Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_11_18_2019

MONDAY 18th November, 2019

No.105825

ICJ gives Venezuela ultimatum PAGE

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Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge (Adrian Narine Photo)

...country has up to November 28 to decide if it will contest border controversy court case

Funds for education sector to be ramped up in second term PAGE

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IAST pushing local products to outshine imports PAGE

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Social Crime Prevention Training Course launched

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With a staggering $52B already invested in the education sector for this year, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said significant funds will be pumped into the education sector come 2020. In this photo he is being escorted by two Success Primary School pupils during his visit to Leguan. (DPI Photo)

03 Reject PPP’s attempt to bring Jagdeo through back door – Hinds

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

ICJ gives Venezuela ultimatum ...country has up to November 28 to decide if it will contest border controversy court case

Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge (Adrian Narine Photo)

By Svetlana Marshall VENEZUELA has 10 days left to inform the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on its participation in the oral arguments on whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the case filed by Guyana – Arbitral Award of 1899 (Guyana v Venezuela).

Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge made the disclosure while lecturing on the Guyana-Venezuela Controversy at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus recently. In his in-depth presentation to the law students, the foreign secretary said Venezuela has until Thursday, November 28, 2019, to inform the ICJ whether or not it will be putting forward oral arguments on the court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.

its Counter-Memorial on Jurisdiction – in response to Guyana’s Memorial on April 18, 2019 – a date which was fixed by the court. Nonetheless, the Spanish-speaking country still has an opportunity to contribute to the process, but it must indicate its willingness to do so by November 28.

The foreign secretary said if Venezuela indicates to the ICJ that it will not submit oral arguments, the case will go on unhindered. “Whether or not Venezuela participates, I wouldn’t put it as being immaterial, but it does not frustrate the work of the court. The work of the court will proceed, whether or not they participate,” Greenidge told the law students in his guest lecture.

Greenidge’s position is one held by the ICJ. According to the international

of 1899.

In its Memorial on Jurisdiction last November, the Guyana Government argued that Venezuela’s contention that the means of settlement outlined in Article 33 of the UN Charter must be exhausted before recourse to the court can be chosen is baseless. It maintained that nothing in the text of Article IV of the Geneva Agreement, which provides a menu of options, supports Venezuela’s interpretation.

“Nor is Venezuela correct in arguing that, as it has recently asserted, the controversy must be resolved exclusively by friendly negotiations, a claim that is belied by the express terms of the Geneva Agreement and contemporaneous statements by the parties during its negotiation and ratification,” the Foreign Ministry

The International Court of Justice

The oral hearings will be held in The Hague from March 23-27, 2020. The hearing will determine whether the court has jurisdiction over the case filed by Guyana on March 29, 2018.

By that case, Guyana seeks to obtain from the court a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between then British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela.

Contending that the ICJ lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate in the matter, Venezuela has failed to submit

court, if there are preliminary objections challenging its competence to decide on the merits of the case on the basis that it lacks jurisdiction or the application is inadmissible, it has the responsibility to decide on the way forward. “Failure by one party to appear does not prevent the proceedings from taking their course, although the court must first satisfy itself that it has jurisdiction,” the ICJ explained.

Greenidge told the students that the Government of Guyana is confident of a win against Venezuela in both cases – the jurisdictional matter and the substantive matter treating with the validity of the Arbitral Award

had pointed out.

Guyana was keen on pointing out that for efforts over more than half-a-century, including a four-year Mixed Commission (19661970), a 12-year moratorium (1970-1982), a seven-year process of consultations on a means of settlement (19831990), and a 27-year Good Offices Process under the UN Secretary-General’s authority (1990-2017), all have failed to end the controversy.

In putting the case into context, the foreign secretary explained that after an international panel issued the 1899 Arbitral Award, Venezuela and Britain demarcated British Guiana’s border with Venezuela. He

said though both Venezuela and Britain had accepted the Arbitral Award in 1899, Venezuela, some 63 years later, rejected the award. On February 17, 1966, the Geneva Agreement was signed by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Venezuela, thereby establishing a Mixed Commission with the task of seeking satisfactory solutions for settlement of the border controversy. He noted that Guyana gained independence in May 1966 with Essequibo an integral part of the state.

In alluding to the Geneva Agreement, Greenidge was keen on pointing out Article IV. A section of that article states: “If the means so chosen do not lead to a solution of the controversy, the said organ or, as the case may be, the Secretary-General of the

the Good Offices Process had proven to be unsuccessful. The matter was referred to the ICJ, approximately three years after a request was made by Guyana. The foreign secretary recalled that it was in September 2015, that President David Granger called upon the then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki moon to have Venezuela’s contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 is “null and void” settled with finality by judicial process, as per the Geneva Agreement.

Greenidge said Guyana had argued then and its position remains the same today, that Venezuela has a legal contention – “one eminently suited to resolution by the world’s highest juridical body.” In response, the then UN Secretary-General in November, 2015 proposed “The Way Forward,”

the controversy. It was thereafter, in January 2018, that the controversy was referred to the ICJ by Guterres.

“Given the failure, since independence of the means of settlement chosen to resolve the controversy and the detrimental impact on Guyana’s development prospects, a resolution of the controversy by judicial settlement seems to be the only feasible option at this time,” Greenidge said, while noting that the decision of the UN was welcomed by all of Guyana. On March 29, 2018, Greenidge, while serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as the country’s agent, filed Guyana’s Application with the ICJ in The Hague.

Greenidge told the students that since Venezuela made its claim, there have been several incidents involving military force, co-

University of Guyana law students pay keen attention to Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge as he lectured on the Guyana-Venezuela controversy. (Adrian Narine Photo)

United Nations shall choose another of the means stipulated in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations, and so on until the controversy has been resolved, or until all the means of peaceful settlement there contemplated have been exhausted.”

Article 33 of the UN Charter provides a menu of options among them negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and judicial settlement.

The foreign secretary said it was on the basis of the Geneva Agreement that the controversy was referred to the ICJ by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres in January 2018 after

Greenidge told the students, explaining that it was intended that the two countries would have engaged in a final 12-month continuation of the Good Offices Process.

He noted that on December 12, 2016, in conjunction with his successor, the then Secretary-General designate, Antonio Guterres and the secretary-general decided that the Good Offices Process would have continued with a strengthened mandate of mediation for one final year. But by the end of 2017, the UN Secretary-General concluded that significant progress had not been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of

ercion and bullying by the Spanish-speaking country against Guyana. Military Force and the threat of force included Ankoko Island, Cuyuni occupation (1966); the Sponsored Rupununi uprising 1969; the Leoni Decree – the attempt to seize territorial sea (1968); assault on Eteringbang outpost 1970 & innumerable subsequent military acts; the military seizure of Technics Perdana -- seismic survey vessel of Anadarko in 2013; and most recently, the attempted boarding of seismic vessel Ramform Tethys (December 22, 2018).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

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PPP’s attempt to bring Jagdeo through back door must be rejected – Hinds

EVEN after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) struck down the High Court and Court of Appeal rulings for a third term for former President Bharrat Jagdeo, his party’s presidential candidate for the coming elections is still trying to ease the opposition leader in through a back door entrance to power.

Recently, on the radio programme the Political Show, Ali announced that he wants Jagdeo to serve as his vice-president should the party win the 2020 elections.

Days later, questioned about Ali’s desires, Jagdeo said: “I have not given serious thought to where and what role, but I know that I will be in government supporting Irfaan Ali to be the best President this country has ever had.”

However, Director-General at the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, spared no effort in describing Ali’s desire as he saw it.

“They are testing the waters I would say. They are testing the patience of the Guyanese people and their tolerance for lawlessness, because clearly there is a decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice that says that this gentleman cannot be the President or prime minister and so, putting him as vice-president, when the President’s gone, he can act as President. That is really getting it through the back door,” he said.

Just before the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, Georgetown resident Cedric Richardson approached the High Court requesting orders that sought to invalidate the amendments made to the constitution with

respect to the presidential term limit.

Richardson claimed that his right to choose whom he desired to be president, by virtue of Articles One and Nine of the Constitution of Guyana was diluted when Article 90 of the Constitution was altered to disqualify a person who had already served two terms as president.

acts as the constitutional successor for the President.

For example, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is Guyana’s first vice-president and stands in place of President David Granger when he is out of the jurisdiction.

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is the country’s second vice-president and has stood in the place of the prime minister while he was out of

for quite some time.

He was not surprised earlier in the year when the PPP/C’s Central Committee selected Ali as the 2020 presidential candidate.

Dr Hinds had explained: “…Ali’s selection indicates very clearly that should the PPP win the election, it will continue the Jagdeo agenda that was interrupted when the party lost power in 2015… in

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali (left) and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP photo)

However, the CCJ ultimately declared that Section Two of the Constitution (Amendment) (No 4) Act of 2000 was a constitutional amendment to Article 90 of the Constitution of Guyana.

While Jagdeo told the public amidst the tense battles that he does not wish to run for a third term, the vice-president is a political position in Guyana which

the jurisdiction.

Jagdeo was President of Guyana from August 11, 1999 to December 3, 2011.

While many of the PPP/ C’s supporters have applauded Ali’s desire on the basis that Jagdeo remains “well liked” amongst citizens, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive Dr David Hinds had noted a pattern within the opposition party

effect, I see an Ali presidency as a Jagdeo third term. This I think should be cause for concern for all those who would like to see a Guyana that is ethnically inclusive and a state that is untied from the bad influences of the past.

Neither Mr Jagdeo, the PPP or Mr Ali has repudiated the Jagdeo agenda or has put forward a new agenda.”

Speaking to the news-

paper on Sunday Dr Hinds said that those watching the political playout can see that Ali’s presidency will be a proxy Jagdeo presidency.

He said that any citizen who hopes to avoid a reccurrence of the past, would think carefully before they cast their vote.

“With Jagdeo as vice-president it becomes more than a proxy. Jagdeo would in effect be institutionally positioned to run the government without the title of president. He would be the de facto president. Such an arrangement would not break any law. But it would be a crass manipulation of the system to achieve Jagdeo’s ambition. I think that if it materialises it would be the biggest political con job ever carried out in Guyana. I can’t speak for other PPP leaders, but I am quite surprised that they would allow such a thing to be done in their name. If I were a PPP supporter looking for a post-Jagdeo PPP, I would start looking elsewhere to put my ‘X’,” he said.

Jagdeo has since sought to somewhat distance himself from the Ali’s vice-presidency remarks, while not giving a direct response to Ali’s invitation.

“First of all, it’s not a third term. We never discussed this. I think this is his expression, his desire,” the opposition leader said, adding: “I made it clear, I will be part of the next government.

I want to be part of the next government.”

Following the CCJ’s ruling, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo referred to the decision as a triumph for Guyanese and the constitution.

He stated that the ruling “gives validation of the belief of a large section of Guyanese people, that you should not have an abuse of office by those who feel that they own the seat of government and those who feel that the executive authority belongs to an individual. We cannot personalise authority, we cannot personalise power and governance. The people of Guyana have triumphed today.”

He reminded that the citizens of Guyana had consented to this amendment of only two terms when they participated in the Constitutional Reform Process in 1996.

When the amendment was eventually taken to the National Assembly in 2000, both the PPP and the PNC voted for the change.

According to trade unionist Lincoln Lewis, the CCJ’s ruling “brings hope and a sense of validation that the Constitution sets no one above the law.”

He stated that Guyanese must be vigilant in protecting the Constitution and whether or not one likes it, the Constitution rules without fear or favour.

Lewis stated: “The twoterm limit broadens the spectrum for more Guyanese participating at this level of decision-making and said office. It is hoped members of the respective political parties and people of Guyana will see this as a positive sign for our fledgling democracy, and be encouraged to further activities to deepen and strengthen our various rules and laws to give more meaning to our Constitution.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

Iran petrol price hike: Supreme Leader condemns ‘hooligan’ protesters Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said he supports a fuel price rise that has sparked protests across the country.

The Ayatollah blamed “hooligans” and counter-revolutionaries for violence that has been witnessed in several cities.

At least one person is confirmed dead in clashes with police but reports suggest the number could be higher.

Officials have warned of a tougher response if “illegal” actions continue.

Protests erupted on Friday after the government unexpectedly announced it was rationing petrol and removing

subsidies - sending prices up by 50%.

The measures are the latest sign of pressure on the Iranian economy after the re-imposition of US sanctions. The government says the changes will free up money to help the poor.

In a statement on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledged that some people were “no doubt worried” by the decision to increase fuel prices. “But sabotage and arson is done by hooligans not our people,” he said, quoted by state TV. “The counter-revolution and Iran’s enemies have always supported sabotage

and breaches of security and continue to do so,” he added.

Following his comments a group of MPs withdrew a motion aimed at reversing the fuel-price increase, Iranian media reported.

said late on Saturday that Iran was experiencing a near-total national internet shutdown.

The move was condemned by US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus who tweeted: “We

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (EPA)

Iran’s state-run TV has accused “hostile media” of trying to exaggerate the scale of the unrest. Footage of protests has been widely distributed on social media. Internet monitoring service Netblocks

condemn the attempted shutdown of the internet. Let them speak!”

Prosecutors quoted by the semi-official Isna news agency on Sunday said 40 people were arrested in the central

city of Yazd, most of whom were not local residents.

Some shops in Tehran’s bazaar were shut on Sunday following “disruption” caused by people outside, Isna added without elaborating.

Some of the worst unrest has been reported in the central city of Sirjan where at least one person was killed during protests on Friday.

Demonstrations were reported on Saturday in the cities of Doroud, Garmsar, Gorgan, Ilam, Karaj, Khoramabad, Mehdishahr, Qazvin, Qom, Sanandaj, Shahroud and Shiraz, state media reported.

Video purportedly from the demonstrations showed cars set on fire and roads deliberately blocked by abandoned vehicles. Crowds were heard chanting for the police to support them and for others to join the protests.

Under the new fuel mea-

sures, each motorist is allowed to buy 60 litres (13 gallons) of petrol a month at 15,000 rials ($0.13; £0.10) a litre. Each additional litre then costs 30,000 rials. Previously, drivers were allowed up to 250 litres at 10,000 rials per litre, AP reports.

Revenue gained from removing subsidies on petrol will be used for cash payments to low-income households, the government says.

US sanctions were re-imposed last year after President Donald Trump abandoned the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers.

The sanctions have led to a sharp downturn in Iran’s economy, pushing the value of its currency to record lows, quadrupling its annual inflation rate, driving away foreign investors and triggering protests.

(BBC)

Mon. November 18, 2019 - 09:00hrs ~10:30hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

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US border patrol agency releases data on Caribbean operation

CMC – The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released a summary of its fiscal year (FY) 2019 border enforcement operation in the Caribbean, saying that the initiative was possible through collaborative operations and partnerships with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

CPB said the operation has become “an integral part” of its procedures, “in order to manage illicit activity throughout the area.”

“CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) played a major role in the determent of illegal activity throughout our coasts, through the coordinated use of integrated air and marine forces to detect, interdict and prevent the unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs and

other contraband in the area,” the statement said.

It said AMO agents seized 67,615 pounds of narcotics and US$28 million in currency.

Throughout Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI), CPB said 1,434 immigrants were apprehended for the federal fiscal year.

The Ramey Border Patrol Sector arrested and processed 562 immigrants and other federal, state and local partners’ interdicted 876 migrants in the Caribbean Sea. The report also said immigrants with prior criminal history represented 28 percent of the total apprehensions. Ramey Border Patrol presented 159 immigrants for federal criminal prosecution; 83 of which had prior felony criminal convictions, CBP said.

Border Patrol Agents also seized 6,010 pounds of narcotics. After a decade-long US$12 million investment, with the Operation Stonegarden Grant Programme (OPSG), CBP said “municipal and territorial law enforcement have been able to work with the Ramey Border Patrol Sector to make a difference in protecting the border.”

It said enforcement actions have resulted in the seizure of well over 6,400 pounds of narcotics, worth over US$45 million, and the apprehension of over 2,000 illegal immigrants.

CBP said officers and agriculture specialists work to protect the US borders at the ports of entry, “while facilitating legitimate trade and travel.”

It said agents processed 4,947,511 million travel-

ers and 115,008 containers through our ports of entry during fiscal year 2019.

During this time, CBP said officers seized 17,227

pounds of narcotics and arrested 77 individuals, of which 23 were wanted for crimes, including murder, rape, assault and robbery.

CBP officers also denied entry to more than 737 people attempting to illegally enter the US through air or sea ports of entry in Puerto Rico or the USVI. Furthermore, CBP said US$16 million of undeclared currency and over 34 firearms were seized.

In addition, this fiscal year, CBP said its San Juan Field Office processed nearly 35,531,735 imported product entries, representing nearly 25.3 billion in regional trade volume.

This volume represented the collection of US$230,935,549 in revenue for the United States, CBP said. It said officers conducted more than 3,886 seizures-related Intellectual Property Rights violations, with a domestic value of about US$38,733,569.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 18, 2019

Sensationalism and unfair comment --Answering a Trinidad Express editorial THIS publication is not in the business of attacking other media houses.

Nor are we oblivious to the right of the media to exist in a state of freedom from attacks by governments. A free media is indispensable to a free and democratic society. But such freedom comes with a responsibility of the media to maintain a balance between reporting the news and avoiding sensationalism and intentional untruth. We also respect the right of media entities in the larger Caribbean family to comment on, and cover, issues in Guyana.

But such comment and coverage must be grounded in a true grasp of the issues at hand, and should avoid regurgitating one side of a story as truth. It is against the background of the latter that we take issue with an editorial that appeared in one of the newspapers in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Daily Express, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s daily newspapers, in its November 14 edition inserted itself in the issue between

the government of Guyana and the Stabroek News over government advertisements to the newspaper. Its editorial launched an attack on the government of Guyana for what it suggests is a violation of press freedom. It singles out for particular attention comments made by President Granger on Kaieteur News radio about fairness in coverage.

According to the Daily Express, “Guyana’s independent newspaper, the Stabroek News, has become the latest Caribbean casualty of an apparent State-orchestrated advertising boycott designed to bring the media to heel.” It went on to spin the President’s comments to suit its narrative: "During an interview on Radio Kaieteur, President Granger defended the use of State advertising for political purposes, saying ‘We believe that advertisements should be directed to the media houses, based on their willingness to disseminate news fairly."

The editorial then went on to proffer what it deems a solution, but what is in

fact an attempt to lecture the government on the meaning of press freedom: “Before this situation escalates into an international issue, this newspaper urges the Granger administration to reconsider its actions, and to demonstrate its commitment to press freedom through its own act of fairness towards Stabroek News…”

The editorial represents a clear case of inventing a crime and then charging someone for it. It is also an instance of sensationalism, in that it is blowing a relatively small issue out of proportion.

Further, the editorial cannot be deemed fair comment, as it pays scant attention to the government side of the issue. In so doing, it runs the risk of inciting negative feelings against the government among the Trinidad populace which may not be familiar with the root cause of the issue at hand.

The circumstances surrounding the decrease of advertisements to the Stabroek News has been ventilated in the Guyanese media. It is obvious that the business ar-

rangement between Stabroek News and the Department of Public Information hit a snag after the newspaper suspended credit to the government pending payments of arrears owed to it. The government duly settled its debt, but in the meantime placed its advertisements in other media entities. When the Stabroek News was ready to resume the arrangement exactly as it was before the interruption, it was told that this was obviously not possible, as government had in the interim broadened its pool to include the non-traditional media.

How on earth could this be deemed discrimination?

In fact, the government has corrected discrimination against the non-traditional media. **All media outlets are entitled to State advertisements, but no entity has an entitlement to a fixed portion of it. It is the right of government to determine fairness in the distribution of advertisements, as the President intimated in the Kaieteur Radio interview.

Further, the government, like any other advertiser, has the

right to determine where its advertisements would likely earn the best returns.

The charge, therefore, that the government has singled out the Stabroek News for special discrimination is baseless. If the government were into a campaign of discrimination, then it would be targetting large sections of the media which have been openly hostile to it. But that is not the way of this administration. The Stabroek News would have to look elsewhere to level such charges. Indeed, one leader of a party which Stabroek News now gives disproportionately more positive coverage to is on record as admitting that when in government, he intentionally withheld advertisements from that newspaper.

The Daily Express editorial has taken its lead from the Stabroek News, and seeks to cast the President’s comments on fair media coverage in bad light. The President was giving an opinion on the relationship between fair coverage and receipt of government advertisements. What is wrong with such an opin-

ion? The media does have a responsibility to ensure fair coverage. The Stabroek News and the Daily Express have both intimated that the President cannot determine what is fair coverage. We ask, who makes that determination? It seems to us that if the government is spending money on advertisements in the media, it must have some say as to what it thinks is fair coverage. Of course, its conclusions must be based on accepted norms of fairness.

Not only has the Daily Express questioned the President’s right to offer an opinion on guidelines for placing government’s advertisements, but they suggest that the President said that such guidelines were at play in the impasse between the DPI and Stabroek News. The President never made such a connection; that is the work of first the Stabroek News and its sympathisers and now the Daily Express. This manipulation of the President’s words to serve their narrow ends is very unbecoming, and should be withdrawn.

Ali must apologise --for his potential plan to disregard the CCJ’s presidential term-limit ruling

Dear Editor, IT IS with great sadness that I wish to express my disgust for Mr. Irfaan Ali’s statements that he wishes to have Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo as his Vice-President.

A quick glance at the Guyana Constitution Chapter

1:10 Article 101.(1) states, “The President shall appoint an elected member of the National Assembly to be Prime Minister of Guyana.

Provided that a person who is not eligible to be elected as President shall not be eligible for appointment as Prime Minister.”

Editor, the creators of our esteemed Constitution went to great lengths to imply that basically, once you’ve served two terms as President, you CANNOT serve again in the capacity as President, or hold any office which could eventually see you ascend to the office of President.

It is my humble view, based on our laws, our Constitution, and the rulings of the CCJ that the current Hon. Leader of The Opposition cannot run for the office of Minister, Prime Minister or Vice-President, because all these aforementioned posts can eventually act for the

President in the event he dies, is out of the jurisdiction, or is unable to execute the office of President of Guyana.

Mr. Irfaan Ali is running for office of the President, and if this is his first action, to undermine the rulings of the CCJ and break the Constitution, then I think he is

already losing the confidence of Guyana.

Mr. Ali, we demand an apology from you for your blatant potential disregard of the Constitution.

Yours, Mr. J. Alonzo

Guyana CHRONICLE, Monday November 18, 2019

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Society needs to come together; take a stand against rape culture

Dear Editor,

WHEN addressing different aspects of equality amongst different groups of people, we must also inspect the difficulties that they face in order to put things in place to help those individuals. When talking about sexual abuse or rather abuse in general, we tend to only think about it as something that affects women. This is not to discredit or belittle women’s struggles or achievements in working towards making safe places for women that have experienced sexual abuse.

On the contrary, this piece was written to address Gender-Based Violence towards all genders, with an emphasis on men and boys, since their stories are seldom highlighted. Men and boys face sexual abuse, whether it is at home, at school or in relationships etc., and their issues aren’t treated with the same gravity as women’s issues are. Also, men aren’t given access to, and aren’t granted, a safe place to talk about their experiences and the emotional trauma they’ve endured. This is especially essential in the recovery process and overall mental health of men that have been through similar experiences. By starting this conversation, I hope that our society comes together, and is not only educated on these issues but also give empathy and support to victims of abuse regardless of gender.

Gender-based violence is violence that is directed at an individual, based on his or her biological sex OR gender identity. It includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, threats, coercion, and economic or educational deprivation, whether occurring in public or private life. So gender-based violence can be women to man, man to woman, man to man etc. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, and used by activists around the world as an organising strategy to call for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence. The core 16-day campaign takes place every year between November 25 and December 10, and is run by more than 6,000 organiations in 187 countries.

During this time, there are a lot of activities in which people play an active role in helping to break the chain of violence that exists in society. For instance,

the ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ campaign was launched as a means for men to play an active role in helping to bring awareness to violence against women.

The event featured men walking in variations of high-heeled shoes in an act of solidarity with women, while also enduring a small amount, figuratively, of the pain that women endure living in our society. Since most reported cases of domestic abuse is man-to-woman. This walk also solidifies that other men can give support to and act as safe-keepers for women that are going through abuse. We as a society, and specifically men, should take a stand against all forms of violence against women, whilst not ignoring the fact that men face the same issues of violence as well.

The “Me Too” movement, which focuses on the experiences of sexual violence survivors, has earned a large response precisely because sexual harassment and sexual assault impact people every day. By sharing their own experiences, the Movement’s proponents hope to show just how common sexual harassment is. The hope is that, if people are more aware of sexual harassment and how casually it is sometimes treated, then tolerance for it will decrease and support for victims will rise. The Movement also highlights how rape culture and toxic masculinity affect society.

Rape Culture is a concept for a setting in which rape is pervasive and normalised due to societies attitudes about gender and sexuality. Behaviours commonly associated with rape culture include victim blaming, slut-shaming, sexual objectification, trivialising rape, denial of widespread rape, refusing to acknowledge the harm caused by sexual violence, or some combination of these.

Examples of rape culture would be:- People who believe that girls “allow themselves to be raped.”(victim blaming), Street harassment and how victims are told that they’re “overreacting” when they call it out (sexual objectification) and Sexual assault prevention education programs that focus on women being told to take measures to prevent rape instead of men being told not to rape.

Toxic masculinity is what can come of teaching boys that they can’t express emotion openly; that they have to be “tough all the time”; that anything other than that makes them “feminine” or weak. Toxic masculinity is also “boys will be boys” (not making men take accountability for

their actions, and blaming it on their sex), saying that men are sexual creatures, and that the only thing on their mind is sex, and also that fighting is how men and boys communicate instead of verbally. This thus limits men’s expressions to that of anger, frustration and domineering traits amongst many others. This leads to men becoming emotionally underdeveloped. As Toxic Masculinity affects men and women alike, for women, this could lead to men expressing their “alpha” traits and cause emotional distress and in some cases, ends up as domestic abuse (their expressions of anger turning to violence), as well as cases of the typical excuse, that is “boys will be boys” which is normally used to justify cases of sexual harassment. Since men are viewed to be sexual creatures, their sexually harassing women on the road with statements like “Wamin thickness! Ya downstairs looking tight and nice lemme come by you tonight.” or “Ya bamzee looking nice.” or even trying to coerce women by following them down the road, trying to speak with them and make said women uncomfortable. They feel as though they are allowed to do so because rape culture states that women are allowing this to happen because of the way they dress (victim blaming) and toxic masculinity states that men are sexual creatures and are thus entitled to women’s bodies.

The #Metoo movement has made its mark and has essentially given a voice to those that were either too afraid to speak on these issues or didn’t have a platform to speak their story. We sometimes forget that the #Metoo movement is also a safe space for boys and men to chime in and have their voices heard as well. Statistically, men are least expected to seek help in cases of domestic violence and/or sexual abuse.

Toxic Masculinity is a major fact in men not reporting such instances where they are mentally, physically or sexually abused. Men are expected to be strong, to never cry and to always be able to take punches from whatever life throws at them. Society, because of toxic masculinity, tend to forget that men are just “human” and have the same emotional capacity as anyone else. Rape is rooted in our patriarchal (male-run) society, and we seldom realise that rape culture and toxic masculinity affect men as well. For instance, most male rape victims would not come forward to the police out of feelings of

shame. Typically, rape victims are negatively labelled as submissive or weak, thus male victims of the same crime, shy away from making a report as they also fear the stigmatization associated with rape, would then be placed on them as well.

Not only this but when making the report police officers tend to make fun of them or don’t treat their case with due importance or urgency. Men are also told that they are sex driven, and that they can’t be raped as men are supposed to always seek sexual intimacy and have several sexual partners. If they are raped, they “should have enjoyed it since it is still sex.”

Rape, however, is not sex; it is an act of violence that is committed without a person’s consent. It is traumatizing, and has a lasting effect on a person’s mental health, and many people have to turn to therapy to cope with the aftermath. Some men that have been sexually assaulted or raped do not feel the need to seek therapy as they feel as though they were not affected by the trauma because they are a “man” and men do not need to go because they are “strong”.

All of this is rooted in Toxic Masculinity, expecting men to be able to always have the upper hand in cases of assault, especially if the assailant is a woman or to be able to emotionally disconnect from the trauma that occurred as a result. Society forgets that some women are in fact stronger

physically than some men and can easily overpower them or that date rape is also a factor in in male rape cases. The fear that if they push the woman off and she in turn charges them for assault or that if they do not have sex they are less of a man so even without consent they choose not fight back.

In the case of Terry Crews, former NFL star and actor of the show Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Everybody hates Chris, who one would refer to as a “strong man” was assaulted by an Executive Director, but did not retaliate or speak out over the incident for fear of being ostracised or sent to jail. Men also are affected by instances of power play, where one abuses their authority, and in turn uses that authority to pressure someone into doing what they do not want to do, which was the case of Terry Crews. There has also been cases where young boys were assaulted by teachers, and when the story hits social media, there were comments congratulating the young boy for the assault, instead of expressing disgust towards the teacher for perpetrating the act. Young boys are congratulated instead of given emotional support in cases of sexual assault or rape, especially if the perpetrator was a woman. Whilst on the other hand, the media tends to have a bigger outrage if a young girl is sexually assaulted in a school setting. This is not to compare and contrast the two cases but

the call attention to a matter to should have equal importance when being dealt with both in the media as well as all other aspects concerning the emotional and physical well-being of a child. Even Terry Crews was faced with others commenting on his case, specifically, the Rapper, 50 Cent stated that, because of Crews’ physique, he’d been surprised by the actor’s account of his experiences. “I wasn’t looking at Terry Crews that way at that point. I’m looking at the Hulk; the guy that’s this big, that is being taken advantage of.” In an interview to which Terry replied how size isn’t a factor in cases of sexual assault in another interview.

There is no denying that we as a society should come together and take a stand against rape culture and toxic masculinity as a means to aid in stopping cases of rape and sexual assault. During the 16 days of activism, we can all come together and provide support to victims, whether it’s through social media or getting your friends and doing Guyana’s first ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’. We can all make a difference in someone else’s life, even with the smallest of things.

Yours Truly, Rafaela Oviedopiter, Teammate of ASPIRE Youth Network Guyana

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 18, 2019

Gov’t has--Finance big plans for education sector Minister assures Leguan residents

WITH a staggering $52B already invested in the education sector for this year, Finance Minister Winston Jordan on Sunday said the government will continue to boost the critical sector as the push for “an educated Guyana” continues.

As part of a wider ministerial outreach to communities in Region Two (Essequibo Island-West Demerara), Minister Jordan met with residents of Leguan at the Success Primary School on Sunday.

He said the education sector has become one of the focal points of the Coalition Government, particularly its leader, President David Granger.

Minister Jordan said President

you, he talks about education and what can we do to lift the standards of education in Guyana,” Minister Jordan said.

The Head of State has been pushing policies for the renewal

cently announced the ‘Decade of Development’ commencing in 2020, where education will see a remarkable transformation, including free education from nursery to university from

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan as he addressed Leguan residents at Sunday’s community meeting

Granger will go down in history as “Guyana’s Education President”.

“When you have a meeting with him, when he speaks to

Some of the residents who attended the meeting

of the education sector. He re-

the proceeds of the coming oil

wealth.

“Our government, which is spending $52B on education in 2019, is expected to ramp up that amount in the next five years, during our second term in office,” Minister Jordan assured the residents of the Leguan.

Although the allocation is the highest to have been allocated to any of the sectors, he said the government recognises that there is still more to be done.

Among those things to be done are accessing more qualified teachers, bringing more Internet services to all classrooms, and re-examining teaching methods.

The Finance Minister said the administration continues to invest in the education as

well as other sectors. Increases to teachers’ salaries in 2018 is one such example. He noted that this year’s salary increases have captured teachers, nurses and members of the Disciplined Services, an equal distribution of the good life.

Meanwhile, Minister Jordan again took his message of unity to the community, reiterating that there can be no progress if disunity persists. He urged all to join hands and hearts together and examine how all can benefit from the better life on the horizon. (DPI)

St. Monica gets own guesthouse --to help generate income for village, residents

THE Amerindian village of St. Monica/Karawab in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is now better positioned to generate funds for its development now that it has its very own guesthouse, popularly referred to by villagers as a “long-house”.

The construction of the facility was funded by a number of NGOs, among them the Guyana Medical Relief.

Head of the Guyana Medical Relief, Charir Chan told the Guyana Chronicle that after visiting the community on a

Long-house The St. Monica/Karawab guesthouse

medical outreach programme, he saw the need for such an in-

vestment and as such consulted with members of the organisa-

tion. Following the discussion, the existing Barama staff house

was converted into a guest house comprising 17 rooms, a kitchen, toilet facilities, and a conference hall. The facility is powered by solar energy.

He said the commercial building will make the community self-sufficient, as residents will be able to gain employment. He also urged the village council to promote local tourism in the area.

Officially declaring the facility open was Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, who thanked the Guyana Medical Relief for funding the

initiative, not that it will indeed help create employment for many families living in the community.

Toshao of St. Monica, Thomas Clerk told the gathering that a management committee is already in place to oversee the running of the facility, which has the capacity to accommodate tourists and host conferences and other functions as well. The community boat service is also available for those desirous of visiting.

Is Republic Bank allowing itself to become a pawn in our national politics

Dear Editor,

I WISH to state at the outset that I am most unhappy about penning this letter because I have enjoyed a positive and productive relationship with Republic Bank, a relationship which spans close to two decades, if not more. I also wish to state at the outset that the top management at Republic Bank, very probably Guyana’s largest bank, has, over the last decade or so, really allowed its customer service to deteriorate well beyond what is acceptable, so much so that disregard for customers, at least the regular man-in-the-street (I’m quite sure that they do not treat their well-to-do customers with the disdain meted out to off-the-road customers) has become the norm. This is even as it continues to squeeze its customers to wring profits

from them (see below).

Recent events have caused me to wonder if Republic Bank (Camp Street Branch) is allowing itself to become a pawn in our national politics.

I received a letter from them indicating that they had now classified the account for the Democratic National Congress (DNC) as inactive, after being opened for just in excess of one year, and that they would begin deducting $200 from it until I had it reactivated by making a deposit (If this isn’t squeezing customers...). This is even in light of the public activism of the DNC over the last year. My father, who died since 2003, had an outstanding balance in an account at Republic Bank. They’ve always advised me about the balance on his account years after he passed on (the account was obviously dormant), without deducting any service charges.

But they are deducting service

charges for the account of the Democratic National Congress after just one year of dormancy. It would be instructive to determine whether I am being harassed simply because the DNC is a small political party, as the loan officer informed me while discussing another matter. One of the things about which I am almost sure is that Republic Bank does not send letters out to all accounts which go dormant after one year, which makes this a selective and discriminatory act, which must be condemned, and I suggest investigated to discourage such occurrences. Went into them Tuesday, November 5, 2019 to make a deposit, but couldn’t because of the long lines. Another problem with them is documented below.

The following occurred even as the bank kick-started its campaign for the Christmas Season, and has a running ‘Make It Happen’ loan pro-

gramme (the generous philosophy of which is unbelievable, in light of my experience documented here). I applied for a personal loan since Wednesday, November 6, 2019, a loan of less than G$250,000, and I’m being given the royal run around. Went in to them Tuesday, November 12, 2019, only to have my loan officer tell me some nonsense about the DNC being a small party. I’m applying for a personal loan, mind you, to replace my spectacles and finance some minor party activities. I spoke to her supervisor the same day, and he told me that my file was sent (physically; he called to enquire about it) to Head Office; that he would call Wednesday. (I am quite curious about branches sending files to the head office to query small loans, because then they would have to employ more vehicles for this activity.)

These people made a 22.7% increase in after-tax profits

last fiscal year, and they can’t make a decision on a small loan (less than $250,000) at the Branch. I didn’t receive a call on Wednesday, as promised.

The loan officer told me on November 14, 2019 that she took down the wrong phone number.

I have an existing facility with the bank, 13 years and more borrowing from them, and she’s telling me she took down the wrong phone number. This is not stupid, but I would like to suggest, downright deceitful, and customers should seriously consider how much they can trust these smiling loan officers if they are lying to you.

Spoke to the Branch manager the same day, who asked me to give him a call on November 15, 2019 at around 09:00hrs. I informed him that I agreed to restructure my loan, as was advised by retail section, so that the file should be returned to accommodate this.

Monday, November 18 is Day

10. Hoping this catches the eye of their supervisors and put some stimulus into getting on with the processing of my application. Strangely enough, I told the loan officer it was very possible I would mention her on Facebook for her excellent service. Well, what do you know...

As we’re on the subject, the bank’s management should by now be aware that their customer service to open accounts and perform other ancillary services for Customers at both the Camp and Water Street branches is sickeningly time- consuming.

I find it difficult to imagine that in this day and age they have never heard of time management. If the current practices are advised by time management, then something must be really very wrong.

Regards, Craig Sylvester

Guyana CHRONICLE, Monday November 18, 2019

Gov’t commissions $627M worth of new sea defences at Leguan

TWO recently-completed sea defence projects totalling $627M were on Sunday commissioned on the Essequibo Island of Leguan by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government.

With the strengthening of its sea defences, the island of Leguan, located in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) is now better able to hold off the surging waters whenever there is a high tide.

Work on the hundreds of metres of riprap-type of structure form part of a $334M (US$1.6B) Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)-funded project at Success.

On Sunday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan commissioned the project, which was completed last month.

“This is a multi-billion-dollar project with the support of the Caribbean Development Bank, designed to keep our ocean away from the lands of Leguan. This goes to show what we have been saying, that the government is interested in developing not only areas that voted for it, but the entire country,” he told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The minister said the initiative was undertaken with residents in mind. “It’s all about the people who live on this island, and who make a living off this island. So I am extremely grateful to have been able to come here and see the project, and cut the ribbon to open it.”

On the other side of the

Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally and Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine commissioning the Endeavor phase of the newly-constructed sea defence on Leguan

The newly-constructed sea defence at Success on the island of Leguan

island, in the community of

Endeavour, Minister of So-

cial Protection, Amna Ally

and Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine commissioned the other half of the sea defences protecting the island. That project was valued at $293M (US$1.4M).

Constructed by BK International, the project, which is located on the eastern side of the island, was also funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and entailed the construction of a 300-metre- long riprap embankment.

As part of the visiting team’s mission, a newly-established one-kilometre stretch of embankment which

9

connects the communities of Endeavor and Amsterdam was also declared open.

Following the two commissioning exercises, Minister Ally and Mayor Narine spent time interacting with residents over at the Leguan Secondary School in Blenheim. During the interaction, the Social Protection Minister reiterated that the Coalition is committed to serving all Guyanese.

“Whether you are supporting the Coalition Government or not, our duty as a government is to serve you.”

She reminded residents that President David Granger has mandated the “good life” for all. According to Minister Ally, the time has come when every Guyanese has to “take time out” to analyse the many developments in the country, and acknowledge that it is the APNU+AFC Coalition which stabilised Guyana’s economy.

In his remarks, Mayor Narine noted that it was also the Coalition Government which returned democracy to Guyana, providing opportunities for residents to choose persons from their communities to make representation on their behalf. He also offered this advice to the young people at the meeting. “Do not listen to negative talks, but make wise choices today and continually… I want to let you know that the government cares for you, and will ensure you have the necessary tools to succeed.” (DPI)

‘Help manage your communities’ --Min. Felix urges Anna Regina residents MINISTER of Citizenship Winston Felix has said the government has taken careful note that some Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) are not serving the communities under their care as they should.

He made this observation during a community meeting with Anna Regina residents at the CV Nunes Primary School, on the Essequibo Coast.

Reminding his audience of the “massive debt and instability” inherited by the Coalition Government, he said it will take time to “clean up”. Minister Felix said changes and improvements are occurring because of President David Granger’s firm

belief “that everyone is entitled to a better life.”

The minister explained that this will not be achieved by “a speech or click of the finger, but rather an accumulation of efforts by the government to improve the services it offers.”

He said that several things have to be done to make the experiences of the citizenry more comfortable. One of these, he noted, was the return of constitutional Local Government Elections, which is key to ensuring better self-governance and control, as opposed to the implementation of Interim management Committees (IMCs) favoured by the previous administration.

“We want you to take part in the management of your own communities,” the minister underscored. Residents were also encouraged to go out and vote, since it was their democratic right to do so . “If you do not go out and vote,” he said, “you might get someone as the head of your NDC who may not be working in your interest, as we have seen… The fact that your none-vote reduced the numbers, you may not get the leadership you want. When elections come around, go and vote!”

The minister met the Anna Regina residents during an interactive session on Saturday. The meeting

Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix addressing the community meeting at the CV Nunes Primary School at Anna Regina on Saturday

was one of several hosted by government ministers across Essequibo. Issues raised by residents, some of which date back to 2012, included land/house lot purchasing challenges, persons rearing

Some of the Anna Regina residents who attended the meeting

animals without permission next to homes, the need to reorganise the vendors on the Anna Regina market road and equitable distribution of streetlights. Whilst some

of the issues were advised upon on-the-spot, others will be forwarded to the relevant officials for redress. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

g n i r e t s o F care for children

HAVE you ever thought about becoming a Foster Parent? It usually comes about once you realise just how vulnerable children are and you need to do something—anything-- to help them. You need a big heart and the right frame of mind when it comes to helping children through a rough patch in their lives. They will require a lot of love and attention.

While some adults do not have the requirements to be parents, others simply need a helping hand, along with some guidance and a little time to sort out their lives. When you decide to foster a child you have no idea from what type of background the child will come, as the circumstances vary from case to case. Fostering helps to lessen the trauma that is brought about when children are separated from loved ones. It offers the child some one-to-one attention from the foster parent and a sense of stability and support.

Try our quiz on foster care to test your knowledge and when you have finished, check with the answers to see your score.

A What is a foster home?

Is it… a) A family-based setting where vulnerable children can stay temporarily b) A permanent residence where children can make friends and eat a decent meal c) An institution for children who are either homeless or orphaned

definitely… a) Long-winded and convoluted b) Technical and intrusive c) Simple and straightforward

E The most important

their current circumstances can be corrected c) Teenagers who are ageing out of the system and soon to become homeless G Children who need to be fostered can only be…

B To be a foster parent you must first … a) Contact a children’s home and choose the child you would like to foster b) Visit your doctor to ensure you are in good enough health to care for a child c) Make an application to the Foster Care Unit at the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) C The test of a good foster parent is when he/she can… a) Love the foster child unconditionally and never reprimand his/her wrongdoings b) Love the foster child and give the child up when the time comes c) Love the foster child and give the child gifts and money D The process of becoming a foster parent is most

skills for foster parents to possess are… a) Patience and Understanding b) Listening and Giving c) Playing and Teaching F Children who need to be fostered are usually a) Just waiting in a children’s home for the right person to come along b) Children who urgently need accommodation until

a) Fostered by people who have been vetted and approved by the CPA b) Fostered by members of their family who meet the requirements c) Fostered by people who are strangers with good intentions ANSWERS A (a) Foster care is a temporary arrangement between

IAST pushing local products to outshine imports WHAT started out as a quest to develop local products and add value has turned into a thriving and growing industry today.

Cereals, personal-care products and condiments are now all being produced locally at the highest standards and export-ready quality. This is thanks to the work being done at the University of Guyana’s (UG) Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), the institution at the helm of several local companies— Morning Glory Inc., Rupununi Essence Inc. and Pakaraima Flavours.

The research and development organisation has been around for over 20 years, and in that time, it has continued its drive to develop and perfect local products and enable them to meet or surpass internationally competitive standards.

Raveena Mangal, IAST Head of Marketing, said the products are driven by research.

“What we do is research, and we develop products that are sustainable and utilise Science and Technology,” she said. This is all being undertaken under the directorship of world-renowned food scientist, Profes-

sor Suresh Narine.

“What we do is strive to create products and processes which utilise sustainable technology. We show that local products can be better than imported products, not just in quality, but appearance, sustainable technology, sustainable science, and economics as well,” the head of marketing said.

A stand-out product developed by IAST is the ‘Morning Glory’ breakfast cereal, which is a big hit among local retailers and consumers and has good export potential. “Morning Glory has become quite a household name now and it’s a molasses-flavoured rice cereal,” Mangal explained.

Another product that the institute has developed is the Rupununi Essence facial cleanser made from crabwood oil, coconut oil and lemon grass oil, which is the first product they commercialised. This was done through a partnership with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the Medicine from Trees Group from Annai in Guyana’s Rupununi district.

“This is a women’s group that has previously produced crabwood oil. IAST went in

through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and helped in packaging, in marketing, in branding, and in production through injecting science and technology in a manner which would increase the qual-

ity that they were producing the soaps,” Mangal disclosed.

She said that all proceeds from this product go back to the indigenous communities through the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB).

IAST Head of Marketing Raveena Mangal

the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) and a foster parent. Children can also be fostered by an appropriate family member such as a grandmother, aunt or uncle.

However, all decisions are made in the best interest of the child.

B (c) Applications are welcomed at the Foster Care Unit (CPA) where you can also learn more about fostering. A medical examination and a police clearance are part of the procedure for potential foster parents.

C (b) Many people confuse fostering with adoption.

Adoption is permanent, while fostering is temporary. Most foster children WILL be reunited with their families.

D (c) When the formalities are carried out efficiently, foster parents can be registered within six weeks or sooner. A home visit by CPA officers is part of the procedure to ensure that potential foster parents have suitable accommodation.

E (a) Some foster children need time to bond and settle into a new home. Remember how strange new things can seem when you are a child? Foster parents

have to be adaptable and considerate towards the needs of the child.

F (b) Children are placed with foster parents by officers who work in the Foster Care Unit at the CPA. These children come from disadvantageous backgrounds. The length of each placement can vary from a couple of weeks to six months, but in some cases, even longer.

G (a) (b) Children can be fostered by registered foster parents OR by suitable family members (known as kinship care). However, anyone who intends to foster a child will be assessed by the CPA. The criteria and standard required to be a foster parent apply to all.

To find out more about fostering a child, you can contact the Foster Care Unit at the CPA on 231 8423.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

- Ready for GuyTIE 2020 ‘Pakaraima Flavours’ is another popular line of products they produce. “Pakaraima Flavours produces ketchup and salad dressings that are made from sun-dried tomatoes that are grown on our very own mountains in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) by the indigenous communities there,” Mangal stated, noting that these products are the perfect combination of sweet and healthy as they contain 50 per cent less sugar than imported brands.

According to the head of marketing, the quality of these products is exceptional because they were produced according to strict quality standards. “Morning Glory has just actually won the GNBS National Quality Assurance Award for overall quality in agro-processing and for green initiative. That being said, it speaks to the standard of production that we have at Morning Glory Inc., and to all our other products as well,” she noted.

The IAST is also working on expanding the brands it is helping to develop. A hearthealthy nutrition drink called ‘Sak’ is being made from the derivatives of the purple sweet

potato and is being prepared for the market.

“We have new products in the pipeline for all our existing lines,” Mangal said. She announced that most of these new products will be available at the Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GuyTIE) 2020, where the IAST will seek maximum exposure of its best products.

Mangal is hopeful that the event, which is slated for May 2020, will create new business opportunities for the various brands. They participated in the first event in 2018, and according to Mangal, this time around, expectations are even higher.

“We did find it interesting.

It was one that allowed us to be exposed to a number of exporters and importers, so it gave us that exposure to them.

We were able to build some contacts and showcase our products— not just to a local audience, but to an international audience as well,” she said.

Mangal stressed that IAST is looking forward to participating in GuyTie 2020 to showcase that their products are export-ready, build our contacts “and get our products out there.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

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Women in Business expo for November 21 launch THE Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts (SNFCA) in collaboration with the Women’s Association for Sustainable Development (WASD) will launch its fifth annual Women in Business Expo on November 21 along with its annual Style Mission charity show set for November 24,2019, at the Pegasus Hotel.

Guyanese author, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and Founder of the Women in Business Expo, Dr Sonia Noel, stated in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle’s Vantage Point, that many entrepreneurs in Guyana don’t have access to finance to market and advertise their businesses; hence,

she came up with the Women in Business initiative.

“Small businesses like myself, we don’t have that budget for advertising because the cash flow is not going to be as big as the other companies. So I’m thinking, I’m not alone, I’m not the only one, I know I’m not the only woman out there who would really like to

build their business, get it to the next level,” she stated.

Dr Noel added that she used her foundation, the Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts (SNFCA) to create a platform for female entrepreneurs.

“I said what can [I] do as an individual to help to provide that platform and I used my foundation, the Sonia Noel

Foundation for Creative Arts, to provide a platform so that women, even the ones that just have an idea not even an actual product, can have that opportunity,” she stated.

The launch will kick off with a press conference on November 21, following a two-day mini exhibition which will be open free of charge to the public.

The mini exhibition is expected to be a treat for persons looking for unique gifts, home decor and exclusive outfits for the holidays. Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit (GIPEX) will be held around that time in Guyana and it will give visitors the opportunity to shop for local products.

The EXPO, however, will be held on March 22 and 23 of 2019, during Women’s History Month, acknowledging

International Women’s Day, which is celebrated earlier in the month.

In addition to the expo, Dr Noel will be hosting the annual charity show ‘Style Mission’ and auction, on November 24, at the Pegasus Hotel, which will raise funds for the victims of the recent

Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas, where creative director Richard Young and several designers such as Gem Fraser, Vanda Allicock, Sonia Noel, Robert Young and Dominique La Roche will be present.

A special fashion collection will also be presented

by Tare Finz Boutique at

the show following an intriguing panel discussion on ‘living with intention,’ which will see several esteemed guest as panelists such as Avia Maria Lindie, Ganesh Singh, Dr Quincy Jones, Jo Ann Forde , author Ediclia Bastardo of Venezuela and Bibi Alli, from NewYork.

Flash back: Leisa Gibson showcasing her naturally made hair and body products during the 2019 Women in Business Expo in March

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

Foster Care Month…

More foster parents needed – CPA

By Tamica Garnett

“CHILDREN need affection, protection and direction,” emphasises Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann Greene, who went on to note that this provision is most ideally attended to in individualised situations, more so a family setting.

Hence, in cases whereby children need to be removed from their families for their own safety and protection, the most ideal situation for them is to be temporarily placed in another family.

Towards that end, the CPA for the past nine years has been promoting and expanding its foster care and mentorship programmes, whereby adults can sign up to give temporary homes to abused or neglected children.

The CPA and Ministry of Social Protection are currently observing November as National Foster Care Month as they promote the importance of foster care with the hope that more persons will sign onto the programme.

The agency currently has 123 foster parents across the country catering to some 188 children.

The number of foster parents has been steadily increasing over the years, but with some 700 children cur-

rently in state care, Greene said the need for more foster parents is still great. The benefits of foster homes outweigh that of the other options, in which children are placed in residential care centres or “children’s homes.”

“We have these large institutions for children, but it’s not the best place for children; children need more individual attention, so we’re promoting this whole question of family-based care. We want to move away

from these large children’s homes,” Greene said.

The agency has been looking at more and more ways to be able to provide individualised settings for children.

“The programme has been evolving over the years.

We started out with just the foster care, but we’ve moved now to the mentorship programme and we’ve gone now to the group homes,” she explained.

With the mentorship pro-

CPA foster moms, Ulex Smith, (left) and Jocelyn Williams (Tamica Garnett photo)

Judiciary saddened

by Chang’s passing THE Judiciary and Magistracy of Guyana are deeply saddened by the passing of former Chief Justice Ian Chang C.C.H., S.C. whom they described as “a true son of the soil.”

Chang died on Saturday evening at a private hospital in Georgetown after losing a battle with cancer.

During his tenure, he presided over many high-profile, controversial and constitutional cases in Guyana while he served as acting Chief Justice for more than a decade. Ian Chang was also a former Acting DPP and former Justice of Appeal.

He went off on annual leave in December 2015 ahead of his February 2016 retirement.

In a release to the media, the Supreme Court of Judicature, Protocol and Communications Unit stated: “Justice Chang served his profession and fellow Guyanese with great honour and integrity. His was a life of service to the nation. He was respected for his phenomenal legal intellect and was a

gramme, persons can sign up to be a mentor, the child remains at a child care centre, but the mentor can visit and interact with them periodically and apply for permission to take the child for short periods.

The programmes are all voluntary, but in the case of foster care, the parents are given financial assistance of $20,000 per month per child; but being a foster parent is not a job.

“It’s not that the agency

fountain of legal knowledge which he readily shared.

Justice Chang’s death will undoubtedly leave a void in the justice system and with colleagues within the legal fraternity whose lives he impacted. The Judiciary and Magistracy express condolences to the family and friends of Justice Ian Chang.

May his soul rest in peace.”

Former Chief Justice, Ian Chang C.C.H., S.C.

President David Granger said, he too, is saddened at the death of Justice Chang.

He extended heartfelt condolences to his immediate

family members, relatives and friends.

The Bar Council of the Bar Association of Guyana, on Sunday, said it was with a sincere sense of loss, together with an appreciation of the blessing of mercy, that it was placed into a state of mourning upon learning of the death of the former acting Chief Justice.

“For Chang, S.C., he made law his life. His life was a testimony of dedication in, and to the law.

His love for the law was one he demonstrated and shared with all of us who had an opportunity to have an interaction with him. This affection for the law was revealed and communicated in words, thoughts and actions which can be described as “Chang style”. We, of the Bar Association, know that his death is a loss of a friend and a mentor,” the council said in a statement.

The Bar Association of Guyana also extended its deepest sympathy and condolences to Chang’s sorrowing relatives and friends.

is paying you to take care of that child. You would have accepted that responsibility to come on board with us, but you are given an assistance to help to care for the basic needs of the child while the child remains in your care,” explained Bonita Myles, a Probation and Social Services Officer working with the Foster Care Unit.

For some, opening up their homes to children is no easy task. Social services officers and foster parents agree that the biggest challenge to foster care is the expected trials that come with knowing just how to go about handling the children.

“The children are coming from abused and neglected backgrounds, so they come with their own challenges, and sometimes it could be a bit overwhelming for foster parents to deal with. But they do have the support. Each child in foster care has a case worker and we do provide counselling and psycho-social support to both the foster parent and children,” Ira Ali shared.

Ali, another Probation and Social Services Officer attached to the Foster Care Unit, has been there for some three years now.

Aside from Myles and Ali, the unit has three other officers, including the super-

visor.

Jocelyn Williams is among the 123 foster parents currently in the CPA system.

Williams was among some of the first foster parents in the programme. She has fostered approximately 11 children over the years, and shows no sign of letting up anytime soon.

“My house always full,” she says as she smiles.

With six children and 14 grandchildren, it’s easy to understand Williams’s love for the business. She has fostered from babies--just days old--to teenagers, and so has seen her fair share of challenges.

“One of my biggest was when one of the children left for school and didn’t come back. When they found her something fall off my shoulder. Another young man we discussed he was going to go out for Mashramani but he didn’t come back until the next morning, saying if I didn’t want him I must send him back to the agency,” Williams recalled.

However, none of the challenges has ever deterred her. For her, the benefits far outweigh the risks, especially when she gets to be a part of the process of watching a child change into a better person.

“I had two siblings once, they came with a lot of issues, and I felt so good when the situation could’ve turned around. I got them to line up with developing good manners, developing good habits, respect and self-control,” Williams related.

Williams has cared for children for periods ranging from a few weeks to as much as 13 months; she says letting go of the children has never been an issue for her, as it’s something for which she had prepared herself even when she signed up for the programme.

Ulex Smith has been a foster mother for some four years now. She too spoke of the emotional challenges of opening up her home, but says it is something she has always wanted to do.

“My mom died when I was very young…and I always wanted someone to be there for me, so I said in the future I would try to be there for someone. And it so happened that I ended up in the area of fostering,” Smith shared.

She warned that the key to being a successful foster parent is being sure you have the capability to do it.

“Doing something like this you have to have a passion for children, a passion for people. It’s not a very easy process. Get some information, educate yourself

Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ann Greene

to ensure you can go through the process and the challenges that comes with it,” she said.

To help parents and children cope with the ins and outs of foster parenting, the agency offers counselling.

“Every year we have mandatory foster parents training that every foster parent has to attend,” Ali related.

Even as the agency strives to grow its supply of foster parents, there are criteria that must be met before the CPA can clear someone to become a foster parent.

Applicants have to submit an application form, a copy of their ID and two character references, and must show that they have appropriate accommodation for a child. A medical examination, paid for by the agency, and a police background check are also done.

“We check the environment to see if it is conducive for the upbringing of a child,” Ali noted.

Family members of children can also become foster parents.

“We have two types of foster care, we have kinship care and non-biological.

Kinship care is when an aunt or grandmother cares for the children and then you have non-biological, whereby the person isn’t related to the child,” she explained.

Foster parents are mostly needed in outlying regions where the CPA does not readily have residential care homes.

“We’re advocating for emergency foster care, because in the outer regions, like Regions One, Seven, Nine and so on, where we don’t have children’s homes, when a child has to be temporarily removed, we don’t have homes there to place them in. So we’re encouraging members of the community in those areas to come on board and be foster parents, even if it is that you keep the child for a day or a couple days,” she said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

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UG Chancellor shares his vision with President Granger NEWLY-appointed Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Professor John Edward Greene shared his vision for the university with President David Granger on Sunday during a courtesy call.

The President warmly welcomed Prof. Greene, and was eager to hear of his vision for the university.

The former CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General (SG) and United Nations (UN) Special Envoy was named the tenth Chancellor of the university by its Council on Saturday, November 9, 2019.

He replaces Professor Nigel Harris, whose term ended in November 2018.

He was installed during a simple ceremony at the university’s annual convocation exercise on Saturday, and brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and experience garnered over the years.

The chancellor was born in Guyana, and attended Queen’s College. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of London; an MSc in Political Economy from Mc Master University, and a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia.

President David Granger and newly-appointed Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor John Edward Greene during their meeting on Sunday (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

‘The Coalition has a vision for a unified Guyana’ – Min. Ramjattan ...Guyanese urged to make the right choice on March 2

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, is confident that the APNU+AFC Coalition will remain a formidable force come 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“I am certain that we will have another Coalition Government come March 2 [2020],” said Minister Ramjattan to residents of Karia Karia, a riverine community located approximately 40 minutes

away from Parika.

The Public Security Minister condemned the biased politics that sometimes take root in the country around the elections period and instead championed the Coalition Government’s vision for unified Guyana.

“We want to bring social cohesion to the people of Guyana… We want to work together,” Minister Ramjattan continued.

In this regard, he called on Guyanese to consider the work the Coalition has achieved in less than five years, noting that it has the best interest of all Guyanese at heart. He also issued a call on eligible voters to make the right choice.

At the community engagement in Karia Karia, the Public Security Minister was accompanied by Minister of Public Service Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.

Professor Greene has also held visiting professorships at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Havana, and the University of British Columbia.

He’s also worked at the University of the West Indies (UWI), where his academic career included service as Pro Vice-Chancellor, Development and Alumni Relations; University Director, Institute of Social and Economic Relations (ISER); Interim Director, Consortium Graduate School for the Social Sciences in the Caribbean (1984-1986); and

appointments to the rank of Professor (1988), and Inaugural Professorial Fellow, ISER (1994).

He has authored 10 books and over 60 articles in refereed journals, and is Professor Emeritus of UWI. Meanwhile, President Granger often iterates the value he places on education, with his plans, as President, to bridge the existing gaps between the coastal and hinterland regions; to ensure every child has access to education; and to promote education as a gateway out of poverty.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

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‘Greater development, prosperity will come in 2020’ ― Min Adams-Yearwood tells Strath Campbell residents

By Naomi Marshall THE year 2020 will mark the start of a new era for Guyana – one that would result in the transformation of the country’s economic and physical landscapes, much to the benefit of Guyanese, Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, told the people of Strath Campbell, Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Minister Adams-Yearwood was one of several government ministers who spread out across Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) last Thursday. Her message was one of development and prosperity, even as she gave residents of Strath Campbell an opportunity to let their voices be heard.

The Agriculture Minister told the residents that in 2020 President David Granger will declare a ‘Decade of Development (2020-2029),’ which will result in every Guyanese benefitting tremendously, regardless of their race, religion, creed or gender.

She said that the number one priority will be education.

“Our president is serious about the ‘Decade of Development’ and education is the key to development,” Minis-

ter Adams-Yearwood noted.

But ahead of that ‘Decade of Development,’ the education sector is already on the rise. Minister Adams-Yearwood said due to the implementation of the 5 ‘Bs’ initiative – buses, bicycles, books, bags and breakfast – access to education has improved significantly throughout the country, resulting in enhanced academic performance.

Developments, Minister Adams-Yearwood said, are also taking place in other sectors, as she pointed to the recent increase in minimum wage and hinterland and uniform allowances for nurses.

Public servants earning between $100,000 and $1M are in line to receive an 8.5 per cent increase; those earning less than 100,000, a nine per cent increase and those earning a minimum wage of $64,220 will receive in their December pay cheques $69,336, a sum in excess of their basic salaries. Importantly, the minimum basic salary in the public service will climb from $64,200 to $70,000.

“There has never been such a salary increase in the history of the former government,” the Agriculture Minister told the residents.

Government, she said, is proud of Region Five for being the biggest agricultural

Region 5 REO Ovid Morrison

region within Guyana. “This region can feed itself and half of Guyana and we ought to respect you. There are many products that come out of Region Five, including hot peppers, watermelons, bora, cabbage, broccoli, celery, and rice amongst others,” she said.

Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood

Minister Adams-Yearwood also urged the residents to “stay focused” as elections approach, adding “this is not a time for trial and error, you have tried this government and we have proved the test. This is not the time to try somebody else. The APNU+AFC coalition have set

you free from bondage; stay in your freedom. Put your x at the Hand.”

Meanwhile, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ovid Morrison indicated that over $34 million has been spent in the community already for 2019 with upgrades being effected to schools, roads,

Some Campbell residents who attended the meeting

health centres and the community’s sports ground.

“Come next year I can assure you that the development that you are seeing now would be fast-forwarded at a rapid pace, as the oil money sharpens Guyana’s economy,” the REO told the residents.

Morrison also urged the residents to vote for the APNU+AFC coalition so that Region Five will never again be managed by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – “a group of persons who were not interested in the interest of the collective development of the people of the region.”

Amongst the issues raised by residents were the poor drainage and irrigation system present in the community’s farms, private land ownership and the absence of street lights. Minister Adams-Yearwood promised to engage the relevant authorities to have those issues addressed.

Resident of Strath Campbell, Stanwick Reece, expressed gratitude to the minister, noting that it has been a while since the community was visited by a minister.

Stanwick said he is confident that Minister Adams-Yearwood will address the issues raised during the event.

Also at the meeting were Members of Parliament Jennifer Wade and Reynard Ward.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

Gov’t exploring additional ways to assist veterans – Gomes

By Lisa Hamilton

PRESIDENT David Granger, patron of the Guyana Veterans Legion (GVL), is seeking ways in which he can provide greater support to the men and women who have given great portions of their lives in service to their country.

During a recent edition of Guyana Chronicle’s online programme Vantage Point, GVL President, Lt-Col (Ret’d) George Gomes, said President Granger is conducting an assessment of the fees being paid by veterans at the National Veterans’ Home with the aim of providing much-needed relief.

Gomes stated that in the years ahead much more will be required of the Legion as the number of veterans in Guyana will increase.

On the programme, Gomes explained that Guyana became independent in 1966, and as such, military service prior to that period was considered “service to the crown.”

It is only now that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), established in 1965, is beginning to see its first set of veterans around the age of 70.

This is apart from those who were forced to leave the force because of injury or sickness.

“It is now that we’re seeing the cases of stroke, arthritis, diabetes, blindness, the whole gamut. As a matter of

fact, we have presently a list that we call the ‘Shut-in List’ and it has 111 old soldiers,” Gomes said.

“It is our duty. We visit them, we get donations from Food For The Poor; we have a chapter in the United States; we have a chapter in Canada and they send in pampers and everything that these people

people who had fought for their country were not being properly looked after by the government or its citizens.

Recounting the events, he said: “We found that soldiers were in the Dharm Shala; soldiers in The Palms; soldiers sleeping on the road. These are people who would have given their youth in service

GVL President, Lt-Col (ret’d) George Gomes

need that they can afford. But, we cannot boast that we’re experienced in dealing with people with these types of ailments,” he added.

Meanwhile, some veterans are being housed in the National Veterans Home, construction of which commenced in 2006. The project was spearheaded by Colonel (rtd) Carl Morgan and wasn’t completed until 2011 with government support.

Gomes said the realisation that a home for veterans was needed came after he and others observed that

to the country.”

Today, the Veterans’ Home can hold 26 persons and currently houses a little less than its capacity.

Gomes revealed that --- at one point—the fee to stay at the home was more than the pension paid by the former administration.

“At one point, the fee for staying there was $25,000 a month and that is more than the old age pension that these guys get,” Gomes lamented.

In the 2011 budget, former Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh had announced

that seniors can expect to get $7,500 a month as of February 1, 2011.

In 2012 the administration announced a $600 increase and later changed this to $2,500 following a meeting between then President Donald Ramotar and then Leader of the Opposition, President David Granger.

Gomes referred to the old soldiers throughout the times as “warriors” who seldom let tough situations get the best of them, as they prefer to “battle it out.”

“We had a meeting and these guys approached me.

They said “Sir, the prisons in Guyana got thieves; the prisons got rapists; the prisons got murderers; all the bad people in society, thousands of them and the government feeds, clothes and houses them every day. Why can’t we get the government to look after 26 veterans?’”

Gomes recounted.

After the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) took office in 2015, President Granger, in 2016, ordered that a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) be launched to investigate the living conditions of veterans.

It examined the conditions and circumstances facing veterans of the GDF, the Guyana People’s Militia and the Guyana National Service (GNS).

Gomes said that the high

fee being paid by the ex-soldiers was amongst several issues raised. The outcome saw a number of recommendations which the GVL President noted needed substantial finances to become a reality.

While some veterans still pay, Gomes said: “We’re looking to make that Veterans Home free of charge so that we can look after our old soldiers who gave their youth in service to Guyana. I whispered a word to the President [on Remembrance Day] and he told me to drop him a letter and I’m looking forward.”

Gomes also noted that there were other occasions in the past when the President assisted the Legion without request when he noticed that some areas needed help.

The President donated $1M to the Legion on November 10, which amassed over $3M in total from other pledges.

Added to this, the GVLA president said that 2019 is the first year that the National Veterans Home became a special line item in the budget; this relieves the Legion from having to piggy-back on the finances of the GDF. Through representation by the GVL, this year, the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League sent a grant which takes care of two meals a day for World War II veterans and the widows of those who have passed.

Also, in comparison to

the past –and benefitting all pensioners in Guyana --the 2015 old age pension of $13,125 has been steadily increased over the last four budgets by 55 per cent. Most recently, in 2019, the pension was increased from $19,500 to $20,500.

“I would hope for the day when every veteran… could be in receipt of a State pension,” Gomes said, noting that the same takes place in Barbados.

He also hopes that more Guyanese--including historians and the History Society at the University of Guyana-will take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and history which lies within their veterans.

While some might hold the opinion that, apart from Guyana’s World War II veterans, these soldiers have not fought wars, Gomes reminded of the 1969 Rupununi Uprising and the New River Triangle.

“Without the GDF, the Rupununi would not have been part of Guyana and similarly with the New River Triangle…we were able to take back the New River Triangle from the Surinamese,” he said.

“Those weren’t wars but they were major military engagements, skirmishes and with serious national implications…it needs to be taught to children in school,” he added.

Social Crime Prevention Training Course launched THE Community Policing Organisation of Guyana (CPOG) and the Ministry of Public Security, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on Sunday launched a Social Crime Prevention Training Course for community policing groups in Guyana.

The five-week Community, Family and Youth Resilience (CFYR) Social Crime Prevention Training Course is for community policing groups and volunteers who aid in their communities’ development.

The launch was held at the Cara Lodge on Quamina Street, Georgetown, where Ato Augustine, Primary Prevention Specialist CFYR, noted that the course’s curriculum is geared towards capacity building for community policing groups in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

He added that the primary aim of the programme is to educate persons on how to prevent social crimes such as domestic violence, child abuse and gang-related crimes involving youths, so that they can create a safer place for persons living in their commu-

nity and share their knowledge across Guyana.

The programme also aims to enhance the problem-solving and communication skills of members of policing groups and volunteers, so that they are equipped to handle domestic violence cases and sensi-

tive crimes involving youths.

In the coming weeks, course participants will be educated on communication and leadership skills; the root causes of youth crime and violence and the comprehension of domestic violence and youth relationships.

Members and volunteers of policing groups gathered at the launching on Sunday morning

At the end of the programme the trainees will be taught prevention strategies and techniques they can use and share in their various communities.

To address the critical issues? facing the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, USAID launched several programmes in 2015 to reduce youth involvement in crime

and violence, in communities through the Family and Youth Resilience Programme in Guyana and throughout the Caribbean.

The programme benefits at-risk youths by strengthening family and community support systems to create alternatives and strategies to tackle youth involvement in crime.

Ato Augustine, Primary Prevention Specialist, CFYR

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 18, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 18, 2019

‘Nationals’ officially opened

Tia Azore, Morvin Hamilton take 10K Road Race title

DISTRICT 5’s (West Coast Berbice) Morvin Hamilton and District 10’s Tia Azore were the first athletes to cross the line in the Male and Female 10K Road Race yesterday, as the 59th National School’s Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championship officially started at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Following a posh opening ceremony where Minister with responsibility for Sports, Dr George Norton, boasted of the events vast improvement over the last four years, the two athletes entered the stadium to thunderous applause from the audience.

Azore clocked 45 minutes, 57.27 seconds

(45:57.27) to win the female category, doing so ahead of District 9’s Judy Lannis (46:14.50) and Odiessa George of District Six (50:20.68).

In the male category, Hamilton cruised to a time of 34 minutes, 51.63 seconds, to finish ahead of Calvin Williams of District 15 (36:03.24) and District 9’s Evander Seceendino (36:33.43) Meanwhile, Norton, during his address to declare the games open, told the audience of athletes, officials and dignitaries, that his government has

ensured that the games represent the birth of the participants dreams of qualifying for the Olympics.

Norton said much emphasis has been placed on leveling the playing field for athletes from the Hinterland regions with their counterparts on the mainlands, and he also said that is the collaborative efforts between the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Education.

And GTU president Mark Lyte lauded the

work done by the stakeholders of the games, more so those from the corporate community.

Lyte spoke profoundly of the role the games play in helping athletes to realise their dreams in the various disciplines, especially those who would go on to represent Guyana at the Carifta Games.

The Championship will conclude on November 22. Upper Demera/ Kwakwani (District 10) is the most decorated district in the history of the games, and is currently the title holder.

King, Maloney, Lindfoot run rampant at Clash of Champions ANDREW King and Zane Maloney ran unbeaten in their groups as the Clash of Champions race meet ended yesterday at the South Dakota Circuit.

King, the former Caribbean Champion, staved off challenges

from Krisitian Jeffrey and Mark Maloney.

King ran away with three first-place finishes in group four with Zane Maloney winning all three of the SR3 radicals.

The reigning British F3 champion was

untouchable, lapping almost the entire grid in the final SR3 event.

On the supersport bikes, it was Dan Lindfoot who snagged the races, riding the team Mohamed’s bikes.

(Details in tomorrow’s edition).

11:50 hrs Bird To Love Southwell

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09:00 hrs Champagne Court 09:30 hrs Global Thrill 10:00 hrs Juge Et Parti 10:30 hrs Le Coeur Net 11;00 hrs Tommy The Rascal 11:30 hrs Velvet Cognac

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Wolverhampton 08:50 hrs Minhaaj 09:20 hrs Aiden’s Reward 09:50 hrs Desert Caravan 10:20 hrs Brockley Rise 10:50 hrs Greengage 11:20 hrs Alfurat River

South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:35 hrs Epic Storm 09:15 hrs Close To My Heart 09:55 hrs Zabivaka 10:35 hrs Western Angel

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 18, 2019

‘Hunger’ drives India to feast at top of Test table Indore (India) (AFP) Virat Kohli’s India were hailed as a team driven by “hunger” after stretching their lead in the new world Test championship with a crushing win over Bangladesh inside three days.

India won by an innings and 130 runs in Indore on Saturday to give them 300 points from victories in all six of their Tests in the inaugural championship, which began in August and will end in June 2021.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka are second and third in the fledgling table, 240 points behind but each having played four fewer matches than India.

The team’s latest triumph was ecstatically praised by the press on Sunday with the Times of India headline reading “Demolition Men” while the Hindustan Times blazed “India too fast and furious

for Bangladesh”.

“Getting there (to number one) is difficult, staying there is even more difficult,” bowling coach Bharat Arun said after India’s pacemen saw off Bangladesh for 150 and 213.

“I think to do that over a period of three years, you need to stay constantly hungry.”

Batting coach Vikram Rathour said India had built an ethos where victory for the team was more important than individual performances.

“It’s the team culture. It’s not about batting or bowling. The team wants to be the number one team in the world. That’s why you see the hunger,” said Rathour.

India’s opening win in the two-match series was their third straight innings victory and a record sixth consecutive Test triumph at

home.

It was also Kohli’s 10th innings victory as captain, surpassing the previous record of nine under his predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“Virat must be fast becoming India’s best ever skipper ... #INDvBAN,” former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted.

India are now favourites to extend their winning streak to a 12th successive home Test series after surpassing Australia’s previous record of 10 in the recent 3-0 sweep of South Africa.

The final match of the series, beginning Friday in Kolkata, will be India’s daynight Test debut.

Kohli said he was looking forward to the new experience of playing with the pink ball in the Eden Gardens Test which will also be Bangladesh’s first under

Team culture: India celebrate the dismissal of Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim on their way to a crushing victory in the first Test in Indore (AFP Photo/Indranil MUKHERJEE)

lights.

“The pink-ball Test is going to be exciting, will be a challenge for the batters,”

said Kohli.

“With the older ball, it doesn’t swing that much so the bowlers will have a

challenge. We’re just happy to be among the first to play pink-ball cricket for India.”

Australia ban Pattinson from Pakistan Test for ‘personal abuse’ Sydney (AFP) - Australia fast bowler James Pattinson was suspended on Sunday for player abuse, ruling him out of the first Test against Pakistan this week with skipper Tim Paine saying he had let down the team.

The paceman was found guilty of breaching Cricket Australia’s code of conduct during Victoria’s Sheffield Shield game against Queensland last week.

It was not clear what he said, but the governing body characterised it as “personal abuse of a player while fielding”.

The Australian and the Sydney Daily Telegraph said it allegedly involved a homophobic slur.

Given it was his third breach in the past 18 months, the incident triggered a one-match suspension.

“We have a duty to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and the action taken in this matter demonstrates that,” CA’s head of integrity and security Sean Carroll said in a statement.

Pattinson’s ban opens the door to Mitchell Starc to play in the Test at Brisbane starting Thursday. The two

One-match ban: Australia fast bowler James Pattinson (AFP Photo/Lindsey Parnaby

were seen to be competing for one bowling slot to partner Josh Hazelwood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon.

Paine said he was disappointed, with the Australian team working hard to win back public support since the ball-tampering scandal last year led to long bans for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

He told broadcaster ABC that Pattinson had “let himself down, he’s let the group down”.

“We actually had a chat last night about the fact that we hold ourselves to a really high standard now with our behaviour,” Paine said.

“That’s not just while we’re playing (Test) cricket,

we’ve got to go back to domestic cricket and lead the way on that front as well.

“We’re disappointed ... but James has owned up and knows he’s made a mistake and has apologised for it and will come back bigger and better.”

Pattinson admitted he “made a mistake in the heat of the moment”.

“Straight away I realised I was in the wrong, and I apologised immediately, both to the opponent and to the umpires,” he said.

“I have done the wrong thing and accept the penalty. I’m gutted to miss a Test match, but the standards are there for a reason and the fault is mine.”

CA said no replacement will be called up for the Test squa

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 18, 2019

Verstappen wins Brazil GP thriller as Ferraris collide

By Marcelo Teixeira SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Max Verstappen won a thrilling Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix for Red Bull on Sunday after the Ferraris collided and Mercedes’ sixtimes world champion Lewis Hamilton was demoted from third to seventh.

In a race of safety cars and surprises, Verstappen’s former team mate Pierre Gasly made a first podium appearance in second place for Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso, a rare Honda-powered one-two.

Hamilton chased the Frenchman across the line for third but was handed a five-second penalty for tangling with Red Bull’s Alex Albon in a frantic finale to the season’s penultimate round.

“I fully accept responsibility,” said Hamilton, who apologised to Albon for costing the rookie a likely first podium and Red Bull a one-two.

The Thai, who replaced Gasly at Red Bull in a seat switch last August, finished 14th.

Hamilton’s demotion lifted Carlos Sainz to the podium in what would be McLaren’s first top-three finish since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix of 2014.

The Spaniard, who started last on the grid after an engine problem in qualifying, was also under investigation for a possible infringement, however.

REDEMPTION, MAX

Sao Paulo, Brazil - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the race (REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes)

Verstappen started from pole position, only the second of his career, but had to twice overtake Hamilton and avoid a near pitlane collision with Williams’ Robert Kubica in a race he otherwise controlled.

The win was the eighth of his career, third of the season but first from pole.

It also made amends for last year’s race at Interlagos where he was heading for victory before a coming together with French backmarker Esteban Ocon dropped him to second.

“Redemption Max, absolute redemption from last year,” Red Bull principal Christian Horner told the 22-year-old over the team radio.

“The way we fought for it was even better,” replied Verstappen, who led from the start while Hamilton passed Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel around the outside and slotted into second.

Victory lifted the Dutch-

man to third overall in the drivers’ championship and best of the rest behind Hamilton and Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas — who suffered an engine-related retirement that brought out a first safety car.

Leclerc had started the day third overall, 14 points ahead of Verstappen, but a late duel with Vettel ended in recrimination.

The Monegasque passed the four times world champion, who was starting his 100th race for Ferrari, but Vettel came back and the two banged wheels.

Vettel’s rear tyre became a flailing carcass while Leclerc, who had climbed from 14th on the grid after an engine change, was hobbled by a smashed front suspension.

“What the hell?,” shouted Leclerc while Vettel wondered what his team mate was doing.

Both were summoned to see the stewards, who took no further action.

UNSAFE RELEASE The first pitstop almost cost Verstappen dearly, with the Dutchman held up by Kubica exiting almost into him — an unsafe release that saw the Pole handed a five-second penalty.

Hamilton, who had pitted moments before on lap 20, was ahead but Verstappen swept past him after a brief duel.

The Mercedes driver pitted again on lap 44 for fresh tyres, but Verstappen countered with a faster stop of his own.

The Dutchman then pitted when Bottas pulled over and triggered the safety car on lap 53, with Hamilton — instructed to do the opposite — staying out to become a sitting target for Verstappen on fresher rubber.

The Briton was powerless to prevent Verstappen going past at the re-start but the second safety car triggered by Ferrari offered Hamilton a chance to take on new tyres.

He came back out for a final rush for the podium, with two laps of racing remaining after the safety car left the track, and went past Gasly for third before trying to pass Albon and colliding.

Finland’s 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen was fourth for Alfa Romeo with Italian team mate Antonio Giovinazzi fifth and Australian Daniel Ricciardo sixth for Renault.

McLaren’s Lando Norris took eighth place ahead of Racing Point’s Sergio Perez with Gasly’s Russian team mate Daniil Kvyat completing the top 10.

Ronaldo moves onto 99 as Portugal qualify for Euro 2020 LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 99th international goal as the defending champions edged past Luxembourg 2-0 in difficult conditions away from home on Sunday to qualify for Euro 2020.

Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock in the 39th minute and Ronaldo wrapped it up with four minutes left to ensure that Portugal finished second in Group B with 17 points, three ahead of Serbia who drew 2-2 with Ukraine.

Diogo Jota’s shot appeared to be going in any way but Ronaldo prodded it over to claim the goal.

He is one short of joining Iran’s Ali Daei, the only player to have scored a century of goals for a national team.

“I would have been very proud to have scored my first goal for the national team, but the important thing is we won,” said Jota. “It doesn’t matter who scores — we are in the Euros and that is what we

wanted.”

Portugal survived several early scares as they struggled to impose their game on a rainsoaked pitch full of divots at the Josy Barthel stadium.

Ronaldo, in particular, was not enjoying the conditions and gestured angrily at the pitch after sending a speculative wide in the first half.

Needing a win to qualify without having to worry about Serbia’s result, Portugal were in trouble early on as Luxembourg saw a chance to spring an upset.

Maurice Deville got above his marker and headed over from Laurent Jans’ cross and Vincent Thill, a thorn in Portugal’s side, had a goalbound shot blocked by Ruben Dias.

Luxembourg were even closer when a corner found Gerons Rodrigues unmarked but he headed over.

Portugal began to adapt to the conditions and their more direct approach was rewarded with a goal.

Bernardo Silva floated a

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg - Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo takes a free kick REUTERS/Johanna Geron

pass over the Luxembourg defence from deep inside his own half and into the path of Fernandes who took it superbly in his stride and fired a low shot between Anthony Moris and the near post.

The second half was more comfortable for Portugal as they dominated possession although there still anxious moments.

Ronaldo nearly sealed it when he curled a free kick narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

With four minutes left, Silva’s cross found Jota and Moris got a hand to it but could not stop it crossing the line and Ronaldo poked it home for good measure.

“We won’t be favourites but we are going there to win,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos, whose side also won the inaugural Nations League this year.

“We are not the prettiest team but we have won two European tournaments in the last four years.”

Powell century helps Scorpions overcome stiff challenge from Canada BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Rovman Powell struck an exhilarating hundred to help Jamaica Scorpions overcome a stiff challenge from minnows Canada and register their second win of the Super50 Cup here Saturday night.

Chasing a very competitive 244 at Warner Park, Scorpions rebounded from a nightmare start when the innings lay in strife at one run for two wickets in the second over, to overhaul their target in the 44th over and complete a four-wicket victory.

Powell was at the forefront of the effort, finishing unbeaten on exactly 100 off 67 balls, an innings that transformed the complexion of the game.

The West Indies right-hander belted four fours and eight sixes after arriving at the crease in the 25th over with Scorpions still up against it at 96 for four.

He received valuable support from Nkrumah Bonner who made 49 from 62 balls and in-form opener Assad Fudadin who made 37.

N i - tish Kumar had earlier continued his excellent form with a top score of 65 from 62 balls, a knock t h a t laid the foundation for Canada’s 243 for six off their 50 overs, after the North Americans opted to bat first.

Kanwarpal Tathgur chipped in with 39 while Rovman Powell … opener Jeet Metha got 33 smashed his second List and Shreyas Movva, a A hundred. breezy 26 down the order.

Hoping to kickstart their Group A campaign, Scorpions were put under pressure by Kumar who entered at the fall of the first wicket to inspire three key stands to put the Canada innings in good stead.

First, he put on 60 for the second wicket with Metha before adding a further 42 for the third wicket with Harsh Thaker (18) and 34 for the fourth wicket with Tathgur.

All told, Kumar struck four fours and one six before falling in the 34th over, fending off a short ball from Oshane Thomas (2-61) and giving the West Indies fast bowler a simple return catch.

Jamaica then had the worst possible start to their run chase when Aldaine Thomas missed a swipe at left-arm spinner Mann in the second over and was bowled without scoring, and Jermaine Blackwood (0) drove to cover point two balls later and was taken low down by substitute Harmandeep Singh.

Fudadin started the rebuild in a 52-run third wicket stand with Andre McCarthy (23) before continuing it in a 43-run fourth wicket partnership with Bonner.

Left-hander Fudadin’s dismissal in the 25th over, caught at the wicket cutting at off-spinner Thaker, left Scorpions somewhat shaken but Powell asserted himself on the innings with a dominant knock.

The right-hander inspired a 92-run, fifth wicket stand with Bonner before putting on a further 38 with Grenadian Denis Smith (16) for the sixth wicket, to turn the tide for Scorpions.

Powell’s first fifty required 27 balls and included half-dozen sixes and he needed only another 41 balls to reach triple figures.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday November 18, 2019

Tsitsipas fights back to beat Thiem and claim ATP Finals title

By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) - Stefanos Tsitsipas confirmed his meteoric rise into the highest echelon of men’s tennis by battling back to beat Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-7(6) 6-2 7-6(4) in a compelling title duel at the ATP Finals on Sunday.

The 21-year-old debutant, the youngest of the eight qualifiers for the elite season-ender at the O2 Arena, displayed resilience and flair in equal measure to become the youngest champion since Lleyton Hewitt in 2001.

Thiem edged an intense first set full of powerful baseline rallies but Tsitsipas, the first Greek player to qualify for the ATP’s blue-riband event, was undaunted and responded in style.

As Thiem’s level dipped, Tsitsipas surged into a 4-0 lead in the second set and then led 3-1 in the decider.

Twice French Open runner-up Thiem was not finished though and fought back to take the match into a tiebreak.

World number six Tsitsipas, the crowd favourite, led 4-1 but was pegged back to 4-4 before reeling off the last three points, sealing victory when Thiem ballooned a forehand wide.

It is the fourth successive year the tournament has had a first-time winner and incredibly it is just one year since Tsitsipas won the NextGen Finals title for the best up-andcoming players on the men’s Tour.

After a sensational week in London, Tsitsipas looks poised to lead the charge for the young guns in 2020.

“I have no clue how I played so well in the second

set,” Tsitsipas said on court. “I was nervous playing in such a big event. But I’m so relieved by the outstanding performance and the fight I showed today.”

Thiem will rue the 40 unforced errors that undermined him on Sunday but back-to-back wins over Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic this week proved that, at 26, he is moving into his prime years, and not just on his favoured clay.

YOUNGEST PLAYER Tsistipas was the youngest player to reach the final on debut since American Jim Courier in 1991.

He was also playing for the third successive day after losing a superb group match against Nadal on Friday and eclipsing six-time champion Federer in the semi-finals.

But he showed few signs of nerves or fatigue as he wore down Thiem with his courageous all-court attacking game to pocket a $2.6 million winner’s cheque.

Thiem, who has been battling a cold all week, was hanging on at times in the first set, saving break points at 1-2 and 3-4.

But he edged the tiebreak. Tsitsipas saved one set point with an athletic volley but then offered up another chance which Thiem took by landing a powerful first serve.

Tsistipas’s response was emphatic. He won 16 of the first 18 points of a second set he bagged in 25 minutes. `Under siege Thiem showed guts to hold serve at the start of the decider but when he slapped a backhand into the net to hand Tsitsipas the first break in the third

ATP Finals - The O2, London, Britain - Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates winning the ATP Finals with the trophy (REUTERS/Peter Nicholls)

game it appeared the match was slipping away.

The Austrian, whose run to the final will see him end the year ranked fourth in the world, then went for broke, throwing the kitchen sink at Tsitsipas as his groundstrokes rocked the Greek and he levelled the set at 3-3.

Twice Tsitsipas nervelessly held serve to stay afloat as the final moved into a final-set tiebreak for the first time since 2005 and only the fourth time in the event’s 50-year history.

Tsitsipas said after beating Federer that he would love an army of fans like the Swiss great. So it was music to his ears as “Tsitsipas...Tsitsipas” rang around the cavernous hall.

Despite being pegged back to 4-4 he reeled off the next three points to seal his third title of the year.

Jamaica secures Gold Cup spot with win over Antigua JAMAICA’S Reggae Boyz cruised to a 2-0 win over Antigua and Barbuda in the CONCACAF Nations League at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda on Friday.

In the lively Group C fixture, it was the visiting Jamaicans who looked the more menacing team early on, but were plagued by inaccurate passes and poor finishing in the final third.

They did, however, take the lead somewhat fortu-

itously in the 34th minute, Maalique Foster emerged from a thicket of players to knock the ball into an unguarded net after Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James had spilled an Alvas Powell shot from a tough angle.

The Jamaicans continued to enjoy dominance in possession, but the hosts also put a positive spell together, despite lacking a cutting edge in the final third.

The Reggae Boyz doubled their lead in the 58th

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday November 18, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) (1) (2) (1)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 109*-Shai Hope 86-Asghar Afghan

Today’s Quiz:

What were the best innings bowling figures by a WI in the recent WI/AFG ODI series?

(2) What were the best innings bowling figures by an Afghan player in the series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Part of the action in the Reggae Boyz, Antigua and Barbuda clash,

minute after Ricardo Morris slammed the ball high into the roof of the net after being played through from a well-weighted Shamar Nicholson pass.

The Benna Boys threatened to at least get a consolation goal late on but D’Andre Bishop saw his 82nd minute shot charged down by the Jamaica backline.

The win saw Jamaica extend their lead to a perfect 15 points with 5 matches played in the group and secured their spot to the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. (Sportsmax)

Camille’s Academy wins NSC ‘Pinktober’ cricket tourney Camille’s Academy beat Charlestown Secondary School by 35 runs to win the final of the National Sports Commission (NSC)/AL Sport & Tour Promotions PINKTOBER cricket tournament.

Played last week in Parika, the eventual champs, Camille’s Academy, batted first and scored 123 without losing a wicket. Player of the Series, Ronaldo Blair, hit 13 sixes in his 92 as Kishan Chiraunjie chipped in with 24.

Charlestown, in reply, were easily kept to 88 - 6, despite a fighting knock of 48 from Myhian Khan and 24 from Kamal Sudin. The bowling for Camille’s was led by Player of the Finals, Nikosi Morris, who returned 5 - 26.

Kingstown Secondary racked up 113 – 1 with Mohamed

House leading the way with a match-winning 75. Their opponents, Bishops’ High, managed just 104 – 3, despite Johnathan Van Lange with 45, Tyrell Adams 24, and Malachi Richards 23, carrying their bats temporarily.

In the semis, Charlestown looked good as they made 122 for no wicket following half-centuries from Mehelik Halley (60) and Yohancy Angoy (53). The chase saw their opponents, Kingston, scraping to 50 – 3 with Loranzo Tracey ending on 35.

Camille’s Academy gained a lot of momentum early on as their 109 --2, led by R. Blair (59) and K. Chiraunjie (49), helped them topple Bishops’ High, who managed 89-2, despite resistance from Anroop Muthu who hit 45 and Van Lange 35.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 18, 2019

Gurbaz pummels 52-ball 79 as Afghans claim surprise T20 series win LUCKNOW, India, (CMC) – Minnows Afghanistan inflicted West Indies with a stunning series defeat here Sunday, after stifling the Caribbean side’s powerful batting lineup to pull off a clinical 29-run victory in the final Twenty20 International of the threematch series.

Entering the decisive contest at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Stadium with the series level 1-1, West Indies found themselves outplayed for the second time in two days as the hosts completed a remarkable turnaround after losing the opening game by 30 runs last Thursday.

In pursuit of a challenging but hardly insurmountable 157, West Indies found themselves bogged down again and only Shai Hope, a late injury replacement for Denesh Ramdin, managed to defy the Afghan attack with a top score of 52 from 46 deliveries, with three fours and a six.

Opener Evin Lewis struck 24 from 23 balls but no other batsman passed 11 as the Windies paid dearly for a slow start and losing wickets at critical moments during the run chase.

Naveen-ul-Haq, a nerveless 20-year-old seamer who was handed the new ball, undermined the innings with three for 24 and also got the key wicket of captain Kieron Pollard for 11 in the 18th over, to snuff out the Caribbean side’s last realistic hope of victory.

The humbling result came just 24 hours following their 41-run loss at the same venue and marked their fourth defeat to Afghanistan in seven T20 Internationals, but their first-ever series defeat.

More damning for the Windies – the reigning T20 World champions – the series defeat was their third straight following similar results against England and India earlier this year, and was their 17th loss in 21 T20 outings inside the last

20 months.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a 17-year-old right-hander in only his seventh T20 International, established the early momentum for Afghanistan when he stroked an enterprising Man-of-the-Match 79 off 52 balls at the top of the order.

The innings, comprising half-dozen fours and five sixes, held the hosts’ innings together and steered them to 156 for eight after they chose top bat first.

While Asghar Afghan was the only other basman to pass 20 with 24, it was enough to push Afghanistan pass the 150-run mark and leave their bowlers with a target to defend.

Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, who claimed two 29, made key strikes to give West Indies the early initiative, removing Hazratullah Zazai without scoring to the fifth ball of the innings – caught at cover

by Lewis – before Man-of-theSeries Karim Janat (2) nicked a booming drive through to Hope

Rahmanullah Gurbaz plays the fine scoop ( AFP)

in the third over.

But Gurbaz clinically knitted key partnerships together – dominated a 32-run, third wicket stand with Ibrahim Zadran (1), adding 50 for the fourth with Asghar before putting on 26 for the fifth wicket with Najibullah Zadran (14).

He eventually perished in the 17th over, slashing a wide ball from medium pacer Pollard to Keemo Paul at deep point.

West Indies were then put under early pressure when Lendl Simmons (7), in his first West Indies outing in two-and-a-half years, played back to off-spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and was bowled in the third over.

And the tourists found themselves 16 for two in the fourth over when rookie Brandon King (1), for the second straight game, was bowled by an inswinging slower-ball, this time from Naveen.

Hope and Lewis halted the fall of wickets in a 26-run, third wicket stand but the effort required 25 balls and by the time Lewis was hit in front by Janat at the end of the eighth, West Indies were struggling to get out of first gear on 42 for three.

On 63 for three at the halfway stage with a required run rate of nearly 10 per over, West Indies lost Shimron Hetmyer for 11 after he added 38 for the

fourth wicket with Hope, caught at cover trying to go over the top with leg-spinner Rashid Khan in the 13th over.

Pollard’s arrival signalled new hope for the Windies but he hardly played a shot in anger in adding 32 for the fifth wicket with Hope, and the required run rate had risen to nearly 12-½ at the end of the 15th over.

When Pollard finally hit out, he was easily taken in the deep by Najibullah Zadran in the 18th over and with 39 runs needed from the last two overs, Hope drilled pacer Gulbadin Naib to cover at the start of the penultimate over to sound the death knell for his side.

Street ball ‘heavyweights’ shine bright as Rio Indoor Championship continues HEAVYWEIGHTS Sparta Boss, Gold is Money, Future Stars and Leopold Street claimed wins on Saturday in the inaugural Rio Indoor Street-ball championship at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

Witnessed by a sizable gathering, Sparta Boss made light work of Kingston, winning by a 5-0 scoreline.

Veteran forward Gregory Richardson scored a firsthalf hat-trick in the second, sixth and ninth minute. The other two goals came from Dennis Edwards and Deon Alfred in the 13th and 15th minutes respectively.

Also, Gold is Money romped to a 5-0 victory over

Gaza Squad. A hat-trick from Michael Pedro in the fifth, 10th and 12th minutes led the rout, while Keifer Brandt and Jamal Pedro added to the score in the eighth and 13th minutes.

Meanwhile, Leopold Street defeated Broad Street 3-1. Mark Jhalu scored twice in the ninth and 18th minutes while versatile attacker, Okeeny Fraser, scored once in the 16th minute. Akeem Sam netted what proved to be a consolation goal in the opening minute of play.

Future Stars got their campaign off to the perfect start, downing Stabroek Ballers 5-2.

A Kevin Cummings helmet-trick in the ninth, 12th, 14th and 15th minutes,

Sparta Boss’ Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson (with the ball) in full attacking mode during the Rio Indoor Championship at the National Gymnasium.

alongside a Jamal Cozier second-minute conversion secured the win. Seon Taylor netted a brace in the fourth and sixth minutes for the loser. In other results, Showstoppers crushed Al-

bouystown 6-2.

Doubles from Dexroy Adams in the 13th and 15th minutes, Luiroy Nienelder in the seventh and 17th minutes and Delon Lanferman in the sixth and 19th minutes

secured the result.

On target in the loss were Shaka Jones and Devin Dooker in the fifth and eighth minutes respectively.

Sophia got the better of Island All-Stars 3-1. The

trio of Ryan Jeffrey, Joshua Kamal and Mervin Morris scored in the fourth, 12th and 18th minutes respectively.

J. Jones netted for Island All-Stars in the seventh minute. Alexander Village edged Melanie 1-0. Shem Porter scored in the 15th minute.

Action in the tournament continues on November 21st at the same venue with another round of group stage fixtures.

The other sponsors of the event include Eldorado Trading, Unicon Guyana, Truck Masters, Trophy Stall and Banks DIH Ltd under the Guinness brand.

Below features the results from the matches staged.

Windies lose again in rain-hit contest A spirited Indian side held their nerve to pull off a five wicket win over the West Indies ladies as they took the ongoing series 4-0, with a match left.

Rain forced some 11 overs to be shaved off of the original allotment of 20 overs, forcing the encounter to be a 9 overs-per-side affair at the Providence Stadium.

West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews starred with the ball as she bagged 3 for 13 from 2 overs, while

Afy Fletcher took 2 wickets.

Guyanese Sheneta Grimmond bagged her first two international scalps, ending with 2-10, which helped keep India to 50-7 at the end of their 9 overs.

It was a relatively simple chase for the home team who just made an absolute mess of the latter part of the hunt, being kept to 45 for 5 at the end of 9 overs.

India’s Anuja Patel was the star with 2-8, as the pair of Deepti Sharma and Poo-

nam Yadav grabbed a wicket each. Guyanese Shamaine Campbelle was not out on five and Stacy-Ann King on one, as the pair failed to secure the six runs needed for a win.

The Windies batting was led by Matthews who scored 11, Chinelle Henry 11 and Natasha McLean 10, who managed double digits.

When play finally began, India took to the middle after an almost two-hour long pause due to rain. The first

ball was bowled at 16:00hrs and the visitors immediately got off to a flier with Shafali Verma (07) hammering Matthews for a six before being caught in the deep by Henry.

Matthews then landed a brutal double-blow to remove hero from the last match, Jemimah Rodrigues, ((06) and Veda Krishnamurthy (05).

At 20 for 3, Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Sharma sought a more tempered approach following the top-or-

Off-spinner Hayley Matthews finished with a three-wicket

haul.

der collapse before Grimmond removed the latter for four runs.

Kaur fell to Fletcher for six as she and Grimmond managed a few more wick-

ets prior to the end of the first innings. The final match of the T20 series bowls off on Wednesday at 18:00hrs, weather permitting. (Clifton Ross)

King, Maloney, Lindfoot run rampant at Clash of Champions PAGE

19

Hortaio Brown leads the SR3 into turn 1

aces. oup 4 r r g e h t three of won all g in K Andrew

‘Nationals’ officially opened

Tia Azore, Morvin Hamilton take 10K Road Race title

PAGE

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Deshana Skeete of District 10, one of the outstanding athletes at the National School Championship, lighting the Game’s torch.

Reigning Champions Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (District 10) stole the show during the opening ceremony of this year’s National Schools Championship.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019