Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_5_22_2019

WEDNESDAY 22nd May, 2019

Dazzell under more fire at GECOM No.105645

…accused of misleading CCJ on the commission’s representation

… commissioners push for probe ‘into’ leaking of info to Shadick

Paved roads for Lethem 10 PAGE

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Young entrepreneurs 09 get $4M stimulus grants PAGE

Stop politicising 03 youth unemployment PAGE

–– make financing easier for small businesses, says young advocates

Porter 21 dies after tumbling off lorry PAGE

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure through contractor JR Ranch Inc. has commenced asphalt testing on the construction / rehabilitation of road network in Lethem.

On Monday, 100 meters of road was selected as a sample to test the application of asphalt on the road. Based on the results from- the sampled 100 meters, the ministry will refine the asphalt where need be, and the official paving is anticipated to commence on Monday, May 27, 2019.

Dead: Leon Thorne

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Dazzell under more fire at GECOM …accused of misleading CCJ on the commission’s representation

GUYANA Elections Commission (GECOM) Legal Officer, Attorney-at-Law, Excellence Dazzell, reportedly misinformed the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), on the commission’s position in the consolidated appeals to the Court of Appeal’s decision to invalidate the no-confidence motion brought against government last December.

This new claim was made public at a time when the government-nominated GECOM commissioners are

calling for Dazzell to be investigated for providing a legal opinion on the state of Official List of Voters without sanctioning from the commission. One commissioner has described it as an “act of deceit.”

On Tuesday, moments after GECOM’s statutory meeting ended, Government-nominated Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, said the commission is dissatisfied with Dazzell’s handling of the CCJ matter. The President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian

GECOM’s Legal Adviser Excellence Dazzell

Saunders, had instructed that GECOM be added as a party

in the appeals.

In April, during the pre-trial hearing of the consolidated appeals, Dazzell informed the CCJ that the Elections Commission will respect its decision, and as such, no submissions would be made. But according to Alexander, this was not the instruction that was given to Dazzell.

According to him, GECOM’s attorney in the matter, Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus, had advised Dazzell to inform the CCJ that a lawyer was appointed on the commission’s behalf and submissions would be made.

But Dazzell did the opposite.

“She claimed that there was a misinterpretation in the communication and she advised the CCJ that we are not making a submission,” Alexander told reporters.

In Trinidad and Tobago, during the hearing of the consolidated appeals at the CCJ, Senior Counsel Marcus told the Guyana Chronicle that he had subsequently written to the CCJ requesting permission to make oral submissions. It was on that basis that GECOM was given an opportunity to state its position on its preparedness for General and Regional Elections, in the event the no-confidence motion is val-

idated by the CCJ. Marcus informed the court that the Elections Commission could only facilitate General and Regional Elections after October, 2019.

The attorney informed the court that the Elections Commission unanimously voted to revise the Official List of Voters through the conduct of national registration. With the Official List of Voters reaching its expiration on April 30, 2019, the process of House-to-House registration becomes even more critical.

CONCERNS GROW Alexander told reporters that Dazzell’s recent actions came up for discussion during the statutory meeting.

“It has two elements to it, the substantive element and the procedural element, but I think the greater concern coming out this meeting was the procedural elements,” he explained.

The government-nominated commissioners have remained strong in their position that Dazzell needed the approval of the commission and not on the request of a single commissioner, to offer legal advice on the now-expired List of Voters.

Opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC)-nominated commissioner, Bibi Shadick, had requested legal advice on the matter. On May 13, 2019 the legal officer, in offering her legal advice during a statutory meeting, indicated that there could be an alternative to House-to-House Registration for the generation of a new List of Voters in an effort to have earlier elections. However, she had made a written submission to the Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson prior.

Government-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander

“We have a problem with the fact that this opinion was lying around apparently and came at a very conspicuous time to our attention. Procedurally, there are some concerns which have remained unaddressed,” Alexander said. The legal officer is reportedly contending the advice was given to the chairman before the Official List of Voters expired on April 30, but the chairman said he cannot recall the date of the submission.

Asked whether the commission would consider Dazzell’s advice, Alexander said the matter is now sub judice. “I don’t think that the legal opinion is before us for consideration at this time. Because these are matters which are being determined in the court at this time,” Alexander said. He further added, “for all intents and purposes, we are not discussing the substance of that opinion at this time,” noting that the matter is now “water under the bridge.” Houseto-House Registration continues in keeping with the Elections Commission’s 2019 work programme.

Stop politicising youth unemployment

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

–– make financing easier for small businesses, says young advocates

By Vishani Ragobeer

YOUNG people were given the chance to ‘float’ their own recommendation on how to solve the issue of unemployment in Guyana, at a Round-table discussion held on Tuesday, as part of observances for National Youth Week 2019.

“As you may know, youth unemployment continues to be one of the major issues affecting Guyana’s youth, and, as such, there is the absolute need for collaboration to address this,” Director of Youth (ag.), Leslyn Boyce, said at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) where the event was held.

The idea behind the discussion was to give young people a platform where they would be able to discuss issues of unemployment and subsequently make recommendations and suggestions, with the aim of assisting the Department of Youth, and the government at large, in addressing this issue.

Young people present at CASH hailed from many of the administrative regions and were represented by various youth leaders.

Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) Executive Director, Dmitri Nicholson, firmly said youth unemployment in Guyana should be depoliticised.

According to him, in every political party’s manifesto and while campaigning, the politicians profess, that once elected, they will be the ones who will reduce the issue of unemployment that has plagued Guyana for many years now.

“It’s the same script for

everyone,” he bemoaned.

IKEMBA representative, Kibwe Copeland also shared similar sentiments.

“It is our hope that events like these are not just used for political mileage… but be a stepping stone towards initiating change, giving young people an opportunity to voice their concerns, and, more importantly, agree to the formulation of solutions,” he said.

Copeland also underscored: “IKEMBA believes that the way forward towards decreasing, and at large, putting an end to this unemployment crisis is a collective effort, not only with the major stakeholders but the beneficiaries, the youth.”

CONSULTATIONS In effecting this collective effort, he opined that it becomes pertinent for consultations such as this youth unemployment round-table be done regularly and to involve a system of “inclusiveness” whereby all stakeholders, especially the youth can have their input.

Nicolson, like many of the presenters, also stressed that education is an important avenue to equip young people to tap into the job sector.

But according to him, the education system is one which needs to be changed a bit.

“We also need to stop making our classrooms static,” he stressed and later opined: “There is no challenge in the school system except to remember things... the school system is just churning out people who can just remember and not to

think for themselves.”

According to him, young people’s talents and skills need to be identified and developed, instead of having to follow the same ‘one size fits all’ rubric.

Increased focus on Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), particularly for school dropouts, was also emphasised.

The YCG head also called for more representation of youth in leadership since he believes that it is time to start doing “something dramatic” and “drastic”. The reason for this is because youth would bring fresh, youthful strategies instead of those that have been exhausted over the years.

He directed focus to Guyana’s modus operandi, visa-vis creating jobs over the years, through the creation of industries.

“We cannot just want to use the same solutions that worked in 1980… ‘let’s develop another industry, let’s keep trying to work with sugar’-- and expect that we are going to get a different result,” he stressed Representative of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), Sherwayne Crammer indicated that, in indigenous communities, youth leadership is also necessary. According to him, many of the communities are led by “old” leaders who serve relatively youthful populations.

Nicolson also suggested that government looks towards volunteering as another platform that can be used to engage youth and foster employment op-

A section of the gathering of young people at CASH

Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) Executive Director, Dmitri Nicholson addressing the gathering [Delano Williams photos] portunities and zeroing-in ate her own small business. report and will share all on the private sector.

“The barriers are ridiculous,” the ideas, suggestions and she said, adding: “Persons concerns raised. The diTAX REBATES should be given the oppor- rector of youth noted that “Our private sector tunity to be their own boss.” the body aims to ensure has a key role for helping Subsequent to Tues- that these are taken into youth... government can day’s engagement, the De- account and that solutions start recognising the numpartment of Youth will are crafted with these in ber of youth that private prepare a comprehensive mind. sector employs,” he said.

His suggestion was that government can incentivise the private sector to employ more young people by perhaps offering tax rebates.

Representative of the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC), Dr. Shonette Waterman was of the opinion that the processes of young people accessing funds that are available should be much easier.

“Cut down some of the unnecessary red-taping that prevents young people from accessing grants and resources,” she stressed.

The government, through various schemes, particularly through the Ministry of Business and the Small Business Bureau, has made available funds in the forms of grants and loans for young people to access in an attempt to promote the creation of entrepreneurial and small business ventures throughout the country.

Waterman, however, opined that while these funds have been made available for young people, they may sometimes face difficulties in accessing them due to the number of prerequisites put in place.

Members of the audience agreed with this and one young business owner shared the difficulties she faced in accessing a small loan to cre-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Pakistani children worst affected in HIV outbreak BBC-The first sign that something was wrong in the small southern Pakistani town of Ratto Dero appeared in February.

A handful of worried parents had taken their children to the doctor, complaining that their little ones could not shake off a fever. Within weeks, more children came forward suffering from a similar illness.

Bemused, Dr Imran Aarbani sent the children’s blood away for testing. What came back confirmed his worst fears. The children were infected with HIV - and no-one knows why. “By 24 April, 15 children had tested positive, though none of their parents were found to be carrying the virus,” the hospital doctor told the BBC. It was only the tip of the iceberg. In the past

month, more than 607 people - 75% of them children - have been diagnosed with the virus after rumours of an outbreak sent families rushing to a special camp set up at the town’s government hospital by the health department of Sindh province. Perhaps more surprising, however, is the fact that this is not the first outbreak to hit the region in recent years. Rumours of a possible outbreak in Sindh province’s Larkana, of which Ratto Dero is a sub-division, prompted thousands of people to get tested back in 2016. On that occasion, 1,521 people were found to be HIV positive, according to figures available with Sindh Aids Control Programme (SACP).

The vast majority of those infected were men and, at the time, the cause was linked to

the area’s sex workers, who were mainly transgender and 32 of whom were found to be carrying the Aids virus. The discovery of the outbreak led to a crackdown on Larkana’s travellers’ inns, where sex workers had been able to ply their trade relatively freely, despite a ban on prostitution in Pakistan. But could that outbreak be linked to health officials’ recent discovery?

Dr Asad Memon, who heads the SACP operations in Larkana, believes so - although not directly. “I think the (Aids) virus was being carried by members of the high-risk group (transgender and female sex workers) and then lax practices by local quacks caused it to infect other patients,” he told the BBC. By “quack” he is referring to under-qualified people practising medicine, ranging from paramedics running a private clinic posing as doctors, to medical graduates

who have been unable to find work in hospitals and have no exposure to standard medical practices.

In Pakistan, especially in rural areas, people often go to “quacks” instead of qualified doctors because they are cheaper, easily available, and have more time to give to their patients.

Dr Fatima Mir, who works for the Aga Khan University Hospital and specialises in Aids among children, is currently doing volunteer work in Ratto Dero. She agrees that negligent medical practices are the most likely link between the children and the 2016 outbreak.

“There are three ways a child may be infected,” she explained. “It’s either through a lactating mother who carries the virus, through blood transfusion, or through an infected surgical instrument or a syringe.”

In most cases she has

handled, the mothers tested negative for HIV and few children had undergone blood transfusions. So the only remaining explanation was the practice of using one syringe for several patients at local clinics.

Officials also appear to agree. About 500 unregulated clinics have been ordered closed across the province, the health authorities reported.

What’s more, a local child specialist, Dr Muzaffar Ghangro, has been arrested on charges of spreading Aids through syringes. He has denied the charge, saying all the infected people were not his patients. Meanwhile, officials in Sindh - which has one of the highest HIV infection rates in Pakistan - have set up an inquiry to identify causes of the outbreak.

But that will not help those who have already found themselves with a

diagnosis that will impact on their whole lives. Doctors at the hospital camp in Ratto Dero have now tested more than 18,418 people since 25 April. At least 607 of them have tested positive so far, three-quarters of them children between the ages of one month and 15 years.

That means there are hundreds of parents left counting the cost - both to their children’s health, and their everyday existence.

“Medicines for grown-ups are usually available [with health authorities] in Larkana, but for the child’s medicines we have to go to Karachi, which means we spend several thousand rupees on each trip,” one mother, whose three-yearold daughter had been diagnosed as HIV-positive, told the BBC. “My husband is only a day-labourer, so we won’t be able to afford this for long.”

Risk of nuclear war now highest since WW2, U.N. arms research chief says GENEVA (Reuters) - The risk of nuclear weapons being used is at its highest since World War Two, a senior U.N. security expert said on Tuesday, calling it an “urgent” issue that the world should take more seriously.

Renata Dwan, director of the U.N. Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), said all states with nuclear weapons have nuclear modernization programs underway and the arms control landscape is changing, partly due to strategic competition between China and the United States. Traditional arms control arrangements are also

being eroded by the emergence of new types of war, with increasing prevalence of armed groups and private sector forces and new technologies that blurred the line between offence and defense, she told reporters in Geneva.

With disarmament talks stalemated for the past two decades, 122 countries have signed a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, partly out of frustration and partly out of a recognition of the risks, she said.

“I think that it’s genuinely a call to recognize – and this has been somewhat missing in the media coverage of the issues – that the risks of nuclear war are particularly

high now, and the risks of the use of nuclear weapons, for some of the factors I pointed out, are higher now than at any time since World War Two.” The nuclear ban treaty, officially called the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, was backed by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. The treaty has so far gathered 23 of the 50 ratifications that it needs to come into force, including South Africa, Austria, Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico. It is strongly op-

posed by the United States, Russia, and other states with nuclear arms. Cuba also ratified the treaty in 2018, 56 years after the Cuban missile crisis, a 13-day Cold War face-off between Moscow and Washington that marked the closest the world had ever come to nuclear war. Dwan said the world should not ignore the danger of nuclear weapons.

“How we think about that, and how we act on that risk and the management of that risk, seems to me a pretty significant and urgent question that isn’t reflected fully in the (U.N.) Security Council,” she said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

External, domestic factors to affect economic growth of Caribbean - WESP Report ECONOMIC growth in Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to slowly pick up, yet the risks remain tilted to the downside due to external and domestic factors, according to the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) mid2019 report released by the United Nations on Tuesday.

GDP is projected to expand by only 1.1 per cent in 2019 and 2.0 per cent in 2020, following growth of 0.9 per cent in 2018, the report said of the Caribbean Region.

According to the report amid slowing external demand, ongoing global policy uncertainty and country-specific factors, the economic recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean has lost momentum. Economic activity in late 2018 and early 2019 has been weaker than expected, particularly in some of the region’s largest countries. This has prompted a downward revision of the short-term growth outlook.

Regional GDP is projected to expand by 1.1 per cent in 2019, following estimated growth of 0.9 per cent in 2018. Growth is forecast to accelerate to 2.0 per cent in

2020 as economic conditions in Argentina and Brazil improve gradually.

Sharper-than-expected slowdowns in the region’s main trading partners—United States, China and the EU—or renewed financial volatility could further weaken the recovery. In several of the region’s economies, ongoing political uncertainty clouds the prospects for investment and growth. In view of significant downside risks, limited inflationary pressures and constrained fiscal 24 World Economic Situation and Prospects as of mid-2019, most central banks are likely to maintain accommodative monetary policies to support growth.

The region continues to be marked by stark differences in growth prospects across countries.

Annual GDP is expected to contract in 2019 in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Nicaragua in the wake of socio-political crises, as well as in Argentina, which has entered a largescale financial assistance programme with the IMF. The shortterm outlook for Brazil and Mexico is weaker than

previously expected. In both countries, growth is projected to remain below 2 per cent in 2019. In Brazil, difficulties in implementing much-needed fiscal reform—particularly of the pension system—have negatively affected business confidence and investment, while rising unemployment weighs on household consumption. In Mexico, growth is expected to further moderate in 2019, partly because of policy uncertainty and slowing demand from the United States. The Northern Countries of Central America—El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras—are expected to see subdued growth in the range of 2.0 to 3.5 per cent.

On the other hand, growth prospects remain favourable in several other economies, most notably Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Peru.

In these countries, strong domestic demand, including increased infrastructure spending, will support activity. In the Caribbean, the expected onset of commercial oil production in Guyana will likely boost regional growth in 2020.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Our Independence

THE achievement of independence on May 26, 1966 marked another phase of development in the quest for freedom.

This journey began with the fight against enslavement, indentureship and colonisation. In the process of acknowledging that development occurs in phases, recognition is given to the abolition of the slave trade which predated amelioration and freedom from slavery, which was followed by freedom from indentureship. These phases laid the foundation for the fight for and achievement of universal adult suffrage, limited self-government and independence.

The bottom line is, independence is a stepping stone in a nation’s growth and development. Among those who contributed to the 1966 struggle were Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham, Peter D’Aguiar, and, most importantly, the people of Guyana. And of all the people who were a part of that

struggle, at the end of the day, there had to be someone in whom the British Empire trusted to hand the Instrument of Independence: That person was Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

In politics, it is also about policies and programmes, and in this regard, Burnham gained the favour of the British coloniser and its allies, in an era when the Cold War was raging, and no consideration was being given to any self-proclaimed communist. With political independence, Burnham was tasked with the responsibility of leading the nation to build and to forge “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”. It was he who took our young nation a step further to attaining republican status, which is the ultimate freedom from political control.

And as the nation finally achieved its political independence, the former coloniser/Mother Country still sought to retain its stranglehold on it, through various methods of control and influence, such as the World

Bank and the International Monetary Fund. It became increasingly evident that political independence did not necessarily mean economic independence, and the government of the day ought to have recognised this.

By adopting policies of economic self-reliance, such as feeding, clothing and housing the nation, it sought to address this challenge for a nation that was importing more than exporting, and not fully exploiting its agricultural and other natural resources for its own benefit. Independence also meant facing the many challenges of racial and ethnic tension. An indigenous education was pursued to reshape the way Guyanese saw themselves, to forge a nation and to promote understanding, respect, tolerance and peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups. This had the potential of reducing tensions, particularly between the two major ethnic groups, but yet proved more challenging, given what appeared to be an imbedded

appositional tendency to accept the domestic leadership of Burnham.

These struggles also gave rise to the promotion of egalitarianism, with efforts to ensure all were socialised to see themselves as equals. Each worker was promoted as important; no longer was the small man seen as mere hewers of burden, and his well-being incidental to production and productivity. The ideal that was being promoted was for “the small man to be the real man”.

The quest for economic independence also influenced the nationalisation drive, for instance, in the bauxite and sugar industries, and the opening of national banks to drive local economic ventures. These sectors at the time epitomised a class, colour and race hierarchy, where Guyanese were not at the helm.

Nationalisation moved that away and created space and opportunity for locals to be in positions of ownership and control. That foundation having being laid, all who

came after had to add to that vision in keeping with time, national and global perspective and challenges.

Whereas at independence there was need to establish resistance to cultural penetration and other factors, both local and external, that would have threatened the stability of a fledgling nation, it is now left for others to advance nationhood within the current context.

Today, the nation witnesses a decay in the early values. Guyana faces the threat of information communication technologies influencing anti-nationalistic behaviours. In addition to the threat of terrorism, there is the drug trade and corruption that transcend borders.

Facing this challenge will require measures being put in place for social protection, in the context of crime and drugs, where they have infiltrated every strata of society, rivalling the formal economy and threatening the arms of government.

Whereas the National Insurance and Social Security Scheme (NIS) was put in

place in 1969 as a safety net, there is now need for another safety net, such as protection from the influences of drugs. The APNU +AFC government, to its credit, has, in less than a year, undertaken to invite the DEA to set up a Guyana-based office. The government has also advanced the passage of stronger AML/CFT laws which will help in eradicating this scourge. The ‘narco’ trade undermines the structure of government and independence, and destroys the very fabric of society.

And last but not least, the most important challenge facing this nation and leaders lay in forging greater unity and respect.

As a people, we have gone back on building one people, seeing ourselves as Guyanese with a purpose, where we are inter-related, inter-dependent and can co-exist in peace and harmony. There is work to be done to channel our energies towards nation-building, where all can enjoy the fruits and benefits of this country.

Our work will never cease –in the quest to improve, transform the education sector Dear Editor, THE Ministry of Education is committed to providing the best learning and teaching environments for the nation’s children and teachers. In this regard, work is continuously being done to ensure that

the necessary physical infrastructure is provided and equipped with the required tools, in keeping with recognised standards and best practices.

This entails, but is not limited to, refurbishing existing schools and centres, outfitting institutions with

the requisite equipment, and in some instances constructing new edifices to better serve the needs of the country. Over the last three years, 23 schools were built to better serve the needs of the nation’s children and teachers.

In February of this year,

the Ministry of Education commissioned science laboratories in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

In Region Six, science laboratories were commissioned at the following schools: Canje Secondary, Vryman’s Erven Secondary,

and the Berbice Education Institute. In Region Five, the Woodley Park Secondary School is now equipped with its own science laboratory. In that same month, the New Amsterdam Primary School was given 12 desktop computers and accompanying accessories to aid

its Information Technology programme.

Editor, with these new facilities and equipment, the Ministry of Education is expecting improved performances by students in the targeted subject areas, TURN TO PAGE 8

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Lincoln Lewis calls out Freddie Kissoon –for mischief-making Dear Editor, THERE are grievances between the University of Guyana (UG) and the trade unions (UGSSA and UGWU) which represent workers at this institution.

While the matters could only be resolved in an atmosphere of mutual respect informed by the Labour Laws and procedures in the Collective Labour Agreement (CLA), it must not be lost on the parties involved the importance of attending to the extant grievances.

It is becoming evident from some views in the media surrounding this matter, gripes are being construed as grievances, playing out in a manner that could do more harm than good to the institution, those who work there, and to those who it ought to serve, i.e. the students. Freddie Kissoon is one such person who is using this conflict to further his gripes with the institution and some

personalities therein.

Industrial relations is a discipline guided by laws, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions, rules and universally acceptable principles; not how one feels. Trade unionists do not argue for reduction of benefits, but for improvement, or that same be used as a baseline to secure a better package for the workers.

To argue for reduction for another opens the door for similar arguments to be made as to why you or the workers being represented should be deprived or are not deserving of better.

The day-to-day management of UG is vested in the Vice-Chancellor; not the Council. If a grievance occurs between the management or the union(s), either party can initiate discussions between the two to have it resolved. Where there has been a failure to resolve same, either party can refer the matter to the Labour Department for conciliatory proceeding

to be instituted. Conciliation is used as a process to defuse the situation by bringing the parties closer together, with a view to resolving the conflict. Should conciliatory proceeding fail, the conciliator declares a deadlock, after which the next stage is arbitration. Arbitration will be conducted consistent with the CLA or Labour Laws.

As General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), I advised both management and unions of the value of utilising the afore-stated process in an effort to return normalcy to the workplace and their relations. The unions were advised of the futility in seeking to utilise the Council to address the grievances, given that the Council is not part of the process in resolving the grievances. Engagement with the Council on this matter will merely be one of courtesy.

The role of the University Council is to develop, guide and support policies

for the management of the institution. The Council has no executive authority or responsibility. This is vested in the Vice-Chancellor. When it comes to issues specific to industrial relations practices and principles, the GTUC’s representative on the Council is so guided as to how to proceed. On the recent issue of the imposition of wages/salary by the management, the GTUC’s representative, Mr. Ivor English was instructed to advise the Council of our opposition to the imposition, which he did.

To the specific allegations being made by Freddie in his column that I have subverted time-honoured principles in the appointment of English to the Council, let the record be set straight (KN, 21st May, 2019- ‘UG: Something about this government I did not disclose’).

English was appointed by the GTUC Central Executive Council.

There is a long-held practice of the GTUC that unless one who is placed to represent the organisation on any board or council does not express the desire not to con-

tinue, he or she will continue when a new board or council is constituted. English, like others, is a recipient of this principle. In this specific case of UG, the Ministry of Education solicited from the GTUC, via a telephone call, whether or not English will continue as our nominee. I responded in the affirmative.

Freddie’s view that English’s presence on the Council is a breach of time-honoured principle is all in his head or part of his mischief-making conduct.

He will always be at odds with my continuous call to respect time-honoured principles, because he has no regard for same when it does not work for him. Issues cannot be resolved, guided by emotions, gut feelings, whether I like or hate you, what you do or if you will be adversely affected by any decision, absent some framework that will hold all to account. Society functions best through civilised approaches (law and order). Kissoon and those who thrive on lawlessness, tension and division to validate their thinking, the society is bound to implode

will obviously be at odds with my vocal steadfastness, and could only see same as a “stuck record” or “funeral boredom”.

Freddie is playing a dangerous game with this society and our highest institution of learning. His longstanding gripes with the university and persons is clouding his ability to deal with issues based on merit, rules, laws and universally acceptable principles. In his recklessness, he cares not who he destroys, whose character he tarnishes, which institution he ‘bruk up’, once he gets his way. UG is not without problems, including the present worker/management relationship, but to bring about resolution and improvement require sane and objective approaches.

UG workers are being encouraged, in their effort to seek resolution to the present grievances, to apply the principles of industrial relations practices.

Such have always served the workers well.

Regards, Lincoln Lewis

Not the first mixed-race in Royal family Dear Editor,

THE letter published in today’s Kaieteur News written by Yvonne Sam, titled ‘Let’s forget about race and welcome the newest royal into his place’ is powerfully crafted, and I hope it will be read and reread by citizens in Guyana and across the hemisphere.

I compliment Ms. Sam for her scholarship, courage and wisdom, and share our hope that the new baby to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will grow up unaffected by this nasty, debilitating four-letter word called RACE. I wish to make one comment, if not correction, to the well written letter by Ms. Sam. Ms Sam noted that the birth is the first mixed-race one in the Royal Family. He is not the first.

She can refer to my book written on Georgetown, ‘An Anthology of Georgetown - Guyana and a piece of

the world’. On page 32, I secured a painting/picture of Queen Charlotte Sophie, the wife of King George III of England.

Interestingly, we celebrated her birth anniversary yesterday, May 19.

Queen Charlotte Sophie of Mecklenburg, from all accounts, was half-black as her painting/picture shows; that is before some were retouched by some European historians.

My research led me to a description which is recorded in the book, as being a mulatto.

The official records describe her as England’s 18th Century black Queen.

Sophie Charlotte was born on May 19, 1744. Charlotte was the eighth child of Prince Mirow of Germany, Charles Louis Frederick, and his wife Elizabeth Albertina of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

Sophia Charlotte was the wife of King George

III. She served as Queen of Great Britain and Queen of Ireland from her wedding in 1761 until the union of the two kingdoms in 1801, after which she was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until her death in 1818. She was also the Electress of Hanover in the Holy Roman Empire until the promotion of her husband to King of Hanover on October 12, 1814, after which she was also queen consort of Hanover.

Charlotte was a patron of the arts and an amateur botanist who helped expand Kew Gardens. She was distressed by her husband’s bouts of physical and mental illness, which became permanent in later life, and resulted in their eldest son’s appointment as Prince Regent in 1811. George III and Charlotte had 15 children in total, 13 of whom survived to adulthood. She was the mother of two future British monarchs, George IV

and William IV. Her other children included Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover; and Charlotte, Queen of Wurttemberg.

King George III and Queen Charlotte were music connoisseurs with German tastes, who gave special honour to German artists and composers. They were passionate admirers of the music of George Frederic Handel.

Queen Charlotte Sophie was a brilliant woman, but in spite of her subjects; concernd about her obvious African black features, she was respected and highly regarded for her contributions to the arts and the upliftment of culture generally.

So here we have sections of the British media trying to belittle Princess Meghan.

Maybe many of those who seek to embarrass Meghan may themselves have the ‘tar-brush’ somewhere. For us in Guyana, let us work assiduously to put an end to

identifying people by race, religion, by the colour of the skin or the texture of the hair, but rather regard each other by the content of our character and our willingness and ability to make Guyana and the world a safer and nicer place.

May I add this caveat: My darkest daughter

has two sons with a ‘lilywhite’ father. The family describes those delightful boys as neither black nor white, but good, genuine hyperactive Greens, loved by all family members, relatives and friends.

Regards, Hamilton Green

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Have we become so heartless?

Dear Editor,

HAS Guyana become such a heartless society? I ask this question because on Sunday evening, on the bridge linking Church Street to North Road which leads into Orange Walk, I noticed a ‘walker’ (the equipment used to support someone who can’t walk on their own ) partially in the pathway of vehicular traffic. A closer look revealed that there was a human being lying next to the ‘walker’.

I asked my friend, Neville Bissember, who was driving, whether my eyes were deceiving me or whether in fact someone was lying next to the ‘walker’ dangerously positioned as to be run over by a passing vehicle. Bissember confirmed that my eyes had not deceived me, and in fact there was a human being lying there.

He said the ‘walker’ had been there since the previous night.

By the time our conversation about this situation ended, we had reached “Bam Bam Al-

ley”, where we were to sip on a beer or two. However, the picture of this person possibly being run over remained in my head.

I told Bissember I could not have a drink with this “picture” haunting my mind, and that we should return to see what assistance we could render. We did. As soon as I got out of the car and approached the ‘walker’, I heard a female voice say, “Daddy please call an ambulance”.

Several people were walking by unconcerned, and had probably done so ever since this woman had fall-

en off her ‘walker’, which, unless she was moved and then returned to fall at the same spot, had to be a period of 24 hours. Even two police on motorcycles passed while we were there awaiting an ambulance, and neither even looked in the direction of the ‘walker’, let alone the stricken woman.

I dialed 911 and got a fairly quick answer. I advised of the situation, and requested an ambulance.

After giving the location and a description of the problem. I was put on hold for about five minutes,

only to be told by the 911 operator that I needed to call 912. I then called 912 to request an ambulance. I was asked a series of questions, including my name, telephone number and address. I enquired why was this necessary, and if I gave my name as Jagdeo Granger, whether that would be okay. The operator wasn’t amused. So I gave the required information, and an ambulance was there in quick order, sirens blasting. Turns out that the woman, seemingly a homeless person, had a severe wound on her leg

which had become infected. The ambulance service personnel did a good job while being advised by the small crowd that had gathered how they should lift or not lift the woman, and what should be done with the ‘walker’. Many of these same onlookers would have walked past this stricken woman prior to the ambulance being there, and not even batted an eyelid.

Have we become so heartless?

Regards, Brian Kirton

Our work will never...

FROM PAGE 6

particularly with the prominence given to subjects which fall under the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) umbrella.

Moreover, the Ministry of Education is cognisant that modern facilities are needed across Guyana in or-

der to improve the quality of education being delivered to children, and to ensure that children and teachers can function optimally under the right conditions.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Education commissioned two new nursery schools in Region Nine

(Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo). These new schools are the Parikwarunau and Arapaima Nursery Schools.

Also, the Ministry commissioned in Lethem, the town’s first ‘smart’ classroom at the Learning Resource Centre.

These new facilities are

testimony that the Ministry of Education is serious about bridging the gap that exists between the hinterland and coastland communities with regards to education.

In March of this year, Kato Secondary School in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) was finally commissioned following a number of issues which delayed its completion. During the commissioning exercise, it was noted that the school was built as a response to overcrowding that was tak-

ing place at the Paramakatoi Secondary School.

Recognising the needs of the community, the Ministry of Education decided that it was of paramount importance that an additional secondary school in sub-region One was built to serve the education needs of the region. On the note of responding to the needs of communities, the Ministry of Education, through the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project (GSEIP) that is funded by the World Bank.

Through this project, the construction of new secondary schools has begun. In 2020, the Ministry of Education is expected to commission the Good Hope Secondary School in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and the Westminster Secondary School in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

These schools will have the capacity to accommodate 800 and 1000 students respectively. The institutions are intended to cater to the education needs of the new housing schemes and their neighbouring communities.

Ultimately, the Ministry of Education recognises that an important aspect of improving the quality of education delivered to students is the provision of the required infrastructure so that students can be properly accommodated and exposed to the correct environment.

Though it would be excellent to transform all schools and institutions overnight, the Ministry of Education recognises that the necessary changes will take time, but its work will never cease as we endeavour to improve and transform the education sector.

Kindest regards, Ministry of Education Public Relations Department

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Young entrepreneurs get $4M stimulus grants

SEVENTY-FIVE young people from North Pakaraima, Region Eight, received close to $4 million in grants to boost their already-established businesses, which include grocery shops, lumbering, furniture-making and chicken, fish and cattle raring.

Drawn from 10 communities in the Potaro-Siparuni region, 11 youths are from Sandhill, three from Kamana, 13 from Waipa, nine from Kaibarupai, five from Kopinang, eight from Maikwak, two from Kato, 11 from Chiung Mouth, nine from Kurukubaru, and four are from Kanapang.

The youngsters benefitted from training under the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme where they received a

monthly stipend of 30,000 and an additional sum to start-up their businesses.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who travelled to the region over the weekend and distributed the stimulus grants of $50,000 each to the youngsters, commended them for their hard work and persistence.

“For Region Eight, I would give them a big star for trying because you have to realise that these youths never knew about doing business. They are normal youths who dropped out of school… some mining and [the rest] just around, wanting to do something, wanting to learn something but there is nothing much, so this is the first time they are given the chance to try some-

thing to see what business they can do,” Minister Garrido-Lowe said.

The minister referred to one particular group of youths from Kopinang Village, who pooled their resources and constructed a guest house, which she said, was badly needed in the village. She also mentioned another group of young people involved in fish-rearing and needs assistance in acquiring fingerlings for the fish pond.

“I think they are doing a wonderful job, and I believe they will be very successful in their businesses. These youths made very good investments,” she emphasised.

Minister Garrido-Lowe also made a promise to assist in providing additional training in the area of hospitality for the youths.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe with youths from Kato (DPI photo) Further, the Ministry of Agriculture has pledged to assist them with the fish-rearing project.

Everlyn Sapirian, a young entrepreneur of Kamana Village, involved in

chicken rearing, said that he is grateful for the grant.

“It will help me a lot.”

Whanita John, from Waipa Village, pointed out that the HEYS programme has benefitted her

tremendously.

She will be using the grant to expand her business. “We feel good.

We are going to invest it towards the same programme.” (DPI)

MARAD gets $68M in equipment HYDROGRAPHIC equipment totalling $68M were handed over by the United Kingdom’s Hydrographic Office to the Guyana Maritime Administration (MARAD) at the Harbour Masters’ Boathouse on Thursday.

The donation is in support of Guyana’s commitment to the safe and sustainable use of its marine resources.

Among the equipment is a multi-beam echo-sounder that will be installed on the MT Aruca.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, noted that many

countries, including Guyana, lack the scientific data that explains the oceans’ role concerning sustainable development.

“Much of the topography of Guyana’s ocean floor remains unknown and unmapped,” the High Commissioner said.

He, however, noted the progress Guyana has made in mapping its ocean floor since partnering with the Commonwealth Marine Economies (CME) Programme.

He urged that mapping be done consistently. “Going forward, work will have to be undertaken to map the con-

Hydrographic Programme Manager within the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Ian Davies explains how the hydrographic equipment works

stant changes which happen in a dynamic environment such as the ocean,” he said.

He explained that efficient nautical navigation and related marine activities such as scientific research, security and defence and environmental protection are some of the areas that would stand to benefit from consistency in mapping the changes.

In his closing remarks, the British High Commissioner praised Guyana’s admission to the International Hydrographic Organisation as its 90th member, effective May. “In its own small way, the equipment we are giving today will help Guyana to meet its obligations of membership,” the high commissioner said.

Representing the Ministry of Public Infrastructure at the handing over ceremony was MARAD’s Director-General, Claudette Rogers, who spoke on the significance of staff being trained to properly use the hydrographic equipment.

Ms Rogers said the training, “would facilitate the compilation of modern navigational charts of the priority areas, and will improve access for commercial shipping, ultimately reducing the cost of both import and export by sea.”

Cruise tourism and its

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn hands over one of the sets of hydrographic equipment to MARAD Director-General Claudette Rogers associated economic benefits are some of the prospects of having trained staff, she said, adding: “The work will also reduce risk to life and the environment.”

Also speaking at the ceremeony was Hydrographic Programme Manager within the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), Ian Davies, who highlighted the UKHO’s commitment to helping build capacity in Guyana’s maritime sector.

“UKHO will continue to provide advice and guidance to the survey team and the National Hydrographic Committee on the planning and conduct of surveys to ensure that the data collected meets

international standards, and contributes not only to the safety of navigation through updated navigational charting, but also provides information to be used across government to support the development and management of your [Guyana’s] coastal waters.”

Fisheries, disaster management and climate change mitigation are some of the areas that can benefit from use of the hydrographic equipment.

In 2017, the UKHO assisted Guyana in surveying the mouths of the Essequibo and the Demerara Rivers.

And, coming out of the exercise, two nautical charts were

updated, and a new chart was created after four decades of using old and outdated ones.

With the handing over of the equipment, eight persons will be trained in surveying for three weeks by the UKHO. Those persons will be selected from both MARAD and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC).

The donation of the equipment will help Guyana uphold its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 14, the aim of which is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Asphalt paving begins on Lethem road

RESIDENTS of Lethem, Region Nine, are in high spirits and have heaped praise on the government for newly-paved roads in the hinterland community.

On Monday, pictures of a paved main road in Lethem were circulated on social media network – Facebook, with many of its users welcoming the long-awaited change from the usual red loom, dry and dusty atmosphere in Lethem.

The comments w ere

many; one person commented “way to go”, thanking everyone including past and present mayors of Region Nine and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for making it all possible.

Another person heralded the new development as history made in Lethem, while yet another described it as “great progress”.

However, while the pictures told no lie, the exercise was, in fact, the testing of the

100 metres of road selected as a sample for application of asphalt. Based on the result, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure would refine the asphalt and officially begin paving on Monday, May 27, 2019.

The contract for paving of the Lethem road was awarded to contractor JR Ranch Incorporated.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke with

Christopher Chung and Rickey Lalldeo, two bus drivers who frequent the Lethem/ Georgetown route, about the already-paved 100 metres of road.

Chung said: “It’s very dusty here in Lethem, we have waited a long time for this”. Meanwhile, fellow driver, Lalldeo stated “the dust killing you… it is much better now than it was before”.

Minister of Public In-

frastructure, David Patterson, has reiterated, through a statement from his ministry, that he was pleased to continuously construct

and rehabilitate the road networks within the hinterland, “to provide faster and smoother linkage to the coastal regions”. (DPI)

Wisroc residents call for urgent intervention to stop erosion THE community of Second Phase, Wisroc, has already lost half of its access road to erosion following heavy showers in the current May- June rainy season.

The road has become impassable and residents were forced to cordon off the area and divert traffic to another route. While the road has already been severely affected, residents living in

will be done, because if another hard rain fall, we done with,” Constituency Representative for the community, Gary King said.

He believes that the situation should have been treated as an emergency case, since residents’ properties are involved and the inconvenience the road blockage is causing them at this time.

The erosion started during

The eroded access road of Phase Two, Wisroc close proximity to the massive breakage are fearful that their houses will be affected.

Sometime last week, engineers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI), visited the community to assess the situation and promised to return by last weekend, but this did not happen. “They told me they would come back by weekend, now is already Tuesday and I ain’t see anybody. I am watching to see by tomorrow if they will come and what

the recently-concluded dry season and as the community suffered several brush fires.

One particular fire was so threatening that the residents had to open a main pipeline in the now-eroded area to put out the inferno. The gushing water from the pipe, initially caused the area to become eroded, but this worsened as the rainy season stepped in.

The residents hope that something will be done, even at the regional level, to address the situation before the end of the week.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Bandit nabbed after attacking Wismar family A BLOCK 22 Linden family is the latest victim of armed robbery when a lone gunman attacked them on Tuesday morning, but was subsequently caught and handed over to the police.

The Bethune family of Lot 330 Block 22, Wismar, Linden, managed to retrieve some of the items that were taken by the suspect, who apparently made more than one trips to the house. These include two small speaker boxes worth $13,000 belonging to Gary Bethune; one Acer laptop worth $120,000, belonging to Shemeka Bethune; one I Phone 5S worth $30,000, belonging to Dereck Bethune and one Samsung J2 phone worth 33,000, belonging to Shemroy Bethune.

On his last attempt to

steal some of the items at around 3:45hrs, Shemroy Bethune woke up to use the washroom and saw the suspect in the living room and yelled ‘thief’. His shout woke the other family members and at this time, the suspect fled the house but was pursued by the family members, neighbours and other public-spirited persons. The suspect was in possession of a nine MM semi-automatic pistol with five live rounds. One of the family members attempted to take the firearm away, but the suspect put up a fight and he was accidentally shot in his left knee. Family members also retrieved from the suspect, a black bag containing a nipper, two knives, a wire stripper, a pair of green gloves and a face mask. The police was called and the suspect was subse-

Some of the items the bandit was carrying

The suspected bandit after being nabbed by residents

quently taken to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was admitted, treated for a single gunshot wound and subsequently discharged. He is now in police custody and is expected to be charged soon for robbery under arms.

This publication understands that the suspect is a known criminal element in the Wismar community.

Commander of ‘E’ Divi-

sion, Linden Lord, said that the incident is unfortunate since robbery under arms is virtually non-existent in Linden.

He said that ranks will continue to work assiduously in weeding out criminal elements in the division, so as to restore the confidence of residents, particularly on the Wismar shore.

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The firearm recovered from the suspected bandit

12

Mahaicony man remanded for attempt to murder manager

By Clestine Juan CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, remanded 34-year-old truck driver Kenny Paul to prison for allegedly attempting to murder the general manager of the mining operation with which he is employed.

Paul, of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the charge, which read that, on May 17, 2019, at Malibunta Backdam, Mahdia, he wounded Paul Troy with intent to commit murder.

Police Prosecutor Gor-

Kenny Paul

don Mansfield told the court that both men are employed on the same dredging operation, where Paul works as a truck driver and Troy is the

general manager.

According to reports, on the day in question, Paul and Troy were involved in a heated argument. It is alleged that Paul became annoyed, picked up a cutlass and dealt Troy several chops to his left hand and face.

Prosecutor Mansfield explained that the victim is currently hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The chief magistrate after listening to the prosecution, remanded Paul to prison and ordered that he be subjected to counselling. The matter has been transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for Tuesday, July 16, 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Female prisoners ‘come to blows’

By Clestine Juan APPEARING before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, were two female prisoners who were charged with injuring each other during a fight at the East La Penitence Police Station.

Savita Persaud, 33, is currently on remand for trafficking two Venezuelans and Revelana Smith, 25, is charged with attempting to murder a policewoman.

Persaud, on Tuesday, was charged with assaulting Smith on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at the East La Penitence Police Station holding centre. Smith, on the other hand, was charged with unlawfully wounding Persaud on the said day; both women pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Addressing the court, Persaud explained that while entering the shower at the station she was verbally abused by Smith and was also punched in the face.

Persaud, who is unrepresent-

Revelana Smith

ed by counsel, explained that she had defended herself against Smith. Meanwhile, Smith explained that prior to the incident, there was an altercation between them at the Women’s Prison in Berbice.

However, when they arrived at the East LaPenitence Police Station things got more physical.

“She [Persaud] punch me, so I fight back,” Smith explained, as she told the

Savita Persaud

court that Persaud is having special treatment while at the East La Penitence Station because she is involved in a relationship with a male officer.

Both women were remanded to prison until Monday, June 24, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Guyanese man killed in motorcycle accident in New York A GUYANESE man was killed and another seriously injured after the motorcycle they were riding slammed into a private garbage truck that was reversing at the time in New York.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at approximately 13:10hrs on Liberty Avenue near 157th Street, Jamaica, Queens.

Dead is Joel Deonarine of Jamaica, New York and formerly of Bloomfield Village, East Berbice, Corentyne.

According to information, the men were proceeding at a fast rate of speed on a 1986 Honda motorcycle going west on Liberty Ave-

Guyanese Joel Deonarine, who was killed in an accident in NY

nue when the motorcycle collided with the truck that was reversing.

Both of the men were flung from the motorcycle and sustained severe injuries.

Deonarine, a father of one, was picked up and taken to the Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The other injured person remains a patient at the said hospital, and is reportedly in a stable but serious condition.

Relatives and friends of Deonarine expressed shock at his death and described him as a jovial person who always sought to make those around him happy.

Restructuring of GFC part of govt’s ‘green’ agenda AMID criticisms of its work, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has reiterated that the work of the Task Force established to re-organise the Guyana Forestry Commission is part of government’s national objective of moving the country towards a ‘green’ economy.

In a release on Tuesday, the ministry said it has noted many letters and commentaries regarding the functioning of the task force and reiterated Cabinet’s direction on this matter.

“In view of the national objective of moving towards a ‘green’ economy and the consequent realignment of critical agencies of State, Cabinet has approved a proposal for the restructuring of the Guyana Forestry Commission,” the release stated.

Consequently, the ministry said a Task Force has been established jointly between the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Board of Directors of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) to address the re-organising and restructuring of the Forestry Commission. The Task Force includes the technical

and administrative talent and personnel of the MNR, the Board, and the commission, who will examine the structure and functioning of the GFC to make recommendations to the Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Raphael G.C Trotman, who in turn, is mandated to present a report to Cabinet.

The Task Force’s mandate includes, but not limited to, an examination and evaluation of current job descriptions and performance standards, personnel procedures, conditions of employment and appointment, wages and salary structures and payroll administration.

It further aims at improving the efficient performance and effective management of the commission by identifying training and development opportunities for staff. The Task Force is expected to submit to the Minister of Natural Resources a work schedule with timelines and a preliminary report that would complete this assignment no later than July 2019.

The convener of the Task Force is the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Project Coordinator (FCPF), Mr. Clayton Hall.

Alleged wife killer granted high court retrial MICHAEL Anthony Persaud was on Tuesday given a second chance to prove his innocence in the murder of his 19-year-old wife for which he was convicted.

The Court of Appeal ordered that Persaud’s 83-year sentence be set aside and a new trial at the High Court be initiated.

The now 29-year-old man was found guilty in November 2014, of murdering his wife Maduri Padumdeo, called ‘Sharda’, at their Sophia home on December 23, 2011.

According to reports, the body of Sharda was discovered naked in the bedroom of her 10×10 apartment in Sophia, with a black and white wire wrapped around her neck.

It was also reported that the day before the young woman’s body was discovered, neighbours saw Persaud dragging her into the apartment, while she was screaming for someone to call the police.

However, during his trial, Per-

saud held out that he loves his wife and did not kill her. But the 12-member jury returned with a unanimous guilty verdict, and Justice Navindra Singh imposed the 83-year sentence. The sentence and conviction were appealed through Persaud’s counsel, Glen Hanoman.

The sentence and conviction was appealed through Persaud’s counsel, Glen Hanoman, who argued that both were improperly served as a fair trial was not granted. The accused had also said that the sentence was severe and that Justice Singh denied him the opportunity of having a probation report prepared. Additionally, the accused said that we was not granted ample time to secure a lawyer to fight his case properly.

After arguing on these grounds, amongst others, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, ordered that the conviction and sentence be set aside.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

‘Tech’ giants facilitate business transformation seminars

TECHNOLOGY is changing the way many live, work and play and, as the oil and gas transition matures in Guyana, it will be critical for Guyanese businesses to explore more efficient ways and means to improve their service quality to Guyanese and foreign end-users.

This was disclosed on Tuesday, during a business transformation seminar held at STARR Computer, Brickdam, Georgetown.

The feature speakers included Regional Sales Director of Elo Touch Solutions Inc., Carlos Corredor; CEO and Software Engineer of Informatik Solution group, Luis Santiago; and General

Manager of Bluestar Inc., Luis Fernando.

The seminars that began on Tuesday are expected to run throughout this week targeting stakeholders.

These businesses are from sectors such as: Healthcare, Warehousing, Hotels, Retail Food and Restaurant Outlets, Supermarkets, Retail and Hospitality, Asset Management Solution and other businesses that will benefit from the technology industry.

President of STARR Computer, Mike Mohan, in pin-pointing some of the benefits of interactive technology, noted that patrons and patients should be em-

powered with interactive devices to enhance more efficient services.

In giving an example, he said, “Healthcare facilities should allow patients to interact with an input Kiosk to update their biographic information and ailment, then instantly receive a barcoded wristband from the auto printer.” patients, Mr. Mohan said, can then proceed to their primary care physician who would, instantly, review and diagnose prescribed solutions, and the patients can later proceed to the fulfilment centre or medical specialist for medication or further treatment.

Regional Sales Director for Elo Touch, Carlos Corredor, shows President of STARR Computer, Mike Mohan, and Manager, Raydon Samaroo, ways in which consumers can use the rugged Kiosk to enhance business Additionally, he said warehousing solution can be enhanced with the use of RFIC barcode scanners on applicable inventory software.

“Retail and Hospitality application will interact with user participation through a Kiosk to generate desired products and services. Asset management application with appropriate hardware choices will maintain accurate asset inventory of most organisations,” Mohan explained.

Mohan noted that tech-

nology increases productivity and efficiency, while automated business processes and operations are one of the major benefits of technology for businesses.

Carlos Corredor, Regional Sales Director for Elo Touch, showcased a wide range of Elo Touch hardware equipment from touchscreen monitors to touchscreen signage, Kiosk to AIO Point of Sale computers.

Luis Santiago, CEO and Software Engineer of Informatik Solution

group touched on the software that interfacing Multi-Manufacturers’ hardware – Elo, Zebra, Honeywell, Star Micronics Bematech etc. to generate the desired results that businesses need.

Luis Fernando, General Manager of Bluestar Inc., explained the process of the distributor and platform through which all the hardware and software are channelled into STARR COMPUTER Inc. for the end-user.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

City mayor meets T&T counterpart

15

… issues relevant to respective cities discussed HIS Worship the Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine, met recently with Mayor of Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Mr Joel Martinez .

The two mayors dis-

cussed issues that are relevant to their respective cities; these include capacity building for employees in solid waste management, the City Constabulary and the City Engineer’s De-

Diamond man remanded for ‘White Boy’ murder A 22-year-old labourer was on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for the murder of 21-year-old Patrick Matthew Fraser, called ‘White boy.’

Kevin Rose of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the charge.

It is alleged that on Thursday, May 9, 2019, at Norton Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, Rose, while being in the company of others, murdered Fraser during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

Rose was represented

by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes and Everton Singh-Lammy.

Police Inspector Neville Jeffers, who is prosecuting the case, told the court that

the police investigation is still incomplete, while a second suspect is being sought by investigators.

The chief magistrate remanded Rose to prison until June 4, 2019, and transferred the matter to Principal Magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, for report and fixture.

Patrick Fraser, called ‘White Boy,’ was gunned down at Norton Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on May, 9, 2019; he was reportedly shot in the foot and abdomen. Reports indicate that the men implicated in the murder are known to ‘White Boy.’ Initially, the police had stated that although the young man was shot twice, they retrieved from the scene, only one .32 spent shell and one warhead, along with a pair of slippers and a bloodstained Polo hat.

Cook ‘busted’ with cannabis at Bartica TRISHA Haynes, a 40-year-old cook, was on Tuesday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for possession of almost 600 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Haynes, of Fourth Avenue, Bartica, was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was represented by Attorney-at-Law Trenton Lake.

It is alleged that Haynes on May 18, 2019, at the Bartica Police Station, had 576 grammes of cannabis in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Haynes denied the allegation, while her attorney applied for reasonable bail.

Police Prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield, told the court that during a search at the Bartica Ferry Stelling, Haynes was ‘busted’ by police with the narcotics in her handbag. Mansfield explained that two parcels of cannabis were discovered and the woman admitted to ownership of the drug.

Haynes’s next court appearance will be Friday, June 19, 2019, at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

partment.

The mayor’s visit to the twin-island republic was of a private nature. However, Mayor Narine utilised this opportunity to advance the interests of citizens of this Cooperative Republic.

The Mayors of Georgetown and Trinidad & Tobago meeting to discuss relevant issues

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China News

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

China hosts carnival celebrating diversity of Asian civilizations

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EIJING (Xinhua) -- Dazzling dance steps and music from different corners of Asia livened up the National Stadium in Beijing Wednesday evening as a grand carnival was held to celebrate the diversity of Asian civilizations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan attended the carnival, a major event of the ongoing Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, together with foreign guests.

Wang Huning also attended the event.

In a speech to declare the beginning of the carnival, Xi said Asian cultures demonstrate great richness and vitality thanks to the diversity of Asian civilizations.

“Tonight, the colorful flowers of Asian cultures will blossom in full,” he said. “Arts will transcend the boundaries of nations, touch people right in the heart and connect their

minds, showing to the world a radiant, dynamic, peaceful and progressive Asia.”

Chinese people sincerely hope that Asian countries will help each other and work closely together to advance with the rest of the world, he said.

The same stadium, also

known as the Bird’s Nest, was the stage of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics Games in 2008.

Around 30,000 audience from home and abroad watched artists from across Asia perform folk dances, play traditional musical instruments or sing popular

songs from their homeland.

Upasana Madan, an Indian dancer, said she felt thrilled to be back on a Chinese stage 18 years after a threeweek performing tour in China.

“Everyone is coming and sharing their cultures.

We see artists from other

Ancient Chinese woodcraft master inspires int’l vocational training cooperation

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IANJIN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- San Veasna, 23, a teacher from Cambodia Luban Workshop teaching communication engineering, has the Chinese name “Long,” which means dragon.

He became linked with China in October 2018, when the China-funded Lancang-Mekong Vocational Education Training Center was inaugurated, along with Cambodia Luban Workshop.

He is among the three teachers organized by National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia to receive a six-week training in Tianjin Sino-German University of Applied Sciences in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, as the two institutes are partners of the Cambodia Luban Workshop.

“I was so excited to see so much high-tech in China. And I will learn the knowledge step by step in order to pass it on to my students when I go back home,” he said.

Since 2016, eight Chinese-funded Luban workshops have been set up in Asia, Africa and Europe, training more than 4,000 teachers in 17 majors covering mechanics, new energy and automobiles to communications and catering.

The program is named after Lu Ban, an ancient Chinese woodcraft master, and has become a new model for international vocational training cooperation.

“Luban Workshop provides academic education and skills training for foreign partners. Chinese teachers do not

teach local students directly, but train their teachers first.

This is a bridge connecting China’s vocational education with the world,” said Lyu Jingquan, deputy director of Tianjin Municipal Education Commission.

subjects and gain operational experience from new energy vehicle development and the Internet-of-Things to high speed trains. Tianjin Municipality also offers scholarships through the workshop for study in China.

He said the program aims at improving the quality of technical talent to serve the local economy and society.

In March 2016, the first Luban Workshop was inaugurated in Thailand Ayutthaya Technical College, with a building area of 2,000 square meters and equipped with training facilities.

“The teaching quality of our vocational teachers has been greatly improved due to the new technology from Luban Workshop, which has attracted wide attentions from other vocational colleges in Thailand and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,” said Jarun Youbrum, director of the Thai vocational school.

He said that in the past three years the workshop had helped Thai students learn

Shen Yi, deputy dean of Tianjin Bohai Vocational Technology College, was involved in establishing the Thailand Luban Workshop.

“We have not only brought advanced knowledge and equipment, but also education concepts and models to Thailand, attracting many visitors from vocational colleges in Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia,” Shen said.

India was quick to establish the Luban Workshop in December 2017, offering training areas from new energy vehicles to three-dimensional reverse design.

Dai Yuwei, a teacher at Tianjin Light Industry Vocational Technical College, was involved in the building of the Indian Luban Workshop. He said that within one year the workshop had signed training

agreements with five Chinese enterprises in India, providing vocational training to help local people gain employment in the companies.

The workshop has trained more than 300 Indian college students, 25 employees in new energy companies and 75 employees in numerical control maintenance positions, he said.

In May 2017, the British Luban Workshop was set up to become the first landing of the program in a developed country. In partnership between the Tianjin Economics and Trade School and British PAM Education, it provides training in authentic Chinese culinary skills, Chinese catering services, Chinese food culture and high-end brands of Chinese cuisine.

In December 2018, the Portugal Luban Workshop was co-founded by Tianjin Vocational College of Mechanics and Electricity and Polytechnic Institute of Setubal.

Jose Lucas, professor of Polytechnic Institute of Setubal, said 16 world-leading sets of manufacturing and artificial intelligence devices had been equipped in the workshop to provide training in a highly-simulated environment.

The Chinese trainers said although foreign people knew little about Lu Ban, born in 606 B.C., they have learned through the workshop program that he represents the highest craftsmanship spirit.

China confers the Lu Ban Prize as the highest honor in the country’s construction industry.

countries and understand their cultures through their dance and music,” she said.

“It is beautiful how this program is bringing all these countries together.”

Apanaeva Gyuzel, who led a team of Russian artists to attend the carnival, told Xinhua that she and her

fellow artists were honored to present Russian culture at the event and carefully chose a dance that could best showcase the characteristics of Russian people.

“The stage, equipped with the latest visual technologies, is very impressive, and the show is so spectacular. We learned a lot and made many friends,” she said. “It is indeed a great journey.”

The audience was fascinated by the performances and visual effects of the stage, as many stood up, applauded, and waved glow sticks in their hands, singing and swaying with the music. “This show brings back memories of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

I was overwhelmed tonight,” said Tang Yuting, a student from a Beijing college. “The conference is a very good opportunity to promote our own culture and to better understand the outside world.”

Xi underlines legacy of Long March

C

HINA DAILY- President Xi Jinping encouraged the Chinese people to be prepared for a new Long March toward national rejuvenation during a visit to a revolutionary base in Jiangxi province on Monday.

“We came here to the starting point of the Long March to experience the situation of the Red Army’s departure during those years. Now there is a new Long March, and we should make a new start,” Xi said at a memorial park in Yudu county, Ganzhou.

The Long March covered over 12,500 kilometers from October 1934 to October 1936. It was a military maneuver carried out by the Red Army and led by the Communist Party of China to combat the Kuomintang regime. The expedition, beginning in Yudu, laid the foundation for the Party’s victory.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, laid a floral basket at a monument on Monday marking the departure of the Long March. At a museum marking the start of the Long March, Xi spoke with nine representatives of descendants of Red Army soldiers and relatives of revolutionary martyrs.

The People’s Republic of China was founded at the cost of the blood of numerous revolutionary martyrs, Xi said, adding that the CPC and the Red Army, upholding lofty revolutionary ideals, had brought about incredible achievements after repeatedly surviving desperate situations during the Long March.

Xi called for staying true to the revolutionary martyrs, the Party’s original aspiration and mission, its revolutionary ideals and principles, and the people living near revolutionary sites. Xi’s inspection tour took place a week after the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee decided to launch a campaign on the subject of remaining true to the Party’s original aspirations and keeping its mission firmly in mind.

On Monday afternoon, Xi also visited the home of Sun Guanfa, a 71-year-old veteran who is also a descendant of a Red Army martyr, at Tantou village, Zishan township.

Hearing that Sun’s family members had no difficulties in employment and education, Xi said as long as the people follow the Party’s leadership, China will definitely achieve great rejuvenation and the people will enjoy a better life. “The Communist Party is dedicated to making the people happy, and the CPC Central Committee is making all efforts to bring about better lives for the people,” Xi said while visiting a greenhouse in the township.

On Monday morning, Xi visited the JL MAG Rare-Earth Co and learned about the company’s production of rare earths and the development of the rare earth industry in Ganzhou.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Graham’s Hall pupil wins math quiz

MATHEMATICS is not a subject many students gravitate towards and the Ministry of Education has been continuously trying to make the learning of this particular subject more interactive and encouraging for learners.

With this in mind, the final round of the first-ever, Math’s Bee Competition, concluded on last Friday at the National Centre for Education, Research and Development (NCERD).

Dave Chowtie, a pupil representing Graham’s Hall Primary School, emerged

Meanwhile, Chowtie, whose mother and teacher quizzed him regularly, related that the competition was “easy” as he has “done it many times [before]”.

Adams, the lone female, said that one day she wants to open a school that will have an emphasis on extracurricular activities and “competition like these”.

She noted that the math competitions “push us to study and be proud of what we have”.

District Education Officer (DEO) of the primary

Dave Chowtie of Graham’s Hall Primary School the victor of the competition. His competitors were Kyle Melville from North Georgetown Primary School; Mikaeel Nedd from St. Ambrose Primary School; Akeem Fowler from Stella Maris Primary School; Kyra Adams from West Ruimveldt Primary School; and Jaden La Rose from Winfer Gardens Primary School.

The quiz lasted for three rounds which ended with a tiebreaker between Melville and Nedd; the former came out ahead of the competition.

Asked about their preparation, the pupils said they invested much time and were assisted by their teachers and parents.

Fowler, who aspires to be a surgeon and thinks of mathematics as a hobby, said that he devoted at least eight hours daily towards preparing for the quiz.

division, Adrian Elgin, said that the inter-school Math Quiz Competition was one of the many initiatives generated by the Department of Education to boost pupils’ academic performance.

Elgin added that the competition has motivated the pupils to study and there has been a Georgetown-wide improvement in mathematics at the primary school level.

Math Coordinator at the Georgetown Department of Education, Corrinne Osborne, said the Primary School’s Math Quiz began last year October with 27 schools contesting.

“The competition would have motivated teachers to focus on their teaching strategies to get the children to respond,” said Osborne.

She added, that to “get our children involved, we needed to raise the standard of mathematics… we

did this through visits to schools, clinical sessions, one-on-one sessions… and through parent forums.”

Additionally, Osborne said that the competition focused on assessing three areas; namely, knowledge, algorithmic, and reasoning.

She revealed that in the knowledge area, Chowtie and Adams scored the highest, while in algorithmic, Melville performed the best and Fowler got the highest score in the reasoning section.

(DPI)

The contestants with teachers and education officials

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Exxon refurbishes Waramuri recreational ground

EXXONMOBIL Guyana has partnered with the Silver Sands Sports Club in Waramuri Village, Region One, to refurbish the recreational ground in the community.

The facility was commissioned on Saturday, May 18, 2019.

President of Silver Sands Sports

Club, Rowena Williams, said that such had been a dream of several senior citizens of Waramuri. She revealed that the refurbishment was truly a community effort.

Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs, Deedra Moe, and Community Relations Manager, Suzanne De

Two teams compete in a game of volleyball after the commissioning ceremony

Abreu, represented ExxonMobil Guyana at the event.

Delivering brief remarks, Moe indicated that ExxonMobil Guyana was pleased to partner with the sports club on such a useful facility.

“It is an opportunity to promote exercise, to promote youth development

through sports… and really an opportunity to gather as family and friends as a larger community, working together and being one,” she continued.

ExxonMobil Guyana has made an overall contribution of about $10M over two years to refurbish the sports ground and supply equipment.

Waramuri residents look on as two teams engage in friendly competition

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

34 receive training on Diabetic Retinopathy THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has trained 34 healthcare professionals on Diabetic Retinopathy.

According to the Ophthalmology Department of GPHC, the training programme was conducted in Linden on May 19, 2019.

The one-day workshop was part of the Guyana Diabetic Retinopathy Programme’s mandate to pro-

mote education and awareness about Diabetes in the eyes. The training targeted healthcare professionals such as general medical practitioners and nurses.

The training team of five comprised personnel from various levels at GPHC and included an ophthalmologist, optometrist, general practitioner, nutritionist and a nurse.

Participants were trained

Mother of two dies in Mahdia accident A mother of two met an untimely end on Monday morning following a motorcycle accident in the town of Mahdia, in the Potaro/Siparuni Region The woman, who was identified as 24-year-old Abidacy Klass of Norton Street, Werk-en-Rust, sustained massive head injuries after the motorcycle on which she was being towed, crashed along the roadway in the town. Her husband, Osafo Bess, sustained various injuries about his body and he is being treated at the Mahdia Public Hospital.

According to the police, at about 06:00 hours, on the 11Miles Road at Mahdia, Bess was riding motor cycle bearing registration CH3715 and was carrying Klass who was the pillion rider. While approaching a bend in the roadway, Bess lost control of the bike.

They were both picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Mahdia Public Hospital where Klass was pronounced dead

Abidacy Klass on arrival by a doctor on duty.

Residents were shocked when they received news of the woman’s passing.They described the woman as a friendly individual who only travelled up to the mining town on Sunday to see Bess.

Police are investigating the incident

The motorcycle following the accident.

to understand diabetes; nutritional aspects of diabetes care; counselling of persons with diabetes; diabetes and how it affects the eye; screening for diabetic retinopathy and they were also taught how to examine the eye during practical sessions.

At the end of the workshop, participants gave positive reviews about the session and indicated that they have a better understanding of how diabetes affects the eye. Majority of participants were pleased with the curriculum and the format and

Participants being trained by one of the healthcare professionals flow of the presentations.

The Guyana Diabetic Retinopathy programme is part of the Guyana Diabetes Care Project of the Ministry of Health. This project is being funded by the World Diabetes Foundation along

with other international stakeholders such as Orbis International and the University of Toronto.

The main objective of the programme is to establish a formal Diabetic Retinopathy Screening and

Treatment Programme in Guyana.

Since the project started in July 2016, persons with diabetes have been able to access regular screening for diabetic eye complications.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Suspect in money changer’s murder gunned down THE suspect in the murder of money changer, Prince Phillip Alleyne, was gunned down Monday night at East La Penitence Dam, Georgetown.

He was identified as Collin Hooper, 45, called ‘Gun Youth’, of East La Penitence Dam. Hooper was shot to the head and four times to the chest.

Hooper’s body was taken to the Lyken’s Funeral home where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Investigators found six

spent shells of a small calibre weapon in close proximity of the body.

According to police, ‘Gun Youth’ had several robbery charges pending before the courts and he was also wanted by the police for questioning in relation to the murder of Prince Alleyne on High Street, Georgetown on April 16, 2019.

Police were initially hunting for two suspects who shot and killed the 57-yearold money changer on High Street.

Prince Phillips Alleyne

The money changer, of Lot 88 Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara, was

shot and robbed by two armed men dressed in Muslim garb. Following the robbery, the suspects made good their escape on a motorcycle.

The injured Alleyne was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he succumbed while receiving treatment.

Police said that the man left his home to ply his trade on Water Street and parked and secured his motor car on High Street, in front of Ashmin’s Mall, and immediately after, he was confronted by

two males.

Police said a scuffle ensued between Alleyne and the suspects, and during the scuffle; the victim sustained gunshot injures to the head and was relieved of cash and a firearm.

On a daily basis, Alleyne reportedly parked his car in front of the Ashmin’s store before walking across to America Street, where he plied his trade.

Eyewitnesses noted that the bandits may have been monitoring his movements.

Money changers have always been easy targets for bandits. In recent years, bandits have targeted businessmen who usually carry large sums of cash as they operate their trade in the busy parts of the city, mainly along America and Water Streets.

Last February, America Street money changer, Shawn Nurse, known as “Fabulous”, was gunned down in Georgetown after he was confronted by a gunman.

Reports indicate that a lone gunman walked up to Nurse and demanded cash but he hesitated in complying and was shot to the head.

After the shooting, the gunman escaped north along Avenue of the Republic.

In July 2018, Rockford Richardson called “Bigger

Collin Hooper called ‘Gun Youth’

Man” was robbed by two gun-toting men, who rode up to him on motorcycles shortly after midday one Sunday, and relieved him of over $100,000, which he had in his possession.

During the melee, Richardson was shot above his left knee by one of the two bandits. He was rushed to the GPHC and was later admitted for further treatment.

Man gets 48 months for arson OAKLIFF Tail, of 103 Second Street, Craig Village, East Bank Demerara, will spend the next 48 months behind bars after being found guilty of arson by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Providence Magis-

trate’s court on Tuesday.

He had pleaded guilty to the charge.

It was alleged that on May 16, 2019, at 103 Second Street, Craig Village, East Bank Demerara, Tail set on fire Heamand Sukhna’s dwelling house.

Onderneeming duo on bail for narco possession RON NORTON, 32, and Rajkumar Singh, 24, of Onderneeming Sandpit, Region Two, were, on May 20, 2019, charged for the possession of narcotics. They both made their first appearance before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

They both pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them. The charge stated that, on May 17, around 14:00 hours, police were on mobile

patrol when they saw the two males acting in a suspicious manner. They were seen under a tree with a black plastic bag. They were approached, the bag was searched and a quantity of seeds, leaves, and stems were found in it. The substance was weighed and amounted to 11 grammes.

They were each placed on $5,000 bail and the case will be called again on June 13 at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Porter dies after tumbling off lorry A lorry driver is in police custody after a porter fell to his death from the moving vehicle on the Le Destin Public Road, East Bank Essequibo, on Monday evening.

Dead is Leon Thorne, 20, of Lot 500 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme Georgetown.

Reports indicate that motor lorry, with registration GWW 7269, was being driven by Rondell Cornette of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, when Dead: Leon Thorne Thorne fell out of the vehicle.

It is alleged that the driver was proceeding west along the southern side of the road, with the porter in the tray, when, for an unknown reason, the porter fell out of the tray and landed onto the roadway.

Thorne received injuries to his head and other parts of his body, and was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body was taken to Ezekiel Funeral Parlour and is awaiting autopsy.

However, relatives said that they only saw an injury to the head and not about the body, which does not coincide with the driver’s version of what happened.

“The driver is known to Throne and would usually call on him whenever he has certain work to do,” another relative said.

As such, they are calling for police to do a thorough investigation.

Labourers on bail for armed robbery RYAN George, 19, and Elroy Brown, 20, both labourers of Supenaam Village on the Essequibo Coast, were, on May 20, slapped with two charges.

The duo made their first appearance before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

They were charged for robbery under arms committed on Mohamed Gafoor and robbery with violence committed on Rasheed Rafee on May 9. The men were not required to plead to the indictable charges.

On the robbery under arms charge, they were both granted $500,000 bail each and for the robbery with violence charge, $200,000 each by Magistrate Sam. They are expected to return to court on June 13, 2019, at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

The court heard that Rasheed Rafeek, 27, a speed boat operator of Lot 91 Aurora, Essequibo coast; Premnauth Sookram of Parika, East Bank Essequibo and Mohamed Gafoor were heading to Buck Hall on May 9 around 22:30 hours when their 40HP outboard engine developed a mechanical problem.

While on sea, three masked men, who were armed with handguns and knives, approached the victims, demanded money and began to assault them. They took all the valuables, including fuel, from the men and made good their escape.

The victims were then rescued by Narendra Chattergoon and were immediately rushed to Suddie Public Hospital where they were subsequently admitted as patients. Their conditions were listed as stable.

Meanwhile, family members of the two young men who were hauled before the court are dissatisfied. They told reporters that both men were at home at the time of the incident.

They claimed that police just came and handcuffed the duo without any proper explanation.

Family members of both men are baffled as to how two innocent men are charged for such crime when they were at home.

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Wed., May 22, 2019 05:00hrs.-06:30hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Gayle among several West Indians to find one-day form

CMC – VETERAN opener Chris Gayle will be among several West Indies players anxious to find one-day form when the Caribbean side take on Australia in a warmup match here Wednesday.

Gayle was among seven players who joined up with the rest of the squad last weekend, having missed the just-concluded Tri-Nations Series in Ireland due to Indian Premier League commitments.

The fixture was not originally part of the schedule but was organised in an attempt by Cricket West Indies to give the IPL players additional match practice.

And with West Indies set to play their opening game of the World Cup in 10 days’ time, the 39-year-old Gayle said it was imperative these players made the most of the outing.

“It’s important for guys to get some runs under their belts and try and get some form leading up the tournament,” he told reporters.

“You couldn’t ask for a better opponent to play against than Australia. [They have] one of the best bowling attacks in world cricket right now so you can actually see where you are as a batter. It’s good for all of us as batters to go up against them because we have to meet in the tournament as well.”

He added: “We all know

what the conditions here [in England] are like – it’s good for cricket. It’s a World Cup, a big stage event and everyone is looking forward to it. All the guys are putting in the work and we’re looking forward to it.”

Gayle, along with fellow left-handers Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer and Evin Lewis, all-rounders Andre Russell and Carlos Brathwaite, and fast bowler Oshane Thomas, saw out their contracts in the IPL before joining up with the squad for the camp at the Rose Bowl here which got underway last Saturday.

The Jamaican was in prime form for Kings XI Punjab, plundering 490 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 153. It followed on from his excellent form against England in the Caribbean this year when he amassed 424 runs in the five-match one-day series.

“I’m still in good nick to be honest with you. I had a not to bad IPL coming off the home series against England,” he explained.

“The good thing about it is that I’ve been playing cricket. That is very important for me to continue playing cricket and get some games under my belt and eventually come here to the UK, and start the tournament with a few warm-up games as well.

“It’s a long tournament.

For me personally, I just have to try and monitor [myself] as carefully as possible and get the mindset right and I’ll be ready out there.”

West Indies will also play two official World Cup warmup matches in Bristol next week, taking on South Africa on May 26 and New Zealand two days later.

The will face Pakistan in their World Cup opener on May 31 in Nottingham.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday May 22, 2019)

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(2) How many the WI won?

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GUYANA CHRONICLE , Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Archer believes he is well prepared for World Cup CMC – NEWLY-minted England fast bowler, Jofra Archer, believes he is well prepared for the challenges of the ICC World Cup despite his lack of experience in One-Day Internationals.

The Barbadian, who qualifies for England through his British father, was on Tuesday named in the Lions’ final 15-man World Cup squad after playing a mere three ODIs earlier this month.

Archer, however, has had a couple of season in both the Indian Premier League and the Australian Big Bash and believes the demands of franchise cricket has served him well.

“I think I’m ready. I’ve played a lot of cricket outside of 50-over so I know how to deal with pressure – crowds. I think I am ready,” he told Sky Sports.

“Obviously because of that cricket I wasn’t able to play much List A for Sussex but you don’t forget how to bowl really. I think you get more opportunities to bowl than in T20, you get another six extra overs to take more wickets.”

Archer snapped up 11 wickets in as many matches for Rajasthan Royals to follow up on an impressive debut IPL season when he took 15 wickets in 10 outings.

And having bowled against some of the world’s best batsmen in the IPL, Archer said he would bring that knowledge into the World Cup. “I think I have bigger advantage over some of the other

guys in our team,” he explained.

“We play them (opposing batsmen) twice in the IPL and you know their weaknesses, you know their strengths, you know if they can’t run between the wickets – you get an extra bit of inside information.”

Archer, who became eligible for selection in March after the England and Wales Cricket Board reduced its residency period from seven years to three, had been ignored in the preliminary World Cup squad.

However, he impressed with his pace in subsequent matches against Ireland and Pakistan, forcing left-arm seamer David Willey out of the final squad for the showpiece which bowls off May 30.

The 24-year-old Archer, who played for West Indies Under-19s in the past but had long expressed his desire to represent England, said he was thrilled with his selection.

“I got a call from Ed Smith (convenor of selectors) yesterday (Monday) maybe about six o’clock,” he recalled.

“I was actually driving at the time and I just felt the phone vibrate and I answered it without looking at it. It is really, really exciting to be part of a big summer of English cricket.”

He added: “I had put it in my head that I had to wait seven years. Back in December they obviously changed it a little bit but I was always prepared to wait however long it would have taken.”

West Coast Warriors thump Vipers CC in first Commonwealth League clash

The West Coast Warriors were perfect in their opening clash

THE West Coast Warriors, made up of local and US-based players defeated the Vipers Cricket Club by 10 wickets when action bowled off on Sunday in the Commonwealth 30-Overs League, at the Flushing Meadows in Queens.

The side, which includes several Zeeburg Sports Club

cricketers, were led by their coach/player Avi Dhanpaul.

Dhanpaul spun his way to 3-21 to help bowl out the Vipers for 53 in 13.3 overs.

Support came from medium pacer Rajin Rahaman. The skipper finished with 2-9. In reply, the West Coast Warriors raced to 54 without losing a wicket in 3.3 overs.

Balbinder Shivpersaud

exploded for 24, while Chandrapaul belted 20 runs.

Tw e n t y - f o u r t e a m s in the league will play round-robin games until August.

This is the West Coast Warriors’ first season and they are currently sponsored by Bronx business Sanjays Plallet.

Barbadian speedster Jofra Archer.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Cricket clubs, youths benefit from RHTY&SC donation SEVERAL non-governmental organisations (NGOs), cricket clubs, youths and an elderly resident were the recipients of donations from the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s cricket teams (RHTY&SC).

The teams are Poonai Pharmacy Under-12 and Under-13, Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21 and First Division.

The teams are mandated by the management of the RHTY&SC to successfully complete a target of 300 activities combined as part of their personal development and to make a positive difference in the lives of youths, the less fortunate and the elderly.

The 10 teams with co-sponsorship from the National Sports Commission handed over cricket balls to 20 clubs.

Among the clubs benefitting from the donations were Chesney, Guymine, Mt Sinai,

Upper Corentyne, Whim, Rose Hall Canje, Kildonan, Port Mourant, Mental Hospital, Edinburgh, Young

Warriors and Police.

The teams also donated six trophies, 12 medals and a bicycle to the Upper Corentyne

FORMER Mackenzie High School (MHS) athlete Bruce Butcher, who resides in the United States, has contributed financially to the Independence Day ‘Mackenzie High versus Christianburg/Wismar Secondary (Multi)’ athletics showdown.

According to Butcher, the event is a means of helping to boost the sport in his hometown.

The event will involve past and present students of both secondary schools in Linden.

Butcher, the son of former Guyana and West Indies middle order batsman Basil Butcher, feels that Linden has tremendously talented athletes and there is a need for such meets.

Butcher has been following the outstanding performances of District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) at the National Schools Athletics, Swimming and Cycling championship where their

Temple, on special request, received a large quantity of trophies and medals towards the hosting of a fundraising

Some of the 20 clubs pose with their cricket balls.

Former National athlete donates to Linden’s “Independence Championship”

By Joe Chapman

Cricket Association towards the hosting of its 2nd Annual Award Ceremony while the Rose Hall Town Hindu

domination has displayed the region’s true talent.

Butcher said he noted, particularly, the contributions made by the top two secondary schools’ athletes.

The former high jumper, who began his athletic career at the MHS, attended the first World Juniors championship in 1986 in Athens, Greece.

Both MHS and Multi

Day of Sports.

The Edinburgh Cricket Club also received a complete set of cricket stumps and benefitted from a donation of four special prizes towards a fundraising raffle for the East Bank-based team.

RHTY&SC Secretary/ CEO and Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) president Hilbert Foster also fulfilled a commitment to a 12-year-old cricketer from the Edinburgh Club by handing over a complete educational package to assist him in his scholastic career.

Others to benefit included a nurse from the Port Mourant Hospital whose house was recently destroyed.

Nurse Claudia Ross recently received a quantity of kitchen utensils while the team donated a new bicycle to a resident of Mt Sinai, New Amsterdam, to assist her to get to work after thieves had stolen her old one from her workplace.

The BCB also benefitted from a donation of stationery and office equipment.

Torginol Paints golf extravaganza on June 1 TORGINOL Paints Annual Golf Tournament is scheduled to be played on Saturday, June 1.

Delighted that the weather has not affected playing conditions at the LGC, president Aleem Hussain thanked the marketing team for their continued support.

Rajesh Ramgolam, administrative assistant, along with Dianne Deoraj and Robert Singh from the marketing team, was on hand as Stacyann Wong handed over the sponsorship cheque at the brief presentation ceremony.

Ramgolam, on behalf of M.S. Ally, reiterated Torgi-

nol’s 16-year and continuing commitment to support the Lusignan Golf Club and golfing in Guyana.

In response, Club president Aleem Hussain expressed the gratitude of the club for such continuing and resolute support from Torginol Paints.

“Torginol is the only locally manufactured paint with a special formula to beat the harsh weather conditions in Guyana. Similarly, the top golfers will strive to win the Torginol Paints trophy and beat tough competition to emerge at the top of the field”.

The LGC continues to offer free lessons and equip-

ment compliments of the Shafura Hussain Foundation and you can learn more by visiting the Facebook page @ lusigngolfclub or calling 220-5660, 645-0944.

Torginol Paints, ‘Pioneers of the Paint Industry’ in Guyana, (website: torginolpaints.com), is a member of the Continental Group of Companies, with headquarters and factory located at 9-12 Industrial Estate, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana, (Tel:592-226-404143), and with two outlets in Regent Street, Georgetown as well as distribution centres and dealers across the country.

Corona quarter-finalists collect spoils Bruce Butcher, at left, makes donation to Erwin ‘Baldhead’ McNeil at right.

He said the initiative must be encouraged and hopes that other persons/ businesses and firms would give their support for this to be bigger and better in years to come.

will receive $100 000 and a Smart television, while the athletes will gain medals and trophies and the winning school will take home the Marilyn DeAbreu Trophy and bragging rights.

THE cash incentives for the group stage of the Corona Futsal tournament were handed over yesterday at the National Gymnasium.

The tournament, which is into its quarter-final stage, rewarded all the group stage participants for their finishing positions with TopBrandz, the company that distributes Corona here, on hand to witness the event.

Giving brief comments, co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, contended that “the tourna-

ment has been good so far.

All the teams are turning out early and I really want to commend all the players for being on time.”

Back Circle (Group A), Future Stars (Group B) and Tiger Bay (Group C) walked away with $30 000 each for topping their respective groups.

Sparta Boss (Group A), Bent Street (Group B) and West Front Road (Group C), carted off $20 000 for placing second in the groups while California Square

(Group A), Leopold Street (Group B) and North East La Penitence (Group C) collected $15 000 for third place.

Beacons (Group A), Mocha (Group B) and Tucville (Group C) got $10 000.

Meanwhile quarterfinals action, which is set for the 27th, will pit Future Stars against West Front Road and Bent Street against California Square.

Back Circle take on North East La Penitence and Sparta Boss play Tiger Bay.

GUYANA CHRONICLE , Wednesday, May 22, 2019

31

Stewart, Phillips sprint champions at GOBSA Independence Classic

Akeem Stewart (second right) dips across the finish line to win the Men’s 100m gold

IT was an action-packed weekend for athletics at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, West Coast Demerara when the Guyana Overseas-Based Sports Association (GOBSA) ran off its fourth Annual Independence Track and Field Classic.

SATURDAY GDF’s Akeem Stewart recovered from a stumble to win the men’s 100 metres in 10.44s while Kenisha Phillips won the distaff side of the event.

With Davin Fraser false-starting in the final, it was Stewart’s race to lose and the ripped sprinter overcame a decent field of sprinters despite a tough first 30 metres.

Young and rising sprint sensation, Loneil Marks, finished second in 10.52s while Rupert Perry, after a long lay-off from the track, clocked 10.69s in his second race of the season.

Phillips was in a class

by herself clocking 11.94s to win the women’s 100m. Alita Moore clocked 12.18s for second while Cassie Small ran 12.31s for third.

Meanwhile Brianna Charles ran an impressive 12.20s in the 15-17 Girls’ category to top Princess Browne and Celine David who took 12.50s and 12.91s respectively.

Nilon Spencer looked solid in the 15-17 male category with a 10.97s 100m win just ahead of Wesley Tyndall’s 11.09s run. Devon Williams ran 11.15s for third.

However, Tyndall earlier in the day easily won the long jump event in the same category with a leap of 6.56 metres.

Police athlete Anfernee Headecker completed a solid Men’s 1500m in 4:09.60s while Odwin Tudor placed second in 4:11.31s.

Marlon Nicholson was third in 4:14.26s.

CARIFTA gold medallist Matthew Gordon was in a class by himself with a

comfortable win in the 15-17 1500m in a time of 4:18.40s.

Jahiem Vandenburg had a field double with wins in the 15-17 discus and javelin throws. Vandenburg threw 28.55 metres in the discus and 44.00 metres in the javelin.

CARIFTA javelin gold medallist Anisha Gibbons won the javelin event easily in the Girls’ 15-17 category with a throw of 35.39 metres while Keliza Smith captured the long jump event in the same category with a leap of 5.76 metres.

National javelin record holder Leslain Baird was also in action with an easy win, using the three-step technique to record a distance of 65.19 metres.

Other wins during the day’s activity included the likes of Shanay Nicholas, Akeelah Dover, Odessa France, David Higgins and Jair Samuels.

SUNDAY Devaun Barrington made a

Guyana to open CONCACAF Nations League against Aruba on September 6 … Golden Jaguars to host Jamaica on September 9 THE Golden Jaguars, Guyana’s senior Men’s National football team, will kick off their CONCACAF Nations League campaign on September 6 when they travel to ‘The Kingdom of The Netherlands’ territory of Aruba.

By virtue of finishing seventh in the qualifying stages of the competition, Guyana were pitted in League B alongside Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba and Jamaica in Group C. Following their September 6 encounter, Guyana will return home to host Jamaica on September 9, followed by a trip to Antigua and Barbuda on October 11 to finish off the first leg of the home-and-away formatted league.

Guyana will host Antigua and Barbuda on October 15,

Aruba on November 15 and will travel to Jamaica on November 18 for their second clash with the ‘Reggae Boyz’.

The home-and-away group stage of the 2019 CONCACAF Nations League will be played on FIFA match dates in September, October and November 2019, while the Final Championship will take place in 2020.

At the conclusion of the round-robin group stage, the winners of each League A group will qualify to the Final Championship, while the League B and C group winners will be promoted to League A and B for the next edition of the competition.

Additionally, the teams at the bottom of each League A and B group will be relegated to League B and C respec-

tively.

The CONCACAF Nations League kicked off with a oneoff qualifying phase. Following 68 matches, the 34 participating teams were compiled into an aggregate table, ranking them 1-34. The final position of each team will determine their placement into League A, B or C. By virtue of having qualified for the Hexagonal Round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Russia 2018, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, United States and Trinidad & Tobago were pre-seeded directly into League A. Additionally, Guatemala, who did not participate in the qualifying phase due to a suspension imposed by FIFA, were placed into League C. (Rawle Toney)

Daniel Williams (centre) retained his 400m titled on Saturday.

(Delano Williams photos)

huge statement by winning the Men’s 800 metres.

Barrington, having somewhat of a point to prove after being out of the arena for some time, clocked 1:52.30s to comfortably win the event ahead of Anfernee Headecker who ran 1:53.67s while Daniel Melville finished third in a time of 1:57.78s.

Meanwhile, Loneil Marks won the Men’s 200m in 21.36s

ahead of Daniel Williams who clocked 21.37s in one of the most thrilling races of the meet.

Williams, however, retained his pet event - the 400m - in 48.97s.

Matthew Gordon continued his rich form with an 800m win in the Men’s 15-17 category in a time of 2:00.92s while Aaliyah Moore topped the women’s 800m in 2:23.97s.

Princess Browne was also one of the day’s winners with a winning leap of 11.88 metres in the 15-17 triple jump event while another 2019 CARIFTA bronze medallist in Adriel Austin won the 15-17 800m in 2:19.45s.

Brianna Charles completed a sprint double by winning the Girls’ 15-17 200m in 24.81s. Keliza Smith needed 25.43s.

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The group stage participants pose with their cash incentives while in company with Petra and TopBrandz officials yesterday.

T

DeAbreu, Persaud to attend Hyundai World Archery Championships 2019 29 Page

Guyana to open CONCACAF Nations League against Aruba on September 6 ‌ Golden Jaguars to host Jamaica on September 9 Page

31

Devin Persaud (right) and Wayne DeAbreu ARCHERY Guyana will be represented at the Hyundai World Archery Championships 2019 by two of its members, Wayne DeAbreu and Devin Persaud, from June 9 to 16 in The Netherlands.

This tournament in The Netherlands offers an alternate pathway for Guyana to qualify in Archery for the Olympics.

Archer Devin Persaud has confirmed both his and Wayne’s commitment to a rigorous training schedule to ensure tournament fitness and readiness.

The Board of Directors of Archery Guyana wishes the two all the best in The Netherlands.

FLASHBACK! Emery Welshman (#10) celebrate his 43rd minute goal against Belize in their CONCACAF Nations League Qualifier at the National Track and Field Centre.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019