reality.

“It was one of our leaders, Professor Clive Thomas who, in 2005, opined that the real test of a party’s mettle is not how well it works with those with whom it agrees, but by its ability to find common ground with those with whom it does not share the same values and culture.”

WPA said it cherishes its independence and will never sacrifice it in the name of political expediency. “WPA has recommitted to the coalition as a matter of national duty. Our relations with our partners going forward would be governed by a convergence of mutual respect, consensus and our right to take independent positions on overarching matters that have to do with defence of the poor, democratic values and political morality. In other words, WPA will be guided by a praxis which is grounded in the synthesis of consensus and independence.”

According to the WPA its role in the current election campaign will be more visible and in keeping with “our understanding of our place in contemporary Guyanese politics. We will articulate within the coalition and beyond the views and aspirations of the critical mass in the wider population who share our political culture and positions on issues.

We will lend our voice and ideas to the collective coalition platform, but we will also use the opportunity to rally the country to a more uplifting political culture that is bigger that electoral contestation.

When we speak, we will be speaking with the voice of the people, especially the poor and the working classes of all races and ethnicities,” the WPA said.

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

GPA rapped for misleading … MoTP calls for immediate retraction, apology statement THE Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) has condemned a statement issued by the Guyana Press Association (GPA), which misconstrued remarks by President David Granger during his live interview with Kaieteur Radio, On Friday November 1, 2019.

During the interview, Senior Journalist Leonard Gildarie asked President Granger about his position regarding the withholding of government advertisements. President Granger, in reply, said government advertisements should be directed to media houses that are willing to provide fair coverage on public events.

In a verbatim transcription of the recording, the President is noted as say-

ing: “There must be fairness. We believe that the advertisements should be directed to the media houses based on their willingness to disseminate news fairly...We need to have media houses which are fair and balanced. I do not believe that it is the right of any editor or any media house to…deliberately not report on public events out of bias.”

“But coming back to your question, I do not support the withholding of advertisements… Papers must be guaranteed, well, media houses because now we’re not only dealing with the four urban based newspapers… they must all be given fair access to the advertisements of the State. It is a State resource. It is not a private

resource,” said the President.

However, in its statement, the GPA said: “The gist of the President’s remarks appears to be that allocation of paid state advertisement is contingent upon favourable coverage of his administration.”

MoTP regarded GPA’s statement as patently false and malicious because at no time, during the interview, did President Granger say or imply that he was seeking favourable media coverage of his administration.

“It is, therefore, malicious for the GPA to replace the word “fair” with “favourable” in its statement and attribute same to the Head of State,” said MoTP. The definition of ‘fair’

is unambiguous, impartial, honest, and free from self-interest, prejudice or favouritism. The President said only that media coverage must be “fair and balanced”, both hallmarks of ethical journalism.

In that regard, the MoTP said President Granger’s statements during the interview reflect his long-held position on the importance of professional journalism.

The President, during his numerous interactions with media practitioners, over the years, has always said that journalism, like any other profession, must be based on a sense of social responsibility and ethics. MoTP said President Granger stands by his call for fair coverage and called for an immediate

retraction and an apology from the GPA. Meanwhile, the GPA added, in its statement, that it has always held the position, which is in keeping with international thinking on this matter, that State advertising should neither be employed as a form of reward nor as punishment for perceived media transgressions.

“President Granger said he does not support the withholding of ads and the GPA encourages the government to examine how all media houses can benefit from such ads. In this very critical time in Guyana, when all should be informed, media houses ought to be reminded of their need to provide the truth and fact-based journalism.

President David Granger Editorial activism has its place but citizens right to be informed must always triumph,” the GPA statement ended.

New ICT hub commissioned at Rose Hall Town A NEW Information Communication Technology (ICT) hub was commissioned at Williamsburg, Rose Hall Town, East Berbice, Corentyne earlier in the week, bringing the total number of hubs to 58 in Region Six. The hub is equipped with nine computers and

will include about 12 more in the future. Added to that, the building that housed the hub will be equipped with a library in the upper-flat and will host classes in phonics and literacy.

The hub was made possible by the organisation, Roots and friends of Rose Hall Town, which worked

with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure through the National Data Management Authority (NDMA).

NDMA manager for Community Development and Social Management, Edison Jefford explained that government has recognised the importance of children

Officials of Roots and Friends of Rose Hall Town, NDMA, Rose Hall Town Council and students of Rose Hall Nursery at the ribbon-cutting exercise

The building which houses the ICT hub at Rose Hall Town

having access to the Internet, especially to do their research.

He said more hubs will be established throughout Guyana. Thus far, a total of 200 hubs are fully functional in various communities across the nation.

In mid-November, he said the total of 70 hubs will be added to hinterland communities, free of cost.

Many persons there have not benefitted from these services before.

Jefford commended the initiative by the Roots and Friends of Rose Hall

Town for their cooperation and collaboration in making the project a reality.

Town Clerk of Rose Hall Town, Natasha Griffith, described the hub as a timely initiative and called on youths of Rose Hall Town and surrounding communities to make full use of the facility.

“This venture will provide Internet access to students, residents who could not otherwise been able to afford access to the Internet.

This will empower and assist our children in conducting research and be able to

complete and submit on time their SBAs,” she said.

Tessa Fraser, vice-president of Roots and Friends of Rose Hall Town, said the organisation gets involved in projects that enhance and improve the lives of residents in the areas of education, health and social issues.

She also called on persons to support the ICT hub, give back to their communities and work on empowering the youths and residents of Rose Hall Town and surrounding communities.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

Scores of Guyanese apply for O&G jobs

SCORES of Guyanese, mostly youths, presented themselves on Thursday as viable candidates for the oil and gas sector at a Career Fair and Training Workshop hosted by manpower provider, El Dorado Offshore (EDO).

The event took place at Parc Rayne on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and was also attended by representatives of Stena Drilling, SBM Offshore, NALCO Champion, Frank’s International and Oceaneering. EDO supplies a wide range of manpower, recruitment and personal logistics services to the oil and gas industry. EDO Business Development Director, Marisca Jordan told the newspaper that the company

EDO Business Development Director, Marisca Jordan (Adrian Narine photo)

Some of the attendees hand in resumes to EDO (Adrian Narine photo)

Scores turned out to El Dorado Offshore Career Fair and Training Workshop at Parc Rayne on Thursday (Adrian Narine photo) was looking for skilled, enthusiastic Guyanese to work both offshore and onshore.

“Today is basically ac-

cepting resumes. Remember, not everybody that comes will have everything together, so we advise how you can add to it before you can get

any position [and] it doesn’t have to be offshore positions, we do onshore positions as well,” she said.

The company is look-

ing for able-bodied seamen and ordinary seamen, roustabouts, deckhands, cooks and more.

While EDO also provides the services of medical emergency support, expatriate management and work permit and immigration, should the Company come into contact with persons skilled in the areas, they will be placed into a database of possible persons for future hire.

Meanwhile, the workshop aspect will see the attendees gathering in groups to be sensitised on how to properly write a resume, offshore employment opportunities and upward mobility, what to expect when working offshore, the training required offshore and working for EDO. “It

gives you interaction with the clients; you go get to speak with the team to understand better what you need as a person to get involved; if you don’t have everything, how you build your resume; how to even write a proper resume,” Jordan said.

Some 250 Guyanese are part of EDO and all of its employees are locals. This marks the second such Career Fair and Training Workshop to be hosted by EDO and Jordan stated that the event proves to be a successful means of scouting skilled Guyanese.

EDO also conducts mini fairs which see them visiting communities and technical institutes across the country.

Change Guyana promises to review existing oil contracts ONE of the newly formed local political parties, Change Guyana, has promised to engage a reputable public, international law firm to review existing oil contracts and the architecture for governance of the oil and gas industry.

Change Guyana, which was formed by its presidential candidate Robert Badal and its prime ministerial candidate, Nigel Hinds, said in a statement that any government or aspiring Government of Guyana has one fundamental responsibility. That responsibility is to get the best possible advice and support when representing its people at the negotiating table and elsewhere.

“The manner in which successive governments

went about awarding oil blocks and negotiating agreements, falls well short of its obligation to the present and future citizens of Guyana,” said the political party.

The party believes that where the management of the national oil and gas patrimony is concerned, there have been misrepresentations and lack of transparency in several areas.

“There have also been vague statements by past and present government officials, including attempts to deny concerns being expressed by international experts about the extraordinary and globally unprecedented poor terms and conditions of the Production Sharing Agreements entered into by the Government of Guyana,”

said Change Guyana.

In making reference to Barbados’ approach to making decisions, the political party said years ago, the island state, with much less at stake, hired public, international law firms to help them think through their own processes. Change Guyana believes that the government should have followed suit.

“The issue is the fundamental responsibility of leaders of this country to ensure that they have the best possible legal and other representation when making decisions and agreements about our national patrimony,” said the political party.

Change Guyana said it is committed to meeting this obligation to the citizenry as well as to ensuring that there is genuine trans-

parency and accountability.

It was reported early this year that the Government of Guyana understands that effective oil and gas legislation is needed as the country heads into ‘first oil’ and a “master plan” for the legislative drafting process has been recommended.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, had said that with ‘first oil’ expected for Guyana in early 2020, the country must implement the necessary legislative mechanisms which will effectively meet the needs of the emerging industry.

He noted that the petroleum sector will require a carefully drafted regulatory framework which guarantees both sustainable economic development for Guyana and incentives to investors.

Such a system will ensure transparency and accountability and contribute to good governance in general.

“Legislation will have to address a myriad of issues and canvass several government agencies as the petroleum sector will have a cascading effect on the other sectors. For example, drilling oil wells means increased threats to the environment; we can all remember the BP oil spills and its effect on the environment.

The possibility of these accidents occurring demonstrates the need of having a framework for not only managing the petroleum and gas sector, but all of the foreseeable offshore oil and gas activities,” Williams said.

15

APNU objects to 93 dead persons on voters list in Region 5 WITH the discovery of the names of ninety three dead persons on the voters list, objections by the APNU AFC in the Claims and Objections exercise in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) have been separating the real people from ghosts Objections by the APNU AFC representative Carol Joseph with respect to the deceased persons being on the list were made and considered and then upheld during a hearing at Mahaicony yesterday morning.

Joseph said yesterday: “The Opposition has been accusing us of making unsubstantiated objections ; claiming that everybody we are objecting to is alive and well? Well we identified the names of ninety three deceased persons on the list; we provided the evidence yesterday and their names are now off the List.” “And there is more to come,” she added.

On Friday the PPP/C had accused the APNU+AFC representative in Region Five, of failing to produce a single shred of evidence to support the objections made. In a release the PPPC claimed: “This is a deliberate attempt by the APNU/AFC and its agents to disenfranchise people who are perceived to be PPP supporters. Many of these persons have already come forward to identify themselves.” Joseph said that yesterday the PPP/C Chief Scrutineer Zulfikar Mustapha and Region 5 representative Faizal Jaffarally were present at the hearings presided over by Returning Officer Mr. Clairmont Mingo.

They were unable to halt the objections.

The Claims leg of the Claims and Objections exercise ended on Monday November 4th last and the Objections segment is due to end on November 11th next. (END).

16

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

Become ambassadors to combat malaria – Port Kaituma residents urged

PERSONS residing in communities across Barima-Waini, Region One, were encouraged to join the campaign to eliminate the dreaded illness – malaria. The call was made during the launching to commemorate ‘Malaria Day in the Americas’, at the Port Kaituma Community Centre, on Wednesday.

Malaria Day in the Americas, which is observed on November 6 of every year, is envisioned to be the platform on which countries can engage in an aggressive year-round campaign against the disease.

In brief remarks, Acting Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Lachmie Lall, said malaria continues to be one of the illnesses affecting the district, and it is essential for residents to become more cognisant of the disease. To this end, the RHO advised

each resident, both young and old, to contribute significantly towards the effort to eradicate the illness.

Director of the Vector Control Services, Dr. Horace Cox, in his feature address, stressed that prevention for the deadly virus is imperative. He noted that the key component to avert it is the “use of the long-lasting insecticides”. He disclosed that the Ministry of Public Health collaborates with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and other stakeholders to mobilise communities to deliver adequate health services in that regard.

“For example, within mining camps and remote areas we work with persons to ensure that they can build their capacity to test and treat for malaria,” the director explained.

Dr. Cox said the Ministry of Public Health is keen on

delivering the correct medications to citizens diagnosed with the virus. “Because in some places, we see people taking what is accessible to them, and that might not be what the ministry recommends and as a result of that, there are several health implications.”

He said residents should not be afraid to seek help.

Devika Broomes, a teacher of the Port Kaituma Primary School, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the Public Health officials in the district are working assiduously to combat malaria, much to the satisfaction of the residents. “There were some persons who were even given private treatment. They were even placed at a hotel and were rechecked and provided with meals. So, the health centre staff are also working to eradicate the illness,” Broomes said.

Specifically, Malaria Day

Residents attending the launch to commemorate ‘Malaria Day in the Americas’, at the Port Kaituma Community Centre, taking advantage of the services offered seeks to improve the communication progress and the extension of advocacy work to all stakeholders and the target audiences; enhance visibility or interest on malaria, and the global scourge that the disease brings to people of the world. Additionally, the day is used to increase awareness and understanding of the

key issue among the target population. It is also used to encourage increased and enduring support to efforts against malaria, including the elimination of local transmission in areas where such is feasible.

The launch is a joint effort between the Vector Control Department, Pan American

Health Organisation (PAHO), Breakthrough Action and the Regional Democratic Council of Barima-Waini.

It saw the attendance of the Assistant Regional Executive Officer, Enoch Benjamin, and PAHO’s representatives from other regions, who travelled to support the event. (DPI)

Burn victims to return home after successful treatment FOUR-YEAR-OLD Ghansham Sohan and his oneyear-old brother, Besham Sohan, who were both severely burnt, will soon return to Guyana after being successfully treated in the US. Eleven weeks after arriving in the USA for life-saving medical treatment, the brothers are now safe to return to their homeland, said the Saving Hands Emergency Aid Inc (SHEA) Foundation.

“The brothers received countless surgeries to combat their many injuries including skin grafts, and surgery to reopen Gansham’s mouth, which was closing due to his burns, and causing difficulties for him to eat… these brothers are true fighters and survivors,” said the foundation in a post on Facebook.

It was reported that the boys’ mother had lit some materials to drive away mosquitoes, but she turned away for a minute and her older son threw dry grass into the fire, causing it to flare up.

“It flared up and caught their clothes… they were badly burnt,” said a representative of SHEA, Sita Sugrim, in a past report.

The family had rushed the children to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) but the advanced medical treatment required, was not available there.

Ghansham Sohan and Besham Soham ready to return to Guyana (SHEA photo) SHEA was called upon for assistance, and as such, funded and organised advanced medical treatment for the young brothers, who were critical.

Despite being cleared for travel now, the brothers will return to the US in the coming months for continued treatment. The foundation has called on persons to make a donation towards seeing the boys through the completion of the treatment.

Persons who are in-

terested in donating can visit the following link https://savinghandsemergencyaid.org/Gansham-and-Beham-Sohan or contact SHEA on Facebook.

The foundation thanked the boys’ aunt, Lilowtie Goberdhan also known as “Debbie”, who selflessly put her life on hold to accompany the brothers and their mother for the duration of the treatment in the US.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

17

18

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

President Granger urges scouts to be pivotal in development … outlines vision for scouts association as body celebrates 110th anniversary

“YOUNG people must learn to enjoy and appreciate the outdoors, you must think about canoeing in the creeks; you must think about camping in the forest; you must think about hiking in the hills; you must think about swimming in the rivers; you must think of showering under the cold waterfalls; you must see the scout movement as a place for reconciliation and relaxation,” said President David Granger.

President Granger was speaking at the Scouts Association of Guyana’s (SAG) 110th anniversary on Saturday, when the association celebrated its milestone at its headquarters on Woolford Avenue; the SAG also simultaneously hosted the opening ceremony for its 2019 National Camp.

The SAG was established

in 1909, just two years after scouting was founded in England,and holds the distinction of being the first scouts association in the Caribbean.

President Granger spoke about the direction in which he intends to push the association to foster further development of the persons in the association, saying, “I have a vision for the Scouts Association of Guyana, and that vision, firstly, is to ensure that there is one scout troop in every capital town in every region; and you could look forward to seeing that change from next year. And secondly, the second part of my vision is that camps will go beyond Thomas Lands; they will go to the grasslands, to the wetlands, to the highlands in the hinterland.

Thomas Lands is nice so far, but we have to go farther than here, so that you would

get the opportunity to see the rest of the country.”

He further encouraged the association to align themselves for development, to be pivotal persons in developing the country. The Head of State said the government’s focus is to use youth as it pushes forward to move Guyana’s economy to achieve more; there will be increasing attention paid to youth education and youth development, beginning in 2020, as the country moves into its decade of development.

“THE future of Guyana belongs to you, all that you see around you, around us, around the country, is part of what you will inherit; you will become the protectors of our patrimony; you will become the defenders of this big beautiful and bountiful country; you will look after

President David Granger being greeted by President of the Scouts Association of Guyana, Ramsay Ali (Delano Williams photo) Guyana and in the words of our national anthem, ‘lands of rivers and plains, made rich by the sunshine and lush by the rain,’ this is our national anthem and this is your land, and you need to have the knowledge, the skills and the interests to progress your country and to take it forward into prosperity,” said President Granger.

President Granger further spoke about the benefits of the scouts association. He

stated that it prepares youths for the future by giving them the chance to have practical life experiences; this, while allowing them to interact with persons of various religious, social, and cultural backgrounds, all while having an exciting learning experience.

He further said that it is the best place for young people who would naturally be going through physical and psychological changes;

it would provide them with a level of guidance and stability, keeping them grounded as individuals and preparing them for the future.

“Young people during this critical point of their life, want adventure; they want excitement; they want to experiment; they want to find new experiences, and they want to explore new places and they need an organisation, an institution to support them in this quest

Some of the scouts at the National Camp ( Delano Williams photo)

19

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

Some of the scouts at the National Camp (Delano Williams photo) during their adolescence, when they’re looking for new opportunities and broader horizons.

Through the scouts association, young people are taught the value of respect for one another; respect for property; respect for the law and respect for the environment. Your code teaches you the values of conduct

and those values emphasise duty, loyalty to your country and integrity.

This connection helped to build the characters of young people and to help prepare them to become responsible citizens while at the same time developing friendships and having fun as you’re having now,” stated President Granger.

Guyanese woman fatally stabbed in Queens’ murder/suicide A QUEENS newlywed, who was fatally stabbed by her husband on Friday night, has been identified as Guyanese, Donne Dojoy, also called ‘Rehanna’.

According to a New York Post report, the 27-yearold was slain at her Albert Road home in Ozone Park, police sources said, in the second fatal domestic incident in New York City this week.

On Friday night, her husband, Dineshwar Budhidat, 33, sent a message to the woman’s sister informing her that his wife was dead and inside the house — and that there was a spare key under a flower pot, police sources added.

The sister rushed to the home at around 19:30hrs and used the Donne Dojoy key to gain entry to the called ‘Rehanna’ house — where she found Dojoy’s body.

Police, while conducting a helicopter search for the husband, found him hanging from a tree in a wooded area off 165th Avenue in Howard Beach.

Budhidat had been arrested for physically assaulting Dojoy in August, law enforcement sources said.

Reports are that the couple wedded in July this year.

The woman’s death sent shockwaves across the cyber world as many of her friends, including her closest friends here in Guyana, paid tribute to her.

More resources ...

20

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

From page 3

improve access to markets.

“Your Government will launch a Decade of Development 2020-2029 which will sustain local democracy and support village renewal. It will ensure improvements in sustaining local democratic organs; in providing better bridges, drainage, irrigation, roads, sanitation services and street lights; and in expanding economic enterprises.

The Decade of Development is the future: village economies will thrive through the establishment of micro- and medium-scale enterprises which will provide employment; by growing food, again; producing goods, again; providing services, again; village lands will bloom again by being brought under cultivation; village democracy will flourish again by holding regular local government elections and selecting local leaders who care for their communities and who represent their constituencies; and cultural life will bloom again through the development of socially-cohesive communities in which there are happy homes, happy families and happy neighbours and in which young people

one planter in British Guiana] to be certainly without parallel in the history of the world!”

The Movement started on 7th November 1839.

Eighty-three free men and women from five plantations – Ann’s Grove, Dochfour, Enmore, Hope and Paradise – agreed to pay 30,000 guilders (f 30.000) for Plantation Northbrook. They collected their savings and paid two-thirds of the money right away in coins, delivered in a wheelbarrow, “…some of them still black with the mud in which they had been buried.”

The remainder was covered by a promissory note which was redeemed three weeks later.

President Granger reminded villagers that he launched postage stamps, depicting ‘the purchase’ in November 2016 – a landmark of Guyanese history which every child should remember. “Victoria pioneered local government. Its proprietors, seven years after emerging from enslavement ? the worst form of domination and degradation in human history had the wisdom to promulgate a remarkable prototype for local government on 2nd May 1845 – the first Village Improvement Plan.”

Attorney General, Basil Williams, who is also the Chairman of the Victoria Village Day Committee, addressing scores of persons at the Victoria Community Centre Ground during the celebration of the village’s 180th Anniversary (Carl Croker photo)

A section of the gathering at the Victoria Community Centre Ground (Carl Croker photo) can enjoy vibrant athletic activities.”

PERMANENT PLACE IN HISTORY President Granger told the gathering that Victoria has a permanent and proud place in history, noting that the village, which originally comprised about 202 hectares (about 500 acres) and had a depth of 11 km and width of 483m created a demographic and geographic revolution in our country, beginning 180 years ago.

“Victoria led the way in establishing a model of village organisation which was imitated across the coast. The purchase of Plantation Northbrook by poor, illiterate folk, ignited a process which transformed an archipelago of plantations into a chain of human settlements stretching from the Corentyne to the Pomeroon Rivers,” the President noted.

He said the Village Movement, has been described as: “the most spectacular and aggressive land settlement movement in the history of the people of the British Caribbean and a movement which seemed [to

The President said the Victoria’s Agreement prescribed twenty detailed ‘regulations’ for the management of the village by its proprietors. These included the election of office-bearers, collection of taxes, the prohibition of drunkenness, cursing, swearing, gambling, etc, trespassing, observing the Sabbath, sale of properties and the use of firearms, among others.

Victoria’s founders, as a result of their advanced thinking, had a head start on other villages and, by the late 19th century: enjoyed a relatively, high cultural standard – influenced by the large number of churches and schools and inspired by a growing group of educated people among whom were parsons and school teachers; established a thriving agro-processing economy based on the production of cassava; coconuts; fruit for beverages, table consumption and preserves and vegetables; encouraged micro-businesses such as bakeries and parlours; cottage industries produced drinking chocolate and households made other beverages for sale; and, employed artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, tinsmiths and contractors and built and maintained bridges, houses, kokers and other minor public works.

DEVELOPMENT OVER THE YEARS President Granger also spoke about efforts by his government to revive the village.

He said village development has restarted, noting that Local Government Elections was the first step in re-empowering citizens to play a greater role in the management of their communities. The second step will be to push village development faster and further.

“Your Government, over the past four years, invested G$88.1 M in this village in the fields of agriculture, education, health and public infrastructure. Victoria has benefitted from the reawakening of local democracy.

The projects included: repairs to the Middle Walk road; rehabilitation of the heavy duty-bridge at Middle Walk and the footpath linking Victoria and Cove and John; and to culverts, the pump station and to the schools; revetments at West Sideline and East Sideline and excavation of drainage and irrigation canals; and remodelling of the Health Centre and construction of a pharmacy room and dressing area at the Health Centre.

President also took note of the work of the Victoria Reconstruction Trust and Foundation for Real Christian Education which have been supported by the ‘Victorian’ diaspora. “The foundation has been laid, the Village Improvement Plan will help to ensure that the progress achieved, particularly over the past four years, is propelled and sustained.

Meanwhile, AG Williams who is also Chairman of the Victoria Village Day Committee in brief remarks said it was an honour to be part of the celebrations.

He hailed the youth group in the village that organised and help run off the event. “Indeed it is a time to reflect where we were as a people and where we have come and going,” Williams told the gathering.

He said as ordained in the Bible, the celebration of the village’s anniversary is in place and urged residents to cherish the rich legacy of their ancestors struggle. Williams said too that the occasion represented a landmark of struggle and determination.

21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

Successful Amerindian land titling workshops conclude at Deep-South Rupununi villages

THE communications component of the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) project wrapped up on Friday after a successful week of workshops in several Deep-South Rupununi villages.

The workshops were held at the villages of Aishalton, Muraranau, Awaraunau and Shea.

According to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, scores of residents attended the workshops from the respective villages where pertinent information was shared on several topics, including demarcation and acquiring a Certification of Title, Application for an

receiving positive feedback during the sessions.

Cheong said, “the communications strategy, which is why we are here today in the South Rupununi, seeks to give pertinent information to all the communities involved in this whole process from the time they apply for an absolute grant to the time they receive a certificate of title, from the time they apply for an extension until they have a certificate of title for the extension, and it is going good so far.”

According to the ministry, when the ALT Project commenced in 2013, some 68 villages were earmarked and Cheong said

tweaked it over time and we have excluded them from the last phase of this project and we have now included six other communities particularly from the Rupununi area that have interest in extension.”

Yussuff, during her presentation, told scores of residents in Aishalton that, “Amerindian Communities are the major stakeholders of this project so it’s necessary that we hold workshops like this in all 68 villages so that you can understand the process and all the issues and concerns you can raise at this meeting too.”

Following the conclusion of the workshop, Im-

or extension and learning form this one here, there is something new that is being mentioned here to give us hope to getting our extension. I have learnt about the grievance mechanism which is the first time that we are hearing about this, so this is a forum where we can bring our problems or issues which can help us get our extension.”

Keith James, another resident said, “it’s important to me and not only to me, but to everybody who is living in Aishalton and I know it will be a long process, but nevertheless we are here. I learnt a lot from it but we need to be educated more

Elizabeth Andrey said, “yes we will benefit from it and if our government pushes it a little more faster [sic] because we were children as yet and now we are adults and we are grands now and I’m happy that my mother is still alive and I’m sure, she would feel much happier to hear that we get through with our land extension so what you people did here is very interesting and it kinda open our thinking.”

Richard Kaitan, a resident and the community health worker of Shea Village, noted that the event was successful. “The workshop was very successful, I learnt a lot and I know the

say yea so that we would keep our lands as how it is”.

Land ownership for the Indigenous Peoples remains the primary focus of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

Cheong reminded that, “if you have followed the manifesto of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, one of the things we had promised is that we would deal with Amerindian land issues in a very definitive way. It’s the President’s desire to see all these communities’ land issues are addressed in a very comprehensive manner so that’s what we are trying to do and this is

Scenes from the Amerindian Land Titling workshops which were held at several Deep-South Rupununi villages Extension and the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).

The project, which is being executed by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), saw a team comprising of Special Assistant to the Minister Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs with responsibility for Community Development, Martin Cheong; Communications Associate, Tana Yussuff; Director of the GRM, Orinthia Schmidt, and Communications Officer in the Ministry, Alethea Grant

that while it remains crucial for Indigenous livelihoods, it was a bit ambitions since a number of villages that were included had outstanding issues to be addressed prior to 2013. “Especially for the communities in the Upper Mazaruni, nothing can be done, they have already decided that they would not talk demarcation or anything relating to their lands until the court case that has been going on for nearly 21 years now gets a ruling so that in itself took away [from] actually achieving the objectives form this project,” he said.

Moving forward, Cheong said, “we have

macaulata Casimero, who is a vocal and active member of the village, said “it’s something good for me where we are being educated on what is expected of us as community members…we have one goal and the goal is to ensure we have rights to our lands and full legal ownership to our lands so with this, it’s a way to move forward…so it’s something that is very good to me.”

Another resident, Gavin Winter, had a few words to share. “It’s informational in that we are able to hear what is required of communities to apply for title

Police find cocaine, ganja during Arakaka raid POLICE have arrested an elderly man following a raid at Arakaka on Saturday during which they found a quantity of cocaine and cannabis.

In a release police said ranks in Region One acting on intelligence gathered went to the home of an Arakaka ,North West District

resident and conducted a search during which they found a total of 566 grammes of suspected cannabis ,4.4 grams of suspected cocaine and a quantity of pills suspected to be ecstasy and ‘molly’ drugs.

The 26-year-old suspect is being processed for court.

on this part here because we will understand more about it”.

“This is very good. I think these are the things we need in this village because time and time again, we have been looked at as people without understanding because we were never educated in that manner and as I said, hearing these things now, especially on our land because we are talking about our land title and everybody is getting to understand…. and what happened this afternoon when I came I think I am more clear,” said Dennis Paul who intends to follow the process keenly.

people of Shea Village learnt a lot too. Now they know how to report on problems or issues we have in the village – example overlapping and them things. At least the village understands how they would strike to that end.”

Bernard Ritchie, a 66-year-old resident who has been actively involved in Shea’s Village lands said, “the most important thing is that we are here together to say something to air our views towards this important meeting concerning our lands and I think it is very important for our young people who are now coming behind, they are the ones to

not only the President, but also our Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs who himself is from Surama and who understands the importance of land to Indigenous communities.”

Villagers were given the opportunity to compose songs and perform poems that reflect the importance of land ownership which will ensure sustained livelihoods.

Additionally, a technical team will be returning to the region in the coming weeks to conduct an investigative visit in villages that requested extensions.

Robbers receive sound thrashing from Cotton Field residents TWO young men received a sound trashing from residents of Cotton Field, Region Two, after they attempted to rob hot dog vendor, Johnathan Banarsee.

The men, who are now in police custody, have been identified as Camara Morrison, 19, and Norlando Brown, 27.

The incident occurred at around 21:00hrs on Friday. The two men were hauled from nearby trenches by villagers who then beat them.

According to Banarsee, he was approached by the two masked men, one of whom placed a knife to his neck and told

him to sit on a nearby bench while the other was some distance away.

The suspect demanded cash and began to search his pants pocket, where he found G$200,000. The robber took the money and a handbag valued $2000 and ran towards the south side of the Cotton Field Public Road.

Cops at the Anna Regina Police Station were alerted as well as villagers, who managed to catch the men and hand them over to the police.

The police are investigating the robbery.

22

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

Rape, death by dangerous driving most prevalent crimes on West Bank

SEXUAL offences, including rape and death by dangerous driving are the two most prevalent crimes in the Essequibo Island-West Demerara Region, according to statistics from the Chambers of the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) According to DPP Communications Officer, Liz Rahaman, while these crimes have increased countrywide in the past few years, they are most prevalent in Region Three.

DPP Communications Officer, Liz Rahaman

The DPP was, at the time, hosting an outreach to the region on Friday.

“Before I go out to every region in Guyana on our outreaches, I sit and I go through our incoming book. I sit and count files coming into the DPP office from each region, to garner an idea of the more prevalent offences in that particular region. Not that it impacts on our outreaches but at least we have a fair idea of what are the occurrences in the given regions,” Rahaman

noted.

She added: “It seems very prevalent in the region. We know between September/ October last year and September/October this year, we have almost 100 police files coming into the office pertaining to sexual offences.

Death by dangerous driving, that’s another issue where we’re getting more and more police files coming in with that.”

Aside from rape, the sexual assault cases also include

cases involving sexual activity with a family member and sexual activity with a child under 16.

As it pertains to the increase in cases of sexual offences, Rahaman opined that it may not entirely be a case of such occurrences increasing, as much as it may be a case of persons being more outspoken and willing to make official reports to the police when such incidents occur.

“From all appearances, there is a spike or increase in

sexual offences nationwide.

And that can be attributed to the fact that more and more offences are being reported. Before, there was a time when rape was a taboo subject, it was seen as a dirty something committed on another human being whether male and female. And it was hushed.

But with more education, more public awareness, by our chambers and other sister agencies, more reports are being made to the GPF,” Rahaman said.

Father of six killed in Timehri hit-and-run A FATHER of six was killed on Friday evening after a speeding vehicle hit him on the Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Dead is Harrichan Ramsundar, 54, a security guard of 217 Patentia Estate Reserve, West Bank Demerara.

Reports indicate that the vehicle was proceeding north along the western carriageway of the road at a fast rate of speed, when the left side of the vehicle collided with Ramsundar, who was walking south along the western side of the said road.

Even though Ramsundar received multiple injuries from the accident, the driver Harrichan Ramsundar in his younger days of the vehicle sped away.

The father was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre in an unconscious condition and was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was then taken to Lyken’s Funeral Home where it is awaiting post-mortem examination.

Ramsundar, who is a live-in security guard at a Timehri location, would usually go out to buy groceries and purchase food every week.

Road closure on Mandela Avenue, Marigold Street

THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure wishes to inform the public that the intersection at Mandela Avenue and Marigold Street, Georgetown, will be closed to traffic today.

The closure is to facilitate drainage construction works under the Sheriff Street/ Mandela Avenue Road Enhancement Project.

The intersection will be re-opened to traffic on Monday (November 11, 2019) at 06:00hrs.

Motorists wanting to access the closed section of Marigold Street from Mandela Avenue are being asked to use alternative routes during this period.

Meanwhile, pedestrians and motorists are reminded to exercise caution and observe all directional signs in the area.

23

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

Guyanese gets 52 years for killing family in Brazil

A GUYANESE man who was arrested in Boa Vista, Roraima State, Brazil, for the alleged killing of a family of three in February 2018 was Friday last sentenced to 52 years imprisonment.

A judge sentenced Gordon Fowler, also known as “Jamaica,” for the crime of triple murder.

Fowler confessed to the killings after he was caught on video and his image was published after the attack on the family.

When he was arrested, the defendant wore the same clothes and beret he was wearing on the day he killed a Venezuelan family: father, mother and their daughter, who was only three years old.

Reports indicate that the crimes occurred on February

Jailed: Gordon Fowler known as “Jamaica” 5, 2018, in the City of Boa Vista, in the neighbouring State of Roraima, Brazil.

The victims were sleeping on the porch of a house.

The incident occurred on Sabia Street, in the Mecejana, Boa Vista City, Roraima State, Brazil, and was recorded by security cameras.

The defendant committed the crimes with the use of alcohol and a lighter.

According to investigations, “Jamaica” was angry with the Venezuelans for allegedly stealing his bike, so he decided to take revenge.

The jury trial was held at the criminal forum, located in the Jardim Caranã Neighbourhood in the Boa Vista City, the capital city of the Roraima State, Brazil.

In the sentence, the jurors followed the request of the Public Prosecution Service and condemned the defendant for a triple homicide provided for in Article 121, Paragraph 2, Items I (clumsy motive), III (cruel means) and IV (appeal that made defence difficult victim) of the Penal Code.

The burnt site and the area where the child was also injured

24

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

25

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

27

28

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 10, 2019

29

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 10, 2019

Pooran, bowlers help pilot Windies to first ODI series win in five years LUCKNOW, India, (CMC) – Nicholas Pooran struck a Man-of-the-Match half-century as West Indies defied an invasion of moths to brush aside Afghanistan by 47 runs in Saturday’s second One-Day International, and clinch their first series in five years.

The left-hander’s top score of 67 propelled West Indies to 247 for nine off their 50 overs at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium after they had been sent in by the hosts, as opener Evin Lewis extended his form with 54 and Shai Hope chipped in with 43.

West Indies then produced a clinical performance withn the ball, left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell (3-29), off-spinner Roston Chase (3-30) and leg-spinner Hayden Walsh (3-36) all claiming three wickets each to dismantle Afghanistan for 200 in the 46th over.

Najibullah Zadran top-scored with a breezy 56 down the order while Rahmat Shah struck 33 and Mohammad Nabi, 32, but the Afghans lost wickets steadily and failed to mount a serious run chase.

The victory gave West Indies a 2-0 lead in the series ahead of Monday’s final ODI at the same venue but more importantly handed them their first series win since they beat Bangladesh in the Caribbean back in 2014.

Looking to close out the series following their impressive seven-wicket win in last Wednesday’s opener, West Indies started strongly with Lewis and Hope putting on 98 for the first wicket.

The left-handed Lewis, with three half-centuries in his previous seven innings, counted six fours and a six off 75 deliveries while while Hope faced 77 balls and lashed five fours.

They raised the half-century stand in the 12th over with measured batting and Hope appeared en route to another fifty before missing a Rashid Khan googly and being adjudged lbw in the 25th over.

Lewis, who raised his seventh ODI half-century a few balls earlier in the same over, then perished in the 26th when he missed a sweep at off-spinner Javed Ahmadi and was bowled around his legs.

Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer kept West Indies ticking along with 34 off 43 deliveries with two fours and a six but he was one of four wickets to tumble for 45 runs – caught at long on off off-spinner Mohammad Nabi – as the innings declined to 182 for six in the 43rd over.

However, Pooran came to his side’s rescue in an inning laced with seven fours and three sixes and requiring 50 balls, as he posted an invaluable 50 for the seventh wicket tih Romario Shepherd (6).

Pooran was eventually eighth out in the final over, holing out to long off off seamer Naveen-ulHaq (3-60).

West Indies then struck early in the Afghan reply, when Javed Ahmadi failed to keep down a short ball and was caught and bowled by Cottrell off the fifth ball of the innings without scoring.

Two half-century stands then threatened West Indies. First, Rahmat Shah and Hazratullah Zazai (23) put on 53 for the second wicket, repairing the innings and laying the foundation for a later assault.

Rahmat Shah’s run out at the end of the 14th over after stroking four fours in a 54-ball knock, sparked a slide that saw four wickets fall for 55 runs, leaving Afghanistan on 109 five.

But Zadran and Nabi frustrated West Indies in a 68-run, sixth wicket stand, reviving the hosts’ hopes of victory.

Zadran struck seven fours and a six off 66 deliveries while Nabi gathered five fours in a brisk 38-ball outing but once the stand was broken in the 39th over, Afghanistan lost their last five wickets for 23 runs.

Four companies confirm Clash of...

FROM PAGE

three and four, the superbikes as well as the Radical Caribbean Cup. Other sponsors include Sankar’s, under the Valvoline brand, B.M Soat Auto Sales, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Tropical Shipping, MOTUL, ExxonMobil, JAPARTS and Air services.

Other sponsors include Prem’s Electrical, AgriParts,

Choke Gas Station, Miracle Optical, Secure Innovations and concepts Inc., Premier Auto Sales, Bikers Bar, Professional Key Shop, Truck Masters, Palm Court, King’s Jewellery World, Ramchand Autobody and Tow Truck Service, KGM security, Royal Castle, Ramada Hotel, Readymix, Auto Fashion, Ideal Sup-

31

plies, Panko Steel Fabrication, Hand in Hand, Cyril’s Taxi and Century Tamara Energy Service.

The two-day event is billed for the South Dakota Circuit on November 16 and 17.

Admission: Adults $2000; Children $1000. Children under 10 are free.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 10, 2019

31

Graeme Smith in running for CSA’s director of cricket South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:30 hrs Greek Sword 09:05 hrs Arizona Sunset 09:40 hrs Silver Rose 10:15 hrs Nikiya 10:50 hrs Born To Perform

Irish Racing Tips Navan 08:35 hrs Abacadabras 09:05 hrs Apople’s Jade 09:35 hrs Andy Dufresne 10:10 hrs A Plus Tard 10:45 hrs Winner Takes It All 11:15 hrs Melon 11:50 hrs Fakir D’Alene

English Racing Tips Sandown 08:45 hrs Star Of Lanka 09:15 hrs Champagne Court 09:50 hrs Protektorat 10:55 hrs Nebuchadnezzar 11:30 hrs Brother Ted 12:00 hrs Frenchy Du Large

Ffos Las 08:55 hrs Louse Talk 09:25 hrs Prudhomme 10:00 hrs Newtide 10:35 hrs Saint De Vassy 11:05 hrs Pobbles Bay 11:40 hrs Le Coeur Net 12:10 hrs On The Quiet

GRAEME Smith is in the running to become Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) first permanently appointed director of cricket.

The appointment of the former South Africa men’s captain would help quell doubts about the quality of administrative leadership in a turbulent time for the game in South Africa.

Smith confirmed on Saturday that he was interviewed for the position on Friday.

TMG Digital has learnt that Corrie van Zyl, CSA’s interim director of cricket when he was suspended last month, and Hussein Manack, a national selector until the panel was dissolved in terms of the restructure prompted by the disappointing men’s World Cup campaign in July, were also interviewed.

Smith played 345 games for South Africa across all formats, and captained them 284 times.

He presided over 163 wins, 89 losses, 27 draws and a tie.

Smith’s 109 Tests as captain, one at the helm of an ICC XI, is a world record.

He was appointed at 22 in the aftermath of the 2003 World Cup, when South Africa crashed out in the first round at home.

Smith relinquished the oneday reins after the 2011 World Cup, by which time he was no longer the T20 skipper.

But he continued to lead South Africa’s Test team until March 2014 — when he announced his retirement during the third and last match of a series against Australia, a month after his 33rd birthday.

Many felt he called it quits too soon, and he has subsequently stayed in the game as a commentator.

In August 2014 he was named tournament director for CSA’s T20 competition, followed a month later by an appointment to a corporate social responsibility position by financial services company Momentum, a CSA sponsor.

Both Van Zyl and Manack

- GFF Head promises more for soccer in 2020

By Clifton Ross

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis talks with ex captain Graeme Smith ahead of their opening ICC Cricket World Cup match against England at The Oval on May 29, 2019 in London, England.

Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images

likely had their playing careers stunted by apartheid.

Most of Van Zyl’s career coincided with South Africa’s isolation, and his international experience was limited to two ODIs on the tour to West Indies in April 1992.

A fast bowling allrounder, Van Zyl took 349 wickets at 23.38 and scored a century and 10 half-centuries in his 104 first-class matches.

He coached South Africa from January 2010 to March 2011 and was appointed CSA’s general manager in May 2009.

Manack, who is of Indian heritage, was prohibited from playing for South Africa by apartheid, but was listed as a non-playing “development” member of the squad that went to India in November 1991 to play three ODIs — the national team’s first engagement after 22 years of isolation. Manack, a highly regarded wicketkeeper-batter in the non-racial structures, was given no other opportunities to play at the highest level.

He played 52 first-class matches, scoring three centuries and 11 half-centuries and averaging 27.79.

A commentator of 16 years standing, he became a national selector in 2012.

Van Zyl and Manack have solid credentials for the posi-

tion, but Smith is the obvious frontrunner, not least because he is the standard bearer for a more successful era.

South Africa established a brand of tough, competitive cricket under his leadership that saw them rise to the No. 1 Test ranking in July 2012 — where they stayed for the rest of his career.

Having suffered their worst Test series defeat in 83 years in India last month, which came in the wake of their worst performance at a World Cup, and all that in the shadow of multiple challenges on the administrative front — not least court battles with the players and a provincial affiliate — South Africa are in dire need of the good news that is Smith’s interest in the position.

TMG Digital has learnt that the panel that interviewed the three candidates comprised CSA chief executive Thabang Moroe and board members Jack Madiseng, Tebogo Siko, Dawn Makhobo and Shirley Zinn.

None of them played firstclass cricket, some through no fault of their own. It is understood they will make a decision in the next two weeks.

Triple jumper Edwards critical of Diamond League cuts

By Gene Cherry

(REUTERS) - Triple jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards has strongly criticized the IAAF’s Diamond League for cutting his event from the circuit’s 2020 programme.

Briton Edwards jumped 18.29 meters in 1995 and his world mark still stands despite the best efforts of American Christian Taylor who has dominated the triple jump in recent years. “There are so many things wrong with World Athletics decision re Diamond League events but what Usain Bolt showed athletics is that it’s not about events but

CONCACAF throws full support behind Forde, GFF

personalities and to exclude and alienate one of the sport’s true stars @Taylored2jump (Christian Taylor) is beyond comprehension,” Edwards said on Twitter on Saturday. The triple jump, along with the 200 meters, steeplechase and discus, will not be among the core disciplines for a streamlined 2020 Diamond League as officials seek a faster paced, more exciting programme. The 200, where American world champion Noah Lyles is among the most popular athletes, was eliminated from core events to avoid a sprint glut during the Olympic year, officials said.

Lyles will continue to have opportunities to run the 200 as

well as the 100 on the circuit, but the decision has sparked disappointment and concern among other athletes.

“You are seriously destroying the historical and cultural heritage of the sport of athletics because of some short term marketing strategy,” Global Throwing, a group of athletes and coaches in throwing events, wrote in a letter to IAAF President Sebastian Coe. The group includes Sweden’s world discus champion Daniel Stahl, 2015 world champion Piotr Malachowski of Poland and coaches Juergen Schult and Mac Wilkins, who both won Olympic gold medals.

CONFEDERATION of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Director of Member Associations, Marco Leal, said the association is in full support of Guyana Football Federation (GFF) president, Wayne Forde, and his executives.

Leal, who was present during Saturday’s GFF Extraordinary Congress meeting held at the Pegasus Savannah Suites, said that CONCACAF had recognized Wayne’s previous re-election as president.

The international soccer executive pointed out that elections were held in accordance with the rules and as such, they will be acknowledging and supporting the GFF along with their future goals to help put the local soccer fraternity on a much higher plane.

Leal said his presence was to further ensure that as a CONCACAF member, things would be carried out the right way and, more importantly for the association, to show their support to Guyana. His overall description of Guyana was that of “A Powerhouse”, which has grown over the years and as such, he’s here to celebrate and congratulate Forder on his re-election and future endeavors.

Forde, who will again be tasked with carrying soccer to its highest peak for the next four years, on behalf of his executive commit-

tee, thanked the council for bestowing the power again upon them, thus giving him another chance to improve the quality of football in Guyana.

With regards to his first six months of his new tenure, as well as other priority short-term goals, Forde pointed out that he plans to complete the National Training Centre, while recognising the reduction of organised football locally, citing an urgent need for the increase of games.

He said in days ahead he will focus on investing heavily in the respective constitution members, who will have more resources to better organise football within their jurisdictions.

Forde said the GFF are in the green financially, stating that they are in more stable financial situation while labeling their current fiscal position as having a “balanced budget”.

Also, the GFF boss added that should members fail to properly use these resources to develop the sport in their demography, they will be held accountable by the Federation.

Meanwhile, Forde assured more prominence will be placed on the recent comprehensive Sexual Harassment Policy which was just introduced, adding that they will be working extra hard to put to use their well-balanced budget heading into 2020 and beyond, with the aim of increasing the level of activity of soccer.

Four companies confirm Clash of champions sponsorship

FOUR companies in ISG, Survival Supermarket, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Windjammer Hotel handed over their sponsorship for the upcoming Clash of Champions race meet.

Steve Ghisiawan of Industrial Supply Guyana (ISG), the sole distributors of National Petroleum (NP) products in Guyana, expressed his company’s delight at being a part of the event.

Survival Supermarket and Windjammer International Hotel and Comfort Inn are no strangers to motorsport, having sponsored individual events before.

Windjammer’s managing director, Carey Griffith, told the media, “We are really happy to be back on board again with motorsport.”

“We’ve sponsored circuit racing and endurance racing before and while this isn’t our first drag racing venture, we believe that this event is going to be huge,” Griffith said.

Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, through a statement, also expressed pleasure at being on board with the event.

The twenty-three race programme will feature action in the street and sport tuner class, the groups two, TURN TO PAGE

30

32

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 10, 2019

West Indian Sports Complex donates trophies for ‘Sunday Football Festival’

WEST Indian Sports Complex yesterday donated three trophies for today’s one-day football extravaganza, dubbed ‘Sunday Football Festival,’ which will be held at the Georgetown Football Club ground.

Seven games are carded for the day. Of the 14 teams set to battle, a few of them had taken part in last Sunday’s ‘We Believe Breast Cancer Charity’ event.

The EyeFull Entertain-

ment and Kingston Football Development Academy event will open with two female battles. From 12:00hrs, Santos Ladies will tackle Eastvedlt Ladies, while at 13:00hrs, Lady Panthers will play last week’s runners-up Fruta Ladies.

GT Masters will meet Ballers FC Veterans at 14:00hrs, while GFF Staff will play West Demerara Masters at 15:00hrs. At

16:00hrs, there will be an Over-50 battle between Santos and Pele, while the final two games will be played under lights.

Santos FC will challenge GDF FC at 17:00hrs, before Fruta CFC play U-20 President XI at 18:30hrs.

Early last week, Trophy Stall also made a donation.

Other sponsors include Outdoor Store and Pet Supplies and the GFF.

Caption: Javed Khan (centre), CEO of West Indian Sports Complex, hands over the trophies to organiser of the event, Junior Forrester. (Esan Griffith photo)

Cornwall blast stuns Canada with blistering 92 off 75 balls BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – West Indies all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall’s whirlwind knock underlined Leeward Islands Hurricanes’ second win of the Super50 Cup, as they whipped Canada by 70 runs in their Group A contest here Friday.

Opting to bat first at Warner Park, Hurricanes rattled up 257 all out with five balls left in the innings, behind Cornwall’s aggressive 92 off 75 deliveries.

The burly 26-year-old, who will fly out to India shortly to join the West Indies Test squad in preparation for the one-off Test against Afghanistan at month end, crunched five fours and sev-

Rahkeem Cornwall crunched 5 fours and 7 sixes in his 92.

en sixes in a scintillating display.

Discarded Test opener Kieran Powell found form with 58 off 70 balls while Jeremiah Louis lashed a

cameo 40 off 30 deliveries down the order.

Harsh Thaker, a 22-yearold off-spinner, braved the Hurricanes assault to finish with three for 24 from seven

solid overs.

In reply, Canada never quite found their momentum and were dismissed for 187 in the 43rd over, with seamer Sheno Berridge snaring four for 36 and left-arm spinner Jason Campbell (2-19), off-spinner Cornwall (2-30) and pacer Louis (2-42) all finishing with two wickets each.

Captain Kanwarpal Tathgur top-scored with a breezy 49 while Nitish Kumar got 27 and Rayyankhan Pathan, 26, but Canada never really recovered after finding themselves on 91 for five in the 23rd over.

The victory was the second on the trot for Hurricanes who opened with a crushing 198-run victory

over CCC Marooners last Thursday.

Powell, who counted seven fours, put on 44 for the first wicket with Montcin Hodge (13) to give the hosts a solid start but wickets tumbled regularly thereafter to leave them on 128 for six in the 32nd over.

Cornwall then anchored two key stands to get his side past 200, first adding 38 for the seventh wicket with Terrance Ward (9) and then 72 off 41 balls for the eighth wicket with Louis, who belted two fours and three sixes.

Thaker helped to keep Canada in the game, accounting for both Cornwall and Louis in successive overs late on.

Canada’s run chase received an early blow when they lost Jeet Metha to the fifth ball of the innings without scoring, with just a single run on the board.

And Kumar and Pathan posted 36 for the second wicket but both were casualties in a slide that claimed four wickets for 54 runs, as Canada tumbled to 91 for five in the 23rd over.

Tathgur, who punched five fours and a six, joined with wicketkeeper Shreyas Movva (8) to frustrate Leewards in a 44-run, sixth wicket stand but Movva’s demise in the 33rd over saw the last five wickets fall for 52 runs.

GCC in total control against Ace Warriors in second-division two-day cricket -Everest score 256 against GNIC in first-division encounter GEOTGETOWN Cricket Club (GCC)were enjoying a comfortable first innings lead when bails were lifted yesterday afternoon after day one in their Noble House Seafoods Second Division Two Day cricket clash against Ace Warriors at the Bourda Ground.

The home team’s spinners delivered before the top order played a few shots to carry them to a first innings lead.

GCC won the toss and opted to bowl first. Their left arm spinners Stephon Wilson and Devon Lord did the damage early, before off spinner Winston Forrester cleaned up the lower order.

None of the visiting batsmen reached 20.

Premraj Persaud and Go-

(File) Amir Khan (left) and Ritchie Looknauth did the damage with ball and bat for Everest.

paul Ramgobin scored two boundaries each in their

scores of 16 and 15 respectively as Ace Warriors folded for 38 from 18 overs.

(File) Stephon Wilson took 4-7 from seven overs.

What was spectacular about GCC’s innings was their clean slate of extras.

Wilson finished with 4-7 from seven overs, while Lord, who is playing his first game since returning from Canada, took 3-15 from six overs.

Forrester also picked up two wickets.

In their turn in the middle GCC had reached 127-3 before play ended.

Opener Forrester scored 35 (5X4s, 1X6), while fellow opener Martin Pestano-Belle added 18 and Daniel Seegobin 13. At the crease teenager Mavindra Dindyal was not out on 37, while Ronaldo Alimohamed is not out on 13.

FIRST DIVISION CLASH

Meanwhile, at the Everest Cricket Club ground, the home team had made inroads into the visiting GNIC innings after they had lost the toss and were asked to take first strike in the GISE Star Party Rental and Trophy Stall First Division Two-Day cricket.

Led by Ritchie Looknauth, who scored 70 and Ronaldo Renee who added 45, Everest were able reach 256 before their inning ended. Amir Khan added 37 and David Williams 30.

Premchand Sookdeo finished with 3-62 for the visitors.

In reply, GNIC closed on 96-4. Ovid Richardson made 26. Leading the charge for Everest is Khan with 4-26 from 10 overs.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 10, 2019

33

SHC Sensations impressive in victory over YMCA old Fort CLAYSIA Bobb is the new rising star of the junior girls coming out of Friday evening’s matches. The young striker amassed four of the five goals scored in the SHC Sensations 5-0 victory over YMCA Old Fort in the Farfan & Mendes girls U-16 division. Charlia Webb joined Bobb as top-scorer for her match by scoring both of the SHC Supreme’s goals in their 2-0 win over the Bingo GCC Her-ricanes.

In the boys U-16 division, the GCC War Dogs had a tough evening when they began the evening with a loss to YMCA Old Fort by 0-4. Shaquon Favourite led the score sheet for Old Fort with a double while Daniel Woolford and Nkosi Saul

Action between YMCA Old Fort and SHC Sensations at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

scored one each. The War Dogs then experienced their second loss of the evening in as many matches when the

Joseph Warriors managed to sneak in a 1-0 victory through Narendra Persaud.

Shakeem Fausette was

the double goal scorer in the remaining boys U-16 matches as SHC Shockwave defeated SHC Silencers by

2-0.

In the Sunshine Snacks Girls U-21 division, the YMCA Old Fort fought bravely against the rapidly improving Saints. Claysia Bobb was the difference between the two teams, however, as she managed to score a field goal for Saints in the 10th minute, which was the lone goal of the match.

The GBTI GCC Spartans faced YMCA Old Fort later in the evening and continued their unbeaten steak with a 4-0 victory. Abosaide Cadogan was the leading scorer with a double while Sarah Matthias and Haley Carpenter completed the tally.

The lone U-21 boys’ match of the evening saw YMCA Old Fort outlast a determined Saints by 4-3.

After a Shakeem Fausette goal in the opening minute, Old Fort seemed to take control of the game, scoring three unanswered field goals through Omar Hopkinson, Donnel Alleyne and Warren Williams.

With the half-time score standing at 3-1 in Old Fort’s favour, a Tivesard Garnett penalty corner goal pulled Saints back within one in the opening minute of the second half. With five minutes remaining and the tempo at fever pitch, Shaquan Favourite scored a field goal to give Old Fort its second two-goal cushion of the match. Two minutes later, Baraka Garnett brought Saints within one goal but Old Fort held on for the 4-3 win at the final whistle.

Baird impressive in UK, selected to play Minor Counties Cricket next season MALTEENOES Sports Club (MSC) cricketer, Clarence Baird, has had a relatively impressive stint in the UK, given that he has been selected to play in the Minor Counties Cricket Championships (played on Saturdays) next season.

The top-order batsman, who played two different competitions over the weekends during his time in England, is scheduled to return

Clarence Baird during a recent visit to the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

to Guyana tomorrow.

Baird played for Gore Court in Kent League Division Two on Saturdays and for High Wycombe Cricket Club in the Buckinghamshire League (privately sponsored) on Sundays.

For Gore Court, he scored 355 runs in 13 innings, at an average of 27.31. He managed to score two half centuries. He scored 52 against table toppers, Bexley Cricket

Club, while he scored 74 against Gravesend.

In the Sunday League, Baird proved to be more productive. The local first division cricketer scored 422 runs from nine innings, at an average of 48 runs. Four of his nine innings were half centuries. He had scores of 81, 69, 93 and 52.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE According to the 20-year-

old, his second year in the UK has been relatively fruitful.

“It’s been a massive learning experience to be playing in the UK. Over the last two years, I have gained a lot of experience and played a lot more cricket.”

Next year, he is scheduled to play only for High Wycombe Cricket Club. He would play in the countysponsored games on Saturday

and the privately sponsored games on Sunday.

“I am really looking forward to my upcoming season playing minor counties premier; also, I am looking to make a massive impact in the Malteenoes squad from next weekend.”

Baird left Guyana in May to play in the leagues.

Messi gives set-piece masterclass as Barca outclass Celta 4-1 BARCELONA (Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored two exquisite free kicks as he netted his first hat-trick of the season in a 4-1 win over Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou on Saturday which took Barcelona back to the top of La Liga after a difficult week.

Barca’s captain coolly converted a penalty to put the champions ahead in the 23rd minute but gave away a foul in a dangerous area which led to Lucas Olaza levelling for Celta with an outstanding strike from a free kick in the 42nd.

But Messi restored Barca’s lead right before halftime with a stunning free kick of his own, curling the ball into the top corner.

He conjured up an almost identical strike at the start of the second half to complete his treble and match Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 34 hat-tricks in

Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Albert Gea

Spain’s top flight.

Sergio Busquets struck a fourth goal in the 85th to round off a first win for Barca in three games, after falling to a shock 3-1 defeat at Levante

last week in La Liga and drawing 0-0 at home to Slavia Prague in the Champions League.

“We have a very big advantage, we have the

best player in the world on our side who is also the best at taking free kicks,” said Busquets in praise of Messi.

“Little by little he has been improving at free kicks,

he used to find them hard.

Having him around gives us a real boost.”

Barca lead the standings on 25 points after 12 games, level with second-placed Real Madrid who eased to a 4-0 win at Eibar.

Despite going into the weekend within striking distance of top spot, the Catalans have had an uneasy campaign which hit a new low this week as players were booed off the pitch following the goalless draw at home against Slavia.

There was a subdued atmosphere at the Camp Nou on Saturday and close to 30,000 seats were left empty.

Celta were playing their first game under former Barca player Oscar Garcia, after Fran Escriba was sacked following four consecutive defeats.

The visitors did well to contain Barca in the opening stages until Messi took

advantage from the penalty spot but howls of frustration could be heard across the ground after Olaza’s superb equaliser.

As has so often been the case, it was up to Messi to lift the mood again.

“With Messi anything is possible,” said Barca coach Valverde.

“He dominates the art of free kick taking, and opponents know they cannot afford to give away fouls near our area. When they do, we try to take advantage.”

The coach also underlined how important it was that his side got back to winning ways.

“When you lose a game it’s always important to win the next one, especially at a club like ours. The other day we had a painful defeat and we had to win today,” he said.

34

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 10, 2019

Leave Pant alone, implores India’s stand-in captain Rohit MUMBAI, (Reuters) - Critics of India’s Rishabh Pant must leave the young wicketkeeper batsman alone and let him play with freedom, stand-in captain Rohit Sharma said on Saturday.

The 22-year-old has received lots of flak lately from India’s coaching staff, pundits and the media after losing his wicket through loose shots and his position in the India test side has been taken by fit-again Wriddhiman Saha.

Former Australia batsman Dean Jones told Reuters this week that Pant needs to improve his offside game if he wants to graduate from being a one-trick pony.

Rishabh Pant

“There is a lot of talk happening about Rishabh Pant every day, every minute,” Rohit, who is leading the hosts in place of rested regular captain Virat Kohli,

told reporters ahead of Sunday’s deciding final Twenty20 international against Bangladesh at Nagpur.

“I just feel that he needs to be allowed to do what he

wants to do on the field. I would request everyone to just keep their eyes away from Rishabh Pant for a while.”

Pant was perceived as Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s natural successor in limited overs cricket for India when the former captain eventually hangs up his gloves and till recently was the preferred choice behind the stumps in all three formats.

He played 11 Tests in the absence of the injured Saha and used his chances well, hitting a century in an Oval test against England last year while smashing an unbeaten 159 versus Australia in Sydney in January.

His six-hitting ability makes him a limited-overs

asset, but India head coach Ravi Shastri and batting coach Vikram Rathour said in recent interviews that the left-hander’s shot selection has occasionally let the team down.

Pant played within himself and seemed to curb his natural instincts in his 26ball knock of 27 during India’s loss to Bangladesh in the first T20 in Delhi while he did not get a chance to bat during the series-levelling win at Rajkot.

He, however, handed a reprieve to Bangladesh opener Liton Das, who was stumped off Yuzvendra Chahal but replays confirmed Pant did not collect the ball behind the stumps, with part of his gloves jutting ahead of

the line.

Pant nearly repeated the mistake when effecting a similar dismissal to send back Soumya Sarkar for 30 off Chahal.

“He is a young guy ... trying to make his mark in international cricket. Every move he makes on the field, people start talking about him. It is not fair,” Rohit said.

“Focus on him a lot more when he is doing good things also, not just the bad things. He is a fearless cricketer and we want him to have that freedom.

And if you guys keep your eyes little bit off him, it will allow him to perform even better.”

Chelsea march on, Tottenham stuck in a rut

By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea notched a sixth successive Premier League win as they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 to move into second spot, but stuttering Tottenham Hotspur’s winless run continued as they were held to a draw at home by Sheffield United on Saturday.

Burnley crushed West Ham United 3-0 to pile the pressure on Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini, but Everton’s Marco Silva finally found some cheer as his side won 2-1 at Southampton.

Newcastle United claimed a second successive win as they

beat Bournemouth 2-1 to climb into mid-table.

After their breathless midweek 4-4 home draw with Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League, Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side enjoyed a rather more straightforward day against Palace.

Chelsea laboured in the first half against a rugged Palace side, but Tammy Abraham put them ahead after the break with his 10th goal of the season before Christian Pulisic sealed victory with his fifth goal in three league games.

The return of midfield shield N’Golo Kante helped Chelsea keep their third clean sheet of the season and move

above champions Manchester City, who face a seismic clash away at league leaders Liverpool today.

Lampard fielded the club’s youngest-ever Premier League line-up at kickoff, giving 19-year-old defender Reece James his first league start, and his trust in youth is paying off.

“I am proud of the squad that we have got, but I also realise it’s still a snapshot in what is the big picture which is the long-term future here,” he said.

“We have got so much improvement to do because the gap was too big last year between us and the top two, and we want to try and close that.”

The mood could not be

more different across London at Tottenham and West Ham. Tottenham were given a fortuitous lead after halftime

by Son Heung-min, but George Baldock’s equaliser earned Sheffield United a 1-1 and extended their unbeaten run to five league games.

It was no more than United deserved after they had a David McGoldrick goal ruled out for a fractional offside after a VAR check that took almost four minutes to complete.

While Sheffield United sit proudly in the top six, Tottenham - Champions League finalists in June - are stuck in 12th spot, without a league win since September.

“The reality is that for different reasons we are not showing the performances that we expect,” Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said after the match.

West Ham’s early season form is a fading memory, meanwhile, and they have picked up one point from the last 15 on offer.

Burnley had lost their previous three games but dominated on Saturday after Ashley Barnes poked home in the 11th minute.

The hosts were denied a second in the 36th minute when Chris Wood’s header was ruled out by VAR, but Wood did make it 2-0 after a mistake by

defender Fabian Balbuena.

West Ham’s misery was complete when keeper Roberto Jimenez punched Ashley Westwood’s corner into his own net.

“When you concede so many easy goals it does not help. I am concerned at the easy goals we are conceding,” Pellegrini, whose side have careered down the table, said.

Goals by Tom Davies and Richarlison gave Everton their first away win of the season to leave Southampton stuck in the bottom three.

Newcastle trailed at home to Bournemouth but goals by DeAndre Yedlin and Ciaran Clarke sealed a 2-1 win.

Ireland name Balbirnie new Test & ODI captain ..William Porterfield steps down

ANDREW Balbirnie has been named as the new Ireland Test and one-day

captain after long-serving skipper William Porterfield stepped down.

Dublin-born Balbirnie, 28, becomes Ireland’s second Test captain and the fifth man to captain the one-day international side.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Porterfield, who (Sunday November 10, 2019) will continue playing, COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & led the side 253 times The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 after taking over from Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Trent Johnston in 2008.

“To be asked to Answers to yesterday’s quiz: captain my country is (1) 125*-Evin Lewis (vs IND, Jamaica, 2017) an absolute honour,” Balbirnie said.

(2) 162-Hazratullah Zazai (vs IRE, Dehradun, 2019) “It’s a proud moment, not just for me Today’s Quiz: but also for my fami(1) What are the best bowling figures by a WI player in a single T20 Int’l game to ly and everyone who date? has been there on my cricket journey so far (2) What are the best bowling figures by an Afghan player in a single T20 Int’l game to date?

- especially my coaches, teammates and Answers in tomorrow’s issue friends at Pembroke Cricket Club.

Andrew Balbirnie’s first match as captain will be in January 2020 against West Indies

“Since 2008, William has been an amazing leader on and off the field, not just to me but anyone who has been lucky to represent Ireland.

“Taking over from our greatest captain will certainly be a hard act to follow but one I’m looking forward to getting into. William still has

a huge role to play in this team going forward and I look forward to working with him over the next couple of years.”

Balbirnie made his international debut in 2010 and has appeared 123 times for Ireland.

His first international match as captain will be on 7

January 2020 when Ireland take on the West Indies in a one-day international in Barbados.

At the time of stepping down, Cricket Ireland said Porterfield was the longest-serving current national captain in an Irish team sport.

“It has been an incredible journey, and a fantastic honour to have captained my country over the past 11 and a half years,” he said.

“There have been many highs, along with a few lows along the way, but I can honestly say that it has been thoroughly enjoyable.

“To have been able to lead Ireland out at various World Cups, through to our first Test against Pakistan, and again at Lord’s in the summer, have been but a few of these highlights.”(BBC Sport).

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 10, 2019

35

PM T20 Softball Cup Open category

Regal All Stars, SVC Grill Masters share honours

AFTER taking into consideration all the factors involved in the abandonment of the Open category of the third edition of the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup, the executives of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc have decided that the two teams, Regal All Stars and SVC Grill Masters, will share the spoils.

According to a release from the GSCL, the joint champions will each receive G$300,000 cash which represents 50 per cent of the total prize money for the final -- $500,000 for the winner and $100,000 for the runners-up.

The release pointed out that more than 48 hours have passed since last Sunday night (November 3) and it is a major challenge logistically for the finalists, Regal All Stars and Grill Masters, to reassemble to replay the final.

The GSCL further disclosed that “moving forward, unless it is permanent lights, no other final will be played under floodlights.”

GSCL, the release said “Firmly believes that the sport of softball cricket is a poor man’s game and will not ask teams to pay any entrance fee for any of our tournaments.”

The GSCL also boasted that “other than the light

night, both the Prime Minister (acting) Ramjattan and GSCL president, Ian John, apologised to the players and spectators for the hiccup.

Ramjattan assured the organisers that government will continue its support for the tournament and commended them for the introduction of a women’s game. He described the tournament as being “wonderful” while congratulating the respective winners and participating teams.

John also acknowledged that the tournament was a success while acknowledging the mis-

Regal All Stars

failure, the tournament was incident free and it is committed to the staging of the fourth edition in 2020 with the same three categories. It said the dates will be unveiled soon.

The GSCL also expressed sincere thanks to all its sponsors, teams, fans, families, the office of the Prime Minister and the Honourable Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Honourable Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan and the local and international media for their support in 2019 and extended congratulations to all of the champion teams while wishing better luck to the other participating teams.

The tournament, which saw three days of action-

packed and entertaining cricket, suffered a setback when the lights proved inadequate and the umpires complained that they weren’t able to see.

SVC Grill Masters

Following a few stoppages, which started when the women’s feature game was in progress, the organisers made valiant efforts to ensure the Open

game could be completed but, after it eventually started, some of the lights malfunctioned.

At the presentation ceremony last Sunday

hap with the lights. He lauded the participation of the 26 teams while extolling the winners for their sterling efforts.

Saints and GCC Eagles win U10 and U13 hockey titles SAINT Stanislaus College and the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Eagles emerged victorious in the finals of the U-10 and U-13 divisions respectively when the National Junior Indoors Hockey Championships continued yesterday afternoon at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

In the Simcom Engineering U-10 Mixed Division final, Saints got past GCC Panthers 3-2.

Kristian Viapree scored in the opening minute for the Panthers, while Oswald Fraser answered in the third minute for Saints. Both teams went on to score again in

The GCC U-13 goal scorers in the final: (l-r) 13-year-old Joshua Bento, 10-year-old Shane Sargeant and winner of the Most Goals trophy, 13-year-old Vladimir Woodroffe.

the eighth minute via goals from Grant Fernandes (Panthers) and Jamaine Grosvenor (Saints) before Fraser sealed the win for Saints in the ninth minute with his second strike.

In the third-place playoff, GCC Thunderbolts defeated YMCA Old Fort Winkies by a 4-0 margin. Kyle Couchman netted all four goals. He scored in the 1st, 3rd, 9th and 10th minutes of play.

In the semi-finals, Saints edged out Thunderbolts 1-0, via a Fraser strike in the fifth minute, while Fernandes scored twice to hand the Panthers a 2-0 victory against Old Fort.

Meanwhile, GCC Ea-

gles registered a 4-0 victory against SHC Samurai in the Sunshine Snacks U-13 Mixed Division final.

Joshua Bento scored the first and last goals in the second and ninth minutes, while winner of the Most- Goals trophy, Vladimir Woodroffe, scored the second in the fifth minute and Shane Lucas Sargeant, a goal in the 11th minute.

In the third place clash, two successful strikes by Daniel Jacobs handed SHC Scorchers a 2-0 victory against SHC Scalpels.

36

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 10, 2019

Pooran, bowlers help pilot Windies to first ODI series win in five years Left-hander Nicholas Pooran goes on the attack during his half-century on Saturday.

PAGE

30

Left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell led a clinical Windies bowling performance with 3-29.

CONCACAF throws full support behind Forde, GFF

Four companies confirm Clash of champions sponsorship

PAGE

31 GFF president Wayne Forde (left) and (CONCACAF) Director of Member Associations, Marco Leal (right) during Saturday’s post GFF Extraordinary Congress held at the Pegasus Savannah Suites. (Clifton Ross Photo)

PAGE

31 Mikail Budhram (right) receives a sponsorship cheque from Steve Ghisiawan of ISG.

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, NOVEMBER 10, 2019