Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_11_23_2019

SATURDAY 23rd November, 2019

No.105830

$473M asphalt road commissioned in Lethem PAGE

03

- marks the beginning of massive road project in the town

PAGE

02

Back to the drawing board ―Foreign Affairs Minister leads team of foreign envoys to assess flood situation in Mahaicony

PAGE

16

‘Carefully craft your oil and gas laws’

Side Bar **** ‘Carefully craft your oil and gas laws’ …Ghanaian diplomat encourages Guyana **** Joint Services better off with salary increase than one-off bonus -- PNCR

…Ghanaian diplomat encourages Guyana

Joint Services better off with salary increase than one-off bonus ― PNCR

PAGE

09

An aerial view of the newly commissioned Barrack Retreat Corridor road network in Lethem. It is valued at $473M, and according to residents, will make commuting in the town significantly safer and easier (DPI photo)

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 23, 2019

Back to the drawing board -Foreign Affairs Minister leads foreign envoys to assess flood situation at Mahaicony

By Navendra Seoraj AS government works to reduce the effects of flooding in communities along the coast of Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Karen Cummings believes that more can be done with the intervention of the diplomatic community.

Minister Cummings led a team of diplomats to the flood-affected communities, where they were given a first-hand look at how residents were affected by flooding caused by above-normal high tides and a breach in the sea defence from Dantzig to Fairfield. Communities which were affected included Dantzig, Columbia, Glazier’s Lust, Fairfield, High Dam, Rebecca’s Lust and Planters’ Hall.

Indian High Commissioner, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa; Russian Ambassador

to Guyana, Alexander Kurmaz; Organisation of American States Country Representative, Jean Ricot Dormeus; Anthony Mwaniki Muchiri, High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana were among the diplomats present.

“With me I have a team from different parts of the world-- Russia, Mexico, India, Kenya, China and so on…we are here to assess the situation and see the impact of the flood on the communities,” Dr Cummings said, while talking to a resident of Planters’ Hall-- one of the flood-affected communities-- during the visit. The visit was coordinated by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), on Friday.

The minister assured residents that the ministry will work along with the diplomats to bring relief, not just in the short term, but also the long term. She said government

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Karen Cummings and diplomats being briefed about the situation in Region Five (Carl Croker)

is deeply concerned about providing a permanent solution to the issue of flooding.

“As such, we would like to encourage a multi-stakeholder approach to effecting meaningful solu-

tions to residents who are affected,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said, while adding that strategic planning

questioned the NDIA representative about a long-term solution, to which he replied that the authority will soon construct a full rip-rap to the full elevation.

In the interim, a secondary structure (a dam) was built to isolate the breach and ensure that water does not flow through to the villages. The dam is not yet at full height, but when completed, it will be 62 GD (above Georgetown Data). As a temporary solution, the NDIA also installed three pumps in the area.

Although a lot is being done to ensure that there is no recurrence of the disaster, Captain Salim October of the CDC said quite a few residents were affected.

October said approximately 400 households and about 2,300 individuals were affected by flooding. In a breakdown of information on the impact of the disaster, the

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Karen Cummings and diplomats being briefed about the situation in Region Five (Carl Croker)

is needed to address the adverse effects of flooding.

The Foreign Affairs Minister believes that the adverse effects of flooding go far beyond infrastructural damage, because it also poses public health risks.

In that regard, she said it is imperative for government to maintain proper sea defence infrastructure and implement proper drainage mechanisms. This is something which the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) was evidently trying to implement in the Mahaicony area.

NDIA representative Dave Hicks, who briefed the diplomats about ongoing work in the area, said the authority is upgrading about 3km of the sea-defence structure.

Due to the severity of the flooding caused by the breach, the NDIA, in the interest of time, started constructing a rock-face protection – a temporary structure.

“The breach is about 100 metres… and so far we have completed about 1,000 metres of sea defence of the 2,800 metres to be completed… the rains, however, saturated the embankment and did not allow us to reach the breach, but we hope that by mid-December we would complete it,” said Hicks.

Minister Cummings, however

captain said 20 livestock farmers and about 65 cash crop farmers were affected.

“There was a high per capita impact in that area (Region Five) and that is what makes our response much more important as opposed to many other communities across the coastline that would have been impacted,” said October. He added that in addition to Region Five, Regions Two, Three, Four and Six were also affected to some extent.

He said while the population in Region Five is not too large, the per capita impact would have been much higher. October said the effects of the flooding in that area were severe due to lack of maintenance of structures and the unresponsiveness of residents to early warnings.

The CDC, as such, advised residents to build empolderment and relocate their livestock so as to mitigate the effects if another disaster was to occur.

Director-General of the CDC Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig encouraged residents to heed the advice of the CDC in order to prevent a recurrence.

“We have been observing the effects of the situation and I assure you that the CDC will be working with broader stakeholders for long-term solutions,” said Craig.

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

$473 M asphalt road commissioned in Lethem ― marks the beginning of massive road project in the Town

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE first asphalt road to be constructed in Lethem was commissioned on Friday – marking the beginning of an era of transformation for the town, located in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

the town was dubbed the land of dust and slush. Today, that rhetoric has changed, with the construction of one asphalted road. “What we are seeing here, is an attempt to change the landscape of the Central Rupununi and it is no longer dust and slush, but a land where we have proper and

The road forms part of the Government’s national plan for the development of capital towns. Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sidney Allicock, reiterated that though the Government would have declared new capital towns, these towns must be given the due respect with the neces-

Ministers of Government being assisted by a child of Lethem in cutting the ceremonial ribbon to mark the commissioning of the multimillion-dollar asphalt road

The road network valued at $473M was constructed by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, much to the benefit of the residents of Lethem, and, by extension, the entire population of Region Nine.

The road dubbed ‘the Barrack Retreat Corridor’ was deemed safe, comfortable and durable by Region Nine engineer Rafael Lewis. The corridor includes underground drainage, which will allow most of the water to be drained into the Tabatinga Creek as well as two roundabouts. Plans are in the pipeline to furnish it with lights, and to beautify its environs with flowering plants.

The road, which commenced in 2017, was constructed by JR. Ranch and passes through the main commercial center zone of Lethem which connects to the Linden-Lethem, Deep-South Rupununi and Brazil. It was done in three phases and two sections. Prior, the road had two-lanes and was in a deplorable condition, since the laterite base was exposed and there were no drainage works. This resulted in excessive dust and slush in the dry and wet season, respectively. It was converted into a four-lane modern asphalted concrete road, with a comprehensive drainage system and two roundabouts.

It will soon have concrete sidewalks, street lights and landscaping.

In describing how the road has transformed the lives of residents, Regional Executive Officer (REO), Carl Parker, reflected on the early 90s when he moved to Lethem and how

well-constructed roads, sponsored by the Government of Guyana,” the REO said.

A road of this nature, Parker said, is what residents have been pleading for, for decades, because the old deplorable dirt road presented a lot of hardship.

sary infrastructural and social development in place. This he said, is the vision of the brainchild behind capital towns -- President David Granger.

“We have to have these infrastructure in place, because we are asking for communities to develop their agricultural

This gap is being bridged in Lethem and other towns, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, said while noting that his Government is not only about dreaming and talking, but about planning and executing. “Some Governments dream and talk... some Governments dream, talk, plan and then take action.

The APNU-AFC Government thought of taking care of this road, they dreamt of how they are going to do it, they started planning and we have gotten it done,” Trotman said.

The road is in addition to other developments in the township such as a radio station, two roundabouts and portable water. “We are in a better state where infrastructure is concerned, than where we were four years ago,” he posited.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, revealed that the real brainchild behind the road is former Mayor of Lethem, Carlton Beckles, who shared his vision for the township and stood with those responsible, to ensure it came to fruition. Patterson said that the 2.4 km of road, is just a tip of the iceberg for what is coming to Lethem. “This road is part of the overall developmental programme for Lethem.

An aerial view of the roundabout at the newly commissioned Barrack Retreat Corridor road in Lethem (DPI photo)

He explained that vehicle owners expended a significant amount of monies on maintenance and servicing, which was replicated in market prices. It was also a burden on the health system, since many residents contracted respiratory diseases because of the excessive dust, amongst other things. “I am certain that this sort of road, will be extended to other parts of the Rupununi as well....we thank you for starting a process, that we have been crying for since in the 80’s. I want to urge you residents to care this road; guard it with your life,” Parker said.

produce, tourism products and other activities and for them to be successful, there must be easy access to these communities. Lethem is going to be a town that is going to shine, that is going to develop,” Allicock posited.

Government, he posited, is establishing a smooth pathway for the massive development that will strike the town, when oil production commences.

The Vice President also described the thoroughfare as a reflection of the Government’s insistence, that the hinterland and the coastland, must share the same level of development.

The APNU-AFC Government sees Lethem as our Mecca of the South. This is only the very first piece of the project.

Going on, the internal roads, the remainder of the roads will continue in 2020 and beyond. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure will continue to build asphalted concrete roads in Lethem, 1-.5 km, per year, until every street in Lethem is fully paved and this will be inclusive of drainage,” Patterson revealed to loud applause.

He also used the opportunity to highlight the developmental projects that are in the pipeline for national de-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo addressing the audience at the commissioning ceremony for the multimillion-dollar road network

velopment. These include the Linden-Lethem Highway, the construction of a new airdrome and a solar farm.

In his feature address, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, endorsed the project as the start of a transformation from ‘bush’, to where persons will identify it as the connection point to the rest of South America. Nagamootoo described the moves as exponential development which will only get better with oil resources. He spoke of potable water that has come to the town, the construction of an industrial site which will enable the Rupununi to market its own products competitively. “Today you can boast about potable water in the Rupununi, we can talk about health facilities being improved, we can talk about educational standards being improved, more children are passing with higher grades.........you could imagine, when the oil revenues start in a matter of days... more would be invested in the education of our children in the hinterland areas, including

the Rupununi,” Nagamootoo posited.

No doubt, the coalition government would have brought about an improved quality of life for residents in the Rupununi and by extension, all across Guyana. “This is an administration of quality, it is an administration of character, it is an administration with a difference, it cannot be compared with any other and will never be compared with any other.” In this regard, the Prime Minister urged residents to believe in the government, as the government would have believed in them.

The ceremony was then followed by the ceremonial ribbon cutting by ministers and government officials who were present. These also included Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally; Ministers within the Ministries of Communities, Public Infrastructure and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs; Annette Ferguson, Jaipaul Sharma and Valarie Garrido-Lowe.

The official commissioning plaque, was then unveiled by the ministers.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 23, 2019

Trump says envoy Marie Yovanovitch refused to hang his photo (BBC) President Donald Trump has pilloried an envoy who testified in the impeachment inquiry, claiming she refused to hang his photo in the US embassy in Ukraine.

Mr Trump told Fox News’ morning show former ambassador Marie Yovanovitch “didn’t want to hang my picture in the embassy” in Kyiv.

The president did not offer further details about the matter.

Ms Yovanovitch testified last week that she was fired over “false claims” by people with “questionable motives”.

She was one of 12 witnesses to testify over the last fortnight in the impeachment inquiry, which may seek to remove the president from office for alleged corruption.

What did Trump say on Fox? In a phone call to Fox and Friends on Friday morning, Mr Trump defended the removal of Ms Yovanovitch.

“This ambassador, who everybody says was so wonderful,” Mr Trump said, “she wouldn’t hang my picture in the embassy.

“She’s in charge of the embassy, it took, like, a year and a half, two years.”

Mr Trump added: “She said bad things about me, she wouldn’t defend me, and I have the right to change the ambassador.

“The standard is you put the president of the United States’ picture in the embassy,” he continued. “This was not an angel, this woman, OK?” It was not the first time the Republican president has attacked Ms Yovanovitch.

He lambasted her in a tweet while she was testifying last Friday - a move that Democrats argued amounted to witness intimidation.

Why was Marie Yovanovitch fired?

The 33-year veteran of the foreign service was recalled as the American ambassador to Kyiv in May for reasons that remain murky.

She testified that her anti-corruption efforts had incurred the ire of influential Ukrainians who sought to remove her.

Ms Yovanovitch said she was shocked that her enemies appeared to find allies in the Trump administration, including the president’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.

The former envoy’s supporters say she was also smeared by US conservative media voices.

In her testimony, Ms Yovanovitch said the allegation she was disloyal to Mr Trump was false.

Why is Congress investigating Trump?

The US president is accused of withholding US military aid to pressure Ukraine into investigating his domestic political rival.

At the heart of the impeachment inquiry is a phone call on 25 July this year between Mr Trump and Ukraine’s newly elected president.

On the call, Mr Trump urged his counterpart to look into unsubstantiated corruption claims against Democratic White House contender Joe Biden.

Mr Trump’s critics say this alleged political pressure on a vulnerable US ally amounted to abuse of power.

What else did Trump say on Fox? The president spent a significant portion of Friday’s television interview discussing a conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine - not Russia - meddling in the US 2016 presidential election.

These claims were branded “a fictional narrative” by one of Thursday’s impeachment witnesses, former White House intelligence official

and Russia expert Fiona Hill.

She warned elected officials not to promote “politically driven falsehoods” that seek to cast doubt on Russia’s alleged interference in US elections.

For almost an hour on Fox News, Donald Trump shared conspiracy theories about Ukrainian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, again attacked a decorated former US ambassador and suggested a foreign service officer at the US embassy in Ukraine was lying under oath.

And those were just the bullet-point highlights.

It was yet further evidence that the president’s take diverges entirely from the testimony of witnesses in the public impeachment hearings and the accounts reported in the mainstream US media.

Mr Trump, for instance, was adamant that a 26 July phone call between himself and Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU who was in Kiev at the time, “never took place”.

It was during this call - confirmed by Mr Sondland himself - that witness David Holmes testified on Thursday that the president asked about Ukrainian “investigations” the day after Mr Trump had told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden.

Critics will pick apart the president’s comments, but if there’s one thing clear after nearly three years of this presidency, when Mr Trump asserts his defence repeatedly and vociferously, his supporters and the Republican party back him up, no matter what fact-checkers may say.

What next with the impeachment inquiry?

After sprinting through seven public hearings with 12 witnesses over five days, the House of Representatives’ Intelligence Committee is now writing a report to submit to the Judiciary Committee.

The Judiciary Committee is expected to begin drafting articles of impeachment - which are the charges of wrongdoing against the president - in early December.

After a vote in the Democratic-controlled House, a trial would be held in the Republican-run Senate.

If Mr Trump was convicted by a two-thirds majority - an outcome deemed highly unlikely - he would become the first US president to be removed from office through impeachment.

The White House and some Republicans want the trial to be limited to two weeks.

20-11-2019

03 06 10 13 18 20 21

K

22-11-2019

01 03 08 11 13

01 08 15 18 21

066

644

02 05 06 07 11

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 23, 2019

T&T Marijuana activist: Praise Jah! (TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) MARIJUANA advocate Nazma Muller welcomed the Attorney General’s promise of legislation to decriminalise marijuana by declaring, “Praise Jah! Finally!”

She spoke to Newsday on Friday, the day after AG Faris Al-Rawi told a PNM rally at La Horquetta that two marijuana bills would be laid in the House of Representatives on Friday.

Reflecting on her weekly vigil every Friday outside Parliament, she said her campaign to get politicians to act had been like pulling teeth and watching paint dry.

“It is so long overdue.

I’m going to Parliament today to hear about the provisions for 30-60 grammes and the $50,000 fine.”

Muller told Newsday the amount being decriminalised for personal use, 30 grammes, was one ounce, which can make 24 spliffs.

“We will protest the $50,000 fine (for 30-60 grammes).”

She said the fine in Jamaica is about $30 (or Ja$100).

Muller said she wanted to see the parliamentary debate which would eventually follow after the AG laid the bills.

“It’s definitely a step in the right direction. I don’t

Nazma Mullet and Angel Halo call for the legisation of marijuana outside of Parliament on Friday. - Ayanna Kinsale

know how quickly things will happen.”

She vowed to form a union of ganja farmers, to include members from areas such as Moruga and Paramin. This group will link local marijuana farmers to their regional counterparts and seek to access subsidies, training and access roads, so as to be a part of the TT economy.

“It is a $1 billion industry, which will see the transformation of the Caribbean.”

Muller hoped to be part

of a Caribbean delegation to the United Nations to grapple with the Single Narcotics Treaty whose restrictions she said might stop a marijuana industry taking off in the Caribbean, unlike the success of bigger nations like Canada and Uruguay.

She saw marijuana bringing many spinoff benefits to the Caribbean, such as replenishing the soil of Haiti and replacing Styrofoam with hemp containers.

“It will bring a greener

Caribbean.”

Muller vowed to bargain hard for TT to be included in the Caribbean marijuana industry.

Hailing a global shift in attitude towards marijuana, she said it was now time for the local authorities to get their priorities straight.

Muller said her next campaign will be to curb child abuse in its many forms, including alleged psychological abuse resulting from the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam.

T&T: Police rescue 70-year-old kidnapped Point Fortin woman (TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) A 70-year-old Point Fortin businesswoman who was bound and blindfolded after being robbed, was rescued by police officers shortly after she was abducted from her Clifton Hill home on Thursday night.

Three suspects were held after they crashed her vehicle, a white X-5 BMW, into a sign post on a deadend street near the Point Fortin RC Primary School at Mahaica shortly after 7 pm.

Two suspects, a 27-year old of Point Fortin who was held with the keys to the car and a 17-year-old from Couva who had cash and jewellery in his possession, were held and the hunt is on for others, including three Venezuelans, police said.

Two police officers are being credited with the quick rescue and capture of the suspects.

According to reports, the officers were on patrol in an unmarked vehicle when they saw the luxury car being driven in an erratic manner in the residential area.

When the car turned into a back road, the police called for backup and gave chase.

The police turned on the siren in their vehicle and gave chase as the abductors drove off. The chase ended at Sargeant Street.

As the car came to a forceful stop after hitting the sign post, two of the abductors jumped out and ran.

The frail, frightened woman was rescued from the back seat. She suffered minor injuries to her ankle and was taken to the area hospital where she was treated and discharged. A small quantity of cash, including foreign currency, and jewellery were recovered.

The woman was able to tell police that as she was about to enter her home she was grabbed by the men who were waiting for her. They forced her into her home where they grabbed jewellery and a small quantity of cash. They also took her cell phone and demanded that she call her son so they could demand a ransom.

She was then bound and blindfolded and thrown into her car.

Police officers from the Task Force, CID, Point Fortin police, ERP and Special Operations Response Team (SORT) were involved in the exercise.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 23, 2019

Meeting the people

DIRECT democracy is the oldest form of democratic engagement; it was used in what we now call Ancient Civilisations. This form of engagement allowed for citizens to be directly involved in the decision-making of their communities.

As the Western World moved from smaller city-states to larger nation-states, it moved away from direct democracy to a more indirect or representative democracy, whereby citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

The void was ostensibly filled by local government or local democracy. But this level of engagement, over time, also became a product of indirect democracy. One of the consequences of this development was that the practice of meeting to discuss and pronounce on public affairs became less and less a staple of the democratic process.

Here in Guyana, modern political engagement has been characterised by the public meeting, where leaders and parties summon the people to the street-corners to engage in political discourse. But this discourse has been more a one-way communication, where the leaders speak with little or no opportunity for dialogue with the citizens.

Usually, these meetings are effective in mobilising large numbers of citizens in one place as a show of partisan strength, and in whipping up political fever among the people. The public meeting, therefore, has its usefulness as a mobilisation tool, but is less effective as a form of serious two-way dialogue between the governors and the governed.

The smaller bottom-house or school-house meetings, which has also been a part of mass engagement in Guyana, is theoretically more suited to two-way dialogue. But, in practice, it serves the same function as the street-corner meetings. It is a more clandestine form of mobilisation, where leaders take the liberty of saying things which could not be uttered at the public meetings. While there is some degree of participation by the audience, such participation is less about the concerns of the citizens, and more about political competition and party solidarity.

There is, therefore, a void in the political process as far as genuine opportunities for civic dialogue between the governors and the governed are concerned. In the age of technology

and the electronic and social media, even the public and bottom-house meetings are becoming less and less frequent. But, effective as these media are in meeting people, they cannot be substitutes for real face-to-face two-way engagement. At least, not yet.

Here in Guyana, governance has been negatively affected by this lack of genuine engagement with the people in between elections. This robs the governors of the opportunity to feel the pulse of citizens. In a culture where instant polls are not a staple, this distance from people could lead to errors in political judgement, as governments often find out that their policy initiatives are out of step with the thinking of the people. The other negative consequence of the lack of direct engagement is that there is little opportunity for the people to lodge complaints and concerns about developments in their communities directly to government leaders. This often leads to alienation on the part of citizens who inevitably feel that their input and concerns are not important enough to those who govern.

In light of the above, it is heartening to see government ministers in ‘fan-outs’ across the country. Some may see this as elections campaigning, but it is also an important part of governance, where our leaders get first-hand opportunities to meet the people and hear their concerns. From the reports on the ground, the current outreaches are not the typical ones we saw under the previous administration, where the leaders were asking for votes; these engagements, instead, have been genuine meetings where the concerns of citizens were paramount. Often, all our people want is a hearing; an opportunity to look the bosses in the eye and relate their concerns. This vital aspect of democratic engagement should be further encouraged. Witnessing our Government Minsters in the public arena, not looking for votes or shaking hands for the cameras, but instead, tending to the flock would lift the quality of our democracy. Critically, we also have been witnessing the ministers engaging citizens all across the country, and not traditionally the constituency of the governing parties. All of Guyana deserves to see and feel government in the flesh.

GECOM will deliver credible General and Regional Elections

Dear Editor,

THE Guyana Elections Commission has noted with deep concern a letter authored by one Dr. Annie Baliram and published in the Guyana Times and Kaieteur News respectively on Wednesday, November20, 2019.

Dr. Baliram, in her writing, sought to create an impression that GECOM cannot be trusted. Any right thinking person who reads the contents of that letter would therefore conclude that Annie Baliram herself cannot be trusted. While Dr. Baliram has the right to express her views openly, her articulation on any matter election related should be factual and not a set of sensational lines that attempts to discredit the work of the Guyana Elections

Commission.

GECOM has no obligation to dance to the rhythm of a few, including Annie Baliram, with clandestine motives and mischievous agendas. The work of the Guyana Elections Commission is guided by the Constitution of Guyana, and all that is procedurally required for the conduct of free, fair and credible General and Regional Elections is guided by the Laws of Guyana. GECOM does not serve the interest of any one political party as Dr. Baliram suggests in her letter.

This nation is guaranteed that free, fair and credible elections will be held on March 2, 2020.

It is clear from the letter that Dr. Baliram does not really understand how elections are conducted and the multiple levels of safeguards in

place, otherwise words such as ‘rigging’ would not even be part of her vocabulary.

The credibility of GECOM to conduct free and fair elections was buttressed by the conduct of Local Government Elections 2018. I therefore wish to provide clarity for the readers, and Dr. Baliram in particular, so that in her awkward admiration of GECOM going forward, letters to the editor will be from an informed perspective.

This Commission does not function in chaos.

GECOM cannot approve everyone who knocks without fully working through all the details. It would be reckless for GECOM to respond to the whims and fancies of every shout at this critical juncture and operationalise activities blindly. Editor, GECOM

welcomes the presence of both local and international observers, advisors and technical officers. Dr. Baliram should interest herself in the constitutional provisions for accreditation of international and domestic observers. However, there are statutory procedures to be followed and timelines to be observed. To date, GECOM has taken every step to ensure that General and Regional Elections 2020 are transparent and credible. Justice Claudette Singh is competent enough to preside over an election, and will do so without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

Yours sincerely, Yolanda Ward Public Relations Officer Guyana Elections Commission

The young man laughing at UG would learn karmic debt Dear Editor, I WOULD like to remind young people in Guyana that even though Guyana is a small country, uploading racist videos can lead to international consequences due to the global reach of the Internet, and the global trend of racist extremism posing a major problem in the First World countries.

I am thousands of miles away, living in a country which has a growing problem of racist groups who contend that Canada belongs to them, and they are pushing for violence and genocide towards Jewish people and non-whites. Yet, as someone who has a sense of humour, I found it very disgraceful that a young man published statements implying that young men of African ancestry pursuing an education at UG are considered villains for picking up money from the ground.

Do you know what this reminds me of?

The way of thinking which leads to American police ending up murdering unarmed African-American males at traffic stops and unconstitutional police questioning.

To propagate a negative stereotype that such men have a propensity to commit crimes, even when pursing higher education, is nothing but something from the European See page 7

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 23, 2019

What is driving the appearance of new political parties?

Dear Sir, I HAVE to begin by saying that this letter is neither an attempt to criticise any individual, group or organization, nor an effort to dumb down the valuable contributions, or cancel out the earned respect of those seeking political office in Guyana.

Rather, it is an approach to deeply observe the unfolding political architecture of Guyana, and offer comments on its ever changing never changing nature. It is really important, because such comments can serve as markers on our political landscape as we move forward as a young fledgling democracy.

In a democracy, every citizen has certain basic rights and obligations including: political and other freedoms, access to information, equality, participation, and compliance with the rule of law. However, I shall comment on just one of those rights: Participation. This includes the right to vote, run for office and participate in political discourse. Under this right, I will pay attention to the right to run for office, because it is the pentacle and most scrutinised of all political rights. I suppose one reason for that is the fact that political office has the power not only to influence the personal development of citizens but also the progress and advancement of an entire nation. It is about power, control and the allocation of vast national resources.

It is true that within recent times, this right seems to have caught the attention of new political aspirants. As a result, there has been the emergence of not a few new political parties. There could be others before general and regional elections in March 2020. This is testimony to the health of our democracy. More importantly, it is good when individuals want to, and offer themselves to serve in the interest of the State.

It is also good when individuals challenge the status quo. It is said that people who are crazy enough to believe that they can change the world usually do. History is replete with examples of such persons.

Whilst citizens have the right to run for office, those who are being asked to elect them also have the equal right to ask searching questions of the political process.

Let us consider three such questions that are likely to be on the minds of citizens: What is driving the formation and rise of new political parties? What are the implications for the two main political parties [PNCR and PPP/C] in Guyana? What are the implica-

tions for our wider political landscape?

So what is driving the appearance of new political parties? There are a number of drivers that are motivating individuals to vie for political leadership. These include: Political ambition, unfulfilled expectations, perceived inequality, perceived prospect of electoral success, and the Internet. Since communication and information are central to all other drivers, I would like to look at the thing that facilitates these processes: The Internet. Two points here: 1. It is discentered, inexpensive, fast and navigable.

These qualities of the Internet have levelled the playing field for all political actors of big and small parties. This allows them leverage to the same audiences across time and space with their messaging and messages with minimum financial and administrative resources. There are numerous case studies on the use of the Internet by political parties and organisations and how it has aided in the political process.

It encourages social networking and social blogging. This can be done by the use of a mobile phone. The number of mobile cellular subscriptions in Guyana is about 650, 000. This demonstrates the potential available to small parties to reach vast and various audiences. This facility can also shape and reshape groups with specific issues and interests associated with parties.

Second, what are the implications for the two main parties? Understanding the historical political context of Guyana, one would recognise that the main parties are not only well established but have proven track records with their bases. More, in addition to the Internet and its tools, they have available to them substantial resources to reach out to local communities. They have the advantage of working and grounding with citizens in all ten administrative regions of Guyana; they can contest in all of the regions. It is important to note that one of the critical elements that is absent from technological-mediated communication is the human touch. However, the two main parties keep this within their portfolios through interpersonal communication with activities such as door- to-door campaigns, outreaches and other public-relations strategies.

Statistics would reveal that with the twoparty system, the PNCR and PPP/C have been dominating the political scene since the 50s. This has left very little space for the survival of third parties. Even when they manage to rally on, third parties continue to attract residue votes, which tamper with

The young man laughing ...

White nationalist playbook.

Except that the young man laughing at UG would learn karmic debt when he migrates to the First World, and ends up being lumped together with the hostility towards Arab and North African men.

The young man in the video is laughing now, but what will he do when he migrates to the First World, and the racism from the supremacists affects him negatively?

He will be crying into the phone lines of President Granger’s office, begging to

From page 6

return home (like many Guyanese in the Diaspora wish to do, but are ashamed to return home like a pauper). Lots of Guyanese who were once staunch opponents of former President Forbes Burnham have expressed a desire to retire in Guyana today, oil or no oil, even with President Granger ruling the country. To quote Buju Banton, “Who feels it, knows it”.

Regards, R. Hamid

hopes of any such party acting as a strong and challenging force to the two main political rivals.

Again, PNCR and PPP/C benefited and continue to benefit immensity from decades of information on various aspects of the state, knowledge of the nuances of local cultures and indispensable experience in government and governance. These are necessary qualities that come with time and maturity; they cannot be inculcated in the collective consciousness of political parties overnight or in one or even two political seasons. It is these very qualities that facilitate reciprocal, but most times asymmetrical, relationships between parties and their members, and keep them afloat and accord leader’s prospects of electoral success.

In addition, there are entrenched political attitudes, views, and voting behaviours of citizens that are influenced by patterns of ethnic and generational thinking. These are shaped by certain cultural elements, belief systems, stories passed on by elders to younger generations, fears, benefits and realities as experienced by citizens under the rule of one of either of the two political parties or both. These all conspire to condition otherwise inexplicable traditional voting patterns.

Over the years, with new young Guyanese voters and the move towards coalition government these patterns appear to be changing but not fast enough or sufficient in substance to affect the political cultures and therefore bases of the two main political parties. It is therefore not unthinkable that

when the rallying cries are heard from the city to the far flung remote villages of this country by the leaders of the PNCR and the PPP/C, party faithfuls will rush to their bases to cast their votes. It is my studied view that unless there is a collective paradigm shift caused by some sudden seismic event in our Guyanese society traditional voting patterns will be perpetually sustained.

Therefore, the implication of the rise of the new array of small parties on the two main political giants are twofold: it can serve as a strong motivating force for the guardians of the two established parties to be on high alert, to discourage dissenting voices from within and encourage loyalty and commitment to core values and principles of parties. Also, it can work as a solidifying force for the strong bases of PNCR and PPP/C, raises greater awareness of individual and collective roles of members in helping those political organizations to achieve goals.

On the wider political landscape new parties would refashion the outlook of the scene. It also provides scope for new ideas and thinking; more options and wider variety of choices; and opportunity for new political alliances. Also, it would bolster our democratic credentials as a nation. Parties are formed and reformed at the instant of their leaders without let or hinderance by anyone. They express themselves freely and enjoy all the rights available in a democratic society.

Regards Royston King

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

Educational institutions better positioned to analyse local job market ― having completed ILO skills anticipation training

Dr. Hassan Bata Ndahi, Senior Specialist for Skills and Employability at the ILO’s Caribbean Office (third from right); and BIT Chief Executive Officer, Richard Maughn (left), pose with some of the participants of the Workshop (Elvin Croker photo)

By Tamica Garnett TECHNICAL, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and other educational institutions, are now better positioned to evaluate the quality and quantity of current and future jobs needed in the Guyana employment market.

This is as a result of the successful completion of a fourday International Labour Organisation (ILO) Skills Anticipation Training Workshop that concluded last Thursday at the Cara Lodge. With the skills garnered, personnel within these institutions can now craft coordinated educational programmes in response to the needs of the job market.

The training aimed to better align skills available in Guyana with skills demanded in varying employment industries in the country, thereby allowing institutions to put in place necessary programmes where deficits exist.

“They would be able to provide information to universities to start programmes. Then we are going to be able to have those skills here in Guyana rather than the skills coming from somewhere else,” said Dr. Hassan Bata Ndahi, Senior Specialist for Skills and Employability at the ILO’s Caribbean Office.

Dr. Ndahi was one of the facilitators at the workshop, which was conducted with a particular focus on oil and gas and the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

“This particular course is to give the knowhow to finding exactly what are the occupational areas that are needed in oil and gas, what are the skills, and whether they now need to develop programmes in their technical institutions and partic-

ular at the university,” Ndahi shared following the conclusion of the programme.

“Right now to say what are the jobs that are needed? They are not very clear. What are the skills that are needed? They are not very clear. This information they have will enable them to go back now and be able to say these are the things that we need to know, do we know these things? And they can begin to find out information on those needs,” he further explained.

The workshop was funded by the ILO and coordinated by the Council for TVET, in collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

“This training initiative that we would’ve embarked on over the past four days will help us to be able to make wise use of government resources when we are implementing training programmes, having programmes that are relevant to our economy,” said BIT Chief Executive Officer, Richard Maughn.

“Things that we do in today’s society need to be driven from data and data analysis. Our economy is currently being driven by the oil and gas sector and our society is also being directed by the GSDS; these two factors dictate that we be very direct in what we are doing when it comes to training.

The skills that we the participants would’ve acquired over the last few days will help us to do just that,” he added.

The workshop, which began on Monday, was attended by 42 participants from BIT, Government Technical Institute (GTI), Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC), Council for TVET, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Social Protection, Ministry of Business and a contingent from the

Cayman Islands. The workshop was mainly for instructors and curriculum developers from educational institutions.

With Guyana said to be on the cusp of transformation into a petroleum state and a ‘green’ economy, the training focused on the challenges that confront the country, and outlined what is required to meet the needs during the transition.

Without a proper understanding of the skills needed, training institutions could produce an overload of a particular skill, inundating the market and contributing to unemployment.

“Generating skill for employment is not the same as randomly generating skills. Training institutions are contributing largely, in some cases, to unemployment by generating particular skills in excess of what the labour market can absorb.

A more proactive approach and solution to this problem is utilising the critical unemployment data, such as market information survey, internal tracer studies and other sources of data to identify skill gaps, skill shortages and skills in excess,” explained Rondell Jorden, a Mechanical Engineer and Senior Technical Officer, who participated in the workshop.

“We welcome this knowledge transfer over the past four days and we want to assure the ILO that it will be largely integrated into our programme planning,” he said.

Other participants of the venture resoundingly agreed that the workshop had accomplished its objectives.

“What we have learned here was timely for the institutions at this time when we are tasked with developing and aligning with the emerging oil and gas. Collecting data is important in knowing how to make our programmes more relevant,” said GITC Administrator, Dextor Cornet.

Mother of three killed in minibus crash Rose Hall man succumbs to TWO minibus drivers are in police custody, after a bus ‘turned turtle’ on the De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara (WCD) public road, Friday morning, killing a mother of three.

Dead is 31-year-old Reshma Ramotar of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). She was travelling in minibus PEE 1243 with her children – ages one, six and eight – along with her 36-year-old husband, Ravin Duke, when the accident occurred.

Reports indicate that both minibuses were proceeding east on the northern side of the road. However,

mini bus PEE 1243 was reportedly travelling at the rear of mini bus BGG 8917, at a high rate of speed, and attempted to overtake it.

While overtaking, an unknown vehicle which was proceeding from the opposite direction caused PEE 1243 to swerve north resulting in a collision with the right side of minibus BGG 8917.

This caused minibus PEE 1243 to ‘turn turtle’, crashing into a nearby grass parapet.

The occupants were taken out of minibus PEE 1243 and rushed to Leonora Cottage Hospital with Ramotar

in an unconscious state.

Reports revealed that she received injuries to her head and other parts of her body. She was later referred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where she was further examined by a doctor on duty who pronounced her dead, while she was receiving medical attention.

The body of Ramotar was taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home.

The other occupants received minor injuries and were treated and kept for observation. Both drivers are in custody assisting with investigation.

abdominal stab wound

A BERBICE businessman is assisting sleuths with the investigation into the death of Wesley Harry known as Blackmoore, of Independence Arch Road, Rose Hall town, who succumbed at the New Amsterdam Hospital, following an abdominal stab wound.

Consequently, a post mortem examination conducted by Dr Nehaul Singh, on Friday, revealed that death was due to stab wound which resulted in septicemia (blood

poisoning, especially caused by bacteria or their toxins).

Following the autopsy report, the suspect was accompanied by his lawyer to the Regional Criminal Investigation Headquarters in New Amsterdam, where a file was prepared for advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.

According to reports, on November 11, Harry, 49, went to a “short time hotel” and bar operated by the suspect at Independence Arch

thoroughfare. However, an argument began and the visitor was ordered to leave.

But a scuffle ensued, resulting in a single stab wound to Harry’s abdomen.

The injured man was taken to the New Amsterdam hospital where he remained a patient until his death on November 15.

The 49-year-old businessman will know his fate when the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution is received.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

Upper Mazaruni residents benefit from two-day health outreach ―call for more frequent, longer visits of doctors and health officials

RESIDENTS of Upper Mazaruni on Thursday and Friday benefitted from a two-day health outreach held by the Ministry of Public Health.

The outreach was held at the Upper Mazaruni District Hospital where several pregnant women, children, men and elderly persons benefited from ultrasound tests, eye screening, blood pressure testing, HIV testing, blood sugar testing, mental health counselling and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA).

Harold Browne, the Toshao of Jawalla, a village approximately 30 miles away from Kamarang, stated that there have been several outreaches in the past, and commended the government’s interest in the health of the people in the Mazaruni area.

“The government’s initiative for health in this area has been a tremendous thing, in the sense that we haven’t had resident doctors here for the past 51 years. As an independent nation, we haven’t had that kind of outreach, and with the recent initiative, we have

town, if we had the x-ray department right here,” he said.

He is also calling for the regional hospital in Upper Mazaruni to be upgraded, in terms of having its own laboratory and x-ray and ultrasound specialists so that residents in such areas do not have to travel to Georgetown to see said specialists.

Clyde Henry, the former Toshao of Waramadong, who

are coming up, we were able to make arrangements. And therefore we are here.”

Henry said he must commend the government for bringing this kind of programme, as it is beneficial to the residents of the Upper Mazaruni Region.

“It’s very good, and I know that that was their pledge, and I’m pleased to know that they are doing their

Toshao of Jawalla, Harold Browne

resident doctors coming in to Kamarang, Jawalla, Paruima, Waramadong and other places. So that in itself speaks volumes for health within our area,” Toshao Browne said.

He also noted that while the government’s initiative is appreciated, there is still a lot more that needs to be done in the interior region.

“We need additional input here now. For instance, our people here still have to fly to Georgetown. For instance, if we had a little fracture, we don’t need to go to George-

An optometrist screening the eyes of an Upper Mazaruni resident

Clyde Henry, the former Toshao of Waramadong

One of the specialists attending to a resident of the Upper Mazaruni Region

journeyed with the residents to the neighbouring village of Kamarang for the outreach, noted that while the ministry’s initiative is well appreciated, there is still a lot more work to be done in the interior region relating to health.

“I must say how thankful I am to be a part of the team that came here this morning.

In fact, I was the driver. For your information, we have to arrange ourselves to be here, and it’s time-consuming. So therefore, we are thankful to be present, because we are in need of such health facilities in the Upper Mazaruni,” Henry said, adding: “And when we got the news that doctors and specialists in different fields

part,” he stated.

Royston George, another resident of Waramadong, who journeyed the 30 miles to Kamarang for the health outreach, expressed immense pleasure at the government’s initiative to host such health outreaches in the Upper Mazaruni Region. His only problem, however, is that he wished they were longer and not just a few days. He feels that ideally, they should be held for at least a week or two, so that persons who are bedridden and are living in more far-out areas can see the medical specialists and doctors when they visit the area.

A pregnant Sherena Robert, who hails from Warama-

were better off with just a “one-off” Christmas bonus in December.

“Under the PPP increases were lower, which meant that they would have been getting a smaller “bonus” because they were getting a much lower salary than they now receive. In the present situation they have a higher salary.

Retroactive, tax-free money that is more than they would have ever received under the PPP,” Norton argued.

“The political hypocrites are now promising to restore the Joint services bonus.

What the PPP conveniently failed to explain to members of the Joint Services was that when you get a bonus, your salaries do not go up and in the long term you will be worse off since your pension and other benefits do not go up with a bonus. Pensions and allowances only go up with increased wages and salaries. The PPP therefore conned the Joint Services and wants to continue their con game. We will not allow that to happen. Under

the APNU+AFC the Joint services will continue to receive real increases in wages and salaries, allowances and better working conditions,” the PNCR executive member further added.

The “Christmas bonus” was given only to members of the joint services and not all public servants. Over the years, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has criticised the bonus, stressing that the PPP used the bonus as a means of dividing government employees. A point reiterated by Norton.

“What the PPP is calling a Joint service bonus, is a scheme that was devised by them to divide public servants by giving all of them low wages while giving a one-month salary increase to the joint services, so that they felt contented,” Norton posited.

“THE PNCR wishes to applaud President David Granger and the APNU+AFC for promoting and protecting the interest of the Guyanese worker and for eliminating

dong, commended the government for taking the initiative it did, but wished the outreaches could be more frequent and longer.

Robert said that several pregnant women like herself were able to benefit tremendously from such services as ultrasound, which they would not usually get in the Upper Mazaruni area.

However, she noted that

because of the distance they have to travel, several bedridden persons and children who have to attend school were unable to make the journey to see the doctor, because they have to travel for hours, sometimes days, and by boat. Hence she stated that the outreaches should be longer and more frequent so that everyone may be able to see the doctors and specialists when they visit.

Clifford Melvin a resident of Kamarang expressed immense gratitude the government for its interest in relation to health in the Upper Mazaruni region however, he added that the health outreaches should be held for more than just two days perhaps five days or two weeks, because majority of the villages in the Mazaruni area are scattered and far apart.

Over 700 residents of the Upper Mazaruni region were seen by doctors and specialists, diagnosed and given medication during the two-day health outreach.

Residents of Kamarang and neighbouring villages gathered in the waiting area of the Upper Mazaruni Hospital

Joint Services better off with salary increase than one-off bonus ― PNCR WITH year-end retroactive, tax-free salary increases, members of the Joint Services receive more money in the long term, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Executive Member Aubrey Norton said as he rubbished claims that the Joint Services were better off receiving a one-off bonus.

“Under this APNU+AFC government, members of the Joint services can now look forward to a better life after retirement. Members of the Joint Services are now better off since they have higher salaries and as a result, will have higher pensions and other benefits,” Norton said during the PNCR’s weekly press conference at Congress Place on Friday.

“Salaries for junior ranks in the services have increased by more than 60 per cent and all ranks have benefitted from significant increase in wages and payments, and their take home pay is much more than what it was under the PPP,” Norton told reporters.

The APNU+AFC Government earlier this month announced 8.5 – 9 percent pay increases for public servants, including those of the Joint Services, with all increases being tax-free and retroactive to January 1, 2019. The minimum wage was increased from $64,200 to $70,000.

PNC Executive Aubrey Norton

Though it gave only between 5 and 8 per cent salary increases during its tenure in government, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), led

by Bharat Jagdeo, is contending that the Joint services

the division that the PPP promoted among public servants. All workers are being treated equally under this government,” he added.

In addition to the taxfree, retroactive salary increases, there were also a number of increases in allowances for health sector workers. Station allowances will be increased by over 260 per cent from $2,800 to $10,000; hinterland allowances will be increased by between 100 per cent and 600 percent; risk allowance was increased by 900 percent from $500 to $5000; uniform allowance for health sector workers will be increased from $13,000 and $22,135 to $15,000 and $30,000; and on-call allowance for doctors will also be increased.

According to Norton, in addition to low salaries, the Joint Services were starved of resources.

“They were busy colluding with drug lords, criminalising the state and starving the same joint services of the training, resources

and remuneration necessary to maintain law and order.

The coalition government has reversed that trend. Our Joint Services are now better equipped, better trained and better paid to serve and protect the people of Guyana,” Norton said.

“In response to President David Granger and the APNU+AFC successes in every sector in the last four years, the PPP is promising all sorts of things that they cannot deliver because they are incompetent and corrupt and will squander Guyana’s resources rather than invest in the people and the development of our country. With a higher threshold and the reduction in personal income tax, our workers’ real wages and salaries have increased significantly. Guyanese know that Guyana is on the right path and they will therefore return president David Granger and the APNU+AFC to government in 2020,” Norton further said.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

First women chamber in the Caribbean launched

By Tamica Garnett

THE Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG) – the first of its kind in the Caribbean – was officially launched, on Thursday evening, at the Pegasus Hotel.

The chamber, which was established last July, is headed by WCCIG co-founder and President, Kerensa Gravesande-Bart.

“Women should not wait for others to create better opportunities for themselves and their families. It is important for women to join forces to overcome these obstacles by creating organisations that span economic opportunities for all women.

Hence, the WCCIs are prime examples of such organisations as they foster the participation of women by working to establish an inclusive entrepreneurial system,” Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen, said as she delivered the fea-

ture address.

“In a world where equity and access to resources are still part of our daily challenge as women and public policies are not where they should be regarding gender equity, empowerment, and

creating more women-friendly business platforms, it is my profound hope that the WCCIG champions women’s inclusion in businesses,” she added.

The launch was also held on the same day as the launch

of the 2020 Women in Business Expo, which, for the past five years, has been providing a platform for women businesses to showcase their products, and provide measures to helping them improve their craft.

The WCCIG executives. From left: Jennifer Cipriani, ACME Marketing Consultancy; Anije Lambert, Managing Director/Researcher at Professional Development Consultants; Tamara Khan, Attorney-at-Law; Renata Exeter, GUYOIL CEO; Sherry Ann Dixon, International Motivational Speaker/Journalist; Lyndell Danzie-Black, Managing Director, Cerulean Inc and WCCIG Vice President; and Kerensa Gravesande-Bart, Strategic Recruitment Solutions Inc CEO, WCCIG co-founder and President (Elvin Croker photo)

Giving a brief history on the origins of the chamber of commerce, Makonnen noted that it was created as a means of networking, and for the provision of a platform for the representation of women in the world of business.

Chief Executive Officer CEO) of Strategic Recruitment Solutions Inc, Gravesande-Bart, formed WCCIG, along with its Vice President, Lyndell Danzie-Black. According to Gravesande-Bart, the chamber is a dynamic organisation dedicated to empowering women.

The WCCIG has seven Board Directors; aside from Gravesande-Bart and Danzie-Black. TheY are: GUYOIL CEO, Renata Exeter; Managing Director/ Researcher at Professional Development Consultants, Anije Lambert; International Motivational Speaker/Journalist Sherry Ann Dixon; Attorney-at-Law Tamara Khan; and Managing Director, ACME Marketing Consultancy, Jennifer Cipriani.

The WCCIG is an affiliate of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). In his remarks, GCCI President, Nicholas Boyer, applauded Gravesande-Bart and Danzie-Black for forming the organisation.

“This organisation will promote a new cadre of women who are strong, intelligent and are going to be trail blazers and successful. What we at the Chamber have to do with these trailblazer women is work with them, because our communities are built on women,” Boyer said.

“At GCCI we must find and figure out the ways in which we can work with them and we are committed to doing so. We expect wonderful things from you and your team. We are not in competition; we are here to work with them. Women entrepreneurship has the potential to change our economy when you think about one of the untapped reserves in our economy,” he added.

The organisers of the Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GuyTIE) 2020 seated from left to right are: Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President, Nicholas Boyer; Chief Executive Officer of Go-INVEST, Owen Verwey; Coordinator of GuyTIE, Tameca Sukdeo-Singh; Caribbean Export’s Competitiveness and Export Promotion Manager, Damie Sinanan and CEO at Sagacity, Christopher Chapwanya

GuyTIE postponed to May for better planning THE Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GuyTIE) 2020 has been postponed from February to May 2020 to cater for better planning for the event which is now expected to be even bigger than planned.

The date change also took into consideration Guyana’s political climate as it would have previously been held just before the country’s General and Regional Elections.

In a press briefing during the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit & Exhibition (GIPEX) 2019, representatives of the GuyTIE team updated the media on the changes since the previous July 2019 launch.

“We needed a little bit more time to get our planning ready,” Coordinator of Guy-

TIE, Tameca Sukdeo-Singh explained, adding: “That [the elections] was taken into consideration because exhibitors have some level of concern. GuyTIE is for Guyana and for the people of Guyana, especially businesses. We’re providing a platform for export-ready businesses.”

Sukdeo-Singh used the forum to speak to the differences between the inaugural GuyTIE 2019 and GuyTIE 2020.

She noted that, previously, there were 59 exhibitors but this time the organizers are catering for between 150200 exhibitors which will see them out-growing the previous Marriott Hotel venue and on to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The organizers are looking to feature 100-150 local exhibitors and about 50 foreign ones which will come primarily from Regional Chambers of Commerce and investment promotion agencies.

“Coming out of our feedback with stakeholders last year, we worked on improving our public relations, our buyer recruitment strategies and our preparation for exhibitors for the event. We’re working closely with our strategic regional partner, Caribbean Exports to bring buyers into the event as well as to train our exhibitors to prepare them for the exhibition,” Sukdeo-Singh said.

GuyTIE aims to promote local investment opportunities; to prepare export-ready

firms for export markets and to highlight Guyana as a profitable business destination.

The sectors to be represented include agro-processing; chemicals and pharmaceuticals; construction; food and beverage; food processing; forestry and wood products; information and communications; printing and publishing; printing and packaging; tourism, arts and craft and other services.

Already, six sponsors are on board and 15 exhibitors have registered.

Caribbean Exports Competitiveness and Export Promotion Manager, Damie Sinanan, told the media that the body has committed to undertaking a series of training for exhibitors to GuyTIE, to ensure they are ready to

reap the coming benefits.

Meanwhile the GuyTIE team is conducting outreaches to local Chambers of Commerce to select businesses with products which have potential export readiness and businesses interested in JVs. According to Chief Executive Officer of Go-INVEST, Owen Verwey, GuyTIE 2020 will undoubtedly ensure that businesses, other than those within the oil and gas industry, can benefit from the increased interest in Guyana.

“The Guyana economy is moving forward at a very fast pace; it’s changing, it’s becoming more and more dynamic in areas that were not typically expected –traditional, agriculture, forestry, have been growing and I think with what is coming

down the stream and the direct effects from the emerging energy industry can have positive effect on every other sector of the economy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President, Nicholas Boyer, said that GCCI sees its participation as fulfilling its mandate to promote trade fairs and exports and international competitiveness.

He stated: “Events like this we see as a strategic fit of ourselves and we think it sparks a national conversation about improving competitiveness of Guyanese industries and getting more Guyanese products out, both regionally and worldwide.”

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

Forum urges greater respect for child rights …as Guyana joins in observance of World Children’s Day IN observance of World Children’s Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) hosted an event at the Theatre Guild on Wednesday evening to mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – the most widely ratified Human Rights treaty.

As part of the many activities for this year, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling on all member states to “take action and to strengthen efforts for the advancement of the rights of the child”.

Delivering brief remarks at the event, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC, said the Convention of the Rights of the Child is an important international instrument as it characterises children as

persons with rights. Guyana ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on January 14, 1991, and through this action, committed itself to ensure these rights are enshrined and guaranteed in our society.

“Accordingly, since ratifying the convention, we have made significant strides in the

realisation of children’s rights in Guyana. Most notably, through the enactment of Act 10 of 2003, the constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, was amended to decree that the best interest of the child shall always be paramount,” the Attorney General said.

He added that last year, the Juvenile Justice Act was passed, amending and consolidating criminal justice for children who find themselves in conflict with the law. These courts were established to ensure that matters before them are dealt with appropriately and expeditiously.

Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Irfan Akhtar

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings

would expect from a book fair, where we would have over 5000 different titles of books; it’s a whole new collection of books,” Rutger said. She said that there is a discount-item section as well as a story on the wall called the “journey of life.”

As regards the types of books she said that,” we are a very family-oriented book fair so we try to have a book for every member of the family.”

There is a theatre on the third deck of the Logos Hope and here is an event called “Meet the world” which will be performed by crew members where they share their knowledge of cultures of different people across the globe.

The crew will also host a two-hour show –The Lion,

the Witch and the Wardrobeon the last day of its stay here.

Rutger, who has been on the ship some three years now, noted that there are 400 persons on board the ship.

She said most of the crew members are volunteers and

The Attorney General said Guyana has achieved another milestone with respect to ensuring the rights of children are preserved and protected by acceding to the Hague Convention. These forums were necessary for Guyana to adhere, as family disputes involving children are not confined to one country but sometimes span continents.

To this end, these conventions ensure that the human rights and dignity of children are protected.

“The government of Guyana is fully committed to ensuring the best interests of all children are upheld and children’s rights are prioritised.

Our accession to these conventions and partnership with UNICEF has allowed Guyana to become more proactively involved in the welfare of our children,” the Legal Affairs Minister assured.

Minister of Foreign Af-

fairs, Hon. Dr. Karen Cummings, made a global pledge to continue to ensure that children’s rights attract the focus of government planning/ policies. “We stand determined to implement meaningful child-centred policies, to further good governance, enhance investments and allocate the necessary resources for the advancement of children’s rights and to strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships, including with civil society for this purpose,” Minister Cummings concluded.

Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Irfan Akhtar, charged those present at the event to celebrate our children and continue to listen and respect their views.

“We commit ourselves to ensure that 30 years from today the children of Guyana – every child, has every right”. (DPI)

they are all in their youthful years.

She said another sibling sailed on the ship before her and she was able to see what happens onboard, including the humanitarian work of crew members.

While in Guyana, the

crew members of the Logos Hope will be visiting communities to partake in humanitarian activities.

The Logos Hope replaced the Logos 11 in 2004.

The vessel is managed by German charitable organization, GBA Ships.

Logos Hope prepares to return to Guyana

AS it wraps up its voyage in Brazil, Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating book fair, will dock in Port Georgetown on December 2nd for a week.

Boasting hundreds of various titles of affordable books, the vessel will be stopping here before moving onward to St Vincent and the Grenadines. It will moor at the GNSC wharf at La Penitence and members of the public will be charged a fee of $200 to board the vessel.

Project Manager of the Guyana leg of the trip, Marjolein Rutger, told this publication, on Friday, that the Logos Hope will be in Georgetown from December 2 until December 8.

On the first day of its arrival, the ship will be open to the public from 18:00 hrs

until 21:00 hrs and thereafter, each day from 10:00 hrs until 21:00 hrs. On the last day of its stay, it will be open from 14:00 hrs until 21:00 hrs.

“It’s always what you

Project Manager of the Guyana leg of the trip, Marjolein Rutger

Guyanese woman wanted for attempted murder in Suriname

THE Department of Fighting Heavy Crime of the Suriname Police Force is-

sued a wanted bulletin for a Guyanese woman, in an attempted murder and se-

Wanted: Angel Lesha Lam aka ‘Angel’ or ‘Ashantie’

vere assault investigation.

The wanted woman has been identified as Angel Lesha Lam aka ‘Angel’ or ‘Ashantie’. Her date of birth was listed as February 23, 1990.

Reports indicate that the 29-year-old is a suspect in the investigation into an attempted murder and severe assault.

Anyone who can provide information on the whereabouts of the suspect is asked to make contact with the nearest police station.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

APNU, AFC to sign revised Cummingsburg Accord soon – Ramjattan HAVING reached a consensus, the Alliance for Change (AFC) and its coalition partner – the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) – will soon sign a new Cummingsburg Accord as they prepare to contest the 2020 General and Regional Elections as a single unit.

AFC’s Leader Khemraj Ramjattan made the disclosure during a press conference on Friday at the Centre for Change.

Under the new accord, the AFC will retain certain Cabinet posts. However, in the National Assembly, it will only get 30 per cent of the seats secured by the coalition based on the 70:30 ratio agreed upon with APNU. The formula will also guide the allocation of seats at the level of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs).

“The parties will cam-

paign jointly for the reelection of the APNU/AFC coalition with a view to winning the 2020 elections and delivering on its commitments to the citizens of Guyana. Much has been achieved by the parties in the first term in office and

AFC’s Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan

much more will be achieved during a second term together,” Ramjattan told reporters.

He promised that more details on the accord would be released once it is signed.

With the oil production on the horizon, the AFC Leader said Guyanese, under the leadership of the coalition, will see their lives transform for the better. “As a coalition partner, the AFC will bring value to the next government and a reassurance that all Guyanese will benefit from our country’s natural wealth,” he said.

AFC and the APNU reached a consensus on Thursday during a high-level meeting with Ramjattan and APNU’s Chairman, President David Granger. APNU’s Chief Negotiator Volda Lawrence and her counterpart, David Patterson were also part of the negotiating teams.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported, in September, that the parties had committed to upholding the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and to ensure that no agreement or action collided with or contradicted articles of the Constitution. This newspaper understands that, as part of the core principles, the parties agreed and committed to the establishment of a system of inclusionary democracy, and the advancement of the country’s Green State Development Strategy, Vision 2040. They also committed to seeking electoral majorities at the general and regional elections and local government elections and agreed to select candidates for the aforementioned elections, through participatory and transparent processes, which guarantee that candidates enjoy the majority of their respective constituencies and satisfy all legal criteria for

election.

On the issue of allocation of seats in the National Assembly, the Cabinet, Regional Democratic Councils, Municipal and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, the sides agreed that this would be done on the basis of a formula. The sides agreed, too, that the prerogative of the President to appoint members of cabinet and ministers and to assign specific ministerial portfolios is explicitly embodied in the Constitution and is inviolable.

Meanwhile, other aspects of the core principles include the cultivation of respectful relations and, at all times, the parties will act collectively in the best interest of the coalition. They also agreed to speak with one voice on issues of public policy, to support a common manifesto and to issue joint media bulletins and releases on electoral matters.

Additionally, the parties agreed to abide by the principle of collective responsibility in respect of decisions emanating from Cabinet and to holding common positions on bills, motions and resolutions in the National Assembly.

Each party also pledged to inform the other, in advance, of its inability, at any time, to support any measure in the National Assembly.

Other areas covered in the core principles are that of the publishing of a joint manifesto comprising 12 broad fields: constitutional reform, good governance, economic growth and development, education improvement, energy sector, environmental protection, indigenous peoples, infrastructural development, international relations, social protection and social cohesion, security and human safety, women, gender equality and youth.

Fisherman still missing

IT is now 23 days since a 53-year-old boat captain went missing while on a fishing trip in the vicinity of the Demerara River, behind the Pegasus Hotel.

David Mohan, called “Ice box”, was last seen on Thursday, October 31, 2019, after he fell overboard from his vessel, into the river, during high tide.

According to reports reaching the Guyana Chronicle, at the time, Mohan was on his vessel with a crew member and his son, on a

David Mohan called “Ice box”

fishing trip. It is alleged that Mohan had complained about feeling unwell, because of his pressure.

It is alleged that Mohan’s son tried to grab him before he fell, but failed.

Mohan fell out of his boat and the crew members became worried, after he did not surface.

Relatives had launched a search to find Mohan, but, after days went by, they decided to call it off.

Mohan’s body is still to be recovered.

Prosecutor to respond to no-case submission in alleged murder case ATTORNEY-at-law Bernard DaSilva has made a no-case submission in favour of his client, a 50-year-old chain saw operator, who is charged for the murder of his reputed wife, who was killed during a domestic dispute at their Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast home, earlier this year.

Devanand Narine, is currently on remand for the capital offence which alleged that, on May 16, 2019, at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, he murdered 39-year-old Farida Khayum, a domestic worker.

Magistrate Esther Sam, who sits at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court presided over the preliminary inquiry into the matter.

Attorney DaSilva made a submission calling for the murder charge against his client to be dismissed and for the accused not to be called to lead his defence, since the prosecution failed to establish a case.

During Narine’s first court hearing, DaSilva had contended that, on the day in question, his client came home under the influence of alcohol and found a male visitor present.

DaSilva said that Narine enquired of his reputed wife about the individual’s presence and an argument en-

Farida Khayum

sued. Further, the attorney told the court that, during the argument, his client was attacked by the male visitor and Khayum’s two sons. DaSilva also claimed that, during the fight, Khayum’s sons threw a poisonous substance down his client’s throat.

The Prosecutor is expected to respond to the no-case submission on December 6, 2019, and Magistrate Sam will rule on January 7, 2020.

The prosecution is contending that the investigation

had revealed that there was no ‘male friend’ at the home as Narine claimed.

On the day in question,

Devanand Narine

Narine and Khayum were at home when they got into an argument which quickly became physical. It is alleged that Narine armed himself with a knife from the kitchen and stabbed his reputed wife several times about her body.

The police were summoned and Khayum’s lifeless body was discovered in the kitchen area at the home. Narine was arrested and taken to the Suddie Hospital, where he was treated for ingesting herbicide.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

Magistrates meet on juvenile justice diversion, alternative sentencing MAGISTRATES, on Friday, discussed policies and procedures governing juvenile justice diversion, alternative sentencing and restorative justice, as they push to improve the judicial system.

The meeting was held at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

for juveniles.

The department, he said, collaborated with the United States Agency for International Development ( U S A I D ) C o mm u n i ty, Family, and Youth Resilience (CYFR) Programme to train magistrates in Juvenile Justice Diversion and Alternative Sentencing (JJDAST).

He said thus far, 35

the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic, Child Protection Officers and Probation Officers are among the beneficiaries of the Juvenile Justice Diversion and Alternative Sentencing Training.

This series of training workshops commenced on November 14, 2019. They were facilitated by Dr. Dianne Williams, a Consultant, a Criminologist and

Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan (seated third from left) with some of the other magistrates (seated) in a section of the gathering at the event. (Rabindra Rooplall Photo)

In his address, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, said the ministry’s Juvenile Justice Department has been moving apace, in building capacity among stakeholders, regarding policies and procedures of diversion and alternative sentencing

civil society core groups have been trained, from which a cohort will be drawn to support diversion programming in the ten administrative regions of Guyana. Prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Staff members of

Certified Criminal Justice Specialist.

The training sessions were aimed at building the capacity of participants to better implement diversion and alternative sentencing programmes.

“We damage the lives of young people even more

if we do not treat them properly at that young age when they would have met some unfortunate incident,” the Minister noted.

He told the magistrates that, in handing down their judgments, they should create opportunities for juveniles to become better persons.

Ramjattan said that magistrates will have to take a multidisciplinary approach in dealing with the background of youths, their psychology and their ability to rehabilitate.

Moreover, the minister noted that, in conjunction with USAID/CFYR, two training workshops were also conducted with staff at Juvenile Holding facility on March 25 and 26, 2019.

He explained that staff were exposed to key concepts of the Juvenile Justice Act of 2018, Regulatory/Standards Model of Justice Management and the forms used to track youth behavior and property inventory. A reporting form was devised by the consultant for the staff

of the Holding Centre to record and communicate residents’ behaviour history and progress, for use by the Probation Department and the magistrates.

Minister Ramjattan told magistrates that his ministry will leave “no stone unturned” to ensure stakeholders become au fait and develop the capacity to execute their mandate.

He said that with so many players required in the fight, the training was more so necessary.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

‘Get on board with development’ -GTT CEO urges foreign investors at GIPEX

FOREIGN Investors from various parts of the world were encouraged to “get onboard with development,”

by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Justin Nedd.

Nedd, who was tasked with encouraging foreigners to invest in Guyana, said it was time for more persons to get onboard with the development that is going on in Guyana and make the country better.

“Try to leave Guyana in a better place,” said Nedd during his presentation to a packed room of investors, both foreign and local, during the second day of the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX), at the Marriott Hotel, on Thursday.

He encouraged investors to assess the local business environment and analyse the levels of development over the years.

Nedd used GTT as an example of how Guyana has grown over the years. He said in 1991, GTT had just 10,000 copper lines with no mobile or internet service.

Not only has there been a 500 per cent increase in internet traffic, but, according to Nedd, GTT now has 150,000 copper cables, more than 250,000 mobile subscribers and 70,000 broadband connections.

CEO of GTT, Justin Nedd

Nedd said in order to achieve those results, investors would have to hire for attitude, train and help foster talent, show heart and embrace communities.

The telecommunications company has pumped

USD$60,000 into GIPEX, making it a lead sponsor. In 2018, the company supported the GIPEX conference with a USD$20,500 sponsorship investment.

“GTT has invested in Guyana for almost three decades; despite challenges we have made an impact as one of the largest foreign direct investment organizations in the country and have adapted with every change,” Nedd reminded the attendees. The CEO explained that the company hopes to strengthen its connections with companies in the oil and gas sector and forge new relations, providing the assurance that Guyana’s telecoms sector can meet international demand.

GIPEX is aimed at facilitating networking and providing investment opportunities for companies across all sectors associated with the petroleum industry in Guyana. In 2018 the summit was deemed a success as it attracted global participation from over 600 delegates and 200 international and national oil and gas companies.

More jobs for Guyanese in the oil and gas sector ―As TOFCO prepares to establish base in Guyana GUYANESE will soon be able to tap into more jobs in the oil and gas sector, as Trinidad Offshore Fabricators Unlimited (TOFCO) moves to establish a local base to make subsea fabricated structures for ExxonMobil’s Liza-1 development.

The Trinidadian company has partnered with Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services to build subsea structures locally, said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TOFCO, Graham Balchin in an invited comment, on Thursday.

Balchin said the subsea structure is the connection point from the well-heads on the seabed through to the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

“There are a number of these structures and the ones we have now have been fabricated in Trinidad for ExxonMobil through Saipem,” said Balchin, adding that TOFCO is the only company which is building the subsea pipeline for the Liza-1 well.

The Liza discovery was announced by ExxonMobil in May 2015. Liza-1 well was the first significant oil find offshore Guyana. It encountered more than 295 feet (90 meters) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. It was safely drilled to 17,825

feet (5,433 meters) in 5,719 feet (1,743 meters) of water.

“As opposed to building the structures in Trinidad for the Liza-1 development, we would like to have a similar set-up here to do these subsea poles and fabricated structures,” said Balchin.

The CEO said the company is in the process of identifying a plot of land for the establishment of a base for the project. He said they are, however, hoping to establish the facility between Georgetown and Farm on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

Once established, the facility will have a staff complement of Guyanese workers, who will be taken to Trinidad for training.

TOFCO is a world-class provider with over a decade of expertise in fabrication, construction and offshore services for the oil and gas industry.

According to TOFCO’s website, the company’s commitment to innovation, which is in direct response to addressing the evolving needs of varied clients, has played a major role in its development.

Arriving at creative solutions that respond to each client’s challenge has allowed TOFCO to accomplish its goal of sustainable growth, becoming a remarkable illustration of local achievement.

Established in 2004 as a joint venture of Chet Morrison Contractors LLC., a Houma, LA-based company, and Weldfab Ltd. of Trinidad, TOFCO has become a highly valued supplier of comprehensive construction and maintenance services.

The company is recognised for its outstanding safety standards and superior work, and is known as a onestop solution for the highest quality fabrication and support needs for the oil and gas industry.

The company has progressed from a sole focus on the offshore business to work on refineries and petrochemical plants. Diversifying its operations has allowed TOFCO a greater agility, leading the company to explore prospects that will ensure even more sustainable growth.

With a strong view to capitalise on opportunities in international markets, TOFCO has attracted attention beyond our nation’s shores, from as far as South Africa and South America.

The company has hosted government officials from countries such as Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela, Ghana and Nigeria, all of whom have expressed interest in adopting TOFCO’s business model.

15

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

‘Carefully craft your oil and gas laws’ …Ghanaian diplomat encourages Guyana

By Lisa Hamilton WHILE it is necessary for Guyana to accelerate its efforts towards putting the requisite laws in place to cater for its emerging oil and gas industry, the country need not buckle under pressure, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africa Energy Consortium, Ghanaian Politician and Lawyer, Kwame Jan-

tuah said.

The Ghanaian Diplomat, in an interview with Guyana Chronicle, said the country must plan carefully to ensure effective laws are in place.

He was among hundreds of petroleum experts who attended the Guyana International Petroleum Exhibition (GIPEX) 2019. During the conference, Jantuah presented a Ghanaian exam-

ple of the evolution of local content.

Jantuah said that Ghana, much like Guyana, at the time of production, did not have all of its laws in place.

He made the point while noting that the period of exploration and production for Guyana is a mere four years. In the case of Ghana, the country went from exploration to production within three years.

“The fact that you’ve just discovered means that the oil companies aren’t going to wait for you, they’ll definitely produce and it will take time for you to catch up with your law. It happened to us,” he said.

“It was an ongoing thing and, to date, we have all the laws in place. So, in as much as you’re going in to first oil, you shouldn’t be jittery that you don’t have

your laws in place because it takes time to put the laws in place; it takes time to put efficient, effective laws in place,” the Ghanaian Diplomat explained.

completion of its Natural Resource Fund framework; completion of its National Oil Spill Contingency Plan and building capacity.

Jantuah opined that

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africa Energy Consortium and Ghanaian politician, lawyer and diplomat, Kwame Jantuah

Guyana’s existing legislative framework, including draft legislation, includes the Petroleum Act, Cap 92:01 (1930) which works to regulate the importation, sale and storage of petroleum; the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, Cap 65:04 (1986) which deals with the regulation for prospecting of and Production of Petroleum and Licensing (PPL) and the Petroleum (Production) Act, Cap 65:05 (1939) which vests in the state the property in petroleum and natural gas within Guyana.

Several regulations were made under the legislation which include Petroleum Regulations (1930), the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Regulations (1986) and Petroleum (Prospecting and Winning) Regulations (1967).

Ancillary legislation comprises of legislation relating to revenue, tax and customs; environmental protection; maritime and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).

Recently, the Government passed the Natural Resource Fund Act, 12 of 2019 which establishes a fund to manage Guyana’s natural resource wealth while the Petroleum Commission Bill is within the Special Select Committee.

The Department of Energy (DoE) is also conscious of other factors which will assure Guyana’s success, such as the completion of the revised legislative framework for the sector; a new product-sharing contract template; completion of 2D & 3D seismic surveys; finalisation of its local content policy;

when it comes to public consultations to usher in these outstanding laws, plans and policies, it will take Guyana – with a population of under one million – a shorter time compared to Ghana’s experience with a population of over 30 million.

He also noted that Guyana, apart from laws specific to offshore production, will need to develop laws for onshore production as the country gets its footing in the industry.

“The one thing you should always remember is that oil and gas laws are dynamic, they’re not like any other laws that stay on the books for years. As the oil regime changes they change also,” the oil expert explained.

“The laws that you use for offshore are not the same laws that you use for onshore. Sometimes the laws that you use for ultra deep are not the same laws you use for deep and shallow waters -- different mechanics, different installations, different types of companies…you need to be able to have laws that you can change as and when the industry changes,” he further explained.

While Guyana has not begun onshore oil and gas production, there is the belief that Guyana has much potential in this regard due to the fact that there have been several natural gas eruptions onshore over the years in residential areas. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Civil Defence Commission (CDC) have been monitoring these eruptions.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

‘Education is a right that you must take advantage of’ ―Minister Hastings tells Central High graduates

MINISTER of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams, on Friday, urged the 81 graduates of the Central High School to take full advantage of the Government’s plans to re-introduce free education from nursery to tertiary, as that will ensure they are exposed to higher levels of learning and have opportunities to advance their careers.

Village in the Mazaruni.

She, however, noted that she was determined to reach her full potential and so she pursued every available opportunity, which eventually led her to the Cyril Potter College of Education to pursue a trained teacher’s certificate. She later attended the University of Guyana where she acquired a Bachelor’s Degree

truthful, honest, courteous, respectful and humble in all your actions. Today marks the end of your secondary education but it opens the doors to other opportunities and higher learning,” she said.

ogy, and others, and help establish a well-rounded and stimulating community. The annual budget has since been increased by 64 per cent from 2015 and has seen Government spending $52billion on education;

be educated on all four levels; nursery, primary, secondary and university at the state’s expense. It is your entitlement’,” the Minister noted.

Noting that education helps individuals to de-

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams

The Minister was, at the time, speaking at the school’s annual Graduation and Prize-Giving Ceremony at the National Cultural Centre. Using her personal story as an example, Minister Hastings said that while she was awarded a Hinterland Scholarship to the Central High School, in her teenage years, she had to drop out because of circumstances beyond her control while in Fourth Form and return to Kako

in Education Management.

“I tell my story everywhere I go, because I want young people to understand that they must take advantage of the opportunities they are presented with and be the best they can be. You are young, intelligent, talented, with great potential [and] you have a bright future ahead of you. Always believe in yourself and continue to defeat the obstacles that come your way.

What you need to do is be

The graduating class of 2019

The Minister of State said that education played a major role in the growth and progress of a society and it was one of the key components that can make or break a culture’s advancement.

“If citizens of a society are educated, they can provide significant contributions in the fields of arts, literature, science, technol-

which is more than any other sector. The President has committed to make education accessible to every Guyanese and has said, ‘I have vowed to re-introduce…free education from nursery to university. You don’t have to migrate; you don’t have to go away. We are going to build a firstclass education system.

Every Guyanese child will

velop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make better choices and decisions, Minister Hastings- Williams encouraged the students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), which can help the country to overcome its challenges.

“Guyana is moving in the right direction and I

encourage you to pursue STEM. I have no doubt that you have the potential. We believe in you as a Government. We believe that you can move Guyana forward when you use your skills and capabilities. We are looking at the young people to be our petroleum engineers and manage our oil and gas sector and as a Government, we have to provide those opportunities to you, our young people,” she said.

Meanwhile, Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Kamalawattie Balroop, in her remarks, said that while the school has been dealing with a number of challenges including shortage of staff and lack of adequate resources and space, it has managed to attain an overall pass rate of 95.5 percent this year, marking a stark improvement from previous years. Of 20 subjects, the school attained 100 percent passes in 15 subjects. She too encouraged the students to strive for more even as they close this chapter of their lives.

“You have made us proud and we want you to strive for more, strive for higher education. Make use of your youth and opportunities that come your way to improve your lives,” she said.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

Improved stock levels at Georgetown health centres THE Ministry of Public Health has promised that drug shortages at health facilities throughout the country will no longer be an issue. This is supported

Doctor in Charge, Lodge Health Centre, Dr. Alana Ernes

by the Public Health Minister who, earlier in the year, disclosed that, after a revision of its procurement process for drugs and medical supplies, the ministry reported a commendable 90% stock level.

Department of Public Information (DPI) this week visited two health facilities in Georgetown – Lodge Health Centre and East La Penitence Health Centre – to hear from those in charge.

The two facilities, together, cater to thousands of patients weekly.

Dr. Keisha Chin, the General Medical Officer and Doctor in Charge of the East La Penitence Health Centre said the facility caters to more than 12,000 persons and the centre’s stock of

drugs and medical supplies must be up-to-date. “I am proud to say that, at the East La Penitence Health Centre, we have the majority of drugs that are needed not only for our various services but especially for the antenatal clinic, our care and treatment clinic and our chronic diseases,” Dr. Chin noted.

She explained that if there was a case where a patient went to the facility and the drug was not readily available, the first option would be to requisition the items from the drug bond through Regional Health Services. However, there was another system in place to ensure that the person did not have to purchase the drug.

“If there is a drug lacking at this particular health centre,

we can call our sister health centre and once they have the drug, we do an inter-facility exchange [especially if the drug is overstocked at the next facility]. Also, I would attend to the patient here, prepare a prescription and ask them to have the patient collect the medication there,” Dr. Chin explained.

Over at the Lodge Health Centre, Doctor in Charge, Dr. Alana Ernest, who has been working at that facility for approximately three years, noted that there had been an increase in the volume of patients seeking health services at the centre.

“We have definitely come a far way now we are offering more drugs than we did before. Our pharmaceutical aspect of this health centre

has grown a lot and that is the country. This gives the a plus. As it is for our dress- health ministry’s procureing and so, the demands ment unit enough time to have gotten higher so that stock health facilities with means that we have to pro- essential medicines and vide more, and as such we other items. (DPI) had to increase our supplies to provide more care to these persons.”

These improved stock levels are expected to get better as the new procurement system adopted by the ministry continues to take full effect. This process allows for the early stages of procurement for the following year’s drugs and medical supplies to commence in the current year. With earlier procurement, the country will now stock one year’s supply of Doctor in Charge, East La drugs and medical supplies Penitence Health Centre, for distribution throughout Dr. Keisha Chin

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

Indian High Commissioner hosts women cricketers THE visiting Indian women’s cricket team, led by captain Hermanpreet Kaur, was, on Monday evening, hosted by Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K.J. Srinivasa and his wife, Ashwini Srinivasa.

At the well-attended reception held at India House, their Happy Acres, East Coast Demerara residence, High Commissioner Srinivasa praised the performance of the women cricketers, who have enjoyed a very successful tour of the Caribbean.

“I have been following this team since my days in South Africa, before coming here. I remember, in 2017, before they went on to play in the women’s World Cup, they played in South Africa in a quadrangular series and we could see that this team plays to win, and that is one of the big qualities in modern day sports,” he told a very appreciative gathering.

The Indian envoy, who has reached out to practically every major player in Gov-

ernment since assuming his post in Guyana, some five months ago, also spoke with

great optimism of collaboration between the West Indies Cricket Board and the Board

of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in mutual interest of both teams.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K.J. Srinivasa and his wife, Ashwini Srinivasa with members of the visiting Indian women’s cricket team

“I must confess here that during my interaction with the West Indies Cricket Board, we found that there are so many ways to collaborate, to improve and to help both teams flourish. I see the desire, on both sides, to help improve, and, in that, I think the BCCI would be very forthcoming to collaborate with the West Indies Cricket Board to help nurture new talents,” he said.

Head coach of the Indian team, former Test cricketer, Woorkeri Raman, also spoke at the reception. He, the Indian skipper, and team manager, Trupti Bhattacharya, were presented with tokens of appreciation

by High Commissioner, Srinivasa and Mrs Srinivasa. At the conclusion of the formal presentations at the reception, the invited guests took the opportunity to meet and interact with the visiting Indian team.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

23

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 23, 2019

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 23, 2019

District 10 reign supreme with fifth consecutive ‘Nationals’ title … North Georgetown finish second

By Faizool Deo THE reign of District 10 continues. For the fifth consecutive year, the Upper Demerara/Kwakwani side have been able to win the overall title, which makes them the third team in the history of the National Schools’ Cycling, Swim-

ming and Track and Field Championships to do so.

Georgetown won it from 1975 to 1979, while from 1980 to 1984 when the sides were further divided, North Georgetown ruled.

When the curtain came down on the 59th edition of the Games at the National Track and Field Centre in

Leonora last evening, the defending champions had won their 18th overall title - a feat unmatched by any other district.

District 10, who had finished second on Monday in the swimming and cycling competitions, were able to dominate the track and field events, to win the students’

battle by a whopping 296 points. Although they finished fourth in the teachers’ competition, they were still able to accumulate 68 overall points.

District 11, North Georgetown, again had to settle for second. The side who ruled in the water, at the Swimming Championships, ended fifth in the cycling, students’ track and field and the teachers’ T&F competitions for a grand total of 59 points.

District Three, West Demerara, who finished fourth last year, were able to jump into the third position this year with a win in the teachers’ T&F competition. West Demerara also ended seventh in the cycling, ninth in the swimming and sixth in the student’s T&F battle for 52 overall points.

District 13, South Georgetown, who were tied for second last year, settled for fourth with 51 overall points. They finished second in the teachers’ battle, fourth in swimming, sixth in cycling and 10th in the students’ track and field battle.

Fifth place went to District 12, East Georgetown, who placed third in the swimming, fourth in students’ track and field, ninth in cycling and 11th in the teachers’ battle for a 45-point total.

East Coast Demerara and Corentyne were tied for sixth

(44 points each), the former proving outstanding in the students’ T&F battle.

In that competition, they accumulated 490 points to finish in second place. East Coast also placed sixth in the teachers’ battle, but ninth in swimming and 12th in cycling.

Corentyne, on the other hand, dominated the cycling, but were unable to field a team for the swimming. They, however, made up valuable points by gaining third position in the students’ track and field clash and ninth in the teachers’ competition.

Eighth position was won

by New Amsterdam (District 15) with 41 overall points; ninth by Bartica (District Seven) with 38 points, 10th

by West Coast Berbice (District 5) on 36 points, 11th by Districts 1 and 2 (North West and Essequibo Coast-Pomeroon), who finished jointly on 32 points. East Bank Demerara, District 14, finished 13th with 31 points, while Potaro-Siparuni (District 8) ended on 14 with 19 points and Rupununi in 15th on 15 points.

Overall, the track and field meet proved to be extremely competitive with a whopping 34 students’ records and 10 teachers’ records broken.

One of the highlights on the final day involved Rupununi, who managed to register their second record in

the high jump after failing to do so prior to this meet.

Derek Mentis broke the 15-and-under high jump record with a leap of 1.84m.

The youngster joined Delmar Benjamin, who broke the Boys’ 10-and-under high jump record on Tuesday.

In the penultimate event of the day, the Boys’ triple jump, two athletes were able to better the 17-and-under triple jump record. Cleon Wray (South Georgetown) jumped 13.51m, which had passed Tremaine Browne’s record of 13.45m, but District 6 Shemroy Charles (Corentyne) was able to better his mark with a leap 13.75m.

It came down to the final attempt and Charles, who went first had a mix-up in his run-up and ended up failing in his attempt, Wray made no mistakes, he was able to sail to 13.84m for the win and a new mark.

The track events on the final day were also exciting, North Georgetown’s Brianna Charles and Keliza Smith won the Girls’ 17-and-Under and 19-and-Under 400m dash respectively while the second place overall finishers also won the Girls’ 4x100m relay.

Meanwhile, West Coast Berbice triumphed in the final of the Boys’ 4x100m relay (43.32s). Corentyne finished second and North Georgetown third.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Devon Smith’s passed fifty for the fourth time this season en route to 300 runs for the tournament as Group A hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes continued their battle for a semi-final spot with a 49-run win over Canada here Thursday.

Playing at Warner Park, Hurricanes made the victory perhaps harder than it should have been, producing a stuttering batting performance to finish on 232 for nine off their 50 overs. Thomas, who turned 30 ten days ago, top-scored with a busy 53 from 51 balls to take his tally for the campaign to 325 runs at an average of 65.

Opener Montcin Hodge got 34 and number eight Colin Archibald, a robust unbeaten 32 in only his second game at this

level. They were cruising at 66 for one in the 19th over behind a 43-run stand between Hodge and left-hander Amir Jangoo who struck 26 from 47 balls.

However, three wickets went down for 20 runs in the space of 26 balls to leave Hurricanes in a spot of bother but Thomas came to their rescue.

He punched four fours but more importantly stitched up the innings in a 51-run fifth wicket stand with Akeem Saunders (24) and then with Terrance Ward (25) in a 41-run sixth wicket partnership.

When Thomas perished in the 42nd over, Archibald belted a brace of fours and sixes in a 27-ball cameo to add runs at the end. Right-arm seamer Rayyan Pathan led the Canada attack with four for 53 while left-arm spinner Sha-

hid Ahmadzai claimed three for 46. In reply, Canada got a top score of 44 from Pathan at the top of the order while Harsh Thaker struck 40 but Archibald returned to grab three for 36 with his left-arm pace and new-ball seamer Quinton Boatswain, three for 37, to keep Hurricanes on top.

Pathan belted seven fours and two sixes in a hasty 29-ball knock before falling in the 11th over while Thaker faced 61 deliveries and counted two fours.

Once Thaker departed in the 30th over at 138 for six, the last five wickets went down for just 45 runs.

Hurricanes are second on 20 points, now only second to leaders Barbados Pride on net run rate.

Smith, Archibald help Hurricanes to victory

Guyana CHRONICLE, Saturday November 23, 2019

27

Warner hits 151 not out as Aussies take charge at the Gabba SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - David Warner scored his first century since returning from his ball-tampering ban to drive Australia to a first-innings lead of 72 runs over Pakistan with nine wickets in hand on the second day of

the opening Test yesterday.

The 33-year-old opener finished another sunny day in Brisbane on 151 not out, off 265 deliveries with Australia in control at 312 for one in reply to Pakistan’s 240.

Marnus Labuschagne will also resume today un-

beaten on 55 after notching his sixth Test half-century, with Steve Smith the next batsman up and the hosts looking to bat their opponents out of the contest on a good Gabba track.

Warner’s path to his 22nd century was not entire-

ly smooth and he benefitted from a reprieve on 56 when he was caught behind off the bowling of Test debutant Naseem Shah.

The 16-year-old schoolboy’s celebrations of his maiden Test wicket were abruptly curtailed, howev-

er, when television pictures showed he had overstepped the mark.

Warner returned to the crease only to endure another scare on 93 when he was inches from being run-out by a direct hit from Yasir Shah fielding in the deep.

scored earlier in his career.

Joe Burns also had a point to prove after being dropped for the Ashes series and it looked like he would join his opening partner with a century of his own on his home ground.

He fell three runs short,

Australia opener David Warner carries his bat on day two to reach stumps on 151. (Getty Images)

There was a nervous wait on 99 over the tea break before he finally reached cricket’s most significant milestone for the first time in nearly two years with a single clipped off his hips.

While Warner’s celebration of his half-century earlier in the day had been muted, the lefthander’s delight at the hundred was palpable as he leapt into the air in trademark fashion and kissed the badge on his helmet.

“It means a lot,” said Warner. “My family and I have obviously had a tough period but that support from Australia here doesn’t go unnoticed and I can’t thank everyone enough. And obviously my team mates, they’ve been outstanding.”

After the 12-month ban and a disappointing Ashes series in England, where he managed only 95 runs in 10 innings, it was a more circumspect century, featuring only seven boundaries, than some of those he

however, when Yasir’s leg breaks finally earned Pakistan a breakthrough, Burns was trapped attempting a sweep and playing on around his legs to depart for 97 and end his 222-run partnership with Warner.

Warner had yet another scare late in the day when an Imran Khan delivery clipped his off-stump without dislodging the bails.

“At the end of the day, you’ve just got to keep working hard and backing yourself,” Warner added. “Someone’s looking over me and I’m grateful for that.”

Pakistan may have been ruing the decision to leave out experienced seamer Mohammad Abbas and pick two fast-bowling teenagers and 32-year-old Imran Khan.

Naseem (0-65) did show why he had been awarded his first Test cap at such a tender age with some genuine pace-bowling in his 16 overs but it looked a long way back for the tourists at the close of play.

SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN 1st innings 240 AUSTRALIA 1st innings David Warner not out 151 Joe Burns b Yasir Shah 97 Marnus Labuschagne not out 55 Extras: (b-2, lb-4, nb-3) 9 Total: (one wkt, 87.0 overs) 312 Fall of wickets: 1-222.

Bowling: Shaheen Afridi 18-5-44-0 (nb-2), Imran Khan 12-1-43-0, Naseem Shah 16-0- 65-0 (nb-1), Iftikhar Ahmed 6-0-26-0, Yasir Shah 28-1-101-1, Haris Sohail 7-0-27-0.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 23, 2019

Williamson’s dismissal puts England in front in first New Zealand Test

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - Sam Curran produced an unplayable ball to dismiss New Zealand captain Kane

Williamson and put England in a strong position at the end of the second day of the first Test at Bay Oval yesterday.

The hosts ended the day on 144-4 and Henry Nicholls (26) and BJ Watling (six) will resume in Mt Maunganui today to try and eat into their

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson walks off the pitch dejected after his wicket is taken

by England’s Sam Curran. (REUTERS/Ross Setford)

209-run deficit after England were dismissed for 353 after lunch yesterday.

Williamson had been rested for the Twenty20 matches before the two-Test series and had just four innings since the World Cup final in July, one of which was in a first-class game last month.

The 29-year-old, however, anchored New Zealand’s innings with his 31st Test half-century but was surprised by a ball from Curran that reared off the pitch. Williamson was caught in the slips for 51 off the next delivery after he reached the milestone.

Tom Latham had been dismissed before tea for eight, while Jeet Raval (19) and Ross Taylor (25) both fell to reckless shots as they holed out in the deep in the final session.

Neil Wagner had wrapped up England’s innings about an hour after the lunch break after a superb spell from Tim Southee in the first session dragged his side back into the match.

The tourists had looked well set to post a big total when they resumed yesterday on 241-4 with Ben Stokes at the crease on 67 and eager to push on.

The all-rounder and Ollie Pope, who overturned an early lbw decision on review while on his overnight score of 18, dominated the first 30 minutes with Stokes, in particular, bristling with aggression.

Stokes raced to 91 and

looked set for his ninth Test century when he slashed at a Southee delivery and was caught one-handed by a diving Taylor at first slip.

His dismissal sparked a collapse as England slumped from 277-4 to 286-7 and then 295-8 before Jos Buttler (43) and Jack Leach, who finished 18 not out, combined for an important ninth-wicket partnership of 52 runs.

Wagner ended England’s innings when he bowled Stuart Broad for one having had Buttler caught at deep point by

Mitchell Santner.

Santner had actually been off the field signing autographs shortly before Wagner began his run-up and was perhaps unsighted by Buttler, who had been dropped by Raval in a similar position in the previous over.

Southee finished with 4-88 and could have had a five-wicket haul had Raval not dropped Buttler.

The second Test is at Seddon Park in Hamilton from November 29 to December 3.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings Rory Burns c BJ Watling b Colin de Grandhomme Dominic Sibley c Ross Taylor b Colin de Grandhomme Joe Denly c BJ Watling b Tim Southee Joe Root c Tim Southee b Neil Wagner Ben Stokes c Ross Taylor b Tim Southee Ollie Pope c BJ Watling b Tim Southee Jos Buttler c Mitchell Santner b Neil Wagner Sam Curran lbw Tim Southee Jofra Archer c Tim Southee b Trent Boult Jack Leach not out Stuart Broad b Neil Wagner

52 22 74 2 91 29 43 0 4 18 1

Extras: (b-2, lb-11, nb-1, w-3) 17 Total: (all out, 124.0 overs) 353 Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-113, 3-120, 4-203, 5-277, 6-286, 7-286, 8-295, 9-347.

Bowling: Trent Boult 31-6-97-1 (w-1), Tim Southee 32-7-88-4, Colin de Grandhomme 23-5-41-2 (w-1, nb-1), Neil Wagner 327-90-3 (w-1), Mitchell Santner 6-1-24-0.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings Jeet Raval c Joe Denly b Jack Leach 19 Tom Latham lbw Sam Curran 8 Kane Williamson c Ben Stokes b Sam Curran 51 Ross Taylor c Ollie Pope b Ben Stokes 25 Henry Nicholls not out 26 BJ Watling not out 6 Extras: (b-9) 9 Total: (four wkts, 51.0 overs) 144 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-72, 3-106, 4-127.

Bowling: Stuart Broad 10-4-20-0, Jofra Archer 14-4-40-0, Sam Curran 10-4-28-2, Jack Leach 12-1-29-1, Ben Stokes 4-0-16-1, Joe Root 1-0-2-0.

Guyana CHRONICLE, Saturday November 23, 2019

29

India exploit Bangladesh’s pink chink to lord in Kolkata

By Amlan Chakrabort

KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - Ishant Sharma and his pace colleagues wreaked havoc with the pink ball to put India in charge of their maiden day-night Test against Bangladesh at a heaving Eden Gardens yesterday.

Armed with the heavily-lacquered ball, India’s threepronged pace attack bundled out the tourists for 106 in front of a 60 000-strong crowd which included Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli then smashed fifties as India, 1-0 up heading into the second and final match of the two-Test series, finished day one on 174-3, to be on course for their 12th consecutive home series victory.

Kohli (59 not out) and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane (23 not out) will return today hoping to bat Bangladesh out of the second and final Test and sweep the series.

Bangladesh, who were skittled out inside 31 overs, had to call two concussion substitutes after Liton Das and Nayeem Hasan sustained nasty blows to helmet.

Earlier, India’s pace trio took less than three hours to rout the tourists after Mominul Haque’s decision to bat

SCOREBOARD

Ishant Sharma picked up the first wicket for India on their pink-ball Test debut. (BCCI)

backfired.

After the lull of the first six overs, Ishant drew first blood, trapping Kayes lbw en route to impressive figures of 5-22.

New-ball partner Umesh Yadav (3-29) immediately benefitted from a change of ends, dismissing Mominul and Mithun in the same over to trigger a spectacular batting collapse.

Ishant attributed his success to his relaxed approach to the game after more than a decade in international cricket.

“I’ve reached that stage in life where I don’t entertain unnecessary worry about my career. That has been a big change,” said the 31-year-old.

“I’m enjoying my game

a lot more and the healthy competition within the pace department has also helped me improve.”

India captain Kohli had predicted close-in fielders would struggle to catch the harder, faster pink balls but his fears proved unfounded.

Rohit took a diving one-handed catch to send back Mominul, Wriddhiman Saha flew to his right to cut short Mahmudullah’s stay and Pujara dived forward to pouch a low catch to remove Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Opener Shadman Islam top-scored for Bangladesh with 29, while Liton retired hurt on 24 after being hit on the helmet by a Mohammed Shami

delivery.

Mehidy came on as concussion substitute and Mithun replaced Liton behind the stumps when India came out to bat.

Bangladesh needed a second concussion substitute in Taijul Islam after Nayeem also sustained a hit on the helmet by another vicious Shami delivery.

Indian openers looked at ease against the pink ball but neither Mayank Agarwal (14) nor Rohit (21) could convert their starts.

Pujara and Kohli helped India eclipse Bangladesh’s paltry total with their 95-run stand.

Pujara made 55 before edging Ebadot Hossain, who unfurled his second salute

BANGLADESH 1st innings Shadman Islam c Wriddhiman Saha b Umesh Yadav 29 Imrul Kayes lbw Ishant Sharma 4 Mominul Haque c Rohit Sharma b Umesh Yadav 0 Mohammad Mithun b Umesh Yadav 0 Mushfiqur Rahim b Mohammed Shami 0 Mahmudullah c Wriddhiman Saha b Ishant Sharma 6 Liton Das Retired Hurt 24 Nayeem Hasan b Ishant Sharma 19 Ebadat Hossain b Ishant Sharma 1 Mehidy Hasan c Cheteshwar Pujara b Ishant Sharma 8 Al-Amin Hossain not out 1 Abu Jayed c Cheteshwar Pujara b Mohammed Shami 0 Extras: (b-8, lb-6) 14 Total: (all out, 30.3 overs) 106 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-17, 3-17, 4-26, 5-38, 6-60, 7-82, 8-98, 9-105. Bowling: Ishant Sharma 12-4-22-5 Umesh Yadav 7-2-29-3, Mohammed Shami 10.3-2-36 -2, Ravindra Jadeja 1-0-5-0.

INDIA 1st innings Mayank Agarwal c Mehidy Hasan b Al-Amin Hossain 14 Rohit Sharma lbw Ebadat Hossain 21 Cheteshwar Pujara c Shadman Islam b Ebadat Hossain 55 Virat Kohli not out 59 Ajinkya Rahane not out 23 Extras: (lb-1, w-1) 2 Total: (three wkts, 46.0 overs) 174 Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-43, 3-137.

Bowling: Al-Amin Hossain 14-3-49-1, Abu Jayed 12-3-400, Ebadat Hossain 12-1-61-2 (w-1), Taijul Islam 8-0-23-0 .

celebration, but Kohli went on to complete 5 000 runs as Test captain.

“Their bowling attack is probably the leading bowling attack in the world,” Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo

told reporters.

“They’ve put a lot of sides under pressure with their discipline, pace and aggression ... they are better than we at the moment, no doubt about that.”

Bravo’s purple patch Cornwall, Joseph shine continues as Red Force go top in stalemate LUCKNOW, India (CMC) – All-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall reiterated his value with the bat while fast bowler Alzarri Joseph touched form, as the three-day tour match against an Afghanistan Cricket Board XI finished in a draw here yesterday.

Resuming from their overnight 217 for seven, West Indies were energised by a cameo unbeaten 44 from Cornwall before they were bowled out at lunch for 297 in their second innings.

Cornwall, who made his Test debut against India last August, struck half-dozen fours and two sixes in a 55-ball knock, batting at number 10.

Importantly, he inspired a 59run last-wicket stand with Jomel Warrican (10) after West Indies lost two quick wickets early in the morning session to stumble to 238 for nine.

The 26-year-old picked up four wickets in the Board XI first innings of 158 on Thursday.

Left-arm spinner Hamza Hotak was the leading bowler for Board XI with four for 91.

Rahkeem Cornwall Set an improbable 308 for victory, Board XI got entertaining halfcenturies from Ihsanullah Janat (84 not out) and Ibrahim Zadran (76) as they finished on 183 for three. Ihsanullah, a 32-year-old right-hander, stroked 11 fours off 149 balls in nearly 3-¼ hours at the crease while Zadran also counted 11 boundaries in a knock requiring 126 balls in a shade under three hours.

They put on 150 for the second wicket after seamer Keemo Paul had removed first-innings top-

scorer Javed Ahmadi without scoring in the fourth over with four runs on the board.

On 130 for one at tea, Joseph claimed Zadran to a catch at the wicket nearly 45 minutes following the break, and then removed Rahmat Shah for 11 after the right-hander put on 27 for the third wicket with Ihsanullah.

West Indies take on Afghanistan in a one-off inaugural Test which will bowl off at the same venue next Tuesday.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – West Indies lefthander Darren Bravo struck an unbeaten half-century to pass 300 runs for the Super50 Cup as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force brushed aside United States by seven wickets and moved to the top of Group B. Chasing a modest 177 at Queen’s Park Oval, the hosts romped to their target in the 42nd over with the left-handed Bravo spearheading the effort with an unbeaten 80 off 112 deliveries while counting seven fours and two sixes.

The knock was his second straight half-century and third of the tournament, to go along with his unbeaten hundred against Windward Islands Volcanoes in Red Force’s opener.

Bravo, axed from the West Indies side in all formats due to poor form, has now gathered 349 runs in the tournament at an average of 116.

The victory for Red Force saw them leapfrog West Indies Emerging Players whose clash with Volcanoes scheduled

Darren Bravo has now scored 349 runs in the Super50 tournament. for the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.

Red Force have 20 points from six outings, two clear of Emerging Players with Guyana Jaguars third on 16 points.

Opting to bat first earlier, United States stumbled to 176 for nine off their 50 overs with number seven, Karima Gore, top-scoring with 40, while Colin Stevenson chipped in with an unbeaten 32 at number nine.

They were slumping at 12 for two in the fifth over before Steven Taylor, who slammed 29 off 36

balls, put on 32 for the third wicket with Aaron Jones (8).

Once leg-spinner captain Imran Khan had Jones stumped in the 15th over, USA collapsed losing three wickets for five runs, before Gore arrived to provide a rearguard action.

Known more for his left-arm spin, Gore added 38 for the sixth wicket with Nisarg Patel (23) before putting on a further 45 for the seventh wicket with Timil Patel (17).

The target was never going to be enough but when Red Force lost Jeremy Solozano (6) and Tion Webster (3) to find themselves 17 for two in the seventh over, US’ hopes were raised.

However, Bravo put his side’s concerns to rest, posting 72 for the third wicket with opener Kyle Hope (33) and 88 in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Jason Mohammed who finished on 38 not out.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE, November 22, 2019

Jones says Special School Sports key part of student-rehabilitation THE National Sports Commission (NSC) launched its 4th Annual Special School Sports, set for November 26, 27 and 29 with Director of Sport Christopher Jones, saying it will play a key role in the rehabilitation of the students.

With full support of the Government of Guyana, including President David Granger; the annual event was launched yesterday morning at the NSC Homestretch Avenue location.

Director of Sport Jones said the event was geared towards ending the discrimination of special athletes.

Technical Development

From left, Technical Development Officer (TDO) of the NSC, Seon Erskine, Director of Sport Christopher Jones and Wilton Spencer, Special Needs coach of NSC. (Clifton Ross photo)

Officer (TDO) of the NSC, Seon Erskine, said the commission was happy to play a major role in the rehabilitation of the students, who usually improve

and compete at a very high level every year.

He noted that the sports will not only help to condition the athletes for the future, but also

shatter discrimination about performance compared to regular athletes.

Jones said the NSC as well is in full support of the spe-

cial sports as it has become a consistent way of showing the contestants that they can still compete in any sport with success despite their challenges.

Wilton Spencer, Special Needs coach of the NSC, reiterated the fact that the upcoming event is a major part of therapy for the special competitors. He said that persons will compete in male and female categories, with schools such as St Barnabas, David Rose Special School and other special institutions will be part of the sports.

The NSC executives also confirmed that paramedics will be on site as to upkeep all health and safety rules while Jones

concluded by saying the stigma of the special-needs athletes should be discontinued and he hopes that the three days will show the significance of the annual event as it recognises its special players.

Meanwhile, the event gets underway from November 26 at the National Gymnasium with a number of indoor sports.

Then on 27th athletes will converge on Colgrain Pool for the swim meet.

On the final day of sports, November 29, the track and field session will be hosted at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

VPCC, Trinity share honours at SCA presentation

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada – Victoria Park Cricket Club (VPCC) and Trinity Women’s Cricket Canada shared top honours when the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) held its 39th annual gala presentation, dinner and dance at the East Town Banquet Hall, Scarborough recently.

On a night when juniors, seniors and women were rewarded for their outstanding performances during an eventful 2019 season, VPCC were crowned the Elite League playoff champions while Trinity captured the women’s playoff championship, the former carting off the Shiv Persaud of Primerica trophy and the latter the Caribbean Wave-sponsored trophy.

Both VPCC and Trinity, however, failed to win the regular-season titles with defending Elite champions Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) and Tranzac Cultural & Sports Club finishing the season on top.

The Most Valuable Players

(MVP) in the Elite finals were Kumar Erramilli (VPCC) and Anas Malik (Highland Creek) while Nicole Samuel (Trinity) and Durriya Shabbir (Tranzac) topped for their respective sides.

Highland Creek’s Fahad Ali (440) registered the most runs in the Elite Division while Ambassadors Amerish Deoraj was the top wicket-taker with 28. The leading run-scorer in the women’s division was Trinity’s Teresa Bess Lavia with 171 while her teammate Lorraine Kenton claimed 17 wickets to lead in the bowling department.

After finishing the regular season in the fourth spot, VPCC upstaged HACC in the semi-finals, earning the right to play second-place Highland Creek, who had gotten the better of Ambassadors in the other semi-final. HACC had to settle for the Trophy Stall of Toronto trophy.

Islanders powered their way to the Premiere Division playoff title, whipping Highland Creek in the process after also ending the regular season on top, waltzing away with the Frank Faubert and

Elite League champions Victoria Park Cricket Club pose with their winning trophy.

J. Pirali-sponsored trophies. The MVPs were Mahadeo Moonasar (Islanders) and Ishan Shah (Highland Creek).

Champions lived up to their name by emerging winners of the First Division playoff final, defeating Panthers to capture the Trophy Stall trophy while they also finished the Conference B regular season on top with Ajax/ Scarborough Kingz B taking top honours in Conference A. Second Division playoff

champions United Titans captured the Norman Sue Bakerysponsored trophy with runners-up being Toronto Rhinos, who had earlier won the regular-season title and the Caribbean Wavesponsored trophy.

The Third Division Roy Lalkissoon-sponsored trophy went to Phoenix Kerala while the Conference A and B winners were Maple and Phoenix Kerala.

The T20 competition saw Bawa upstage VPCC to win the Bisham

Djokovic suffers Davis Cup heartbreak, Britain into semis

By Martyn Herman

MADRID, Spain (Reuters) Novak Djokovic’s hopes of a second Davis Cup title were dashed as Serbia suffered an excruciating defeat by Russia while Britain beat Germany to reach the semi-finals on a nerve-racking day in La Caja Magica yesterday.

Russian duo Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov survived three match points in a tense tiebreak in the final set of the decisive doubles rubber to claim a 2-1 victory over Serbia.

The Russians are in the semis for the first time since 2008 and will have to do it all over again today when they face Canada

who enjoyed a rest day after beating Australia on Thursday.

Britain again left out their talisman Andy Murray but his replacement Kyle Edmund stepped up to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-5 before Dan Evans, cheered on by several hundred travelling fans, beat Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(2).

Evans, once banned for failing a drugs test for cocaine, had lost both his singles from a set up at the revamped event, but delivered when it mattered in Britain’s first Davis Cup clash with Germany since 1973.

“I felt I let the team down in the last two days. To get it like that was amazing,” an emotional

Evans, who was hugged by captain Leon Smith, said on court.

“The team supported me through everything. Before the match I didn’t feel great. But everybody in the team got me going.”

Britain could face Spain in La Caja Magica today although the hosts were locked at 1-1 with Argentina in the last quarter-final after Rafael Nadal thrashed Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-2 to cancel out Pablo Carreno Busta’s 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-1 defeat by Guido Pella.

Djokovic, who inspired the Serbs to victory in 2010, levelled things up against Russia after

Andrey Rublev has crushed Filip Krajinovic 6-1, 6-2.

The 32-year-old’s 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Khachanov was his 15th successive singles win in the competition and he was soon back out on court with Troicki.

Djokovic needed treatment on his elbow in the second set but carried Troicki to the brink of victory. They squandered match points at 6-5 and 7-6 in the deciding tiebreak and had another at 8-7, only for Troicki to nervously prod long a volley that will give him nightmares for many days to come.

Troicki then missed a service return to spark wild Russian celebrations as they edged it

Trinity Women’s Cricket Canada players with sponsor Krishna Sarju of Caribbean Wave Restaurant Singh Conference B playoff championship while Elevens Kerala took the Deo Samaroo Conference A playoff crown with victory over Scarborough Strikers.

After failing to capture the regularseason title, SCA Blues bounced back to defeat archrivals Action Zone Cricket Academy to cart off the playoff title while the latter took care of business in both the regular season and playoff final in the Under-14 category.

The Under-17 category was

sponsored by long-standing SCA Chief Financial Officer Vish Jadunauth and assistant secretary/ treasurer Mathew Francis while Liz Anandjit and Calvin Alexander took care of the Under-14 division.

The Norman Sue Spirit Award, given annually to a worthy individual who has played a big role both on and off the field, was presented to HACC longstanding executive Deo Samaroo by the late businessman’s daughter Kim Sue.

6-4, 4-6, 7-6(8).

It was a desperate moment for Troicki and the emotions were still roaring in Serbian

post-match news conference in which captain Nenad Zimonjic and virtually all his team were in tears.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday November 23, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Evin Lewis-106 runs (2) Ramanullah Gurbaz-94 runs Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI took most wickets in the recent T20 series against AFG? (2) Which Afghanistan player took most wickets?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Guyana CHRONICLE, Saturday November 23, 2019

31

NSC throws full support behind GVF ‘Spikedown 2K19’ NATIONAL Sports Commission (NSC) Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, says the Guyana Volleyball Federation’s (GVF) “Spikedown 2K19” will significantly help to develop the sport.

Yesterday’s press conference at the NSC’s Mandela Avenue office, saw the pact being made by Jones along with GVF president Levi Nedd and organisers of the event, second year University of Guyana Law students Andre Jagnandan and Kristoff Shepperd.

The two students approached

Director Jones as they were conscious that volleyball had been dormant and thus needed a new concept. In realising the importance of the sport and the vision of the youths, Jones said the NSC decided to fully sponsor the entire tournament.

“The NSC is pleased to be associated with the tournament.

When we were approached we recognised that volleyball was dormant and we decided to come on board.

With 2019 coming to an end, Jones urged other associations

FIXTURES: Preliminaries Saturday, starting-time 10:00hrs Rollers Volleyball Club (VC) vs Vanguard VC Bartica Warriors VC vs Premier Eagles VC Young Achievers VC vs PMTC VC Castrol Strikers VC vs Premier Eagles VC Rollers VC v PMTC VC Castrol Strikers VC vs Bartica Warriors VC Vanguard VC vs Young Achievers VC Rollers VC vs Young Achievers VC Vanguards VC vs PMTC VC Semifinals Sunday; starting-time 10:00hrs Winner of Group A vs Runner-up of Group B Winner of Group B vs Runner-up of Group A Finals (Sunday) Third-place playoff First-place playoff

From left, National Sports Commission (NSC) Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, is flanked by players, organisers and GVF president Levi Nedd (last right) during yesterday’s launching of Spikedown 2K19 (Clifton Ross photo) and federations to promote more tournaments as they are willing to support. He also told the GVF that the NSC was willing to fully sponsor Male and Female tournaments before the year is out, once it is feasible.

Nedd, meanwhile, said that he was delighted to know that the resurgent idea was birthed from the minds of young students who have seen the importance of sport and academics.

The GVF head stated that the upcoming male tourney would

be used as a measuring stick for national selection in 2020 for the various overseas events in which the sport usually engages.

The tournament will be played among seven teams, including Port Mourant Training Centre, Bartica Warriors, Young Achievers and

others from the respective counties of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice.

The tournament spikes off on November 30 at the National Gymnasium. (Clifton Ross)

GFF-Always Championship Cup 2019 kicks off today … Six women’s clubs set to face-off in round-robin play at GFF NTC THE battle for female supremacy in the 2nd edition of the Guyana Football Federation/Always Female Championship Cup competition is set to get underway today at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Female players from six clubs drawn from the West

Demerara and Georgetown

Football Associations will be locked in battle in the 11 v 11 format of the game. Last year’s inaugural tournament was played using the 7 v 7 format.

Ansa McAl Trading, the local distributors of the Always sanitary napkins have once again committed their full support towards the development of female football

by maintaining their partnership with the GFF. The clubs set to compete are Foxy Lady FC, Fruta Conquerors FC, Guyana Defence Force FC, Guyana Police Force FC, GT Panthers FC and Santos FC. Teams would be using the round-robin format over two rounds of play, the top four teams emerging from the

first round will advance to the second round.

Matches would be of 70 minutes’ duration, 35 minutes each segment with 10 minutes for the half-time break.

Santos and Fruta Conquerors have been given the opportunity to set the pace for the tournament as they will match skills from 13:00hrs today followed by a clash

between the Armed Forces, Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Police Force from 14:30hrs.

On Sunday, another double-header is scheduled.

Santos will come up against the Guyana Defence Force from 13:00hrs with the main attraction between Guyana Police Force and Foxy Lady.

Rio Indoor Streetball Championship … Gold is Money, Showstoppers, Bent Street pick up wins TRADITIONAL giants - Gold is Money, Showstoppers, Sophia, Bent Street and Back Circle - secured easy wins when the Inaugural Rio Indoor Streetball Championship continued on Thursday at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

Gold is Money defeated Island All-Stars 6-3. Keifer Brandt scored a hat-trick in the fifth, eighth and 17th minutes while Jamal Pedro, Randolph Wagner and Phillip Rowley scored in the second, 10th and 14th minute respectively.

For the losers, Quincy McDonald, Devon Hyman and Rory Lewis scored in the third, seventh and 15th minutes

respectively. Bent Street crushed Avocado Ballers 4-1.

Daniel Wilson, Colin Nelson, Pernell Schultz and Akel Clarke netted in the fourth, 12th, 15th and 17th respectively.

For the losers, Cedric Osborne netted in the sixth minute.

Showstoppers dismissed Future Stars 5-2. Delon Lanferman recorded a double in the fourth and eighth minutes while Lennox Wilson, Keanu Lawrence and Stephon Jupiter scored in the 16th, 17th and 19th minutes respectively.

On target for the losers was Jamal Cozier in the sixth and 11th minutes. Also Sophia downed Gaza Squad 2-0. Elroy George

and Mervin Morris netted in the fourth and eighth minutes respectively.

The competition will continue today at the same venue. Island All-Stars will face-off with Gaza Squad from 19:00hrs, while Rio All-Stars will oppose Spot-7 at 19:30hrs and Stabroek Ballers battle Albouystown at 20:00hrs.

In the fourth match, Avocado Ballers will oppose LA Ballers from 20:30hrs, while BV tackle Bent Street at 21:00hrs and Gold is Money lock horns with Sophia. In the final match, Sparta Boss face-off with Alexander Village from 22:00hrs.

Futsal action at the National Gymnasium

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 23, 2019

District 10 reign supreme with fifth consecutive ‘Nationals’ title 26 PAGE

District 10 won their fifth consecutive title. (Faizool Deo photos)

District Three, West Demerara, won the Teachers’ T&F competition.

District 10 athletes celebrate after winning their 18th overall championship trophy.

Smith, Archibald help Hurricanes to victory 26 PAGE

Devon Thomas … extended his good form with another half-century.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2019