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WEEK ENDING AUGUST 24, 2018

NO.008

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U.S. Congressmen 21 in Guyana PAGE

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

It’s Volda

SEE STORY ON PAGE 3

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-- Volda Lawrence elected PNCR chairman -- Dr George Norton and Annette Ferguson are vice-chairs

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

It’s Volda

-- Volda Lawrence elected PNCR chairman -- Dr George Norton and Annette Ferguson are vice-chairs

Long-serving People’s National Congress Reform stalwart Volda Lawrence is greeted by supporters on the announcement of her election as chairperson of the party at Congress Place, Sophia, on Sunday (Samuel Maughn photo)

By Ariana Gordon

FTER more than 15 hours of voting and tallying, Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence was declared the first female Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), even as President David Granger was returned unopposed as leader of the party. Lawrence, who competed against former chairman Basil Williams, SC and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, secured 346 votes, while Harmon and Williams secured 287 and 183 votes respectively. Williams served as the party’s chairman for three consecutive terms. Ronald Bulkan, Minister of Communities, was the lone nomination for treasurer, while the vice-chairman positions were won by junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson and Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, with 260 and 242 votes respectively. Among those who vied for the vice-chairman posts were former general-secretary of the PNCR Aubrey Norton; Director of Sport, Christopher Jones; Thandi McAllister; Lawrence; Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira; Genevieve Allen; and Cosbert Robert. Aubrey Norton secured 236 votes, while Jones secured 226; Robert 16; Allen 11; Figueira 22; McAlister 84; and Volda Lawrence 244 votes respectively. The votes for members of the Central Executive Committee will be counted today said Returning Officer Hewley Griffith who described his role as “rough at times”. He was assisted by a team which included attorneys Patrice Henry and Cassandra Alves. As Griffith declared Lawrence’s victory, screams of “Volda! Volda! Unity! Unity!” spread across Congress Place, Sophia, as the curtain came down on the PNCR’s 20th Biennial Delegates Congress. In her acceptance speech, Lawrence pledged to ensure that there is unity within her party and across the country. “I do not bring gold or silver, but what I bring is a heart for the people of Guyana. I pledge to walk the walk and to talk the talk to ensure that we remain in Government for the next five years. I also pledge to work with our leader and leaders to ensure that we address the needs of our people and that we all work together in unity,” she said much to the pleasure of her party members. She thanked her party comrades who had competed for the said position, noting that “we played a good relay”, adding that their competitiveness and support demonstrate what can be done collectively, not only for the party, but for the people of Guyana. In thanking her supporters, Lawrence said, “Let us walk with purpose and dignity and show the Guyanese people that this is the party to be a member of.” The newly elected chairperson also pledged to walk side-byside President David Granger. “I will bring the women with me and we will carry you and this party onwards,” she declared. Lawrence had taken her campaign across the country to

venues on the coastland, as well as several hinterland locations, including Regions Eight, Nine and 10. Earlier this month, she had met with supporters in the Rupununi including representatives from the town of Lethem and several villages including Karasabai, Katoonarib and Sawarinau. In July, Lawrence received several youths whom she noted “refuelled” her by placing their faith, hope and trust in her. Lawrence is an accountant by profession. She has a degree in accounting from the University of Guyana and a master’s degree from Gloucester University, England and is a Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA Level II). Meanwhile, both Harmon and Williams conceded to Lawrence and congratulated her on her success. They both vowed to work collaboratively to achieve their party’s goals. Williams told reporters at approximately 01:10hrs just after the declaration was made that Lawrence’s election as the party’s chairman represents “a new dimension to our politics”. He said that without campaigning he secured 183 votes which he felt made a difference in Lawrence winning the elections. “It is the time for women, the party has spoken, the woman has won and I will support the woman. It is a great win and we will move forward together,” Williams, declared as he cheered for Lawrence. Similarly, Harmon, the country’s minister of state, said the election of a new chairperson and other senior office-bearers illustrates the will of the party’s members. “The party has won! I think that this is a historic moment in our party when we have an opportunity to work together to build our party. I don’t see a defeat here. I see that we have all won out of this.” He told reporters that all stakeholders will work in greater unity to build the party and expand upon many of their campaign promises. “… It has mobilised our base, so you can feel the energy in here. I want to congratulate Ms. Volda Lawrence on her victory and I want to congratulate all the other members; the vice-chairmen… two of the persons who scored very high were on my campaign team,” he said, applauding the maturity in which the campaigns were conducted. Harmon believes that the PNCR has “set a standard for the rest of this country” to follow. Meanwhile, President David Granger in his induction and charge to the new chairperson and vice- chairpersons, declared, “What a party! What a congress!” “We came on Friday evening and we are leaving on Monday morning. This has been a demonstration of democracy — it is my honour and pride to lead a party such as the PNCR and to lead a congress such of this,” said the Guyanese leader. He noted that the returning officer and team worked all day in very stressful conditions, but “at the end of the day they were able to earn the confidence of the membership of this party.” He added: “The process might have been slow and difficult, but it was clean and complete.” The leader said the election of Lawrence as the chairperson of

the PNCR, which was founded by the late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham illustrates party unity and solidarity. Granger, who has always pushed for women’s empowerment, made it clear that since taking office, he has been a strong advocate for women. He is the first president to appoint female senior counsel. “For the first time this year there have been more women national awardees than men; I can’t overrule democracy. I try to ensure women are well represented at all levels of the party,” he told reporters. Meanwhile, during his induction, the head-of-state said despite speculation that there was deep and intense rivalry, his party has demonstrated that there is democracy within. “The party is 61 years old and it is a robust party; robust democracy,” President Granger said, noting that “The people understand what I need and want; I am very satisfied now that I have a female chairman and a female vice-chairman.” He called on members to put their faith in the collective wisdom of the party’s membership, while pointing to the effective functioning of the party’s institutions, inclusive of the constitution, General Council, Central Executive Committee and members. “This morning the contest is over. The local government campaign starts,” Granger said while adding that political office is not a glamorous affair. “At the end of the day, we are one party and our party is very important not only to us, but to the country. The persons who have been elected understand this duty. They have been long-standing members. And each elected member is a member of my Cabinet,” said the PNCR leader. He noted that while those who contested may have been rivals in the campaign “they are colleagues and they will all be at Cabinet on Tuesday morning”. He assured congress that the members of the PNCR are cognisant of who they are and are fully aware of what needs to be done. “We know where we are going. We have a team and under my guidance will work together. These are not strangers. I have worked with them as shadow ministers, and in Cabinet. We have a mission and what occurred over the last few days is an indication of our commitment. The people have seen democracy and transparency... we are going to the future with eyes wide open,” the President added. President Granger made it clear that while oil is on the horizon, it is the efforts of people that will lead Guyana into an era of greater social equality and inclusionary democracy. He said his leadership, which comprises the new electives, will lead Guyana into an era where the leadership is prepared to meet with civil society. “I ask you the members of the public to keep faith with us just as you kept faith with us [during the congress]… over the next two years and beyond and we will lead you to that promised land. There are no victors and victims. We are all working for a common destination,” the President concluded.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

Episodic return of America I N post-independent Guyana, every new decade, it seemed, has been marked by an episodic return of a significant American presence. With the upcoming visit by a high-level Congressional Delegation, expectations are high that something big is about to happen that would positively impact the lives of Guyanese. The 25-member American delegation comprises nine representatives of the US Congress from several States, including the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, a component of military officers, and some family members. Minister of State Joseph Harmon, in making disclosures about the visit, noted that this single largest congressional delegation would be on a familiarisation tour, testifying to the strengthening of Guyana/U.S. relations.

PROSPECTS FOR FIRST OIL

It could hardly miss anyone’s attention that this visit coincides with prospects of first oil by the American giant, ExxonMobil, from reserves it estimated at four billion barrels off Guyana’s Atlantic economic zone. Independent of Exxon’s find, a United States geological survey has estimated that the Guyanese coastal area holds recoverable oil reserves of about 13.6 billion barrels, and gas reserves of 32 trillion cubic feet. The huge vested interests have not only attracted high-profile, albeit controversial, coverage from the New York Times but has also raised an enhanced security profile of Guyana and presented a new geopolitical and strategic reality in the western hemisphere. The Government of the United States of America was quick to connect with this reality on the occasion of the 52nd Independence Anniversary of Guyana. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo reinforced “strong connections” with Guyana, and committed the United States to the advancement of our prosperity by helping Guyana to develop her emerging oil

sector “in partnership with U.S. business”.

SUPPORT FOR SOVEREIGNTY

It didn’t take long for the launch in Guyana of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), which would rank among the biggest successes of US Ambassador Perry Halloway in bridging American-Guyanese business cooperation. Its start-up members include ExxonMobil and GT&T. With the expected oil bonanza came renewed but overt diplomatic support for Guyana’s territorial sovereignty against a spurious claim by Venezuela. The U.S. Government declared recognition for the entire “Land of Many Waters” from “the Corentyne to the Pakaraimas, from the Takutu to the Amakura…” The U.S. State Department hosts a Guyana Page, last updated on February 9, 2018, with a Fact Sheet that outlined the shifts in political-ideological and trade relations between our countries. It stated:“Beginning in the late 1980s, Guyana sought to improve relations with the United States as part of a decision to shift toward political nonalignment, moving from state socialism and one-party control to a market economy and greater freedom of the press and assembly. This shift, recent free and fair democratic elections, closer security cooperation, and

expanding trade and investment have helped place U.S-Guyanese relations on excellent footing.” This only English-speaking Republic on the South American continent has at home less than 800,000 inhabitants, but she has a larger Diaspora population that is scattered mostly in North America and the Caribbean. It is estimated that some 500,000 Guyanese live and work in the United States, which account for remittances in 2016 of US$264.6 million, in a year when the country’s export earnings from the United States stood at US$286 million.

AMERICANS ARE COMING

With growing expectations of the country’s opening up and new-found wealth, Guyanese are looking at their Motherland with fresh hope. The inauguration, from November, of flights to Guyana by American Airlines would see more arrivals from the United States from which Guyana would benefit financially. I wanted to use “The Americans are Coming” as the caption for this article, but decided not to sensationalise the beginning of this exciting, glowing era in U.S-Guyana cooperation. Already, resource nationalism in some quarters is distorting this image as that of a blood-sucking empire descending on Guyana. There have been previous episodic decades that could give justification for this negative nationalism, going back to the late 1950s when the then British colony became a pawn in the Cold War. She was subsequently converted into a laboratory for every conceivable ideological stratagem of American imperialism, which has since been well documented. The role of an American company in voter registration for the 1968 elections had spawned a legacy of electoral malpractices, once described by Lord Avesbury, head of a UK Observers’ Mission, as “Something to Remember”. Ten years later, in 1978, Guyana saw what has been notoriously inscribed in history as “the Massacre of the Century” when just under 1,000 American citizens were murdered by the fanatical Reverend Jim Jones who lured them into a macabre mass murder/suicide ritual. The first ever American Congressman, Leo Ryan, was also murdered by assassins of the American cult leader at the infernal place, since known as “Jonestown”. By 1988, the “wind of change” was blowing in the direction of Guyana. Five American senators petitioned their government to embrace electoral democracy. Ambassador Fleming Jones and former President Jimmy Carter played key roles in promoting bipartisan cooperation ahead of electoral reforms. Not widely known is the role of then President George Bush Snr. in supporting “free, fair and credible elections”, which assurance was conveyed to me at the State Department by then Assistant Secretary of State, Sally Cowal.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

It was during that period that I met the late V.S. Naipaul who visited Guyana for his column, “In the Red Corner” which was published in the Guardian (UK), more or less painting Cheddi Jagan as a reformed “pure” Marxist, to woo acceptance of him by the Western democracies. When the Cold War came to an end, Guyana was again opened for business from the West. By 1999, Beal Aerospace Technologies Inc. entered into an agreement with the Guyana Government to install a US$50 million rocket launch site on a 100,000 acre landscape in the Waini River area, which was closer to the Venezuelan border. That project would have seen the early involvement of Guyana in a space-economy business whereby satellites would have expanded Internet connectivity since then. But Venezuela deemed the proposed aerospace project “an unfriendly act”, and pressured that it be shut down. It was also in that year that ExxonMobil was granted an oil exploratory concession, which today has blossomed into an industry that is running full steam towards first oil. The Americans, this time around, have every justification to be back, as friends, as partners. Yes! The Americans are coming!

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

Understanding Energy...

Exploring the government’s new ‘Green Paper’

UYANA’s long-discussed Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is one step closer to reality, with last week’s release of a government “Green Paper” outlining the proposed plan for managing oil revenues. The new draft plan outlines how petroleum revenues will be incorporated into the budget, how they will be saved and invested, and what agencies and ministers have authority over how and when funds are spent. The plan was created with inputs from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Commonwealth Secretariat and is in line with the Santiago Principles—24 generally accepted practices for good governance of resource revenues created by the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds. The plan would hold petroleum and excess mining revenues in a “Natural Resources Fund”—a U.S. dollar denominated Sovereign Wealth Fund at the Bank of Guyana. Holding funds in an international currency like U.S. dollars is a common practice with Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs), since it

prevents inflation and distortion in the local currency. Housing-fund management responsibilities within the central bank is done by most countries with SWFs, such as Norway and Malaysia, as a way to prevent revenues from being used for political purposes. As stated in the Green Paper, the three goals for the fund are: stabilisation, inter-generational savings, and domestic investment, “in keeping with the vision of the national development plan.” These three are standard goals for SWFs all over the world and help prevent the impacts of “Dutch Disease” by setting aside money to stabilise the Guyana dollar and help increase the competitiveness of other sectors, as well as reduce budget and revenue fluctuations caused by the changing price of oil. By setting aside funds for inter-generational savings, Guyana is putting itself on the path of countries such as Norway, who saved enough during the first few decades of their oil booms that they now have massive funds that can finance continued development through the interest they generate alone. Domestic investment in keeping with

the national development plan is also a key and sometimes overlooked goal for revenue management. Though the exact priorities for domestic spending are always going to be fiercely debated, there is broad agreement in Guyana that investments in health, education, and infrastructure, like new bridges and roads, are needed to build a diverse economy and a healthy society. Despite these clearly positive steps towards responsible revenue management, one provision in the Green Paper has stirred up significant debate: the power vested in the Finance Ministry to manage requested withdrawals and to appoint the five-member Macroeconomic Committee, as well as the Sovereign Investment Committee. A central role for the Ministry of Finance is not unusual and as structured, the Green Paper ensures that Parliament has a key oversight role through the annual budget process, which will include approval of the amount to be withdrawn from the Natural Resource Fund. The Macroeconomic Committee will have the crucial role of setting the economically sustainable amount—the level of funds that can be safely and reasonably withdrawn

each year and fed into the budget without compromising the fund’s long-term integrity. The Green Paper also omits the controversial idea of direct cash payments to the poorest in Guyana. Direct payments are relatively rare. Other countries have found that direct cash payments can cause harmful inflation, tend to be spent on imported products rather than local investment and can be an opportunity for corruption and political favouritism. The Green Paper shouldn’t be viewed as a final piece of legislation. Instead, it’s meant to stimulate discussion and act as a starting point. The government has heard from global experts, now it’s time to listen to local voices and ensure that the needs of Guyanese are incorporated as well, while ensuring that global best practices are not just heard but also followed. The Green Paper represents a strong but initial step in the right direction. Now it’s up to the government and the people to ensure that the job is finished before 2020, so that Guyana can take full advantage of this incredible opportunity.

From left, General Manager, Masterclass Instistute (Collaborating Partner) Dennon Lewis; Assistant Director of Youth, Leslyn Boyce; Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael; Senior Research and Planning Officer, Adeti De Jesus and Project Officer, Germaine Watson

Youth conference aims to empower young people

HE Department of Youth, which falls under the umbrella of Ministry of the Presidency – Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, on Friday, launched its inaugural Guyana Youth Conference 2018, under the theme, ‘Youth Perspective for Empowerment and Development for a better Guyana.’ This conference is slated for September 24th, 25th, and 26th at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre and caters for young people across Guyana between the ages of 18-35. It will begin with a State youth reception and tour for young people from the outlying regions and continues with two days of discussions by our young people. Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael, shared that the Department of Youth has been working assiduously to ensure

the development and involvement of youths, through various programmes and initiatives and this conference aims to assist in the empowerment of young people. “This conference is an initiative focused on creating a platform for young people to learn, share and express their views on topical, relative issues that they face within their communities, regions and country as a whole,” she said. She added that it is geared to have some 300 attendees comprising of youth from all 10 administrative regions. And they all will hear from agencies, ministries and NGOs, as well as experts on various pertinent areas for youth empowerment and development. These presentations she said, will be followed by plenaries, with an aim of creating action steps for the attendees. Senior Research and Planning Officer, Adeti De Jesus,

echoed Carmichael, adding that this conference is aimed to ensure that they capture young people to foster participation and inclusion of Guyanese youths to aid in nation-building. The Department commits to continue serving the young people of Guyana and provide opportunities for them to be heard and participate in decision-making processes and continue to ensure that their empowerment is priority. The Department of Youth encourages all young people across the length and breadth of Guyana to register for the event by uplifting registration forms from the office located at 91 Middle Street Georgetown or by completing the online registration by going to www.youthconferencegy.com or their Facebook pages. For further information, feel free to contact the Department of Youth on 226-7144.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

Giving praise where praise is due

UYANESE who live on the coast would have noticed the solar panels being installed atop the roofs of government buildings. Many hinterland residents would be aware of, and continue to benefit from, ongoing initiatives to provide electricity to all Guyanese. Those developments occur within the framework of the administration’s Green State Development Strategy; a strategy which must be recognised and applauded. The Green State Development Strategy is a national developmental framework which includes preservation of our environment, conservation of wildlife, protection of waterways, wetlands, lakes, and protected areas, and – importantly – promotion of energy generation from renewable sources.

The administration’s goal to move towards 100 per cent renewable power supply by 2025 is both commendable and ambitious. Commendable because government has obviously perceived the need for renewable power; we cannot and need not continue to spend some 24 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on the purchase of power-generating petroleum products. And while the objective is ambitious, it is achievable. The administration has displayed the political will to make it a reality, and Guyana is blessed with an abundance of sources of renewable energy. The will to implement a green development strategy was demonstrated by President Granger’s signing of the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016. The agreement is the most ambitious environmental agreement in history. The agree-

ment obligates signatories to appropriately respond to the challenge of climate change. A green economy is central to that response. And harnessing of renewable energy is, in turn, pivotal to a green economic development strategy. Having decided to pursue such a developmental path, the administration has moved into action. The solar panels being installed on government buildings will provide electricity, making those buildings less dependent on power from fossil fuels. About 90 buildings will be outfitted by year-end. Those panels alone will generate almost 2,000 watts of power. Generating power from a renewable source (sunlight) is one side of the equation; government is also working on the other side: Reducing wastage. Presently, over 11,000 LED lights have been installed in

those buildings. LEDs use tiny amounts of power to produce light. Additionally, about 1,030 motion sensors have been installed. Those sensors automatically switch off lights, fans, AC units, and other appliances when no one is in a room, thereby saving energy. It is encouraging, too, to see that private businesses and even homes are now installing solar panels and heaters. Obviously, Guyanese are coming to realise the fact that investing in renewable energy sources now will result in long-term savings. But the installation of solar panels on buildings is not all; government is working on far bigger projects. In its quest for energy sustainability, government has committed to building solar farms – large arrays of solar panels – intended to power entire communities. The ad-

ministration says that the first of those will be operational by the end of August. That solar farm at Mabaruma will allow residents to get eight more hours of electricity per day. Solar farms are also planned for Kwakwani, Mahdia, Matthew’s Ridge, Port Kaituma, Bartica, and Lethem. In fact, the feasibility studies have already been completed. Of course, solar power is not the only source of clean energy. Government has, so far, identified about 100 locations across Guyana where hydroelectric power systems may be feasible. And work on this power-source is underway. Specific studies of our hydro-electric potential are due to begin within a few months at Moco Moco and Kumu. This integrated approach of phased-implementation accompanied by feasibility studies will result in continuous

planning and development. For example, even as government contemplates the building of wind farms, 6,000 residents of some 25 hinterland communities are receiving solar home systems under the Sustainable Business Models for Rural Electrification and Energy Access Project. In this way, the administration is progressively narrowing the gap between the quality of life along the coast and that in the hinterland. The administration’s evident commitment to equal opportunity for all is to be applauded. The government’s approach to sustainable development deserves our admiration. As the citizens who will benefit from such programmes, we have a duty to support those efforts, and give praise where it is due, as we make progress along the path of green state development.

Remembering Alcohol in the House Kofi Annan T Dear Editor

Dear Editor

HE former UN secretary general Kofi Annan has died at the age of 80 after a short illness, his family and foundation announced. The Ghanaian was the seventh secretary- general, and served for two terms between 1997 and 2006. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work jointly with the UN as an organisation in 2001. He died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland in the

early hours of Saturday, with his wife, Nane, and three children Ama, Kojo and Nina, by his side. He had retired to Geneva and later lived in a Swiss village. Annan’s foundation issued a statement on his Twitter account on Saturday that described him as a “global statesman and deeply committed internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful world”. Regards Rooplall Dudhnath

HERE is no question or doubt that the Honourable Minister of Public Telecommunications, Ms. Cathy Hughes’ explanation about alcoholic beverages being present in the National Assembly during its sittings has completely debunked what has definitely been proven to be another piece of political mischief by Bharrat Jagdeo, the leader of the Parliamentary Opposition. Further, her even incisive information as to the mathematical breakdown on the spending of the $700, 000 for meals and snacks for the entire parliamentary sittings of MPs and support staff, has exposed both the corrupted mind of an opposition leader who continues on his daily diet of misleading the public

as well as those sections of the media that should have sought clarification as to how such a sum is spent. The question ought to be asked of the latter just what is the gain from such scurrilous reports that are clearly agenda-designed and certainly adds no merit to the desired quality of print journalism. As alluded [to], this is very high mischief, another of Jagdeo’s desperate scraping of his dirty barrel, for muck to discredit an administration that has been engaged in daily efforts to rid this country of the executive lawlessness that had characterized this country during the period of the former People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) government. Editor, you must agree that it was rather surprising that the Leader of the Opposition would have waited so long into the coalition govern-

ment’s tenure before bringing the allegation of imbibing alcohol among parliamentarians to the public’s attention, as well as seeking to convey the deceptive perception that such social practice appears to be prevalent only among the government’s side of the House. Minister Hughes has been very clear in her account about the presence of such spirits in the House, underlining that it is present on what is understood to be special occasions, and at Christmas. It is instructive also that her account has been supported by former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran’s Sunday column, “Food and booze in Parliament” in Stabroek News of August 19, 2018, which paragraphs supported Hughes’ account, noting that such a drink “is also served

at the MP’s expense when it’s a personal occasion such as a birthday”. For Jagdeo to convey the impression that MPs imbibe daily during House sittings is another of his misleading birds that will not fly. For him to have been consuming the served meals and not know that other staff are catered for, or being aware of the costs entailed, and that food and snacks have to be served among the total staff per person, underlines another of his well- known acts of dishonesty. It is time that the Leader of the Opposition considers the importance of his constitutional office and begin to properly earn his salary in honest service that gives value to the nation. Regards Earl Hamilton

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

No soft, energy drinks in schools I Dear Editor,

STRONGLY condemn vendors for selling poison to Guyanese schoolchildren in the form of soft drinks and energy drinks. This should be banned immediately. With this in mind, I commend government Member of Parliament (MP) John Adams for presenting a motion on behalf of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services, that schools should be “discouraged” from selling soft drinks in their canteens. I am going further to say it should be prohibited. But that motion is too soft, because it is not enough to discourage this practice. It must be outlawed completely. In his presentation to the National Assembly as chairperson of the committee, Adams disclosed that the Ministries of Education and

Public Health were selling aerated drinks in schools. He said it was his committee’s hope that the Education Ministry would be able to do something to “restrict” canteens from selling such beverages. While I support the committee’s position on this issue, I respectfully disagree with Adams’ choice of the words “hope” and “restrict,” while making his presentation in Parliament. I believe the slow poisoning of our children in schools is far too important to be dealt with by merely hoping for a restriction. It is time to get out of dreamland. The Ministry of Education has to ban this evil now. Adams’ committee also recommended to Parliament that schools promote the sale of “healthy, wholesome and nutritious foods” to encourage healthy eating habits, and also recommended that phys-

ical education be mandatory in schools. That is good, but our children’s good health depends on how quickly the nation can move on from making recommendations to actually implementing them. In this age of information technology, people literally have at their hand-reach, countless sources of information about the poisonous effects of soft drinks and energy drinks on consumers’ waistlines and teeth. These beverages are packed with sugar and harmful chemicals and regular consumption causes multiple health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma and obesity, including flare-ups in temper due to the excess in sugar content and other poisons. Many are sold in cans that are coated with the chemical endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which is linked to heart disease, obesity and reproductive problems. The

artificial brown colouring in soft drinks is made using chemicals, which in U.S. government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice and rats. The average can of these poisonous beverages has 17 teaspoons of sugar and a huge number of useless calories. Drinking them greatly increases the obesity risk in children and constantly erodes their dental enamel. Those with artificial sweeteners are worse; artificial sugars are linked to numerous illnesses and diseases, including cancer. Consuming these poisons can cause an addictive adrenaline rush, followed by a sharp downward mood swing because the intake of harmful chemicals saps the human body of energy. The addictive highs, followed by energy-depleting lows can take consumers of these

beverages on a roller-coaster ride that eats away their mental well-being, especially children. They also reinforce bad eating habits. These beverages are poison, pure and simple. With all the information available today from credible sources about the serious harm these drinks can do to a human body-- especially the body and brains of a growing child-- it is obvious that Guyana has to ban the sale of these drinks to children in the schools. What more do we need? What is the problem? In my opinion, no one should be permitted to drink these beverages, but just as in the case alcohol and cigarettes, a multitude of foolish people will insist that they have a right to consume them although these persons know beyond a shadow of doubt that, by doing so, they are poisoning themselves. Let the adults poison themselves

with them if they want to, but leave our children alone. The House of Assembly should ratify the motion raised by MP Adams and his committee and move to implement the recommendations without undue delay. I commend PPP/C MPs Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo and Alistair Charlie who made contributions on the motion. I urge both sides of the House to ensure that Adams’ committee’s recommendations are implemented swiftly. I also call on them to move on to even stronger action by implementing an outright ban on these poisonous beverages in schools and hospitals. Once again, compliments to MP Adams’ committee for being behind the presentation of this motion in Parliament. Regards Roshan Khan Snr

President Carter’s peace efforts are a beacon of hope for Guyana Dear Editor,

believe that nothing is more important in Guyanese society today than the need for our two main political parties to put down their swords and try to find a way to live together in harmony for the sake of our beloved nation. It is very disappointing to me that brokering peace and unity in this country is like pulling teeth. Every time there is a genuine initiative to bring people together, it is clear to me that the warring parties do not come to the table with the intent to try to cease political hostilities. As long as racial tension drives politics in Guyana there will never be peace and unity. But when it comes to bringing the two main races in this country together, politicians on both sides of the racial political divide seem to be obsessed with clinging to power by inciting perpetual political drama. To me, the conflict is sliding into a dangerous new stage as Guyana prepares to reap major returns from its new oil and natural gas in-

dustry. Unless the Guyanese people stand up powerfully against the forces of hatred and disunity, the much-anticipated oil bonanza will simply be treated as the spoils of war. As we move into the oil production era, I and other peace-loving Guyanese patriots will have to step up our efforts to get rid of this toxic system and unite the people. Now is the time to take action. All sides need to be pushed towards the peace-table before a fullfledged battle for oil money breaks out. Recently, I and many other Guyanese were so excited when we saw videos broadcast by the media showing President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo smiling and chatting at a meeting brokered by former US President Jimmy Carter of the Carter Center. I was excited because I, as an Ambassador of Peace and the National Chairman of the Universal Peace Federation, and my cherished colleague Ambassador of Peace and General Secretary of the Universal Peace Federation, Pastor Ronald

McGarrell, have worked tirelessly to get the warring factions in Guyana to put down their arms; so to me, this meeting was a beacon of hope. Over the years, Pastor McGarrell and I made many efforts to broker meetings of peace and goodwill between the leaders of these two great Guyanese parties because we understand the crucial importance of promoting unity in Guyana right now. Sadly, we have so far been unsuccessful. In February 2016, the Universal Peace Federation bestowed the distinguished award and title of Ambassador of Peace on then Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, for her work in fostering social cohesion and national unity. At that time, it was our fervent wish, hope and prayer that the noble idea behind our award to Minister Ally would resonate across the political divide and usher in a new age of political tolerance, cooperation and unity in the interest of national peace and development. However, this has not yet materialised. Nevertheless, we remain

committed to our goal and it is our firm intention to appoint President Granger as an Ambassador of Peace. The President has already agreed in principle and we are waiting on him to advise us of a convenient time to arrange the ceremony. Last year, we had a symbolic ice-breaking ceremony between Government and the Opposition. Both leaders were out of the country, but Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo represented the President and Bishop Juan Edghill represented the Opposition Leader. There was an actual breaking of the ice ceremony. It was the first time in the history of Guyana that such an event was held. The event took place at Georgetown City Hall compound and there were memorable peace presentations and dynamic multi ethnic cultural presentations, among other attractions. Her Worship the Mayor Patricia Chase-Green also made a presentation as well as His Excellency, High Commission of India, Venkatachalam Mahalingam. It was an uplifting and memorable event.

To our great shock and disappointment, although the media were invited, no media house saw it fit to publicise this significant national event. When I told other Guyanese patriots about it, they were stunned because there was no media coverage and they knew nothing about the event. It was hurtful to us to know that even [the] Department of Public Information downplayed it and instead turned it into a small, insignificant article. Such a significant event, which might have triggered peace, love, and tolerance in the mass of the Guyanese populace just vanished from the radar of the local media while all sorts of crime and immorality were given prominent publicity. It is our dream that His Excellency the President and the Opposition Leader would together receive this ambassador of peace award. Imagine what this would do to the psyche of the Guyanese people and how the effects might even be far-reaching enough to help combat crime and encourage cooperation and development. We at the Universal

Peace Federation believe in the universal peace process and are passionate about promoting peace in Guyana. We will support any initiative by the Carter Center, CARICOM or any other similar agency that seeks to broker peace in Guyana by bringing the political leaders together. I am an optimist to the point of death. I believe wholeheartedly that we can make changes to this country if we can get the two major parties to work together. This will have great effect on our crime epidemic that is perpetuating itself in our country. All right-thinking Guyanese should come together in a sustained effort to press for peace and respect in this nation and at least community, if not unity. Our nation will be doomed unless we turn the minds of our political leaders away from racial insecurities and political vendettas and get them more focussed on development, peace and goodwill. Regards Roshan Khan Snr

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

Doing the unthinkable, pushing it to the limit with parkour Guyana’s own Wonder Woman

By Navendra Seoraj

ARCIA Persaud might not be indestructible immortal like DC Universe’s famed superhero, Wonder Woman but she certainly has similar traits which she continues to test through

“parkour.” Parkour might not be a familiar sport to Guyanese but in the United States of America (USA) and other countries, it is a well-known sporting activity which attracts mainly “adrenaline junkies.” The sport is defined as an activity which involves moving rapidly through an area, typically in an urban environment, negotiating obstacles by running, jumping and climbing. Just imagining all that action would have someone at the edge of their seat but, while others may hesitate, Persaud is usually at the edge of a wall contemplating her next jump. While injuries are almost imminent, she pushes herself to the limit because she loves the sport since it challenges people physically and mentally. “Every day I’m doing things that scare me, breaking barriers, and showing myself I’m capable of more than I think. You learn so much about your body and you learn to trust yourself a lot more. Parkour is not about throwing yourself at obstacles and hoping you make it,” said an enthused Persaud. Although the risks are many, the sport is not impossible, it just requires technique and confidence, she explained adding that persons start from the ground and slowly move up. Of course, when it comes to parkour, ‘moving up’ comes literally since people who practice the sport on rooftops usually train for years before taking it to that level. While they might be experienced, Persaud said the professionals do not get careless but instead do jumps within their skill level. “Parkour is a highly mental sport. You

have to trust yourself and know that you’re physically capable of doing the jump. The hardest part is to break through the irrational fears your brain makes up, but when you do, it’s the best feeling in the world,” said the young athlete, adding that she was motivated to do the sport after seeing YouTube videos of the athletes looking confident and free. Since she found her love for the sport, Persaud has not turned back. She instead continued her journey as an athlete and even added rock climbing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Jiu-Jitsu to her list of activities. Her passion for sport, however, goes beyond the physical. She is pursuing studies in sports and exercise science at the University of Central Florida. The athlete was recently travelling around Asia and was expected to return to school after her summer vacation. Persaud chose that field of study because she’s an active person and would be able to apply the knowledge she acquired to her life. SOFT SPOT But being an adrenaline junkie and tough girl is not all there is to Marcia. The athlete also has a soft spot for animals. From a young age, Persaud would take care of stray puppies. “I’d bring them into my yard to bathe and feed them. My love extended to all animals as I grew up because I saw the same innocence and pureness in other animals that I did in dogs. As my learning contin-

ued, I found out information about the animal agriculture that I didn’t like,” she explained, adding that the treatment of animals is sometimes barbaric and immoral. The athlete and animal lover believes that no person or animal deserves to be treated inhumanely. In an effort to show her dedication to this cause, Persaud decided to stop eating all animal products and stop buying from companies which conduct tests on animals. A f ter living abroad for a few years, she was able to join the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) which helped her to advocate for the prevention of torture and mistreatment of animals. As she grows, she hopes to continue her advocacy and at the same time make a career out of her love for sports. Persaud intends on working hard enough to ensure that she has enough money to give her mom all the luxuries she deserves. There are many other people who might have similar aspirations and for that reason, she urged those persons to always believe in themselves. “You should always follow your dream. It may seem hard sometimes but you only have one life, live it the way you want to, not how your family or society wants you to. It may sound clichéd, but the reason it’s been said so much is because it’s true. The universe is rooting for you,” she said, adding that persons must always try to improve themselves physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018 14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 18, 20189

Elections A needle in thehave brain FOR A YOUR consequences

NEEDLE is driven through the brain when teachers or people of significant influence, discourage persons from pursuing their dreams because they are of the view that the dreamers are ‘DUH (that) is nah (not) certain to fail. me business’ is day a famous On a casual of footphrase used in our everyball with the less privileged day conversations. Whenin youths, I found myself we thissituation remark,atita an make awkward means we have zero intime meant for relaxation. Thereinwas one boisterous terest an issue. character who distinguished It is sad when this himselfisduring play.while ‘Short phrase applied Boss’ was the moniker describing our attitude to constantly beingThe repeated public advocacy. posin reference to this footture of ‘Duh is nah me ball-loving ‘ghetto yute’. business’ is what After the game, he led saidtoto what is arguably the worst me: ‘I wan be a lawyer but time for governance in I me teacher tell me that Guyana’s modern history, should think of some other experienced between career because all the1999males in myGovernance family are handymen 2015. reached its nadir during this period when the holders of power declared with unrivalled pomposity, ‘we have the ethnic numbers’. On May 11th, 2015, Guyanese demonstrated that elections have serious implications. In this case, there was a

’. ‘Short boss’ was convinced that he should heed the negative advice of his teacher, because maybe some things are not for him. I immediately poured scorn on this dangerous action by this teacher and offered an extemporaneous inspipositive outcome; in other rational talk. I told him of cases, it could be negative. the story of Malcolm Little, Numerous issues popularly known associas Malated the documented arrogance ofin colmwith X, who government in Guyana his autobiography, that in his the past have disappeared, teacher in Junior High had told himofthat should not because thehe decision of express about the massesthe at desires the last elecbeingtoa demonstrate lawyer because tions theirit was an impossible task power at the ballot box. to achieve. civil rights Further,This some ominous activist went from being things with life-and-death a prison inmate to a deimplications are no longer bater par excellence in the around due to results of prestigious the halls at Oxthe last polls. The simple ford Student Union, United pleasure Kingdom.of government critics andnot reporters drivI was done with the issue. I proceeded to the ing with their windows down or citizens subjecting their leaders to complete ridicule on social media, no longer come with fatal repercussions, because of our last monumental exercise of our collective franchise. It is only those who were in the trenches during

school which he attended for three reasons. Firstly, I was eager to have a discourse with ‘Miss’ to firstly verify the submission of her student. Secondly, to gauge her thinking as it relates to this issue and thirdly, to warn against this dangerous this period of destructive practice of putting a needle and vindictive government in the brain. As I made my would appreciate the danway up the dilapidated steps gers of going to the Cheddi in the midst of disorderly Jagan International Airport cacophony, it dawned upon tome fulfil overseas obligathatan maybe I should not have talk with ‘Miss’ tion asthis an anti-government after all.and I lost all inspiration activist having to face and dreaded strength topossibility continue on the this mission. Howplanted could I of having drugs lecture this teacher in such in your luggage. These a Dickensian setting? Who simple fears are no more is he, or she, that would due to resolute the wise choice remain in their duty made by Guyanese. to mould a nation These in this consequences cannot be circumstance, without the underestimated, resolve of MotherespecialTheresa? ly inI light the deterrence fact that defiedofthis and confronted this teacher. most of the persons who were custodians of the bad state between 1999-2015, have gone nowhere, they are the ones waiting in the electoral wings to once again reign down terror on the population. Added to this, an election, besides its conspicu-

She confirmed that she did utter those words to the student under discussion, and she explained that he is extremely recalcitrant and shows no sign of even being close to achieving such career heights. She also spoke about the fact that ous mechanisms, is a forhis family and community mal process by never whichallow you situation could make a decision. When him to become a lawyer, so you cut through the razzle she decided to guide him to and dazzle of that campaigning a career path was more and all the shining fanpossible, associated with subjects such as Technical fares, it is a wise choice Drawing. I asked her to to make which can affect consider factchildren that she from whatthe your couldcarry haveinsupported the will their lunch dream of ‘Short Boss’and kits to whether your counuse this support as a means try gets a bad reputation of spreading her influence in thehim, international over to put himarena. on the This practice democraright course.ofShe scoffed cy place since at has thatbeen idea in and remarked: the 17th century. is the ‘’anybody else, notIt he’. results the May 11th Thisof entire episode causedelections me to reflect 2015 that deeply have erased the shame of Guyana having a reputation of being a drug-filled banana republic with little law and order. It is due to our last vote-casting that we have seen an unprecedented crackdown on the drug empire in Guyana and the concomitant positive effects that come along with dealing condignly with this scourge. The average Guyanese party-goer can now remark: ‘Is a long

ATTENTION !

time mefact, ain’tthat seethere people on the are many whoupenjoy positions shooting in parties’. of influence various This is due toin the fact leadthat ership systems that have Guyanese made a decision little or an no regard, for the to elect incorruptible negative effects that can President who stands for be caused by the power law and order and cannot they possess. Cognitive and be enticed by the overturesof motivational mediators of the drug empire. Again,to indirect effects continue your when you go exertsafety influence on individuout to have a good time al development outside and can be traced right back to beyond the school (Sylva, 1994). It is no longer a electoral decision-making. Be that as it may, global voter apathy is at its highest percentage. The youth remain the most passive global voter block; this is a universal trend. In July 2010, 75% of eligible voters between ages 18-30 chose not to participate in the US midterm elections. The question is: who is to be blamed for low voter turnout by youths globally? Politicians or young people? On one hand, there

By Ronald Austin Jr.

isdebate, the argument that politiit is established that ‘Young people trustwith and cians are out of touch rely on number key issues thata impact theoflives adults, including teachers, of young people. On the to provide themis with the other hand, there the valup-to-date knowledge and id contestation that if polsupport they need to make iticians refuse to address informed choices about your is you who their issues, futures’it (Brown, Fosmust delve into advocacy kett 1999). and The address role those of the issues. mentor Itisistoasupport crime against your and encourfellow citizenseven to allow age dreams, when they seem improbable. the rise of the destructive state by not having an I.D Card or refusing to get up on national elections day to vote. Not getting involved is too detrimental. It is a good time to remind ourselves of the wise words of William Lyon Mckenzie King, ‘Where [there] is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government, which sooner or later becomes autocratic government.’

Tremor rocks Guyana

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

…citizens express fear,no major damage reported By Alva Solomon

And they have indicated so far that from the speN e a r t h cific warning centre, that t r e m o r there is no tsunami warnw h i c h r e - ing for Guyana. They sulted from will continue to monitor a 7.3 magnitude earth- it and soon will issue a quake which rocked the statement with regard to northern coast of Ven- tsunami warnings for the ezuela on Tuesday af- country, but at the moternoon created a buzz ment the tide is low, so if around Guyana, even there is any tsunami, it’s as Acting Director Gen- not likely to be any high eral of the Civil Defence surge,” Craig said. Commission (CDC) Evacuating buildings Kester Craig cautioned Many persons ran that the body had not out of buildings and received any tsunami some took to social mewarning. dia platforms, including The United States Facebook, to share their Geological Survey report- views. Guyanese say the ed that the quake occurred magnitude of the tremor at 5:31 PM (Guyana was beyond what they Time) off the north-west had experienced in the of Yaguaraparo, Venezu- past. Guyana had last ela, to a depth of 123.2 ki- experienced a major tremlometres. or in 2015, when a 6.4 The CDC head told the magnitude earthquake hit Guyana Chronicle that the Barbados. The tremor on Hydrometeorological Ser- Tuesday was felt as far as vice is closely monitoring Linden and East Berbice. the situation. In the event There were no reports of of an earthquake, Craig any damage or injuries issued a few precautions. in Guyana. The Guyana “For earthquakes, there is Chronicle has also cona whole list of precautions firmed earlier reports of that you can take, but a house toppling in the if you are indoors, you Mabaruma sub-region. need to drop down to the Residents at the village ground take cover and of Koberimo Hill told the get under a sturdy table Guyana Chronicle that or piece of furniture and the report was merely a hold on until the shaking rumour. stops. Stay away from Elsewhere, persons reglass windows, do not use ported that the tremor was the doorways. So I have a a first-time experience. whole list of precautions “Them thing start shake on my facebook page,” bad bad. All me divider he said. them and wardrobe and “Currently, we are kitchen cupboard start monitoring to see if there shake, I didn’t know what are any tsunami warn- to do. I keep thinking oh ings that will be set for God nah let the divider Guyana. I spoke with Hy- fall down with the TV dromet Services, which and them thing,” said one has responsibility to give resident who experienced warnings for tsunami. the tremor on the West

Bank of Demerara “I was in bed, I thought it was an excavator passing in front my house, but is when my neighbours started hollering made I recognise it was something more,” said a resident in Agricola. In Region Two and on the Islands of Wakenaam and Leguan, many persons were seen running outside their homes for safety. Children from various communities were terrified during the entire ordeal. Ten-year-old Reya Persaud noted how she rushed to her mother for comfort when she felt her home shaking suddenly. She and her mother decided to pray. Other children in the Golden Fleece area on the Essequibo Coast were also terrified and loud screams were heard. A housewife who was doing her laundry said that she immediately ran to a corner of her home where she believed was safe. Wakenaam resident Sheik Ahmad said that the tremor lasted for five minutes on the island and according to him, persons took necessary precautionary measures. The tremor also caught many Lindeners by surprise. Jonelle Wiggins of Amelia’s Ward said she was standing on her patio when she felt the foundation shaking. She said she paid no attention to the situation until she saw her

neighbour’s glass door shaking. “I saw Ms White glass door shaking and I said this serious, then I came outside and saw everybody on the road,” the woman said. Vanessa Moore, also of Amelia’s Ward, was sitting on her bed when it started to shake and after realising it intensified, she collected her two small children and headed outside where she thought it was safer. She later learnt from her mom that it was better to stay indoors and take cover under a table. According to scientific literature, at the location of the earthquake, the South America plate moves westward with respect to the Caribbean plate at a rate of approximately 20 millimetres per year. BERBICE HIT BY TREMOR In Berbice, many villages in the East Berbice-Corentyne area reported experiencing the tremor. In Rose Hall Town, where the tremor was felt around 17:25hrs, some people initially thought it was heavy-duty equipment working on a street that was causing the earth to tremble. However, after noticing buildings and lamp poles shaking, they soon realised it was much more than that. “I feel the ground vibrating and I thought was them

man who mekking the street roller causing the place fuh shake, so I say wah duh is a big roller; but then me see the water in the barrel start shaking up and I hear me neighbour start holler, so I run out and then see more people start come out in the backstreet,” Desmond Williams related. Another person identified as Vishal Singh, a hire car driver, said he was in his car waiting for a passenger to enter when he felt the car started to shake. “I see the vehicle start shake, so I turn around and look fuh see who shaking up the vehicle; then I see them wires and lantern post shaking too so I seh is earthquake; but before I can say anything else everybody jump out the car. Me ain’t even know where them people gone up until now them ain’t pay me nothing.” On the public road, a doctor stopped his car and was seen urging people to get out of shops and from under power lines and lamp poles into the middle of the roadway. The tremor lasted for approximately one minute,stopped for a few seconds, before a second was felt that lasted for about 30 seconds. In Orealla, residents reported that the tremor was felt very strongly and it lasted for about

two minutes, but thankfully there were no injuries or damage reported. Laurence Vanderburg, a school teacher, said the tremor made him dizzy and he had to run outside to safety. Inland areas such as Black Bush Polder also felt the tremor, but it was not as strong and was for less than a minute. Most persons said they were unaware until they saw other people posting on social media that they realised what had happened. University of Guyana Lecturer Evan Persaud noted that the South America plate begins its subduction beneath the Caribbean plate about 550 km to the east of Tuesday’s earthquake and reaches depths close to 150 km in the vicinity of this event. The earthquake occurred near the southern end of the Caribbean subduction zone. Persaud, who is a geologist, noted too that large earthquakes are rare in the area and it was noted that the quake felt on Tuesday was the largest historic event within 250 km of this location in the 20th and 21st centuries. (Additional reporting by Vanessa Braithwaite, Indrawattie Natram, Tamica Garnett and Nafeeza Yahya)

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

OCC honours three CAPE students

he Office of Climate Change (OCC) on Tuesday honoured three Climate Change Ambassadors for their outstanding achievements at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). Ms. Aadilah Ali, Ms. Christine Archer, and Ms. Suphane Dash, who represented Guyana at the Youth Climate Change Conference last October, were celebrated at a brief recognition ceremony, held at the OCC, Ministry of the Presidency. Head of the OCC, Ms. Janelle Christian said that the Climate Ambassadors showed exceptional leadership qualities. “When we were engaging them for their participation [in the conference], they were both studious and fun… We knew that they were special… At the

regional conference, they were the youngest to [participate]… We were elated to hear that, from the team that went last year, we have the top CAPE unit two students for Guyana… The Office of Climate Change, partners, and friends brought them [here] to let them know how proud we are of their achievements,” she said. Ms. Ali, who is the top CAPE performer in the country, said that her association with the OCC helped build essential skills. “I… have developed myself in public speaking. I [had] new experiences. Being here at the Office, I got this sense of leadership that I never thought I would have gotten,” she said. Ms. Archer gave some advice for prospective CAPE students. “[It] would be hard work. In terms of leadership qualities, if you are introverted, you’ll

Climate Change Ambassadors, Ms. Aadilah Ali, Ms. Christine Archer, and Ms. Suphane Dash were celebrated by the Office of Climate Change for the outstanding achievement at this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

really have to push through until you’re comfortable enough… You have to keep pushing,” she said. Citing the influence of her affili-

ation with the OCC, Ms. Dash said that youths like herself should be targeted as Guyana pursues sustainability. “It all comes

together when [considering] the development of the country… Over 40 percent [of the population] is youth. So, if we are going to [car-

ry out] the Green State Development Strategy, the youth should be involved,” she said. (Ministry of the Presidency)

UmadeviBux appointed Guyana’s representative in CSA

HE Commonwealth Students’ Association (CSA) officially announced the appointment of UmadeviBux, as the new Guyana representative for the Caribbean and Americas Commonwealth Students’ Association working group for the period 2018-2020. This appointment was made since MsBux is also the Regional Coordinator, Policy and Advocacy for the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador Network. As such, she brings a wide array of knowledge and skills to the focus areas for Guyana via the International Commonwealth Youth Network. During her two-year service with the Commonwealth Students’ Association, MsBux will seek to advocate for better education policies in both private and state educational institutions for students across all regions in Guyana. She will also be working alongside the CSA to lobby for stu-

dents’ rights; government and private sector involvement in the education sector and set up a working national student association. This will involve stakeholders to ensure positive impacts are made within the education sector for all parties involved. This newspaper spoke with Umadevi, who shared that she is elated to have been chosen, explaining that she is an activist and humanitarian and is very passionate about advocacy, especially in the area of education. “I accepted this prestigious offer because I’m an activist by nature and humanitarian at heart. I believe that youths are not just leaders of tomorrow, but also leaders of today and we need to step up and take the podium, take the lead. All issues faced in the world, whether we like it or not, will be served by this generation. We have to take the lead in making a positive impact,” the young woman said. She shared that the Commonwealth Students’ Asso-

ciation is the joining of student organisations within the Commonwealth. Their role is to be independent advocates for students and bring students’ perspectives into the policy decision-making processes of the Commonwealth. The CSA will amplify the voice of students and seek to enhance the role of students in the Commonwealth and in policy matters that affect their lives. The CSA will be the official platform for student associations and organisations in the Commonwealth and beyond. Similarly, Umadevi said this is what she has envisioned on a local level: to form a council for local students from across the country to voice their concerns and share their thoughts and recommendations. “A lot of times you have students who have something they want to speak about, something that’s bothering them or something that needs to be addressed in the education sector. And we have nowhere or no arena to get that out. So we’re hoping

to create that forum, locally, to come together as a conclave where students can gather and sign up where they’ll have a medium to get their voice out there and to work out solutions for various problems being faced. And the mandate in Guyana is to reach out to all of the regions, so that we can all come under one umbrella and have a collective voice,” the activist said. She added that education is the way out of poverty and the stepping stone to success. Hence, she will dedicate her service to make a positive change to foster an educated population, which will in turn foster a developed country. MsBux’s social activism in Guyana also includes representing the youth of Guyana and youth around the world at several international conferences and summer programmes, including the Commonwealth Youth Forum 2018 (CHOGM 2018), Interseliger forum (August 2013) in Russian Federation School of Science and

Guyana’s representative for the Caribbean and Americas Commonwealth Students’ Association, UmadeviBux

Politics, the Third (3rd) Summer School of United Nations Alliance of Civilization-Certification (UNAoC) August 2012 Portugal, Model of Organization Of American States (MOAS) March 2012, Bolivia; and held the National Direc-

torship of an International Pageant, Miss India-Guyana 2017-2018. She is currently pursuing a Medical Degree in General Medicine at the Texila American University in Guyana, South America.

#SNAPSHOTS

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

Trinidad braced for another major earthquake as aftershocks ALREADY recorded

TRINIDAD has been rocked by the 7.3 magnitude earthquake which struck Venezuela and authorities are anticipating more tremors, with aftershocks already recorded. The University of the West Indies (UWI) issued a warning for aftershocks following the 90-second quake, which is the largest to strike Venezuela since 1900.

Earthquake Confirms Need For Global Resilience Centre - Bartlett TOURISM Minister Edmund Bartlett says that the strong 7.3 earthquake that rocked Venezuela and several Caribbean countries on Tuesday has driven home the urgent need to establish a global resilience centre in the region to mitigate against seismic and other climate events. "The recent earthquake in our neighbouring countries of Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados highlights the point about the increase in vulnerability of the Caribbean and other countries of the world to seismic as well as climate events," Bartlett said.

Massive earthquake jolts Caribbean A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean region between the coast of Honduras and the Cayman Islands late Tuesday – one of the strongest quakes to hit the region in recent times. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said the Central American nation had activated its emergency system and asked people to remain calm. The earthquake was also felt across northern Central America, this prompted the US Tsunami Warning Centre to issue a statement that hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 621 miles of the quake’s epicentre.

Earth tremor rattles Barbados FOR a few minutes, parts of Barbados were rattled by an earth tremor. According to the Seismic Research Unit at the University of the West Indies, the activity resulted from a 6.8 magnitude quake which occurred just off Venezuela. The quake was located at latitude: 10.51N, longitude 62.76W at a depth of 73km. Residents from St Lucy to St Philip reported that they felt minor shaking.

Strong earthquake rocks region THERE have been reports of widespread damage as a result of an earthquake that shook the region on Tuesday afternoon. Buildings have sustained structural damage, cars have been flattened by falling concrete and supermarkets are reporting losses, according to the Trinidad Express. There is also significant loss of telecommunication being reported. The initial magnitude is 6.8, with a magnitude of 7.2 being reported at the epicentre in Venezuela. According to a preliminary report from the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre, the quake struck a latitude of 10.51 N, a longitude of 62.76 W and a depth of 73 km.

Defence Force given Police powers in government effort to fight crime BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Officers of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) are now empowered with policing powers effective Friday, Aug. 24. The Governor General, His Excellency Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton, acted on the advice of the Cabinet to enhance the crime fighting capabilities in the country by extending Police Powers to the Defence Force for six months.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

Gov’t will not backpedal on contract with Exxon …Trotman assures U.S Congressmen

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman presenting one of the U.S Congressmen with a token of appreciation

atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, in a high-level meeting with a U.S Congressional Delegation, said though the Government of Guyana has been criticized for its relationship” with U.S oil giant ExxonMobil, it will not budge. “This government has been criticised for this strategic relationship, but we will not recoil or resile from our position as we are mindful not just about the income of tomorrow, but equally also, about the long term security of the state,” Minister Trotman told the U.S Congressmen, led by representative Bob Goodlatte, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in the presence of U.S Ambassador Perry Holloway. Since the release of the 2016 Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) it signed with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited– a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, the Government has been heavily criticized over several aspects of the agreement – from the percentage of royalty to the signature bonus and on issues such as local-content provisions. Despite a mountain of criticisms, the Natural Resources Minister on Wednesday while at his Duke Street, Kingston Office, assured that Government’s relationship with ExxonMobil will remain intact as he lauded the relationship the country shares with the United States of America. “We are not unaware of the high geo-strategic value that our relationship with the United States offers both

our countries, and this government intends to preserve it, even as we enjoy good relations with others,” he said. Government, Minister Trotman said, welcomes the entrance and involvement of American companies in the extractives sector and ExxonMobil is just but one of the primary strategic national development partners. “American business and interests can rest assured that we will not nationalise their interests or take actions inimical to them,” he assured. It was noted that the US Governmen, through the Embassy here in Georgetown, provided much -need-

ed support to the Guyanese Government by helping to lay the foundation for the country’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (E.I.T.I) which would allow for transparency in the utilisation of revenues that would stream from the budding Oil and Gas Industry. “We are pleased to announce that with your support, and that of the World Bank, we qualified for membership of the body last year. And then there is the Energy Governance Capacity Initiative (EGCI), an initiative of the US Department of State, that has produced for us research papers and recom-

mendations in the areas of Fiscal Policy and Accounting, establishing a Model Petroleum Contract, best features for a National Oil Company, and Economic Modelling and Analysis of Contracts to name a few,” Minister Trotman pointed out to the Congressmen. Describing the visit by the U.S Congressional Delegation as a significant one, the Natural Resources Minister reminded that it was in 2016 that Guyana welcomed a group of Capstone Generals from the United States’ National Defense University’s General and Flag Officer Course. “That

was significant. Today, your visit has eclipsed the visit of the Capstone General’s,” he posited. The minister also used the opportunity to give an overview of the work of his ministry and related agencies, and was also able to address questions and concerns of a national security nature. The Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee was accompanied by Congressmen John Rutherford, Mark Sanford, John Curtis, Todd Rokita, Richard Hudson, Steve Cohen and Scott Peters. Members of the Congressional staff and senior members of the US

Participants of the Natural Resources Ministry’s Youth in Natural Resources Programme greeting the U.S Congressmen upon their arrival at the Ministry’s Duke Street, Kingston Office on Wednesday

armed forces were also in attendance. Minister Trotman was accompanied by Board Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Stanley Ming; National Coordinator of Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEIT), Dr. Rudy Jadoopat; and Head of Planning and Development Unit of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Pradeepa Bolonauth, among other ministry officials. Members of the ministry’s team responded to questions posed by the Congressmen on a number of issues on forestry, the environment, agro-processing and infrastructure. This is the first time in more than three decades that a member of the US Congress has visited Guyana and the first time for such a large delegation. The delegation was introduced to twenty-five (25) youths participating in the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Youth in Natural Resources Programme. The programme is currently in its third week. Apart from the U.S Government, the Natural Resources Ministry receives support in varying forms from the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, the Commonwealth Secretariat, Conservation International and the World Wildlife Fund.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

Gavin Mendonca takes Guyanese Culture, International

Gavin at ‘The top of the world’ (Kaieteur Falls)

HILE there are quite a number of local creative talent daunted by Guyana’s failure to create the opportunities for success in their various fields, there are a few who are consistent, hopeful and full of drive, despite the odds. Gavin Mendonca is the epitome of commitment and dedication to his craft. This 26-year-old rock musician who has his own unique style and image has surely proven that success is dependent on the individual. Year after year, he continues to strive for greatness and stretch for greater opportunities and achievements. Back in June, Gavin launched a short film titled ‘How to Build a Tree House’ at the Timehri Film Festival. This video not only showcased his exceptional talent, but also Guyana’s beauty. This 10-minute film started out as a regular music video and ended up being an experiment, Gavin told the Buzz. “I was on a trip to the Kaieteur Falls, myself and [videographer] Ziggy Denheart, to shoot a music video for my song. We spent like two nights there capturing amazing scenes. When we came back, Ziggy and I saw that we had so much footage

that we thought we could experiment and make it a short film. And as the project developed, tying into the storyline, we realized we had a chance at contributing to cultural preservation,” Gavin said. He added that since Kaieteur Falls is synonymous with the Patamona people, they decided to include some Patamona folklore and language into the film.

In giving a synopsis of the film, Gavin explained that the concept is “a coast lander sitting on the seawall playing his guitar with his eyes closed, and hears this voice in Patamona. When he opens his eyes, he is no longer sitting on the seawall, but is in the jungle and has a sense of a familiar place. He begins his journey in this jungle that seems familiar but yet strange. Ideal-

ly, the story is a journey to the top of the world, literally, the Kaieteur Falls, but also symbolically, the top of the world being the moment of accomplishing your dreams and your true potential.” Gavin said that the man represented a coast lander since many coast landers in Guyana when they think about go-

ing on a vacation or break, they always tend to go out, rather than within. So the journey of the man in the film is symbolic to a journey within, literally within our country and a journey within ourselves to rediscover true identity of what being Guyanese is all

about. He believes that his career has taken a significant step up since its production. Given that he is the first Guyanese artiste to do a full video at Kaieteur Falls, incorporating the story of Kaieteur Falls and its environs- including the native flora and fauna, such as the sound of the fa-

mous Golden Frog which is weaved into the score of the video. Gavin’s hope for ‘How to build a Tree House’ is to contribute to cultural awareness and reclaiming cultural identity while also promoting tourism, both international and domestic. Thus far,

Gavin said that the after effects of the film are beyond his expectations. Sharing that he had the opportunity to attend the World Of Music Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival in the United Kingdom from July 26th to 29th. His participation in the festival created several opportunities for the screening of his short film. “My experience at WO-

MAD w a s mind-blowing. It was like I was in this bubble bursting with positivity with people from India, Senegal, Morocco, Spain, Uganda, Brazil, all over the world. It made me realise how much in a box we Guyanese are. But I got the opportunity to do a few screenings in the UK and it has been selected as an official feature at this year’s Caribbean Tales Inter-

national Film Festival in Toronto, so that will be my Canadian premiere. But before that, I will be doing a screening in Florida at Full Sail University for an audience of international students,” Gavin expressed. He added that he kind of accomplished the goal of getting his film on the international stage since it would have been screened in the UK, and will in the next two weeks be screened in Florida and Canada. He hopes to have it screened at more international and Caribbean Film Festivals in the months and years to come, so people will see the Kaieteur Falls and become aware of not only his music but Guyana’s beauty. The video of how to build a tree house was sponsored and supported by the Department of Culture, Ministry of Cohesion, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Business, Ricks and Sari and Eco Atlantic Investments. Gavin would like to thank his sponsors who have helped make his journey to the UK a reality: Sankar’s Auto Works, Readymix Concrete Ltd., RAMPS Logistics, Ministry of Public Telecommunications, Chetson’s Ltd., Zoon Inc., DPI, The Courtyard, Oasis Cafe and Ticketmaster Travel Agency.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

Oil, Venezuela discussed

…as Guyana, US Congressional delegation hold talks

President David Granger, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and Minister of State Joseph Harmon flanked by the U.S Congressmen and U.S Ambassador Perry Holloway

EEPER cooperation between Guyana and the US can create a dent in the trafficking of people, guns and ammunition, narcotics and contraband goods through Guyana porous borders, President David Granger said shortly after meeting with a US Congressional Delegation on Thursday at the Ministry of the Presidency. The team, which was headed by Republican Bob Goodlatte, included Republicans Steve Cohen, John Rutherford, Scott Peters, Mark Sanford, Richard Hutson and Tod Rokita and other officials including U.S Ambassador Perry Holloway. Guyana Chronicle was told that the two sides also discussed a range of issues including the oil sector and the Venezuela border controversy as well as that country’s economic crises. In an interview with the Public Information and Press Services Unit, the Head of State while describing the meeting as a “fact-finding” mission, said the two sides discussed cooperation in

the areas of security, energy and disaster response and preparedness. “The (Guyana/Venezuela) territorial controversy has been our biggest concern but most recently, and because of our long borders we have a 1,300 kilometres with Brazil, 800 kilometres nearly with Venezuela and also with Suriname… we don’t have the assets to protect our borders and there has been some trafficking across the borders; trafficking in guns, trafficking in persons, trafficking in narcotics and trafficking in other contraband goods.” “These are areas where there could be deeper and more intense cooperation between the United States and Guyana,” President Granger said. CAN BE STRENGTHENED Guyana through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has received much needed assistance from the United States in the area of disaster preparedness and management, and the President believes that partnership in this area can be

strengthened. “Again, this is one area that we want to continue our collaboration with the United States because we don’t have the airlift or the technical capabilities to respond to these disasters,” President Granger explained. While the issues of trafficking of people, guns and ammunition, narcotics; and disaster preparedness and management were brought to the fore by the President, the Congressmen reportedly expressed particular interest in the energy sector and the possibility of access to cheap electricity for Guyanese and other stakeholders. “We explained that we’re not wedded to one concept. Some areas may have solar, some areas may have hydro, some areas may have wind, some areas may have natural gas so we’re looking at a mix of energy sources and we’re confident that we’ll bring the tariff rate down to below US$0.15 cents per kilowatt hour. Maybe we’ll keep moving downwards and have cheap energy and this will be important to manufacturers. So some of the questions were

concerned with the possibility of cheap energy,” the President explained. Those aside, the meeting largely focused on four areas: a geographic overview of Guyana, its hemispheric affiliations and shared borders; a strategic outline, which outlined the Guyana/ Venezuela Border controversy, territorial controversy with Suriname, Guyana’s international relations and the migration of Venezuelans into Guyana; an economic overview, which dealt with the traditional sectors, the emerging oil and gas sector and Guyana’s pursuit of a ‘green’ agenda; and environmental conservation. “I dealt with the geographic scenario and the fact that Guyana is a continental state. It is a part of the South-American continent but with Caribbean characteristics. It’s the only English-speaking State and as a result of that we have lots of advantages, but at the same time, you know, we are not only perceived as the gateway to South America for the Caribbean but we’re the gateway to the Caribbean for South Ameri-

ca. Our geographic situation has, of course, implications for border security because of the territorial claim by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and also claims by Suriname. So, they were interested in that and I gave them the assurance that we are on our way to the peaceful resolution of the territorial controversy with Venezuela,” the Head of State noted. STABLE COUNTRY The final area covered Guyana’s political and governance systems. “The [other] area I dealt with was political. I gave them the assurance, truthfully, that Guyana is a very stable country, law-abiding country, and our National Assembly functions, our judiciary functions independently and also the executive branch. So, those three branches are separate and the executive does not interfere in the judiciary or the autonomous commissions, like the Guyana Elections Commission, the Judicial Service Commission and so on. So, I think from the point of view of

governance, we were able to explain that Guyana is a stable, well-governed state,” he said. The Head of State said Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda was also discussed and the team was impressed with Guyana’s commitment to protecting the environment. “They were quite impressed with our environment [and] our commitment to the environment. We believe that climate change can have harmful effects and we’re taking measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. We can see that our coastal zones are being damaged partly as a result of global warming and we are committed to protecting our rivers, protecting our air quality, protecting our forests. So, we’re able to explain and convince them of our commitment to protecting the environment even as we go more deeply into the extractive industries,” he noted. Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon were also present in the meeting.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

s r e v o l e n i w e h oF r t produced Guyana’s first ‘Wine Vault’

How three friends’ travels

By Telesha Ramnarine

HE idea of developing a wine culture in Guyana was always a topic for conversation when three good friends – Marcelle Shewjattan, Ravi Mangar and Varsha Sharma – took vacations together; travelling the world and never missing an opportunity to sample wines and even visit vineyards. After toying with the idea for a number of years, the friends finally decided to consider it seriously and make it into a reality with the opening of ‘The Wine Vault’, located at the Marriott Hotel last July 1. The retail wine store – the first of its kind in Guyana with its catchy advertising slogan “purveyor of fine wines” - seeks to introduce a vast array of wines from around the world including from France, California, Argentina, Chile and Italy. Local wines are also on the shelves and a plan is in place to begin importing from Australia and Spain before this Christmas. The original idea was simply to import wines to improve the variety available in the country, but in just roughly six weeks since its opening, the owners have already started distributing to some restaurants and bars in the city, thanks to the positive response they have been receiving so far. “Each time we travel, we would think, ‘If only we had

The Wine Vault was opened inside the Marriott Hotel, Kingston

these wine experiences home in Guyana. Why must we only have them when we’re travelling?’ We would always say it would be nice if one day we can open a wine shop,” Shewjattan recalled in an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine at The Wine Vault. The wine shop is not the main business for any of the three owners, as Shewjattan coowns ‘Auto Fashion’ with her husband Rupie; and Mangar and Sharma, who are husband and wife, are the owners of Gizmos and Gadgets. Being the wine lovers they are, however, they were all bent on pursuing

a wine business. “The Wine Vault evolved as a hobby. It is our passion. We just want to provide a world-class service and put something different out there. We also thought of seizing the opportunity at this time with the influx of foreigners in Guyana since our oil find,” Shewjattan expressed. Mangar also feels the same way, adding, “Our love for wines moved from just drinking it, to exploring the many regions in the world to find that ‘perfect wine’. We are also big foodies so we love to have a culinary experience paired with our wines.” DOING THE RESEARCH The friends visited Italy, Sonoma County and the Napa Valley wine region in California, among other places. “We visited vineyards and tried to figure out the winemaking process; the varietals, the grapes, the history; what makes one better than the other,” Shewjattan said, while adding that they would often seize the opportunity to attend wine seminars. With the knowledge and experience gained from visiting vineyards and attending seminars, the trio is better equipped

to train and educate both staff and customers locally. “Our business plan does not just include buying and selling but it comes along with the three of us who have the knowledge and experience to pair our wines with any delectable food menu,” Mangar expressed, adding, “Our goal is to continue exploring new wines and introducing the wonderful world of wine to all Guyanese one glass at a time.” He recalled how friends played a pivotal role in urging him, Sharma and Shewjattan to pursue the idea of a wine business. “Our friends would think we are crazy to be so obsessed with smelling and tasting the wines, rather than just drinking them only. With the passion they saw, they prompted and encouraged us to get into the business.” “We laughed a few years over the idea but eventually came around and seriously considered it after realising we can offer much improvement to the local wine industry, especially since Guyana is expecting a cultural evolution in the near future with the oil and gas boom,” Mangar further expressed. Sharma told the Pepperpot Magazine that she and her

Marcelle Shewjattan, Varsha Sharma and Ravi Mangar at the opening of The Wine Vault last July 1

friends always knew that one day they would embark on this business venture. “And I couldn’t be happier it’s happening right now! Although we are all three wine enthusiasts, we also bring different expertise to the business model which is important for its success,” she said, adding, “After all it’s not just about loving wines. But we are [experienced] in business in Guyana for many years and we know our customers well and how to satisfy their needs.” Sharma said she knows that improving the food and beverage industry in Guyana

Marcelle Shewjattan with her favourite wine during the interview at the Marriott Hotel The Wine Vault stocks wine from France, California, Argentina, Chile, and Italy. Local wines are also on the shelves

will not happen overnight; nor will the presence of their retail location do it. But she is confident that success will be achieved with much focus on wine education and tasting and smelling events, among others. “So far, we have been getting tremendous support from the vineyards and distributors we deal with. So if you are interested in learning more about wines, follow us on social media or visit our location to keep up-to-date on our exciting events coming soon,” Sharma said. Persons can visit the website at www.thewinevault. gy and emails can be sent to thewinevaultgy@yahoo.com. There is also a Facebook page with the name ‘The Wine Vault at Marriott.’ The store is opened at 08:00hrs daily until 22:00hrs. According to Shewjattan, the team is in the process of starting a wine club where customers can pay a monthly fee and have three to six new wines, depending on the package they sign up for, delivered to them on a monthly basis. The team is also trying out new ideas at the Marriott Hotel. For instance, a ‘wine flight’ has been added to the menu so that customers can have three small servings of different wines before deciding on their ultimate choice. Customers can also place orders online and have their wines delivered for free.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

U.S. Congressmen in Guyana

- to engage President Granger in high-level meeting By Svetlana Marshall

EVERAL United States Congressmen are expected to engage with President David Granger in a high-level meeting today. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, who is also performing the functions of prime minister and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, are also expected to meet with the U.S. Congressmen, who are being accompanied by senior military personnel in what the Guyanese government had earlier described as a “familarisation tour.” On Wednesday, Minister Greenidge told the Guyana Chronicle that “they are coming to have discussions of a general political nature.” It is unclear when the U.S. officials arrived in Guyana; however, on Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway led them into a meeting with Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman at the Natural Resources Ministry on Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown. Earlier that day, the U.S.

officials met with alumni from the U.S.- supported exchange programmes for lunch at the Duke Lodge Restaurant. It was last Thursday that the Minister of State had disclosed that the congressmen and military personnel were expected to visit. According to him, the visit is testimony of growing confidence in Guyana on the international scene, as well as the strengthening of U.S./Guyana relations. Those who were named to be part of the team include nine congressmen: Chairman Bob Goodlatte, and representatives John Rutherford, Mark Sandford, John Curtis, Todd Rokita, Richard Hudson, Steve Cohen, Scott Peters and Darrel Issa. Other expected members of the delegation are: Sergeant First Class Alexander Morrow, Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Hanson, Staff Sergeant Michael Layton, Lieutenant-Colonel Sean Foster, Robert Goodlatte, Landon Sanford, Sue Curtis, Lynn Peters, Shelly Husband, Braden Ritchie, Eric Bagwell, Ryan Breitenbach, Andrea

President David Granger and Minister of State Joseph Harmon meeting with the U.S Delegation led by Republican Bob Goodlatte. Republicans Steve Cohen, John Rutherford, Scott Peters, Mark Sanford, Richard Hutson and Tod Rokita, and U.S Ambassador Perry Holloway were among those present

Loving, Scott Bennett, Jamie Miller and Maunica Sthanki. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, in his column ‘My Turn,’ had said that the visit can mean well for Guyana, noting that the visit coincides with the prospects of first-oil by American giant, ExxonMobil. “The huge vested interests have not only attracted high-profile, albeit controversial, coverage from the New York Times, but has also raised an enhanced security profile of Guyana, and presented a new geopolitical and strategic reality in the western hemisphere. “The Government of the

United States of America was quick to connect with this reality on the occasion of the 52nd Independence Anniversary of Guyana. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo reinforced ‘strong connections’ with Guyana, and committed the United States to the advancement of our prosperity, by helping Guyana to develop her emerging oil sector ‘in partnership with U.S. business’,” Nagamootoo stated. The prime minister pointed out that this is the single largest congressional delegation ever to visit Guyana. He was quick to note, however, that some of the mistrust afloat can

The U.S. officials entering the Natural Resources Ministry compound at Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown. (Photos by Delano Williams)

be attributed to several instances in the past, whereby Guyana was disadvantaged by the North American nation. “There have been previous episodic decades that could give justification for this negative nationalism, going back to the late 1950s when the then British colony became a pawn in the Cold War. She was subsequently converted into a laboratory for every conceivable ideological stratagem of American imperialism, which has since been well documented. “The role of an American company in voter registration for the 1968 elections had spawned a legacy of electoral malpractices, once described by Lord Avesbury, head of a UK Observers’ Mission, as ‘Something to Remember’,” he explained However, these “episodic decades” gave way to the “wind of change”, Nagamootoo continued, with the involvement of the U.S. in facilitating positive change and investment in a number of areas. “Five American senators petitioned their government to embrace electoral democracy. Ambassador Fleming Jones and former President Jimmy Carter played key roles in promoting bipartisan cooperation ahead of electoral reforms. Not widely known, is the role of then President George Bush Snr in supporting

‘free, fair and credible elections’, which assurance was conveyed to me at the State Department by then Assistant Secretary of State, Sally Cowal,” he recounted. The prime minister also listed Beal Aerospace Technologies Inc’s agreement with Guyana in 1999, for the installation of a US$50 million rocket launch site in the Waini River area and the granting of an oil exploration concession to ExxonMobil, now proven to be worthwhile. He also highlighted the support of America in the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, stating: “With the expected oil bonanza, came renewed but overt diplomatic support for Guyana’s territorial sovereignty against a spurious claim by Venezuela. “The U.S. Government declared recognition for the entire ‘Land of Many Waters’ from ‘the Corentyne to the Pakaraimas, from the Takutu to the Amakura…’” Apart from these, are some 500,000 Guyanese who live and work in the U.S., accounting for US$264.6M in remittances in 2016 and the launch in Guyana of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), with start-up members including ExxonMobil and Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Co Limited (GT&T).

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending August 24, 2018

Golden Jaguars strike in protest of unpaid stipend in Brazil … Position ‘unfortunate’ and ‘disappointing’ - GFF president

The Golden Jaguars in Brazil where they have been preparing for the CONCACAF Nations League. By Rawle Toney

UYANA’S National football team, popularly known as the ‘Golden Jaguars’, refused to play their last friendly game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, in protest over unpaid stipends, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) confirmed. They are currently preparing for the CONCACAF Nation’s League qualifier and will play their first game at home at the National Track and Field

Centre against Barbados on September 6. The 23-man team departed Guyana on August 12 for Brazil and according to president of the GFF, Wayne Forde, the players were paid 50% of their stipend for the two-week encampment. Forde explained that under his executive committee, the players saw an increase in their stipend, moving from approximately US$40 per day, to now US$50. This therefore means that the GFF would have paid each player US$350 prior to departure for Rio de Janeiro.

“The players received 50% of the stipend and the plan was to wire the balance but then we realised that was more easily said than done. The attempts to do it through Western Union also proved difficult because we could have sent only $3 000 at a time, so by the time the players became agitated over this, we realise the only option was to have their parents, wives and girlfriends collect their funds at the Federation,” Forde bluntly remarked upon being grilled by reporters yesterday.

Forde called the position taken by the players disappointing, adding that “it’s very unfortunate because this whole camp was our way, the executive committee’s (way), of giving the local players an opportunity for what has been a cry within the football fraternity for many years, that is, that we putting together a national team that doesn’t reflect the local talent that we have been developing.” The GFF boss, while respecting the players’ right to protest, said that he was disenchanted that “the lead-

Bramble lone Guyanese in West ival Indies B for Canada fest ronto Bears

… Royston Crandon to lead To By Frederick Halley

ORONTO, Canada - Several regional players who missed out on selection in the current Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tournament, will have an opportunity to show off their wares in Cricket Canada’s four-team festival, set to start on Monday at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club (MLCC) ground, Toronto. The tournament follows closely on the heels of the recently-concluded Global T20 Canada and according to Cricket Canada, “there’s no better way to conclude the summer season of 2018”. The festival, which concludes on September 7, will feature losing Global T20 finalists West Indies B, Canada national team, Canada A and Toronto Bears and will be both One-day and T20 matches.

Cricket Canada will also be using the tournament as preparation for next month’s International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 Americas Group A qualifiers, set for North Carolina, USA. The Labour Day holiday

Anthony Bramble

weekend will witness all the T20 matches and will also be streamed live.

Meanwhile, Anthony Bramble, who skippered the West Indies B in the Global T20 tournament, is the lone Guyanese included the West Indies B 14-man squad and speculation is rife whether he will be retained as captain. Also returning are Barbadian all-rounder Justin Greaves and Jamaican fast bowler Derval Green. The squad also includes Test players Sunil Ambris and Jomel Warrican. Reports also indicate that Guyana’s senior team coach Esaun Crandon has been appointed coach of the team. Another former Guyana and West Indies One-day player Royston Crandon will lead a strong Toronto Bears lineup which also feature former Guyana Under-19 players Eugene LaFleur and Raj Nannan as well as former Berbice Under-19 all-rounder Krishnadat Ramoo, all of whom are plying their trade in Toronto. The other Guyanese are Surjpaul Kandasammy, Adrian Sukwah and David Latcha. The West Indies B 14-man squad reads: Sunil Ambris, Alick Athanaze, Sheno Berridge, Anthony Bramble, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Derval Greene, Jahmar Hamilton, Shermon Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Kimani Melius, Jeavor Royal and Jomel Warrican. Toronto Bears squad: Royston Crandon (captain), Raj Nannan, Rodrigo Thomas, Kamil Pooran, Rodney Lawrence, Eugene LaFleur, Teshwon Castro, Richard Harris, Ryan Nurse, Jeron Manniram, Jade Padmore, Atiba Alert, Rachad Forde, Krishnadat Ramoo, Surujpaul Kandasammy, David Latcha and Adrian Sukwah.

ership on the ground was unable to communicate this really about you (the players), this is the federation investing a huge amount of resources to give you a chance to prove to the new coaching body that you have what it takes to vie for those positions to represent your country in four very important games.” Forde opined that the protest action by the players does not, and should not reflect badly on the GFF, since, the players being in Brazil and the financing of the high-level ex-

pert technical staff, will tell a story of an executive committee that’s willing and prepared to make the necessary investment to bring success to the country’s flagship programme; the senior men’s national team. However, the GFF president said that he awaits the report from an ordered full investigation into the protest action, since he believes that the GFF owes it to all stakeholders to give an account of the incident: what led to the unfolding and corrective measures that will be in place to stop a recurrence.

The Canadian national and A teams were not available up to press time. Admission to the ground is likely to be free and spectators are requested to bring along their umbrellas and their favourite foods to enjoy the best of this summer’s cricket carnival. FOLLOWING ARE THE FIXTURES: Monday, August 27 – Canada A vs Toronto Bears (One-day); Tuesday, August 28 – Canada A vs Toronto Bears (One-day); Wednesday, August 29 – rest day. Thursday, August 30 – T20 warm-up matches: Canada A vs Toronto Bears; Canada vs West Indies B; Canada A vs Canada; Toronto Bears vs West Indies B. Friday, August 31 – rest day. Saturday, September 1 – T20: Canada vs Toronto Bears; Canada A vs West Indies B. Sunday, September 2 – T20: Canada vs Canada A; West Indies B vs Canada. Monday, September 3 – T20: Canada A vs Toronto Bears; Toronto Bears vs West Indies B. Tuesday, September 4 – rest day. Wednesday, September 5 – One-day: Canada vs West Indies B. Thursday, September 6 – rest day. Friday, September 7 – One day: Canada vs West Indies B. Royston Crandon