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TUESDAY 29th October, 2019

' No.105805

MMU to target Online news sites

…as GECOM 'gears up' to monitor media content ahead of 2020 polls

Tourism body seeks Fire ruins Guinness Bar meeting with 14 political leaders PAGE

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CDC MOBILISED …as high tide 'lashes' Mahaicony, West Demerara

SEE STORIES ON PAGE 03

High waves overtop the sea defence on the West Coast of Demerara during Monday’s spring tide (Adrian Narine photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Fire guts popular Guinness Bar -Losses estimated at over $10M

A fire gutted the popular Guinness Bar Restaurant of 67, Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, just after 19:00 hours on Monday evening. The owner, Troy Mendonca, is now left with an estimated over $10 million in losses, while several persons will be without jobs. Speaking with this newspaper, the businessman related that he did not open for business on Monday, and so, at the time of the blaze the

building was closed. He said that he was alerted about the fire from the owner of the property who called informing him that the building was in flames. “I got a call actually from the landlady, at around seven something, saying how the business on fire. At this point I haven’t heard anything on the cause of the fire, I’m at this position here just trying to keep myself calm”. Mendonca further related that neither the business nor

the building was insured and the total cost for replacement of the items lost in the fire would be on him. There are no reports of injuries and the Guyana Fire Service was able to contain the fire before it could spread to the upper flat of the building or any of the surrounding buildings. Up to press time the cause of the fire was still unknown.

The building that houses the Guinness Bar after the blaze was put out (Delano Williams Photos)

Guinness Bar owner Troy Mendonca Damage done to the interior of the Guinness Bar

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

CDC MOBILISED

…as high tide ‘lashes’ Mahaicony, West Demerara AS warned by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) last week, sections of the low coastal plain, on Monday afternoon, experienced unusually high spring tide, which resulted in overtopping and flooding in some sections, including in Georgetown, and the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara and Mahaica Berbice Regions. CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig, last evening informed that “the Regional Disaster Management System has been activated and deployed to some of the affected communities”, via his Facebook page. The CDC is scheduled to conduct an assessment on Tuesday, and distribute sanitation hampers in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara. Hamper distribution to Mahaica-Berbice already began on Monday. It was last Thursday that the CDC had issued an advisory, warning of spring tide from October 25 – 30, with tide peaking on October 28, Monday, with 3.31 metres at 16.13 hrs. Residents living in low lying and riverain areas along Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were put on high alert and asked to take precautions. The natural disaster comes just weeks after spring tide in September also peaked over three metres and affected many villages on the West Coast of Demerara. One such village that was yet again hard-hit by the overtopping on Monday was Anna Catherina. Residents swore it was the highest flooding their village has ever seen. Sixty-one-year-old Mohammed Kalam estimates that flood waters in his yard was over 16 inches high. “It started just after four

(o’ clock). This was higher than the last time, three times more high. Me had on the long boots and til suh water

evening dipping water out of her house, and complained of a drain in the community not being wide enough to handle

CDC volunteer distributing sanitation hampers to residents

reach. It had four in casting here [by his door] before, so last time me cast up one feet more on top of that, water still come over that,” Kalam declared. Though the hide tide was natural and unavoidable, the residents believe that the situation was compounded and led to flooding due to a lack of upkeep of a key drainage system in the village. “Them nah dig the [drain], we deh like a fish pond here. When this water come over here it nah gah nowhere fuh go, so it nah run,” said Kalam, who has been living in the village some 25 years now. As night fell and the water began to subside he was still trying to bail water out of his bedroom. As she saw waves as tall as some of the houses thrashing against the seawall, shopkeeper Jasmattie Ramnaress, was left worried. “Meh heart really hurt meh. The whole place suh this water start come. This ah the first time we get this flood with water so high. When the water flash it deh high as my neighbor house,” she noted. She too was spending her

the water flow. On the sea dam, a squatter’s shanty was knocked over by the waves and sent rolling down the dam. Emergency works Guyana Chronicle reported on Saturday that emergency works are currently being conducted at heavily-eroded and breached sections of the Mahaicony sea defence. The works were aimed at lessening the impact of the current high tide. Executing these emergency flood protection works is the Sea and River Defence Department which has taken note of the sections of sea defences impacted by the cyclic erosion of the foreshore and natural depletion of the mangrove forest. In a release on Thursday, the ministry reported that significant overtopping has been occurring at the sea defence embankment within a 3.0 kilometres stretch of shoreline between Fairfield and Dantzig on the East Coast of Demerara. “The Ministry of Finance recently approved a contingency allocation to support the efforts of the ministry of Public Infra-

structure in executing sea defence construction works at Mahaicony. These resources are being utilised to engage multiple contractors in key construction materials supplies and works execution contracts which will be executed concurrently to achieve faster implementation,” the ministry indicated. According to the Sea and River Defence Department, the spring tide period would be one of the most pronounced for the year and would likely impact a number of vulnerable sections of the sea defence. The ministry is therefore working to reinstate sections of the earthen embankment by constructing a rock armour facing on the seaward slope as an erosion control measure. The medium-term solution works are being undertaken by A and S General Contractors Inc. which is working at the Fairfield and Broomhall area and BK International Inc. which is working at the Dantzig area. Four other contractors have been engaged to simultaneously deliver boulders to the worksites along the Mahaicony foreshore by barge, and with trucks via the ECD Highway. Compromised access dams and the deterioration of the sea defence embankment have increased the difficulty of transporting construction materials. According to Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, Kevin Samad, the intensity of erosion and the extensiveness of the foreshore impacts have not been experienced with such consistency along a localised section of Guyana’s coast in recent years. He stated that multiple incidents have taken place whereby tugs and barges have been

Flooding in a village on the West Coast of Demerara

accidentally grounded while delivering boulders to the site. “These challenges have contributed to delays in the advancement of the works being undertaken,” the release stated. The Sea and River Defence Department, in collaboration with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), is also working to minimise the impact of overtopping on agriculture lands. NDIA has installed three mobile pumps at Cottage and Dantzig to discharge excess water from the Bellamy Canal into the Atlantic Ocean, which prevents the intrusion of salt water onto adjacent agriculture lands. Meanwhile, cofferdam works are also ongoing to prevent the flow of excess water to residential areas. In the future, Samad said that adaptation of the sea defences will be required to achieve a more resilient flood protection scheme. “This overall integrated

and strategic approach will require that consideration be given to implementing foreshore stabilisation measures and landward offsets that would enable adequate retention spaces to absorb overtopping discharge when extreme events are experienced,” the release explained. Samad highlighted that while much progress has been made in reinstating sections of the Mahaicony Sea Defence to a reasonable degree, several exposed sections of embankment still exist. Nonetheless, the ministry has assured that the Sea and River Defence Department will continue to pursue actively, the required measures to mitigate the impact of flooding on coastal communities. Even so, residents of low-lying coastal communities are being advised to take the needed precautions during the remainder of the spring-tide period

Coalition brought stability, development – Pres. Granger – remains committed to working towards an inclusionary govt. HIS EXCELLENCY, President David Granger, has expressed his confidence in the Coalition’s victory at the polls on March 2, 2020. He was at the time appearing as a guest on ‘INSIDE Sources’, hosted by journalist Gordon Mosely. The Coalition Government, the Head of State remarked, has accomplished much during its time in office. “My first tenure as president brought stability, brought development. We have not been able to fulfil all of our objectives, but I have been able to inspire confidence in the bulk of the population

that we should be allowed to continue our work.” He explained that the ‘Decade of Development’ encompasses education, employment, health and infrastructure – things that are pivotal for the country’s development. “They [citizens] know that I will do my utmost to deliver quality public service to them so they and their children could live happily in this country,” the president asserted. Addressing the question of why Guyanese citizens should place the country’s faith in his hands, President

Granger noted that he “represents a broad coalition, a big benab in which I welcome parties who share our common ideas, people who are prepared to work for the common good wherever they come from… I want the people of Guyana to look and say there are people in the Coalition who speak for me, I am inclusive.” When asked his thoughts about his PPP opponent Irfaan Ali, the Head of State said: “Mr. Ali represents a different mindset, a different ideology. I represent an inclusive ideology… I represent bring-

ing people from all of the geographic regions… I am the one running a six-party Coalition. He is saying if you want to serve come into the PPP. I am not telling anyone to come into the PNC. I am telling them to come into a big benab where their views will be listened to and the interests of their constituents will be satisfied.” The Head of State also assured that he is fit enough to carry out his duties and functions. He noted, “I am strong enough, based on the support

I get from my partnership and the Coalition to see the campaign through. I have covered many engagements over the last six weeks… I am strong enough, and citizens will see more of me in the coming weeks.” In closing, President Granger committed to working towards an inclusionary government. (DPI) The entire interview with His Excellency, President David Granger can be viewed on the link provided: https://bit.ly/31KwMJq

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 29, 2019

EU agrees Brexit delay as British parliament blocks December election LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union agreed to a Brexit delay of up to three months on Monday, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would push on with his bid to end Britain’s political paralysis with an election on Dec. 12. With the United Kingdom’s scheduled Oct. 31 departure from the EU now virtually certain to be postponed, Brexit hangs in the balance, with British politicians still arguing over how, when or even whether the divorce should take place at all. Johnson, who had loudly promised to deliver Brexit on Oct. 31, “do or die”, has repeatedly demanded an election to end what he casts as a nightmare political deadlock that is sapping public trust by preventing any Brexit outcome at all. Hours after the 27 countries remaining in the EU backed his reluctant request for a delay, Johnson attempted to force a snap election on Dec. 12 in the hope of finally winning a majority to pass the divorce deal he has negotiated with Brussels. But his third attempt to call such an election gathered only 299 votes in parliament, short of the 424 - or two-thirds of the house - that he needed. After the vote, Johnson said he would try again, by

DIVIDED KINGDOM After almost four years of tortuous discussion, the United Kingdom remains divided over a divorce that removes what was once considered to be one of the West’s most stable democracies from the European project. While almost all British politicians agree that an election is needed, they want to inflict British Prime Minister, Boris maximum political damage Johnson on Johnson - who leads in opinion polls - by preventing a legislative route that would his last-minute deal from only require a simple ma- being ratified before the poll. jority. “We will not allow Johnson, in turn, is trying to this paralysis to continue shift the blame for failing to and, one way or another, we deliver Brexit by Oct. 31 onto must proceed straight to an parliament. election,” Johnson told par“We have a great new liament. “This House cannot any longer keep this country hostage.” To follow this route, Johnson will need the support of opposition parties such as the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Liberal Democrats. These have been pushing for a Dec. 9 election, aiming to ensure that Johnson cannot try again to rush his divorce deal through. The BBC’s political editor said Johnson’s office had confirmed that the government would not bring the deal back to parliament potentially opening the way for the SNP and LibDems to back a snap poll on Johnson’s preferred date of Dec. 12.

deal, and it’s time for the voters to have a chance to pronounce on that deal, and to replace this dysfunctional parliament with a new parliament that can get Brexit done so the country can move on,” Johnson said. Britain’s departure has already been delayed twice - from March 29 and April 12 - after Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, failed three times to get her deal ratified by parliament. In a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, Johnson reluctantly accepted the delay agreed in Brussels, saying he had no choice under British law. “This unwanted prolongation of the UK’s mem-

bership of the EU is damaging to our democracy,” he said. “I would also urge EU member states to make clear that a further extension after 31st January is not possible. This is plenty of time to ratify our deal.” If no EU country objects within 24 hours - by Tuesday afternoon - the delay

will have been formally adopted. The EU, forged from the ruins of World War Two as a way to prevent another ruinous conflict in Europe, is fatigued by Britain’s protracted crisis but keen not to be held responsible for an economically tumultuous “no-deal” rupture.

Saturday October 26, 2019

5 12

8 17 19

October 25, 2019

1, 2, 5, 8, 12

2, 5, 7

4, 9, 5

3, 5, 6, 9, 12

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 29, 2019

Dominica signs economic and technical cooperation agreement with China ROSEAU, Dominica, Oct 28, CMC – Dominica Monday signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement with China that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said underscores the growing relationship between the two countries. Skerrit, speaking at the signing ceremony where China is providing an undisclosed amount of grant aid to the island, said that his administration would continue to adhere to the One China policy that Beijing says is the hallmark of its relationship with countries, especially given its position that Taiwan, which it regards as a renegade province belongs to the mainland country. “Rest assured that under my leadership, this government which I have the honour to lead will continue to respect the One China Policy. We do so as a matter of principle and as I have said to my citizens, myself and this government we do not negotiate principles,” Skerrit told the visiting Chinese delegation headed by the Director General of the Latin American division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhao Bentang. He said that he held talks with the Chinese officials and

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit (left) and Director General of the Latin American division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhao Bentang, signing agreement (GIS Photo)

would be visiting the north east of the eisland on Tuesday where Dominica is proposing to construct an international airport in the future. Skerrit said that the outcome of the deliberations will be made known to the general public in the next two days. Earlier this year, Skerrit had informed Dominicans that he had received firm proposals from a number of countries, including China and India for the construction of the international airport, but gave no indication in his latest communication on the matter, from which country

the envoy would be coming from. “What better news we can get a few days before independence celebrations. There is a government that is our friend, they are sending a special envoy to see me on Monday to bring the official good news to me as Prime Minister of Dominica,” he told a ceremony where new homes were handed over to people in Grand Fond, north-east of here, over the weekend. The issue of an international airport has long been discussed here and in January, Skerrit said that the site

St. Lucia to host Caribbean Secondary Schools Drama Festival CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Oct 28, CMC – St. Lucia will host the Caribbean Secondary Schools Drama Festival early next month under the theme “L’espwi Theatre, (The Spirit of Theatre), the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development announced Monday. It said the November 3-9 event is the first and only performing arts exchange programme for secondary schools in the Caribbean region. “Let us ensure that Caribbean integration and visitor arrivals to our shores is continued through the legacy of what we bring to this drama festival. What we are going to give is the best of our culture and hospitality. We are glad to support and lead the charge in this venture,”

said Chief Education Officer, Fiona Phillip Mayer. Deputy Executive Director of the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), Celeste Burton, said the bi-annual festival “In the last three years, the CDF has been working toward increasing the number of theatrical presentations that it makes annually. We have been putting on a number of plays and we have been supporting other groups that seek to do the same. “This opportunity to engage with Events Company of St. Lucia and the Ministry of Education to host this festival where we will be exposed to theatrical productions and training opportunities for our young people, is a proud moment for us,’ Burton said. The organisers said that various workshops will form

part of the festival, as well as performances by participating countries on a nightly basis. Deputy Director of the Theatre Arts Schools Association, Shakira Roberts-Sankar , said she hopes the festival is the beginning of a new outlook on what theatre can do in schools and society. “This is a great opportunity for us to celebrate, observe and learn, not only about our cultures, but represent them in our own unique way on stage. This opportunity allows our schools to network and collaborate, which we believe will strengthen and develop theatre. “We hope that all stakeholders will come out to support the young people as they expose their talents and skills, both on stage and off.”

for the construction of the much-talked-about facility will be “from Eden back to the Woodfordhill area”. Skerrit said it would cost an estimated EC$50 to EC$60 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) to purchase the land for the airport. Skerrit told the signing ceremony that Roseau intends to take up at the United Nations Human Rights Council “the attempts of double standards in the way it treats countries differently. “We believe that when these entities are making pronouncements they must be based on facts and information, not disinformation, not innuendo, not alle-

gations but on investigative facts and to ensure that countries are respected,” Skerrit said, noting that he wanted to commend the leadership in Beijing and the authorities in Hong Kong “for the manner in which they have been handling the internal challenges faced in Hong Kong. “I believe the Chinese leadership has shown great restraint, profound tolerance and our hope is that they can be a settled solution to the present challenges. This is an internal matter within the People’s Republic of China whatever we can do to assist with the resolution to this matter we are prepared to

do so”. But Skerrit maintained that ‘the rule of law must be respected,” adding that the destruction and damage of personal and public property “should never be tolerated by any one of us in this world. “A wrong in one country is a wrong in another country and countries have laws, they have regulations and these things must be respected by all concerned, and so we are hoping for an end to the lawlessness that is taking place in Hong Kong,” he added.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 29, 2019

The Cummingsburg Accord is bigger than the parties THERE can be no doubt that the governing ‘Coalition’ has taken Guyana along a path of stability and hopefulness. Even its critics must admit that in four short years, the foundations of our government have been restored, and people now have more confidence in the capacity of the highest office to steer the ship of State to calmer waters. Most importantly, the ‘Coalition’ has ushered in a culture of inclusionary democracy within the executive branch of government. As the President never tires of saying, this is the first time in Guyana that we have a government that includes six parties; that is quite a feat in a political environment that is known more for its

polarisation. Our ‘Coalition’ government is an example for similar societies around the world to emulate. It is against that background that this publication urges the leaders of the ‘Coalition’ to quickly put to rest any speculation of trouble in the camp by working speedily to hammer out a mutually acceptable Cummingsburg Accord. We align ourselves with the sentiments expressed in the lead story in Sunday’s edition of this newspaper. In this regard, we endorse the call on the leaders to see the bigger picture of country over party. As Minister Allicock is quoted as saying: “We’re stronger together rather than being divided, because I think the ‘Coalition’ represents the entire country.”

The Cummingsburg Accord is more than an agreement between the APNU and the AFC; it is bigger than the parties. The significance of the Accord is national in scope; it holds the key to unleashing Guyana’s potential as a viable plural society; it is the difference between the old politics of division and a new politics of partnership; it is what stands between the people and those waiting in the wings to return Guyana to the days of looting and domination; it is the people’s hope that one-party rule would not accompany the new and exciting era that awaits our country as we enter the company of oil-rich countries. We are cognisant of the fact that managing coalitions is a very steep undertaking;

parties tend to instinctively protect their individual turf, and could, in some instances, view partners with suspicion. There are usually ideological differences that could manifest themselves in differing approaches to policy-making and implementation. And as we are currently experiencing, the distribution of offices could be very complex, and at times complicated. Having looked at the areas of disagreements between the APNU and AFC, we are convinced that these hurdles could be overcome, if both sides are guided by the spirit of conciliation and consensus which has been the hallmark of their tenure in office. Our leaders are too mature to not see the bigger picture; they overcame these very hurdles

in 2015, and we are confident that they would do the same again. As one party leader correctly observed, the ‘Coalition’ is a winning brand that must be preserved for the sake of Guyana. The leaders must be conscious that there are those interests that are only too eager to exaggerate the situation for their own political benefits. Even as the ‘Coalition’ partners negotiate, they should not heed the loose talk of who brings what to the table. While the democratic distribution of offices is paramount, it is not the sum total of the Accord. The two sides must engage in give-and-take that is grounded in reason. The majority of Guyanese want a functional ‘Coalition’; there are no

ifs and buts about that. They have experienced the stability and security that it has brought to our country. So, we urge our leaders to go back to the negotiating table and bat for Guyana. You owe it to the thousands who sacrificed so much to bring you this far. They now depend on you to preserve that faith which they have shown in you. Towards this end, the words of Minister Trotman are instructive: “I don’t see a better alternative to the coalition, quite frankly. So, I think compromise has to be found on both sides, and we will find a solution to this. And I am confident about that.”

No grounds for believing PPP/C’s statement Dear Editor

This is a response to “PPP extends Deepavali greetings to all Guyanese”in the Guyana Chronicle dated October, 26, 2019 where contained in its second paragraph: “Deepavali has transcended religious borders”. I am least tolerant of hypocrisy and its practice; especially when it comes from a political party and its leaders, whose track record for trenchant misinformation, distortions of all types, with the inherently calculated intention of inciting disunity, is as clear as a searchlight highlighting an object in a night search. Surely, while one must agree with the PPP/C’s message that the

festival of Diwali transcend “religious borders’’, and ‘’has become a major component of the Guyanese cultural mosaic’’, its politico-cultural behavior has been very distant from this recognition, which is taken to mean that this national occasion, as all others, is primarily accepted and appreciated by all Guyanese, in a spirit of mutual respect. This, it is contended, should signal to the opposition and its leaders that despite our diversities, there are enough grounds to foster a national cohesiveness, rather than a deliberate policy of stoking the fears of ethnic insecurity, for political leverage, control, and holding of support base which continues to be the political masthead rallying call

of the PPP/C. And this has been the political notoriety of the PPP/C, which party continues to mouth what are really pretensions of goodwill, extolling the virtues of national unity, and the need for togetherness, but which are in fact platitudes and sop, to a certain section of our country. In fact, its actual track record, never adds up to its practical doings. As an example, the Ethnic Relations Commission(ERC) that functioned during its tenure in government. Editor, it is an undisputed fact that while the then chairperson, a man of the ‘cloth’ who spearheaded this supposedly vital commission’s message of tolerance and racial unity, through so many media reported

outreaches, seminars etcetera; the government of the day, the PPP/C was executing its daily policy of institutionalized racism in all forms, made manifest in its open shameless policy of marginalization. It is ironical that this same cleric, still plays a major role in this party’s daily web of deception and ugly lies. Surely, if the PPP/C contends that the ‘’Festival of Lights’’, as Diwali is popularly known, is an occasion of ‘’light over darkness’’ striking at the heart of ‘’spiritual darkness’’, then this party must also know that its actions are politically immoral which positions it into the latter category of darkness. Jagdeo and other leaders of the PPP/C party, will only begin to be

credible and accepted as genuine in such a message ‘‘…to build stronger bonds of togetherness…’’ when they cease using their Freedom Radio for broadcasting poisonous race hatred; demanding that their dark uses of Facebook racism ceases, and desist from using their media for ugly lies, fake news, misinformation etcetera. And this must be a sustained effort, measureable by corresponding results. In the meantime, such a message is what it is – deceptive, and meaningless. There are no grounds for believing such a statement. Regards Earl Hamilton

GIT condemns brazen attack on student at Tagore Memorial Dear Editor

The Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT) and its women’s Arm, the National Islamic Sisters Association (NISA) are shocked and dismayed by the recent incidents at the Tagore Memorial Secondary School at Number 66 Village, Berbice, where a student was physically assaulted and her Hijaab (headcovering) callously ripped off her head. The Hijaab is a symbol of modesty, and Muslim women should be free to express their religious beliefs by choosing to wear it, free from victimization. Our prayers are with Sakeena Ibrahim whose religious freedom was desecrated, ironically in an environment

that ought to preserve the rights our Nation’s children by providing them a safe learning atmosphere, free from discrimination, bullying and violence. The pristine and beautiful teachings of Islam propel us towards love, respect and peaceful coexistence. In this regard, Muslims in Guyana have, for decades, promoted and magnanimously demonstrated these lifegiving values at every strata of our society. God Almighty instructs us in the Holy Qur’an: “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you

distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.” (Ch.4 Verse 135) We must therefore always stand firm for justice, even if it is against our own selves or relatives and friends. Sadly, the spate of violence in our society seems to be spiraling out of control. More appalling is the dastardly attempt by some to condone such heartless display of cruelty. No person in our communities, young or old should have to attend an institution of learning or work or attempt to enjoy the natural beauty of his environment while in fear of being harassed, bullied, or attacked because of his social or economic status, ethnicity or religious beliefs and practices.

The GIT therefore calls on the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Protection, the Religious bodies, Parents, Guardians and all other relevant Institutions and stakeholders in our Society to stand firm against violence and religious discrimination. Let us do more to curb and counter the insensitive display of brutality in our educational institutions and beyond. Let us restore discipline to our Institutions of Learning to provide a conducive environment that is filled with love, respect and care. Regards Administrative Council, Guyana Islamic Trust

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 29, 2019

The Middle East: Winners and Losers Dear Editor

The death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi serves as a symbolic full stop to the many civil wars that have engulfed Syria in the past eight years, although Baghdadi was not personally in charge of anything by the time he died. The outcome of all those wars was already becoming clear, and it is the Russians and Bashar al-Assad who have won. Donald Trump’s abrupt withdrawal of American troops from eastern Syria makes the Russian victory clear: within days, there were Russian soldiers taking selfies in the abandoned American bases on the Syrian side of the frontier with Turkey. Trump’s elaborate thanks to the Russian, Syrian and Turkish governments for their aid in the Baghdadi operation was a genuflection before the powers that now really count in the region, but the Russian response was as disdainful as ever. “We are unaware of any alleged (Russian) assistance during this operation,” said Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov. The Russian contempt for Trump is understandable, but showing it so publicly

is self-indulgent and quite untypical. They clearly have some hold over the man, but why flaunt it? Perhaps their victory is going to their heads, because they can never have expected to win so decisively. But that is a question for another day. What have the Russians won? Four years after they began providing air support to a Syrian regime that was teetering on the brink of defeat, Bashar al-Assad’s brutal rule once again extends over almost all of Syria. They never had to commit Russian ground troops to combat, and yet they are now the dominant outside power in the entire Fertile Crescent. Assad didn’t do too badly either. First he cleared the rebels out of all the big cities, then he regained control of all Arabic-speaking rural areas except the northwestern province of Idlib, and now his troops are re-occupying most of the Kurdish-speaking east without a fight. He never had to fight Baghdadi’s ‘Islamic State’ either. It was a Syrian Kurdish militia with US air support that destroyed the part of IS that was located in Syria. And when Donald Trump pulled US troops out of Syria on 6 October, betraying the Kurds, Russian

diplomacy finessed that into another win for Assad. The Syrian Kurds were immediately attacked by Turkey, which intended to ethnically ‘cleanse’ the Kurdish population from northeastern Syria and replace them with Arabic-speaking refugees from other parts of Syria. It was almost certainly Russian emissaries who persuaded the Kurds to give up their dream of independence and invite the Syrian army back in to protect them from the Turks. When the Syrian army went back in last week it was accompanied by enough Russian soldiers to deter the Turks from shooting at it, so Syrian troops now control most of the border and ethnic cleansing is presumably off the menu. Turkish troops still hold some bits of Syrian territory that they grabbed last week, but Ankara has publicly stated that it will not try to keep them indefinitely. It was really the Russians who rescued the Kurds, so you can guess where their loyalty lies now. And remarkably, the Turks are coming around as well. Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan backed the jihadi rebels throughout the Syrian civil war and still protects them in their last stronghold

in Idlib. He even kept the border with Syria open so that foreign jihadis could cross to join Islamic State. But he is a pragmatist who understands the new realities, and within months he will reopen diplomatic relations with Assad’s regime in Syria. That will mean that Turkey can no longer provide military protection to the jihadi groups in Idlib (most of whom now acknowledge the leadership of Osama bin-Laden’s old organisation, al-Qaeda). Thereupon the final operation to reconquer Idlib can begin, although it may be done quite slowly and

methodically to keep the Syrian army’s casualties down. The Russians have accomplished everything they set out to do in the region in 2015, and the main risk they face now is over-confidence. They saved Assad and he owes them a lot, but he also owes Iran, which provided and paid for the foreign Shia volunteers who provided vitally needed military manpower when the Syrian army was running out. They have drawn Turkey away from its old reflexive loyalty to NATO, but it is still a member of the alliance and Erdogan’s

political position in Turkey is weakening. Vladimir Putin’s visit to Saudi Arabia two weeks ago went well, because Saudi crown prince Muhammad bin Salman has been seeking friends elsewhere after Trump did nothing in response to the recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oilfields. But MbS’s position at home is hardly secure either. The truth is that Russia has won the prize, but the prize is a can of worms. Regards Gwynne Dyer

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Skeldon Hospital gets spanking new maternity ward A SPANKING new maternity ward was, on Monday, commissioned at the Skeldon Hospital, East Berbice, Corentyne. At a simple ceremony, Focal Point Coordinator for the Minister of Public Health, Alex Foster, on behalf of Minister Volda Lawrence, officially commissioned the facility which was constructed to the tune of approximately $3M. The maternity ward is equipped with five beds, five recliner chairs, a private bathroom which caters for three persons at a time, five bedside cabinets, among others amenities. The maternity ward was refurbished through a public/private partnership with the Florida Guyana Hope Inc, their local sister agency--the Guyana Florida Hope Inc. and the Ministry of Public Health. The new maternity ward will provide service to residents between Eversham Village, Corentyne, and the Amerindian communities of Orealla and Siparuta in the Corentyne River. In his address, Foster thanked the donors for their contributions, noting that their gesture speaks volumes that they are interested in the wellbeing of the people of the upper Corentyne area who will benefit from the facility. Foster continued that the Ministry of Public Health, having recognised that works were being done to the maternity ward, made funds available to enhance the entire wing of the hospital by rehabilitating the female ward as well as the administrative complex that was housed there. He further noted that funds were made available to enhance the male ward and the construction of an operating theatre in 2020 that will see the entire hospital being fully rehabilitated and upgraded. “Funds were already set aside in this year’s budget but it is inadequate for the

Skeldon Hospital, Dr. Ryan Campbell, stated that with the recent upgrades, the facility has seen an increase in

the Florida Guyana Hope Inc. Mohamed Jamal Yasin, in his brief remarks, thanked the Ministry of

The refurbished maternity ward

Focal Point Coordinator Ministry of Health, Alex Foster, Doctor-in-Charge, Skeldon Hospital, Ryan Campbell, along with members of the Florida Guyana Hope Inc cut the ceremonial ribbon to commission the new maternity ward

A section of the gathering at the opening ceremony

Members of the Florida Guyana Hope Inc with staff of the Skeldon Hospital

upgrade of the male ward and the construction of the operating theatre so, in the next budget, the additional funds needed will be made available so that the hospital can have its own operating

theatre and avoid the ambulance traversing daily to New Amsterdam”. Earlier this year Minster Lawrence commissioned the first digital laboratory in Region Six that is housed at

the Skeldon Hospital. This in addition to an upgraded pediatrics ward had tremendously improved services at the Upper Corentyne medical facility. Doctor-in-Charge of the

patients and now services an average of 40,000 patients annually. He expressed gratitude to the donors and his staff for making the project a reality which was in the works since January of this year. He continued that from 2017 to date, the facility was able to maintain zero maternal and zero still births from over 450 plus admissions and with the upgraded maternity ward, it will radically improve service delivery as well as increase patient admission in the ward. Meanwhile, Head of

Public Health and the hospital for superseding their expectation by not only maintaining the maternity ward but by upgrading the entire wing of the hospital. He called on residents to make use of the facility and the improvements that were made possible by their donations. The Florida Guyana Hope Inc. has been doing projects annually in Guyana for the past 6 years and has its sights set on a project in West Berbice for 2020.

Another young lawyer admitted to the bar IN fulfilling a childhood dream, 23-year-old Janet Adeba Ali was, on Thursday, October 24, 2019, admitted to the local bar to practise law in Guyana, adding to the legacy of prominent attorneys in her family. Ali recently graduated with her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), Trinidad. Her petition was presented by her aunt, attorney-at-law, Jamela Ali, to acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire at the Demerara High Court.

She presented the court with a brief biography of Janet. Janet attended Graham’s Hall Primary School, where, after completing the National Grade Six Assessment, she secured a placement at Queens College. Between the years 20142017, Janet attended the University of Guyana (UG) where she did pre-law subjects before venturing to where she gained her Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB.) After completing her LLB, she attended the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and was awarded

her Legal Education Certificate (LEC.) Janet was a legal intern at the Chambers of the DPP, in-service trainee at Denning Chambers and the office of Rex McKay, Senior Counsel and trial attorney for over 50 years. Coming from a family of lawyers from her paternal side, there are at least four generations of legal practitioners which include her grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousins. The newly-admitted attorney is the granddaughter of the late Muntaz Ali, who

Newly appointed attorney-at-law Janet Adeba Ali and Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire

was a prominent attorney and

also a lecturer at the HWLS. Not forgetting attorney-at-law Mohammed Ravindra Ali, who is also her uncle and also her late great uncle W.D Dinally also known as Amir, who was the first Muslim solicitor in Guyana. Her cousins are attorney-at-law Shalimar AliHack, SC who is the Director of Public Prosecutions and Elaine Khan, Barrister at law in the United Kingdom, who was formerly a Magistrate in England. The Chief Justice welcomed Ally to the bar and

urged her to commit to the hard work that success entails and to commit to conducting thorough research to serve her clients and the citizens of this nation. In addressing the court, Ally became emotional as she recounted the hard work and sacrifices that were made for her to become an attorney. She explained that at a young age she dreamed about becoming an attorney to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Responsible reporting needed in Guyana/Venezuela border issues

- Greenidge tells media practitioners THE Guyanese media has to be responsible and not ignorant in reports surrounding all aspects of the Arbitral Award of 1899 (Guyana v Venezuela) since the matter is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This is according to Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge during his remarks on Saturday evening at the Guyana Press Association’s (GPA) 2019 Media Awards and Dinner where he was guest speaker. The event was held at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston Georgetown. “The stuff that is written in our papers is read by others, including those who represent us at the court and those who fight against us at the court, it matters. So when a newspaper contends that, for example, Guyana signed an agreement with Venezuela saying that we will not utilize the maritime space, which information is completely and utterly false, a Guyana paper carries that, it matters,” the Foreign Secretary said. He continued: “When we carry materials submitted by Venezuelan entities… the story was the Venezuelan sun rises in the Essequibo, it was in our local papers, we can’t get something like that put in Venezuelan papers, but ours carry it without asking as question.” Greenidge said that Guyana’s case is to be won and fought not only by the government but the media also has a responsibility. “It is your space, that we are fighting for along with a set of lawyers, and you have to be responsible, other than ignorant in the material you encourage, utilize, that you publish, it matters greatly,” he told the media gathering. He explained that government is seeking a binding judgement from the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

has jurisdiction over Guyana’s claims, irrespective of whether or not Venezuela participates in the proceedings. If it decides that it has jurisdiction, the Court will proceed to rule on the merits

Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge (Delano Williams photo)

as opposed to an advisory position. The former Foreign Affairs Minister explained that Venezuela, though it has refused to partake in the process, will have to abide by the judgement to avoid further action by the United Nations Security Council. “It is important if that court pronounces in favour of Guyana but even more important would be if the court gives a judgement as opposed to an advisory opinion in favour of Guyana because failure of a party to honour a judgement may bring action by the Security Council,” Greenidge said. “We are not after an advisory opinion; it is a judgement that the court has been called on to make,” Greenidge noted. The Government of Guyana welcomes the notification by the International Court of Justice that the oral hearing on jurisdiction in its case against Venezuela, formally known as the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 1899 (Guyana v Venezuela), will be held in The Hague from March 23 to 27, 2020. This hearing will determine whether the Court has jurisdiction over the case filed by Guyana on March 29, 2018. By that case, Guyana seeks to obtain from the Court a final and binding judgment that the 1899 Ar-

bitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between then-British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela. Guyana brought its case to the Court following the decision by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in January 2018, that the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela should be decided by the International Court of Justice. In taking his decision, the Secretary-General was exercising the power vested in him, in the 1966 Geneva Agreement, among Guyana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom, to decide how the controversy should be settled. Venezuela has claimed, in a letter to the Court, that the Secretary-General exceeded his authority under the Geneva Agreement, and that the Court therefore lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate Guyana’s lawsuit. On this basis, Venezuela has indicated that it will not participate in the proceedings. On November 19, 2018, Guyana submitted its Memorial to the Court refuting Venezuela’s arguments and demonstrating that the Court has jurisdiction. Under well-established judicial precedent, the Court will proceed to decide if it

Body of teen recovered THE body of 17-year-old Keion Paul called "Boyce" was, on Saturday October 26, 2019, fished out from the Puruni Water Front Area , Region Seven. The teen, who is the son of a popular Puruni gold miner, was reported missing on Friday, October 25, 2019 after he went to swim at the old mining pit with some

Keion Paul called "Boyce"

Friends. It is alleged that,

while there, the lad went below the surface of the water. Hours after, in the wee hours of Saturday, Paul’s body surfaced at Puruni Water Front and it was transported to the Bartica Hospital. It is currently at a mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination. Investigations into the incident are on-going.

of those claims, and decide whether the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the border between the two States should be confirmed. Under the United Nations Charter and the Court’s own rules, its final judgments both on jurisdiction and the merits will be legally binding on Guyana and Venezuela, whether or not Venezuela

participates in the proceedings. Nevertheless, Guyana expresses the hope that Venezuela will participate, to indicate respect for the Court and the international rule of law, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the promotion of friendly relations between both States.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Let’s change the culture of violence PRESIDENT David Granger has observed Guyana’s grapple with interpersonal violence and aims to steer the country against its culture of violence through measures which tackle the issue at its root. “We’re going to turn the culture of violence. Some people do not understand that violence was embedded almost in our relations during the first decade of this century. People felt that the only way to resolve a dispute was by violent means --- a gun or a knife. We have to move away from that and train our children better in church

and in school, in the masjid and the mandir, and let them know that there are ways of resolving controversies without murder,” the President said on the local podcast, Inside Sources, aired on Sunday. At the time he was speaking to matters of crime and security which have been a challenge for successive governments over the years. However, with more effective measures being put in place and with greater collaboration with local and international stakeholders, the President believes that much can be done to usher in a safer

Guyana. Speaking to the issue of interpersonal violence and the efforts needed to curb the deadly cycle, he commented: “Certain types of interpersonal violence need different tools… but the police may very well not have the tools to deal with that type of interpersonal violence which results in a lot of wife murders and a lot of forms of domestic violence. A lot of training is being done but we have to examine the culture of young people, what takes place in the schools. We have to embrace civil society; we have to encourage the church-

es, the mandirs, the masjids to deal with these issues among their congregations. It is not an ethnic problem, it is not a geographic problem, it is widespread.” The President said that one of the objectives of the re-establishment of the Guyana Youth Corps was to provide young people with opportunities for employment, thereby keeping them too active, to be idle with a life of crime. He also noted the objectives of the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) through which some 4,000 youths have been trained

President David Granger

over just three years in the areas of business, entrepreneurship, agriculture, ecotourism and technology. Coupled with that is the Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme which supports the expansion of the local economy in communities. “The presumption is that once people are working steadily and they have good incomes that they will be less inclined to go into crime...we hope that economic incentives and a strong economic platform would allow more young people to enter the world of work and not the world of crime,” he explained. The President also high-

lighted the need for the continuous training and re-training of police officials and the need for better traffic and road safety management. He noted that the support of the British Government to re-introduce the Security Sector Reform Action Plan will enable a stronger police force to bring criminals to justice, with the help of non-governmental organisations. Altogether, President Granger informed that there has been much more control over crime in Guyana under the coalition government which vows to continue to increase its efforts to fight crime and violence in Guyana.

Former Chief Education Officer Oswald Kendall passes away FORMER Chief Education Officer (CEO), Oswald Kendall, passed away early Monday morning at his Baramita Street, South Ruimveldt Gardens home. He was 80. At the time of his passing, Kendall lived with his wife, Joan Kendall, a former Headmistress of St. Joseph High School. It was she who discovered that he’d died peacefully in his sleep. Though married for 55 years, the couple did not have any children. With Joan being too distraught to speak, it therefore fell to family-friend Hazel Hannibal, who said she’d known Oswald practically all her life, to confirm that he’d died. And she said that while he was not feeling well in the last few days, he was not suffering from any long-term illness. “He wasn’t so well, but it wasn’t for any long time,” she said, adding: “Since I know myself I know him. He was a kind man. Always very, very polite.” Those close to Oswald believe he knew the end was near, as just hours before it was discovered that he’d died, he had a few comforting words to offer his wife. “He was very, very jovial and very protective,” Hannibal said, adding: “He protected his wife up to the time of death, because his last word to her was, ‘Don’t panic.’ And then he went back to sleep. Our feeling right now is that he knew that he was going to die. He even took off his rings. So, apparently, like he knew that

Former Chief Education Officer Oswald Kendall

he was going to pass. That is the only conclusion that we could come to.” A renowned educator and administrator during his years in the education system, Kendall rose in the ranks from pupil teacher to Chief Education Officer. He’d also served as the first principal of President’s College when the residential school opened its doors in 1985, and spent three years there before taking up the position of Chief Education Officer. He’d also served as the principal of Christ Church Secondary back in 1969, and was instrumental in developing the infrastructure of the school. In 1976, he served as Chief Curriculum Development Officer, and a member of the Board of Tutorial High School, his alma mater. He also served at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) as an Assistant Chief Examiner, and helped develop the History syllabus for CXC.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Labour issues take time to resolve …Ogle says department has won many cases for employees in court ...urges citizens to be more careful when seeking employment

By Tamica Garnett CHIEF Labour Officer Charles Ogle said that despite challenges, the Labour Department has been able to settle several matters in court on behalf of employees even as he also lamented that there are a lot of misconceptions as regard the role of the department. Ogle was, in part, responding to comments made by General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Lincoln Lewis, who has claimed that the department is weak and ineffective. Lewis also spoke about the department being understaffed and not up to the task of some of the current industrial relations issues. However, Ogle related that the issue of whether or not the labour department is sufficiently equipped to deal with the current environment of labour issues is not a simple one. He said on the issue of staffing at the department, like every other public service, the department would welcome additional staff. “We will never get enough. Nobody is at full strength,

anywhere you could think of it everybody short-- police, nurses, teachers,” Ogle said. More staffing however, Ogle said, would not be a quick fix to the situation. Unnecessary cases During an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Ogle noted that a high volume of unnecessary cases have reached the department. He said the lengthy time it takes to ensure that some matters are dealt with appropriately, and complainants waiting lengthy periods before reporting an issue, all compound the situation of the perception of efficiency at the department. “Nobody is overloaded but the work is such that the matters are technical. A complaint isn’t going to be done one time, two time. Some complaints are so technical it could take 20 years, it takes a long time. It’s like court cases; it doesn’t finish abruptly,” Ogle explained. Many of the matters dealt with by the department involve issues with employers not paying their staff. Often the cases end up in court. “You get complaints, but

some people don’t understand, they feel that when

have some people who pay right away and we have some

Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle

GTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis

they come they must get the solution right away, but it doesn’t work like that. When you make a complaint, we either write or call. Sometimes the people don’t come, or they don’t get the letter. Sometimes they get the letter long after the fact and we have to write them back,” Ogle pointed out. He further explained: “From the time we put the matter in court, majority settle. So that’s it. But it’s a process that takes time. We

people who go to court to challenge. That’s it. But we do our matters immediately.” Many times, Ogle said, the department is forced to take employers to court, but it is here that the department gets the biggest of its successes having won many cases over the past few months. Ogle notes that complainants themselves play a role in adding to the situation, expecting nothing short of miraculous work from the department at times when they come to

make complaints but have less than the bare minimum information required. “There’s a lot of employment where there’s a lot of ad hoc arrangement, then when the employees don’t get paid on time or whatever they come here, and it’s a sad story. There are challenges. We are getting problems in the mining. People go by Demico House and pick them up, who want to work, with no proper contract. They don’t know the employer name, they don’t know the real name, they know a call name, no phone number; when they come to complain they don’t have information, they don’t have address, nothing. We can’t track them. So it poses a challenge. Nothing is difficult but it takes time,” Ogle said. There is also the case of persons not having a correct understanding of the responsibility and mandate of the Department. The Department is not responsible for getting injured employees compensation, and can only go after employers if they are not paying minimum wage, or are not providing the mandated health and safety conditions

at the place of work. Meanwhile, for his part, Lewis does not believe that the Labour Department is sufficiently equipped to deal with the situation. “At the Labour Department, you need a cadre of people, trained and competent people, who are properly paid To address issues that are brought before them. It’s a lot of work there and the turnover in the department is heavy and it’s heavy because of the conditions of employment,” Lewis said, adding that: “For both labour and OSHA [Occupational Health and Safety Administration] to monitor this country, with what is taking place in every region, they need to have continuous presence In fact, what you have in Georgetown can’t even monitor Region Four, so when you extend activities to Regions three and seven and two, you will get substandard work. In fact, inspection and enforcement is not about sitting down in the office, you have to be on the ground.”

Training and certification vital to benefit from petroleum sector -Dr Bynoe tells residents of Mahdia DIRECTOR, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, last week encouraged residents of Mahdia, Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) to equip themselves with the requisite skills needed to benefit from the petroleum sector. Dr. Bynoe told residents of Mahdia and neighbouring communities, as well as secondary school students, that Guyanese can benefit from the petroleum sector and contribute directly to the country’s development. The Director, who spoke at an interactive session held in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) of Region Eight at the Mahdia Secondary School, discussed the petroleum sector and the potential impact and transformation it will have on Guyana’s economy. “Guyana, for the first time, is in a position to determine, collectively, the destination where it wants to go,” Dr. Bynoe said as he noted that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions will play a vital role in boosting competency

and efficiency. Dr. Bynoe said Guyana will experience a developmental paradigm which is in conformity with the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS). He said, too, that with the emergence of the ‘New Guyana’, a plethora of other industries will benefit also. In this regard, Dr. Bynoe urged the Council for TVET to establish technical and vocational educational institutions in Region Eight to assist residents to acquire the requisite skills to be utilized in the petroleum sector as well as other industries. Meanwhile, Mayor of Mahdia, His Worship, David Adams commended the Department of Energy for hosting the interactive session and for ensuring that youths are sensitized about the benefits which can be derived from the sector. Mr. Adams said the visit by the Department of Energy to Mahdia serves to reinforce government’s policy on consulting and engaging the citizenry on its developmental plans and programmes. “I applaud the inclusion of the young people in these discussions because they are the

future of Guyana. The massive socio-economic and infrastructural transformation that will result in the oil industry in the coming years will have to be managed by you--the young people,” he said. Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ms. Mitsy Campbell, also encouraged the residents to position themselves to benefit from all that the sector has to offer. “We have a local

Director of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe

Students also participated in the discussion

posture of asking what companies can do for us. We need to change that posture to ask what opportunities for business do they offer to us. Then we must take that information and prepare ourselves to

benefit. Oil and gas revenues will transform Guyana into a modern country with modern facilities, but we also need to adopt a modern and productive mindset,” Ms. Campbell said. Chairman of the Regional

benefited tremendously from. Additionally, Council for CTVET’s Director, Mr. Floyd Scott, said Guyanese stand to benefit from opportunities which will arise from the petroleum sector and encouraged those gathered to pay attention to the required standards. Mr. Scott iterated that training and certification are vital to the forthcoming opportunities. The CTVET Director advised further that the Ministry of Education’s

Residents of Mahdia pay rapt attention during the forum

Democratic Council (RDC), Mr. Bonadventure Fredericks commended the efforts of the central, regional and local governments in the execution of plans and projects which the township of Mahdia has

Educational Reform Plan allows for the establishment of TVET institutions in the future, thereby providing citizens with much-needed training and certification. (Ministry of the Presidency)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

MMU to target Online news sites By Lisa Hamilton THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Media Monitoring Unit (MMU), when operationalized ahead of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, will

“Social media is trumping all other media. The new convergence of this new media technology is really trumping the traditional media so it means therefore that we cannot say that we’re just going to monitor the traditional me-

was established in 2001--- and recently revised in 2015 --- as the standard of media performance expected especially during the period. The Unit prepares and disseminates periodic reports of its findings on the local media’s

…as GECOM 'gears up' to monitor media content ahead of 2020 polls

newspapers. While 2015’s efforts saw the monitoring of online content, its reach was limited due to inadequate resources. The MMU only monitored online content originating from print media; the former Gov-

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward

A report on the findings of the MMU in 2015 on the Stabroek Newspaper.

be increasing its scrutiny of social media news platforms. Over the years, while the Commission’s MMU has observed and reported on coverage of the media during the elections season and their breaches of the 2006 Media Code of Conduct (MCC), this scrutiny had only come to the traditional media of radio, print and television.

dia platforms and leave social media out. Social media will be one of our top priorities if and when we have that unit established,” GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward told the newspaper on Monday. The media can significantly influence information and the atmosphere of the coming elections and therefore an MCC

performance and submits these to interested stakeholders such as GECOM and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). According to reports, the MMU in 2008 monitored seven television stations, one radio station and four local newspapers; in 2015 it monitored nine television stations, four radio stations and the four local

ernment Information Agency (GINA) and online news websites whose principals had signed on to the 2015 MCC. From then to now, the average Guyanese can observe that numerous additional news and information groups and companies have come on board, most prevalent on platforms such as Facebook and YouTube. “In the past, at the time,

[print, radio and television] were the very popular media platforms. Now we have social media, so of course social media will have to come in in terms of a form of monitoring,” Ward stated. She informed that the Guyana Press Association (GPA) has indicated an interest in briefing media operatives about their conduct – hopefully in January 2020 – which could see a revision of the 2015 MCC to include certain media progressions. Meanwhile, although the Commission has intentions to re-operationalise the Unit, these discussions have not yet been had formally. The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) recently announced, that it will be seeking international assistance to monitor the local airwaves for infractions, during the elections season and will be approaching the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and the MMU when established. Explaining the operations of the MMU, Ward stated:

“It’s usually funded through international donors. We’ve indicated to some of the international agencies that it’s something that we’re likely to do and, as part of their support, it’s something that might be of interest…since it has not been formally discussed at the level of the Commission as yet, those formal requests have been delayed in that regards.” The Commission has been attending to several burning issues in the past weeks in relation to the production of an Official List of Electors (OLE). The MMC also makes observations for balanced reporting which provides the electorate with all sides of the issue and fair reporting free of biases and distortions. In the past, it has provided charts which show the coverage given to political parties and how often it had been solely negative or positive. This takes into consideration articles, editorials, letters, advertisements, talk shows, interviews and other forms of information disseminated. “During the elections time, we want to ensure the importance of accuracy in terms of information being channeled out there because you don’t want any kind of misinformation to be in the public domain and people are not properly informed. We monitor in terms of the accuracy of the content and, of course, in terms of the ethics of reporting,” Ward said. “While it does not have a legal premise, the fact that people are vigilant, it tends to put a deterrent on this kind of mischief in the public domain.”

Probe into Peters Hall fire continues Police and the Fire Department continue to investigate the cause behind Sunday night’s fire at Lot 28 School Street, Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara. According to reports, Omardai Persaud, 60, lived in the two-storey house which she shared with her 62-year-old sister Deocali Persaud, her 79-year-old mother Liloutie Persaud and her aunt 65-year-old Kalawati Boodram and two nephews. During the blaze, an apartment building next door was damaged, but the occupants were not home at the time. During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle Kalawati Boodram explained that she lived in the upper half of the home and was wheelchair-bound due to one of her legs being am-

Kalawati Boodram ( Photos by Adrian Narine )

putated. Boodram explained that, about 18:00 hours Diwali night, she was sitting on her stair when Omardie Persaud, who lived in downstairs in the lower flat, came home and was lighting Diya from inside of the house leading to the gate. She explained that she heard Omardie shouting “Oh meh God, Oh meh God all thing gone… fire! fire!” and when she peeped she saw the redness coming from the blaze. “I could have died” the elderly would stress, as she explained that she was rescued from the house by her neighbour. “I believe is the Diya ketch from the blind while she (Omardie) was outside… because the fire started downstairs” Boodram said.

“Everything burn, money jewellery, meh NIS books even the money I got to pay for my hospital bill next month,” the worried woman said. Recently, the woman said, that she did some construction to the house, and everything was lost in the fire which she estimated to be over $8M. Meanwhile, she is debunking the claims of Omardai that the fire started from the electrical meter at the back of the house. When the Guyana Chronicle was shown the electrical meter, everything appeared to be intact; no damages were seen by the layman observer. Anyone wishing to contact Boodram can call 2335981 or 669-3510 The partially destroyed Lot 29 School Street, Pe-

The aftermath of the fire at Lot 28 School Street, Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara

The partly destroyed apartment building next door.

ters Hall property, which had an apartment on each flat, was rented by two

separate families. No one was at that home at the time of the fire.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Four-door sluice at D’Edward to be completed by year end CONSTRUCTION of the $431 M drainage sluice at D’Edward on the West Bank of Berbice is expected to be completed by December 28th. The sluice, which will be managed by the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), will, on completion, provide drainage to over 16,000 acres of low-lying agricultural and residential lands between the Berbice and Abary rivers. The sluice is located a few hundred feet west of the Berbice River Bridge and is being constructed by Courtney Benn Construction Services Limited (CBCSL). E&A Consultants Incorporated is supervising the

works. General Manager of the MMA/ADA, Mr. Aubrey Charles, said on Friday last that the December 28th deadline is a revised time for completion and he was advised that the structure was, last weekend, 79% complete and that the contractor was on schedule for completion at the revised date. Site Foreman attached to the CBCSL, Mr. Rishie Humphrey, said that the project was being done in compliance with the new schedule. The floor, with installation of the concrete slabs and piles , the inlet/ outlet and wing walls , the gantry columns and the gantry bridge were 100% complete. By last week Wednesday, the desilting of the

façade drain approach to the sluice was 96% complete, and a Wave Breaker on the seaward side 45% complete. Erosion protection on the seaward side of the sluice is imminent and the opening of the channel for the outflow will follow to complete the works, Humphrey said. The project started late 2017 following the release of the funds by the government through the Ministry of Agriculture in order to relieve the effects of inundations on the West Coast of Berbice and open up additional lands in the area for agriculture.

Spring tide hits Mahaicony again - Despite round-the-clock efforts by Public Infrastructure Ministry THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure has confirmed social media reports that residents from Columbia to Fairfield, Mahaicony, have been affected by the current spring tide. Many of the photos posted online depict flooding in some of the residential areas in the communities. Since the last spring tide period which ended October 02, the Public Infrastructure Ministry has spearheaded emergency works to arrest the breaches in the Dantzig to Fairfield area. Executing those corrective measures are two contractors – BK International and A&S General Contractors Inc. To date, more than 6,000 tonnes of stone has been delivered to strengthen the severely impacted foreshore. Already, a 100m of rip-rap sea defence structure was constructed at Fairfield. The drainage of the Bellamy Canal that runs parallel to the foreshore and the Atlantic Ocean, was prepared with four diesel pumps being put in place to facilitate maximum drawdown. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) within the Ministry of Agriculture, led this operation in which two pumps were positioned in Cottage, and the latter in Dantzig. The NDIA also impoldered numerous acres of rice lands to

Ongoing emergency sea defence works at Dantzig foreshore

reduce the impact of flooding on residential communities. However, with much damage to the foreshore after the last spring tide, corrective measures have been hindered by numerous uncontrollable factors. These include limited access to the breached sites due to severe damage of the dam which has resulted in the contractors working progressively inwards from both eastern and western ends of the breaches. Compounding this were the losses of vital equipment and material when four barges and one tugboat sank at the foreshore while traversing the treacherous waters to deliver much-needed boulders to the critical sites. Despite these challenge, the government’s efforts continued around the clock to ensure emergency works

provide adequate protection from the current spring tide. Additionally, the Public Infrastructure Ministry, through the contractors, are still working along the Mahaicony foreshore. Through collaboration with multiple ministries and agencies, the government has issued advisories and warning to residents along the coastal belt of Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has also distributed sandbags before the forecasted high tide and continues to monitor the situation. The commission stands ready to assist residents in the affected areas. (DPI)

Finishing works in progress at the MMA/ADA sluice at D’Edward last weekend

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Linden nurses press for enhanced packages …following colleague’s death while on the job

By Vanessa Braithwaite NURSES attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) are pressing for enhanced packages mostly about safety and protection among other issues, following the death on Saturday of one of their colleagues, Eon Reddock, while on duty. Reddock, 37, of South Amelia’s Ward was one of two persons who died early Saturday morning when the ambulance in which he was travelling collided head-on with a motorcar on the Amelia’s Ward Public Road. The other person was the diver of the motorcar, 18-year-old Tristan Clarke, of New Scheme, Amelia’s Ward, who was reportedly on his way home when the accident occurred, after attending a function in Wismar. Reddock, on the other hand, was returning to Linden in the ambulance, after taking a patient to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Two colleagues of his, who were also in the ambulance, were critically injured in the accident. For want of immediate action in light of the foregoing development, the nurses reportedly raised their concerns with the Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Industrial Relations Officer of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Maurice Butters, who said he fully supports a planned go-slow, which is expected to commence today. The nurses have warned, however, that if they do not receive any positive feedback from the relevant authorities by the end of the day, they will go into full-blown strike mode tomorrow. They also claim that despite Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence paid a visit to the hospital on Saturday to commiserate with staff on the passing of their colleague, they

were unable to raise their concerns with her at that forum. Minister Lawrence, paid both families a visit and expressed her deepest condolences to them. She was joined by other senior staff of the Ministry of Health and Regional Officials including Regional Chairman, Renis Morian. Lawrence then visited the

GPSU Industrial Relations Officer Maurice Butters

Linden Hospital where she emphasised the need for specialised services such as CT scanning at all Regional Hospitals, to avoid medical personnel having to travel to the city, to accompany patients who need to access these services. COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE Butters said that the nurses are calling for a comprehensive package that will cover all loose ends relative to their general duty, but more particularly to their having to accompany patients to the GPHC, as Reddock had done when he met his demise, or in some cases from the Kwakwani Hospital to Linden. They’re are calling, Butters said, for risk allowances to be incorporated in the package, as well as for the ambulances to be insured. “There is no insurance to cover them; if anything happen to them, they are on

their own,” Butters said. “We have been calling for this a long time, and it is sad that we have to wait until somebody die to run around the place and start making promises," he added. He is contending that not only should nurses who trans-

first place; and even so, it could have been done in the day, when it was safer. If that was done, Reddock could have been alive today,” she said. BETTER POLICIES Butters, who is also a director on the LHC Board, is

Instead of having our staff flying down the road at the wee hours of the morning and putting their lives on the line.” Butters, on the other hand, feels it is more important for the specialists to be sent with the equipment, since there are cases where units are set up,

LHC staff members designing a notice board in memory of the late Eon Reddock

fer patients to be given risk benefits, but so, too, should those exposed to psychiatric patients and communicable diseases by handling blood work in the laboratory. Nurses are also calling for the transfer of patients to be better evaluated, since, in many cases, when they do get to the GPHC, the doctors there claim that there was no need for the patient to be transferred. A case in point was the patient that Reddock had taken to the GPHC. The nurses related that the accident could have been avoided, had the transfer been done earlier in the day. “Since early in the morning before my shift end, they talking about transferring the patient, and they ‘dilly-dally’ and wait until night to do the transfer,” one nurse said, on condition of anonymity. “We are saying there was not a need to transfer in the

calling for a better policy or system of transfer. The nurses themselves are calling for transfers to be done during the day, except in cases of emergencies. During her visit to the LHC on Saturday, Minister Lawrence stressed the need for specialised services such as CT-scanning to be made available at all regional hospitals, so as to avoid the need for transferrals, thus exposing staff members to danger. She said that at the policy level, moves are being made to have these services available at the hospitals at reference. “That is why we are fighting to make every region self-sufficient,” she told staff. “We would prefer to bring the specialists to make every region self-sufficient; we would prefer to bring the specialists to the hospital and not be transferring our patients from one region to the other…

but no one is there to operate them. “Look, for instance, in Kwakwani,” he said. “There is an x-ray unit, but no x-ray technician. And nurses still have to be travelling with patients through the trail to do x-rays at LHC.” At the LHC, systems are being implemented to establish critical units such as a CT scanning unit and a dialysis unit. The rooms have already been set up, and very soon these services are expected to be rolled out. And in the case of genuine emergencies, where patients have to be transferred, nurses are calling for a more spacious ambulance to be made available, since the ones currently in use are uncomfortable and unsafe. “They are calling for the nurse to be at the back with the patient, but we does be very uncomfortable, because the vehicles they are using

are not designed to transport patients,” one nurse said. “It is not a very pleasant situation to travel like that; and it is not safe either,” she added. Butters claims there is a serious issue with the management of LHC, and that matters to be addressed at that level are not being done. Presently, the hospital's Board is not functional. When contacted on Monday, LHC’s Administrative Manager Michelle Bollers said that management is well aware of the issues affecting the nurses, more so given recent developments, and that they are working on making representation for them. “We are working on a report to be submitted as early as 08:00hrs tomorrow,” she said. DILIGENT WORKER Butters described Reddock as a very diligent worker. He said that while at the time of his death he was serving on the maternity ward, he would have served in almost all of the other wards and departments, and therefore would have come into contact with most of the staff members. “His disposition as a nurse caused many persons to gravitate towards him,” Butters said, adding: “He was a jovial person. He never refused to do anything; he was well liked.” Ambulance attendant Shoma Douglas, who was injured in the accident, has been transferred to GPHC and will undergo surgery tomorrow. The driver of the ambulance, Ranetse Paul, who was also injured, has been discharged from the hospital.

Tourism body seeks meeting with political leaders PRESIDENT of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mitra Ramkumar, has signalled his intention to have the full board of the association meet with all contesting political parties for the upcoming General and Regional Elections to be held on Monday, March 2, 2020. “I intend for the full THAG Board to meet with all contesting parties and document their vision for the tourism industry since we believe that the value of tourism is highly underestimated in Guyana,” he told participants at the association’s annual dinner and auction at the Marriott Hotel on October 25, 2019. Ramkumar said, traditionally, the association would use the oc-

casion to lobby the government for changes to benefit the tourism sector, but with the impending election, it will, in addition to lobbying the government, extend it to include all political parties. Remarking that tourism is estimated to be the second-largest export industry in Guyana, creating one in every 10 jobs, the THAG president alluded to the Organisation of American States (OAS) Sustainable Tourism Leaders programme which states that “tourism is an industry that has a triple bottom line effect: People, Plant and Profits .” According to him, the association, during the meeting with the respective political leaders, will seek

out their position on incentivizing the tourism industry to achieve the triple bottom line. As it relates to the first` P`-People, Ramkumar said they will seek out, from the respective parties, their position on establishing rehabilitation centres for the people living on the streets of Georgetown, to offer them a second chance at achieving their real purpose in life; commencing the immediate construction of the hospitality institute; funding for a complete overhaul of the country’s public transportation system to align with health, safety, security and environmental standards (HSSE) so that it appeals to both Guyanese and visitors to travel around the country; and the building

on new facilities off the main road and the restoration of the existing ones to the HSSE standards. On the latter, he said presently farmers and vendors are losing opportunities to sell their fresh produce to visitors and expatriates since the current market conditions are not conducive. As it relates to the send `P’ – Planet, THAG would seek the views of the political leaders on placing an immediate or accelerated ban on single-use plastics; investments in and offering incentives for recycling and renewable energy; enforcing the regulations for the reforestation of all mined concession and mining on our river banks and mining without mercury; discontinuing the wildlife

trade and commercial use of wild meat. His opined that Guyana cannot proudly call itself the number one eco-tourism destination in the world when it is itself involved in unsustainable practices and immorality. On the issue of profits, the leaders of all the political parties will be questioned about their position on truly recognizing tourism as an export industry, giving it the same tax incentives as every other sector which is known as renewable export; tax reduction which is among the highest in the region and takes away disposable income that can have a multiplier effect by increased circulation; and seeing tourism as TURN TO PAGE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Man dies in LBI crash Miner killed in Cuyuni-Mazaruni, three held A 21-year-old driver died Saturday afternoon following an accident on the La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD) public road. Dead is Keshav Geetram of lot 201 Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara (WBD). Police said Geetram was driving his motorcar PMM 9535 when he lost control of the vehicle which began to spin. As a result, the vehicle, PMM 9535, collided with motorcars PTT

8830 and PKK 4683 which were parked on the side of the road. Geetram was travelling with a passenger, 32-year-old Robin Kawall of Lusignan, ECD. Both men received injuries and were taken out of the car in an unconscious state. They were placed into a Police patrol vehicle and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where Geetram died, while receiving treatment. Dead: Keshav Geetram

A MINER was killed during, or after, an alleged robbery on Saturday in the Backdams of Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). Dead is 36-year-old David Atkinson, called “Long Hair”, of Kuru Kuru, Linden-Soesdyke Highway. Police are hunting for a Brazilian national and his stepfather in connection with the murder and three persons are currently in custody assisting with investigations. Reports indicate that Atkinson was found tied up in a watch camp at ‘Guana

sand’ Backdam, Cuyuni River belonging to Azad Mohammed –a 32-year-old miner of Region two –at around 15:00 hours on Saturday, with an incise wound to his left wrist, and multiple lacerations about his body. Atkinson died while being transported to the Bartica Regional Hospital and police have since arrested three others. Based on conflicting statements surrounding the incident, Police, as they continue their investigations, arrested all of the persons in one of the camps Atkinson had visited.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Tourism body seeks meeting with ... the answer to diversifying the economy and making it robust to shocks from commodity pricing, taking into consideration that gold, rice, sugar and oil are all vulnerable to those shocks. On this note, the THAG president expressed that tak-

ing into consideration all the areas mentioned and coupled with the fact that Guyana has an infrastructural deficit, he is doubtful about the muchtalked-about cash grants. He further opined that government must stick to its function of creating an

enabling environment and providing high-quality social services to its populace, reminding that of the association’s theme for Tourism Awareness Month `Tourism is a Force for Good’ and it can be used as a catalyst for positive change and to

mobilise all stakeholders to work together for national development. At the function, Ramkumar also announced that THAG will be launching its annual publication, the “Explore Guyana Magazine 2020” edition at the World

Travel Market in London on November 4, 2019. The journal, which is printed on recycled paper, is the official Tourist Guide of Guyana and its last print run was 35,000 copies. He said, too, the association’s much-anticipated

FROM PAGE

Bi-Annual Guyana Restaurant Week will be held from November 22 to December 1, 2019, when some principles from Green Restaurants, such as not providing a straw unless requested, will be adopted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 29, 2019

American Racing Tips Finger Lakes Race 1 No Entiendo Race 2 Gunboat Diplomacy Race 3 Lil ‘Smartiepants Race 4 Stabilize Race 5 She’s Not Bluffing Race 6 Tale Of A Song Race 7 High Command Race 8 Dearie

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Layne wins Elite Singles title at National Schools TT Championships ISAIAH Layne emerged champion of the Elite Boys U18 division in the feature event of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), National Sports Commission, Ministry of Education, National Schools’ Novices, Elite Teams and Singles Table Tennis Championships, which concluded on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The Saint Stanislaus student defeated fellow national TT player Jonathan Van Lange by a 3-2 margin in the final of the event. Layne had earlier defeated Caribbean Pre-Cadet bronze medallist Colin Wong (Christ Church Secondary) by a 3-1 margin in the semi-finals. The Bishops’ High School Van Lange had gotten past Chase Academy’s Jamal Nich-

olas by a 3-0 margin in his final four battle. In the quarterfinals, Wong knocked out 2018 champion Kaysan Ninvalle. Also in the final eight, Nicholas had defeated Krystian Sahadeo and Van Lange had gotten past emerging talent Peter Persaud from Vreed en Hoop Secondary. Meanwhile Persaud, 14, and Andell Austin 13, were victorious over Rhys Belle and Jaswan Seenarine from Bartica in the Boys Novice team final. Austin had defeated Belle 3-2, while Persaud got past Seenarine 3-1 before the Vreed en Hoop pair combined to ease past the Bartica duo 3-0 to finish as champions. In the quarterfinal, Bartica had gotten the better of ISA ‘A’ team 3-2, while Vreed en

Hoop had ended the run of ISA ‘B’ team 3-0. The East Street Islamic School had three of the 12 teams that competed in the novice division. Meanwhile in the Novice’s Boys Singles final, Queen’s College Nareen Persaud defeated ISA’s Omar Percival in a tense 3-2 battle en route to the title. Over the three days of competitionm. Chase Academy (males) and Charlestown Secondary School (females) had emerged victorious in the team events; while 14-year-old Marian Academy student Thuraia Thomas defended her U18 Elite women’s title and Samirah Burrowes had gotten past her sister Sufah in the Novice final.

‘Politics’ prevented Pollard from becoming captain sooner: Sir Viv BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Legendary former West Indies captain, Sir Vivian Richards, has endorsed Kieron Pollard’s appointment as white-ball skipper and believes “politics with the last regime” prevented the Trinidadian from assuming the position sooner. The 32-year-old Pollard was elevated to the position last month and next week leaves the Caribbean with the Windies for his first challenge, when they take on dangerous Afghanistan in India from November 5-18 in three OneDay Internationals and three Twenty20s. “I’ve always felt he should have been [appointed] a bit earlier,” the 67-year-old Sir Vivian who never lost a Test series as captain, told the Line and Length cricket podcast. “I guess the politics with the last regime and the things that obviously went down in India, and some of these guys in my opinion were blacklisted from playing the role that they should and helping to move the team forward, and I think because of those political issues, it didn’t quite help the

progress.”n Pollard replaced all-rounder Jason Holder as one-day captain and all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite at the helm of the T20 squad, and was part of a major overhaul of the management of the men’s side with fellow Trinidadian Phil Simmons named as head coach for the second time in four years. An aggressive lower order batsman who has specialised in the T20 format, Pollard will bring plenty experience to the role having led Barbados Tridents for five years during the Caribbean Premier League, and overseen their capture of the title in 2014. He also led St Lucia Stars last season and this year took over as captain of his native Trinbago Knight Riders after injury ruled all-rounder Dwayne Bravo out of the entire campaign. Sir Viv said he had identified the leadership qualities in Pollard from as early as 2013, when he saw him in the inaugural CPL season. “When I first saw him in the first CPL tournament we had in the region, he was in my opinion the best captain, no disrespect to Carlos and [peo-

ple] like that,” Sir Viv said. “Carlos is a very highly competitive individual and would have won us a World Cup off his bat but he was put in that position for political reasons and I think he would understand that as well because I think he is very sensible and knowledgeable. “So I have no issues with Kieron Pollard. I believe he brings inventiveness and is proactive more than anything else which I think can help at times.” Only recently, Pollard indicated he would not tolerate insularity in selection during his tenure and Sir Viv said he was in full agreement with the new captain’s position. “I’ve always been of the feeling that you try and pick the best team that you see regardless of where the individuals may come from, the best team that you see possible that can represent you,” Sir Viv stressed. “That’s the way I’ve always looked at it. The insularity factor in my opinion was null and void.”

Guyana is second as T&T shoots their way to top spot HOST Trinidad and Tobago surged to the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council Short Range and, in the process, dethroned Barbados who had won on home soil in 2018. All the action unfolded at the Tucker Valley Range, Chaguaramas and was hosted by the Northern Rifle Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NRATT) under the auspices of the West Indies Full Bore Shooting Council (WIFBSC). Former WIFBSC Individual Champion, Lennox Braithwaite, shot the highest score of any team on Saturday

last (148.14) but his effort could not land Guyana the Short Range title as the host team, led by 2019 Individual champion, Varma Rambarran, who shot a total of 147.18, led T&T to 1130.80 points just two more than the Guyanese (1128.65) to win the most coveted team trophy amongst the Caribbean marksmen and women. While not winning the title, Captain Mahendar Persaud, in an invited comment, said that his charges still made themselves and country proud given some challenging circumstances.

He noted that all the shooters did their best and summed up that the Trinidad and Tobago side capitalised on their home advantage to the fullest. Former champions Barbados ended third with a total score of 1075.60 with Antigua and Barbuda fourth with 1063.58. Team Canada won the match with a score of 1142.71 while Team England was fourth with 1115.74. The Guyanese remain the kings of the Long-Range Team Title and will hold on to the Milex/Crown Mining trophy until next year.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Woods ‘never ceases to amaze’ as peers tip their hat to greatness By Andrew Both CHIBA, Japan (Reuters) - Tiger Woods’ peers have learned over the years never to be surprised at anything he accomplishes and are braced for a further onslaught from the greatest player of their era, and perhaps any era. After months of mediocrity following his 15th major title at the Masters in April, Woods emerged from metaphorical hibernation to match Sam Snead’s record 82 wins on the PGA Tour on Monday. His three-stroke victory at the Zozo Championship, in his first start after knee surgery two months ago, seemingly came out of nowhere, proving once again that quality never goes out of style. Tiger Woods holds a winning trophy as he celebrates to win At 43, Woods does not the Zozo Championship, a PGA Tour event, at Narashino hit the ball as far as many Country Club in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, Japan of his current rivals, but on Sunday Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS has found a way to win

Pakistan teen Naseem could be ‘surprise package’ in Australia – coach Misbah By James Redmayne SYDNEY (Reuters) - Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq is eager to see what schoolboy paceman Naseem Shah can produce on Australia’s fast pitches despite concerns over the 16-year-old’s readiness for the rigours of Test cricket. Naseem, who has played only five first class matches since his 2018 debut for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, was named in Pakistan’s squad for the two-test series against Tim Paine’s Australia which begins in Brisbane next month. With Naseem to lock horns with Steve Smith, the world’s topranked batsman, if selected, critics in Pakistan fear the callow cricketer could be in for a harrowing debut Down Under. However, former Pakistan captain Misbah, also the side’s chief selector, said his team were keen to throw him in the deep end. “In all spells he’s bowling quick and his control with the ball is also good,” Misban told reporters in Sydney on Monday. “So we’re looking forward that he can just bowl well here in Australia where the conditions may just give him some sort of assistance and getting some pace and bounce from these wickets. “Everybody is excited to just get him in the team also. “We’re looking forward that if he can just put the ball in the right areas with that kind of pace, (he) could be a surprise package.” Misbah has placed a premium on youth in the upcoming Twenty20 and test series, selecting 19-year-old Musa Khan in both his squads, with

Teen pacer Naseem Shah has been named in Pakistan’s squad for the two-Test series against Australia.

a third teenage quick in Shaheen Afridi also picked for the tests. Pakistan have never won a test series in Australia in over six decades of trying and the Misbah-captained team that last toured in 2016/17 was whitewashed 3-0. While Pakistan have long been described as unpredictable for their seesawing performances in all formats, Misbah said he was seeking more consistency from his team. “Obviously we want to use that unpredictability in a good manner, in a positive manner,” he said. “We don’t want to just go there and sometimes fail. “We need to be more consistent with our good performances and that’s what we are trying to do at the moment.” Pakistan play the first of three T20 matches against Australia in Sydney on Sunday.

without overpowering a course in the manner of his prime. “It never ceases to amaze really,” 2013 Masters champion and former world number one Adam Scott told Reuters, noting the roller coaster that Woods has been on this year. “When he wins the Masters you’re like ‘he’s going to break Jack (Nicklaus’s record of 18 majors), that’s a guarantee’ and then by August you’re not sure if he’s ever going to play again and now after that break of two months he comes back and wins here off an extended break.” “If he’s going to tee it up you can never count him out. He’s not consistently dominating like we once was, like we all got used to but he has this incredible talent and gift of getting the golf ball in the hole. His form is going to come and go but that gift is not going away.” Other major champions were similarly impressed. Rory McIlroy, who at age 30 has 17

PGA Tour victories, duly noted that he would have to win six times yearly for the next decade to approach 82 wins. And this year’s British Open champion Shane Lowry sounded more like a fan than a man who won a major championship three months ago. “He’s my golfing idol and sporting idol,” said Irishman Lowry. “He’s the best that’s ever lived. It doesn’t surprise me whatever he does.” This year’s U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland played the final two rounds with Woods, and saw up close what the man is still capable of. “The ball-striking exhibition I’ve seen the last two days is a joke, so I don’t see him stopping any time soon,” Woodland said. “Eighty-two’s pretty special. I think there’s a lot more in store.”

BCCI waits on BCB nod to roll out Eden Gardens day-night Test

The BCCI has moved a step closer to hosting a day-night Test, with a request going across to its counterparts at the BCB for the second and final Test of the upcoming India-Bangladesh series, scheduled to be played at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, to be played under lights. ESPNcricinfo understands that the Indian board is waiting for the go-ahead from the BCB, but preparations are already underway in Kolkata despite the inclement weather of the past few days. BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told reporters that discussions were on at their end. “We are having this discussion but we haven’t decided yet,” he said. “We will only decide after speaking to the players and team management.” The players are expected to get back with an answer on Monday night. One of the concerns for Bangladesh is their lack of match practice with the pink balls that are used in day-night Tests - only one game has been played in the country with them, the first-class Bangladesh Cricket League final in February 2013. The Indians have also not played much with pink balls they are the only Test-playing nation, apart from Bangladesh and the two new Full Members, Afghanistan and Ireland, to not have played a day-night Test yet. Sujan Mukherjee, the chief curator at Eden Gardens, confirmed that the organisers had been informed about the daynight Test. “We are waiting for the final go-ahead now, but yes, we are expecting it to happen,” he said. “As such, there is nothing different for us to do. A

Eden Gardens might host India’s first day-night Test Getty Images

pitch is a pitch, we are hoping to make it a sporting one, with some pace.” That said, the weather in Kolkata has made it difficult to get going. “It has been raining intermittently for the past many days, and non-stop for the last three days. But I am sure we will have time to do a good job.” Dew could be a factor if the game goes ahead as a day-night encounter, Mukherjee pointed out: “Only the dew could be a concern. In the evening, in November... it will mean drying the ground during the game.” But Sourav Ganguly, the new BCCI president, has spoken of the need to evolve, calling daynight Tests “the way forward” soon after taking charge last week. He also said that he had spoken to Virat Kohli, the India captain, who was on board. “We all are thinking about this. We will do something about this,” Ganguly said on Friday at Eden Gardens at a Cricket Association of Bengal event. “I am a big believer in day-night Tests. Kohli is agreeable to it. I see a

lot of reports in newspapers that he is not, but that is not true. “The game needs to go forward and that is the way forward. People should finish work and come to watch champions play. I don’t know when that will happen, but it will.” Ganguly had been pushing for India to play with the pink ball even when he was head of the BCCI’s technical committee. In the past, he had recommended that the BCCI continue to invest in playing Duleep Trophy matches under lights, an experiment first used in 2016. This season the board had initially planned for the Duleep final to be a daynight affair only to change its mind at the last minute. The Eden Gardens Test is scheduled to begin on November 22, with the series of three T20Is (Delhi - November 3, Rajkot - November 7, and Nagpur - November 10] and the first Test, in Indore from November 14, preceding it. (ESPN Cricinfo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 29, 2019

PNG, Ireland book tickets to T20 World Cup PAPUA New Guinea (PNG) and Ireland have sealed their place at next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia after finishing top of their groups at a qualifying tournament in the UAE. World No.17 Papua New Guinea will make their first ever appearance at a World Cup after beating Kenya by 45 runs at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. They had to wait for the result of the Netherlands’ game against Scotland before they could celebrate their automatic qualification for the men’s tournament next October. The Dutch beat Scotland by four wickets but failed to knock off the 131 they needed for victory in 12.3 overs, which meant that the PNG Barramundis topped the qualifying tournament’s Group A with a higher net run rate. “I am feeling a little emotional,” PNG’s Australian coach Joe Dawes said. “It’s been a pretty big two years, for them to achieve this is

pretty special.” The former Queensland Bulls fast bowler said planning for the World Cup in Australia next year could wait. “We’ll start thinking about that tomorrow. We are just going to enjoy the moment. For them to achieve this is a great thing for us and for the nation.” PNG were facing disaster on Sunday when they slipped to 6-19 in their match against Kenya but Norman Vanua led the recovery, clubbing 54 from 48 balls and sharing a seventh wicket partnership of 77 with Ses Bau. Kenya needed to reach the target of 118 in 12 overs to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs but their batsmen were unable to get out of first gear. Opener Irfan Karim was the only person to hit a boundary and top-scored with 29 as Kenya slid to be all out for 73. Nosaina Pokana was the most successful of the PNG bowlers with 3-21.

The Irish had gone top of Group B earlier on Sunday with victory over Nigeria, but three teams could have knocked them off their perch on the final day and qualified for the World Cup. Oman were best placed to do so but they suffered a shock 14-run defeat to Jersey to stay level on eight points with Ireland but behind on run-rate. A big win for either Canada or the United Arab Emirates in the final group game could also have knocked Ireland down to second, but a 14-run win for the hosts in Abu Dhabi went nowhere near close to doing so. The Netherlands, UAE, Oman, Namibia, Scotland and Hong Kong will now battle it out for the remaining four qualification spots. The Netherlands will face the UAE in a semi-final playoff, with the winner booking their spot at the World Cup and advancing to meet Ireland in the qualifying tournament’s semi-finals.

Papua New Guinea have secured their place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia next year – the first time they will feature in a World Cup in any format.

One of Namibia and Oman will book their ticket to Australia in the other semi-final playoff, with the winner to meet PNG. The loser of the playoff between the Dutch and UAE will meet Scotland on Wednesday, and the winner of that match will become the fifth team to qualify for the World Cup. The loser of the Namibia-Oman match will play Hong Kong also on Wednesday, and the winner of that match will be the sixth and

final team into the first round of next October’s tournament. Fourteen associate nations are competing at the World T20 Qualifier for the final six spots in the ‘First Round’ of next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. The first round will also feature Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and will be played in Geelong and Hobart. Hosts Australia and other top nations such as India and England are already assured a spot in the ‘Super 12’ stage

that will feature two groups of six before the knockout stages. Australia have been placed in the Super 12’s Group 1 along with Pakistan, New Zealand and the West Indies. India, England, South Africa and Afghanistan are in Group 2. Both groups will be joined by two teams out of the tournament’s first round. (Cricket Network)

Dominant India safe on World Test Championship throne

EVEN a perfect Test summer for Australia is unlikely to see them move to the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) this season, after world No.1 India opened up a significant early lead in the new competition. After years of planning and several false starts, the first running of the WTC began in August as a way of bringing greater context to Test match cricket. Each nation now plays Tests for points in a two-year cycle that will culminate in the WTC Final in England in June 2021, a competition that runs alongside the bilateral series that have always provided the backbone of the game’s longest format. And Virat Kohli’s India, the world’s top-ranked Test nation, have started the WTC in such a dominant fashion that they appear unsurpassable until next year at the earliest. India currently sit atop the standings on 240 points, well clear of New Zealand and Sri Lanka (both on 60 points) and Australia and England (both 56 points), having won five Tests out of five - two against the West Indies and three against South Africa. The only team with any chance of chasing down India in the coming months is Australia, who will play five Tests this home summer, two against Pakistan and three against New Zealand. But even if Tim Paine’s side win all five Tests to move to 296 points, they’d need India to go winless in

Virat Kohli’s side poised to remain in the box seat of new ICC competition designed to bring greater context to Test cricket.

the upcoming home series against Bangladesh in order to move to the top of the standings. India will play two Tests next month against the ninth-ranked Bangladesh, who this week narrowly avoided strike action by its leading players. Victory in both Tests will hand Kohli’s side a further 120 points, while just one win will still guarantee they finish the year on top of the standings. The complicated WTC points system has been the subject of much debate, with a total of 120 points on offer in each series and distributed based on how many matches are played. For example, a win in a twoTest series is worth 60 points; a win in a three-Test series is worth 40 points and so on.

The unbalanced points system is a case of the new World Test Championship clashing with more than 140 years of Test history. Countries like Australia, India and England have historically played more Tests and longer series than other nations, with series consisting of four or five Tests a common occurrence. Sides like Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have never played a series longer than three matches in their 37-year history as a Test team. The reality is that Test cricket remains incredibly popular with fans and vastly more lucrative for broadcasters and administrators, in countries like Australia and England compared to the likes of Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Bangladesh. The realities of the global game

left the ICC with three options when implementing the WTC: Attempt to redress the imbalance of Test cricket’s popularity and viability around the world a complicated issue that would take layers of multilateral planning and assistance over many decades Shorten marquee Test campaigns like the Ashes and the Border-Gavaskar Series to just three Tests each, to align with series between other nations Maintain the status quo and implement a weighted points system so that nations that play fewer matches aren’t punished in the World Test Championship After years of debate, they opted for the latter. So while England, for example, will play 22 Tests in the first two-year cycle of the World Test Championship compared to just 13 each for Sri Lanka and Pakistan, it’s hoped the points system won’t disadvantage the teams that play less. This has, however, led to plenty of confusion at the start of the WTC; the fact India were awarded 120 points for winning two Tests against the Windies, while Australia and England received just 48 points each for their two wins during the Ashes, appears fundamentally unfair. But while Kohli believes the new competition is far from perfect, he says it’s already changed Test cricket for the better. “The importance of every game has become that much more,” Kohli,

a passionate advocate of the five-day game, said during the recent South African series. “In situations that, in a threematch series, you probably would have played out a draw, teams are going to go for wins (to) get those extra points, so I think it’s great for Test cricket. The matches are going to be that much more exciting, is what we feel, and we can already experience that. “(It) is a good thing because it will keep the standard of Test cricket high.” And he’s suggested the contentious points system should be reviewed after the first two-year cycle. “If you’d have asked me to make the points table, I would give double the points for an away Test win,” he said. “That is something that I would have definitely liked to see - maybe after the first edition.”

WTC Series, 2019-20

Bangladesh in India (2 Tests, each victory worth 60 points) Pakistan in Australia (2 Tests, each victory worth 60 points) New Zealand in Australia (3 Tests, each victory worth 40 points) England in South Africa (4 Tests, each victory worth 30 points) India in New Zealand (2 Tests, each victory worth 60 points)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 29, 2019

MYO starts 40-over competition with wins against GYO and Diplomats THE MUSLIM Youth Organisation (MYO) started their GCA/NBS Second Division 40-over campaign with wins, over the weekend, against GYO and Diplomats. The semi-finalists of last season’s competition, who are hoping to again make the final four this year, are in the same zone as defending champions, GCC. On Saturday, playing at home against the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) and leading from the front was skipper Khemraj Ramdeen who blasted an unbeaten 112. Ramdeen struck 18 fours batting at number three, to lead MYO to 278-9 from 40 overs. A few other batsmen also had starts with opener Rudolph Singh hitting 33 and lower-order batsman, Timore Mohamed, unleashing a boundary-laden assault as he scored 38 of his 39 runs in

Joel Spooner has set the bowling bar high with 8-12 from 6.1 overs for Transport.

boundaries. He belted five fours and three sixes before leftarm spinner Trevon France bowled him. France led the visitors attack with three wickets. In reply, GYO were routed for 144 in 25 overs with

(L-r) Marlon Boele, Khemraj Ramdeen and Christopher Surat excelled for MYO over the weekend.

Christopher Surat leading the charge. The off-spinner, who decimated the visitors’ middle and lower order, finished with 6-22 from seven overs.

T. Liverpool and J. Ramsammy had starts for GYO with scores of 36 and 35 respectively. On Sunday at the Queen’s College ground, MYO made

light work of Diplomats in a match reduced to 32 overs. MYO batted first and scored 253-6 with opener Shafiek Ishmael hitting 78 (10x4s) and Ramdeen scor-

ing 57 (4x4s, 1x6). Surat also played a few shots toward the end of the innings as he clobbered four fours in a score of 33. Diplomats were undone for 105 in 24.3 overs, which handed MYO a 148-run win. Marlon Boele spun his way to 4-28 from 5.3 overs, Mohamed and Ishmael (who also had a pair on Saturday), took two wickets each. SPOONER’S DOMINANCE Meanwhile, on Sunday, Joel Spooner walked through Sophia, to pick up staggering figures of 8-12 from 6.1 overs. The Transport Sports Club off-spinner led the home team’s routing of Sophia for 78 in 23.1 overs. Transport then cruised to 84-3 in 8.3 overs with Spooner hitting 23 (2x4s, 2x6s).

Jaguars, Rest XI in first practice game set for tomorrow -Team to wing out on Nov. 4 ahead of Super50 GUYANA Jaguars will tackle a Rest XI team tomorrow in the first of two practice games ahead of the 2019 Regional Super50 Tournament which bowls off on November 7 in Trinidad & Tobago. Following the end of the Jaguars League 50-overs tourney which ended last week, Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) released the Jaguars 14-man team last Friday. The side featured the usual suspects, most of whom have been a part of the franchise since the Professional Cricket

Chandrapaul Hemraj

Leon Johnson

League was birthed. With the Jags set to wing out for the Twin Island Republic on November 4, Leon Johnson will want his players to get themselves in full play-mode

prior to their departure. As such, the GCC ground, Bourda, will host the first game as the Jags tackle a strong Rest Team featuring talents like Ricardo Adams, Vishaul Singh, Anthony Adams, Trevon Grif-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday October 29, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

Robert Karl Nunes (vs ENG, Lord’s, 1928)

(2)

Asghar Afghan (vs IND, Bengaluru, 2018) Today’s Quiz:

(1) When and where did the WI win a Test match for the first time? (2) When and where did Afghanistan gained a Test victory for the first time? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

fith and other stars. Jaguar’s spinner, Gudakesh Motie and new selectee, pacer Nial Smith, will appear for

Raymon Reifer

the Rest XI in the first practice match with Kelvin Umroa having a chance to apply his trade with the Jaguars. The match officials for the match tomorrow are umpires Nandkumar Shivsankar and Ryan Banwarie with match referee/DLSM being Arleigh Rutherford. Rutherford returns to duty for the second match on Friday as umpires Shannon Crawford and Javed Persaud carry out the on-filed duties with Trevor Hossein being the official scorer for both games. Meanwhile, the second and final match bowls off on Friday November 1 at the Enmore Community Centre ground. Both matches are scheduled to

commence at 09:30 hours. Guyana Jaguars: Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Leon Johnson (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Jonathan Foo, Kemol Savory, Ramaal Lewis, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton Pestano, Ronsford Beaton and Kelvin Umroa. Rest Team: Trevon Griffith, Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Tevin Imlach, Vishaul Singh, Ricardo Adams, Anthony Adams, Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed , Richie Looknauth, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Nial Smith, Raymond Perez and Ashmead Nedd

Russia answers WADA but non-compliance threat remains By Steve Keating (REUTERS) - Russian authorities have responded to questions about “inconsistencies” found in data retrieved from a Moscow laboratory, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Monday, as the threat of missing the 2020 Olympics continues to hang over the country. Russia once again found itself in the doping hot seat when WADA revealed in September that historical data supplied by the country’s anti-doping

authority contained “inconsistencies” that resulted in a decision to open a formal compliance procedure against the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). In a statement WADA said the responses were being assessed by its Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) department and independent forensic experts, who would report to the Compliance Review Committee (CRC). The CRC will then decide whether to bring a formal recommendation of non-compliance which could result in

Russia being excluded from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. USADA had been ruled non-compliant by WADA following the 2016 report that exposed the country’s huge state-sponsored doping programme. In September last year, the WADA executive committee voted to reinstate RUSADA before it had fulfilled the requirements laid out in a “Roadmap to Compliance”, which included giving access to the data stored at Moscow’s anti-doping laboratory. The Russian agency missed

the December deadline but an inspection team was finally allowed to retrieve the data in January, recovering more than 2,200 samples. Examination of the data, which includes thousands of anti-doping tests undergone by Russian sportsmen and women, has raised questions about the possible manipulation of laboratory results. WADA said it had no deadline for a report although it anticipated that the CRC would be in a position to consider the I&I’s report before the end of November.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 29, 2019

Fast bowlers turn up as Elite U-19 bowling clinic gets underway -teams to be grouped, tasked [CR1] from Thursday

the city with sessions held at Malteenoes and Demerara

speed data. Players were also cautioned about wearing

By Clifton Ross THE opening day of the elite amateur Under-19 fast-bowling clinic, endorsed by the University of the West Indies (UWI), got underway yesterday as the Performance Enhancement team commenced their 6-week long clinic. The opening day was held upstairs at the Malteenoes Sports Club pavilion where head facilitator, Guyana Jaguars and West Indies ‘A’ team Physiotherapist Neil Barry Jr., along with his team comprising students from the Physiotherapy department at the University of Guyana, held the opening session with an interactive orientation for attendees. About 20 or more novice pace bowlers attended the opening day and Barry kicked things off with an interactive segment which

Performance Enhancement Specialist Neil Barry Jr. and his team speaking with the amateur fast bowlers during yesterday’s opening session at the Malteenoes ground(Clifton Ross photo)

highlighted the importance of the clinic, the goals of the clinic and his expectations following the conclusion. Among things discussed was the importance of maintaining one’s condition as a fast bowler, conduct which is expected throughout the course, dress codes, and

more importantly, upholding respect and integrity among teammates and facilitators. The Jaguars Physio confirmed that from this Thursday and Friday, the bowlers will be split into two teams. The units will train and practice accordingly at 4 different venues across

Cricket Club (DCC) grounds, Fitness Paradise Gym and the National Park Gym. Also, the players will have their weights and heights recorded while Barry Jr. noted that he will bring out the speed gun to immediately begin recording

incorrect gear which could affect their full training with regards to developing. The different venues will see different areas of training being conducted with the head facilitator saying his expectations from the team was to ensure that all

players carry themselves in a professional manner. He said that the conduct on and off field were important in the development of cricketers who are aspiring to one day play for Guyana and the West Indies. Meanwhile, Mark Harper, Chairman of Development for the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), told the youths of the importance of fast bowling in West Indies culture. The Ex-Guyana player described the art of fast bowling as an important weapon in cricket and he was happy to see the players showing interest in honing their skills, while thanking Barry Jr. for lending his expertise locally. Harper believes that by the end of the clinic, he will see vast improvements in the player’s strength and conditioning areas which will allow them to maintain their speeds as they continue to train and stay healthy. The clinic countinues on Thursday at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground from 13:30hrs.

BRUSCHES BASKETBALL FOUNDATION CLINICS TO TARGET 250 PRIMARY SCHOOL PLAYERS --START TODAY AT VRYMAN’S ERVIN COURT, NEW AMSTERDAM THE first of seven basketball clinics to be staged across the country by the Brusches Basketball foundation begins today with the first such clinic for 50 primary school children in Berbice at the Vryman’s Erving basketball court in New Amsterdam, Berbice. The clinic, which will be conducted by United Statesbased former national captain, James Brusche and his brother Mike, who is a former nation-

al captain and coach, will be staged from 13.00hrs. They are here for the staging of their biennial tournament which, this year, has targeted Under-18 players from clubs across the country. Former national player Shauna Chester will be assisting the foundation in the clinics across Guyana as others are set for the East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, Linden and Kwakwani. From 13.00hrs, the clinic

bounces off at the Vryman’ Erving basketball court in New Amsterdam, and tomorrow, the first of two clinics for 50 primary school children on the East Coast will be held at the Plaisance Guardians basketball court from 11.00hrs. After that, the second clinic will be at the Burnham Court in Georgetown for another 50 primary school children in that catchment area, starting at 13.00hrs. On Thursday, the clinic is

Former national basketball captain, James Brusche

set for the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court from 13.00hrs and the last clinic will be staged next Monday at the Kwakwani basketball court for players in that area. The Ministry of Education in the respective areas was contacted to ensure the primary school children in their communities receive the coaching from the former national players who see this as a means of giving back to the development of the sport at the basic levels.

Sir Viv says long-term planning by CWI now key to revival BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Sir Vivian Richards says West Indies cricket has reached a “crossroads” and believes strategic long-term planning by the Ricky Skerritt-led administration will be paramount if the sport is to rebound in the region. Pointing to the Caribbean side’s disastrous performance at the ICC World Cup in England earlier this year and their steady slide down the rankings, the legendary former Test captain and master batsman conceded the team’s struggles had reached a new low but said he would back any initiatives by Cricket West Indies aimed at turning the situation around. “It would have been a

setback, the last meaningful tournament we would have participated in, that was the World Cup in England,” Sir Viv told the Line and Length cricket podcast. “We started pretty well but faded towards the end. The potential basically and the excitement I think we all had at the time, especially with the start, that we were going to see that turnaround especially in the 50-over tournament … but we faded towards the end.” He continued: “We are basically at a crossroads where our cricket is concerned. I think we need to get up the [rankings] and we need to find ways and means of doing that. The planning factor [is important],

not just for the series we have ahead but also for the future and these are things we need to take in mind.” West Indies produced their worst-ever showing at a 50-overs World Cup last July when they won just two of their 10 matches to finish ninth of 10 teams – only above minnows and debutants Afghanistan. They thrashed Pakistan in their opener but then never won again until their final match against the Afghans, as a campaign which promised much fell apart spectacularly. Sir Viv, whose phenomenal hundred won West Indies the 1979 World Cup and their last to date, said it was critical the administration put the dis-

appointment behind them and involved all stakeholders going forward. “There should be planning now,” Sir Viv stressed. “The disappointment in the World Cup and all that sort of stuff, we’ve got to look ahead and that’s going to take [planning]. “We must get behind one another and look to move forward and as I said, hopefully the planning in the future will get better and the ending after the start will be more progressive.” Following the World Cup, CWI moved to overhaul the leadership infrastructure of the team, appointing Kieron Pollard as captain of the white-ball units while hiring Phil Simmons

Legendary skipper Sir Vivian Richards.

as head coach on a four-year contract. The board also revamped the selection policy and appointed new panels for the men, women and youth sides, in a move aimed at creating

enhanced transparency and building stronger representative West Indies sides. And Sir Viv said he was hopeful Simmons received the necessary support in his bid to turn around the senior team’s fortunes. “I’m just hoping that Phil gets the opportunity to fulfill his duties and all that are around him,” said Sir Viv, who never lost a Test series as captain. “And knowing the necessity of what is needed to turn West Indies cricket around and to get it back on a solid foundation, it’s going to take a team effort by everyone involved and buying into exactly how we’re going to move forward.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 29, 2019

Peter Persaud and Andell Austin 13 led Vreed en Hoop Secondary to the Novice title

Isaiah Layne won the Boys U18 Elite Championships

Layne wins Elite Singles title at National Schools TT Championships 19 PAGE

Guyana is second as T&T shoots their way to top spot 19 PAGE

‘Politics’ prevented Pollard from becoming captain sooner: Sir Viv PAGE

New Windies white- ball captain Kieron Pollard Team Guyana at WIFBSC 2019 Championships. From right: Ryan Sampson, Leo Romalho, Roberto Tiwari, Mahendra Persaud, Lennox Braithwaite, Dane Blair, John Fraser, Peter Persaud and Ransford Goodluck. Missing are Dylan Fields and Sherwin Felicien. 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

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019