Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_12_31_2019

TUESDAY 31st December, 2019

' No.105866

‘Serve your constituents,

regardless of political affiliation’ --Pres. Granger urges Mayors, Deputy Mayors during swearing-in ceremony

SEE STORY ON PAGE 03

President David Granger standing alongside the re-elected Mayors and Deputy Mayors at the Ministry of the Presidency (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Apartment building goes up in flames at Princess Street --leaves one dead after witnessing the ordeal, another 11 homeless

PAGE

14

‘Don’t post HIV results on Facebook’––NAPS warns

PAGE

10

Apartment building goes up in flames at Princess Street --leaves one dead after witnessing the ordeal, another 11 homeless

PAGE

20

Banks DIH records $14.4% after-tax profit for 2019 …envisions optimistic economic outlook with ‘first oil’

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

PM, ministers keep offices as Parliament is dissolved NOTWITHSTANDING the dissolution of Parliament on Monday 27th, persons who hold specified offices will continue to hold these offices and will be paid salary and allowances and be provided with other benefits in accordance with the Constitution.

These persons include Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland; Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo and Ministers of government. Opposition Members of Parliament (MP), as well as government MPs with-

out ministerial portfolios, have ceased to be members thereof.

Apart from those listed above, those who will continue to hold their offices include: Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Vice President and Minister of

The Public Buildings, where Parliament is held

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock; Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan; Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton; Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix; Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams; Minister of Public Telecommunication, Catherine Hughes; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karen Cummings; Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder; Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry; Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar; Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley; Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Annette Ferguson; Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs,

Valerie Garrido-Lowe; Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma; Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Valerie Patterson-Yearwood and Minister of Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes.

They will remain in these offices until elections are held and new representatives are sworn in. On Friday, President David Granger issued the proclamation for the dissolution of Parliament and the 10 Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs).

According to Chapter 1:01 of the Constitution, Article 70 (2): “The President may at any time by proclamation dissolve Parliament.”

Meanwhile, Article 70 (5) says that after a dissolution and before the holding of an election of members of the Assembly, the President can only recall Parliament in the case he considers there to be a “state of war” or a “state of emergency”. Article 61 of the Constitution states: “An election of members of the National Assembly under Article 60 (2) shall be held on such day within three months

after dissolution of Parliament as the President shall appoint by proclamation.”

The dissolution took place yesterday, three months after the President proclaimed that General and Regional Elections will be held on March 2, 2020.

Early elections in Guyana were triggered when, on December 21, 2018, the Parliamentary Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – secured a one-seat majority in the House to defeat the government on a Motion of No-Confidence. Former Member of Parliament, Charrandass Persaud, had used his vote in the House to support the motion, thereby giving the opposition an edge over the government in the 65-Member National Assembly. GECOM, faced with its own challenges, in September, 2019, informed President Granger, for the very first time since the motion, that it would be in a position to conduct credible elections by the end of February, 2020.

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

‘Serve your constituents, regardless of political affiliation’ –– Pres. Granger urges Mayors, Deputy Mayors during swearing-in ceremony

By Svetlana Marshall

the Regional Administrations.

“The Government of AT A time when there con- Guyana functions in three tinues to be a struggle for levels: National, Regionpower and stagnation in al and Local,” Presuident some municipalities and Granger said. “All three levregions, President David els must collaborate to enGranger on Monday chal- sure the efficient delivery lenged Mayors and their of public services to every Deputies to recognise their citizen, everywhere in the responsibilities to serve country,” he told the elected their constituents, regard- local leaders. less of political affiliation.

Noting also that as main He also noted that the centres of commerce and time is ripe for them to lead industry, principal termithe process of transforming nals of trade, administers of their towns into centres of public services, and main commerce and industry. settlements of the regional The President made the populations, municipalities foregoing observations after cannot afford to be affectadministering the Oath of Of- ed by political interference, fice to the re-elected Mayors President Granger said: and Deputy Mayors for the “Government’s policy 10 Municipalities, during a of regionalisation over the simple ceremony held at the last four-and-a-half years President David Granger receiving a plaque depicting the key to the City and all of the ten towns from Ministry of the Presidency. has been aimed at ensuring a Waneka Arrindell, Mayor of Linden and President of the Guyana Association of Mayors Among officials present at nation of strong regions. This the communities in which ara and Berbice by appoint- the President pointed out. the function were Minister of policy strengthens the role they reside.

NON-COOPERATIVE ed district commissioners, Communities Ronald Bulkan; of capital towns in regional STRENGTHENING STANCE the Regional Administrative Minister of State Dawn Hast- development.

OF INTERNAL SWORN IN In some regions, there System includes democratiings-Williams; Director-GenTown Councils consistent have been reports that cally-elected Town Councils, DEMOCRACY The Mayors who were eral of the Ministry of the with this policy should con- regional chairmen and Neighbourhood Democratic The Municipal and Dis- sworn in on Monday are: Presidency Joseph Harmon; tinuously revamp and retool councillors have taken a Councils and Village Coun- trict Councils Act provides Ubraj Narine (Georgeand Permanent Secretary in their administrative systems non-cooperative stance, cils, and these councils, must for the strengthening of town); Winston Roberts the Ministry of Communities to enable them to become resulting in developmental at all times act in the interest internal democracy by re- (Corriverton); Waneka Emil McGarrell. engines of enterprise, agents setbacks, particularly after of the citizenry, the President quiring regular elections Arrindell (Linden); ChatUnderscoring the import- of employment and engines the No-Confidence Mo- emphasised. within councils for the posi- tergoon Ramnauth (Rose ant roles municipalities play of economic development.” tion was moved against the It was under the current tions of Mayor and Deputy Hall); Rajendra Prabhulall in the Local Government Cognisant of the chal- Government in the National administration that Local Mayor.

(Anna Regina); Gifford System, President Granger lenges on the ground, the Assembly last December. Democracy was restored in “Mayors and Deputy Marshall (Bartica); Chris said that Councils, in addi- Head of State added that There have also been simi- Guyana after a 22-year hiatus. Mayors are vital to the entire Phang (Mabaruma); John tion to offering municipal “regional councilors, re- lar reports in some munic- And in keeping with its 2015 system of governance. They Macedo (Lethem); and Daservices, must become agents gardless of their political ipalities.

Campaign Manifesto, the are required to commit to vid Adams (Mahdia). As the of change, drivers of devel- affiliation, must collaborate As opposed to the colo- A Partnership for National ensuring the delivery of pub- Mayor of New Amsterdam, opment, and protectors of the for the common good of nial system, which involved Unity + Alliance for Change lic services within their mu- Winifred Heywood is curenvironment, in collaboration their municipalities and the management of the three (APNU+AFC) Government nicipalities and to act in the rently out of the jurisdicwith Central Government and their regions.” counties, Essequibo, Demer- facilitated Local Government interest of their constituents. tion, she would be sworn in Elections on March 18, 2016, They are required to consult at a later date.

The Deputy Mayors who one year after it had taken of- their constituents and citifice. Then, on November 12, zens in the decision-making took the Oath of Office are: 2018, another round of Local processes, which are likely Alfred Mentore (GeorgeGovernment Elections was to affect their well-being. town); Wainwright McIntosh held, President Granger said. They are required to conduct (New Amsterdam); Imran “Two Local Government their duties at all times in Amin (Corriverton); WainElections have been held in accordance with the Con- wright Bethune (Linden); four years. These elections stitution and the Laws of Deonauth Harrinarine (Rose have restored and renewed lo- Guyana, and remain faithful Hall); Rudolph Williams cal democracy as it should be. to their oath of Office,” the (Anna Regina); Carolyn RobThese elections allowed Head of State told the elect- inson (Mabaruma); Debra King (Lethem); and Juecitizens to elect their rep- ed local leaders.

Article 71 of the Con- wayne Mendonca- Burrowes resentatives to manage their municipalities and stitution of Guyana states (Mahdia).

While Local GovernNeighbourhood Democratic that Local government is a Councils. Regular munic- vital aspect of democracy, ment Elections are held ipal and mayoral elections and shall be organised so as every three years, internal ensure that councils are to involve as many persons elections are held annualCity Mayor Ubraj Narine taking the Oath of Office before President David accountable and remain ac- as possible in the task of ly for mayors and deputy Granger (Photos by Adrian Narine) countable to their citizens,” managing and developing Mayors.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

‘I’m independent’ --Ali defends ability to run a PPP/C gov’t, with or without Jagdeo

By Lisa Hamilton ALTHOUGH some feel differently, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential candidate Irfaan Ali is confident that he could lead a PPP/C government without the shadow of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo hovering over him.

At the Party’s year-end press conference on Monday, where Ali was present alongside Jagdeo, he assured media operatives that he is independent, and will be the one to have the final say in a government under his leadership.

“I’ll be leading a team. There could be failure, but if there are issues, ultimately, I am responsible.

So, I would be responsible for the government, and the leader of the government. And I can

assure you that I’m independent, and my position will be independent in the collective; that is, the Cabinet,” Ali said. It was the first time since July 2019 that Ali has been present at the party’s weekly press conference, which customarily features just the Opposition Leader.

The PPP/C Presidential candidate defended the Opposition Leader as being crucial to the party’s leadership, and someone who would definitely be part of a government led by him. “The fact is,” he said, “Mr. Jagdeo is the General Secretary of the PPP. He is also an asset that, as I pointed out before, will be used in government. So he’ll be part of the team, and the collective responsibility. And the collective success of us as a government depends heavily on how effective

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential candidate Irfaan Ali at Monday’s press conference (Adrian Narine photo)

and efficient that team works and achieves results. And at the end of the day, I want a team that is dynamic,” he added.

Asked whether there would be any change as to who would head the party’s list into elections, Ali responded in the negative, saying that Jagdeo will remain in that capacity.

He went on to say that while the party has not discussed the matter, he has no issue with it, as

the General Secretary has “historically” led the party’s list. “I am not worried at all about that,” Ali said. “I am very clear on my ability to lead; I’m very clear of the team approach, and I want to say to you that that does not pose any threat.”

STILL NO CLARITY Meanwhile, since November 2019, Jagdeo has been shying away from stating his position

31 December, 2019 - 08:30hrs ~ 10:00hrs

on Ali’s desire to appoint him as Vice-President should the PPP win the coming election.

“I made a statement that I would like to have him in the government as the Vice- President. I’ve asked him… But he’s here now. I’ve asked him, and I’ve communicated this with him. That much I can tell you,” Ali said before passing the baton on to Jagdeo.

The Opposition Leader responded: “My position has still remained the same,” he said. “Dr. Ali will have my 100 per cent support. I’ll work for him, as I said before, to become the most successful president ever. But I’ve not made a decision as yet as to position in the government.

We will discuss that further a little bit later.”

Jagdeo’s response to the same question weeks ago took a similar position, where he claimed that he had given “no serious thought to where and what role” he would play in a PPP government.

The proposal made by the PPP Presidential Candidate was met with great backlash back then, as it was made even after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) struck down the High Court and Court of Appeal rulings regarding a third term for the former President.

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon had accused the party of attempting to ease the Opposition Leader through the “back door” into the seat of power.

TESTING THE WATERS “They are testing the waters,

Saturday December 22, 2019

13, 03, 25, 07, 16

5, 2, 5

5, 9, 3

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

When Ali was selected as presidential candidate back in January 2019, grassroot supporters were outraged, contending that his ‘baggage’ will ‘sink’ the party’s chances of winning the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

Moments after it was confirmed that Ali was elected over former Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, PPP/C supporters expressed profound disappointment at the Party’s choice, as they flooded the Internet to register their concerns.

Meanwhile, Celrose Caravaio, a relative of the former Minister of Local Government under the PPP/C regime, Norman Whittaker, questioned why Ali was elected over former Culture and Sport Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony and other candidates who have cleaner slates.

However, speaking to those who question his leadership, Ali said: “I’m not into negative campaigning. I have a positive outlook about our country; I have a positive outlook about this campaign. I am not going to burden myself with negativity.”

03, 05, 11, 13, 17

05 06 07 11 15 21 16

M

December 27, 2019

2

7

9

10 21

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Working Class to be put on front burner for house lots -Approximately 1,300 house lots allocated countrywide for 2019

THE working class will be placed on the “front burner” for the allocation of house lots come 2020, said Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson.

“I have before me applications and acknowledgement letters going as way back as 1991 coming down to current…when I got here at the ministry in April, I recognised applicants were not being treated fairly because you have people who just applied and [were] given an allocation,” said Minister Ferguson during her remarks at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA)’s end of year press conference, on Monday.

In 2019, the authority received 6,412 new applications, which took the total to about 60,000 active applications.

The minister committed to ensuring that those applications were addressed and noted that the process had already started, with focus being placed on the working class.

“I want to say that 2020 will be a better year for those who are seeking a house lot or solution from the CH&PA… I want to make it clear that the mandate of this authority is to provide housing accommodation for the working class and the authority would have

Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson, flanked by her technical team from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (Delano Williams photo)

deviated from its initial responsibility in the past,” said Minister Ferguson.

The deviation she spoke about was related to the past when large plots of land were distributed to persons, who would then commercialise them and resell to others. The minister said she had an issue with those allocations because when that happened, the “ordinary people” were not being treated fairly.

Her belief is that, in some cases, land was issued to persons who did not need it. In that regard, Minister Ferguson said the authority, when allocating land, will be distributing to persons who were in dire need of land. In doing so, the authority will be able to realise its true mandate.

“We have already started working towards our goal… we started looking at old

applications…the focus was on applications from the 90s up to 2010,” said the minister.

which surpassed the authority’s target of 1,000 house lots.

The authority was also able to

Operations Director of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Denise King-Tudor (Delano Williams photo)

CEO of CH&PA, Lelon Saul (Delano Williams photo)

According to the CH&PA, some 1,298 house lots were distributed throughout the country this year, a total

distribute 2,063 Certificates of Title to persons who were able to pay-off their outstanding balance. The distribution of titles surpassed the initial

target of 1,500.

In addition, the authority continued to surpass targets by conducting over 6,000 interviews which was more than double the target for 2019.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CH&PA, Lelon Saul, said the authority was providing housing for the entire nation, particularly for the “small man.”

“Those who have the means need to go on the open market and purchase house lots and houses…they should do that and don’t come here because we are for the small man,” said Saul, who was adamant that the working class should benefit first.

The CEO echoed the sentiments of Minister Ferguson, noting that the authority was revising its systems to ensure that the working class benefitted from house lots and housing solutions.

“We cannot ignore the small man…you walk around Georgetown in the nights, you have citizens sleeping in the streets and people should not be living like that…we have to address this problem, we must address this problem,” Saul asserted.

As part of this effort, he promised that the authority will continue to subsidize the cost of housing so it would be affordable for every Guyanese. And, it has been evident that Guyanese were interested in house lots and housing solutions, given the number of applications which the

EPA: Repsol moments from being fined --for Kanuku Block mud-spill MADRID-based energy company, Repsol, is moments away from being fined for a mud spill in the Kanuku Block, and, while it has expressed deep regrets, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expects to see serious improvements in the future.

“We’re about to issue them the letter with the penalty, hopefully even today, and if not today, tomorrow,” EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday.

The spill, which reportedly occurred in November, has been attributed to a valve that was left unclosed during drilling operations being done by Valaris, an offshore drilling contractor headquartered in London. According to the EPA, Repsol will have a certain amount of time within which it must pay the fine, in the sum of $1,066,000 for the 84 barrels of mud which is reported to have been spilled.

Since news of the spill broke, the EPA has come under severe criticism for its lack of capacity to address

the matter, as Adams was quoted as saying that offshore operations need roundthe-clock monitoring, but it does not have the trained personnel needed to do it as yet.

Following the spill, the EPA Head had held a serious meeting with Repsol, which though apologetic and displeased with its performance, was told in no uncertain terms that swift actions must be taken to improve their operations.

“They’ve committed themselves to improving,” Dr. Adams said, noting that the issue is not the fact that mud was spilled, but the possibility of what could have occurred.

“It’s mud. It’s just natural mud that they use in the drilling process,” Dr. Adams said, adding: “The main concern is what could have potentially happened, based on lapse in a process or procedures. It may not have been mud; it could have been something else.”

Dr. Adams said that the EPA is well aware that it must build capacity and acquire resources to improve, and has submitted propos-

tent in malpractices, something the EPA cannot ignore.

“It shows that there is a track record; that in any future applications, we need to take that into consideration,” he said, noting that this would not only go for the specific contractor but every other contractor which applies for the job.

Even with the criticisms, the EPA Head reminded that the sector is new to the country, and will take time for all necessary provisions to be put in place. Until then,

EPA Head Dr. Vincent Adams

als to the effect in its 2020 Budget.

He however, sought to remind that it won’t be until after the March 2020 elections that these funds can be dispensed.

Added to this, he said that the EPA has noted the calls for an increase in the fine just over $1M, but says this too will take time, as it requires Parliament’s approval.

Dr. Adams said the EPA will not be singling out Valaris for different treatment, but the company has proven itself to be one that is consis-

the Agency will do its best to meet its mandate, and the expectations of Guyanese.

“Rome was not built in a day,” he said, adding: “We’ve got to build capacity. This whole oil industry is new to us, and we’ve got to look for qualified people, and look for the competency.

“We do have a plan for getting to a goal, and it’s not going to be either next month; hopefully next year.

But our goal is to have a full unit dedicated to overseeing the oil and gas industry.”

authority has received over the years.

In response to the increasing demand, the authority has conducted designs and surveys for 16 new housing areas around the country, which will be ready for allocation soon. Part of the new housing areas include some 1,400 acres of land which the CH&PA purchased from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for housing development.

SCREENING PROCESS In order to ensure that the “small man” benefits from those new lands and with regard to the increasing demand, Operations Director of CH&PS, Denise King-Tudor, said the authority will be reviewing the screening process which is conducted to ensure that persons are eligible for land.

“We are in the process of reviewing our criteria and selection of persons because people come to us and provide documentation and say one thing like for instance what they earn, but sometimes I believe those persons do not give us all the information pertaining to their financial status,” said King-Tudor.

The authority will, therefore, pay more attention to the screening process in order to ensure that those persons, who are in dire need, benefit from land allocations or housing solutions.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Consequential year 2019 THE year 2019 has come to an end. And what a year it has been.

From the attempt to overturn the will of the electorate via a conspiracy between a government MP and the opposition to the coming of First Oil, it has been a year of riveting political developments.

When the modern political history is properly written, this year must feature as one of the most consequential. Indeed, long from now, this would be one of the most talked-about year. Yes, the year 2019 was one of challenges and hope for our Guyana.

Most importantly, it could be the last year that Guyana would sit at the bottom of the western hemisphere’s socio-economic ladder. It was the year when the news was littered with reports of new oil finds, fueling hopes of a brighter tomorrow for Guyana and its children.

Brought here from far flung lands, these diverse peoples have managed to survive the harsh realities of nature, of slavery, of indentureship, of colonialism, of imperialism and neo-colonialism. At the end of the second decade of the 21st century, we are now poised to begin erasing the curse and stigmas of that long night of human injustice.

It was the year when the Guyanese political system, fragile in many ways, was put to the test and survived the harsh attacks of those who placed party over country.

When one man, in a moment of deceit and cowardice, said yes instead of no, the notion of democratic governance was assaulted as never before. But the courts were made to work overtime as the nation watched and waited. From the High Court through the Appeal Court to the newly minted Caribbean Court

of Justice, constitutional interpretation was contested in the broad daylight. The courts were cajoled, questioned and even threatened.

But in the end, the rule of law prevailed.

It was the year when Guyana tried to mend its broken heart-- to borrow from that famous love song made popular by the indomitable Al Green. Those who crave power could not wait on the verdict of the ballot box. They stormed the National Assembly with vengeance at Christmas the year before. Like the marauders of old, they disrespected the season of goodwill. But that was corrected in 2019. The court recommended the marriage of principle with reason, thus restraining itself from sullying the principle of separation of powers.

It was the year of the fight for a clean voters list. One side wanted

an old suspect list while the other wanted a new clean register of voters. GECOM was caught in the middle of the two juggernauts as they sought to convince the umpire of the correctness of their appeal.

When GECOM embarked on a new House-to-House registration exercise, all hell broke loose. Some threatened a boycott and went to court. GECOM stood tall and strong in the face of the missiles.

As we close the year, it seems as if there would be a list that is largely sanitized.

It was also the year when every Tom, Dick and Harilall decided to form his or her own political party. The last count saw eight new parties declaring their intention to contest the 2020 elections. Some have declared this development as a true test of democracy. Others have put it down to frustration with the

established parties. Still, others have pointed to the abundance of political egos. Whatever the reason for this flurry of parties, the year 2019 will be remembered for as the year of many parties.

In the final analysis, Guyana survived another year of harsh politics. It seems to be the lot of our country to be caught in this never-ending web of political contention. But as always, there is something in our national character that overpowers the negative vibes and points us in another direction. That may be the true story of 2019. So, farewell to 2019.

You will keep the historians busy with lots of food for analysis and thought.

Desecrating fine education on the altar of anti-national behaviour Dear Editor I MUST confess to being greatly moved by Dr. Mahendra Carpen’s feature address at the 34th Graduation Ceremony of the President’s College, held on November 07, 2019.

Captioned, “If you must break things, then break barriers” in the Guyana Chronicle, its contents were interesting for what they represented, with the boldness and openness of mind, and profound frankness expressed. It is against this background, that one should perhaps conclude that the sum total of such sentiments was indeed genuinely expressed by a citizen who indeed seemed overwhelmingly touched by the experiences, through which he lived, during his student days at President’s College.

One is glad, too, that President David Granger, said, “Education is an entitlement” from which all Guyanese children must benefit.

He further stated that “Edu-

cation is central to your lives, your families, your communities and to the country,” when proclaimed three years ago that the second Friday in September will be known as National Education Day. The President has been consistent in his vision since he has vowed to re-introduce that entitlement…free education from nursery to university. The annual education budget has since been increased by 64 per cent from 2015 and has seen Government spending $52B annually on education, more than any other sector.

Thus, with education, Dr Carpen has had the courage of his convictions to remind the President’s College graduands about the man and the visionary behind what was President’s College, former President Forbes Burnham; about a school in which the camaraderie was without the issues of race and ethnicity which taught Carpen and his then fellow students to bond together for life-long friendships, which, by his own admittance, still exists today.

It was also revealing, his views about the alleged “brainwashing” that was supposed to be part of the College’s curriculum, and how thankful he has been for such an experience because it gave him an education that “changed the course of my life, and rewrote the otherwise predetermined destiny”. In fact, it is noted in his speech that Carpen has urged the graduands that after receiving “the blessings of being brainwashed, that your minds are now cleansed from biases and prejudices that hold us back as people”. It is a message that, one hopes, will not be lost on their young minds, given the divisions of which they must be aware, existing in our society.

No doubt, that as a tribute to his alma mater, which gave him that firm platform for ascending to what he is today, Carpen had been one of the pall bearers at the funeral of the College’s first principal, the eminent educator, Oswald Kendall.

Also, in this honoured and solemn capacity, was

Nigel Dharamlall, himself a former student, and now a senior PPP/C member and Member of Parliament (MP).

This opposition member, like Carpen, would have benefitted from the process of free education at tax payers’ expense, received at this premier state school, which would have played no small part in his educational growth and development, which have brought him to where he is today. It would have been the same for the many scores, from such a fraternity that subsequently became distinguished citizens, here and abroad.

Therefore, the evidence is compellingly established that Burnham’s vision of a school of excellence for producing distinguished Guyanese was a fact. But it would seem that such an incontrovertible reality had been either forgotten from the memory of especially Dharamlall, because of a contrived case of political amnesia, since as a former student and beneficiary of its quality education, he was stone-cold silent and dumb-

struck as his representative political party set about the dismantling of a magnificent institution in which he once sat in its hallowed classrooms – because it was conceived and made into a shining reality by Burnham. This was a deliberately targeted object of the post-1992 PPP/C policy of de-emphasising the Burnham legacy. The Guyana National Service was among the many others which suffered a similar fate, eventually being brought to an end, despite its unquestionable role in nation building, as well as affording many Guyanese great opportunities for self-development.

It was a national scandal, for the disgraceful downsizing of a fine school that had the renowned reputation of exposing its students to a rounded education, such as described by Carpen, and which would have undoubtedly been also given to Dharamlall.

It is hard to believe that Dharamlall, given his shockingly shabby behaviour towards the Indigenous Toshaos, that bordered on dis-

crimination as reported in a section of the media, and a nasty disrespect to President Granger via facebook, could have been emitted by someone who, as a student at the prestigious college, would have been taught respect for authority; and for all races of this country, in addition to respecting all classes of labour as dignified, as eloquently outlined by Carpen in his address, as one of the visionary milestones of the great Burnham.

Editor, it is not that Dharamlall was not given the College’s fine tuition, inclusive of its corresponding attributes while a student at the President’s College. Of course, he had a recipient! But he betrayed such outstanding graces, while desecrating the latter on the altar of an abysmal type of anti-national behaviour.

Regards Earl Hamilton

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

7

Perfidy and political criminality Dear Editor Is Stabroek News front page headline, “Charandass Persaud endorses Irfaan Ali”, meant to be some scoop or big news item for readers, with perhaps the intention of making it read like when the first man landed on the moon in 1969? Not for the many Guyanese who would have understood the background of the greatest political perfidy to have taken place in Guyana.

Editor, such news is as expected as the next lie that Jagdeo and his PPP/C will unload, during this campaign season. Therefore, there is nothing exciting, or unexpected that can come from a man whose pathway along the highway of what is Guyana, must now be renamed the Judas Way, along

with the Iscariot Avenue. One is certain that his vile act of betrayal and distortion of all that a National Assembly is supposed to be, will lead to a manual of “How to betray one’s political colleagues: The case of Charandass.”

Further, it is another piece in the dark mosaic of the great betrayal of his former government and party parliamentary colleagues, with the interesting part of his reasons given for supporting another dubious political character, as PPP/C presidential candidate, charged with 19 serious offences before the Court, in addition to still being unable to account for the existence of his still questionable academic certificates.

As an attorney, if he truly comprehends the moral responsibilities of such a profession, he should understand that a

person under such dark clouds, as Ali is, cannot be eligible for any high political consideration by a million miles.

But such action has been endorsed by a party to which he had always belonged, notwithstanding his becoming a member of the Alliance for Change (AFC).

His musings about Ali being questioned “about his qualifications”, forgets the fact that persons who aspire to high public office are obligated to be above board on matters of personal propriety and integrity. Who they are, and being transparent is an absolute.

Therefore, his view of Ali being remorseful –how and when? – about “some of the things that happened during his reign as housing minister and during the years the PPP/C spent in office…” rings hollow, and

is another dastardly and vile trick, intended to hoodwink the nation into believing that the PPP/C leaders have accepted responsibility for their criminalities exacted on this nation. One can even question Ali’s sudden and ‘surprising’ remorse, as reported by Charandass, against the background of his refusal to come clean about the fictitious West Demerara University, and all those ‘certificates’ that were supposed to have come from such a skyville centre of learning. This is clearly another perfidious act of Charandass in another role of deception, helping his party’s candidate to whitewash his image, indelibly tainted by Pradoville, and his questionable academics.

However, it is his representation of Ali, as Chairman of the PAC, that he attempts to further use to sell his puppetry

candidate to the nation.

All that Ali did was to have used his position of eminence to speak down to, and embarrass, some of the regional heads and accounting officers about regional accounting systems that had ever since been broken during his former government’s tenure of office, and which facilitated acts of financial improprieties. In this role, Ali was totally dishonest in not admitting that many of those executive managers were merely continuing to function with a system that had been undergoing a process of change under the coalition government for better accountability. Ali’s ploy was to attempt to embarrass, by adopting a purely bellicose style. No doubt that the officers concerned reported on his disrespectful and disparaging manner. At best, it was

mostly empty bravado, to catch the public’s attention in preparation for his being handpicked

by Jagdeo.

Stabroek News is not doing its readership any favours by reporting a six of the dozen and half dozen of the other story. This is simply a case of a political Judas endorsing a criminally dishonest politician, who has no probity of any kind. Both of them ought to have, since disclosures, been relegated to the back seat of no return. But they still exist, is because of the nature of our society. It is therefore not surprising that Stabroek News is reporting on such shameless characters who have brought no value to national political morality.

Regards Carla Mendonca

Sasenarine Singh people are more than numbers

?Dear Editor,

BEFORE I proceed to once again argue my case on a letter authored by Sasenarine Singh, the world renowned ‘Turnaround Specialist’, I do wish to make two points.

Firstly, I have zero knowledge of accounting. Secondly, what I do have is a sound understanding of mathematics which is evident in achievement of an ‘A’ in GCE-Advance level mathematics. As a matter of fact, mathematics was always my strongest subject area when I was at school. Combine with this sound understanding of mathematics is my expert level understanding of critically appraising research papers which informs one’s decision making in determining the quality of a research. This skill can be extended to all facets of academia including accounting.

Now I proceed to articulate my argument. Since Mr. Singh had legged it up coward’s lane with regards to the questions I posited about a couple of letters he wrote on the sugar industry, it would be reasonable for the electorate to conclude that Mr. Singh has accepted that the sugar industry either dead and he was just pulling a fast one.

Now, Mr. Singh new area of interest, clearly not as a specialist, is summed up in a letter titled, “Granger gov’t done poorly in relation to gross national income’, which was published in the Stabroek News. I will now, once again proceed to apply the surgical scalpel to his authorship, dissecting it through every level and in the process exposing the accounting and economic pathologies he rather

you-- the electorate-- not see.

The first paragraph and a half spoke of missed manifesto promises by Mr. Granger’s government. Mr. Singh highlighted two missed promises and said there are a further dozen. I am very concerned about two being highlighted and then Mr. Singh just pronouncing that there is a further twelve and expect us to accept that as fact.

If I had to argue that case I would have listed all twelve or most of them to remove any doubt in the mind of the readers that they are fabrications.

I would have also outlined what percentage of the total manifesto promises are these ‘missed’ promises. Secondly, Mr. Singh rightfully comparative examined the GNI of this government with that of the PPP in the second half of his letter, but failed to make a similar comparative analysis of manifesto promises kept in both governments first three and a half year in office. To me, that is critical since Mr. Singh, with no analysis, used this to argue that Mr. Granger cannot be trusted because he did not keep his word. While I do not agree with this clearly biased conclusion, an ‘untrustworthy’ Mr.Granger does not equate to a trustworthy PPP in the absence of supporting evidence by the author. It is somewhat of a stretch to conclude that a Presidential candidate in Irfaan Ali, who is facing 19 criminal charges, has serious questions surrounding him of academic fraud, has very poor favourability ratings among his own loving supporters evident in multiple polls by Vishnu Bisram and is banned from Canada, is the most trustworthy Presidential candidate in this election.

Thirdly, and this highlights Mr. Singh limitations in academia, he failed to understand that no government functions in a vacuum. External factors, e.g hurricanes, can affect the delivery of the manifesto promises.

In the case of this government, it was No Confidence Motion (NCM). From December 2018, this government has either been in courts battling a NCM or in caretaker mode.

Even an infant in diaper would recognise that the NCM would have significantly affected the government governing but, most importantly, in achieving some of its manifesto promises to the electorate. Mr. Singh then wrote of the economy heading to ICU. Actually, Mr. Singh stole that description from me; I wouldn’t hold it against him for not referencing me. The problem for Mr. Singh is that his handlers in PPP are demanding that he find a problem where a problem does not exist.

In my layman’s opinion, if he really wanted to argue a sound economic case of an ailing economy, he would have used as evidence the GDPs over the past four years. Again, in my layman’s opinion, he could not, since they would not support his ICU postulation, laying bare for the electorate to see that his ICU analogy is a lie, propaganda and hyperbole. For the last financial year, the GDP was 4.6% with expected GDP of 86% next year. This was published extensively in the printed media. Sase, does that indicate an economy on its death bed awaiting ICU intervention?

Mr. Singh then shared a comparative table on GNI. Frustratingly, he once again failed to reference where the data was extracted despite in

two letters, I reprimanded him for not doing so. What would it take for him to understand that no one will trust him if he continues to throw numbers around but not listing the source? For all you know, he could have just created a table in Excel then add those names and numbers. Sase, you need to state where you get information from so that the readers can independently verify. He then proceeded to base his argument on his manufactured numbers.

In that table, he claims Mr. Jagdeo scored highest, Mr. Ramotar second and Mr. Granger third. Mr. Singh then used those manufactured numbers to state that Mr.Jagdeo is the best thing since the spice girls retired and Mr. Granger is the worse thing since Elvis Presley died. Therein lie my problems with Mr. Singh. Sometimes I do wonder if he just google information on a topic then writes on it. His understanding of the material he writes on, that I have read is quite superficial.

Any preschooler would tell you that isolated numbers mean nothing. Absolutely nothing.

There is much more than numbers in the global economy.

Let’s look at an analogy. If a sprinter is to run the 100m tomorrow in 9.48s with Bolt’s world record being 9.58s, only a fool would rush to conclude that he is faster than Bolt. The numbers would suggest so but numbers are as useful as a jukebox in a presence of iTunes.

The critical thinkers, like most Guyanese and myself, excluding Sase, would demand more information before coming to a conclusion. These include but not limited to are, was the tract a fast tract? What was the wind speed and if it was within the

legal limit? Was the wind head on? Which other athletes were in the race? Was the race ran in the morning or afternoon? Was it raining or was there scorching hot sun? What was the temperature like among other factors?

So you see my point Mr.Singh; numbers mean nothing if they are not accompanied with additional information. Now, back to Mr. Singh numbers; a layman like myself would wish to know if the black economy, which was flourishing under Mr. Jagdeo and Mr. Granger regimes, could have affected those manufactured numbers?

Mr. Singh failed to factor in who was benefiting from these ‘great numbers?’ Were the benefits reflected across the entire economy or a selected few?

Also if these numbers were so great, why was this not reflected in the minimum wage? The fact is that this government increased minimum wage by over 75% because it was ridiculously low under PPP. Also, Mr. Singh failed to appreciate that people are not statistics and numbers, there are much more to a person and, as a result, I would have expected any detailed analysis to look at the overall economic mood of the populace. Were they optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Did they feel valued, ect? But to the point that exposed Mr. Singh’s immature analytical skills is his failure to explain that massive drop in GNI from Jagdeo to Ramotar. Sase, those numbers, your manufactured numbers, are staring you in the face begging for some attention.

Also, what he failed to analyse and explain before coming to a conclusion is whether the manufactured numbers he provided

for Mr. Granger was not just a reflection of a declining trend that Mr. Granger unfortunately inherited. So, in concluding, this attempted analysis by Mr. Singh is once again a complete failure. It is all political and no economical.

It was basically informed by unexplained and, in my layman’s opinion, fabricated numbers. His analysis was at best toddler level plastered with hyperbole. His data was not reference with many unanswered questions. He failed to recognise the limitations of numbers in the absence of additional information. His conclusions were flawed and comical since they were informed by questionable data and superficial analysis which is not at a level I would have expected for someone who boast of postgraduate qualifications. He exposed his true intentions when he argued after a superficial analysis, that this piece of infantile analysis supports an argument for the election of PPP. All in all, a very poor attempt at anatomisation which highlighted a not- so-young man who is clearly out of his depth and desperately in need of guidance. As a result, I would strongly recommend that Mr. Singh seeks academic support before he ventures into any further letter writing as it pertains to economics with a view to repair his severely damaged credibility by someone who has zero knowledge of accounting.

Regards Dr. Mark Devonish

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

CGID urges independent probe into alleged stolen twins Dear Editor THE Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) denounces the attacks on Ms. Keoma Hamer by the Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, Mr. Gatson Brown. Ms. Hamer is a young mother and Guyanese national experiencing unimaginable trauma and torture from the disappearance and alleged theft of her twin baby girls who were born at Holberton Hospital in Antigua on “September 7, 2004” while her flight was in transit there. Ms. Hamer’s medical records disappeared within days of her delivery.

When her family returned to pay the $1,000.00 medical bill, hospital staff said no record of her existed and refused the funds.

Antigua is quickly establishing itself as the child abduction capital of the Caribbean region. Visitors and tourists should, therefore, be gravely concerned about the likelihood that if they travel to Antigua while pregnant, their babies and medical records may be stolen and the Prime Minister and government will be complicit

by refusing to conduct a credible investigation and ensure the administration of justice.

Ms. Hamer and several other patients and nurses have attested to seeing the babies alive at birth. They allege that the twin were stolen. Ms. Hamer has been on a fifteen-year search for her twin. Recently, two young girls were identified as the potential twin. Ostensibly, one resides in Antigua and the other in the US. If the allegations are true, this matter involves child abduction and human trafficking – international crimes. Prime Minister Brown has not commented on and seems disinterested in, the allegation that babies and medical records have disappeared from a government institution.

The Prime Minister, in an official statement on December 27, 2019, disparaged Ms. Hamer as an “unknown woman” and a liar whose babies died in 2004; he offered no independent evidence of this. In subsequent social media posts, the Prime Minister, without providing any evidence, claimed that Ms. Hamer’s story “bears no resemblance to reality.” His attacks are an assault on women and mothers, and deserve stern

repudiation. This is beneath his office. No Prime Minister who ascribes to the creed of human dignity and is in a balanced state of mind can be so callous and irresponsible. CGID calls on Prime Minister Brown to apologise to Ms. Hamer for his insensitive attacks.

Prime Minister Gaston Brown apparently traffics in fiction from an alternate reality and continues to misguide himself about the facts in this case. He is holding out Dr. Joseph John’s disputed letter of October 7, 2004, as evidence that Ms. Hamer had a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage.

Ms. Hamer and several other patients and nurses of the then Holberton Hospital have attested to seeing the babies born alive on “September 7, 2004,” and taken away. These eye witness accounts discredit Dr. John’s account which also states an incorrect birth date.

Moreover, Dr. John’s letter establishes that he was not present the time Ms. Hamer gave birth.

Rather, he attended to her on September 9, 2004; two days [after]she birthed the twins.

Consequently, Dr. John’s opinion was predicated on alleged falsified medical records, which

erroneously stated that the babies died at birth.

The responsible course of action the Prime Minister must pursue is ensuring a thorough and independent investigation by a distinguished juris who can make a finding of fact which answers the following questions: (1) Ms. Hamer never received an account of what happened to her babies. What happened to the babies? Why were no photographs taken?

Why weren’t the purported remains shown to the mother and handed over to relatives as Ms. Hamer requested? Where were the purported remains buried?

2. Within a few days of her discharge, the medical records disappeared. Holberton Hospital claimed it possessed no records or evidence that Ms. Hamer was admitted or treated at its facility. What happened to the medical records? Where are they? Is this how the state of Antigua is governed?

3. The Prime Minister alleges that Antigua police conducted DNA tests on the identified child and the purported parents, and that the results concluded that the persons tested were the child’s bio-

logical parents. However, the alleged DNA tests were done in secrecy and lacks transparency. We reject these results as unreliable. Ms. Esther Amos, the reputed mother, stated on ABS television on December 27, 2019, that she provided a DNA sample that shows that she is the biological mother.

4. How were the DNA samples obtained by the police? Did the police collect them from the said identified child and reputed parents, or did the parents voluntarily provide the samples to the police unsupervised? Who verified that the correct child provided the DNA specimens?

Who supervised the collection of the DNA samples as well as the chain of custody of the samples from collection to delivery to the lab? Which laboratory conducted the tests and where are the documented results?

5. Ms. Keoma Hamer was not DNA tested, why? Why wasn’t Ms. Hamer or her representatives invited to witness the collection of the DNA samples?

6. Did the Antigua police investigate the pregnancy records of Ms. Amos, the issuance of the child’s birth certificate as well as her school records? Did the police interview

former nurses and patients of Holberton Hospital? Did the police interview Dr. John and Dr. Abbott? Did the police investigate allegations that the parents previously claimed that the child was adopted?

The Prime Minister has callously remarked that Ms. Hamer’s claim is a lie, and that her babies were born dead. He has unfortunately prejudiced this investigation with premature conclusions before the so-called police investigation has concluded.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has lost all credibility on this matter and may be seen as complicit in a cover-up. We are therefore calling for an independent investigation into this matter by a jurist. We urge that all parties in this case be treated fairly, justly and with respect, including Ms. Hamer and Ms. Amos.

Regards Rickford Burke President, Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

Climate Change; A Most Serious Global Challenge Dear Editor EVERY day we listen to or look at international news, we hear and see reports of natural disasters that are causing huge damage. Fires are raging in California and this is very regular, so too in Australia, floods in various parts of the world, in the Philippines, Bangladesh and many other places.

These events are costing countries huge amounts of losses in property, destroyed by fire and floods.

Most of all, it accounts for loss of lives, valuable lives and results in tremendous grief and unbelievable human sufferings. The frequency and strength of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions are alarming and the destructive power increasing. Most of these are the results of a great change taking place in relation to our global climate. In an article I wrote in 1990, I had pointed out that one of the main issues as it relates to climate change was that the awareness of this phenomenon was that the mass consciousness lagged behind the danger.

Today, that is no longer the case. The widespread coverage in the mass media and people’s own experience

have raised the awareness in every nook and cranny of our world. Moreover, scientists throughout the world have been sounding the alarm with growing urgency. They have pointed out that most of the damage that has been done and is being done to our global climate and the environment as a whole have been due to the activities of us-- human beings.

In pursuit of wealth, we have created factories and performing other activities that are poisoning our environment. It is not unusual to see in many countries, mainly in Asia, people walking around with face masks due to the pollution in the air. The question is often asked as to why, with all the information that we have, we continue to pursue activities that are threatening life on earth. Instead of improving the environment, we continue to inflict serious harm to it.

There is no one answer to this. Many things contribute to what appears to be the world’s people consciously committing suicide. The causes are rooted in wealth and poverty!

As it relates to the developing countries, this danger is being fueled by the grinding poverty in which huge sections of the population

are forced to exist under.

Because of this, they slash and burn forests to grow food. Many are engaged in dangerous mining activities that are unregulated, illegal and leaves a wide swathe of destruction; from poisoning our rivers and leaving huge holes in the ground. These leads to sicknesses including malaria and many other health-destroying illnesses.

Vital carbon- absorbing trees, hundreds of years old are cut, thereby releasing tons of carbon and robbing us of materials [for] taking greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere.

At the other extreme is the wealthy persons and corporations driven by greed destroying our environment while wasting the world’s resources. They are forces that are fully aware of the consequences of their actions but deliberately hide scientific findings and even spend millions on expensive lobbies to hamper any attempts to halt climate change.

Recently, we learnt that for some forty-years, Exxon Mobile had reports from their own scientists that their activities were contributing to great changes in the world weather patterns and serious negative impacts these have on the world’s health. Instead of sounding the alarm, the

information was deliberately withheld from the public.

A similar situation had developed with tobacco. For years, tobacco companies hid the dangers of smoking from the people. For them, profits were much more important than lives.

Today, that same behaviour is now being magnified many times over. Large companies involved in plantation agriculture and mining have been using their influence and power to get politicians elected who doubt climate change and advocate the plunder of natural nature.

That seem to have occurred in our neighboring Brazil, where Lula was jailed to prevent him from contesting elections and have elected a president who is not sympathetic with those who advocate preservation and conservation of resources.

As a result, the Amazon is burning, to make way for the logging companies, the huge mining establishments and the large-scale farmers. In the process, whole tribes of native peoples are threatened with extinction. It is a sad commentary that much of the food produced in our world, as much as 1/3, is wasted, dumped, to keep prices up.

In the face of such grave threat, world leadership is

sorely lacking. The quality of the political leadership in our world seem to have dissipated and have become less visionary, without a global grasp of reality. This is seen in the lack of agreements and coordinated actions to halt and reverse climate change.

Many conferences are held, sponsored by the United Nations, but either agreements are not reached or are so watered down that they are practically useless. Moreover, no decisive actions are being undertaken to handle this global emergency.

Some social scientists attribute this serious drop in the quality of world leadership to the separation that has occurred between politics and economics. Power in many countries are not in the hands of the elected leadership but in the hands of corporate giants that have managed to separate Central Banks from the elected leadership of countries. The former finance minister of Greece, Varoufakis, related his own experience when meeting with European Union finance ministers, he was bluntly told that elections must not be allowed to interfere with economic policy. As a result, the huge corporations are attracting the best brains at the expense of the state!

Yet, in all of this, there are no innocent bystanders. We are all involved. Our region, the Caribbean, is one of the least polluters, but we are not spared the devastation of climate change. Very often, hurricanes wipe out almost 100% of our economies.

The Bahamas and Dominica are the most recent. In our own Guyana, flooding are becoming more frequent.

The last set of flooding in the Mahaicony was due not to the rains but rising sea levels overflowing our sea defences.

To turn the tide, we need mass action. Some of that is taking place in various parts of the world but this needs to become a global movement. We must move it to the centre of political and economic life so that no person or party should hold high office if he/she is hostile to taking actions to halt and reverse climate change.

People must make that clear, particularly at elec-

tions time. Failing this, the fires of California and Australia, the flooding in the Philippines and Bangladesh would be child’s play as to what is ahead. Now is the time to act.

Regards Donald Ramotar

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, December 31, 2019

9

Min. Bulkan not on board with reformation of Municipal Act -says Councils enjoy full authority and autonomy

NOTHING that he would not shut down dialogue on the issue, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan notes that he is not entirely on board with the call for reformation of the Municipal and District Council Act Chapter 28:01.

Bulkan believes that if the Mayors assert that the Act obstructs them, then they need to be specific on how it does that, or justify why they feel it does.

Several Mayors recently voiced opinions that the act was outdated and restrictive.

Former Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, also shared that he believed that the Act hampered the smooth functioning of the municipalities’ management which fall under the MoC. Bulkan, however, sees it otherwise.

“It’s not a view that I share; closer examination will show that Councils enjoy full authority and autonomy, so I disagree with that position,” Bulkan said, responding to questions on the sideline of the swearing in of Mayors last Monday at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The lack of executive power in the council, the oneyear term limit for Mayors and Deputy Mayors, penalties and building codes were a few of the areas the Mayors suggested were in need of

Min. of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

changes. Bulkan does not believe the act hampers the Mayors in these areas.

“I am saying that the act does not hamper them; the act empowers them,” Bulkan affirmed.

Bulkan also noted that he does not support longer internal term limits for the Mayors. Despite Local Government elections being set for every three years, elections for Mayors and Deputy Mayors are held annually.

Bulkan believes the shorter term fosters greater responsibility and mindfulness in the Mayors.

“Personally speaking, I will not shut the door on longer terms, but it’s there for a good reason. I think it’s a good provision, it allows for greater levels of

accountability. So you have to validate your leadership annually, you’re not there guaranteed for three years.

Persons must not feel too comfortable, they must have to justify their leadership on a more regular basis. Because the same goes for any Minister of government, we are appointed by the President and at any moment’s notice the appointment could be revoked,” Bulkan explained Enacted since 1969, and last amended in 2013, Chapter 28:01 governs the operations and powers of municipalities, of which Guyana has ten.

When the Bill’s last amendment was assented to during the 62nd sitting of the tenth Parliament, Bulkan was among those who spoke

Labourer fined for illegal possession of ammunition MAGISTRATE Peter Hugh, on Monday, December 30, 2019, at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, fined a 38-year-old labourer $150,000, with an alternative of one year in prison, for possession of ammunition.

Kevin Kurtzious of Bartica Turani, Essequibo River, pleaded guilty to the charge which read that, on December 29, 2019, in the vicinity

of Mukupie, Region One (Barima-Waini), he had three live shot gun cartridges in his possession, without being the holder of a firearm licence.

According to reports, on the day in question, police ranks intercepted a boat which was captained by Kurtzious.

A search was conducted and the ammunition was found in Kurtzious’ possession.

Kevin Kurtzious

on the Bill, giving it his full support and that of the APNU political party.

“On behalf of the APNU, I would like to commend this Bill to the House and to urge Members to grant it unanimous support,” Bulkan had said. The Bill had enjoyed the support of both the APNU and PPP Members of Parliament.

However, notwithstanding the amendment, which was seen as a means of paving the way for councils of the municipalities to be given more power, many of the Mayors believe a major bone of contention remains the power dynamics between

the administration and the council, whereby many town clerks continue to act of their own accord, outside the instructions and directions of the council.

Chapter 28:01 specifies that the Town Clerk is subject to the directions of the Council; however, there are many instances where mayors butt heads with their Town Clerks, and of Town Clerks acting on their own accord, or even going against a decision taken by the Council.

Similar situations have also occurred between the Council and departmental heads and other officers of the administration.

In their current state, municipalities function with two components: The Councils, which are headed by the elected Mayors, and the administration, headed by the Town Clerks.

Councillors are elected to the municipalities at Local Government Elections, which are held no more than three years apart.

Mayors and Deputy Mayors are elected by the Councillors from among the sitting councilors annually.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Apartment building goes up in flames at Princess Street –– leaves one dead after witnessing the ordeal, another 11 homeless

By Navendra Seoraj

A FIRE of unknown origin on Monday razed a two-storey apartment building at Lot 41 Princess Street, leaving about 12 persons homeless just days before people the world over usher in the New Year.

The devastation on the faces of the tenants was evident as they watched, teary eyed as the building went up in flames on Monday. One tenant, 47-year-old Michael North reportedly collapsed on the scene after witnessing his apartment go up in flames.

Authorities later confirmed that North, who

teracted with North, said he was a quiet man who would often just go to work and then spend the rest of his time at home.

“The man been living there for four years.” McDonald said, adding: “Just the other day he bought a big TV and other stuff for the season. So this is really sad.

He lived there alone, but he had everything. He had like two televisions, a fridge, a freezer and a lot more… He was a real organised man.”

Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Divisional Officer of Operations, Gregory Wickham confirmed that on arrival at the scene, his team had to

however, is that that apartment was not only locked, but no one was in it when the fire started.

Wickham said that while no one was physically injured due to the fire, investigators are in the process of eliminating and identifying what electrical appliance might have inadvertently been left on, or what exactly would have caused the fire.

Owner of the property, Gordon Copeland was reluctant to comment, but an occupant of the building, one Kelvin McDonald, who shared an apartment with his sister, Shancey, said there were about four families

Dead: Michael North ances. Prior to the tragedy, Kelvin said he was planning to move, because the landlord would often cause problems for the tenants.

McDonald said that Copeland, the landlord, was recently taken to court by the occupants of the apartment where the fire is believed to have started. Another tenant of the building, Kerion

The two-storey Princess Street property that was razed in Monday’s fire He was, however, more distraught about his losses, which ran up to about $1.5M. Campbell, a father of one, said he has been living with his family in the building for just over a month. The man was contemplating his next move, but said he will not give up.

Firemen checking to ensure that the fire was properly extinguished worked as a driver at the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Persons who were at the scene, told the Guyana Chronicle that the man was called away from work after the fire started.

“When the man come, the man see the place on fire and he just collapsed on the ground,” one eyewitness said.

Another tenant of the razed apartment building, Shancey McDonald, a mother of four who frequently in-

call the ambulance, because North had fainted.

“On arrival at the scene, we also recognised that the top floor of the building was fully engulfed,” Wickham said, adding: “Investigative work after that revealed that there were three occupants of the building who were on scene.”

Noting that two fire tenders were deployed when the fire service initially got the call, Wickham said that from all indications, the fire started in the kitchen area of an apartment on the top floor.

What still has him puzzled,

who occupied the building.

McDonald said everyone was counting their losses, which were well into the millions of dollars.

“I moved here the other day from ‘The West Side’,” he said, “so that I could be closer to work. But now this gone and happen, I ain’t know what else to do. All I have now is the clothes I’m wearing,” said the distraught tenant.

He said he lost his fridge, television and sofa, as well as important documents, while his sister lost money, documents and electronic appli-

Despairing tenants who lost everything to the fire Campbell, said he was also told about the court issue involving the landlord and the tenant. Copeland reportedly occupied the bottom flat of the building.

In light of this latest tragedy, Divisional Officer Wickham is advising persons to be very careful around open flames. He said that because

Owner of the razed property, Gordon Copeland (Delano Williams photos) it is the festive season, persons will want to use additional electrical appliances.

He is however cautioning that they ensure that standard wiring and appliances are used.

“Don’t use drop cords or run them under carpets,” he said. “If you use outdoor lighting and wiring, then they must be of the standard to suit the condition. If not, do not do that,” he added.

Minister Cummings spreads Christmas Cheer to elderly MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Karen Cummings, on Christmas Day, visited the homes of several residents on the East Coast of Demerara to spread the Christmas cheer.

Minister Cummings stated that Christmas is the season of caring and sharing and herself and team embarked on distributing hampers to a few elderly persons for the holiday.

“The reason for the season is to keep the Christ in the Christmas even as people are thinking about [material things] …In all our business we need to help the poor and those who are less fortunate and some of the elderly and so I took the time to give out some hampers to the less fortunate,” she stated.

She added that the exercise was a very successful and rewarding one since she Minister meeting with Ms. Hatton, was able to interact with several residents Minister Cummings handing over food one of the oldest persons in Cove Minister Cummings interacting with a and have brief ‘chats’. resident of Victoria hampers to several elderly persons and John

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Lands at Houston being redeveloped for O&G sector THE Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD) area has been transformed over the past few years into a hub for stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, and, in order to ensure that potential investors can further establish their facilities there, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has started to redevelop the area.

Facilities, which cater for the oil and gas industry, have already been established at Houston by Guyana Shore Base Inc., Tiger Tanks and Schlumberger among others. With further developments expected, Chief Development Planner of CH&PA, Germene Stewart, said the authority will be looking to redevelop the area and make it available to stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.

“We have been proactive in meeting with developers and land owners…to date, for the oil and gas sector, we have processed 44 applications,” said Stewart in her remarks at the CH&PA’s end-of-year press conference, on Monday.

She said Guyana will experience development like never before, so the authority is preparing by redeveloping Houston as part of the Georgetown Development Master Plan for the oil and gas industry. Some 914 business applications were processed this year.

Guyana, with the Chief Development Planadvent of the oil and ner of the CH&PA, Gergas sector, has entered mene Stewart (Delano Wila new level and set to liams photo) lead in global economic growth. Testimony to Guyana’s potential rise in the global arena was the rating from New York-based stock market, NASDAQ, which listed the South American country as the fastest growing economy in the world.

According to NASDAQ, Guyana’s projected growth rate from 2018-2021 is 16.3 per cent.

The stock market said that with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) size of $3.63 billion (2018 Rank: 160), a growth rate of 4.1 per cent in 2018 and 4.6 per cent in 2019, Guyana’s economy is expected to grow by 33.5 per cent and 22.9 per cent in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Those projections climbed in a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which stated that Guyana’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by approximately 86 per cent in 2020, almost twenty times more than the projected 4.4 per cent growth for this year.

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has also forecast a staggeringly high growth rate for Guyana for next year. ECLAC noted that Guyana’s growth rate is pegged at 4.5 per cent for this year, while next year it will be 85.5 per cent.

A report from Bloomberg stated that with such figures, Guyana’s GDP will grow fourteen times as fast as China’s next year. Further projections by the IMF showed that real GDP will grow by 4.8 per cent in 2021, 20.6 per cent in 2022 and 26.2 per cent in 2023. Guyana’s $4 billion annual GDP is also expected to expand to about $15 billion by 2024, said the IMF. The financial institution said the commencement of oil production will substantially improve Guyana’s medium- and long-term outlook. Guyana is projected to be among the world’s largest per-capita oil producers by 2025.

The oil sector is projected to grow rapidly, accounting for around 40 per cent of GDP by 2024 and supporting additional fiscal spending annually of 6.5 per cent of non-oil GDP on average over the medium term, which will help meet critical social and infrastructure needs

11

Police stations made more ‘comfortable’ for Domestic Violence survivors FEW police stations on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), Region Three, have been upgraded so that domestic violence survivors can feel more comfortable when making reports and sharing their stories.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Simon McBean, related that the police force was attempting to make police stations more “comfortable” so that any citizen would feel more at ease accessing the services.

However, he also highlighted that emphasis was also The newly-commissioned Parfaite Harmonie Police being placed on making Public Information (DPI) photo) these stations more comfort“One of our main goals between ages of 15 and 64 able for persons who have been affected by domestic is to create that environment in the 10 administrative where people can feel com- regions of Guyana. From violence.

In making the stations fortable coming to us and that, it was found that about more comfortable, he indi- sharing their story, and those half of all the women who cated that the stations had types of rooms can provide experienced intimate-partner been outfitted with interview that type of environment violence never sought help. rooms which were intended where people can feel pri- The reason for not seeking to give privacy to the survi- vate and where they would help was attributed to few vors. Efforts would also be be able to give their story factors including: the lack of made to provide counselling in privacy,” the Assistant knowledge on what help avCommissioner said. enues are available, percepservices for survivors.

According to a recent tions of being blamed, stigMcBean highlighted report entitled: “Guyana matisation, and inadequate that, so far, three stations had been outfitted with inter- Women’s Health and Life support structures to ensure view rooms. Those were the Experiences Survey (WH- victim safety after reporting police stations at La Grange, LES)”, conducted by the Bu- violence to the Police.

In an attempt to combat La Parfaite Harmonie and reau of Statistics, more than Wales. The Leonora Police half (55%) of all women the incidence of domestic Station was currently being experience at least one form violence, Minister of Public rehabilitated, and part of the of violence at the hands of Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, recently said that it new construction involved their partner.

The survey was admin- becomes imperative that the inclusion of similar inistered among 1,498 women police stations are more terview rooms.

Station. (Department of user-friendly, to ensure accountability.

“We want to ensure that we make these police stations that are going to be user-friendly by members of the public and also those who will come to make complaints, those who will come to use it, those who will come to be giving witness statements. [Persons must be aware that] they are going to have privacy when talking and not be in an enquiries office making a complaint, have to speak loudly and then the entire community has to hear their business,” the Minister said.

“We want confidentiality in certain proceedings and the space to ensure that confidentiality.”

Phillips heads list of PPP/C’s prime ministerial candidates –– as party begins selection, nomination process

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) reportedly commenced discussions and nominations Monday for the post of prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

The process has been long anticipated, and the names currently being floated are former Army Chief, Brigadier (Rtd) Mark Phillips; Juan Edghill and Priya Manikchand, both MPs; University of Guyana (UG) Lecturer, Hugh Todd; and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues.

At a press conference on Monday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that those who will engage in the ongoing discussions include MPs, the Executive and the PPP/C Central Committee.

“The discussions will start today,” Jagdeo said, adding: “Last week I men-

tioned that we’ll trigger the process. So I’ve arranged all [that’s needed] to start those discussions now. We’re going to be getting nominations in and starting discussing names.”

That same day, he was set to have a meeting with PPP/C MPs and the Executive.

Back in October, there were rumors going the rounds that Phillips was highly likely to secure the PM spot.

The PPP’s engagement with Phillips to occupy a leading role in the party would be akin to an about-face, since it has heavily criticised the governing APNU+AFC for appointing former military officials to key positions in the public sector.

Phillips had moved up the ranks to Chief of Staff under the Donald Ramotar presidency. He retired in 2016.

However, People’s National Con-

gress Reform (PNCR) Executive Member, Rear Admiral (rtd) Gary Best has stated that his party sees Phillips as “a no-contest” when compared to President Granger.

Meanwhile, although Edghill has been severely criticised in the past for being a Man of the Cloth in contrast with his behaviour while a politician, he is also being touted as a very possible pick.

At Monday’s press conference, PPP/C presidential candidate Irfaan Ali refrained from stating what specific qualities or capabilities the party is looking for in their prime ministerial candidate.

He said that doing so could influence the ongoing selection process, but assured the media that all the party’s nominees are “of high standing”.

12

Guyana, Suriname sign historic tourism pact

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

… cooperation council to be convened within one month

AFTER a two-year gestation period of negotiating, drafting and refining, Guyana and Suriname signed a historic tourism accord, on Monday, within the Boardroom of the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry of the Republic of Suriname.

Signing on behalf of

Guyana was Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, while Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry, Stephen Tsang signed on behalf of Suriname. Witnessing the ceremony on the part of Guyana was the Director General of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, and the Charge D’Affaires of the

Guyana Embassy in Suriname, Malvie Talbot.

From Suriname, the signing was witnessed by Mrs. Rachel Koningsbloem-Pinas, Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Mrs. Yvette Rokadji, Permanent Secretary for Trade in the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry of Suriname.

Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar (seated at right) and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry, Stephen Tsang, signed the historic tourism accord.

The Guyana-Suriname Tourism Accord is a framework Cooperation Agreement that will underpin efforts in both countries to increase tourism business between the two territories and enhance the growth of a sustainable tourism product that will attract larger numbers of visitors to Guyana and Suriname.

Donald Sinclair, Director General of Tourism, explained that the Tourism Accord is viewed as a very timely and strategic mechanism, coming as it does in the midst of preparations for the February 2020 Tourism Expo of the Guianas which Guyana will be hosting at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

He noted that the vision, hopes and planning for such a Tourism Accord date back almost two decades and that long antecedence speaks to a common and shared na-

tional vision that has been kept alive through successive administrations in both countries.

He said that even as the current tourism principals celebrate the December 30th formal signing, the debt to past tourism ministers and actors is one that is happily acknowledged.

After the signing, tourism representatives of both Guyana and Suriname met informally to outline the immediate steps to activate the Accord.

Key among those is the establishment of a Guyana-Suriname Tourism Cooperation Council, to be convened within one month of the signing.

This Council will oversee all actions arising from the Accord, and will comprise three representatives from each country, drawn from both the public and private sector.

‘Fake cop’ sentenced to two years MAGISTRATE Sherdel Isaac-Marcus, on Monday, December 30, 2019, sentenced a 21-year-old man to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a robbery charge.

Daquan Robinson, on his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that, on December 8, 2019, at Merriman’s Mall, while armed with a gun, he robbed Gary Hartman of two spectacles valued at $30,000, a battery power pack valued at $1000, a wallet valued at $2000 and $10,000 cash.

According to information, on the day in question, Hartman was walking in Merriman’s Mall with a haversack containing the items mentioned in the charge.

Robinson approached him and said ‘I am a police officer.’ Hartman then requested to see his police badge.

Robinson then pulled out a black and gray gun from his waist and pointed it in the direction of Hartman saying ‘give me everything’ and relieved him (Hartman) of his haversack, and told him to ‘run or I will shoot you’.

The matter was reported to the police.

Magistrate Isaac-Marcus, after listening to the information, sentenced Robinson to two years in prison.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

13

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 31, 2019

‘Don’t post HIV results on Facebook’--NAPS warns THE National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) is concerned about the increasing trend of persons posting their HIV test results on social media.

Currently, there is an estimated 8,200 persons in Guyana living with HIV. This is according to Dr. Niccollette Boatswain, Deputy Programme Manager, NAPS, during a press conference on Monday at NAPS’ Boardroom, Hadfield Street and College Road, Georgetown. “We know that there is still stigma attached to HIV Aids, but doing this may

add rather than take away from the stigma so many persons still endure,” Dr. Boatswain said.

The Programme Manager noted that the holiday season was not a time to disregard healthy choices and their consequences. She said efforts should be made to ensure that all Guyanese were protected in a way that was effective for each partner and couple. “A simple way of doing this is by reminding or remembering the A,B,C,D,E of HIV prevention; A- Abstain, B- Be faithful, C- Condom use, D- Don’t do drugs, and E- Education and

awareness. Choose the options that are right for you, and if you have any questions contact NAPS,” Dr. Boatswain said.

Noting that this year’s World Aids Day theme was “Communities make the difference” she said everyone should be aware of the steps involved in getting an HIV test done at sites that offer voluntary counselling and testing.

She explained that voluntary counselling and testing were a specific form of HIV testing that included counselling before and after an HIV test. The Programme Manager

noted that there were HIV testing services offered at private laboratories (labs) and facilities that did not include counselling, hence only testing.

“But at all voluntary counselling and testing sites, it is the client that voluntarily accesses the service for an HIV test, and they must be counselled before and after the test is done, regardless of the result. Couples can go and get tested together and we encourage this, as each partner should see it as his or her responsibility to know his or her HIV status, you should not depend on the HIV test

Dr. Niccollette Boatswain, Deputy Programme Manager NAPS

results of your partner to make healthy choices regarding yourself, everyone should know their status,” Dr. Boatswain said.

She explained that there were 41 public sites and seven civil society organisations nationally that offer voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services and NAPS can be contacted for more details on the sites.

Meanwhile, Deborah Success, National VCT Coordinator of NAPS said all involved in VCT testing must follow a testing algorithm. “Every person that will be accessing an HIV test in Guyana will first be given the determined test. Once that determined test result is non-reactive, then we will report and inform the client that the HIV antibodies we checked for in their blood was not detected, it therefore means that they would be giv-

en a negative result,” the VCT coordinator said.

She continued: “If when the first test is done, the result is reactive which means that the HIV antibodies that we test for have been detected in their blood, then we will move to test two; this is the Uni-Gold, that is a confirmatory test, now once the results from the Uni-Gold is the same as the determined, meaning that it is reactive, we will report and inform the client that the HIV antibodies that were checked for have been detected in their blood.”

The VCT coordinator said if the Uni-Gold, which is the second test shows a different result from the first test, the determinant, then “we will move to the Stat Pak or the tie breaker, which is a third test. If the Stat Pak result is non-reactive, then the client will be informed and they will be counselled accordingly, in most cases we hardly have to resort to the Stat Pak.” Further, she explained that no form of identification is needed when a person does an HIV test. Only their initials and date of birth are requested.

“This information is used to develop a unique patient code to avoid using names of persons. However, when the test is completed and diagnosed HIV positive, we will take some further information for that client because that client will be required to be navigated and enrolled into the care and treatment programme so they can be clinically managed,” the VCT coordinator said.

‘Operation Eradication’ a success

Some of the marijuana plants

ON Sunday, December 29, 2019, a team of ranks, under the command of a very senior officer, conducted a marine patrol/ eradication operation in the Berbice River, which led to the discovery of two marijuana farms.

According to reports, between 08:40 hours and 15:00 hours, at Kimbia, Berbice River, the ranks located two marijuana cultivations, with over five thousand plants, measuring from six inches to six feet in height.

The ranks also found two makeshift camps with a large quantity of dried cannabis. No arrest was made.

The fields, camps and dried cannabis were photographed and destroyed by fire.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

15

16

GNNL hosts annual award ceremony

THE Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL) held its annual end-of-year award ceremony on Friday when several employees from all the departments of the organisation were acknowledged and awarded for their exemplary work throughout the year 2019.

General Manager (ag), Ms.

Donna Todd, in her address to the gathering assembled in the company’s parking lot, urged the staffers from the editorial, marketing, accounts and circulation departments to continue working hard and diligently to ensure the success of one of the country’s leading newspapers.

In addition, the Edi-

tor-in-Chief, Nigel Williams, commended the employees for their tremendous work and contribution to the daily and Sunday editions of the Guyana Chronicle.

Mr. Williams also urged employees to continue to work hard and prepare for the upcoming elections.

“I know that we would

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 31, 2019

Employees of the Guyana National Newspaper Limited who received awards, certificates and special prizes

have worked hard…it has been a challenging year and from the get-go next year, it’s going to be an even more challenging period going into elections, you need to gird your loins because it’s going to be a tough year in terms of work,” he stated.

Also in attendance at the gathering was the Chair of the Board of Directors of GNNL, Juretha Fernandes, who charged the employees of the company to continue working assiduously to meet the needs of the media house’s readers, viewers and subscribers to ensure the continuous development of the newspaper.

At this year’s award ceremony, Regina Paul of the Accounts Department copped the worker-of-the-year award while Navendra Seoraj of the Editorial Department copped the Editor-in- Chief award.

Also recognized at the ceremony was Vishani Ragobeer, who dominated the recent PAHO/WHO

Worker of the Year Regina Paul of the Accounts Department at the Guyana National Newspaper Limited,

media awards, copping the Young Journalist of the Year award earlier this month.

General Manager (ag) , Ms. Donna Todd, addressing the gathering at GNNL last Friday

Chair of the Board of Directors of GNNL, Juretha Fernandes, addressing the gathering at GNNL last Friday

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday December 31, 2019

Young miner sentenced to 12 months while accomplice remanded A TEENAGER was, on Monday, December 30, 2019, sentenced to 12 months in prison, while his accomplice was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, on two robbery charges.

Titus Valenzuela, 18, a miner of Linden-Soesdyke highway and his accomplice, Terrence Bacchus, 25, a miner of Linden, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Valenzuela pleaded guilty, with explanation, to both charges, while Bacchus pleaded not guilty.

Particulars of the first charge stated that, on December 27, 2019, at Takatu Backdam, Cuyuni River, while armed with cutlasses, they robbed Candacy Ramroach of a phone valued at $58,000.

The second charge stated that, on the same day, and at the same place, they robbed Joao Pintoo of $830,000 cash, a quantity of colognes valued at $87,000, a phone valued at $5,000 and 14 penny weight of raw gold valued at $180,600.

Valenzuela told the court that his family needed the money and his little brother had to go to school. He added that he took the phone to get in contact with someone.

Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that Valenzuela was employed by Pintoo, and, a few days before Christmas, Pintoo ‘washed

down’ at his dredge, closed operation and ‘dismissed’ his workers for the Christmas holiday. Valenzuela went away and made contact with Bacchus.

The miners (Valenzuela and Bacchus) then made plans and, the night in question, they went back to the mining camp where Pintoo was in the company of Ramroach. The miners, who were armed with cutlasses, ransacked the camp and took the articles mentioned in the charge and made good their escape.

The matter was reported at the Bartica Police Station and the miners were arrested.

Further investigation was conducted and all the articles were found. During a caution statement, Valenzuela admitted to the offence and both miners were charged.

Mansfield objected to bail being granted to Bacchus based on the seriousness and the nature of the offence.

Magistrate McLennan, after listening to the prosecutor and Valenzuela, sentenced him to six months in prison for robbing Ramroach and twelve months for robbing Pintoo and told the court that the sentences will run concurrently.

Bacchus was remanded to prison until January 9, 2020, and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrates’ Court.

Youth guilty of robbery to be sentenced January 13 MAGISTRATE Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, on Monday, December 30, 2019, remanded a 20-year-old man to prison on a robbery charge.

Stephon Apple of Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and admitted to the charge, when it was read to him.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on December 14, 2019, at Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, he stole three gold rings valued at $100,000, one gold band valued at $50,000 and $54,000, cash, property of Chetwyn Eastman.

‘I didn’t really focus. I took some money to do a course,” Apple said.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris told the court that, on the day in question, at around 10:30 hours, Eastman placed the articles, mentioned in the charge, in a haversack and placed same on his dining table and went out.

When Eastman returned around 12:00 hours, he observed that his property was missing.

Eastman then viewed the Closed-Circuit Television CCTV footage in his house and saw Apple removing the articles.

The matter was reported and Apple was arrested and charged.

Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus remanded Apple to prison and adjourned the matter until January 13, 2020 for sentencing.

17

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

CCAC urges competition shake-up of GEO-JFK route …notes Caribbean Airline's dominance AS Caribbean Airlines (CAL) holds a “monopoly “ over the lucrative Georgetown-John F Kennedy route, there is need for another competitor to enter the fray for consumers to derive tangible benefits.

This is according to the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), which noted in a recent report that for 2018, CAL was the dominant market player with just about 59% of total CJIA traffic,

although its market share has been declining over the course of the years.

The report stated that the consumer rights body recognised that there is a need for one other competitor flying the GEO-JFK route “in order for consumers to derive tangible benefits not only in price but other nonprice services.”

Only last week, American Airlines announced a new service of daily, year-round flights from Georgetown to

New York, beginning December 18, 2019. The airline began services to Guyana in November 2018.

The additional route will come in time to meet the usual hike in travels during the Christmas season for customers travelling between the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

According to a media release from the airlines, the new service from JFK

will be operated daily on a Boeing 737-800 with 160 seats, including 16 seats in First Class. The aircraft also features access to power at every seat, and more entertainment options, including free live TV and the ability to stream Apple Music while on board.

“This route will be an important addition for our customers with cultural, business or economic ties between Guyana and New York, and we look forward to offering Guyanese visitors air service to the ‘Big Apple’,” said Vice-President of Network and Schedule Planning for American Airlines, Vasu Raja. April next year, another US carrier, Jet Blue, is expected to commence service along the routes, and since the announcement that the latter will ply the route, the carrier has seen large numbers of bookings.

Meanwhile, the report noted that there is currently an influx of competitors looking to service routes out of Guyana. The CCAC said that it expects that there will be “fierce price and nonprice competition for routes where there are two or more competing players,” as it made its case.

While providing an overview of its mission regarding

the study, the CCAC said that the body collected data from market players such as the airlines, the tourism authority and Guyana’s regulatory body-- Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

It noted that data was supplemented by interviews with both CAL and GCCA while it also gathered raw passenger data from the U.S. Department of Transportation and CJIA, along with the Joint Select Committee on State Enterprises report into the Administration and Operations of Caribbean Airlines Limited.

The commission said that during its investigation, it found that while the industry is indeed an inherently competitive industry, significant barriers to entry exists in the form of financial barriers and Industry expertise. In Guyana, it said that entry into the market was “quite easy as the other barriers such as regulatory and institutional barriers were quite low, so as to attract investment in the international industry. These low barriers to entry into Guyana can be illustrated by the steady influx of new competitors over the last decade.”

The CCAC noted the economic impact the airline industry has had on Guyana.

It said that an Oxford Economic Report on aviation in Guyana indicates that “The economic impact of the aviation sector in Guyana is substantial. The most direct activities associated with aviation create G$20.7 billion in annual economic activity. This represents 3.2% of Guyana’s total GDP in 2015. Moreover, nearly 12,000 Guyanese jobs are supported by the aviation industry (the majority in either transportation or tourism).

This accounts for nearly one in twenty jobs in Guyana.

Air passengers also generated roughly G$1.7 billion in travel tax revenue for the government.”

The CCAC said that because of the impact that this sector has had on Guyana, the body wanted to take stock of the industry.

It said that it sought an insight into the holistic operations of the industry as well as to understand the entry requirements for airlines, operating costs, and challenges faced by airlines.

IT also sought to determine why there is a lack of competition and, essentially, why the industry operates the way it does.

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday December 31, 2019

‘Christmas should be every month’ -businesspeople cashed in on holiday season

PROPRIETORS, vendors and even the average “sweetie” vendor were counting their profits after the conclusion of what they called a “fruitful” Christmas season, which they hoped could be every month.

Customary at this time of year, shoppers were seen hustling and bustling in the popular commercial areas such as Regent Street, Stabroek, parts of Kitty and even on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) at the Plaisance and Mon Repos Markets.

The increased commerce was welcomed by businesspeople, who said they worked hard throughout the year and, therefore, counted the higher-than-normal profits as their bonus.

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer, could not immediately give an analysis of the season, but said it was good for business.

“I have not touched base with members but what we heard is that it has not been as robust as last year…We are looking at elections in March, so people would be conservative heading into the elections year,” said Boyer in an invited comment on Sunday.

The GCCI president was, however, open to doing an official survey to ascertain the performance of the business community during the Christmas season. The results will be made public in January.

The Guyana Chronicle, in an attempt to do its own assessment, visited markets and business places, on Sunday. There were mixed views but most people said they were able to secure a profit and have a jolly Christmas season.

“This year, it was good for me…I have my own customers, so people come out and shop as per normal around this time, but, I am happy,” said a grocery vendor, Ayesha Jervis, who plies her trade at the Mon Repos Market.

Jervis said the season did not meet her exact expectation, but she believes that it will be better in the years to come.

“We selling man, we selling…we have been selling here for years and the Christmas season is always nice,” said the vendor.

An egg vendor, Seeta Singh, who plies her trade at the Plaisance Market, said: “I didn’t have hands to sell”- the colloquial saying which basically means that business was buzzing.

“Christmas did well for me this year and I expect things to get better in the New Year, especially after elections,” said Singh, adding that she hopes that one day business will be booming year round and not just at Christmas.

Vendors of Bourda Market were also hopeful that one day there would be consistent business throughout the year.

One of the Bourda vendors who identified himself as Powers, said business was good but would have been better if the elections were not around the corner. He said business would

have boomed if there wasn’t the usual “elections fear,” but he was, nonetheless, satisfied with his returns and expects the new year to be better.

“There will always be positive and negative no matter what they do…but business people will say it was not good because people expected the big kick with the government payment, however business was still good,” said proprietor of D. Singh’s Trading, Shivnarine Singh.

He said most of his stocks depleted and he is in the process of restocking, but he too believed that if elections were not close, business would have been better.

Guyana, despite the political climate, has been performing well in terms of economic development. Testimony to Guyana’s potential rise in the global arena was the rating from New York-based stock market, NASDAQ, which listed the South American country as the fastest growing economy in the world.

According to NASDAQ, Guyana’s projected growth rate from 2018-2021 is 16.3 per cent.

The stock market said that with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) size of $3.63 billion (2018 Rank: 160), a growth rate of 4.1 per cent in 2018 and 4.6 per cent in 2019, Guyana’s economy is expected to grow by 33.5 per cent and 22.9 per cent in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Those projections climbed in a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which stated that Guyana’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by approximately 86 per cent in 2020, almost twenty times more than the projected 4.4 per cent growth for this year.

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has also forecasted a staggeringly high growth rate for Guyana for next year. ECLAC noted that Guyana’s growth rate is pegged at 4.5 per cent for this year, while next year it will be 85.5 per cent.

A report from Bloomberg stated that with such figures, Guyana’s GDP will grow fourteen times as fast as China’s next year. Further projections by the IMF showed that real GDP will grow by 4.8 per cent in 2021, 20.6 per cent in 2022 and 26.2 per cent in 2023. Guyana’s $4 billion annual GDP is also expected to expand to about $15 billion by 2024, said the IMF. The financial institution said the commencement of oil production will substantially improve Guyana’s medium- and long-term outlook. Guyana is projected to be among the world’s largest per-capita oil producers by 2025.

The oil sector is projected to grow rapidly, accounting for around 40 per cent of GDP by 2024 and supporting additional fiscal spending annually of 6.5 per cent of non-oil GDP on average over the medium term, which will help meet critical social and infrastructure needs

A quiet Sunday at Mon Repos Market

ECLAC said the Guyana Government will receive approximately 14.5 per cent of all oil revenue in 2020. In addition to potential oil revenues, there has already been a notable increase in the Foreign Direct Investments here.

According to ECLAC, Guyana took in US$495 million in FDIs in 2018, which was more than double what it had received in 2017.

Armed bicycle bandit robs, shoots pedestrian

AN armed bandit, on bicycle, robbed and shot a 22-yearold to his knee at Cemetery Road, Georgetown, over the weekend.

Reports indicate that the young man was walking along the roadway when two men on a pedal cycle approached him from behind, while one of the bandits attempted to snatch his mobile phone and demanded that he hand over his valuables.

This resulted in a scuffle, one of the men then whipped out a gun and fired a single shot, hitting the victim on his knee and causing him to fall to the ground.

The two perpetrators then quickly rummaged through his pockets and seized his cellular phone and other valuables before they escaped on their bicycles.

The victim was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and was admitted as a result of an “emergency surgery”. His condition was listed as stable.

When contacted, police said that the robbery was under investigation and CCTV footage retrieved from the area is under review.

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 31, 2019

Banks DIH records $14.4% after-tax profit for 2019 …envisions optimistic economic outlook with ‘first oil’

…installation of multi-level parking facility, automotive and service centre among 2020 plans FOOD and beverage giants, Banks DIH Limited, has recorded a 14.3% after-tax profit for the year 2019 and the shareholder company is optimistic in

its economic outlook with the arrival of ‘first oil’.

According to the annual report of the company for the financial year ending September 2019,

the percentage increase represents earnings by $611M when compared to 2018.

Chairman of the company, Clifford Reis, stated in his report

that profit after tax attributable to shareholders of the parent entity was $4.897B; for 2018 the figure stood at $4.286B. He said that investments by Banks continued this year .

Reis listed the installation of increased storage capacity of potable water and equipment to accommodate increased production for the Ice Cream products and new flavours of Frostee Products among the factors for the improved results for 2019.

He said that the Trisco modernization project continued in 2019 with the installation of new packaging equipment to produce new and exciting packages for biscuits. The list include those for the Midwest range of biscuits and cookies as well as whole wheat crackers.

Reis said too the expansion of the security system via the installation of additional night vision cameras, as well as the installation of additional freezers, beverage coolers and water dispensers were among the progressive moves made by Banks in 2019.

Plans for 2020 He also noted the measured transition by Banks to the use of solar energy at the Qik Serv restaurants and that, he said, resulted in reduced energy charges.

Looking forward to 2020, Banks will focus its capital expenditure primarily on capital equipment for beer bottling plant.

He said that would encompass the procurement and installation of an ‘uncaser’, a case packer, conveyors and a labeller.

He said that additional aspects of the capital expenditure will be expended on the purchase of trucks and lift trucks to further the selling and distribution activities.

Reis said that in 2020, the company will focus its capital expenditure on the construction of the new multi-level vehicle parking facility and “Banks Automotive and Services Inc” at Demerara Park , opposite Thirst Park.

Citizens Bank is a 51% subsidiary of Banks DIH and Reis said that that company recorded an after-tax profit of $955.3M, an

increase of 58.6% when compared to the $602.3M in 2018.

Challenges Reis said that for the greater part of 2019, the company faced some challenges and those included adjustment to rising fuel prices. He said that that bottleneck, among others, required “prudent management of our financial and human resources.”

In a direct reference to shareholder value, Reis said that despite the competitive environment in which it conducted business, the management of the company continued to focus on developing the innovating new business initiatives which can produce longterm growth.

Community relations In his report, the chairman also noted that the company continued to honour its community relations and partnerships. He said that the relationship therein, continued to be mutually beneficial.

Banks, it was pointed out, was engaged in sponsoring brand ambassadors’ sports activities, religious events and bursary awards, among others. It also made commitments to the community as part of its business strategy.

Recently, oil production officially commenced here and Reis said, briefly, that an “Optimistic Economic Outlook” was envisioned with the arrival of first oil.

Reis said that the company continued to examine its core responsibilities to respond “to new opportunities that may be available which can be incorporated into our business models.”

Banks DIH will host its 64th annual general meeting on Saturday January 25, 2020.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Wicked Kheisha Race 2 Cool As You Like Race 3 ,odernist Race 4 Thousand Percent Race 5 Other Things Equal Race 6 Operation Roses Race 7 Communicator Race 8 Hudson Overpass English Racing Tips Uttoxeter 08:15 hrs Richardofdoccombe 08:45 hrs Accordingtogino 09:20 hrs Gatacre Street 09:50 hrs Keep Wondering 10:25 hrs Evidence De Thaix 11:00 hrs Oscar Maguire 11:30 hrs Forthegreatergood Warwick 08:25 hrs See Forever 08:55 hrs Emmas Joy 09:30 hrs Battleofthesomme 10:00 hrs Bob Ford 10:35 hrs Pemberley 11:10 hrs Manofthemoment 11:40 hrs Wilde About Oscar Lingfield 08:35 hrs Today Power 09:05 hrs Kuwait Currency 09:40 hrs Entangling 10:10 hrs New Arrival 10:45 hrs Mohareb 11:20 hrs Knockout Blow South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:25 hrs Over The Way 09:00 hrs Quickstep Lady 09:35 hrs More Magic 10:15 hrs Carribean Sunset 10:55 hrs Power Grid Irish Racing Tips Punchestown 08:40 hrs Salsaretta 09:10 hrs Pasley 09:45 hrs Stratum 10;15 hrs Avellino 10:50 hrs Hugies Bay 11:25 hrs Immorality

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

23

GDF ‘arrest’ Police, Fruta humble Santos to reach GFF Super 16 Finals

A MOUTH-WATERING Final in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super 16 championship is in the making on New Year’s Day (January 1), between Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Fruta Conquerors, after the two sides; exciting semi-finals win on Sunday evening.

At the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, an extra-time goal from Ryan Hackett helped the Tucvillebased Fruta Conquerors get rid of a stubborn Santos side 2-1, while GDF despite striking first, had to dig deep to

beat the Guyana Police Force (GPF) 4-2.

It was the opening game of the night’s double-header and from all indications, Fruta Conquerors, the better composed of the two sides, seemed set for the win.

Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richards and Hackett, were both guilty of squandering several early chances that would’ve changed the outlook of the game, but, Delon Lanferman handed the SM Jaleel-sponsored team the lead in the 11th minute; a lead that lasted throughout the first half.

With National player Sheldon Holder in their corner, Santos showed signs of troubling the wobbly Fruta Conquerors defence, and upon resumption of the second stanza, Orin Yarde found the equaliser.

Akel Clarke kept Fruta Conquerors alive, pulling off several beautiful saves, while Vurlon Mills mesmerised the crowd with his midfield dominance, but after the conclusion of 90 minutes, it was Hackett who struck in extra time, as Conquerors held on.

Meanwhile, the Police/ GDF clash lived up to all

King James beats Bolt to AP Athlete-of-the-Decade honours HE left Cleveland for Miami, finally became a champion, went back to his beloved northeast Ohio, delivered on another title promise then left for the Los Angeles Lakers and the next challenge.

He played in eight straight finals. No NBA player won more games or more MVP awards over the last 10 years than he did. He started a school. He married his high school sweetheart.

“That’s all?” LeBron James asked, feigning disbelief.

No, that’s not all. Those were just some highlights of the last 10 years. There were

many more, as the man called ‘King’ spent the last decade reigning over all others - with no signs of slowing down.

James is The Associated Press (AP) Male Athlete-ofthe-Decade, adding his name to a list that includes Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky and Arnold Palmer. He was a runaway winner in a vote of AP member sports-editors and AP beat writers, easily outpacing runner-up Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.

“You add another 10 years of learning and adversity, pitfalls, good, great, bad, and any smart person who wants

to grow will learn from all those experiences,” James, who turned 35 yesterday, told the AP. “A decade ago, I just turned 25. I’m about to be 35 and I’m just in a better (place) in my life and have a better understanding of what I want to get out of life.”

Usain Bolt of Jamaica was third for dominating the sprints at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, soccer superstar Lionel Messi was fourth and Michael Phelps - the U.S. swimmer who retired as history’s most decorated Olympian with 28 medals, 23 gold - was fifth.

(Sportsmax)

Englishman Penney named as white-ball fielding coach

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Former Warwickshire batsman, Trevor Penney, has replaced Guyanese Rayon Griffith as West Indies fielding coach for the white-ball sides.

The 51-year-old Penney, who played 158 first class matches, has penned a twoyear deal ahead of the sixmatch limited overs series against Ireland which bowls off at Kensington Oval in Barbados on January 7.

A former head coach of Sri Lanka and India fielding coach, Penny was most recently part of the coaching staff for Barbados Tridents when the franchise won the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 title last October.

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons, who oversaw the Tridents success, gave a ringing endorsement of Penny.

“Trevor is an excellent coach and has demonstrated this everywhere he has worked,” said Simmons, who took over the Windies ahead of the recent Afghanistan tour.

“He has huge experience with Sri Lanka and India at the highest international level, and in most T20 leagues around the world including the CPL. He brings enormous energy and is very well respected by all the players.”

Penny is also an experienced coach at the international franchise level, having served as assistant coach with King’s XI Punjab, Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders in the high profile Indian Premier League.

He was also in the past attached to the St Lucia Zouks and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the CPL. The Englishman said his ultimate goal was to prepare West Indies for the major tournaments on the immediate horizon.

“I’m thrilled and excited to be given this opportunity to work with this brilliant bunch of cricketers and staff led by Kieron Pollard and Phil Simmons,” Penny said.

“I’ve been lucky enough over the last few years to work with sever-

al members of the squad and the Caribbean is like ‘home away from home’ for me being involved in the CPL.” He continued: “We have two big T20 World Cups coming up (in Australia 2020 and India 2021) and it’s my aim to try and improve everybody and be as good as we can and hopefully win those two major ICC events for the great people of the West Indies.”

Penny is the second nonWest Indian to join the Caribbean side’s coaching staff since Simmons’ appointment, following the hiring of Indian Monty Desai as batting coach earlier this month.

Simmons was appointed head coach last October following a recruitment process underscored by a ‘West Indies First policy’ where Cricket West Indies insisted that “persons without West Indian heritage need not apply.”

Former Barbados pacer Roddy Estwick also serves as an assistant coach on the management staff.

the pre-match ramblings and excitement it had promised, as both sides went toe-to-toe with good display of football at the over 100-year old facility.

Delroy Fraser fired GDF into the lead midway the first half, but, just on the stroke of halftime, Pernell Shultz scored his first of two goals.

Shultz, who joined the

Eve Leary unit this year, netted his second of the night in the 50th minute to give Police a 2-1 advantage.

However, just when everyone (with the exception of the GDF supporters) was settling on a Police/Fruta final on January 1 at the same venue, Travis Henry, Delwin Fraser and Sherwin Caesar scored three goals in approx-

imately eight minutes, as the Army bounced back in fine style to win 4-2.

As Police side and their fans downed their heads in disbelief, GDF, who enjoyed the bulk of the crowd support, celebrated as if they had already cashed into the tournament’s purse, and rightfully so, given their high-level of play.

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

New South Africa coach Boucher savours winning start

By Mark Gleeson PRETORIA, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa coach Mark Boucher said winning his first Test match in charge was as good as the many victories he enjoyed as a player after his maiden triumph against England on Sunday.

The 107-run victory in the first Test at Centurion Park came a fortnight after Boucher, 43, was appointed to the post after a shake-up of Cricket South Africa’s structures at the start of the month.

“I’ve played quite a few Ttest matches and we won a couple of good ones but certainly this is up there, especially from where we have come,” he said.

“It has been a hectic two weeks;, we’ve put in a lot of hard work as a coaching staff, so this is a reward.

“I’m also very happy for the players and the way they approached it,” Boucher added.

“We said before we wanted to instil some confidence back in the players and to see them walk off the field with a win. You can see now there is a belief that we can win Test matches against very good teams.”

Boucher took over the domestic Titans franchise in 2016 and within a year was named Coach-of-the-Year.

He now has a contract with South Africa until 2023.

“We understand there is a long way to go,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of youngsters we need to impart knowledge to and speed up the process of becoming experienced cricketers and we’ll certainly do that.”

Boucher, one of the world’s best wicketkeep-

ers, had his playing career ended in horrific fashion in a freak incident in Taunton in 2012 where he got hit by a ball in the left eye, losing his lens, iris and pupil.

It brought a premature end to a 147-Test career in which he took a world record 999 dismissals in all forms of cricket so to return to the South Africa dressing room was a thrill.

“I’ve been out of international cricket for quite some time now so it’s an honour for me to walk back into that changing room and be part of hopefully a change in South African cricket,” he said.

“There have been quite a few changes but the spirit and passion is still there.

I’m looking forward to the challenge and working hard with the guys and seeing them develop,” Boucher added.

Labuschagne achieves career-best No. 4 spot in year-end Test rankings A CAREER-BEST fourth position for Marnus Labuschagne and a move up to No.10 for Quinton de Kock were the headlines of the year-end ICC rankings for men’s batting in Test cricket.

India captain Virat Kohli stayed on top of the list - for 274 days in 2019 - with second-placed Steven Smith, who was the No.1 batsman for 91 days earlier in the year, behind him.

Labuschagne’s scores of 63 and 19 in Australia’s 247-run win against New Zealand in Melbourne pushed him up by one slot from No.5. He began the year ranked 110th, with only two Tests against his name, but was prolific in his 11 outings in the format since, making 1 104 runs in 17 innings at an average of 64.94.

Wicketkeeper-batsman de Kock, meanwhile, advanced eight places to get in the top-ten, following his Player-of-the-Match contribution, with scores of 95 and 34, in South Africa’s 107-run victory in the series-opener against England in Centurion.

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins retained his spot atop the bowler’s rankings in Tests following his

first-innings five-wicket haul in Melbourne. He has occupied the top position for 322 days this year, while South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada, who was No.1 for 44 days after starting 2019 in top position, finished the year at No..

climbed up one spot, the top five all-rounders in Tests - Ravindra Jadeja, Ben Stokes and Philander the others - retained their spots.

As far as team rankings for the World Test Championship (WTC) go, Australia

Marnus Labuschagne drives. (Getty Images)

Replacing Rabada in the second spot was New Zealand quick Neil Wagner, who climbed one position on the back of his seven-wicket match haul in Melbourne.

The retiring Vernon Philander advanced three positions up to No.5 to complete the top five on the bowlers’ rankings alongside the fourth-placed Jason Holder, who continued to lead the all-rounders’ rankings in Tests.

Save for the fifthplaced R. Ashwin, who

consolidated their position in second place of the points table.

They added 40 points from their win in Melbourne to take their tally to 256 points from nine games. Top-placed India are 104 points clear of Australia while South Africa collected 30 points after their first win in the WTC and trail New Zealand and England, who occupied the fifth and sixth positions with 60 and 56 points respectively.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

South Africa’s Dwaine Pretorius celebrates a catch to dismiss England’s Jos Buttler with teammates, off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada. (REUTERS/Rogan Ward)

Australia focus on New Zealand whitewash

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Australia will look to use the disappointment of their late Ashes fade-out in England to push for a series whitewash of New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Tim Paine’s men took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series against the Black Caps on Sunday with a 247-run win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Australia have now notched four successive Test wins in a perfect home summer but still hold rueful memories of their last match in England.

Having retained the urn with victory in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Australia lost at The Oval to head home with a 2-2 draw and some regrets.

“We’ve probably got to learn a little bit from what happened in the Ashes,” Paine told reporters.

“I thought when we won the fourth Test it was such an emotional high.

“With the fast turnaround, guys were just a little bit flat mentally, I guess, a bit drained from having such a big high.

“So we’ll try to keep it nice and level over the next

few days. Rest up and hit that fifth Test of the summer with as much energy as we hit the first Test at the Gabba,” Paine said, referring to the Brisbane Cricket Ground.

In contrast to New Zealand, Australia head to Sydney with the kind of headaches that selectors like to have.

Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson

Selectors have brought in leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson into the squad to provide another slow bowling option in addition to incumbent Nathan Lyon for the nation’s most spin-friendly pitch.

Finding a player to make way for Swepson could be a challenge.

Australia’s fast bowlers were outstanding at the MCG, with James Pattinson slotting in with

aplomb to deliver six wickets, including a fiery three-wicket burst in nine deliveries to hasten the Black Caps’ defeat on Sunday morning.

With no pace bowling all-rounder in the squad, Australia may be reluctant to break up the trio of Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins to allow for dual spinners.

Shane Warne offered the novel solution of dropping Lyon to give the uncapped Swepson a chance to shine, a suggestion given short shrift by the man who would be displaced.

“Did Warney ever want a rest and give Stuart MacGill a go?” said Lyon, referring to the former Australia leg-spinner who was a reluctant second fiddle to Warne.

“I won’t be rested.”

Lyon, however, welcomed the prospect of bowling in tandem with 26-year-old Swepson, after having chats with him in Melbourne.

“I hadn’t seen him bowl for a while, but he seems really clear on his plans.

“What’s worked has obviously got him here so if he gets his opportunity I just said (to him): ‘Stay strong to yourself and back yourself’.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Bent Street take Dragon Stout Community Cup

Adrian Aaron of Bent St collects the championship trophy from Dragon Stout Brand Manager and tournament coordinator Jamal Baird (right) in the presence of his teammates after the inaugural Dragon Stout Community Cup at the National Gymnasium

PERENNIAL heavyweights Bent Street were crowned the inaugural Dragon Stout Community Cup Champions, dismissing Leopold Street 6-1 on Saturday, at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

It was a clinical offensive showing from the star-studded Bent Street in front of a massive crowd, as they smashed three first-half goals to effectively seal the title and status as Kings of Streetball.

Pernell Schultz opened the scoring in the third minute with a powerful shot into the right corner. This was followed by a Sheldon Holder goal, as he bundled his effort into the right side in the 11th minute from inside the penalty area.

The third goal then occurred in the 14th minute as Jermaine Beckles uncorked a left-foot shot from outside the centre of area into the right side.

The carnage continued in

the second period as Beckles grabbed his second in the 18th minute, placing his effort into the lower right side.

Schultz followed suit to complete his brace in the 23rd minute to make it 5-0, slotting home from the right side of the penalty area.

Rafael Edwards eventually pulled one back for Leopold Street with a placed shot from the left side into the lower right corner in the 24th minute.

The aforesaid conversion was merely a blemish on the Bent Street performance as William Europe completed the scoreline in the 27th with a shot from the centre into the right side.

With the win, Bent Street pocketed $300 000 and the championship trophy. On the other hand, the runner-up collected $150 000 and a trophy.

Meanwhile Rio All-Stars defeated Sparta Boss 2-1 on penalty kicks after regulation

time ended 1-1 in the third place playoff.

With the win, Rio AllStars walked away with $75 000 and the respective trophy. For the losers, they walked away with $50 000 and a trophy.

Meanwhile, the third- and fourth-place finishers will receive $75 000 and $50 000 respectively and the corresponding accolade.

In the earlier semi-final round, Bent Street came from two goals down to defeat Rio All-Stars 4-2. Schultz copped a double in the 17th and 25th minutes while Holder and Wilson netted in the 20th and 28th minute respectively.

On target in the loss was Trayon Bobb in the 13th and 14th minutes. Also, Leopold Street defeated Sparta Boss 2-1. Edwards and Okeeny Fraser scored in the 12th and 34th minutes respectively. On target in the loss was Ryan Hackett in the 22nd minute.

After the tournament

concluded, Jamal Baird, Brand Manager of Dragon Stout and tournament coordinators in a post-final comment said, “I didn’t expect this type of crowd at the final due to the brand being relatively unknown but I am very elated with the turnout and very satisfied with the overall outcome of the tournament.”

He further revealed, “Expect big things from the brand in the future, we envision and aim to expand the brand and the tournament to other regions. Georgetown was simply just the start.”

Meanwhile, Bent Street stalwart Colin Nelson praised the organisers for staging the event, adding “It was a well-coordinated tournament and we need more events like this and for more companies to come on board, given the current football situation in Guyana. These competitions give players the opportunity to compete on a consistent basis.”

Ireland arrive for historic Windies tour BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC – Minnows Ireland arrived here last Saturday to begin their limited overs series against West Indies which bowls off in 10 days with a day/night One-Day International at Kensington Oval.

Ireland are scheduled to play a three-match series in both the ODI and Twenty20 format, marking the first time the two teams will face each other in a full series.

Both white-ball sides will be led by Andrea Balbirnie, who last month succeeded William Porterfield.

Graham Ford, Ireland’s head coach, said the tourists were excited about the possibilities on the Caribbean tour.

“There is a confidence and self-belief around the camp which comes from recent successes, and we’re looking to build on that in 2020,” he said recently.

“Being our first-ever multi-format tour of the Caribbean, there is certainly a bit of a buzz around the squad and, come the seventh of January, we’ll be more than ready to begin what is an exciting year in Irish cricket.”

The second ODI is also scheduled for Kensington Oval here on January 9, with the Grenada National Stadium hosting the final ODI. Grenada will also stage the opening T20 International on January 12 before Warner Park in St Kitts plays host to

back-to-back matches on January 18 and 19.

West Indies have beaten Ireland in seven of 10 ODIs and two of four T20s to date.

SQUADS: ODI – Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Kevin O’Brien, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.

T20I – Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.

Full schedule (all times local) ODIs January 7, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 13:00hrs January 9, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 13:00hrs January 12, National Cricket Stadium, Grenada, 09:30hrs T20Is January 15, National Cricket Stadium, Grenada, 13:00hrs January 18, Warner Park, St. Kitts, 18:00hrs January 19, Warner Park, St. Kitts, 18:00hrs

25

Six world titles but domestic honours elusive for Hamilton

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton’s absence from Britain’s New Year’s honours list has angered his Formula One fans and triggered fresh debate about the sport’s status and whether the six-time world champion is sufficiently appreciated at home.

The Briton this year became the second most successful F1 driver of all-time, and is poised to overtake Germany’s seven-time champion and Ferrari great Michael Schumacher in the record books.

The 34-year-old Mercedes driver has come from an under-privileged, multi-racial background to become an all-time great but team boss Toto Wolff has long felt the Briton deserves greater recognition from his compatriots.

December will not have made the Austrian think any differently.

World Cup-winning cricketer Ben Stokes was 2019 BBC Sports Personality-of-the-Year, after Tour de France winning cyclist Geraint Thomas in 2018, and also won the Sports Journalists’ Association Awards.

Hamilton, who won the BBC award in 2014, was European Sportsperson-of-the-Year - beating tennis number one Rafael Nadal and Austrian Alpine skier Marcel Hirscher in a vote of 27 of the continent’s news agencies.

England’s cricketers also led the sporting honours list, with World Cup captain Eoin Morgan made a CBE and Stokes OBE - a higher award than the MBE Hamilton received in 2008.

Double Olympic judo gold medallist Jade Jones, now OBE, also ranks higher than Hamilton.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton on the podium after finishing in third place before a penalty resulted in his being demoted to seventh at Brazilian Grand Prix Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil - November 17, 2019. (REUTERS/Ricardo Mora)

Those who question Formula One’s credentials as a sport, given the role of the car in making the star, or its carbon footprint, might have no problem with that.

Hamilton’s Monaco residency, and his tax arrangements, also crop up frequently as likely negative factors in social media debate about him.

“I fear motorsport is regarded as a privileged sport.

It may even be considered an anti-social sport by many,” commented 1996 world champion Damon Hill, who has an OBE, on Twitter.

“That said, I think they are wrong and missing the contribution @LewisHamilton and the sport has made for GB Plc globally over many years.”

Most of the 10 teams are based in Britain, and the country’s race at Silverstone is the best attended of any on the calendar, but Formula One’s audience is mainly on pay TV. While Britain has produced more F1 champions than any other country, only triple title-holder Jackie Stewart has been knighted - nearly 30 years after retirement.

Stirling Moss, the nation’s only other racing knight, had to wait until he was 70.

Hamilton’s fans can point to a lack of consistency with Wimbledon tennis champion Andy Murray, Olympic athlete Mo Farah, Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and cricketer Alastair Cook all knighted while still active.

Hamilton may be less concerned, however.

“I don’t really like to think too much about it,” he said, in November, “just the fact that people have mentioned it, it’s already an honour; but it’s not been something that I’ve been chasing in my life.”

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Former Lancashire players heap praise on Clive LLoyd CLIVE Lloyd, whose West Indies side dominated international cricket, has been knighted in the New Year Honours. The Guyana-born batsman, now 75, has been honoured for his service to the game.

He captained the West Indies from 1974 until 1985 and played for Lancashire from 1968 until 1986, later settling in the Greater Manchester area.

Since retiring, he has coached West Indies and worked for the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The left-handed middle-order batsman made his Test debut aged 22 against India and scored 7 515 runs at an average of more than 46 in 110 appearances.

His former Lancashire team-mate Farokh Engineer, who also played for India, said the honour was “well overdue

because a lot of his colleagues were knighted, so I am so glad”.

“He’s a great guy, he’s a character and we complemented each other and we contributed to Lancashire’s success,” said Engineer, who now works as a cricket pun-

dit.

“I am delighted; he’s been my best friend. We played against each other, we enjoyed our cricket.

“We were the two overseas professionals at Lancashire he was raw from Guyana and I was raw from India so we had

Sir Clive Lloyd and Farokh Engineer carried out the Cricket World Cup trophy at the Old Trafford cricket ground during the 2019 tournament. (Getty Images)

to prove ourselves.”

Lloyd’s West Indies side went 26 matches without defeat and thrashed England 5-0 in what became known as the 1984 ‘Blackwash’ series.

He also led the West Indies to victory in the first cricket World Cup in 1975 scoring 102 at Lord’s against an Australia side with feared bowlers Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson spearheading their pace attack.

Lloyd became a folk hero in Lancashire as a key player in the 1970s side that became known as the ‘Kings of One Day Cricket’.

A true statesman Jonathan Agnew, BBC cricket correspondent: He is obviously best known for his role in bringing the West Indies team together in a very factional part of the world.

He got them playing as a team unit, fiercely proud of their region and who were feared and respected.

Yet at the same time he has been an absolute star for Lancashire.

My early cricketing years were spent marvelling at this incredibly athletic, graceful, loose-limbed left-handed batsman who could smash the ball all over the place.

He was the first prowler in the covers; a beautiful mover who could pick the ball up with one hand and throw it at the stumps.

He is cricket through and through.

The same crowds who cheered Best, Law and Charlton at Manchester United in the winter brought football-style chants to cricket when Lloyd batted

at the other Old Trafford in the summer.

The team won three successive Gillette Cup finals and two successive Sunday league titles with Lloyd scoring a memorable 126 in the 1972 Gillette final against Warwickshire.

Ex-Lancashire player John Abrahams, who captained the county in the 1980s, said: “I made my debut in 1973 and Lancashire were a team of stars. Clive was very good to me taking me under his wing in a very informal way.

“As a batsman he changed the face of the game - there was a real buzz around the ground when he came in to bat.

“He hit shots the rest of us could only dream of playing.” (BBC Sport)

Victory Valley Royals outlast Kwakwani A to win 18-14 A DETERMINED and persistent Victory Valley Royals exhibited the kind of steely nerves and guts to stave off the challenge of Kwakwani A, to grab their second

short-version title when they marched away with the innovative 4x4 Under-18 championship last Saturday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

The Royals, who earlier this year were crowned National 3x3 Boys champions by winning the tournament held by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF)

Bramble 55 not out, Joseph 5-75 pilot Johnson’s XI to 5-wicket win

ANTHONY Bramble warmed up with an unbeaten second-innings half-century to complement pacer Keon Joseph’s five- wicket haul as Leon Johnson’s XI secured a 5-wicket win over Anthony Adams’ XI in yesterday’s final day of the first 3-Day practice game played at Providence.

After making 174 in the first innings, Adams’ XI ended on 154 all out batting a second time.

Top-scorer Raymond Perez, who overnighted with 40, failed to convert on the final day, while his partner Jonathan Foo who had 27 was removed for 35, with Ronaldo Alimohamed the next best scorer with 27.

Senior Jaguars pacer Joseph got himself going as he bagged 5 for 75 from 10 overs for the Johnson’s XI. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie also gained some con-

fidence ahead of the season with returns of 3 for 33.

Eyeing a 100-plus run target on Day 3, Johnson’s XI batsmen were focussed despite losing a few wickets on their way to a much-needed win, ending on 202 for 5 after they were steamrolled for a measly first-innings 127.

Keon Joseph

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday December 31, 2019)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) (1) 28 ODIs (2) 10 Wins (1) (2)

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ:

TODAY’S QUIZ: How many T20 Internationals the WI played in 2019?

In how many were they victorious?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

Guyana’s leading run-scorer in 4-Day matches over the past few seasons, wicketkeeper Bramble, led the way with an unbeaten 55 off 49 with 8 fours, making up for his first-innings failure.

Middle-order batsman Vishaul Singh (47) narrowly missed a half-century but he too made amends for his failed first attempt as he dug in for 118 minutes.

The openers, Chandrapaul Hemraj and Trevon Griffith, also got their feet moving as they hit 30 and 26 respectively. Skipper Johnson looked good with 3 sweet fours but eventually fell for 17 as his woes continued.

All-rounder Chris Barnwell scored 17 but his recent form is a reminder that he could possibly score a big one in the second match.

Adams’ XI managed to find success with Foo who returned with 3 wickets and Ricardo Adams 2 for 36.

Jaguars marquee players Devendra Bishoo had 5 wickets, Academy and Windies Youth player Kevin Sinclair hit the only other half-century, apart from Bramble, and bagged wickets as well as Joseph who got into good rhythm on the final day - all good signs ahead of the Regional 4-Day. Meanwhile, players will look to make their final impressions when the final twoday practice match bowls off on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

to select a Guyana representative side to the Guadeloupe championship in early 2020, exhibited the will and nerves against a Kwakwani team who never gave up hope of capturing this special championship, where a female player had to be on court throughout the encounters.

Belle went for penetration and shots and with 1 min 20 secs it was Royals ahead 18-13 as they held sway to the end for a winning 18-14 score.

It was Larose who had the lead score for the Royals with eight points as Tappin finished with six. Kwakwani’s best shoot were Elijah David and

Kings Club before he migrated to the United States noted calls were made on both sides of the court which meant that the referees were not favouring any particular club.

The next tournament, Stephens said, would involve two male and two female players to encourage the ladies. This one

Gary Stephens, fourth from left, with the winning Victory Valley Royals team after they received their medals

Royals had their national championship combination of Kobe Tappin and Emmanuel Larose, Omar Green and Delroy Belle as well as female players Cliffanna Hunter and Resheba Carroll in their lineup and came out winners.

The Kwakwani A had in their list of players Huon Bethune, Hansel John, Elijah David, Hosea Conway, who was the YBG Under-16 Titan Bowl Most Valuable Player, and female players Shakeila Sampson and Kennesha Leacock to win a nail-biting contest 18-14.

It was not a walk in the park as the Royals with 2:05 minutes left were ahead 1412 with 4 mins 40 secs to go but with Larose especially in the middle and Green playing strong inside as Tappin and

Huon Bethune each with four points.

Former coach and president of the Kings Basketball Club, Gary Stephens, said the tournament was made possible through the Kings Basketball Club and the Linden Amateur Basketball Association and once this collaboration continues similar tournaments will be planned.

He was particular on discipline and said if needs be the Kings organisation would lower the age limit to accommodate players who are disciplined. He was making reference to one player who seemed unwilling to heed a teammate’s advice and some who questioned the calls of the referees.

According to Stephens, who once was the coach of the

was for Under-18 boys and any age category for females with the provision that at least one female must be on the court at all times.

The presentation of the prizes and medals won by the first-, second-, and third-placed teams was made after the final was decided.

To reach the final, Kwakwani A avenged an earlier loss to the Kwakwani B team winning 12-5 behind scores of eight by Travis Lewis while the Royals erased that lone loss to Kings with a 17-14 victory.

Larose had eight points and Tappin five with Ming Wong getting three for the Kings.

In the third-place game, Kwakwani B came out victorious by a 17-14 score as Tyrese Conway had eight points.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 31, 2019

27

UDFA Christmas football

Upstarts Coomacka to clash with Topp XX in final on New Year’s night

TRAVIS Waterton came up big as he led Topp XX into the final of this year’s Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) yearend championship with a 2-1 win against Haynes and Lewis Winners Connection. Underdogs Coomacka, through dazzling strikes by Keron Daw and Wheatland Thom, blanked second seed Botofago 2-0 in semi-final action played Sunday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Haynes and Winners Connection had a peep into the final as they took an early lead from one of their leading scorers in recent times when Shaquille Frank found the back of the net in the 12th minute. This was indeed a good start to their quest for another title. However, this was not to be, as Topp XX fought back to level things and to maintain their steady play.

Once the darlings of Lin-

den and nationwide, Topp XX were able to defeat highly-ranked Winners Connec-

who attempted to square but Bentick was fouled in the box creating a penalty

Coomacka scorers - Wheatland Thom at left and Keron Daw

tion, to earn a berth in the final for the first time after some five years.

Topp XX side had gained their first goal from a buildup on the left side by Travis Waterton to Jamal Bentick,

opportunity. This was taken by the experienced Waterton who made no mistake in the 41st minute for that 1-1 tie.

The go-ahead second goal was a beauty for Topp XX and it was scored by the creative

IKO appoints karateka Jeffrey Wong as VP for dojo development SEVENTH Dan Black Belt ka- the people of Guyana”. rateka Jeffrey Wong has been In accepting the important appointed as the vice-president position for karate in Guyana of Dojo Development in the Inter- and beyond, Shihan Wong indinational Karate-Do Organisation cated that his focus shall be to (IKO), which has officially estab- concentrate on the training facillished a branch in Guyana. ities of the IKO in Guyana which IKO-Guyana, whose headquar- must be top class and consistent ters is in the USA, will soon be de- with the mission of the IKO with veloping affiliated dojos across the all of the necessary amenities. country with the Guyanese playing The release noted that Wong a pivotal role. stated that his intention is to “see Wong, who is a Shihan (expert IKO-Guyana invest in good trainor senior instructor), will mark 50 ing infrastructure across the counyears in Shotokan karate early next try and not to make the habitual year. As the VP, he will be tasked mistake of concentrating only on with overseeing the development Georgetown”. The seventh Dan and growth of the IKO in Guyana added that improvement in the art and will help to maintain its tradi- of karate is a process but it can be tional standards of Shotokan karate. done with the right instructors and According to a release from the right dojo environment. the recently established body, The IKO is a member of the eighth Dan Black Belt Shihan World Karate Martial Arts OrganAdrian Ellis, who is president of isation, the (WKMO), which has the IKO, made the announcemember associations in more ment. than 60 countries practising Shihan Ellis noted how honall styles of martial arts. oured the IKO was to have The WKMO, which someone with Sensei is headquartered Wong’s experience and in Switzerland, expertise as a member coordinates of its organisation. In a n d u n d e rthe release, Wong was takes World referred to as “someCup Chamone whose tremenpionships, dous skill and knowlWorld Chamedge have influenced a pionships, large number of martial Continental artists in Guyana, particChampionships, ularly young karatekas and high-level techniwhose love and passion for cal seminars, referee Shotokan karate will and judge’s be great for their Shihan Jeffrey Wong is now VP of c e r t i f i c a organisation and for Dojo Development at IKO-Guyana tion.

Waterton. This time as he was headed into the opponents’ half from about 25 yards out

Topp XX into a 2-1 advantage which they never relinquished in the second period and now

Travis Waterton had a double for Topp XX

on the right side of the field, he was fouled and a free-kick was awarded.

From that position the hard-hitting Waterton was able to blast through to score in the 45th minute and send

look to their first open title in half a decade.

Semi-final number two on the night saw the Botofago players taking the game to their opponents early but the response of

Coomacka showed that they were unafraid. From a set piece Coomacka scored their first goal and took the lead.

The ball was played by first back Kurston Thom through for midfield player Keron Daw to collect and finish in fine style in the minute much to the celebration of the huge following they brought to the game.

Their second goal was the result of a corner taken

by Kurston Thom from the left side and as the Botofago defence squandered a chance to clear, the alert Wheatland Thom, playing up front, tucked in for a 71st minute goal.

Tomorrow, New Year’s night, will be the deciding game to crown new champions and Topp XX can rekindle their past with another major title or Coomacka, first-timers, can cart off an unlikely victory.

592 Beer Inter-Village Football Festival

Golden Grove, Friendship to contest final on New Year’s Day THE inaugural 592 Beer Inter-Village Football Festival final will be contested between Golden Grove and Friendship after dramatic semi-final victories on Sunday at the Golden Grove Community Centre ground.

The home side Golden Grove defeated Beterverwagting (BV) 3-1 in front of a large crowd. Dwain Jacobs handed the hosts the lead in the 58th minute lashing into the back of the net after receiving a forward pass once first half failed to produce a goal,

Meanwhile, Friendship defeated Paradise 3-1 on penalty kicks after regulation and extra time ended 1-1. Goalkeeper Seon Thomas was the hero for Friendship. He recorded three consecutive saves in rounds two, three and four respectively to seal the outcome.

Thomas’s performance mirrored his teammates who recorded three consecutive goals from the penalty mark.

Before the eventual conclusion, E. Evans handed Paradise the lead in the 28th minute, only for Clive Andries to equalise in the 53rd minute.

Tournament coordinator Eon Havercome during a pre-match comment said, “The tournament couldn’t have provided a better matchup for the final of the inaugural edition. We have witnessed tremendous football since the start and the competition has certainly exceeded all expectations with the support and quality on display every evening from players and spectators alike.”

He further said, “Once again I expect the final to be a monumental evening, the two teams are the best of the lot and have displayed their championship credentials in the previous rounds so I expect the fans to be treated to a draThe victorious Friendship side, following their win over Paradise in the inaugural 592 matic and exciting Beer Inter-Village Football Festival, at the Golden Grove Community Centre ground atmosphere on January 1.”

The lead proved to be short-lived, as Omari Glasgow The eventual champions of the event will pocket $500 000 equalised in the 63rd minute, sprinting onto a through and the championship trophy. On the other hand, the second-, pass and slapping his effort past the goalkeeper. third- and fourth-place finishers will receive $200 000, $150 However, Golden Grove restored their advantage in the 000 and $100 000 respectively and the corresponding trophy.

73rd minute through Phillip Williams, who blasted into the Similarly, individual prizes will also be awarded for the roof of the net after the goalkeeper parried the ball onto the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, the MVP of woodwork and it fell into his path. the finale, the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament and the Best The win was then sealed in the 90th+1 minute compli- Goalkeeper of the final. ments of Dextroy Culpepper who rifled a powerful shot Some of the major sponsors of the tournament are into the lower left corner, past the onrushing goalkeeper Bakewell Guyana Incorporated, ExxonMobil, NSC, Flafollowing a swift counterattack down the right side. vours Boss and Colin Talbot Construction Services.

GDF ‘arrest’ Police,

Fruta humble Santos to reach GFF Super 16 Finals PAGE

23

GDF STRIKE SQUAD! (L-R) Sherwin Caesar, Travis Henry, Delwin Fraser and Delroy Fraser

TOO MUCH JUICE! Fruta Conquerors goal scorers Ryan Hackett (L) and Delon Lanferman

King James beats Bolt to AP Englishman Athlete-of-the-Decade honours Penney named PAGE

23

as white-ball fielding coach PAGE

23

Usain Bolt and LeBron James

Englishman Trevor Penney

Former Lancashire players heap praise on Clive LLoyd Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

PAGE

26

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019