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3rd November, 2019

Coalition eyes 36 seats No.105810

… President says gov’t has done enough to secure second term

… AFC NEC agrees to continue negotiations with APNU, readies party for campaign

86 new ranks added to GPF

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20 arrested in police 24 raid PAGE

PPP did nothing to heal wounds of Lindeners 10 PAGE

… Solomon reflects on killing of protesters, ignoring of agreement

Economy to ‘balloon’ in 2020 19 PAGE

Newly commissioned ranks of the Guyana Police Force perform one of their routines during their passing-out parade at Eve Leary on Friday

–– IMF projects 86 per cent growth in real GDP

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Wanted men Fraser and Boodrage arrested in Suriname

SURINAMESE authorities, in collaboration with intelligence from the Guyana Police Force, have arrested wanted pirates O’Brian Fraser called “Shines” and Anonth Boodrage called “Andy”, on Friday, in a boat that was docked in an area called Leferno in Suriname. While details of the arrest have not been made available, it is part of a collaborative effort between the two nations to curb piracy on the high seas since the last major piracy attack in 2018. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that officers from the Guyana Police Force have visited Suriname, as well as officers from the neighbouring country have been in Guy-

O’Brian Fraser

Anonth Boodrage

ana, as they worked on the recent piracy attack. Fraser and Boodrage were the two remaining members of the five-man crew which brutally beat, bound and killed four Corentyne fishermen be-

tween October 5 and 13, 2019. The men were wanted in connection with the murder of fishermen Vishnu Seeram called “Kevin”, 20, of Lot 76 Miss Phoebe; Marvin Tames-

sar, 20, called “Buddy” and Lamar Otto Petrie, 20, both of Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant, and Kawal Kissoon called “Ajay” of 223 Letter Kenny Village, during the course of a piracy attack on the Corentyne River. Three others have already been charged after confessing to the crime earlier this week. Suresh Sundat called “Chu Chu Bai”, 22, and Narine Dhanrajh, 30, called “Buckman”, both from Belvedere Village, were charged on Wednesday

while Lennox Arleigh Grimmond called “Breeze”, 38, and of Cromarty Village, East Berbice, Corentyne was charged on Friday. They men appeared at the #51 and Albion Magistrates courts respectively and were all remanded until November 7, 2019 where they will appear at the Whim’s Magistrate’s Court for their second court appearance. They are all charged under the Hijacking and Piracy Act of Guyana, Section 7, Chapter 10:08.

The Guyana Police Force has come in for high praise by the families of the victims following the arrests of the men. The Guyana Chronicle’s sources in Suriname have revealed that the men are being kept at a holding centre in Suriname and are being processed to appear in court there as early as Tuesday. They are expected to be deported to Guyana and handed over to Guyanese authorities later next week.

Pandit who reportedly ‘troubled’ woman released on bail THE Berbice pandit, who was at the centre of a serious criminal allegation, submitted himself to police on Saturday in the presence of his attorney. After being questioned and told of the offence, he was released on $100,000 station bail, pending legal advice on the way forward. Earlier in the week, a 27-year-old Corentyne woman went missing after she allegedly suffered a mental breakdown following a situation with the pandit earlier in the year. The woman, last week, had left home for the mandir on Diwali day but did not return home, causing her parents to file a missing person’s report.

The woman had confided in her mother what the pandit did to her in May of this year; however, after they were allegedly advised to keep the matter silent by a senior member of the mandir, coupled with the embarrassment it would bring to the temple and the family, a decision was made not to file a police report. Since the incident in May, the young lady’s relatives related that she was the subject of a smear campaign to make the pandit seem like the victim; she was not allowed to sing at the Diwali mela. The upset woman decided it was enough and reported the matter to the police and the pandit was called in for questioning.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Coalition eyes 36 seats … President says gov’t has done enough to secure second term

… AFC NEC agrees to continue negotiations with APNU, readies party for campaign

By Svetlana Marshall CONFIDENT that his Government has done enough to improve the quality of life for the people of Guyana, President David Granger is predicting another term in office for the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition after the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. “Based on our record, we are convinced that we have a clear majority as a coalition,” President Granger told Kaieteur News Journalist Leonard Gildarie during a radio interview last week. He said in addition to restoring Local Democracy by holding Local Government Elections twice in four years after a more than 20year hiatus, the APNU+AFC Government established four new capital towns, and has decentralized public services, thereby providing them at the level of the towns and within the reach of the people. With the economy on the rise, progress, he said, has been recorded in the Education, Health, Infrastructure and Social Services Sectors, pointing out that Guyanese are now receiving livable wages, while pensioners have also experienced significant increases in their pensions. “So at the grassroots’ level, at the level of the ordinary

Flashback! President David Granger, greets AFC leader and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan ahead of the opening of the PNCR’s 19th Biennial Delegates’ Congress at Congress Place, Sophia back in August 2016. Also in photo are Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and other officials of the PNCR Guyanese, they know that the jority,” he said while noting for the position. quality of life has improved that the coalition is already “I am strong enough. I am and they look forward to re- mobilising its support on supported by a good team. I turning us to office.” the ground. “We are better have built a strong coalition Based on its performance together,” he added. and I feel very strong now,” over the past four years in Overwhelmingly, the President Granger said while office, President Granger said APNU+AFC coalition has noting that he is not only the APNU+AFC coalition thrown its support behind strong enough to campaign, is aiming to secure 36 seats President Granger for a sec- but is fit for the next five in the 65-Member National ond term in office, as such, he years and beyond. Assembly, three more than it will be leading the coalition In his quest to move the secured at the 2015 Elections into the much anticipated country forward, President when it won by a one-seat 2020 Elections. Dismissing Granger said he will launch a majority. the question of age, President ‘Decade of Development’ in “We have done our calcu- Granger, who was given a 2020 as Guyana enters a new lations and we are confident clean bill of health by his phase of economic develthat we wouldn’t be winning Cuban doctors having been opment. During this period, with a one seat majority. It diagnosed with cancer last the education system will be would be a much larger ma- year, said he is more than fit reformed to reflect the needs

of the new economy, access to information technology and the promotion of social cohesion. It will also see economic expansion, diversification, restructuring, including value-added manufacturing and food security. There will also be focus on energy security and the transition to renewable and clean sources of energy and environmentally sustainable management of our natural resources. A political opinion poll conducted by a leading Caribbean political research company – Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) – showed that a large percentage of Guyanese prefer President Granger to manage the oil wealth of the country. The poll, conducted in February 2019 showed majority of Guyanese prefer Granger as opposed to People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali. AFC RECOMMITS TO COALITION Meanwhile, the AFC, at the level of the National Executive Committee, recommitted to the coalition. “The National Executive Committee of the Alliance for Change (AFC) today (Saturday), put the part on full election campaign mode to ensure the return to office of the APNU+AFC Coalition

Government in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections,” AFC General Secretary David Patterson said. He noted that during the meeting held in Georgetown with representatives from all regions, the party endorsed its campaign plan and strategy by its international campaign consultants. The NEC, as such, approved members of the national campaign committee, campaign directorate, operating structure and campaign budget. Importantly too, the AFC has agreed to move ahead with negotiations with the APNU on the revision of the Cummingsburg Accord – the agreement which brought the two sides together ahead of the 2015 elections, resulting in the defeat of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). “The Committee also received a report and endorsed decisions taken by its coalition negotiating team to arrive at a successor Cummingsburg Accord, to replace the existing agreement, which expires in February 2020,” Patterson said. He noted too that the NEC provided guidance to assist the negotiating team in finalizing the agreement on the remaining outstanding items. “The NEC further agreed to an extended timeline of November 10, 2019 for the signing of the new accord,” Patterson further disclosed.

PM nominated for GUSI Peace Prize PRIME Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, has been nominated for the GUSI Peace Prize – a private award given by the GUSI Peace Prize Foundation, based in Manila, Philippines. The GUSI Peace Prize is given to recognise individuals and organisations who contribute to global peace and progress through a wide variety of fields. The awards ceremonies are held yearly in Manila, Philippines. In addition to the award, the foundation conducts charity and medical outreach programs in different provinces in the Philippines. In accepting the award, Prime Minister Nagamootoo, in a letter to George Bistis, Chairman America Affairs, Gusi Peace Prize International, said he was deeply honoured that the Gusi Peace Prize Committee has decided to confer him with the prestigious honour. He said the acceptance of the award was communicated verbally to His Excellency, Ambassador Barry Gusi. “It is with sincere humility that I received your

confirmation that I was selected as a Gusi Laureate, and that I was invited to attend on November 27, 2019, the Awarding Ceremony in Manila, which has generously given to me the symbolic Golden Key to the City when I visited in 1996 at the invitation of distinguished Filipino journalists,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said. He however, noted that he would not be able to attend the ceremony. “Parliament is likely to be dissolved towards the end of November for the holding of new elections on March 2, 2020. I am sure that you will understand why I need to be in my country during this demanding period. I nevertheless will hold in high esteem and sincere gratitude the offer by the Committee to confer on me the Gusi Peace Prize which was established by Presidential Proclamation, and founded by His Excellency, Barry Gusi, to continue the work of his distinguished and heroic father, Gemeniano Javier Gusi,” Prime minister said.

He added, “I am impressed by the mission of the Gusi Peace Prize, inter alia, to honour individuals who have given exemplary contributions to global peace and progress, and who champion human rights and maintain governance, democracy, equality, international peace and goodwill. I was pleased to be nominated for this prestigious award by the indefatigable Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, Founder Manager of the City Montessori School, who has been promoting world unity and world peace. As Convenor of the International Conference of Chief Justices of the World, Dr. Gandhi had invited me to the 17th International Conference which I attended in Lucknow, India. I was humbled by his recognition of my modest contribution to the struggle for peace, human rights and democracy. Born on November 30, 1947, I not only joined the anti-colonialist struggle in 1961 for the independence of my country from British rule, but gave solidarity to peoples the world over – from Vietnam, to

Southern Africa, and to the Middle East. In our Region, I embrace the hope of our peoples for the Caribbean to be a Zone of Peace, and for Guyana to be a Green State to promote preservation of our Planet Earth from the ravages of climate change.” Prime Minister Nagamootoo noted that as a journalist, as well as a minister under five governments, “I am proud of my record in promoting press freedom, human rights and democracy for which my country, Guyana, stands out as an encouraging model in the western hemisphere, and for which I am nominated for the Gusi Peace Prize. I mentioned the above just to say that your acceptance of my nomination for the Gusi Peace Prize has not been misplaced. I will be in spirit with His Excellency and all participants at the Gusi Awards Ceremony, and I congratulate all the Peace Laureates for receiving their well-deserved Awards,” Mr. Nagamootoo said.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 3, 2019

Deadly car bomb in Turkish-controlled border town At least 13 people were killed by a car bomb in the northern Syrian border town of Tal Abyad, Turkish authorities said. Turkey’s defence ministry said at least 20 others were wounded by the blast. Turkish troops and Turkey-backed rebels last month took control of Tal Abyad and other border towns from Kurdish forces, after US troops - who were protecting the Kurds pulled out. Pro-Turkey fighters and civilians were among the dead on Saturday, according to a UK-

based monitoring group. The monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said more than 30 people were also injured in the blast. Turkey’s defence ministry accused a Syrian Kurdish militia group, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), of planting the bomb. No group immediately claimed responsibility. Turkey’s military invaded the Kurdish-held border areas in northern Syria immediately after US forces were withdrawn. Turkey has a longstanding enmity with the Kurds and wants

to push back the YPG from its border. Turkey claims the YPG is a “terrorist” offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. Turkish forces have created a 120-kilometre (75-mile) “safe zone” between Tal Abyad and the town of Ras al-Ain, pushing the YPG out of the area. Turkish troops on Friday began joint patrols with Russian forces. US President Donald Trump faced widespread inter-

Turkey-backed Syrian fighters at the site of the blast in Tal Abyad (BBC photo)

national criticism for his decision to remove American troops from the area, leaving Kurdish forces - which allied with the US in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group, suffering heavy losses - outgunned by the Turkish military.

Tens of thousands of people fled their homes in October in border towns in northern Syria, including Tal Abyad and Ras alAin, as Turkish forces pushed into the area. Turkey says it will send members of IS that it has so

far detained back to their home countries. Tens of thousands of IS fighters and their family members were taken captive by Western-backed forces in north-eastern Syria. Turkey is now holding a number of those who have escaped, including British and Dutch nationals, after launching its incursion into northern Syria. The country’s interior minister criticised the reluctance of European countries to repatriate nationals who had been taken prisoner while fighting for IS in Syria. “We are not a hotel,” Suleyman Soylu said. “That is not acceptable to us. It’s also irresponsible.” He vowed to ensure they were sent back to their home nations. (BBC)

Pakistan opposition protesters call on PM Khan to resign

Pakistani opposition leaders have renewed their demands for Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down, terming his government illegitimate and incompetent, as thousands gathered at an anti-government protest in the capital Islamabad. Addressing supporters on the second day of the protest in Islamabad on Friday, leader of the right-wing Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, Fazl-ur-Rehman, said a sit-in would continue for two more days. “Today, this gathering is making it clear to the whole world that only the people have the right to rule Pakistan, no institution has any right to reign over Pakistan,” he said in an indirect reference to the country’s military, which has

ruled the country for roughly half of its 72-year history and is accused by the opposition of backing Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Earlier in the day, a defiant Khan addressed supporters in Gilgit-Baltistan, a part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, saying he would not resign. “Sit however long you want,” he said in a message to the protesters. “When your food runs out, we will send more. But we will not give you a [deal],” Khan said, insinuating that opposition leaders were trying to pressure his government to drop corruption investigations into previous governments. Khan’s government has led an anti-corruption drive that has seen former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from the opposition PML-N party, former President Asif Ali Zardari from the PPP and numerous others jailed pending corruption investigations. The opposition says the cases are politically motivated, accusing Khan of using accountability as a tool to silence dissent. Rights groups have raised concerns regarding the fairness of the process, and a wider crackdown on dissent.

At the protest in Islamabad, PPP cochairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Asif Zardari’s son, decried widespread censorship of the press and dissent under Khan’s government, asking: “What kind of freedom is this?” The protests, which began on Sunday with a demonstration in the southern coastal city of Karachi and which gained in strength as the protesters’ caravan travelled through the country, have been fuelled by a deepening economic crisis. Ziauddin, 24, a student from the northern district of Dir, travelled more than 12 hours to attend the protest in the capital on Friday. “We are badly affected by the rise in prices,” he told Al Jazeera in Islamabad. “It’s hard to find a job. Now everything is getting more expensive.” Inflation has been steadily increasing in the South Asian country, with consumer price inflation recorded at 11.4 percent in September, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Economic growth, too, has been slowing, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting 3.3 percent growth this year, slowing to 2.4 percent next year.

Saturday November 2, 2019

10 17 22 25 23

November 01 2019

5, 13, 14, 19, 26

9, 2, 9

4, 7, 3

7, 9, 11, 13, 15

10 21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 3, 2019

Brazil oil spill: Where has it come from? The source of the oil spill washing up on thousands of kilometres of Brazil’s coastline over the past few weeks remains the subject of a great deal of speculation. The Brazilian authorities say they have identified a ship they believe might be responsible and are carrying out further investigations. We’ve been asking experts on shipping routes and the types of crude oil produced in different countries to try to identify the most likely source of the spill. First detected in early September, crude oil has continued to appear on the beaches and pristine mangroves of north-east Brazil. Nine states have been cleaning thick sludge from their shores. About 2,000 tonnes of oil have been removed so far. Crude oil has very distinct characteristics, depending on its origins. The Brazilian environment ministry says the oil is not Brazilian and that testing shows that it’s “very likely from Venezuela”. The government of Venezuela says it’s not. So what’s the evidence that it does

Thousands of volunteers have taken part in the clean-up (BBC photo)

come from there? Most of the investigations so far have been carried out by Brazilian organisations. The Federal University of Bahia took samples of oil from beaches in two states. “Compared with oils from our ‘oil bank’ there is strong similarity with oil produced in the Venezuelan petroleum basin,” says Olívia Maria Cordeiro de Oliveira, director of the university’s Geoscience Institute. The Brazilian state-run oil company, Petrobras, says it has narrowed down the origins of the oil to three Venezuelan oil fields. Samples of the crude have also been sent for anal-

ysis to laboratories in the United States. “Oil has a certain set of personalities,” says Christopher Reddy, a researcher working on the analysis. “Scientists at any mystery spill try to see if there are unique characteristics from a particular type of crude oil.” The results of these US tests should be known shortly. Tests are also being carried out in Norway and France. Some of Venezuela’s crude oil exports go to Europe, but most is shipped to Asia, a route that passes close to the area of Brazil’s coastline affected by the spill. The Brazilian police now say they have identified a

TT concerned about school dropouts joining gangs SOME 3,121 students dropped out of school in a three-year period, a parliamentary committee was told on Friday, and some went on to join criminal gangs. The statistics were made known at the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Human Rights inquiring into boys performance in public primary and secondary schools. JSC member Esmond Forde said 2,281 students had dropped out of secondary school – 1,081 in the year 2014/2015; 1,040 in 2016/2017 and 700 in 2018/2019. The 290 students dropping out of primary school were 151 in 2014/2015; 31 in 2016/2017 and 108 in 2018/2019. UWI School of Education director Prof Jerome De Lisle lamented many male students have problems feeling any sense of connectedness in schools, but then drop out to form a close connectivity to criminal gangs.

UTT Centre for Education Studies programme leader Dr Judy Rocke said a 2014 UTT study of 400 young men confirmed they did not feel engaged by their teachers. “There was a view you don’t need an education to succeed. They did not see themselves as competing with those still in school.” Rocke said the key problem of drop-outs was a need to financially support themselves. “They had no money to come to school.” Member, Toco/Sangre Grande MP Glenda Jennings-Smith said at one school she had personally seen the size of a class drop from 38 to ten students. Rocke said, in general many people now live in very scary situations, including students. “Children are not sleeping at night. They are hearing gunshots. Boys have a concern for their mothers’ safety and a concern that their mothers are working too

hard. Our young boys face difficulties with situations that even our adults have.” She urged schools to help the whole child and his whole family. Chairman Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said the committee deals with human rights, such as those of male students. “We are doing our boys a disservice by not ensuring we do what is necessary to have them engaged and educated. I suspect that if we look at the prison population, the number who dropped out and underachieved would be high.” She said data suggests that over the past 20 years these problems were not addressed. “If we don’t educate our boys we are exposing them to a nefarious life.” (Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)

Greek-flagged ship that was carrying Venezuelan crude oil. Crude oil exports are Venezuela’s most important source of revenue. In recent months, new, tougher sanctions imposed by the United States have effectively ended US imports of Venezuelan oil. So, it’s now Asian markets - mainly India and China - which have become Venezuela’s major export destinations, but even these flows have declined significantly over the past year. Washington has intro-

duced the possibility of secondary sanctions on any company that assists or supports the administration of President Nicolás Maduro, effectively threatening foreign energy companies that do business with Venezuela. Ships carrying Venezuelan oil have sought to avoid detection by turning off their tracking signals - so-called going dark - to protect their clients from these secondary sanctions, say analysts from the Kpler energy intelligence firm. Kpler has identified 14 vessels loaded with crude oil from Venezuela since May, which have had their signals switched off for some of their journey. Brazil has been quick to state that it does not necessarily blame its neighbour for the spill. One theory is that there was an accident at sea and the ship, possibly with its signals switched off, failed to report it. Venezuela says it has not received any reports of an oil spill from its clients or subsidiaries.

There has also been speculation that the leak came from cargo on a sunken shipwreck. A third possibility is that the leak came from a ship-to-ship transfer that went wrong. It’s common for tankers to exchange oil at sea using pumps and pipes. It might only take 30 minutes for 600 tonnes of oil, less than the amount recovered so far, to leak from a ruptured hose during a ship-to-ship transfer. But without reliable monitoring of shipping locations off the Brazilian coast, it’s very difficult to pin it down to an individual ship or event. It is often possible to gather vital information about oil spills from satellite imagery. However, on this occasion, there is little satellite data available with which to identify the source of the spill, says Rob Ayasse from the satellite monitoring firm, Ksat. (BBC)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Hammering out the accord IT is official—the APNU and the AFC would be contesting the elections together. Only last week the vultures were licking their lips in anticipation of the demise of the coalition. They were spinning all kinds of tales in pursuit of the end game—the destruction of the coalition. This publication was moved to alert the coalition leaders to the plot that was afoot. We had no doubt about the outcome, but we could smell the prowlers from afar. The last thing the PPP and their surrogates want to do is to run against a united coalition of six parties including the formidable PNCR, a vibrant AFC and an active WPA. Those three political entities cover the essential bases of the Guyanese electorate. They bring their varying individual strengths, but it is their jointness that scares the political daylight out of the PPP. It is for that reason that we have witnessed the inevitable attacks on the credibility of the PNCR and the attempts to demonise and jettison the images of the AFC and the WPA. As we have editorialised time and

time again, coalitions are not easy to construct and manage. We, therefore, are not surprised that the parties have locked horns on some key elements of their relationship. This is to be expected in a coalition, which contrary to wicked propaganda is not a cohesive party. The AFC is not joining the PNCR and the PNCR is not absorbing the WPA and the other parties in the APNU. These are all independent parties with differing political outlooks which have patriotically decided to partner in a quest to better Guyana. The nasty propaganda of equating the coalition with the PNCR is a form of deceit that attempts to pass as analysis. Of course, the PNCR is the country’s second oldest political party with a proven track record of electoral strength. In that sense it is and must be the senior partner in the coalition. But the very fact that that party is in a coalition is itself a negation of the politics of division and hegemony. From 2002, when the then PNCR leader Desmond Hoyte announced that power sharing is an idea whose time has come,

to the present, the PNCR has been consistent in demonstrating that it has turned its face against “Winnertakes-all politics.” That is a simple fact that cannot be denied. After the death of Hoyte, his successor Robert Corbin put tremendous effort into realising Hoyte’s dreams. It was he who challenged the WPA and the PNCR to move beyond their historical difference to give birth to the APNU in 2011. And President Granger took it one step further by enlarging the partnership with the birth of the coalition with the AFC in 2015. But it took tremendous courage on the part of the WPA and the AFC to enter into partnership with the PNCR. It is perhaps the most significant political act in Guyana’s post-colonial history. In so doing, they may have temporarily lost favour with some supporters, but clearly, they have taken Guyana to a higher plane. That is what has the detractors of the coalition in such turmoil. Guyana has tasted what a government of national unity could look like and wants more of it. And why not? We have endured

the frustrations of one-party governance for six decades and more and should not want to return to it. This is where the PPP is on the wrong side of history and the coalition parties are leading Guyana towards the future. So, onward we go to March 2020 and beyond, knowing that the country has a clear choice between the sordid past and a hopeful future that was envisaged by our fore parents as they fought to throw off the shackles of bondage. The coalition is a step out of the ghettoization of our politics, economics and society and a sure movement towards the real democratisation of governance; we should have it no other way. Congratulations are in order for the APNU and AFC leaders for mustering the foresight to transcend their partisan differences. Now get to work and iron out the rest of the accord. As we urged last week, the Cummingsburg Accord is bigger than the parties. It is a worthy example to our Caribbean family. Guyana and the Region would be better because of it.

Jagdeo wants to railroad constitutional and independent institutions Dear Editor, OVER the past couple of months, we have seen the manipulation, the bullyism and the bureaucratic attempt to reduce the powers of an established constitutional agency, namely, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The main opposition political party, the PPP/C, has sought in many ways to undermine the intent and purpose of the elections body to hold free, fair and credible elections.

The constitution provides for a chairman to lead this independent body to ensure that citizens’ constitutional rights are upheld and protected, thus ensuring that they are allowed to exercise their democratic right to vote for the government of their choice. The constitution also provides for a clean list of electors who are eligible to exercise their democratic right. It was the former President Bharrat Jagdeo who said that GECOM has the right to allow the participation of all eligible persons to vote in an election.

That, he had said, is the only body authorised to advise the head of state on its readiness to hold elections, which would then dictate when the head of state would announce a date for the holding of elections, so that the eligible voting public could exercise their franchise. The voters’ list expired on April 30, 2019, and is said to have in excess of 20,000 persons registered on it. But yet we see the list is not only bloated with names of persons now deceased, but also includes Guyanese who have migrated

for extensive periods. The seven-member commission is discussing the possibility of removing the names of at least 20,000 persons from the National Register of Registrants (NRR), because they have not uplifted their national identification (ID) cards over the years, and also ticking off the names of thousands of others who were previously registered as part of a heightened vigilance. Regards George Goring

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Op-Ed Education is about everything By Margaret Burke

PRESIDENT David Granger believes in education and he is not naïve. He has iterated in different words, at every possible forum, his conviction that “Education is an entitlement.” He also added, “I have vowed to re-introduce that entitlement…free education from nursery to university. You don’t have to migrate; you don’t have to go away. We are going to build a first-class education system. Every Guyanese child will be educated on all four levels: nursery, primary, secondary and university at the state’s expense -- it is your entitlement.” Alongside the many subjects being taught at the different levels, President Granger has been placing much emphasis on the subjects related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). These, he has highlighted, will gear many young people and others for many more jobs that are increasingly growing in Guyana every day. He stressed that these subjects “… can produce a corps of scientists: agronomists, architects, biologists, botanists, chemists, doctors, epidemiologists, engineers, environmentalists, geneticists, geologists, hydrologists, physicists, software developers and zoologists, which are needed to ensure economically strong regions [in Guyana]…to revive and drive village industries, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.” It is all

about equipping the people of this country for the ready job market that is presenting itself daily in a variety of ways. TRADESMEN AND ENTREPRENEURS However, President Granger understands that not everyone would respond in the same manner to book and paper, but that there has to be some amount of tools for people to respond to and work with. The coalition government has already produced more than 15,000 jobs over the four years in government; these are spread across Guyana. At the same time the APNU+AFC government is encouraging entrepreneurship by way of the many existing training programmes that are being offered to facilitate this. And so there is proof that the entrepreneurial sector in Guyana continues to be on the rise ever since 2015. This is primarily because many more men and women are being trained for the skilled workforce. These are people who are being empowered to take up jobs as entrepreneurs and also in the productive sector. This is a result of the coalition government’s deliberate strategy of ensuring that people in the prime of their productive age-groups are enabled to get great jobs that can effectively improve their lives and that of their families. Without prejudice, local scholarships are being offered to residents of the hinterland, coastland, and urban communities to pursue programmes in various branches of learning.

This is exactly the strategy of the coalition government – to ensure that even as people are being trained, they are able to translate such knowledge into self-employment, or to rapidly finding jobs. TRAINING INSTITUTIONS Organisations such as the Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED); the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS); the Youth Innovation Project of Guyana (YIPoG), and the Kuru Kuru Cooperative College are just some of the initiatives the government is using to carry out training and create jobs that will improve people’s lives. There are also training institutions, such as the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), the Guyana Industrial Training Centre, the Guyana Radio and Electronic Company (GRECO), among others, that are providing training in many regions across Guyana. The training is extensive and includes areas of agriculture, agro-processing and agricultural science; business; engineering; mechanics, as well as heavy-duty equipment operation; welding and fabrication. In addition, much emphasis is also being placed on training of persons more interested in making a name for themselves in catering and commercial food preparation, cake and pastry making, sewing, nutrition, information technology, ecotourism, elderly and child-care providers and other life- skills.

Therefore added to the list of local institutions that the coalition government is using to provide such training is the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the Government Technical Institute (GTI), Carnegie School of Home Economics, and the Critchlow Labour College, among others. JOBS FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING There is no doubt that the president of this nation is serious about Guyanese being educated, be it in the arts, certificates and degrees at all levels and in various fields. PhDs, technical and vocational training, skills in carpentry, joinery, interior designing, as chefs or whatever, President Granger is insisting that the people of this land should be the best that they can be. Just recently, in his address to past and present students, he told them, “Once you are educated, this economy will expand. We want highly trained, highly educated workers and you will be able to go out there and deliver quality performance in whatever field you choose. Employment opportunities will expand and we will want to make sure everyone of you, if you can’t be employed by some agency or corporation, you’d be able to employ yourself by expanding enterprise. You’d be able to go to manufacturing, agro-processing, mining and other forms of production.”

Placing emphasis on a hinterland agricultural programme is a great initiative Dear Editor, EVERY year there are quite a number of helpful activities that aid in the government’s agricultural thrust. This has been the trend for over a decade: Essequibo agri-expo, agro-tourism activities, World Food Day activities, etc, etc. These showcases are very, very, interesting, informative and educative, I might add; these are all laudable activities and the themes are all relevant. Thanks to this government, and also to other former governments for the great initiatives. Nothing is altogether wrong with the intent. No, personally I do believe these events have far- reaching effects. However, I have one problem:the notable absence of full participation of hinterland farming communities in Essequibo is becoming more and more pronounced as the years roll by; future governments will have their job well cut out to encourage optimum participation. Residents are willing to showcase their produce, but are faced with serious setbacks.

Evident in hinterland farming communities is the absence of visits by extension officers, even though they are equipped with means of transport, this writer was reliably informed. Residents in one particular community are ever so grateful for the government’s recognition of the need to renovate an agro-processing unit; what a wonderful initiative. This is in Region Two. Yes, all of these interventions are most welcome, because they help to stimulate agriculture in Region Two, so what’s the issue, then? Editor, agriculture in the hinterland of Guyana has its own challenges, but nothing can compare with one that is as perennial as the grass: the acushi ant scourge. Essequibo is not only about coastal agriculture. More and more residents from low-lying areas are becoming restless and fearful about the onslaught of extraordinarily high tides and they must be encouraged to migrate inland, but no government will ever be worth its salt if care is not taken to listen to hinterland people who altogether struggle to eke out a living through agriculture. That is why

emphasis is biased towards subsistence agriculture, instead of commercial agriculture. The cutting ant pest, however, must be combated, if not eradicated, at most. We have a grand opportunity, sir, in the coming years not only to place on exhibition locally grown produce in abundance, but to be better producers. But farmers need new technology to combat the ever-present acushi ant problem, through fumigation, not the ineffective bait which agri officers are distributing so freely. Of course, the cost to produce an effective bait should not be ignored, sir, but everyone knows too that what costs nothing is worth nothing and farmers, I’m sure, would pay anything to ensure effective control of the destructive insect mentioned above. It must be told that a call for the use of a swing fog machine in this part of Guyana was a general call prior to 2015. We must be fair to the former administration which heard the clarion call and one such piece of equipment was promptly shipped to Region Two for use in the far-flung communities.

What is not known is why the use of such an asset had been discontinued. Visits to the NAREI, Anna Regina office have not been very fruitful, re the location of this very essential piece of agricultural equipment. Editor, placing emphasis on a hinterland agricultural programme is a great initiative. However, farmers, to become more involved in food production and of course at yearly exhibitions should, to a greater extent, be afforded the opportunity to prove themselves with the necessary encouragement and support. More attention should be trained towards hinterland farming now than ever before and effective insect-pest control must be a matter of policy, for, as a matter of course, the hinterland will soon become the only alternative agricultural area in Guyana. Emphasis is needed, or we will continue to have lackluster-type participation in future from the hinterland communities in Region Two, to showcase our potential. Yours truly, Joseph C Atkinson (Indigenous first and foremost)

Youth cannot be the sole basis on which a credible claim to accede to the presidency is made

I DO NOT accept the argument which suggests that there should be a perpetual adversarial relationship between youth leadership and senior leadership. Like the African proverb, ‘young men for war, old men for counsel’, it ought to be a symbiotic relationship. The energy, innovation and adventure of youth have their benefits and their disadvantages. Conversely, the wisdom, experience and foresight of senior leaders are oftentimes indispensable. However, it is important that no amount of succor is given to the argumentation that youth is the only basis on which a credible claim to accede to the Presidency is made. At any stage of a leader’s existence, character and the virtues of leadership are still very important and cannot be subtracted from the conversation. Insofar as a candidate has the energy to lead the people and carries the aspirations of his followers, being advanced in age should have zero consideration. AGE AND THE PRESIDENCY The oldest known law, I have discovered, passed on the minimum requirement on age when attempting to hold public office is the Roman law, Lex Villia Annalis which stipulated several years of experience in various fields. Once the years of experience requirements were met, invariably, it resulted in the minimum limit being not below age 35. As stipulated by this law in the

Roman Republic, it was 36 years to qualify for Aedileship (elected office in the Roman Republic), 39 years to qualify for Praetorship (Commander of an Army or Magistrate) and 42 years to qualify for Consulship (the highest elected political office in the Roman Republic). This law prevented youthful candidates from dominating public offices but what undergirded the passage of such laws was the point that there is much more to leadership than solely juvenescence. Today, the constitutions of major global players have followed the same legislative thrust of the aforementioned. The US Constitution stipulates that you must be 35 to run for the President, the Constitution of Brazil (Article 14, Section 3 (VI)) defines 35 years as the minimum age someone can be President, in Germany, the minimum age to be Chancellor is 40 and China’s minimum age to be President is 45. It must be noted, countries such as Australia, Canada and France have set an age limit to ascend to the highest office in those countries at 18. It is reasonable to deduce that the framers of such legislation which requires minimum age limits were of the view that youth cannot be the only qualification for the Presidency. Compassion, courage, service, honesty, persistence, humility, selflessness, hope, vision, experience and above all, integrity, are key. ASPIRATIONS OF THE

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

PEOPLE AND AGE Currently, the Democratic Party of the United States of America is in the process of choosing its Presidential Candidate for national elections in 2020. Despite the US having 21.1 million people between the ages 19-21 and notwithstanding the fact that the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary field includes youthful candidates such as Pete Buttigieg (37), Tulsi Gabbard (38), Eric Swalwell (38), Andrew Yang (44), Julian Castro (45) and Beto O’Rourke (47), the older candidates such as Bernie Sanders (78), Joe Biden (76) and Elizabeth Warren (70) have emerged as the front runners. It is evident, the US 2020 Democratic Party Presidential primaries are providing another stark reminder that once the aspirations of the people reside in a leader’s policies and character, there is little hesitancy of support for candidates who are advanced in age. I suspect, two key reasons Elizabeth Warren (70) is emerging as the frontrunner is her plan for health care and her ability to stick to her word and to be consistent in her public posturing. In explaining her reason for endorsing Bernie Sanders (78), Representative Alexander Ocasio-Cortez (30), one of the Democratic Party’s hottest youth prospect, remarked ‘it was a recognition that Sanders is the only candidate in the field who has been fighting consistently for working people for decades,

making him the ideal leader of multiracial, working-class movement’. The point is made, sometimes candidates represent something that completely dwarfs or eclipses high consideration of how advanced they might be in age. GOOD LEADERSHIP IS NOT GUARANTEED BY YOUTH The orbit or sphere of modern and past Presidential leadership is replete with a treasure trove of examples across various epochs, demonstrate that youthful leadership does not automatically translate into good leadership. Louis XVI (1774-1792) of France who became king at age 21 and presided over one of the most destructive rules from the throne in history. Jean Claude Duvalier became the President of Haiti at age 19 and reigned Presidential terror on the people of that French-speaking island. Kim Jong Un became the Supreme Leader of North Korea at the relatively tender age of 30 and immediately surpassed all his predecessors in his scale of brutality and bad rule. The list of these examples is infinite. It is for this reason and others mentioned above, one cannot stake a credible claim to the Presidency solely on the basis that he/she is a youth.

GAWU destabilising agenda Dear Editor It is not that the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and, by extension the National Association of Agricultural Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) are not aware as to the proper protocols that guide engagements, such as the one that had been scheduled with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), on October 29. For if there is any trade union in this republic that is fully au fait with the rules of trade unionism, particularly those that govern the principle of collective bargaining, it is GAWU. Further, no proper negotiation/discussion that should be carried out within the understanding of goodwill and mutual respect can ever claim such a procedural high ground, if done against the background of a mounted protest,

particularly as the one carried out within the centre of discussion by GAWU, or even it was any other type of organization, in relation to whatever issue. Of course, such an action can only be construed as one deliberately designed to scuttle/torpedo any positive outcome, thus laying the ground for a protracted situation, as one suspects; especially when given the background of the current destabilization acts, being carried out by this union’s political handler, the PPP/C. Call it the classical ‘spoiler’. At the least, it was disrespectful on the part of the two sugar unions to bring the well- known PPP/C bullying to the negotiating table; it was definitely duress, as described by GuySuCo. But one must understand this kind of conduct by both unions, especially GAWU. Editor, GAWU is still in the political spoilt brat mode of behaviour, a culture

that it had been allowed and wantonly abused, being aware of its political support value to the then PPP/C regime. In fact, it was this reckless and irresponsible mindset that would have caused it to support its members to strike incessantly, go slow, work to rule, and making unreasonable demands through the years, even when unjustified. Further, it was this perception of its political strength to the PPP/C that drove it along its unconscionable route, and which added significantly to the core cause of the collapse of once mighty sugar in Guyana. Both of these unions should be aware that actions, as recently displayed, brings nothing to the table of employer/ union discussion, as solutions/answers to industrial issues; neither does it lend to an environment of future trust and camaraderie, key ingredients that must form the basis for dialogue between

employer and union. Emphatically, it must be told to both GAWU and NAACIE, that their collective actions are entirely dishonest, and deceptively illustrated to put GuySuCo, and by extension the government at odds with sugar workers. It is the same dirty and vile trick, used by the PPP/C in consort with these two unions, to shamelessly blame the coalition for the debacle of GuySuCo which have been solely the fault of GAWU and the PPP/C. It is time that GAWU carries out its mandate as a responsible union, while representing the genuine interests of sugar workers that it still pretends to represent. Also, it is time that it removes the PPP/C yoke from around its neck and think for itself. Regards Earl Hamilton

ThePolitical Teacher SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Watch them with Eagle Eyes: They want to bring back the PPP through the backdoor

THOSE who do not learn the lessons of history are bound to make silly mistakes. The present is all of the past even as it gives us a signal of what the future holds. And for societies like Guyana, the past is pregnant with teachable lessons. From the experiences of our First Peoples to the Middle Passage and the plantations to the Indentureship moment to the Post-Colonial iteration, our country has been shaped by the struggles of our people to affirm and assert their humanity. To forget that history is to engage in the highest form of self-denial. Some would have us erase that history and construct something new and disconnected as if history is tantamount to presentism. The lure of imagining the present and the future without the past is understandable given the breakdown in our core education principles that were built on the need to be human and to be free. Just a few years ago, the University of Guyana was struggling to attract students to study history. That is more than a minor tragedy only slightly less grave than the advocacy of science without the humanities. The silencing of history

amounts to a distortion of the Guyanese and Caribbean civilisation which has already led to a cultural and political emptiness that is manifested in the current discourses around the coming election. There are gathering narratives about who or what governs in the moment of First Oil—careless narratives. Old voices are appearing as new parties with old ideas and old parties are lurking in the background waiting to pounce on a society that is being urged to forget the sordid past. No election should be about bad the predecessor did with little about what good the current administration did and promises to do. Yet, to ignore the tragedies of the past, especially the immediate past, is to condemn the society to walk into a tragic future. As we listen to the various formulations that emanate from the politicians, the media and the commentators, one gets the impression that the last four years have been filled with horrors and pain. Mistakes are presented as intentional wickedness. Reasonable people speak as if history began in 2015. The total destruction brought to Guyana by

the PPP is swept out of plain sight. There is call for Regime Change after four years of the Coalition. Yes, not a change of administration, but a change of regime. They want to tear down the State as we know it now and return to the Ethnic-Criminal State of the PPP time. That’s where the trouble is. Behind all the talk of restoration of democracy and PNC this and AFC that and WPA the other and who is not joining with whom, is a plot to return the country to the control of the PPP. The message that the Coalition is PNC is directed at two publics. The first one is what up to 2011 was considered the PPP’s domain – the so-called PPP base. The second one is what they think is the skeptical section of the so-called PNC base. The diminishing of the AFC in the eyes of Guyanese and the dismissal of APNU parties like the WPA as irrelevant are meant to present the Coalition as the PNC and then appeal to racial and political anti-PNC feelings. This is the great con work that is being performed right before our very eyes. It is a concerted effort to bring back the PPP

through the backdoor. When some people say they will not join the two big parties, what the really mean is that they will not join with the Coalition. The PPP has already said it will not join with anyone. It is only the Coalition that is reaching out. So, they are saying the Coalition is poison. They are aiming to topple the Coalition by foul means. But it is the PPP that must be stopped. The merging of the government with criminals. The rule by Death Squads and Phantom Squads. The use of Indo Guyanese as collateral damage. The open economic and political war on Guyanese. The sharing out of Guyana to PPP leaders and sidekicks. The ripping up of the constitution and rule by decree. That is what they want to return Guyana to. They are counting on Guyanese to forget that history. They are nurturing a new gullibility among Guyanese. They are sowing racial discord. They are lying openly. They are distorting history. They are trying to turn the courts into their plaything. They are up to no good. Watch them with eagle eyes.

Understanding Energy

Timely Development WITH first oil for Liza Phase One just around the corner, it’s obvious why most Guyanese are focused on the near-term. But decisions made now could have major impacts for Guyana’s future. Going from oil exploration to production is a long-term venture, typically spanning decades. Guyana can expect this to be the case here as well. Liza Phase One is a major development that will bring millions of US dollars in revenue. But it’s just a first step in the overall context of Guyana’s oil development and production. Even a prolific single discovery, like Liza, is not enough to make Guyana a globally-significant oil producer on its own. Major oil fields rely on production from dozens or even hundreds of individual sites. You can already see this process at play in Guyana. Operators in the Stabroek block are working to simultaneously develop multiple sites, many of them clustered in

regions like the Turbot area where several discoveries have been made over the past two years. Meanwhile, other companies are actively exploring other blocks. Given these many projects and timelines, it is important to think holistically about the whole life cycle of oil production. If Guyana wants to extend its life as a profitable oil producer, it will need to make sure that operators are continually exploring and developing projects to bring more production online. The first wells to begin producing are also exhausted earlier, meaning that new discoveries and new projects with new wells must take their place if production levels are to hold steady or rise. Under the production sharing agreement for the Stabroek block—which still contains nearly all of Guyana’s commercially viable oil discoveries to date— Guyana will receive 50 percent of all the profits from any oil produced, as well as

a royalty taken out of pre-cost revenues. With continued investment in new projects, that could mean 50 per cent of tens of billions of dollars in profits annually by the late 2020s. Yet all those revenue estimates rely on the assumption that additional projects, like Payara, will move forward on schedule. As many commentators have noted, Guyana’s truly transformational influx of wealth won’t come until those projects come online alongside Liza Phase One. All three are expected to be producing a combined 500,000 barrels of oil per day before the mid-2020s, making Guyana easily the third largest producer in Latin America. All the while, exploration and production work will be ongoing at other sites too. This cycle is currently on track, with detailed environmental impact assessments, permits, and approvals all progressing steadily for Payara, with other projects to closely follow. But for Guyana to establish itself as a

major producer, it’s critically important that the process continue without delay. Because additional development translates directly into more jobs for Guyanese and additional revenue for Guyana, delays could be very costly in the long term. All the major spending being discussed, from cash transfers to investments in infrastructure, education and more relies on a consistent cycle of new projects with new wells to replace declining production and produce more revenue. If approached correctly, this time could be an opportunity. Because maximum revenues won’t start to come for a few years yet, Guyana still has an opportunity to get legislation and policies finalised, and agencies staffed up with the expertise needed to manage revenues and taxation. But making approvals for new development into a bargaining chip or political tool could dangerously delay Guyana’s oil prospects and the spending priorities that depend on them.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

PPP did nothing to heal Lindeners’ wounds … Solomon reflects on killing of protesters, ignoring of agreement

By Svetlana Marshall AFTER wreaking havoc and violating the fundamental human rights of the people of Linden, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration did little or nothing to correct the injustice against Lindeners; this, despite committing to advancing economic growth and development, and liberalising the television station in the town, when it signed the August 2012 Agreement. This is according to former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon. It was the August 21, 2012 agreement between the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Government of Guyana, that brought an end to a monthlong protest in the mining town, which turned violent after ranks of the Guyana Police Force shot and killed three men who were among hundreds of Lindeners peacefully protesting on the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge on July 18, 2012. The historic agreement included the establishment of an Economic Committee, a Technical Committee, a Land Selection Committee and a Broadcast Committee responsible for the return of the Linden Television Station to the people of the town. According to the agreement, the Economic Committee was expected to examine the sectors within the region, existing plans and initiatives such as the Linden Economic

Advancement Programme (LEAP) and Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) for possible re-introduction. It was also responsible for conducting an analysis of the region’s capacity for food self-sufficiency and thereafter develop a plan for self-sufficiency as part of the Regional Development Plan. Additionally, it was mandated to examine the employment situation of Linden and Region 10 by extension, with the aim of making appropriate recommendations. Solomon, during an interview on the Guyana Chronicle’s online programme Vantage Point, said though a total of 11 meetings were held after the signing of the agreement, the PPP/C government failed to make good on its commitment to the people of Region 10, though continually pressured. “Notwithstanding all of those efforts, pressure, time of engagement, nothing came out,” Solomon said, while noting that it was a very frustrating period. Owing to the high level of reluctance displayed by the PPP/C administration, the region, he posited, was prepared to take legal action to ensure that the rights of its people were respected. LIMITED ACCESS TO INFORMATION Noting that part of the agreement was intended to have the television station, which was operated and controlled by the National Communications Network

Former Region 10 Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon (NCN), returned to the people of Linden, Solomon said under the PPP/C administration, residents of Region 10 had limited access to information – an abuse of their constitutional right. “The Technical Committee, which would have explored how electricity was generated and distributed wasn’t just for Linden. It was so that a template could have been established so that nationally, we could see how we are actually generating and distributing electricity, so that even the people in Georgetown could know if GPL is in essence giving you value for dollar,” he

further explained. In a synopsis, the former regional chairman said the PPP/C administration showed little interest in advancing the August 2012 agreement, and as such the committees made little or no progress. According to Solomon, it was the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government, which upon entering office in May 2015, made deliberate efforts to implement components of the August 2012 Agreement. “That for me is where we see the difference in terms of honouring commitments and not only commitments in an agreement, but commitments that are fundamental to the development of the society,” Solomon, a social activist, said. Last month, seven years after the 2012 agreement was signed, the Linden Broadcasting Network (LBN) was commissioned with a total of three frequencies, namely: The Learning Channel, a local channel, and NCN. However, earlier in the year, LBN was issued with a television station licence by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA). Solomon said that while the issuance of the licence may appear insignificant to persons outside of the region, it is very significant because for too long, Linden had restricted access to broadcast information. “Linden was denied that access. An entire population was being fed, deliberately, what was intended to them by the State and that in itself, any citizenry should fight against that. So to have a government now that is prepared to honour those fundamental rights, I think it is commendable,” he said. REGION 10 HAS BENEFITTED While acknowledging that there is much more work to be done, Solomon said one cannot deny that Region 10 has benefitted from increased infrastructural development, as he alluded to the initiation of the Linden to Lethem Road Project, the upgrades to the Linden to Kwakwani Road, and the installation of street lights along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, among others. He noted that though the installation of lights along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway was a proposal under the agreement, the then Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, had dubbed the project as unnecessary. This was based on his contention that it was a low-volume highway, thereby disregarding the issue

of safety. “What we see now is a change. We see a government that is prepared to see an improved Soesdyke-Linden Highway,” Solomon said, as he compared the PPP/C administration with the current APNU+AFC administration. “Now what do we see? We see these things being addressed. Of course, we would like to see a momentum, but we cannot escape the fact that those things are being addressed,” he iterated, while adding, “those types of economic adjustments bring significant measurements as it relates to people development.” Reflecting on the 2012 Linden unrest, Solomon, while establishing that the people of Linden had engaged in peaceful protest action in the lead-up to July 18, 2012, said Lindeners had resisted the then government’s attempt to impose steep electricity tariffs on them on the basis that they were never consulted on a matter that would have significantly affected their lives. “Our Constitution, Article 13, provides for the government to consult and have meaningful engagements with people on decisions that would affect their lives,” he said. With effect from July 1, 2012, the Donald Ramotar administration had proposed to increase the electricity tariffs via a system of gradualism and selectivity. However, Lindeners in their protest, had made it clear that their economic situation at the time could not bear such an increase. “To move the ele ctricity rate from one to 1500 or 800 per cent in itself would have impacted people beyond the understanding that they saw life as in a community where economic expansion was lacking for quite some time, social degradation was there. We saw conditions ripening for criminality and teenage pregnancy and so to not consult with the people of the community or any community on the decisions [that] will impact them, I think in itself is a fundamental right of citizens to then question that,” Solomon reasoned. Solomon noted that ahead of the protest action, the RDC attempted to engage the government on the situation, but to no avail. Representation was also made at the level of Parliament by then Region 10 Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon, but the government nonetheless went ahead and announced the increase with effect from July 1. “Lindeners have always said, it is not that we are unwilling to pay, it is that we are unable to pay. So those conditions

needed to change and we needed to have a discussion, which was provided for in our constitution to say how do we change those conditions, so people are able to live better and pay any electricity increase,” he explained. In keeping with their democratic right to protest, Solomon recalled that residents of Linden protested, and though those protests were peaceful, the Guyana Police Force, based on directives given by the government, responded with gunfire. “We have had several peaceful protests leading up to the 18th July, none were ever violent, none were very disruptive; the State, however, in a matter of hours, was onsite with deadly weapon as outlined in the Commission (of Inquiry). On July 18, it was only the police who were doing the shooting with live rounds,” Solomon stated. Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis, who were among the peaceful protestors, were killed by the police on July 18, 2012. A Commission of Inquiry (CoI), ordered by then President Donald Ramotar had confirmed that the police killed the trio. “But to think that we would have had several peaceful picketing protesting actions, and the state was there prepared to kill citizens, in itself demonstrates the times we were living in. And I believe that it is important for people to realise what it was; it was just a simple request that we are unable to pay, not that we are unwilling to do so, and if you are prepared to sit with us, discuss how will we get to that point where people can start living as decent, dignified, human beings to provide for themselves, to provide for family, those factors would have better allowed for a government, instead of prepared with deadly weapons, to confront peaceful protestors and issue of whether the bridge was blocked; those issues could have been easily resolved,” Solomon said. But he said times have changed, noting that Guyanese, under the APNU+AFC administration are allowed to protest without any violent reaction by the State. “I think we must recognise the changing times that we are living [in]; the changing times that people are able to protest without fear to take on a government that they may have legitimate grievances with and protest, and to take action, and even to confront the Head of State,” Solomon observed.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 3, 2019

Gov’t in aggressive push to meet deadline on single-use plastic ban

THE Department of Environment will be intensifying consultations on the ban on single-use plastics, ahead of the 2021 deadline, Director of the Department of Environment, Ndibi Schwiers, has announced. The consultations, in part, will be used to influence the crafting of a bill intended to amend the Environmental Protection Act, 1996, and legally enforce the ban on single-use plastics. These moves are aligned with a policy decision taken by the Government in 2018 to ban the importation, manufacture, sale and use of single-use plastic bags and other single-use plastic products including plastic plates, cups and utensils, from 2021. Single-use plastics are plastic products that are used only once before they are thrown out. These include straws, cups, bags and plates, and are made from polyethylene, the most widely used plastic in the world. Schwiers, in making the announcement recently, said ahead of the ban, her department will intensify consultations, targeting a wide-

Director of the Department of Environment, Ndibi Schwiers

cross section of stakeholders. These include government agencies, academia, manufacturing companies, supermarkets, civil society and the general public. “Consultations are intended to raise awareness and encourage action across the country on the dangers of single-use plastics and littering. They will also serve to capture stakeholders’ concerns which will guide appropriate and effective decision-making on safe alternatives and fiscal incentives and policies for implementation,” the Envi-

ronment Director explained. Already, the Department of Environment, with support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has initiated the consultative process by hosting the first ‘plastics conversation’ in 2018. “These conversations are participatory in nature and are expected to continue right up to the ban. They will inform the list of items to be absolutely banned by 2021, items to be potentially banned in phases and other items that can be utilised in resource recovery industries,” Schwier explained. It was noted that the ban on single-use plastics is also aligned with the Government’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS): Vision 2040, for which the implementation will commence in 2020. The Environment Director said that the ban supports the strategy’s three key messages on managing natural resources wealth, supporting economic resilience and building human capital. “It is envisaged that the ban will favour a reduction in the overall waste stream and concomitantly a reduction in the

cost of waste management. Apart from other positive environmental benefits such as aesthetics improvement, this initiative can also lead to the development of indigenous ‘green’ businesses and the creation of ‘green’ jobs in keeping with the country’s just transition to sustainability,” she further explained. The Environment Director said in the final analysis, the solution for combating plastic pollution is predicated on the use of alternatives to single-use plastics that are both renewable and biodegradable. As such, the Department of Environment is encouraging strict action from all stakeholders to transition to the use of reusable products including reusable shopping bags and water bottles while cutting out non-essential items such as plastic straws. Globally, it is estimated that over 300 million tonnes of single-use plastic bags and other single use plastic items are produced each year. Recent data indicates that that plastic production from the 1950s has increased from two million tonnes per year

to approximately 348 million tonnes per year. “With minimum recycling, most of this ends up in landfills where scientists estimate that it takes hundreds of years to degrade or in the oceans and other waterways where it leads to flooding through clogged drainage system and negatively impacts marine life through entanglement, suffocation or being mistaken for food,” the Environment Director said as she underscored the importance of eliminating the use of single-use plastics. According to her, the issue of plastic pollution cannot be viewed in isolation of from solid waste management in general, noting that here in Guyana, the management of solid waste has been a sore point for decades. Pointing to a 2020 Waste Characterisation Study, which was done in Georgetown by CEMCO Inc. and HYDRPLAN, the Environment Director said it was found that plastics including plastic bottles, styrofoam bags and other containers, and plastic diapers, constitute almost 20 per cent of the total waste stream. The study is

supported by the International Coastal Clean-up Activity at the Kingston Seawall in 2018, which showed that approximately 68 per cent of waste collected was single-use plastics. In observance of World Environment Day on October 27, President David Granger underscored the need to safeguard the environment by eliminating the use of single-use plastics. “Plastic pollution is dangerous. It represents a threat to environmental security. It has contributed to congested drainage systems, flooding and squalor, depleted aquatic life and contaminated creeks, rivers, freshwater and marine waters. The indiscriminate and insanitary dumping of single-use plastics also threatens the health of citizens, the President explained. The ban on single-use plastics comes on the heels of a similar ban on Styrofoam that took effect in 2016.

‘Pursue higher education’ -State Minister urges Harmony Secondary graduands

Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams, last week, urged Harmony Secondary School graduates to pursue tertiary education and skills training, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields in order to ensure that they are well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to the development of Guyana. The minister made these statements in her feature address at the school’s 10th Annual Graduation and Prize-giving Ceremony for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination students. “Graduands, inside of you, there is the potential to excel and achieve your dreams. Continue to further your studies and build upon achieving your dreams… Seek studies in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics… I am more than confident that I am standing in front of a generation of young Guyanese that will achieve greatness that would

State Minister, Dawn Hastings-Williams with some of the graduates and teachers

make Guyana proud,” Minister Hastings-Williams said. The minister noted that the theme for the ceremony, “Moving upward as we persevere with much determination to achieve greater success” is a timely encouragement to the graduands. She emphasised that in order for them to be successful in life, perseverance and determination are needed. The State Minister also pointed out that education and obtaining marketable skills are crucial to Guyana’s development, even as the government continues

to create opportunities and invest in programmes that will lead to economic transformation and a good life for all of its citizens. Further, she said, “[We] have pursued a policy of unity and social cohesion to ensure that our Government works for all Guyanese. We are committed to developing our education system to ensure Guyanese youths have the skills they need for the job market as we continue to transform our economy…We are developing infrastructure from rural roads to ICT hubs,

to drive economic growth and job creation across all Guyana, including our hinterland areas.” Minister Hastings-Williams then commended the teachers and parents of the graduating class for supporting the students throughout their academic career, noting that they can now proudly celebrate their achievements with them. She also reminded the students that upon their graduation, they will be embarking on a new phase of life that may sometimes be fraught with challenges.

She urged them to exercise patience and to maintain their integrity, even as they pursue tertiary education and/or employment opportunities. “Your government will continue to provide our youth with economic opportunities and better paying jobs… At times, you have to work your way up in order to get where you want [to be]. Having a slow start can train you to achieve greater success since possessing different traits will make you highly resourceful and knowledgeable,” the minister said. Meanwhile, Headmistress Ms. Angelina Yearwood, said she is proud of the school’s performance at the last CSEC sitting. She informed that it has recorded a higher overall pass rate over the years and, moreover, the Class of 2019 attained an impressive 100 per cent pass rate in Building Technology and Technical Drawing. “I am elated that this is our tenth annual graduation exercise… We are moving forward and excelling in the different subject areas and as we progress, we

will get better results,” Ms. Yearwood said. Additionally, Mayor of Linden, Her Worship, Waneka Arrindell, advised the graduands to take full advantage of the educational opportunities that are available to them. The Minister of State then presented Valedictorian, Miss Bonita Vivierious, with the President’s Prize which includes a laptop computer, a plaque, a certificate and a $10,000 book voucher. In an invited comment, Miss Vivierious expressed gratitude for the support students received. The aspiring accountant said, “I’m very much grateful for the help of my teachers and my parents. I want to say thanks a lot”. The graduation ceremony was held at the Wismar, Linden, Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region Ten) school. (Ministry of the Presidency)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 3, 2019

Hundreds throng Region 2 RACE By Indrawattie Natram

UNDER the theme, “Sustainable Agriculture for ensuring Food Safety in a Green Economy,” the Regional Agriculture and Commerce Exhibition (RACE) was declared opened Friday evening by Region Two Regional Executive Officer Denis Jaikarran at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground. The two-night event, he said, will promote economic activities, as well as give businesses the opportunity to showcase their local products to the Essequibo community. Declaring the fair open, Jaikarran said that the event paves the way for further enhancement in the agricultural sector. The fair was being hosted for the 20th time in the region and it is an annual event. The first night was attended by hundreds of Guyanese and exhibitors who were drawn from various villages and regions. Delivering the feature address was Bramanand Singh, a representative from the Ministry of Communities who told the gathering that he was filling in for Minister Ronald Bulkhan who was unavoidably absent. During his address on behalf of the Minister of Communities, Singh said that the Region Two RACE fair concludes all fairs across the county and commended the efforts of the committee members. He said that the event creates a regional platform for businesses to showcase their products and services, as well as to promote marketing opportunities. “RACE has broken the cycle, it’s not an event for

Lascel Pearson displays some of his products

Region Two differently-abled network booth

Representatives of Tapakuma Pride display their products

Products on display at the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) booth

Ministry of Agriculture and NAREI booth

fun, it provides an opportunity for the region to display its agricultural output as

well as encourage innovative production,” Singh said. He also mentioned

that since the Coalition Government took office, there have been tremendous strides in the agricultural sector. He said it is the desire of the Ministry of Communities and the Government of Guyana to decentralise services to better serve the people of Guyana. Region Two has seen an increase in its agriculture budget with the provision of G$455 million dollars. This money will further enhance the agriculture infrastructure and will provide

better access to farmers in the area. ‘Local products’ The first night attracted over 100 booths with leading companies such as Comfort sleep, along with Big Bird International Fish Complex, Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), Sureia Manufacturing, Kabakaburi Women Agro-processing, Ansa Mc Cal and Imam Bacchus and Sons. The Ministry of Agriculture booth displayed

various branches including the Guyana Rice Development Board, NAREI, crops and livestock and fisheries. New and innovative ways of farming and the varied use of technology in agriculture were displayed through various presentations, including pictures. This year the private sector played an integral part with many businesses coming on board. In the craft section was Anita Sankar’s craft shop. Sankar had on display well-designed craft items such as hammocks and chairs that were made from the raw material tibisiri. Sankar has been participating yearly and the event helps to promote her business. Wine lovers were treated to some locally made wines by Lascels Pearson from Mainstay/Whyaka. Pearson makes his own “De Cheif” wines from processed jamoon, cashew, guava, banana, and pineapples. The business had been established since 2009. Pearson came under the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs. The Region Two differently abled person network also used the opportunity to launch its new all-purpose seasoning, hot sauce, achars, and preserved fruits. One of the members who is visually impaired (Griffith) only name given, said that every Saturday the group gathered at Queenstown to make the items. Tapakuma Pride also presented and displayed crisp cassava bread and other local products. The health services booth also used the moment to sensitise persons about Filaria.

20 women trained in nail artistry, cosmetology …towards independence, empowerment

THE Dorcas Mending Hearts Ministry (DMHM), in collaboration with Abila’s Exquisite Beauty Salon and School of Cosmetology, on Saturday held its graduation exercise at the Sophia Primary School for the 20 women who participated in the Nail Artistry and Cosmetology programme. President of the DMHM, Kim Kyte-Thomas, said that their main

Kavita Deweever

mission is to meet victims of domestic violence, women, children and even men, and the situation is

approached from different angles: they provide free representation, free counselling and free legal representation to victims of domestic violence. She added that they don’t stop there; they also deal with the situation even before it occurs, so there are a number of skills-development centres around the country and these programmes usually last for six weeks. “This present gradua-

tion was a nail artistry and cosmetology programme, we were here for about nine months in Sophia; these ladies have been exposed to artistry, so after this they will become trained nail technicians. And they will be able to go into the world of work and provide for themselves. These courses are open to everyone because we believe in empowerment,” Kyte-Thomas said. Vice-president of the

DMHM, Lorraine Foster, said that, “We don’t want men to think that we do not cater for them, because one of the first persons that we helped was a male and we were able to provide him with a start-up business right here in Sophia. “This programme has been very uplifting for me because it is something I have always wanted to do and now that I’m graduating, my plan is to start my own business. I already

have the location. This is good what they are doing to help women empower themselves,” said Deweev e r, o n e o f t h e w o m e n who participated in the programme. The women who participated in this programme were very happy to receive their certificates; many of them had already planned to start their own businesses and become independent by working for themselves.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Following the footsteps of mom and dad … Kevin Williams finds calling in law By Tamica Garnett AS the saying goes, “the apple doesn’t far from the tree”, so it came as no surprise to Kevin Williams that he eventually developed a natural affinity to becoming a lawyer, notwithstanding that it was not exactly his goal career growing up. The son of two accomplished legal minds – Guyana’s Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, and High Court Judge of the Eastern

view with the Guyana Chronicle. “It is a great honour and a blessing that will forever be in my mind. The novelty has not worn off yet, I replay it several times daily. I just praise and thank God for allowing me to see the fruits of my labour.” Though it was not a future he envisioned for himself as a child, his parents were always expectant that he would have followed in their footsteps. But now a practicing lawyer, he believes he inherited it from his parents. “They will

tell anyone, it was always my destiny. It’s in the bloodline,” Kevin jokes. “In secondary school my focus was the sciences – Chemistry, Physics and Biology. I was exploring the idea of becoming a doctor. After moving to Canada, I took the first year of my

undergrad studies to really decide what I wanted to do and my process led me to law. I firmly believe it is a blood-line thing though, and eventually I could not run from it.” It was after moving to Canada and going through a period of self-realisation, that his mental footsteps led him to law. “The defining moment was in April 2005 after the first school year...it was a challenging one dealing with a new system, the bitter cold and snow and also missing the Caribbean. “I decided I needed a new start. I always excelled at the Arts and enjoyed paper writing and public speaking. I decided to go for it and here we are today,” Kevin Williams said. It was in 2015 that he began studying for his Juris Doctor (JD) at the University of Ottawa, and completed his studies last year. This comes after he did his Masters in International Affairs from 2009 – 2012 at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. His journey to his legal career began in 2004 when he commenced studying for his BA Law and Political Science, minor in Spanish, also at Carleton University; he completed the programme in 2009. Kevin acknowledges the support from his parents, saying because of them being there his journey was not as difficult as it could have been, but that by no means meant it was a smooth one. “By the grace of God, hard work and support from my parents, family, pastors and friends, it became a reality, a dream realised,” he says. “Like with any goal or dream, there were several challenges including meeting simultaneous deadlines, staying motivated, reading and researching the law to remain competent as well as maintain your reputation. These challenges were managed and overcome because of the collaborative and

team-oriented environment of my office. My articling principal has an open door policy and we all supported each other in whatever area of the practice we are working on. No one is ever left alone. We emphasise collegiality and open communication.” Kevin is now an Associate Lawyer with the Law Office of Odette Rwigamba in Ottawa Canada, practicing in the areas of family, immigration, wills, real estate and personal injury (civil litigation plaintiff). He recalls his days growing up as the child of lawyers. “I remember them always being busy preparing for court. The many hours of reading cases and creating correspondence and documents. Also, them discussing the theory of their case with me to solicit my opinion,” Kevin reminisced. He has spent most of his life in Canada having moved there in 2004 to live with his mother, who was appointed the OECS High Commissioner to Canada from 2003. However, with a St Lucian mother and a Guyanese father, his

Since the publication of the story, a number of persons have come on board to assist the families. The Humanitarian Mission in a statement said their main goal was to ensure the children were back in school so they can continue their education. “The Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc in partnership with its donors mandate is to break the cycle of poverty through education and empowerment. By investing in children and adult education, we are helping them to break

away from the many social ills that have been plaguing our youths and adults within our community, because of the lack of an education,” the mission said. It added: “Education is power, is money and freedom. This single mom with three kids and dealing with a deadbeat father is not easy, because many fathers ran away from their responsibilities and it becomes the mother’s burden to raise their children and see them through an education.” As such, President of the

Humanitarian Mission Suresh Sugrim is calling on fathers and men to rise up and take responsibility for their offspring. “Fathers and men need to be a part of their children’s well-being to have successful children,” he said. Meanwhile, Angela, who works as a waitress, expressed profound gratitude on behalf of her family to the organisation and all other donors who have supported her in this difficult time.

Attorney-at-law, Kevin Williams displays his certificate Caribbean Supreme Court, Justice Lorraine Williams – Kevin was recently accepted to the bar in Ontario, Canada; culminating years of hard work and challenges that he overcame. “It was a humbling experience,” shared the 32-year-old in a recent inter-

Kevin Williams (centre) with his parents, Attorney General, Basil Williams and Justice Lorraine Williams groundings are in a Caribbean lifestyle. Kevin considers himself blessed to have his multicultural upbringing. “I am blessed and thankful to God for ordering my life like this,” is how he describes it, adding that, “I was born into it. I definitely did not choose it. It was all in His plan and purpose for my life. It has shaped and influenced me greatly from my values, decorum, opinions and perspectives. It has instilled in me empathy for various groups of people. I am able to connect and build relationships with people of any background. It has instilled in me a passion for people and making genuine relationships.” It’s a character trait he’s particularly proud of. “It’s a unique mixture. One of the best compliments that I have received concerning this is that I am able to bring together groups that you would not think at first glance they have anything in common,” he says. Kevin was born in Castries, St. Lucia, and was just three months old when he came to Guyana where he spent the first three years of his

life. His parents returned to St Lucia when he was three years old, and he lived there. “I was very young but I do remember being strolled on the sea wall,” he notes of his brief life in Guyana, before migrating to St Lucia. “It was a fairly smooth transition. At about three or four years you don’t really have a huge memory. I recall being between accents though; I had a bit of a Guyanese accent on arrival as I had gone to school in Guyana and interacted with kids there.” As child does in new environments, he quickly adapted to life in St Lucia, and he had as enjoyable a childhood as children could get. “We moved into a neighborhood where there were many children my age. We would ride our bikes, play Nintendo, hide and seek, make kites from coconut sticks, thread and glue from the trees, catch crabs,” he recalled fondly. Since leaving Guyana in 1989, Kevin was back in Guyana in 2016 for Guyana’s Jubilee Independence Anniversary celebrations.

Fire victims get help ANGELA Dhuman, a single mother of three children, ages six, 10 and 12, who were displaced after their home was razed by fire, is happy after Humanitarian Mission Guyana handed over a number of school items to her on Saturday. Dhuman’s mother, Sharmella Bhoelai, 49; her brother, Amar Dhuman and his child who also occupied the house were left homeless when the fire suspected to be electrical in origin struck last Tuesday.

Public Relations Officer of the Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc, Mahendra Dass Nandlall, hands over the items to the family

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Gold Board aims to decentralise service By Vanessa Braithwaite

FOLLOWING the ‘gunning down’ of gold miner, Deon Stoll, while he was about to transact business at a city establishment, there have been heightened calls from members of the mining sector, for the decentralisation of the Guyana Gold Board services in all mining regions, as this would contribute to both the safety and convenience of miners, seeking to sell their mineral. Strides have been made by the Guyana Gold Board to decentralise these services. This service deemed ‘mobile buying’ has already benefitted miners in the Potaro-Siparuni Region, with a temporary office established in Mahdia. However, there is need for this service to be spread out, even if it is on a temporary basis. With the government’s efforts to decentralise crucial public services, particularly in the capital towns, including the new ones, the establishment of a gold board in these towns will definitely ‘stir’ their economy. This was the reasoning of President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Victor Fernandes, who said that, while Linden is not a gold mining town, it is the gateway to many of these destinations and the benefits of setting up a branch in Linden will be two-fold: it will benefit the miners since they would not have to travel

all the way to the capital city and it will benefit the township, since the miners will, in turn, use that same money to purchase goods and access services, thus putting a dollar in the pockets of so many, along the chain of supply. “It will definitely be a positive impact on the economy of Linden, persons coming from the various districts, it will be safe and easier for miners to stop and do their transactions and this will be of great benefit to Linden. There will be a greater cash flow which is needed in Linden, the business sector will get a boost, since the miners will make their purchases right here and then return to the mining locations,” he said. This was the case in Bartica, where a branch of the Gold Board is located. Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall, said that, the Gold Board being in his town, is part of the wider decentralisation drive that the Government has embarked on. In benefitting the miners, he said it brought greater efficiency and reliability in terms of timeliness and of course safety, since their security would have been significantly boosted, not having to travel long distances with large amounts of gold or cash. With miners from across the Region, benefitting from such a service in Bartica, it has also created a ripple effect in its economy.

… in light of killing of gold miner, attacks on traders

President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce Victor Fernandes

Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board Gabriel Lall

President of GGDMA, Terrence Adams

WOULD WELCOME SUCH A MOVE Speaking to one miner on the matter, Wendell Washington, he said that as a resident of Linden, he would definitely welcome the move. “First it was less wear and tear on your vehicle, less mileage, less gas. That means less money spending. Second, you stop home, you sell your gold, and spend time with your family, you buy your stuff and return to the back dam,” he reasoned, adding, “and with what going on, you would feel much much safer, cuz crime don’t happen so in Linden. It GT, you have to be watching round your shoulder, sometimes you can’t even sell all your gold one time because you don’t want to be in Town with so much money,” he posited. The small miner also recommended that the Gold

Board implements a system, where monies can be sent directly to the purchasers’ accounts rather than to present them with liquid cash. This though, is in the pipeline of the Guyana Gold Board, according to its Chairman, Gabriel Lall, especially for small and medium scale miners. At its Bartica office, he said direct transfers are already done for familiar and trustworthy costumers. While the plan is to avoid miners to be walking around with large amount of cash, thus being susceptible to robbers, as was the case with Stoll, stringent measures must be put in place, to ensure accountability. “We have to make sure the gold you bring is tested, we have to check the source of the gold and so on...but we are looking to keep abreast with this, particularly with the small and medium scale operators because the large-

scale miners have their apparatus that they use, but we don’t want the others to walk around with so much cash. We have to make sure the gold is safe and that they will be certain that the money is there (in their accounts).” Relative to efforts to continue its decentralisation, Lall said that it is the vision of the Gold Board to take the services to the mining regions, but it must be done to what is required of the sector and be compliant as well. Decentralised services are continuing in Mahdia and will be further expanded in the near future. Lall said that, in moving forward, there are several factors to consider in ensuring that the move will be a viable one. “We want to replicate that (service in Mahdia), to where it makes business sense to us, we also have to weigh in on the weather and the condition

Shake up at SOCU

Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall of the roads to these places and then balance the cost of travel, because, under these conditions, it becomes arduous...but yes, it is on our drawing board and part of our plan to expand our wings and our foot prints,” Lall posited. Another factor that is being deemed a challenge in the decentralisation process is the availability of commercial banks, in these locations. President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, Terrence Adams, said that the Association welcomes the move as many miners have been calling for it. Transacting business with the Gold Board, he said, guaranteed that one will get money for the right weight of gold. Relative to the investigation regarding Stoll, Adams said that justice would prevail.

– as president bemoans unit’s performance

COMMISSIONER of Police, Leslie James, said very soon there will be changes at the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) which is yet to produce a successful prosecution since its formation a few years ago. James made the disclosure in response to comments made by President David Granger, who addressed the performance of SOCU during a radio interview on Friday. “You cannot investigate crimes and allegations if there are elements within the law enforcement forces themselves which have been collaborating with the very criminals, if files are

disappearing and if because of other forms of bias and don’t forget, the SOCU is a branch of the Police Force,” the President said. SOCU is an arm of the Guyana Police Force established to investigate organised crime. “Let me make it very clear, notwithstanding the fact that SOCU does comes under the Commissioner of Police and by extension the Guyana Police Force, SOCU, the prosecutors of SOCU, that is what I have inherited,” James told reporters. He said that since he became commissioner, he has been meeting with personnel at SOCU, including

its prosecutors. One of the notable cases which were handed over to SOCU was that of former Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford and her Personnel Officer, Margret Cummings. They were charged with being unable to account for several millions of dollars allocated to her ministry for conducting several programmes. Although the matter was before the courts for a prolonged period, the two managed to walk free after SOCU failed to prove its case in court. There were plans to appeal the ruling but it is unclear if the government will go ahead. According to James,

while he understands SOCU falls under his purview, the prosecutors were not hired by the Police Force and he has been doing some work to revamp the unit. “They were not necessarily recruited by the Guyana Police Force; however, I can tell you that as late as yesterday, I met with a few of the prosecutors and that matter I am currently addressing and I can publicly say that since my accession as commissioner, I have met with all members of SOCU and the operations of SOCU is under scrutiny at the moment and actions are being taken as we speak,” he said. The President, on the radio programme, made

reference to the fact that he regrets that attempts were made to bring people to justice but the evidence has not been sufficient to have convictions. This is not only related to matters being handled by SOCU, he said, but also murders and other offences. James took over the Force in 2018 and was tasked with ensuring the former head of SOCU and his alleged mismanagement of the entity are investigated. hat has been completed and while the findings were not made public, there has been no criminal charges brought against anyone at SOCU for the alleged trans-

Police Commissioner, Leslie James gressions which were uncovered. However, SOCU head, Sydney James, was fired from the entity. P re s i d e n t G r a n g e r has noted the need for reform of the Guyana Police Force, noting that is necessary to address issues of corruption even within the organisation.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Missing man’s suspected charred remains found in car trunk

AFTER being reported missing for over a week, the suspected charred remains of Collin Rodney called “Glock” was discovered by the police on Friday in the trunk of his car, which was also burnt, in Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. Rodney, a former policeman, also known as “Troy” and “Cutty” was last seen on October 25, 2019 around 08:00hrs, leaving his home on Durban Street, Lodge, Georgetown.

He left with his car, a silver grey Toyota Allion, PRR 1076, which is believed to be the car that he was found in as his body and the car were burnt beyond recognition. Police said although they suspect the remains to be that of Rodney, DNA test will done to confirm that. Reports indicate that Rodney went missing after he left his home to attend court to provide evidence in the murder trial for his

Dead: Collin Rodney called “Glock”

Dead: Marlon Rodney

cousin Marlon Rodney, since he was a witness to his cousin’s murder.

On that day, Rodney was supposed to give his final testimony in court;

however, he never reached the court steps. The trial is in the preliminary inquiry stage. Thirty-nine-year-old Osafa Grundell, called “Safo” of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown and James Fraser, 21, called “Dab” of Garnett Street, Georgetown, were charged for the murder of Marlon Seon Rodney, called “George”. It is alleged that between April 25 and April 30 last, at Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, the 35-year-old taxi driver of Lot 71 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, was involved in a heated argu-

ment with Grundell, Fraser and another man called “Curl Up”. The defendants reportedly pulled out guns and discharged several rounds at Rodney, who was hit in the left leg. A passerby, identified as 24-year-old Shaquille Dion, of Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, was also shot in the process. The injured men were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where Dion was treated and sent away while Rodney was admitted in a critical condition. He later succumbed to his injuries.

86 new policemen commissioned

EIGHTY-Six new policemen were commissioned on Friday and will soon be posted within the various regions and branches of the Guyana Police Force. Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, commended the young men for withstanding the rigorous training and cautioned that, going forward, they will be faced with challenges as they enter the various communities. These challenges, he said, must be addressed in conformity with the rule of law and in assertive manners. “While executing your duties, the history of this noble organisation has shown that we have been resolute in our endeavour and resilient in treating with challenges that would confront us in different periods of time; you are no differ-

ent,” James told his officers. The young men were urged by the top cop to remember their goals and aspirations and serve with integrity and professionalism. “Be impartial during your investigation and while you are in the enquiries office, you are reminded that the citizens would quite rightly expect a professional service from you,” the commissioner said. He related that the Force is being reformed to ensure professional development and service delivery in keeping with international best practices. The Guyana Police Force, he said, is also continuing with its Social Crime Prevention programmes and is paying much attention to capacity building. “You have accepted this job

to be on a mission to stand firmly between good and evil, remember your oath of office and the pledge of your sworn duty,” Commissioner James passionately reminded his new officers. Assistant Commissioner (Training), Clifton Hicken, told the ranks that they will be met with challenges and whatever decisions they make must be done within the realm of the goals and objectives of the Police Force while not being afraid to ask questions. “Provide a service to the public because that is what you were employed to do, you are fabrics of social society, you are a fabric of the community, do not stay away from the communities, the communities need you like you need the communities to prevail,” Hicken noted.

Six arrested over dead Venezuelan in Tabatinga

SIX persons are in police custody after the body of an unidentified man, suspected to be Venezuelan, was discovered in the wee hours of Saturday morning by a villager in Tabatinga, Region Nine. The body, which bore multiple stab wounds, was found in the vicinity of “Black bridge”, ap-

proximately 500 feet away from the Tabatinga main road in the municipality of Lethem. Reports indicate that a villager was alerted that something was amiss when several Spanish-speaking persons caused a commotion outside his house. The resident told a police that he heard a shout, then a scream before a

calm. When he exited his home to enquire what was wrong, he stumbled upon a body lying on the street, in close proximity to his residence. The villager then contacted the police who arrived on the scene and removed the unidentified man.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

First Lady urges Mahdia youth to use ICT, Robotics training for town’s development

FIRST Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger charged 28 Mahdia, Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) youth to use their newly acquired Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills to capitalise on the employment opportunities available in their township. The First Lady made these statements at a gradu-

ation ceremony held for the students on Friday following their participation in a month-long ICT workshop for adolescent and out-ofschool youth. “Get on top of the opportunities that you can have here. Mahdia is a booming town. Mahdia is open 24 hours, seven days a week, so there are always systems you can work out and put in place to make

sure that you are there reaping the benefits … with your skill. As you build them up, you can start writing your own programs [for robots] which might very well be applicable to Mahdia and Potaro- Siparuni …There is a lot growing in the soil of Mahdia, intellectually, socially and culturally,” Mrs. Granger said. The workshop was

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (seated centre), and (left to right) Facilitator, Mr. Horace Moseley; Head Teacher of the Mahdia Primary School, Ms. Marilyn Wills; Facilitator, Ms. Aisha Peters and Confidential Secretary to the First Lady, Ms. Yvonne Smith are pictured with the students of the Mahdia Primary School, who participated in the workshop. Also pictured is Teacher of the Mahdia Secondary School, Mr. Delon Harry and two of his students

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, presents Valedictorian, Mr. Imanuel De Jonge with his trophy at the graduation ceremony. Mr. De Jonge and 27 other youths participated in a month-long Information and Communication Technology workshop for adolescent and out-of-school youth held at the Mahdia Secondary School spearheaded by the Office of the First Lady in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection. Mrs. Granger said she was impressed to see that no participant attained less than 80 per cent in their examinations. She also committed to soon host another workshop in the township, which will include a component tailored for the town’s adult population. At the close of the ceremony, Mayor of Mahdia, His worship, Mr. David Adams thanked the First Lady for her commitment to equip the youths of Mahdia with ICT skills. He said he was pleased with the student’s excellent performance. Regional Executive Officer, Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight), Ms. Mitzy Campbell; Ministry of Social Protection, Board of Industrial Training, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Richard Maughn; Vice Chairman, Mr. Donald Ainsworth and

Director, Mr. Michael Turner all attended the ceremony, which was held at the Mahdia Secondary School. Additionally, the First Lady held a two-day Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workshop for 30 Grades Five and Six students of the Mahdia Primary School. This exercise, which commenced on October 30, was held in the computer laboratory of the Mahdia Secondary School. At the simple closing ceremony, which was also held yesterday, Mrs. Granger presented two Robotics kits to the school’s Head Teacher, Ms. Marilyn Wills. She also encouraged the children to form a STEM club so that they can get constant practice, which would equip them with the skills that they need to participate in the National Robotics Tournament. (Ministry of the Presidency)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Economy to ‘balloon’ in 2020 –– IMF projects 86 per cent growth in real GDP

GUYANA’S economy is expected to balloon in 2020 following the production of oil for the first time in the country’s history. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Guyana’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by approximately 86 per cent in 2020, almost 20 times more than the projected 4.4 per cent growth for this year. A report from Bloomberg stated that Guyana’s GDP will grow 14 times as fast as China’s next year. Guyana’s $4 billion annual GDP is also expected to expand to about $15 billion by 2024, said the IMF. The commencement of oil production in 2020 will substantially improve Guyana’s medium and long-term outlook. The petroleum sector is projected to grow rapidly; it will account for around 40 per cent of GDP by 2024 and support additional fiscal spending annually of 6.5 per cent of non-oil GDP on average over the medium term. This will help meet critical social and infrastructural needs The IMF, however, said that the projected real GDP growth in 2020 is potentially overstated and is subject to large subsequent revisions, because of the very high growth rate of oil GDP. This in turn is elevated on account of the very low base in 2019. “Hence, even small changes to the projected oil output in 2020 would result in large changes in real oil GDP and overall real GDP growth rates. Work is ongoing to rebase the real GDP series to account for oil-related activities since 2015 in advance of actual oil production in 2020,” said the IMF. CONSISTENT GROWTH Further projections by the IMF showed that real GDP will grow by 4.8 per cent in 2021, 20.6 per cent in 2022 and 26.2 per cent in 2023. Looking back at the growth in 2018, the IMF said Guyana’s economic growth strengthened that year with broad-based expansion across all major sectors. Real GDP grew by 4.1 per cent, led by the construction and service sectors, up from 2.1

per cent in 2017. Guyana continued to show positive results in 2019, with the country recording economic growth of four per cent for the first half of the year. “At the half year we have grown four per cent yearon-year, which is basically measuring the first half of the year to the same period last year,” said Minister of Finance Winston Jordan in a report which was published in August. The minister recalled that the economy grew in 2015 and later grew again in 2016 by 3.4 per cent. He said although growth was less in 2017, the country recorded the highest growth rate in 2018 which was 4.1 per cent, the highest since 2014. The latest estimate is for growth to be 4.5 per cent at the end of the year, but Jordan believes that people can do “mischief” to derail the growth. With the possibility of growth being derailed, Jordan said government will do all in its power to ensure that growth is held in check. PREPARATION More work is expected as first oil in Guyana can begin as soon as December, ahead of the previous March 2020 timeline; Jordan had said that efforts will be made to speed up local preparations for the shipment of crude. The announcement of this earlier timeline was made on Wednesday by HESS Corporation, a partner of ExxonMobil which holds a 30 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. In a report on Wednesday of the company’s Third Quarter of 2019, HESS Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess said: “In September, we announced our 14th discovery in the Stabroek Block at Tripletail offshore Guyana and are now targeting December for first oil from the Liza-1 development.” HESS noted that Exxon and its partners’ 14th discovery was announced on the Stabroek Block at the Tripletail-1 exploration well located approximately three miles north-east of the Longtail discovery. The Tripletail discovery adds to the six billion barrels of oil

equivalent. The Liza Phase 1 project will produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day at peak rates utilising the Liza Destiny FPSO. It is expected to generate over $7B in royalty and profit-oil revenues for Guyana over the life of the project. The Noble Bob

Douglas drillship is currently completing development drilling operations for the Liza Phase 1 development. Meanwhile, Tullow is also on stream for big things, since the company made two oil discoveries recently. The company

made discoveries at the Joe-1 and at the Jethro-1 wells. A recent Competent Persons Report on the block, prior to the discoveries on the Jethro and Joe wells, estimated that there is a gross 3,982 million barrels of oil equivalent in the Orinduik

Block. Considering the recent oil finds, Rystad Energy ranked Guyana second for the most oil discoveries for this year. The country was also named the fastest-growing economy in the world by the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

Cancer Foundation receives computer

WITH the conclusion of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, STARR Computer recently donated a computer system with power protection to the Guyana Cancer Foundation. “We would like to thank persons who purchased the HP Printer to help this cause. Your contribution is appreciated. We would also like to encourage persons to get tested. Early detection can help saves lives,” HP Product Sales

and Marketing Manager, Penny Francis said. STARR Computer donated 10 per cent of every purchase of its HP Printer to the Guyana Cancer Foundation. She noted that STARR Computer is the authorised dealer for several leading international manufacturers, including Lenovo, Samsung, Hewlett Packard, APC and Q-see, and resells hundreds of other technology-related products.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Founder of the Guyana Cancer Foundation, Bibi Hassan, received the computer from HP Product Sales and Marketing Manager, Penny Francis, in the presence of another staff

NDIA to undertake massive dredging of the Bellamy Canal –– 12 excavators to begin work by Monday

ON Monday 12 excavators will be dispatched in the High Dam area in Region Five, Mahaica-Berbice, to begin dredging of the Bellamy Canal and constructing a higher dam. This is being done to alleviate flooding in the area. Earlier on Friday, Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Fredrick Flatts, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that at the moment, this would be the best solution to the problem at hand. “We plan to build a secondary dam between Fairfield and Dantzig. The secondary [dam] would be very high – about eight feet high above the land and about 12 feet top width, it’s a significant dam. That dam will start at the sea defence to cross the Bellamy Canal coming about 800 feet into the land, then go parallel to the sea defence and come back in at Fairfield,” Flatts explained. The NDIA CEO revisited the region, on Friday, with Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Hon. Valerie Adams-Yearwood, who delivered food hampers to residents at High Dam, Rebecca’s Lust and Glaziers Lust. The team also spoke with members of the community about the current situation, and possible ways to deal with it. Minister Adams-Yearwood expressed satisfaction with the NDIA’s solution, which also got the support of the residents. “Your government is very concerned about your current situation... Hearing the plan by Mr. Flatts, we expect that with the spring tide in November, we would not see a repeat of what we saw

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Fredrick Flatts this season here,” Minister Adams-Yearwood noted. Later on, Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Raphael Trotman, joined the exercise, meeting with residents and assuring them that government was working to ensure these events, though acts of nature, does not affect them this severely again. “We are trying to tabulate how much has been lost and to see how best the government can replace. What we are seeing here is Mother Nature demonstrating that she is in charge, but governments do have a responsibility to take care of its people... We are responding to a situation of need,” Minister Trotman told DPI. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC), throughout this week, including Friday, has been continuously distributing clean drinking water and cleaning agents to the affected families. Forty-three families were given food hampers to last more than one week, along with cleaning agents to aid in the cleanup efforts. (DPI)

Narrowing the gaps SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

– specialised health services brought to Monkey Mountain

RESIDENTS in the village of Monkey Mountain took advantage of specialised health services provided by a medical team deployed to the Region Eight community last week. This follows a commitment made a week ago by the Public Health Minister, Hon. Volda Lawrence, to have a health team visit the area. The minister noted the health needs of the residents to have screenings and general medical checkups, and the necessity for a paediatrician to tend to the health needs of the

is to assist the staff at the health post. Other items were also handed over, which will contribute significantly to the lives of the residents. The medical outreach is said to be the first of its kind to the village since specialised

The Optometry intern, Carla Cassiano with a patient in the eye care section during the outreach

The Paediatrician, a doctor from the Cuban medical brigade, who tended to many children during the outreach village’s large population under the age of 14. Residents, who accessed the much-needed services over the two days, expressed their satisfaction with the level of service rendered. Norman Juan is a cleaner at the health post. He shared his views with the Department of Public Information’s (DPI) team who also visited the village. “I am very glad about what is happening here [with the medical outreach] after so long. We haven’t [had] doctors or any medical personnel of that sort [in the village]; it was just the two health workers [who were stationed in the village], and they are trying their best, but these doctors are here [at this outreach] with all the medications that we would need,” relayed Juan. The Community Development Officer (CDO), Matheson Williams, also shared his views. “It’s good that they [the doctors] are here because we have a lot of illnesses and ailments here that go unmonitored… A few weeks ago, we had several suspected cases of dengue,

on the team of doctors, was able to treat about 60 children with varying skin infections, among others. In the area of dental care, Director of Dental Services, Dr. Kester Sullivan, worked along with the dentist of the village and saw mostly children from the primary school. He relayed that while there were hardly any children with ‘bad teeth’, there was a need to emphasise ‘proper oral health care’, as the children are in the stages

The ATV that was handed over to the health post by the First Lady, Her Excellency Sandra Granger [and] with the doctors here; they can confirm it [with of losing their baby teeth, which are being replaced their assessments].” Eyecare, as well as gy- with permanent ones. The medial outreach naecology, were the most sought after services. Close was a step in the right dito 100 women saw the rection, according to the Gynecologist, specifically Senior Health Worker of for birth control implants, the Health Post, Ediouldo while others opted for reg- Juan, who commended the timely response. “I was ular checks-ups. Over in the eyecare worried because, at times, section, the Optometrist, there were constraints in Carla Cassiano, said she this community, but then saw approximately 150 after making the request, persons. “We did screening I am happy to see the time for eye diseases, like cata- in which I am seeing develract, glaucoma, pterygium opment and more support.” On the second day of and refractive errors and what we brought with us the medical team’s visit, was reading glasses, which First Lady, Her Excellency, we gave out to the patients Sandra Granger, handed [who] require,” she ex- over an ATV to the village. plained. The paediatrician, The purpose of the vehicle

medical services are mostly available at Mahdia. The village, which only has a health post, does not have a doctor stationed permanently, and as such, the Public Health Ministry has since seen it fit to have the medical team visit.

Continued outreaches will follow this action, as the ministry will station a doctor at the health facility. A series of planned upgrades and expansion for the health facility are in the pipeline for the village. (DPI)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

GBTI donates $$$ to help fight cancer

THE Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and staff continue to show their support for cancer awareness with a donation of close to $400,000 to the Guyana Cancer Foundation and the Periwinkle Club. This activity, which is now an annual feature of the bank, signifies the institution’s empathy, care and concern for awareness and support for patients and

Staff of GBTI share a photo op with President of the Guyana Cancer Foundation, Ms. Bibi Hassan and Ms. Cheryl Caines and Marion Williams of the Periwinkle Club at GBTI’s Corporate Office in Kingston, Georgetown following the donation

families affected by cancer, GBTI said in a release. “It is also our way of saying to these voluntary organisations, thank you for all that you do in offering care and support and a space for patients and family members to share their feelings and stories, and know that others can relate to them and understand what they are going through,” GBTI said. The bank said, “Just as we celebrate the successes of our customers, we understand their challenges and needs, and we represent their cause to the fullest. We believe our collective efforts will make a difference to those in need.”

Dynamic delegation heads to FIHAV 2019

WITH Cuba showing a keen interest in Guyana’s rice, poultry and forestry, the Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV) 2019 could open more doors for local businesses. The FIHAV Expo will provide an opportunity for the Guyanese participants to meet international, as well as Cuban buyers, and to foster commercial relations with investors from across Latin America and the Caribbean. In an earlier interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Owen Verwey, conveyed that through GO-Invest, 10 local companies are preparing to participate in the annual multi-sector trade fair. Verwey said timber, poultry, agro-processed items, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and tourism are among the products his office intends to showcase in Havana, Cuba at the expo. Minister of Business, Hon. Haimraj Rajkumar, will lead Guyana’s delegation. The delegation also includes representatives of several businesses; the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), International Pharmaceuticals Agency (IPA), Silvie’s Variety Stores, Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Georgetown Chambers of Commerce Incorporated (GCCI), and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), among other businesses. The Havana International Fair (FIHAV), first founded in 1983, is an annual International Trade festival, and this year comes on the threshold of the celebration of Havana’s 500th anniversary as a town. The five-day fair will be held from November 4-8 at the EXPOCUBA Exhibition Site, Havana, Cuba. FIHAV is the largest international fair for trade and investment in Cuba, represented by delegations from across Latin America and the Caribbean. The event provides an excellent business platform for new companies in the market and those already established. In the framework of FIHAV 2019, the Fourth Investment Forum will also be held on the sidelines of the fair. It provides an excellent opportunity to conduct bilateral meetings between Cuban businesses and potential foreign investors. The delegation departs Guyana for Havana, Cuba on Saturday, November 2, 2019. (DPI)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Judicial, court administrators conclude CAJO 6th biennial conference

OVER 150 judicial officers, including chief justices, judges, magistrates, registrars, and court administrators from throughout the Caribbean, met in Belize City, Belize from October 31 to November 02, for the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers’ (CAJO) sixth Biennial Conference. This year’s conference was hosted by the Judiciary of Belize under the theme “Judicial Integrity - the Pathway to Public Trust and Confidence.” It was launched with a well-attended opening ceremony on day one, which featured remarks by the Right Honourable Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize; the Honourable Justice Kenneth Benjamin; Chief Justice of Belize; and the Honourable Justice Peter Jamadar, Chairman of CAJO and Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). In his remarks, Prime Minister Barrow expressed his appreciation of courts in the Region, stating, “all sectors in our societies therefore, including the executives themselves, ought to be grateful for the checks that judicial officers impose on either genuine governmental mistake or deliberate overreach.” However, the highlight of day one of the conference was the keynote address presented by Dr. Terrence Farrell, former Deputy Governor of the Central bank of Trinidad and Tobago. Dr. Farrell delivered a thought-provoking presentation in which he explored the various reasons why public confidence in court systems throughout the Region is low. He asserted that to reverse this low level of public confidence, it is necessary for courts to implement several changes including ensuring that every “Judicial Appoint-

ments Commission has the means to impose intermediate sanctions, including de-rostering and suspending judges, to counsel poor performers out of the judiciary, and where needed, to refer judges to EAP-type counseling, all within the confines of the Judiciary itself without any involvement of the Executive or Legislature.” The second keynote address was delivered on the second morning of the Conference by Roberta Clarke. Clarke currently serves as the chair of the Executive Committee of the International Commission of Jurists and the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition against Domestic Violence. Her presentation examined how sex, gender, and socio-economic class shape the experiences of people interacting with the justice system. Also covered during the conference were a number of other topical issues relevant to judicial officers in the Region including pre-trial detention, the rights of Indigenous People, environment pollution, and the use of social media. At the conclusion of the conference, the association passed a number of resolutions, one of which urged that the Courts in the Region be regarded as essential services and recommended the adoption of disaster preparedness and response plans by courts. Additionally, the association expressed concerns over lengthy acting appointments for Heads of Judiciaries and singled out the position of Chancellor of Guyana, which has not had a substantive office holder since 2005. The CAJO also reasserted that it is the duty of all courts to guarantee integrity and to secure the trust and confidence of the people of the Caribbean.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

20 arrested in police raid TWENTY men from the communities of Craig and Diamond, East Bank Demerara were picked up by the police during the course of Saturday morning as law enforcement react to an increase in petty crimes along the East Bank corridor. Of the 20 people arrested, one was identified by the police as a young man who was wanted since earlier in the year in connection with a wounding matter. The police were still, up to afternoon on Saturday, trying to ascertain if any of the others picked up were want-

ed in connection with any offences. Commander of East Coast Demerara corridor, Senior Superintendent Simon, related that the other persons would be placed on identification parades to see if they are positively identified by victims who reported they were robbed. The senior superintendent said the persons were not being investigated for specific crimes. The operation was led by a superintendent and two other officers along with in excess of 35 ranks who provided support. Recently, petty crimes have been on the increase where individuals with

criminal intent have been preying on unsuspecting persons and robbing them at night and even during the day. The prevalence of these occurrences has been more in Georgetown and around the Stabroek Market area

which is usually congested. What is known is that in addition to the patrols which are visible, the police have been monitoring the CCTV cameras which covers the target areas.

‘A win-win combination’ SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

– Synergies between agriculture, tourism to push Guyana forward

THE combination of agriculture and tourism is a recipe for success, not just for the stakeholders in the sectors, but also for Guyana’s economy. “It is a win-win combination,” said Consul General of Guyana to Brazil, Shirley Melville, in an invited comment on the sidelines of the final day of the Agro-Tourism Expo at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, on Saturday. The synergies between the two sectors are expected to create a foundation for further development and open up new opportunities for the stakeholders. Melville

since there was a plethora of exhibits ranging from agro-processing, craft, models of local tourist attractions and many more. One of the exhibitors and owner of Shine’s Agri Manufacturing, Kelshine Griffith, said the expo was a great initiative, since it gave stakeholders within the two sectors an opportunity to network and talk about ways of cooperation. She said the event should be held annually so that there could be a constant flow of cooperation and opportunities for various producers from across the country. Several other exhibitors echoed the

Consul General of Guyana to Brazil, Shirley Melville (Delano Williams photo) said the cooperation between the two sectors will simultaneously expose Guyana’s lucrative and enterprising agriculture sector and its attractive and impressive tourism industry. The consul general said the hidden talents from both sectors will get an opportunity to reach the right eyes and the right markets. Some of the hidden talent would come from the hinterland regions where agro-processing and craft making is big. “I believe that Indigenous People would get to market their creations through the tourism sector and at the same time attract persons to the various communities by showcasing what they have to offer,” said Melville. Just like the Indigenous population, other Guyanese will also have an opportunity to market their products and show what Guyana has to offer, when the partnership between the two sectors takes off. Persons had an opportunity to experience the cooperation firsthand during the expo which started on October 31. The cooperation between the two sectors was evident,

sentiments of Griffith, noting that the agriculture and tourism sectors have the potential to collectively improve Guyana’s economy. Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder had said that the Agri-Tourism Expo and business forum was an offspring of the 2016 cooperative agreement between the two ministries. The aim of the agreement was to enhance the agri-tourism sector. “Agri-tourism offers farmers the possibility of diversifying and generating additional income through on-farm tourism activities… this will supplement on-farm income and maintain the viability of farms in rural communities,” said Minister Holder during the launch of the expo in September. The minister said the nexus between agriculture and tourism is not new since it is something which Guyanese have practiced and continue to practice throughout their lives. “By simply going to pick fruits, swim in the conservancy or preparing a bush cook, you are participating in agri-tourism,” said Holder. Although it has been prom-

inent in the traditional Guyanese sense, agri-tourism is still a category which needs to be exploited and branded as a unique product. The minister believes

that agri-tourism should not only be aimed at attaining foreign arrival targets, but should be a money-maker for farmers and the nation.

‘Fresh greens’ – persons were given a taste of what Guyana’s fertile soil produced (Delano Williams photo)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

Sunday 03, November, 2019 09:00hrs - 10:30hrs

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 3, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 3, 2019

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Irish Racing Tips Naas 08:20 hrs Soul Seeker 08:50 hrs Aloysius Lilius 09:25 hrs Nobel Prize 10:00 hrs Love Locket 10:35 hrs Gentile Bellini 11:10 hrs Mr Everest 11:45 hrs Riven Light 12:20 hrs Maria Christina

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Rainbow nation turns gold as Springboks lift Rugby World Cup

By Ossian Shine

YOKOHAMA (Reuters) - At times it was brutal, often it was downright ugly, but who cares? In the end there can have been few more poignant sights than that of Siya Kolisi, the boy from a dusty, poverty-stricken South African township, on Saturday lifting the Rugby World Cup following an emphatic victory over England. The first black man to captain the Springboks hoisted the trophy high into the Yokohama night and was instantly showered by golden streamers as fireworks lit up the sky at the end of a momentous 32-12 triumph. It was a scene destined for posterity, and sporting showreels the world over, and one which prompted tears from South Africans on the field and off it. “Since I have been alive I have not seen South Africa like this,” Kolisi said. “It was like in ‘95,” he added, referring to the Rainbow Nation’s first World Cup triumph, on home soil. That victory was immortalised by Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first post-apartheid president, wearing then-captain Francois Pienaar’s number six jersey. That gesture was mirrored on Saturday when a beaming President Cyril Ramaphosa also donned the number six shirt, now worn by Kolisi, as he watched the presentation pitchside, waving to the captain who replied with a victory sign and a clenched fist. “So many challenges we have,” Kolisi said. “Coach (Rassie Erasmus) told us we are not playing for ourselves, we are playing for the people back home. We are really proud as South Africans. Not many people gave us a chance. We had to believe in each other and our plan. We love you, South Africa, and we can achieve anything if we work together.” ELECTRIC SPRINGBOKS Giant number eight Duane Vermeulen agreed. “We are doing it for each other but also for 57 million people back home in South Africa,” the man of the match said. This night was all South Africa’s as they won their third World Cup to draw level with New Zealand as the most successful side in the tournament’s history. With three cups from three finals, they are the only nation with

a 100 percent record in the showcase match. England lost finals in 1991 and 2007, the latter to South Africa, and now join France as three-time runners-up. England will now try to figure out how a side that obliterated the seemingly invincible All Blacks in the semi-finals could show up with so little invention. But perhaps that had been the problem. To expect another performance the like of that was unrealistic, yet that is what it would have taken on a night when the Springboks were simply electric. “It was a great World Cup,” England coach Eddie Jones said. “Humbled to be part of it. Disappointed we are not the world’s best team. We finished second. Silver medal isn’t as good a gold one.” Criticised all tournament for being uncreative, on the night South Africa did it all. BEAUTIFUL BAUBLE They dominated the scrum, were immense in defence and ground down the English. They even crossed the tryline, not just once but twice — their first tries in any World Cup final — when first Makazole Mapimpi bounded over the line in the 66th minute to add a beautiful bauble to their prodigious workrate, and then Cheslin Kolbe skipped through the ragged England defence to drive home their superiority. ‘Mr Metronome’ Handre Pollard, meanwhile, had been ticking off the points for this famous victory, scoring 22 from the tee, but it was Faf de Klerk — the diminutive scrumhalf who looks like a 1980s popstar but tackles like a super-heavyweight — who pulled the levers for this win. All darting runs, quick thinking and laser accurate passing, De Klerk kept England on the back foot throughout, and absolute South African dominance in the scrum meant there was nowhere for England to go. Time and again they gave up penalties in that area and had to watch Pollard step up and do what he does best. It was a match played entirely on South Africa’s terms, and underlined Southern Hemisphere dominance of the event. Even after the first foray into Asia, the only Northern Hemisphere winner was England, in 2003.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 3, 2019

Premier League football

Liverpool and City grab late wins, United lose

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - In echoes of last season’s epic Premier League title race, Liverpool and Manchester City matched each other stride for stride to eke out 2-1 victories on Saturday when both had looked set for shock defeats. They both trailed 1-0 at halftime but Sergio Aguero’s 70th minute equaliser and Kyle Walker’s late winner earned champions City a 2-1 home victory over a gritty Southampton side. Liverpool left it even later. When Walker’s goal went in at the Etihad Stadium they were still trailing 1-0 at Aston Villa for whom Trezeguet scored his first goal for the club. Juergen Klopp’s side were staring at their first league defeat for 10 months and having their lead halved but Andy Robertson headed them level. In the fourth minute of stoppage time Sadio Mane then glanced Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner past Tom Heaton to send the visiting fans into delirium. When the dust settled on a pulsating afternoon, Liverpool’s six-point lead remained intact ahead of next weekend’s seismic clash with

Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Peter Powell

City at Anfield. Manchester United’s revival ground to a halt as they went down 1-0 at Bournemouth — Joshua King’s goal just before halftime sent the south coasters above United into seventh. Arsenal squandered a home lead for the second successive week. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Arsenal a first-half lead but Raul Jimenez earned Wolverhamton Wanderers a 1-1 draw. Sheffield United’s impressive return to the top flight continued as they crushed Burnley 3-0 — John Lundstram’s firsthalf double putting them in charge. Brighton and Hove Albion won a third successive

home league game, beating struggling Norwich City 2-0. Newcastle United held on for a 3-2 win at West Ham United. Goals from Ciaran Clark, Federico Fernandez and Jonjo Shelvey put Newcastle 3-0 up but they survived a nervous finale as Fabian Balbuena and Robert Snodgrass struck for the hosts who are now without a league win in five matches. For the third time in seven days, Liverpool displayed their mettle in the face of adversity. Last Sunday they came back from a halftime deficit to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Anfield. They then overturned 3-1 and 4-2 deficits to draw 5-5

with Arsenal in the League Cup on Wednesday before winning on penalties. But their luck appeared to have run out at Villa. With City turning things around, it seemed Liverpool’s grip on top spot would be weakened considerably as Villa played with confidence after Trezeguet’s 21st minute volley. Liverpool had a Roberto Firmino equaliser ruled out in the first half for offside — VAR confirming the decision despite it appearing a dubious one. They also had penalty appeals waved away as they chased an equaliser. But Klopp’s side would not be denied as Robertson and Mane sealed the points in dramatic fashion. “I don’t believe always we can win but I never give up that something is possible,” Klopp said. “On days like, in a stadium like this, this you just have to be ready to fight.” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola offered similar sentiments after his side’s tight squeeze against a Southampton side who showed immense spirit after losing 9-0 at home to Leicester last week. “We did everything, it was so difficult to attack when they defend with 11 players,” he said. “We made a good comeback.”

Stephen Curry ruled out for at least three months following surgery STEPHEN Curry underwent surgery on his broken hand in Los Angeles on Friday, the Golden State Warriors announced. The two-time NBA MVP was hurt during his team’s game against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, as he suffered a bad fall while going for a layup

Stephen Curry

during the third quarter. Golden State plan to provide a further update on Curry, whose hand became caught under Suns big man Aron Baynes, in three months - meaning he is unlikely to play again until February 2020. The 31-year-old - a six-time

All-Star - averaged 20.3 points and 6.5 assists in four games at the start of the new season. His absence is a further blow to the Warriors, who lost Kevin Durant during the offseason and are also without long-term absentee Klay Thompson. (Sportsmax)

Impressive Djokovic beats Dimitrov as Nadal pulls out in Paris By Julien Pretot PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic reached the Paris Masters final for the sixth time when he downed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(5) 6-4 on Saturday but Rafael Nadal pulled out injured. Serbia’s world number one, who will be supplanted by Nadal at the top of the ATP rankings on Monday, won a high-octane first-set tiebreak before wearing down Dimitrov in the second set. Djokovic will face Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in today’s final at Bercy after 19-time Grand Slam champion Nadal, who would have secured the year-end number one spot with the title here, withdrew minutes before his semi-final match with an abdominal injury.

The Spaniard did not want to take any risks ahead of the Nov. 10-17 ATP Finals, where his participation now hangs in the balance. “In one of the last serves of the warm-up, I felt something in the abdominal. And immediately I came back to the doctor here to do the echography and to check with the doctor, and the doctor told me that we need to wait a little bit more,” Nadal told a news conference. “So I waited for one hour and a half more to do a second test. And we did it, we saw something on the image, probably a small strain.” He explained he was hoping to be ready for the season-ending event at the O2 Arena in London and would “do all I can do and all that’s mathematically possible to recover for it”. “But as you can expect,

today I can’t answer this question,” he said when asked if he would recover in time. Top seed Djokovic, who has lifted the trophy here four times and will feature in his 50th Masters final, played better than Dimitrov in the key moments and served well throughout. There were no break points in the first set. In the tiebreak, Dimitrov moved 5-3 up after an untimely Djokovic double fault, only for the Serbian to regain his composure, levelling for 5-5 with an exquisite defensive lob and winning the set at the end of a lung-busting, 35-shot rally. Dimitrov let his guard down in the fifth game of the second set, allowing Djokovic to snatch the only break of the match. The 16-time Grand Slam winner held serve throughout

to strengthen his hopes of ending the season as world number one. Djokovic said winning the opening set was the key to a tense match. “We both really understood the importance of clinching the first set so we could feel a bit more relaxed in the second and start swinging through,” he told a news conference. “The beginning of the second I was focused. I did well and managed to break his serve and hold my serve really well towards the end.” Caption; Paris Masters - AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France - Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his semi final match against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov REUTERS/ Christian Hartmann

Intermediate boxing champion Bess loses in first round clash at National Open INTERMEDIATE Bantamweight champion Andre Bess lost his first round battle against GDF’s Clinton Clarke when action in the Terrence Alli, National Elites/Youth and Female Open Championships got underway at the National Gymnasium on Friday night. Clarke, who survived an opening round standing eight-count from a crushing right to the mid-section, was able to weather the storm against the Berbician, who was initially aggressive and focused. That aggression worked against the Rose Hall Town Jammers’ boxer, who slowed down in the second round, which allowed Clarke, who boxed with a level head, to capitalise with some big punches of his own. Bess recuperated in the third, but he did not do enough to convince the ringside judges. The Terrence Alli National Open, which will be used to select a national team for next month’s Caribbean Boxing Championships in T&T, started with three exhibition bouts between GDF boxers. Jermain Grant and Anthony Lustal matched gloves, before Anzeemul Lewis battled Lincoln Murray and Lyndon Bennett faced Neil Warden. After those bouts, the

juniors battled in the welterweight semi-finals. In both clashes, the referee stopped the fight in the second round. Winston Pompey Warriors Boxing Gym fighter Alex Butcher defeated Rose Hall Jammers’ Nicholas Deheart, while Butcher’s gym-mate Sherlon Stephen went down to the best junior boxer in last month’s Intermediate competition, Mark Crawford (Forgotten Youth Foundation). The final bout of the night was a close encounter between FYF’s Kareem Boyce and GDF’s Clairmont Gibson in a lightweight battle. The GDF boxer was more aggressive in his approach. Although the boxers had a relatively even first round, Gibson was able to impose himself with his antics in the subsequent rounds. He dropped his gloves at times almost to tempt the more reserved Boyce to throw punches. Although the FYF boxer kept his ground, Gibson was able to gain points with his aggression, which resulted in him winning the close bout. The three-day competition, which will have the best amateur boxers battling, was expected to continue last night before it concludes tonight.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday November 03, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 215-Chris Gayle (vs ZIM, Canberra, 2015) (2) 131-Mohammad Shahzad (vs ZIM, Sharjah, 2015 Today’s Quiz: (1) What are the best bowling figures by a WI player in a single ODI game to date? (2) What are the best bowling figures by an Afghan player in a single ODI game to date? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 3, 2019

Inspirational World Cup skipper Kolisi completes rags-to-riches journey Mark Gleeson, Nick Mulvenney CAPE TOWN/YOKOHAMA (Reuters) - Siya Kolisi completed his rags-to-riches journey from a dusty, poverty-stricken township on the eastern coast of South Africa to World Cup-winning captain on Saturday when he led the Springboks to victory over England. The first black man to captain the Springboks also became the first black player to raise the Webb Ellis Cup when his team thrashed England 32-12 at Yokohama International Stadium. Increasingly a symbol for South African unity, Kolisi did not even have a television set when the Springboks, cheered on by Nelson Mandela, won their second title in 2007. The captain of that team, John Smit, argued this 2019 triumph was even more significant. “For me, even as a guy who won it, this was a far bigger occasion because of where we’ve come from and where we’re going,” Smit said.

International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan - South Africa’s Siya Kolisi celebrates after winning the World Cup Final REUTERS/Edgar Su

“I always thought, was it too much of a fairytale to see Siya lift that trophy? It couldn’t have come at a better time. This will have a significant impact on our country.”

Kolisi’s improved situation meant that he was able to celebrate the World Cup triumph in Yokohama with his best friend as well as his rugby-playing father.

“We are really proud as South Africans. Not many people gave us a chance,” Kolisi told reporters. “It was special for all of us. I have never seen as much

support as we had from the people back at home. I don’t know if we could have done it without them. “It has been awesome to have my Dad here to share this with him. And my best friend. An absolutely amazing day for all of us. “I had a conversation with my Dad. He was just happy. He’s much older than the players but they’re his heroes. I’m grateful I could bring him here.” Kolisi grew up in one of the few black areas of South Africa where rugby is as popular as soccer. Raised by his paternal grandmother, he did not pick up a rugby ball until he was seven. “BEST SHOT” His talent was quickly recognised, however, and gave him an opportunity to get away from life on the township streets as he won a bursary to Port Elizabeth’s top boys school Grey High. “Once I got my opportunity to play, I gave it my best shot,” he said on Saturday. “When I was 16, I thought, okay, maybe I can make something out of this. Coach Rassie (Erasmus) spot-

ted me at 18 and brought me to the Stormers and I have been working hard since then.” It was Erasmus, now the Springboks coach, who handed Kolisi the South Africa captain’s armband and he explained why after Saturday’s triumph. “We had a good chat yesterday when we did the jersey presentation and he had his 50th test match running out in front,” he said. Erasmus said it was easy for people to get used to hearing stories of hardship and lack of opportunity and to therefore stop fully appreciating them. “The moment you hear that a lot, you almost get used to it.” he said. “As a team mate or rugby supporter or anybody. But when you sit down and think about it clearly, there are days when Siya went through that. “He had days when he didn’t have food. He didn’t have shoes to wear. He couldn’t get to school. Here he is as the captain and he has led South Africa to win this Cup. I think that should sum up what Siya is.”

Jamaica cricketer Renford Pinnock dies at 82 PINNOCK DIES

RETIRED Jamaican cricketer, Renford Pinnock, had plans to take graduation pictures of his youngest son, Phillip, who was graduating from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Friday with a Master’s degree in Education. Pinnock died at 1:30 am. He was 82. The revered wicketkeeper/batsman is survived by four sons and two daughters. “The plan was to go and take graduation pictures with him,” said another of his sons, Joseph,

Renford Pinnock

who spoke with SportsmaxTV on

Friday afternoon. “We are all distraught but he had prepared us somewhat. We are hanging in there. He left a lot with us to remember and to carry on.” Pinnock has been ailing for several months. Joseph revealed that his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February and later suffered two strokes, the first in August and the second just last week. On Thursday, Pinnock flatlined for approximately 21 minutes while undergoing a CT Scan at the University Hospital of the West

Legend Walsh hoping familiarity breeds success ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Fast-bowling icon Courtney Walsh believes his previous association with West Indies women will help foster success in his new role as assistant coach. The 57-year-old, who holds the record for the most Test wickets by a West Indies player, joined the coaching staff headed by former teammate Gus Logie, ahead of Friday’s start of the one-day series against India here. “The ladies have been

West Indies legend Courtney Walsh.

very warm and receptive and listened to what I’ve got to say. They are not afraid of trying and implementing

what I’ve been telling them,” Walsh said. “I think one of the advantages I have, is that I was involved in women’s cricket before as a selector and I was part of a couple of their training camps, so they know me and they’ve seen me around. “They know I want the best for them and they appreciate that, so for me it’s a plus coming back into the fold of the women’s team now.” Walsh is coming off a four-year stint as Bangla-

Indies. However, after he revived, his condition deteriorated rapidly and he was declared dead at 1:30 am Friday. Pinnock represented Jamaica between 1964 and 1975 during which time he scored 2644 runs at an average of 41.31. He scored six centuries and 16 50s during his career. Late cricket writer, Tony Becca, in a column published in The Gleaner on August 16, 2015 wrote: “He scored 108 versus Trinidad at Queen’s Park Oval, 175 against Barbados at Kensington Park in 1969, 152 versus the Cavaliers at Sabina Park in 1970, 176 against Sussex at

desh men’s coach, parting ways with the Asian side following the ICC World Cup in England last July. The Jamaican is part of an overhaul management group which sees Logie taking over from Hendy Springer and Betty Lewis replacing Anne BrowneJohn as team manager. Guyanese Rayon Griffith, a recent member of the senior West Indies men’s coaching staff, has also joined the women’s side. Walsh said he was looking forward to forming a strong partnership with Logie in

Hove in 1970, and was not out on 93 versus Guyana at Bourda in 1973.” The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) expressed sorrow at Pinnock’s passing. “Local cricket has lost a long-serving son. A former right-hand bat and wicketkeeper Renford Pinnock was called to the Grand Pavillion above on November 1, 2019. The JCA extends its most sincere condolence to his family and those closest to him. He served the sport well and will be missed. May the happy memories be your pillar of strength.”(Sportsmax)

helping to develop the women’s unit. “My function is to focus a lot more on the bowlers and the cricket in general to get the ladies together,” he pointed out. “I’m just happy to be able to work with Gus – we haven’t had a chance to be on the same team since we were players and we just want the women to play the type of cricket we know they can play.” Director of cricket, Jimmy Adams, said there were high expectations for the new management group. “I am confident that our entire support staff, under Gus’ leadership and direction, is ca-

pable of driving our women’s cricket forward whilst we begin the search for a permanent head coach,” he noted. “Gus has been involved with the program for the past two years and both Rayon and Courtney bring with them a strong working knowledge of what it takes to be successful at the elite level.” The second ODI of the three-match series is carded for today the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. West Indies lead the series after winning the opener by a single run at the same venue.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 3, 2019

Windies Women win last-ball thriller to take series lead NORTH SOUND, Antigua, (CMC) – West Indies Women survived a massive umpiring blunder in a tense final over to pull off a dramatic one-run victory off the last ball, in the opening OneDay International against India Women under lights here late Friday. With India requiring nine runs from the final over with one wicket intact at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, veteran off-spinner Anisa Mohammed snatched wickets off the first and last delivery to finish with her sixth five-wicket haul in ODIs, as the hosts took a vital 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Mohammed removed Ekta Bisht without scoring, caught at short backward point off the first delivery but

Off-spipnner Anisa Mohammed claimed a five-wicket haul.

tail-ender Jhulan Goswami eased the tension when she lofted the next ball to the cover boundary. Goswami was kept scoreless off the third delivery before controversy unfolded off the next ball when she swung to

deep mid-wicket and hurried back for the second. Kyshona Knight’s excellent throw to Mohammed found Poonam Yadav short of her ground at the non-striker’s end, only for umpire Patrick Gustard to astonishingly rule not out.

Captain Stafanie Taylor remonstrated openly with Gustard over the decision and tensions were further heightened when television replays showed Poonam had been indeed run out by some distance. With three runs needed of the last two balls, Windies Women regained their composure to restrict Goswami to one run off the penultimate delivery and with two runs needed from the last ball, Poonam holed out to Stacy-Ann King at point. Mohammed finished with five for 46 while fellow off-spinner Stafanie Taylor (2-30) and teenaged pace bowler Shabika Gajnabi (2-25) grabbed two wickets apiece. They combined to lead a West Indies comeback af-

ter opener Priya Punia topscored with 75 to put India Women in command of the run chase at 170 for two in the 40th over. Punia faced 107 deliveries and struck six fours, posting 78 for the first wicket with Jemimah Rodrigues (41), 46 for the second wicket with Punam Raut (22) and a further 46 for the third wicket with captain Mitjhali Raj (20). Once Mohammed removed Punia in the 40th to a catch at mid-off by replacement player Gajnabi and then drew Raj from her crease and had her stumped in her next over, India Women lost their last eight wickets for 54 runs. Taylor had earlier produced a Player-of-the-Match 94 as the hosts rattled up 225 for seven off their 50 overs,

after winning the toss. The right-hander blossomed after a slow start to stroke eight fours and two sixes in a 91-ball innings, before holing out at long off to a magnificent leaping one-handed catch by Harmanpreet Kaur on the ropes, to fall agonsingly short of three figures. Crucially, she put 78 for the fourth wicket with Chedean Nation who struck 43 from 51 balls with five fours, to pull the innings around after three wickets tumbled for 26 runs to leave the Windies on 77 for three in the 26th over. Natasha McLean had given West Indies a strong start, belting six fours and a six in an 82-ball 51, adding 51 for the first wicket with King (12).

Tuschen Train Station Masjid and LBI B hoping to stay unbeaten in Inter-Jamaat softball LAST week’s winners Tuschen Train Station Masjid and LBI B team will look to register their second consecutive victories, when action in the Inter-Jamaat 10over Softball Cricket Competition continues today at the Muslim Youth Organisation ground. Tuschen will face Cornelia

Ida at 11:00hrs, after a battle between New Mosque and defending champions Diamond New Scheme Masjid from 09:00hrs. Stewartville Masjid would then face off against LBI A and LBI B in back-to-back clashes. In their opener last week, at the MYO ground, Tuschen

defeated LBI A Masjid by six wickets. LBI A lost the toss and were asked to take first strike. Only Javid Campbell batted himself in for a top score of 33 (2X6s), which helped to push the home team to 88-7 after their allotted overs. In reply, Tuschen had sev-

eral batsmen who chipped in to overhaul the total. Nazim Azeez 17 (1X4, 2x6s), Asheik Mustapha 15 (1x6), Akash Rahaman 27 not out (2x4s, 2x6s) and Mohamed Omar 14 not out (2x6s) pushed the side to victory in 8.3 overs. Bowling for LBI A Masjid, Rahman Alli and Javed Camp-

bell picked up 2-11 and 2-16 respectively. LBI B were able to claim victory in the second clash. Hague Masjid won the toss and posted a challenging 111-7 from their 10 overs. Kishan Ramsaywack scored 40 runs (2X4s, 4x6s), while Gozar added 18 runs (2x6s). F. Nawaz was the pick of

the bowlers with 2-15 runs from his two overs. Although they lost five wickets in the chase, LBI B Masjid were able to knock off the needed runs in 9.3 overs. Opener Sean Gaskin made 44 runs (3x4s, 3x6s) and Spencer added 19 runs (1x4,1x6).

Barca crash to defeat at Levante after second-half collapse VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) - La Liga champions Barcelona’s long winning streak came to an abrupt halt when they suffered a shock 3-1 defeat away to Levante on Saturday after taking the lead but then conceding three times in the space of seven minutes in the second half. Barca had returned to the top of the table by thrashing Real Valladolid 5-1 in midweek for a seventh straight victory in all competitions and put themselves in a comfortable position when Lionel Messi converted a penalty in the 38th minute.

Their problems began when Luis Suarez was taken off injured a few moments later and they collapsed in the second half, with Levante scoring with all of their first three shots on target. Jose Campana levelled in the 61st minute following a quick-fire counter-attack after winning the ball in Barca’s half, then former Real Madrid striker Borja Mayoral put them ahead in the 63rd with a superb curling strike from outside the area. Nemanja Radoja gave the home side extra breathing space with a third goal in the

67th on the volley following a free kick, while Messi put the ball in the net later to briefly give Barca hope but the goal was ruled out for offside by Antoine Griezmann after a VAR review. It was Barca’s third defeat of the campaign yet they still lead the standings on 22 points and a superior goal difference over Real Madrid, who were held to a goalless draw at home to Real Betis and are second on the same number of points. Atletico Madrid are third on 21 after drawing 1-1 away to Sevilla, who are fourth,

GCB U-17 Girls School Cricket…

Georgetown, Lower Corentyne among the winners as tourney continues

THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U-17 Girls School Cricket tournament continued with commanding wins for Georgetown, Lower Corentyne, East Coast and West Demerara yesterday. At Young Warriors ground, Berbice, Georgetown beat Upper Corentyne by 93-runs Upper Corentyne’s Shenzia

Luke top scored with 15 before MVP Naomi Barkoye grabbed 2-4 to help her side win after they batted first and posted 1291. Barkoye was also the star as she earlier slammed 58 not out for Georgetown before taking two wickets. At Young Warriors ground, Lower Corentyne beat East Bank by 109 runs

Match referee Michael Franco hands over the MVP trophy to Jamie Campbell of Lower Corentyne

also on 21. Levante, who have won three of their last four home fixtures against Ernesto Valverde’s side, moved up to eighth in the table on 17 points. SEVEN MINUTES “It was an even game but they took advantage of those seven minutes. It wasn’t a great performance from us but the result is excessive,” Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets told reporters. “We didn’t create much but in the second half we did ourselves a lot of harm with that spell when they scored

three times. “We’re going to try and stay positive, we were on a great run which has now been broken but we’re still top and we have a lot more games to come.” Barca coach Valverde made four changes to his team from the Valladolid game, bringing 120-million-euro signing Griezmann back into the line-up at the expense of teenager Ansu Fati while starting without Busquets, Jordi Alba and Arthur. The manager, who has won the title with Barca for

the last two seasons, was asked after the defeat if he was considering his position but emphatically ruled out stepping away. “Of course I’m not thinking about that, this is only one defeat. We have to react, we always do and it won’t be any different this time,” he said. “Our aim was to try and go for a second goal after taking the lead but we weren’t able to create enough danger. We lacked organisation after the second half and had little control.”

Home team Lower Corentyne thrashed the visiting East Bank by a whopping 100-plus run due to some fine hitting by opener Julianna Grimmond who top-scored with 42. She was duly supported by Ashley Ramnauth who scored 32 not out to help their side post 123-3 in the 20 overs. It was a nightmare chase for East Bank, who were mowed down for a hapless 16 as no player made it to double figures, thanks to a magical spell from Jamie Campbell, who grabbed 5 for 6 from 3 overs to seal a

comprehensive win. At Lusignan ground, East Coast beat Essequibo by 6 wickets Batting first, Essequibo made 58 all out after East Coast were led by two wickets each from Shemika Edwards, Sarah Amin and Tilleya Madramotoo, who helped keep their opponents at bay. In reply, the home team cruised to 59- 4 and were gifted 21 extras as opener Vinita Ballkishun top-scored with 15. At Lusignan ground, West Demerara upset West Berbice by 6 wickets

West Berbice managed to make a decent 74-6 when their 20 overs expired. As a gift, they received some 35 extras to go along with the 31 runs contributed from their batters with the top score being 10. Shamain Henry bagged 3-13 for West Demerara who cruised to their target on the back of Vapine Pitamber who carried her side to victory with a composed 33 not out. Mariam Telford was the pick of the bowlers for West Berbice with figures of 2-14.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 3, 2019

PM T20 Softball Cup climaxes today at Everest ,,,Regal to contest all three finals

By Frederick Halley HISTORY will be created at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Camp Road today when the third edition of the Prime Minister T20 Softball Cup climaxes with the finals. In what is considered unprecedented, Regal will vie for supremacy in all three categories of the tournament, the Open team clashing with Grill Masters of Berbice, the Over-

45 battling with Mike’s Wellman in a repeat of last year’s final and the Over-50 vying for honours against New York’s President’s X1in the Over-50 which was introduced for the first time this year. Facing unbeaten SVC New York in yesterday’s Open semi-final, played at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown, Regal were indebted to a swashbuckling knock of 77 from

Regal’s Sachin Singh was in brilliant form again hitting a swashbuckling 77

left-handed opener Sachin Singh, who followed up his

blazing 110 the previous day, smashing 11 sixes and a four off a mere 33 balls. Ravindra Ramnath supported with 30. Richard Latiff (three for 38), Bobby Prahalad (three for 42) and Mark Harold (three for 47) were the main bowlers. Set the daunting task of scoring 186 for victory in the allotted 20 overs, SVC New York were bowled out for 156 in 17 overs, going down by 28 runs. Delbert Hicks (37) and Sarfraz Esau (33) were the main contributors as Kelvin Orford ended with three for 32, Delroy

Trophy Stall donates Best Boxer Trophy Ramesh Sunich (MS), owner of the Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, yesterday donated the Best Boxer trophy to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA). The trophy will be presented to the winner this evening when the Terrence Alli National Open boxing championships conclude at the National Gymnasium.

In photo, Sunich (left) hands over the trophy to GBA Technical Director, Terrence Poole.

Perreira two for 21 and Roy Persaud two for 29. The other semi-final, played at Malteenoes, saw Grill Masters racing to a mammoth 203 for eight in a game which was reduced to 15 overs. Opener David Looknauth blasted 10 sixes and two fours in a whirlwind 76 while Latchman Rohit took three for 15. Opponents Cotton Tree Wild Oats were bowled out for 104, losing by 99 runs. K, Persaud and Kevin Sinclair took three for 13 and 33 respectively. Over at the Queen’s College ground, SVC Corrivertom were restricted to 133 all out in their Over-45 encounter versus defending champions Regal Masters. S. Persaud hit a top score of 38 while P. Singh supported with 28. David Harper finished with three for 21 and Ramesh Deonarine three for 26. Deonarine then hit four fours and two sixes in 46 while skipper Mahendra Arjune (26) and Uniss Yusuff (25) were also among the runs. At Transport, Troy Lewis led the charge for Mike’s Wellman, his brilliant 80, decorated with 10 fours and three sixes as Mike’s Wellman reached a formida-

ble 230 for four in 20 overs. Nandran Samlall hit 33 while captain Wayne Jones was unbeaten on 29. Narine Masters, in reply, were routed for a paltry 77 with S. Perch bagging four for 13. In the Over-50 category, played at Queen’s College, Regal Legends restricted Savage Legends to 140 for eight with Randolph Perreira hitting 44. Eon Abell starred with the ball with the impressive figures of five for 21. Regal Legends reached the required target in 16.4 overs with Hakim Majeed (38). Mahesh Chunilall (28) and Eon Abel (27) being the main scorers. Over at the YMCA ground, New York President’s XI defeated Rockaway Legends by seven wickets, reaching 131 for three in 17 overs after reducing their opponents to 129 for six. Peter Persaud was unbeaten on 37. Today’s action gets underway at 9.30 hrs and will also feature a women’s 10over game. The Open final is set to be played under floodlights, another first for the three-year old tournament.

Fourth EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League

MVP Hendricks leads Vurlon Mills Academy to title over Riddim Squad THE Fourth edition of the Annual East Bank Football Association (EBFA) / Ralph Green-sponsored Under-11 League came to an exciting climax yesterday afternoon at the GFF National Training Centre when Vurlon Mills Academy stormed to the championship trophy ahead of Riddim Squad. One of three teams invited which are not members of the EBFA, Mills Academy boys stormed back from being a goal down to wrest the title, 2-1. The Third place match saw immediate past champs, Timehri Panthers defeating Kuru Kururu Warriors 3-1. Scoring for the Panthers were Estaban Medina in the 3rd minute, Shaquan Kaleb in the 14th and Jadan Tasher, their most consistent scorer sealing the deal with the third in the 15th minute; his sixth of the tournament. Warriors got their consolation goal off the boot of Levi Madison in the 20th minute. The final turned out to

Vurlon Mills Academy captain Christian Enderson receives the fourth EBFA Ralph Green U-11 League champions’ trophy from Ralph Green. Highest Goal-scorer, Rick Ramatar receives his plaque from GFF’s Dion Inniss.

be an exciting match-up, as predicted, with both teams evenly matched, however, a few errors by Riddim Squad allowed Vurlon Mills Academy to drive home their advantage and eventually lift the championship trophy. Riddim Squad’s leading player and captain, Jaheam Lewis, who took away the plaques for being the Most Disciplined and Most Promising Player, handed his side the lead with a well-placed cross which he tapped in at the last post in the 5th minute

of play. The Mocha-based side was looking good and matched the Academy boys up until the 14th minute when Mills Academy was awarded a free-kick just outside the box after a hand-ball. Riddim Squad failed to set up a wall and this excited the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Malcolm Hendricks, who blasted the ball into the back of the nets with goalkeeper, Joseph Magaram and two defenders being left awe-struck as did their team-

mates and fans. On the other hand, the powerfully-struck goal resulted in Hendricks’ teammates and supporters, which included many parents, including fathers, erupting in joy as the game was now level at 1-1. On the resumption, the game ebbed and flowed at both ends with sponsor, Ralph Green and GFF Executive Member, Dion Inniss enjoying the proceedings. As the minutes ticked away and the game seemingly headed towards extra time, Hen-

dricks, who was present in the box, delivered the knockout punch and winning goal. He was positioned at the last post at the right time to punch in a well-directed pass in the 28th minute to seal the match and ink their names on the championship trophy which was presented to the team by sponsor, Ralph Green. Innis and Green, in brief remarks before the presentation, complimented the association for the sterling work it has been doing to promote youth football. Inniss stated that in a few years time, many of the players on show in the tournament would go on to represent Guyana once they remain focused and disciplined. He also complimented the EBFA for inviting teams from outside the association and commended the many parents who took the time to be at the matches on a weekly basis. Green committed to his investment in youth development and also thanked the parents for coming out and

showing vital support to their kids, consistently. Ending as the tournament’s leading goal-scorer with a total of seven (7) goals was Diamond United’s Rick Ramatar; his tally included a helmet-trick. Copping the Best Coach plaque was Vurlon Mills while the Team Sportsmanship Award went to Riddim Squad. Vurlon Mills Academy’s Shakel Marshall was named the Best Goalkeeper and received a plaque and pair of goalkeeping gloves, compliments of National Goalkeeping Coach, Ian DeViera. Riddim Squad’s goalie, Joseph Magaram also received a pair of goalkeeping gloves compliments of GFF Executive Committee member, Dion Inniss.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, November 3, 2019

s a d l o g s n r u t n o i t a n w o b n i Ra p u C d l r o W y b g u R t f i l s k o b Spring PAGE

Siya Kolisi, left, the first black South African rugby captain, holds the Rugby World Cup trophy with South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa.(Â Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Intermediate boxing champion Bess loses in first round clash at National Open 32

St. Agnes are COURTS Pee Wee football champions

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COURTS 2019 Peewee champs, St. Agnes Primary, pose with their accolades along with representatives of the sponsors and organisers of the event.

Clinton Clarke (right) turned up the heat against Andre Bess in the second round of their three-round bout.

WHEN the dust settled on Saturday afternoon at the Ministry of Education ground, St Agnes emerged champions of the 2019 edition of the COURTS Pee Wee football tournament. St Agnes outplayed Genesis in the final via a 1-0 margin. Played under the setting sun, the game commenced at 17:00hrs with both teams being cautious. Eventually, both teams found their rhythm as the game wore on, taking shots at the opponent but not

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managing to penetrate the respective keepers. At the end of the first half, the score was still deadlocked and it would remain that way despite some fancy footwork on both ends of the pitch. It wasnâ€™t until five minutes into extra time that tournament MVP Darius Chester fired a low shot across Sundyah Grandison, who was awarded best goalkeeper of the tournament, to give St. Agnes the deserved victory. In the third-place play-

off, Soesdyke Primary defeated Tucville by a similar margin with the lone goal being netted in the ninth minute of extra time by Jaden Tasher. Jamal Fraser of 2018 Champions, St. Pius, scored the most goals in the tournament; a tally of 18; himself along with Grandison and Chester, received an android tablet each for their standout performances in the eight edition of the tournament. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2019