Guyana Chronicle International Edtion E - Paper 11-12-2018

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

NO.0016

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 3, 2018

FLY JAMAICA PLANE CRASHES …after emergency landing

…passengers escape serious injuries

…airline hails professional response of crew members SEE STORIES ON PAGES 2,3&4 Scenes from the plane crash

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 02, 2018

Fly J’ca aircraft overshoots runway after emergency landing …passengers escape serious injuries

Officials at the press briefing. From left , Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud; CJIA CEO, Ramesh Ghir ; Police Commissioner Leslie James; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure , Annette Ferguson ; Director- General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Egbert Field. (Delano Williams photos)

The aircraft after it came to a stop.

PASSENGERS on board a Fly Jamaica Boeing 757aircraft escaped with their lives after the plane skidded off the runway at the Cheddi Jagan international Airport (CJIA) on Friday morning following an emergency landing.

Flight OJ256 departed the CJIA on Friday morning bound for Toronto, Canada. Minutes into the flight however, the pilots reported to the Control Tower at the airport that they were experiencing an emergency. Airport staff told this newspaper that the plane, which bears registration N524AT, experienced a hydraulic issue soon after departure.

After declaring the emergency, the pilots commenced procedures relevant to the situation; these included dumping fuel over the sea in an effort to reduce weight on impact.

The aircraft then approached the main runway at the CJIA and landed on RWY06 around 02:53hrs.

It proceeded down the runway and skidded to the right before coming to a halt in the sand and dirt. Fortunately for those on board, the plane stopped atop a hill with the nose visible at the edge of the hill from the surface below.

When this newspaper arrived at the scene, soldiers and policemen were securing the aircraft while airport staff and airline personnel milled around the scene.

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson told reporters at a press briefing at the CJIA later on Friday morning that there were 128 persons on board, including 118 adults , two children and eight crew members. “Everyone has been accounted for; some persons were slightly injured while deplaning,” he said.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud told the media at the press briefing that 10 persons were taken to the hospital following the accident. He said five are under investigation for spinal injuries and noted that seven were sent to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for further tests.

He said three persons were being treated for blood pressure.

Patterson said the investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Egbert Field, told the media at the press briefing that an investigator has been designated and appointed by the subject minister .

Reports are that former Air Safety Director of the GCAA, Paula McAdam , who led investigations into the Caribbean Airline 523 crash at the CJIA back in June 2011 is heading the investigation into Friday morning’s’ accident.

Field said that the lead investigator will be assisted by inspectors of the GCAA. He said too that an

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport

This is the view Melissa Khan saw from her bedroom window early Friday morning after the accident.

official of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, under whose portfolio the airline was registered, has been informed of Friday’s accident.

In addition, he said that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States has been informed and according to Field, the body is willing to provide assistance and support. A designated NTSB representative has been assigned locally, he added.

Field said too that key elements for the investigation, retrieval of the flight data and cockpit voice recorder of the aircraft have been secured and will be sent to the NTSB for analysis.

Field said the runway on which the accident occurred was reopened on Friday morning after the delay.

Regarding the investigation, Field said that “it will take some time” as he noted that it will focus on the cause of the accident and “not to cause blame on anyone.”

Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson told the news conference that the passengers were taken to a holding facility; the airline took their information, including contact numbers and addresses. She said Fly Jamaica made provisions for the passengers to be transported to their homes or hotels.

Ms. Ferguson said the airline has been advised that a few persons will be travelling to their destinations via CAL from Saturday;

arrangements were being made to have their luggage relocated and recorded, after which they would be able to uplift.

CJIA CEO, Ramesh Ghir , who was also at the press briefing , said the airport was closed immediately after the accident. He said a CAL flight which was delayed as a result of the accident, departed at 07:30hrs and that airline also decided to divert other flights to Trinidad.

Ghir said once the aircraft has been handed over to the airline by investigators, the CJIA will lend support in relocating it at the airport.

Meanwhile, the accident was a chilling reminder to residents of the June 2011, Boeing 738 aircraft accident in which a Caribbean Airlines Boeing 738 ran off the runway in question around 01:32hrs that morning on arrival from Trinidad and Tobago. The plane had departed New York earlier.

Meloma Pereira said on Friday morning she was awakened by a loud noise; when she looked up, she saw the tail of the Fly Jamaica aircraft at the edge of the runway and vehicles with sirens rushing up and down the runway. “That is when I realise something wrong in the neighbourhood, because you don’t hear siren that hour of the morning,” she said. She said too she lived closer to the edge of the runway in 2011 when CAL’s aircraft crashed

and according to her,” I was seeing the same thing all over again.”

Another resident, Melissa Khan, who lives close to Pereira accident site on Friday morning.

She related that she moments earlier had returned from work when she heard a loud explosion, which her husband said sounded like a burst tire. Khan said from her bedroom window she saw the plane perched on the side of the runway in the sand with its tail in the air. She said one of the wings appeared to have broken off.

Moments later, the couple saw vehicles travelling to and fro while persons ran out of their homes to obtain a better glimpse of the situation.

The accident on Friday morning occurred along the expanded section of the runway which is undergoing expansion works by Chinese firm China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).

The aircraft came to a halt in a parcel of dirt and a layer of sand and according to a taxi-driver, God was once again with those on board the aircraft; he noted that appreciation must be given to the crew and praise to God for the parcel of dirt and sand which prevented the plane from falling off the ridge at the edge of the runway.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Fly J’ca passengers relive the crash

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–– recall hearing growling noise while mid-air

By Lisa Hamilton IT has been confirmed that at least four passengers on the Toronto-bound Fly Jamaica OJ256 flight which crashed-landed Friday morning sustained multiple injuries.

Just around 03:00hrs Friday morning, the plane with 118 passengers on board was returning to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) due to ‘hydraulic issues’ just moments after takeoff when it overshot the runway, ploughed into the fence around the perimeter, and came to a halt at a heap of sand beyond the enclosure.

The Guyana Chronicle spoke with some of the injured passengers who were waiting at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

“The plane had a problem, and they still took it

sitting down, one of the doors from the overhead compartments fell and hit me and several other people on the head, and on the neck.

“Then we were all running with speed and in excitement in the plane to catch the door to get out because there was smoke. My ribs are squished up from pushing, and my neck, my hands, my shoulder and foot muscles are killing me.

“We had to come out and walk in the sand; we had to walk about a mile from there to catch the terminals.

It was very frustrating, and at that time we did anything to survive. I can’t remember seeing the two infants, because it was very confusing at that time.” Injured, too, was 62-year-old ‘Babs’ Curry who, while seated in a wheelchair, gave as detailed an account as possible of the fear and chaos that ensued on the plane when passengers realised that all was not well.

because we’re going to go over water. So he decided to come back, and said it’s going to take 20 minutes to get back.

“When we got back, the landing was terrible. I don’t

her neck, Ms Curry said: “I got my injury from the impact, because more than twice it was a hard hit.”

Placed in the ambulance along with Curry was 67-year-old Bibi Ali, who

A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE “It was terrible,” she said.

“Before we left, they said that there was a problem with the door, so we stayed there for a while, maybe half-an-hour, and they fixed it.

“After that, the plane took off, and when we got about 20 minutes in the air, we started to hear this noise like a big growling.

“He [the pilot] said he was going to come back, because it wasn’t safe for us,

LEG INJURIES Fifty-seven-year-old Janice Adams, who had to be carried by stretcher, managed to tell this newspaper how

Bibi Ali 67-year old

“I was scared that the plane wasn’t fit to fly in the first place, because they had a problem before we left,” he said. “When the plane was lifting, you could have

Janice Adams

‘Babs’ Curry

Davanan Sukhram

up in the air,” said Davanan Sukhram, 55. “Forty-five minutes in the air, the pilot decided to come back to the Timehri Airport.

“But as the plane lands down, it bounces and it starts to trip out; like you mash brakes and the brakes failed and it crashed,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

He went on to detail how he felt at the time, and how the other passengers on board the plane reacted to the situation. “We were panicked,” Sukhram said. “When I was

smoke in the plane.”

know what happened. We started screaming and everything; when coming down, we heard this growling noise, and this grazing on the sand.

“There was smoke, and we had to slide down the emergency slide. Some people lost their shoes; my friend glasses fell out. It was chaos; there was no light.

“I took my phone and I tried to find my way among other people I could see standing around.”

Explaining how she came to be wearing a brace around

also sustained injuries to her neck, and was seated somewhere in the middle of the plane when it encountered difficulties.

“When I was sliding down the plane, we fell and everybody started to pack on you. I lost my glasses and I couldn’t really see,” Ms Ali said, adding: “When I fell, everybody started trampling me; on my back and my foot, and two guys tried to help me.

“Everybody was trying to get out when they saw the

she came to injure both of her legs.

“I landed on my knees,” she said. “I jumped out of the plane by the window, and I landed on my right knee.”

Sukhram, whith whom the Guyana Chronicle spoke first, is now hoping to get word from the airlines regarding compensation for his injuries and discomfort.

Although he believes the pilot saved the day, he said he doesn’t think that the plane should have left the ground given the problems it wsa having.

heard the grinding sound of the plane, and when the plane was coming back, it was struggling to land but the pilot did an excellent job.

“He did the right thing to turn back the plane, or else we would have crashed in the sea and everybody would have died.”

Sukhram said that it took emergency personnel between 15 to 20 minutes to arrive.

He and the few other injured passengers are now at the GPHC receiving medical attention.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Guyana well underway to meet targets in Montreal Protocol …Minister Holder tells Ecuador summit

AGRICULTURE Minister, Noel Holder is currently participating in the 30th Meeting of the Parties (MoP) to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer in Quinto, Ecuador.

The MoP, which is being hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to mobilise officials and other key stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue and update their counterparts on their country’s progress in meeting the target of phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by 2030.

While there Minister Holder, who is accompanied

by Chief Hydromet Officer (ag) Dr. Garvin Cummings, will be participating in a series of meetings and give presentations on Guyana’s progress thus far in its HCFC Phase out Management Plan (HPMP).

During Thursday’s session, Minister Holder presented Guyana’s case and said the need for sound management of our environment is now more urgent than ever before.

“Guyana, as a member of the global community, rose to

the urgent call for collective action to better manage substances that destroy the ozone layer. More than two decades ago, Guyana embarked on this journey that, though not without challenges, has provided many lessons on good environmental governance to guide the implementation of other national environmental policies and other multilateral environmental agreements,” Minister Holder said.

In 2008, two years ahead of schedule, Guyana successfully phased out the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), one of the first groups of substances scheduled to be phased out under the Montreal Protocol. Guyana is currently in the second stage of the HCFC Phase out Management Plan to phase out the consumption of these ozone-depleting substances.

The call for viable, affordable and commercially available alternatives in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector is even more crucial for Guyana as government has committed to pursuing an accelerated phase-out of HCFCs, that is, to completely phase-out the importation of HCFCs by 2030.

Guyana is a party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

In 1985, the Vienna Convention established mechanisms for international cooperation in research into the ozone layer and the effects of ozone-depleting substances.

On the basis of the Vienna Convention, the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer came into force on 1st Jan 1989.

This protocol commits all parties to phase-out the use of ozone-depleting substances which contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer and consequently, allow larger quantities of harmful ultraviolet rays to reach the Earth.

Minister Holder, while congratulating the parties of Montreal Protocol on successfully negotiating the Kigali Amendment, explained that as a country that is vulnerable to sea level rise and which has witnessed the devastating effects of extreme climatic conditions, Guyana welcomes this amendment to the protocol.

“Guyana looks forward to meeting this new challenge

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

in the coming years with the same enthusiasm and commitment that we have demonstrated in the previous and current phase-out programmes. We commit to ratifying the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in the shortest possible time, while ensuring that national processes are fully satisfied,” Minister Holder said.

Since the enforcement of a ban on HCFC-based equipment in 2013, HFC-

based air conditioners have been primarily imported into Guyana and remain the only commercially available alternative to HCFCs. Mobile and commercial refrigeration systems are integral to Guyana’s expanding agricultural sector for the supply of fruits and vegetables as well as fisheries and livestock products to the local, regional and international markets.

Minister Holder also stated that progress being made with zero ODP, low-GWP (global warming potential) technologies for domestic refrigeration that are also energy efficient is laudable.

“This development is well timed since Guyana, through our national Green State Development Strategy, has been taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint through the transitioning of the national energy sector to renewable energy and energy efficient technologies,” Minister Holder said.

The team is expected to participate in a number of key discussions with representatives from the Ozone Secretariat and Multilateral Fund to access information on recent decisions of the Montreal Protocol and

Multilateral Fund Executive Committee that will inform implementation in Guyana.

In an invited comment, Chief Hydromet Officer (ag) Dr. Garvin Cummings said that Guyana remains committed to the preservation of the ozone layer while maintaining compliance under the Montreal Protocol. “The successful phasing out of HCFCs, by 2030, requires that all the necessary information and tools to assist our local industry in transitioning smoothly from ozone-depleting technology to newer alternatives that are in keeping with our obligations under the Montreal Protocol and Guyana’s thrust for sustainable development becomes accessible,” Dr. Cummings said.

Areas such as alternatives to ozone-depleting substances in various sectors and sub-sectors, the economic costs, implications and environmental benefits of various scenarios of avoiding high-global-warming-potential alternatives to ozone-depleting substances are also other key areas that will be discussed during the meetings.

‘They put their training into use’

–– Fly Jamaica hails professional response of crew members

By Lisa Hamilton FLY Jamaica Airline spokesman Carl Bowen has hailed the “professional and efficient” response of the airline crew following Friday morning’s crash at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Early Friday morning, the Boeing 757-200 aircraft took off from the CJIA, but was soon forced to return for an emergency landing after encountering issues with its hydraulic systems.

This system is used to move and actuate landing gear, flaps and brake. Citizens as well as authorities are thankful that no lives were lost among the 128 passengers, including eight crew members, who were

on the Toronto-bound plane for the some 45-minute ordeal.

The plane came to a halt at the northeastern end of the runway after colliding with a fence and a heap of sand on site, due to the construction works ongoing at the airport. Passengers were shaken up by the experience, with less than a dozen sustaining injuries to their neck, back and leg. The right wing and engine of the plane, on the other hand, were badly damaged. On board were 82 Canadians, 35 Guyanese, 11 American citizens, and one each Trinidadian and Pakistani.

As the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) and the U.S. TURN TO PAGE

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Damages sustained by the plane on landing at CJIA

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Oil contract with Exxon evolving

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…gov’t seeks increase in value proposition

…no plans to renegotiate pact

By Svetlana Marshall IN rating the 2016 Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited partner of U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil, Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe said while the agreement may not be excellent, it is not very poor.

“Contracts are (placed) on a spectrum and they range from excellent to very poor.

What we can say is that the current PSA may not be excellent but it is not very poor either,” Dr. Bynoe told reporters during a press conference at the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday.

At the time, he was responding to the question of whether government would renegotiate the 2016 agreement in light of continued criticisms from both civil society and the political opposition over several aspects of the agreement, including the percentage of royalty.

Dr. Bynoe said that a review of the PSA with ExxonMobil has to be contextualized in terms of the volume of the investment, the risks taken, and the period in which the investment occurred.

“As a government we have already expressed the need to honour the sanctity of the contract and we will continue to do that, but contracts

Oil and Gas Adviser Matthew Wilks and Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe (Photo by Delano Williams)

do evolve,” he emphasised while noting that government will continue to engage ExxonMobil to ensure that the value proposition to Guyana increases.

Weighing in on the issue, the Energy Department’s Oil and Gas Adviser Matthew Wilks said the renegotiation of contracts in the oil industry must be done on a mutual basis, noting that from the initial stage they are mutually agreed upon. “The success of Guyana is being based on Guyanese approach to contractual law which is sanctity to contract, generally, whatever contract there may be

whether it is in the oil sector or outside of the oil sector,” Wilks told reporters.

Cautioning that investors are looking on, he said any unilateral decision with respect to a contract can be a deterring factor. “If you start unilaterally trying to change contracts, you frighten investors, and you only have to look at other jurisdictions where this has occurred for one reason or the other…and you would see investors stop investing,” the Oil and Gas Adviser said.

Like Dr. Bynoe, he said when analysing a contract, consideration must be given

‘They put their ...

National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the incident, Bowen is thankful that the crew adhered to their training.

“I can clearly say that the crew did such a professional job that prevented any further injury,” he said. “They put their training into use, they followed the protocol and that saved the day,” he told the newspaper.

Asked about the training received for such cases, he confirmed that the staff are no strangers to “very rigorous training”, and that when things took a negative turn, were able to administer the

required instructions “The reason he [the pilot] turned back was not because of the engine or anything like that,” Bowen said. “It was a hydraulics issue with the wheel, so he decided to come back. So, I’m not only talking about the pilot; I’m also talking about the cabin crew, and the way they disembarked the passengers.

They followed the protocol; they did a good job, that’s why we didn’t have any serious issues.”

He said that as of Friday afternoon, Fly Jamaica will be providing local assistance to passengers involved in the accident.

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to the time in which it signed, the level of investment, and the risk taken.

“When you are seeking or you look up opportunities to change the terms of the contract, you could only do that when the circumstance arises, and when it is mutual; you cannot force it,” he said.

While the government has not agreed to renegotiate the contract with ExxonMobil, the Department of Energy has initiated the process of designing a new model contract that will be used for future PSAs. Wilks said like any contract the model contracts are developed, based

on the existing environment of a given sector.

“So a model contract that is used to attract investors from the onset of the petroleum industry is very, very different from a model contract as the industry matures, and very, very different from a mature industry. So if you look around the world, you will see that model contracts evolve all the time, and all that is happening here, this is the right time to evolve the contract,” he told reporters.

In the case of the existing PSAs, Wilks said they have been very successful in attracting investments. Contracts, he emphasised, must be able to attract investors.

“You can have the most advantageous contract for the government doesn’t mean that people would invest, and in fact in many locations, the experience is, is that you have to balance the contract.

It is no use having the most aggressive contract in the world if no one invests,” he emphasised.

He posited that in other parts of the world, oil discoveries have been made, however, due to less than favourable investment climate, the resources of many countries have not been developed.

“There are many locations around the world where oil is being discovered but it is not even on stream, and we have a very, very fast cycle

time here, basically six years from discovery to first oil to first revenue.

“Uganda discovered oil in 2006 on shore, which is a much easier proposition than we are talking here, yet the oil isn’t even flowing today,” the Oil and Gas adviser pointed out.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK In addition to designing a new model PSA, the Department of Energy is reviewing the current legal and regulatory framework governing the Petroleum Sector, including the 1986 Petroleum Act. According to the Director of the Department of Energy, based on the review, proposals for amendment and possible replacement of some existing legislation will be made. “We are therefore cognisant of the fact of hiring of external legal assistance as one pillar to allow us to build a framework that is both robust and will ensure that the maximum net returns will be down to Guyana and Guyanese,” Dr. Bynoe said.

According to him, next Tuesday, first presentation on the current legislative framework and proposed changes will be presented to the department. It is anticipated that the process would be completed before the end of 2018.

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Said he: “They went through a partial traumatic episode. Arrangements are being put in place for passengers who are requesting to get out immediately, so our administrative processes are in effect to cover that.”

Regarding the issue of whether there is provision for compensation, Bowen said that the process is not a swift one, but he can only now state that such inquiries would have to be addressed by the airline’s insurance body.

Meanwhile, on the sideline of a press conference at Leader of the Opposition’s Office on Friday, former

The plane at the crash site

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn also expressed gratitude that no lives were lost. “I’m extremely happy that there were no fatalities,” he said, adding: “We have to thank the

skill of the pilot, and we have to be very thankful that there were no fatalities or serious injuries.”

He, however, stressed the importance of extending the airport’s runway,

which is currently in progress, and further insisted: “We have to keep working on our aircraft safety and operational safety for aircrafts in the country.”

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Villages and the birth of our nation NATIONAL Day of Villages, which was observed on Wednesday, commemorates one of the most significant aspects of our history and celebrates the resilience of our ancestors in their determination to build a nation.

Villages are collectively nothing less than the foundation of our country, and it is appropriate that Guyanese recognise that fact, and honour those who built that foundation. The great village movement, which spanned the decade between 1839 and 1848, shaped the way our country evolved and determined our form of government, including our system of local government. The movement began when enslaved Africans were finally emancipated in 1838.

European planters, needing labour, tried to prevent the former slaves from leaving the plantations. But the former slaves were determined to build independent lives, and they left their former places of captivity, slowly at first, but the exodus soon gained momentum

across what was British Guiana.

According to President Granger, the movement was driven by four major factors: the human desire for liberty and happiness, the natural yearning for economic independence, the availability of large amounts of land, and the fact that the freemen had hoarded money. The former slaves could therefore use their coin to collectively and individually purchase land from planters, and set up the communities that we call villages. In that decade of the rise of villages, more than 6,075 hectares (15,000 acres) were bought for more than $1,000,000; serious money in those days.

Two general strikes directed against the plantations – in 1842 and 1848 – had a huge effect on the population of the newly established villages; by the end of the first strike the population had reached 15,906, and exploded to 44,443 by the end of the second strike. Thus, villages became an

established part of the country’s reality, and as the residents started to plant their own crops and produce items for their own use and sale, village economies were born.

Our country’s first village is Victoria. Then known as Plantation Northbrook, the land was purchased on November 7, 1839 by 83 pioneers who had saved their coins, put them in a wheelbarrow, and walked to Georgetown to pay for the plantation. They named the new community Victoria, after the then Queen of England. The national significance of that date was recognised by the administration, and National Day of Villages is now observed every year on November 7.

Following the establishment of Victoria, the village movement rapidly expanded; by the end of 1856, about half of the population lived in a chain of villages, stretching from the Corentyne to the Pomeroon Rivers. Thus, the village movement shaped our land-

scape, defined our inter-community relations, and later, influenced the way that we chose to govern ourselves.

Guyanese owe a great debt to the men and women who decided to take charge of their destinies and establish the villages which we now call home. As such, we acknowledge their sacrifices, we honour their resilience, and thank them for the legacy which they have bequeath to us, nothing less than the Guyanese nation. The challenges that they faced were enormous. For example, from 1849 to 1861 the freemen were relentlessly persecuted by planters by the imposition of unbearable taxation, and vandalism of their drainage and other village infrastructure.

Their persistence, though, has given us a nation despite the odds being stacked against them.

At the ceremony in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara marking National Day of Villages 2018, Minister of Communities Ronald

Bulkan delivered the feature address. The minister said that government is committed to reviving village economies. He stated that, “This administration has embraced a different approach to governance and to development.” He noted the theme of this year’s celebration, “Working in Harmony, Building Better Relationships for a Brighter Future.”

As Guyanese once again pay tribute to the men and women of that era who have molded the shape of our country, we remember their contribution to our way of life, particularly in the countryside. President Granger stated that, “The beginning of free village life was the catalyst for the infrastructural development of rural areas. The construction of homes, churches, schools, burial grounds, bridges, and roads forever changed the pattern of settlement.”

I marvel at the boisterousness and boldness of some members of the PPP Dear Editor, I READ with consternation a letter titled ‘ Taking Over of Berbice Bridge is act of compulsory acquisition,’ Stabroek News, Nov 5, 2018, written by an Honourable Gentleman, Mr. Anil Nandlall.

His initial verbal assault claimed that government action must have shocked the conscience of law-abiding citizens. All that the government sought to do was to save travellers over the bridge the trauma of those massive increases by this private ‘sic’ company.

My mother would have referred to Mr. Nandlall’s letter as being written by someone who is brass-faced. We can name scores of actions by Mr. Nandlall’s government (PPP/C) that shocked the conscience of all of us.

For brevity, I will not recall the many

instances, but to refresh the Gentleman’s memory just a few. Under the tutorage of his colleagues, police deaths increased by one thousand percent, yes (1,000%). On this bridge company being a private entity, the largest investment was money suborned by his government from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

This and other financial acts of bullyism represented snatching money from the poor to give to the rich. He ignored state assets, GPC, among them, Prado Ville I and II, handed to selected, private persons for a pittance.

The PPP so plundered the NIS that it was completely destabilised and could not deliver on its promises to help the ordinary people as was intended by the architects of the National Insurance Scheme (Burnham and the PNC).

He refers to Echillibar Villas, Hope Estate and Takuba Lodge. As a member of the

government then, I am aware that in every instance there was cordial dialogue with the owners, which led to mutually satisfactory financial arrangements.

He also mentioned Citizens Bank? What is he talking about? Is this a figment of his imagination?

I expect that in a response, Mr. Nandlall to explain how it is or why it is that the NIS management was never part of the decision-making mechanism of the Berbice bridge.

Mr. Nandlall should also let those whose consciences were shocked to explain that the cost of constructing the said Berbice River Bridge was double, because the then government ignored an earlier engineering recommendation that the Berbice Bridge should be built from Ithaca on the West Bank to Stanleytown on the East Bank of the Ber-

bice River.

It is no secret that the PPP government did not identify that location because notwithstanding the shorter distance and better soil conditions, those communities were regarded as not PPP-friendly.

A SAD, SORRY SITUATION. I marvelled at the boisterousness and boldness of some members of the PPP hierarchy, and I repeat-- some members of the PPP hierarchy. The people who use the Berbice bridge have been spared the trauma of having to pay these massive and unconscionable increases proposed by this private company, whose only aim was to make More Mighty Money.

Regards Hamilton Green

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

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Ogunseye takes on Rohee over security challenges –– past and present Dear Editor, PERMIT me to reply to former Minister of Home Affairs Clement J. Rohee’s letter which was published in the Wednesday, October 31st, 2018 edition of Kaieteur News and Friday, November 2, 2018 issue of Stabroek News under the respective captions, “Ogunseye ‘s whining comes as no surprise,” and “Ogunseye has to come to grips with the stark failures of the APNU+AFC gov’t.” Rohee’s letters were written in response to my own that was carried in Stabroek News on Oct 25th, 2018, which was critical of his opportunistic exploitation of the recent Lusignan prison escape and riot.

At the outset, I want to give recognition to the political vigilance demonstrated by Mr. Rohee, now that he and the PPP/C are out of office. Having done so, I wish to point out to the former minister that vigilance in opposition from a politician and a party that governed the country for 23 consecutive years, is not enough to suffice; much more is required, namely, humility, honesty, and self-criticism; none of which are reflected in the former minister’s self-serving letters, whether previous or present.

More important to this debate are the following statements made

by Rohee: “Ogunseye trotted out the oft-repeated whinings about the PPP’s protection of the so-called ‘phantom gang.’ He also contended that I provided no evidence to support my claim. The PPP/C

and its government’s involvement with the “phantom” killers are well established at home and abroad; so much so, that I don’t feel the need to elaborate evidently. On this matter, I refuse to play Rohee’s and the PPP‘s game of “show me the evidence.”

He wrote, “ Ogunseye is one of those who went into government thinking that they would have been able to influence policy along the lines of the WPA.” This observation by the veteran politician is 100% correct.

Rohee claimed that my presence in government, whatever that is has “ tethered” me. Given my limited vocabulary, I must admit that I was forced to consult a dictionary to decipher the meaning of the word. Having done so, I now ask Rohee the following: given my known public criticism of the coalition government, both in the letter columns of the newspapers and on the Walter Rodney Groundings TV programme, juxtaposed against his history of non-criticism of the PPP/C government over its 23 years rule, which one of us is more likely to be considered as being “tethered” by governmental involvement? Rohee’s problem is his barefacedness in refusing to recognise that what he had failed to do when he and the PPP/C were in office, he is now demanding of coalition members and supporters.

Let me reiterate for Rohee’s benefit – I Tacuma Ogunseye have no difficulty with putting the APNU+AFC government under the same kind of “scrutiny” as was

meted out to the PPP when it was in government. However, there is a difference and it is this: there has been no government in the recent history of the country which has been as scrutinised, publicly and privately, as the present one.

Rohee seeks to indict the coalition government and me for the 40% unemployment among the nation’s youth population, when he referenced President Granger’s recent address to parliament. I would have been more inclined to have a meeting of minds on this matter if the former minister had given us the youth unemployment figures at the end of the PPP/C’s rule in 2015. Rohee is well aware of his party and government’s practice of doctoring statistics to hide the true unemployment figures. If he were more objective and had provided the comparative figures, his case against the government would be more compelling and the public would have a better appreciation of the alleged failure of the APNU+AFC government on this matter.

But if truth is to be told, the former minister and member of the PPP/C leadership is devoid of truth, facts and fairness in his propagandising on this and other national issues. Even if he were endowed with the qualities to which I referred, it would be unreasonable for Guyanese to expect that in just over three years the government would be able to effectively address Guyana’s unemployment challenges–a situation that was created by the PPP’s mismanagement

of the economy and the rape of the country’s resources during its 23 years in office.

On the question of corruption in the present administration, my position has been stated and restated on several occasions on the Walter Rodney Groundings programme.

Corruption at any level is unacceptable and must be addressed in keeping with the law. I am also on record as saying that the coalition government will help its cause by jailing anyone in its ranks who is guilty of corruption. Mr. Rohee, can you point to a similar public position you have taken in relation to the widespread corruption in the PPP/C government? I am looking forward for your honest answer.

On the issue of the collapse of the African village economies, I want to say that this problem predates both the PPP/C and APNU+AFC regimes. However, it reached an unprecedented crisis point under the PPP/C’s rule. To date, the problem has received inadequate attention from the present government.

Interestingly, while Rohee has no difficulty in contending that the prison challenges were inherited by the PPP/C in 1992 from the PNC government, he has tremendous problems with the similar logic pointed out in my letter: that the APNU+AFC administration inherited the same from the PPP/C. According to Rohee’s reasoning, what is good for the goose is not good for the gander.

With unwavering consistency, Rohee resorted to his party’s old

tactic of invoking Walter Rodney when the PPP and its leadership are criticised by a WPA person – this has become their familiar and overworked defence. We are asked to justify our present politics in keeping with Rodney’s revolutionary ideas; yet, when they were enunciated by Rodney, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Rohee and company castigated him as being ultra-left and adventurist.

Finally, I am grateful that the former Minister of Home Affairs Clement J. Rohee answered my question -- why no phantom killers were brought to justice under his stewardship?

His answer is politically revealing: “As to why ‘no phantom killers were charged under Rohee’s stewardship, the answer is simple; they either killed off themselves or were caught by the DEA of the USA for engaging in other illegal activities.” Rohee is passing the buck to his comrade Ms. Gail Teixeira who was his predecessor. But in her defence, she is likely to point to the fact that under his watch there were many phantom killers around; to which I will add, who maintained their connections with the PPP/C. Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

201st birth anniversary of Baha’u’llah

Dear Editor

TODAY, November 9th 2018 would mark the two hundred and one (201) birth anniversary of Baha’u’llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith.

The advent of Baha’u’llah marked for Bahia's all over the world of all racial and cultural backgrounds the promised return of the prophets of old, the renewal of religion and the revelation of a new, divine, spiritual and social

cycle destined to spread peace and unity around the globe. There are currently several millions of people of all racial and cultural backgrounds called Baha’is, in every country on earth, and who follow His divine and universal teachings, based on the oneness of mankind.

Baha’is regard Baha’u’llah as the promised Lord of Hosts of the Jews; the reincarnation of Krishna and the Tenth Avatar to the Hindus; the fifth Buddha, named Maitreye, the Buddha of universal fellowship to

the Buddhists; the return of Christ “in the glory of the Father” to the Christians; the return of the Imam Husayn to the Shi’a Muslims; the descent of the “Spirit of God” to the Sunnis. Baha’u’llah fulfils the prophecies and promises of the world’s great Faiths, consumating and confirming all of the religious revelations of the past.

Baha’is see the appearance of Baha’u’llah as the return of the spiritual springtime, reviving the souls and establishing a new Faith, a new reality

and a new spiritual oneness among all humanity. In April 1890, Professor Edward Granville Browne of Cambridge University met Bahá’u’lláh in his prison cell in Akka, Israel and after his four successive interviews, Professor Browne wrote of his first meeting: "The face of Him on Whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one's very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow. No need to ask in

whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain." He was the first known Westerner who met Baha'u'llah Addressing mankind, Baha'u'llah stated, "Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the drops of one ocean". Bahá'u'lláh passed away peacefully as still a prisoner to the rulers of the erstwhile Ottoman empire on May 29, 1892.

Throughout Guyana there are several local Ba-

ha'i administrative communities and In Georgetown is the national administrative centre and National Assembly. There are to date several hundred Guyanese from all racial backgrounds who are Baha'is. The Birth of Bahá'u'lláh is one of nine holy days in the Bahá'í calendar that is celebrated by Bahá'ís and during which work is suspended for Baha'is.

Regards Rooplall Dudhnath

8

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Bruised backs, burdensome bridge

NOW that the court has conclusively decided that the remaining severance, with interest, must be paid no later than January 15 next year, the combined union/party opposition should come off the bruised backs of the sugar workers. It is possible that payments could be made earlier, before year-end, as the National Assembly has given the green light on Thursday last for disbursement of the additional $2.451B (two billion, four hundred and fifty-one million dollars).

After four of the seven sugar factories were closed late last year, the bankrupted and crippled state corporation sought a bailout from the Coalition Government to the tune of $4.563B (four billion, five hundred and sixty-three million dollars) to meet severance, overtime and holiday pay for an estimated 4,763 workers. That was in addition to previous bailouts amounting to some $38B, which the government had to find within three years of taking office.

WORKERS NOT ABANDONED The government did not abandon the severed sugar workers, though the opposition (then PPP government) had placed them in jeopardy in the first place. It was they who ran the industry into debt in the amount of

$85B, and saddled it with a politically imposed, inefficient and incompetent bureaucracy.

By the end of January 2018, the Coalition Government produced a rescue plan by paying in full the most vulnerable workers who were entitled to $500,000 or less; some 1,600 workers took full pay.

The government had then set aside $500M to help GuySuCo, but that sum was not enough. Finance Minister Jordan then went to Parliament for almost $2B ($1 billion, nine hundred and thirty-one million dollars), at which sitting many PPP MPs stayed away.

That has been the pattern of the opposition’s irresponsibility; to make big noises, beat their chests in lamentation over the condition of sugar workers, but they would not identify with the efforts to find money for the bailout packages. On this last occasion, their leader left the National Assembly long before the vote was taken to approve the additional sum for the affected sugar workers.

HUGE, GENEROUS HEART History would record that this APNU+AFC Coalition Government has opened its huge, generous heart to sugar workers.

Initially, it had set up a

thorough inquiry into the run-down state of the industry, while keeping sugar workers on life-support.

It then came out with a bold and courageous rescue plan: to close the unproductive estates pending divestment, and to modernise the others. It will not allow the sugar industry to die, and will secure the employment of 10,000 workers.

It was a struggle to keep the sugar industry afloat, while simultaneously combating piracy that had terrified our fishermen; finding markets for our rice and paddy to save farmers from bankruptcy; breaking the back of narco and human trafficking; smashing the politically aligned death squads;and checking the growth of the criminalised state.

Also, the government has secured pass marks in boosting public education, public health, public safety, low-cost housing, etc.

The government also signalled that alternative jobs were available for retrenched workers at the grinding estates, and at security and drainage and irrigation facilities. It continues to explore options that would allow sugar workers to secure leases for plots of land to do agriculture and aqua-culture.

It encouraged private sector agencies to absorb the

children of sugar workers in call-centre and other IT operations, and to enlist them in skills training for the oil-and-gas industry.

But the opposition shrugged off all those efforts with disgust and disdain.

Their mouthpiece,Guyana Times, argued that sugar workers even if provided land, cannot do other crops.

They compared cane-cutters with dancers at an opera: “A thing of beauty to behold.”

“These fellas are specialists whose work is so practiced (sic!) and fluid that to look at them is to look at the Bolshoi Ballet performing Swan Lake!” (November 24, 2017).

LIGHT A CANDLE I know the extent of that contempt of the opposition gang, which had led me to pen the statement in 2010, before I walked away from the PPP, “Light a candle for sugar workers.”

I should also be writing, “Light a Candle for Berbice Bridge Commuters” who have been saddled with a river bridge, whose tolls are becoming

burdensome. It is now public knowledge that what has been conceived as the Berbice bridge, was in reality “Bharrat’s Best Buddies’ Bridge.” Those Bs have the majority of votes on the board of the bridge company; and they have decided to inflict on Berbicians a deadly sting of a 500% increase in tolls.

It is now public knowledge that the former government used up monies which sugar workers and public servants had in the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to finance the bridge, together with private investors, who were (and are) near and dear to the then President.

The opposition cannot easily wriggle itself out from this mess where, on the eve of local government elections and unease in the sugar belt, it tried to blame the government for causing the proposed oppressive increase in the tolls.

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson has told the National Assembly that the Coalition Government “cannot, and will not accept, under any

circumstances” the proposed toll hikes.

NATIONAL GOOD The private owners had given the former government a honeymoon, sweetheart pass by not asking for any increase in the tolls for seven consecutive years between 2008 and 2015.

But as soon as the Coalition Government took office, it downed the hammer and demanded in 2016 a hike. The coalition absorbed the increase by giving the company subsidies totalling $465M, instead of allowing the increase to be heaped on the backs of commuters.

Any disruption of the Berbice bridge would destabilise traffic and bring hardships to all Guyanese.

The government has an obligation, therefore, to secure this bridge as a public or national good. It must ensure that neither the tolls are increased nor traffic interrupted on November 12, and thereafter.

Republic Bank enlists new batch of apprentices

REPUBLIC Bank last week Friday welcomed its eleventh batch of apprentices under its Youth Link Apprenticeship programme.

The ceremony was held at the Republic Bank Head Office, New Market Street, Georgetown.

The fifteen young men and women were chosen from schools across the country and will be placed across the Bank’s network of Branches where they will experience classroom and on-the-job training. During the seven-month period, the apprentices will be trained in banking operations and have the opportunity to learn and understand

the needs of the less fortunate via the community initiative styled ‘Care-A-Van’ aspect of the apprenticeship programme.

A day of fun and relaxation will also be part of the Youth Link experience.

Upon completion of the programme, successful apprentices will receive the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) from the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA) through the Council for Technical & Vocational Training (CTVET). With this qualification, the apprentices will be eligible for jobs within the Caricom Region.

In a release the Bank said

The fifteen apprentices

the programme was introduced in Guyana in 2008 after being part of the Republic Bank Limited, Trinidad and Tobago Power to Make a Difference initiative for over twenty years.

The programme was developed to bridge the gap between the end of the participants’ school life and the start of their career.

The programme is geared to guide the apprentices through a process of personal and professional growth and will teach the youths valuable skills for professional and social development, thus making them more marketable in their career pursuits.

14Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 18, 20189

Elections have FOR YOUR consequences The cries of a reluctant Guyanese voter

THERE was once a time, during the 18th century in Guyana that the colonies of Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo were under the control of the Dutch and ‘DUH (that) nah (not) governed by is a Court of Polmeicybusiness’ is a famous that consisted of persons phrase used from in oura everyappointed list that day conversations. emerged from theWhen College weofmake thisinremark, it Keizers, an electoral means havethat zerohad in-no collegewe system regard forissue. the will of the terest in an people.

It is sad when this Theismasses hadwhile no say phrase applied over government during to this describing our attitude period.

The first The mass-based public advocacy. poselections wereisheld Guyture of ‘Duh nahin me ana in 1953, thereafter in business’ is what led to times of independence, free what arguably worst and is fair electionsthe were practime for governance in tically non-existent. From Guyana’s modern history, the deadly slave rebellions to experienced between 19992015. Governance 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

the sacrifices of the Enmore Martyrs, the right to have a say in your destiny was not an easy road for Guyanese.

It is for this reason, I cannot heed the cries of those who positive outcome; in other refuse to vote. cases,The it could be negative. reluctant Guyanese Numerous issues associvoter normally presents ated with the arrogance of several arguments; ‘It ain’t government in Guyana in if gon mek no difference theI past disappeared, vote have or don’t’, ‘ things ain’t gon change anyway’, because of the decision of ain’t even know is who the‘Imasses at the last elecon the ballot’, ‘politics tions to demonstrate their is a dirty game’, ‘I box. too busy power at the ballot trying to some survive’, ‘What Further, ominous elections got to do with the things with life-and-death price of cheese?’. None of implications are no longer these arguments can witharound to the results standdue scrutiny.

These of are thesimply last polls.

The excuses tosimple justify pleasure of government laissez-faire citizenship. critics and reporters driving 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

One of the most sacred aspects of a democratic political system is the ability to choose leaders of your choice. It provides the freedom and opportunity to exthis period destructive press yourof will at different and vindictive government intervals. If you are upset, would appreciate danyou express that the at the balgers of going to the Cheddi lot box. If you are happy Jagan Airport withInternational the state of affairs, you toreflect fulfil anthis overseas obligaby exercising your franchise to register tion as an anti-government your satisfaction. activist and havingRefusal to faceto flexdreaded your electoral muscles the possibility youdrugs essentially lose ofmeans having planted right to complain. inyour your luggage.

These That being simple fears areestablished, no more bad leadership fears the dilidue to the wise choice gent voter, it is for this reason made

by Guyanese.

Thesethe Guyanese were denied consequences cannot be chance to have local govunderestimated, especialernment elections for 22 ly in light of the fact that 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 elecmed Shaeed, a representative tion, besides its conspicuof the BIT, encouraged the participants to complete the five-week programme as it provides a platform for elevation. “It is the mandate of BIT to offer a skill set to youths and vulnerable sections of the society, so that they can be equipped with

years under the PPP/Civic government, even though the Constitution explicitly states that local government elections are a vital part of democracy. Guyana could ous mechanisms, a forhave had 11 localisgovernmal process by which you ment elections in 22 years. make a decision.

When During the period of the you cut through the razzle denial of this right there and dazzle of campaigning was the installation of 35 and all the shining ComfanInterim Management mittees in 11 years. fares, it (IMCs) is a wise choice IMCs are the toThe make which cancomplete affect opposite the expression from whatofyour children of the willinof their the people, will carry lunch it is the will of your the dictatorikits to whether counal gets authority.

Friends and try a bad reputation cronies are imposed on the in the international arena. communities to exercise the This practice of democraparty’s agenda. cy has been in place since In the final analysis, the 17th century.

It is the return of localthe deresults of the May 11th 2015 elections that 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 thenecessary drug the requisiteon skills empire in Guyana and the to become more competiconcomitant positive ef-the tive… We are hoping at fects that come along with end of this five-week prodealing gramme condignly you can lookwith at this this scourge.

The programme as oneaverage that you Guyanese party-goer can build on,” he said.can now Additionally, remark: ‘Is a Chairlong man of the ETI Mr. Dileep Singh, said the ICT train-

ATTENTION !

time me ain’t see people shooting mocracyup to in theparties’.

Guyanese This is due process to the fact that political presents the opportunity for voters Guyanese made a decision choose representation totoelect an incorruptible at the community President who stands level. for The myriad issues that law and order of and cannot are on the ballot range be enticed by the overtures from, but not restricted ofto, theaccountability, drug empire. Again, indeyour safety go pendence vwhen partyyou control, out to have a goodparking time youth leadership, can be traced right back to 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 ages i n g between program m e 18-30 being chose not to participate offered by the Officeinof the midterm theUSFirst Ladyelections. is timely, The question is: vulnerable who is to as it targets beyouth. blamed forhave low avoter “We beauturnout by youths tiful country to globaldevelop ly? or young andPoliticians young people are the people?

On one hand, thereto most important assets

By Ronald Austin Jr.

is the argument that politicians are out of desilting touch withof meters, the issues that impact the lives neighbourhood trenches, ofthe young people.

On the clearing of alleyways, other there is of theroads, valthe hand, resurfacing idthe contestation that if polconstruction and reiticians to and address pair ofrefuse bridges more. your issues, is you on who When you itponder the must delve into occasion, it is advocacy difficult to and address issues. agree with those the cries of a It reluctant is a crimeGuyanese against your voter. fellow citizens to allow 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 of that William wantwords to ensure you are Lyon Mckenzie equipped for thatKing, task,” ‘Where [there] is little or Mr. Singh said.

The pronogramme public isopinion, there being facilitated isby likely to be bad gov-At Mr. Fitzroy Younge. ernment, which sooner or the completion of the prolater becomes autocratic gramme participants will government.’ receive accredited certifi-

Office of the First Lady launches ICT training programme in Anna Regina

that development that we [Guyana] have, and we

cates from the BIT. (Ministry of the Presidency)

Principal of the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI) Mr. Rawl Pearce delivers remarks at the opening of the fourth BIT-ICT training programme.

THE Office of the First Lady, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) on Monday launched the fourth Information Communication Technology (ICT) training programme for the year at the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI), Anna Regina in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region (Region Two).

During the launch of the programme which is aimed at providing youths with skills in the areas of information technology, literacy and numeracy, entrepreneurship, sexual reproductive health, and Science, Technology Engineering and

Mathematics (STEM), Principal of the ETI, Mr. Rawl Pearce offered two-year scholarships each in ICT, to the Valedictorian and the Best Graduating student of the BIT-ICT programme.

“We are going to offer scholarships for two years for the valedictorian and best graduating student. Let this be the drive to push you to do well in this programme,” he stated. Mr. Pearce urged the 30 participating youths to take full advantage of the opportunity afforded them to further their education. He reminded that ICT is becoming increasingly important and is used in almost every facet of life.

Meanwhile, Mr. Moham-

Representative of the Office of the First Lady, Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Yvonne Smith, ddresses the participants of the BIT-ICT training programme

10

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Understanding Energy...

Long-term outlook for local content

MANY Guyanese are understandably curious about future local content and how Guyana will develop the capacity to deliver that content. Groups such as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) are aggressively pushing for policies to mandate specific levels of local content in the emerging oil-and-gas industry.

While it’s impossible to say with certainty what shape Guyana’s future industries will take, we can look to international examples of oil development for guidance.

It’s important to note that Guyana is unique because our early oil development will be happening exclusively offshore. Offshore development is an especially technology-intensive and high-skilled form of oil-and- gas extraction, compared to onshore drilling, requiring a variety of very specialied services.

Aberdeen, Scotland, which has come up before in this column, is a similar and interesting example. It was a small city that was traditionally reliant on one industry--fishing-- in this case, which then saw incredible development as a result of major offshore oil discoveries.

Aberdeen became an international centre for companies that provide the kinds of hyper-specialised services that are important to offshore drilling, such as underwater seismic studies, helicopter transport, and commercial diving.

But local content is important long before an oil region starts dealing with that kind of specialisation. Scotland had a long history of advanced engineering and technology, which Guyana lacks.

At the beginning of oil development, the first step towards developing in the Aberdeen model is focusing on local content that is focused on the basic services a country can provide.

Businesses such as caterers, bakeries, transport services and other industries are already seeing positive impacts in the form of contracts and subcontracts to provide needed supplies and logistical support to the oil-and-gas industry and related industries.

The list of Exxon contractors released by the Department of Public Information is full of just this type of basic non-technical enterprise that is nonetheless employed by a major multinational company and its top contractors.

The next tier of local content involves specialisation and develop-

ment directly related to oil extraction.

Guyana’s engineering, machining, and marine logistics companies are jumping on this opportunity; they are led by companies such as Guysons Oil and Gas, which recently obtained the prestigious ISO:9001 certification, an international measure for quality management. These firms have existing technical capacity and many are seeing oil as a huge opportunity for the future, even if they are not yet ready to meet many of the industry’s needs.

Joint ventures with international companies are a good example of this stage of capacity-building; combining foreign capital and sector expertise with local knowledge and manpower.

By working with the oil companies and training to meet specialised industry needs, companies can try to position themselves to be major players in an emerging industry and to build capacity organically.

Already, at least four other companies are pursuing ISO:9001 certification with the help of the Centre for Local Business Development.

These companies hope they can follow the same course as many other developing oil regions have; orienting existing industrial skills towards oil

and gas development and gaining key sector-specific skills with an eye to the future.

Many of the international oil field services companies in Aberdeen got their start as smaller local players in engineering, aviation, or building.

They gained specialised experience and a reputation in the industry through their work in oil and gas; and that eventually allowed them to be globally significant players, whose skills were applicable anywhere there was significant offshore drilling. Their skills also enabled them to play significant roles in newer industries as well,such as offshore wind that demand many of the same capabilities.

Achieving an outcome such as this is a balancing act. Governments must be careful to not stifle investment by requiring local content that Guyana doesn’t yet have the ability to provide, but still invests in building that kind of capacity for the future.

Thankfully, Guyana’s local companies are showing signs of steady progress towards that goal, even without a local content policy in place.

GEA commences Energy Month activities at Region Two schools Under activities for CARICOM Energy Month (CEM) 2018, six primary schools were selected by the Regional Educational Office to attend the Guyana Energy Agency’s (GEA) ‘Express Your Energy’ activity which was held in the auditorium of Cotton Field Secondary School Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam).

The event, which was held on Friday, jump-started GEA’s energy conservation activities and attracted sixty students of grades five and six. The students hailed from: 8th of May Primary School, Sparta Primary, CV Nunes Primary, Taymouth Manor Primary, Queenstown Primary and Suddie Primary.

A group photo of students, teachers and GEA representatives that participated in the ‘Express Your Energy’ activities.

The high energy and exuberance with which the students and their teachers, who joined in to support their pupils, conveyed their interpretation and knowledge of energy sources, sustainability, energy conservation and energy efficiency through artwork/pictorial illustrations, word search and conservation tips caused a few spectators to flock the windows of the venue.

According to Public Communications Officer Taiwo Williams, from its conception in 2012, the activity has targeted Primary School Students and was hosted this year by the GEA, in collaboration with the Hinterland Electrification Company (HECI) through the IDB funded Public Awareness Project -” Promoting the Benefits of Renewable Energy Technologies and the Rational Use of Energy”.

TURN TO PAGE

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

11

No new oil concessions to reopen – as gov’t fine-tunes new legislation, model contract

–– Energy Dept. says suspension to be lifted early 2020

By Svetlana Marshall THE suspension of the issuing of Petroleum Prospecting Licences for the remaining oil blocks would be lifted in 2020, according to Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe.

“We have currently in place a moratorium on licensing right now because we need to understand the lay of the land,” Dr. Bynoe said while fielding questions during a press conference at the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday.

He explained that while significant players such as Tullow, TOTAL, Anadarko and ExxonMobil are already in the deep water, there is much still to be done, noting that only a small portion of the Guyana Basin has been de-risked.

“Yes, Exxon has done some amount of appraisal and

development work now going forward, but there are still significant areas in deep water that has not been de-risked.

Near shore, very little or no activity; onshore, no activity at all… so in short, what we are aiming at is to look at what currently obtains and to build on that,” Dr. Bynoe explained.

Even so, the director of the Department of Energy said oil companies continue to signal their interest in acquiring concessions in the Guyana Basin with significant interest in Block ‘C’.

“We do understand that there is significant interest in Block ‘C’ but we are not anxious to allocate Block ‘C’,” Dr. Bynoe told reporters. He said while there is considerable interest in Block ‘C,’ such is not the case for shallow and onshore areas.

It was explained that during the period of suspen-

Department of Energy Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe

sion, the Department of Energy had initiated the process of revising the current legislative framework, in addition to the designing of a model contract that will be used for future Production Sharing Agree-

ments (PSAs). It is intended that the moratorium would be lifted when the legislative framework is revised and a new model PSA is in place.

“Therefore, we do not envisage a possible licensing

round maybe until early 2020, and that’s being realistic…,” Dr. Bynoe said.

The Department of Energy is also analysing the possibility of creating a package with requisite data that would give investors greater insight into the resource base, so as to generate greater interest in shallow and onshore exploration interest.

ExxonMobil’s affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is the operator of the Stabroek Block, holding a 45 per cent interest, while Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent interest.

The Canje Block, located offshore Guyana east of the Stabroek Block, is also operated by EEPGL which holds 35 per cent interest, JHI 40 per cent interest and Mid-Atlantic 25 per cent interest.

The Kaieteur Block, located offshore Guyana to the north and adjacent to the

Stabroek and Canje blocks, is also operated by EEPGL which holds 50 per cent interest. Ratio Energy Limited holds 25 per cent interest and Ratio Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent interest.

Tullow Guyana B.V and Eco (Atlantic) Guyana Inc are operators in the Orinduik Block. Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Inc. has a 40 per cent interest in the Orinduik Block, while Tullow Oil has 60 per cent.

Meanwhile, in the case of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, it was granted an exploration licence for the Roraima Block offshore Guyana in 2012.

Guyana is divided into two petroleum basins named Guyana and Takutu, respectively. The Guyana Basin is further divided into two basins, Onshore and Offshore.

According to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), NABI Oil And Gas Inc. and ON ENERGY Inc. have concessions within Onshore Guyana Basin, located some 150 miles from Guyana’s coastline.

Minister Henry tours special needs centre

MINISTER of Education Nicolette Henry on Thursday toured the special education facility located in the compound of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and was updated on the progress of works.

The tour was part of a follow up to another tour she had at the facility earlier this year An initiative of the Ministry of Public Health, the Centre for Stimulation for Children, Youth and Adolescent with Special Education Needs Associated with Disabilities was commissioned in December 2017 and was handed over to the Education Ministry following the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

The facility comprises several classrooms, a physical rehabilitation room, a conference room, play area and training quarters. The CPCE was considered the most suitable location for the establishment of the facility that will train special needs educators.

The centre was created as

part of a CARICOM-Cuba bilateral agreement. It currently has a staff 14 Cuban and local specialists who evaluate cases that come to the facility.

The facility deals with some five students per week, ranging in age from 3 – 18 years old. The students are usually sent from the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) Special Education Needs (SEN) programme.

Aside from evaluation and diagnostic services, other services provided include: language and occupational therapy, physical psychological treatment, prevention, rehabilitation and social integration services with a psycho pedagogical and socially inclusive approach.

The facility will foster the development of processes of prevention, diagnosis, early stimulation learning for life and social inclusion favouring access to culture, services and honourable employment.

Minister of Education Nicolette Henry (right) on the tour with coordinator of the centre, Keon Cheong (Samuel Maughn photo)

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 20183

Linden to Lethem road remains priority

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 4, 2018 12

–– even with change of government in Brazil, says top Brazilian diplomat

A SENIOR government official from Brazil’s Ministry of External Relations has revealed that the commitment to build an all-weather road from Lethem to Linden remains a priority for the country even with a change of government.

Head of the Division of Venezuela, Colombia and Guyana, Ana Beatriz Nogueira, recently said “The organs responsible for infrastructure in Brazil are aware of the strategic importance of the Linden-Lethem road.”

She further explained that while some key appointments are political in nature, the secretary of infrastructure assured that the necessary budgetary arrangements have already been made.

“They have a technical corps that is not usually affected by political changes,” she said.

Nogueira led a delega-

tion of some 30 officials from various agencies in Brazil to meet with Guyanese counterparts at the Seventh Meeting of the Bonfim-Lethem Border Committee that was held in

Bonfim on October 30 and 31, 2018.

Chief Transport Planning Officer in Guyana’s Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Patrick Thompson, provided an update on

Chief Transport Planning Officer, Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Patrick Thompson, while making a presentation at the meeting

the project during discussions.

“The paving of 454 kilometres of the Linden to Lethem Road and the construction of a deep sea port remain priorities on the infrastructure agenda for Guyana,” he expressed.

The Linden to Lethem roadway is being done in phases, starting with the approximately 125 km section from Linden to Mabura Hills. Some US$120M has been guaranteed by the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

In his update at the meeting, the chief planning officer stated that a recently identified international engineering firm is expected to begin the design process in January 2019, which is expected to last for 10 months.

The Guyana-Brazil Joint Commission on In-

Sub-committees discussing the various areas of mutual cooperation at the University of Brazil in Bonfim

Head of the Division of Venezuela, Colombia and Guyana--Brazilian Ministry of External Affairs-- Ana Beatriz Nogueira frastructure is pursuing the detailed designs for Phase 2 of the project, which is the 320 km section between Mabura Hills and Lethem.

“We are looking forward eagerly to the day when the journey between Georgetown and Lethem is reduced to a mere four hours,” Thompson added.

Meanwhile, a study is being conducted by a firm from the Netherlands to determine the location for a deep sea port close to the mouth of the Demerara, Essequibo or the Berbice River.

“Once completed, Guyana will advertise for expressions of interest from national and international firms desirous of constructing and operating the port in a public-private partnership with the Government of Guyana,” he revealed.

Despite looming implications of political changes in Brazil, the border committee made progress on a number of issues including

the re-establishment of the Bilateral Commission on Police Cooperation and Drugs with its first meeting set for March 29, 2019.

During the discussions, representatives in the security forces of both nations committed to working closer to curb cross border crime. Brazil has agreed to offer training in the initial instance to 10 Guyanese police officers in identifying vehicular theft.

The two sides were also able to agree on collaboration to combat plant diseases, particularly the Carambola Fruit Fly, which has had implications for trade.

Other areas discussed were health, education, environment, judicial cooperation and the International Road Transport Agreement.

Guyana and Brazil have agreed to meet again shortly to evaluate areas of cooperation.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

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Gov’t to supervise Berbice Bridge –– gives word there’ll be no changes to operational structure, BBCI Board

By Lisa Hamilton AMIDST ongoing dispute over proposed increases of the Berbice Bridge toll, the government has moved to take over operation and maintenance of the Bridge until an amicable resolution can be met.

In a press statement on Monday, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson stated that the decision takes immediate effect and is in accordance with the powers conferred upon the Minister by Sections 4 (1) and 11 of the Berbice River Bridge Act. A portion of Section 4 (11) states: “A function exercisable by the Concessionaire may, be exercised by the Government -- (a) in the event of a national emergency declared by the President; or (b) if the Minister determines that - (i) its exercise is necessary or expedient in the interests of public safety; or the Concessionaire has defaulted in the performance of its obligations under the Concession Agreement…”

An Order regarding such, cited as the Berbice River Bridge (Public Safety) Toll Order 2018, was gazetted on November 1, 2018 and signed by the Minister.

Meanwhile, Patterson’s address to the public took into consideration that the Board of Directors of the Berbice Bridge Company Limited (BBCI) had demanded a 360 per cent increase on the toll for all users set to take effect from November 12, 2018. Patterson referred to the move as “draconian”, “unreasonable” and “unwarranted”, which will only become burdensome to Berbi-

cians and the public at large.

He further stated that the demand for an increase in toll is based on a “flawed formula and computation” and, as such, the government will do everything in its powers to alleviate disruption and ensure smooth function.

“On the basis of correspondence between both sides as recently as over the past few days, we do not envision a swift resolution to this crisis. Therefore, in accordance with the powers conferred upon the minister

by Sections 4 (1) and 11 of the Berbice River Bridge Act, in the interests of public safety, the minister issued

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson

of our citizens are dependent on the continuous operations and use of the Berbice Bridge and we should not allow anyone to unreasonably and capriciously endanger their livelihood and public order in one of our vital regions.

“The Ministry of Public Infrastructure would like to assure the citizens of Berbice and the public in general, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, that there will be no change to the present toll structure and all exemptions presently in place will remain in effect,” Patterson said.

On Monday Patterson also confirmed to the Guyana Chronicle that thus far no

The Berbice River Bridge

(today) an Order declaring that the functions of the Concessionaire to maintain and operate the Bridge shall be exercised by the Government of Guyana as of 5th November 2018 until the date the

Minister specifies by notice on the cessation of the threat to public safety,” Patterson stated.

NO FALLOUT He added that no staffing complement, contractors or

suppliers would be affected during the temporary arrangement and that the government will be continuing its dialogue with BBCI in expectation of an amicable resolution.

“The truth is, too many

changes have been made to the operational structure of the BBCI’s Board. “The Ministry has met with the BBCI personnel on the ground and arrived at a solution, the BBCI staff will continue the

day-to-day running of the bridge. No changes to the operational structure should be changed. No changes to the board will be made, the sole instruction is that they should operate as normal [and that] no toll increases should be made,” he said.

Just last Friday the BBCI, in a letter to Patterson, had offered that in turn for the withdrawal the proposed toll increases the government could view increasing the company’s concession period from 21to 40 years as an option. According to the Board of Directors, this would avoid the implementation of the toll increases announced on October 16, 2018 and the implementation of increases in the immediate future.

Providing further insight on this yesterday, BBCI’s Public Relations Consultant Kit Nascimento told this newspaper: “The Bridge Company thought that it would reach out to the government to see if it can find a solution and if the government would sit down with the bridge company and look for that solution and we proposed a solution.”

However, Patterson had since stated that although their proposal would be discussed at Cabinet on Wednesday, the government has no intention of abandoning its pursuit of legal advice.

Meanwhile, when the Guyana Chronicle put forward several questions to Nascimento regarding the recent unfolding, he stated: “The Company is consulting its lawyers.”

Gov’t successfully managing influx of Venezuelans-Minister Felix

MINISTER of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix, on Monday commended the efforts of the National Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee in managing the influx of Venezuelan migrants; successfully averting potential crises that are symptomatic of migratory activities.

This Committee comprises various government agencies and international bodies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Taking into account that the influx of migrants was a relatively novel challenge that the govern-

ment was faced with, the committee’s work has significantly stabilised the situation by ensuring that assistance is directed to where it is most needed.

Coordination with the international agencies has also paved the way for the acquisition of food and other relief items and the introduction of helpful tools such as the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), which hitherto, was not available to the government.

“Support from the international community assisted us in brining focus to a number of areas… These sessions [fortnightly Committee meetings] bring together a number of issues which can enable us to plan and

move forward with our administration of migrants. When we started, all we knew was that people were assembling here and there, but since then we have been able to provide some sort of temporary shelter for some, while others have been finding shelters for themselves… The coordination has been extremely useful in creating an understanding of what the migrant issues are, what the government is doing and what the international community is doing,” Minister Felix explained.

However, he also said that there is no room for complacency at this stage; noting that there are still areas that require much more work, particularly as it

relates to the settling of migrants in the Barima-Waini (Region One). “This is a work in progress. My assessment is that both the international agencies and us have been sharing information and we understand the challenges out there,” the Minister pointed out. Meanwhile at Monday’s Committee meeting, it was disclosed that the current number of documented migrants stands at 2,943. These persons have also been screened and vaccinated by personnel from the Ministry of Public Health. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

‘A huge hit, as always’ –– say patrons of Farmers’ Market Day 2018

By M Margaret Burke THEY came from near and far; some from as far as Mainstay on the Essequibo Coast to set up shop. And they had only six hours in which to do it; from 06:00 to 12:00hrs.

The occasion was Farmers’ Market Day 2018, held Saturday on D’Urban Park just off Brickdam and Vlissengen Road here in the city; and hosted for the third consecutive year by the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).

And from all accounts, it was a surefire hit as always, according to Andrea Seechun, who came all the way from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) to represent the Adventure 28 group; although it was a first for her, she said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Most of their products were fruits and vegetables and seasonings.

“Within an hour, everything was gone,” she said.

“The response from the public was tremendous, and deed sure, I look forward to another Farmers Market Day very soon.”

It was also a first for Samuel Blackman, Director of B and S Greenfields Cane Juice.

Said he: “I must say that it was exciting; a lot of persons are very excited about the product that I sell, which is pasteurised sugarcane juice.

“This is the first in Guy-

ana and I am excited about the growth of my company and the further expansion, in terms of my product getting on the entire outskirts of Guyana.”

He said that he was very pleased with the response of the public, most of whom tasted his product on the spot and immediately there were favourable responses.

Other than that, there were no challenges, he said. Everything went very smoothly; things were well organised, even though he lost out a bit by arriving a tad late.

Jergle Lamazon of Wines, Juices and Shakes is what we would call “an old hand” at this sort of thing, as this was the third time that his company was participating in the event.

which is the private sector who normally imports packaging materials, to come on board so that they can see what is lacking. They are the ones who are importing, so they would actually be a part of assisting us when it comes to packaging.

“If only we can have that one-on-one contact when it comes to we the agro-processors...

“Then they have the business community who import stuff. So, if it is that they can bring in these materials, then we will buy from them and then they would buy from us; once the cost is right.”

Since the launch of the event back in 2016 under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, the GMC said it has known nothing but overwhelming responses;

and the idea is to promote what’s available here by way of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables and their by-products.

At the same time, farmers are given an opportunity to develop market connections and build relationships with their customers.

According to Packaging Facilities Manager Celestine Butters,invitations were sent out this year to more than 40 farmers, among them agro-processors; growers of plants and seedlings; and those who sell from fresh fruits to vegetables and ground provisions, ducklings and meats of all kinds among other produce, and that in all, there were about 700 local items on display.

“Because of this,” she said, meaning the opportunity to display their wares all in

POSITIVE RESPONSES And he, too, reported having had positive responses to his products.

“My wine ran out and I had to send for more,” Mr Lamazon said, adding: “And many people are saying that they need to see much more in the supermarkets.”

The only two flies in the ointment for him, however, which he hopes to address shortly, are getting properly registered, and sourcing proper packaging for his wines.

Said he: “I would like for the business community,

GMC Packaging Facilities Manager Ms. Celestine Butters

Permanent Secretary Ms. Delma Nedd along with several GMC staff members

one place, “they have the exposure of other people, such as exporters, housewives and many other persons who come and meet with some of them; getting themselves au fait, as well as buying things that exist locally.”

Ms. Andrea Seechun of Region Six

ALL HOME-GROWN As she later observed, people are often astonished to learn that many of the products they purchase are made locally and that as such, this year’s market day not only gave exposure to farmers and agro-processors, but also allowed many people

to know where to source the many excellent products available there.

Noting that the annual exposure really does make a world of difference to all parties involved, Ms Butters said: “As we stand here today, it is so overwhelming; many of them are saying, ‘I am sold out.’ We have Mr. Luke coming all the way from Mainstay and he is asking to be invited whenever again there is another such event.

“And there are so many more people; even the meats had to be replenished because

they have been sold out.”

Among products people were mainly after that day were fresh fruits and vegetables; ducks, both plucked and the little ducklings to rear and coconut oil.

Even NAREI (the National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute), which was a part of the market day activities this year, was sold out and had to replenish their stocks again and again.

The only disappointment this year, Ms Butters said, was that because of the early-morning start, those who came with big baskets to do loads of shopping had to go away almost empty-handed; by the the time they arrived, everything was long gone.

But all is not lost. According to Ms Butters, because of the high demand for the event, and because of all the enthusiasm it has generated, the GMC is looking at December 15 to have another Farmers Market Day. “So far,” she said, “all of the expenses have been borne by GMC: the tents, chairs, tables and everything, but we need to look at it now, where the participants should be a little more involved in having to pay a little stipend.”

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

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Revolutionary initiative –– Bill to allow moveable property as bank collateral coming

–– consultations held with lawyers

Legal Consultant, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Tom Johnson (Delano Williams photo)

AS stakeholders continue to be engaged about the Moveable Security Bill the Guyana Bar Association was on Saturday given an in-depth examination of the provisions of the Bill and given a chance to make inputs at a workshop held at the Cara Lodge.

The workshop was conducted by Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Legal Consultant, Tom Johnson, who carried out his first exploratory mission in Guyana in January of this year.

Attorney General Basil Williams delivered the opening remarks at the event.

“To the lawyers present, we are prepared to receive your inputs and demonstrate the applicability of this bill,” Williams said.

President of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) Kamal Ramkarran thanked the

facilitators for providing the opportunity for legal minds to better understand the provisions of the Bill and what it would mean for them.

“It is extremely beneficial for us to be fully aware of the legal issues arising out of this legislation and to find ways to make full use of it when it comes into force,” Ramkarran said during his address.

In the works as far back as 2002, the Moveable Security Bill seeks to allow for moveable property to be used as collateral when seeking access to finance. Generally, such transactions are not considered secure, so lending agencies are skeptical to use such assets as collateral.

However, implementation of the bill will now see such transactions becoming secure.

“The law governing secure transactions rely on complex legal and equitable rules for determining propriety amongst claimants

competing for the same assets when a debtor defaults. These rules increase uncertainty for lenders,” Williams said.

The Inter-America Development Bank (IDB) funded project is being rolled out by the Ministry of Business in collaboration with the Ministry of Legal Affairs and aims to allow the use of moveable property as collateral when seeking to access finance.

Williams called the initiative “very revolutionary” for what it would mean for many small businesses in Guyana and access to finances.

“Farmers and miners have difficulty using their livestock and minerals as collateral. Access to credit in the existing system increases the risk for financial institutions, deters foreign direct investments and impedes access to finance for small and medium-sized business,” Williams explained.

“The solution? The

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC addressing the gathering

Moveable Property and Security Bill 2018 provides for a comprehensive integrated framework for secure transactions in moveable property.

In this framework all moveable property assets qualify

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC addressing the gathering

GEA commences Energy Month ...

Shondelle Hercules, District Education Officer Primary, who gave remarks on behalf the Regional Education Officer Ag Miss Nicola Matthews, expressed thanks to GEA and for hosting the activity in Region 2. She said that, “our office appreciate this timely initiative which was educational and presented in a fun format which both students and teachers enjoyed…The activities that were done can be integrated

into our school’s curriculum….”.

Primary Officer Netram Doobay said that “… the activity, even though it focused on energy, demonstrated extensive curriculum integration as the tasks the students had to complete exposed them to Social Studies, Grammar, Science, Art and would even aid them in composition writing…”.

He too expressed senti-

ments of thanks to the GEA and HECI for remembering Region 2 and choosing to have their students benefit from the exercise.

The activity was a non-competitive one, therefore students were not judged or ranked based on their illustrations.

Rather, each student (and teacher) was awarded tokens of appreciation as an honorary ‘Energy Champion’.

The energy themed tasks

pupils completed were word searches, listing of energy conservation measures and using art to depict renewable energy sources.

One of the activities planned by GEA to commemorate CARICOM Energy Month (CEM) 2018, the main aim of ‘Express your Energy’ is to tap into the creativity of future energy champions, children, by allowing them to express their view and perspectives

on energy related matters in a non-competitive environment.

In keeping with the promotion of sustainable energy development, CARICOM Energy Month 2018 (November 1-30) is being celebrated under the theme “Clean Energy, Good Governance and Regulation: Generating Growth and Resilience”.

The GEA in the exercise of its mandate, continues to promote energy efficiency,

as collateral, regardless of item or title.”

The initiative comprises of two parts: the development of a legislative framework and the establishment of an electronic collateral registry -- The Secure Traction Regime project. It is expected to work alongside other credit systems already in place.

“Together with the newly introduced credit information system and legislation, this legislation will enhance risk-assessment management and mitigation for lenders,” Williams said.

Williams recalled having first encountered such a system in Kenya, where cattle are a very important commodity and persons were able to use their cattle as a means of wealth.

“I was so happy to see that farmers in fact utilise their livestock as collateral,” said Williams.

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energy conservation and the development and utilisation of alternative sources of energy consistent with Guyana’s energy thrust and Green State Development Strategy, serves as an annual feature in fulfilling part of the mandate of the GEA by disseminating information essential to improving public awareness on sustainable energy, conservation and overall energy efficiency.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Gov’t takes novel approach to psycho-social counselling –– to help traumatised kids adopt coping mechanisms

By Lisa Hamilton BY the end of November, a number of children will begin benefitting from the country’s first ever mobile psychosocial unit to be launched by the Ministry of Education.

The project, which costs some $16.3M and is designed to cater for children’s psychological and social counselling needs, will be targetting from nursery to secondary-school-age children in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

It will be managed by the ministry’s Schools Welfare Unit through an initial workforce of 10 counsellors, with the aid of such other ministries as the Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Social Protection for the provision of specialists.

The Unit was commissioned on Monday at the Department of Education by Minister of Education, Ms Nicolette Henry, with the assistance of Chief Schools Welfare Officer, Ms Glenna Vyphius.

Its main focus will be to increase the learners’ ability to exercise control and reduce their stress levels; to enhance learners’ resilience; to enable them to use the most effective coping skills to offer a quick response to trauma; and to maximise support available from family and friends.

In her address, Minister Henry explained that the main purpose of the unit is to enable children to receive age-appropriate psychosocial services, and to narrow the gap that exists in the education system where psychosocial support is concerned.

“This unit, Minister Henry said, “is an important part of what we’re required to do in the education sector, particularly given that in the public education system is where most of our vulnerable and disadvantaged children are attending school.

“So it is important that we provide them with the type of support that is needed in order to understand their vulnerability, and to provide the services in collaboration with other stakeholders.”

to undertake those,” Minister Henry said, adding: “It is my expectation that my staff will exercise the level of professionalism that is required to ensure that the mandate is met, and that our children, even though we’re starting out very small, will begin to have access to these services.”

The minister stated, too, that where there is need for continued services, children will be referred to the specialists, even though teachers will be working along with the Welfare Unit to identify special cases in the classrooms.

Ms Vyphius said that working along with welfare officers stationed in the various regions, areas most in need would be identified.

She thanked the minister for her vision for the nation’s children, even as she, too, encouraged those involved to give of their best to ensure that the initiative is a success.

Minister Henry and Permanent Secretary, Ms Adele Clarke examine the internal features of the mobile unit (Delano Williams photos)

JUST THE BEGINNING Although beginning with just one unit, which will initially address the concerns of Region Four, the ministry hopes to eventually acquire additional ones to cater for

the needs of the wider population.

As the counsellors prepare to meet with children where they are, Minister Henry is urging the designated personnel to demonstrate

the highest of professionalism in conducting their responsibilities.

“Our schoolchildren, our learners have a right to be heard in matters that affect their life experience in terms

of education.

“Many times we have our students with a lot of needs that are unmet; a lot of issues that are not addressed because we do not have either the capacity or the resources

Minister of Education, Ms Nicolette Henry handing over the keys of the mobile unit to Chief Schools Welfare Officer, Ms Glenna Vyphius

MORE ACCESSIBLE “This mobile unit will no doubt make counselling more accessible to many schools and communities to bring about positive behavioural changes, and ultimately a better home, a better school, a better community and, by extension, a better life,” she said.

Remarks came, too, from Deputy Chief Education Officer, Ms Ingrid Trotman, who stressed that the much-needed services of the Mobile Unit will help to positively influence school attendance and achievement.

“Learners are exposed to violence, separation, loss, disaster and trauma, and oftentimes they need support to be able to manage and cope with their feelings,” she said, adding: “The Mobile Psychosocial Welfare Unit will ensure adequate access to psychosocial services and provide the needed for support for learners to overcome such difficult and challenging experiences.

“I believe that if the well-being of learners is taken care of this will improve the level of attendance in our schools and, as you may be aware, the attendance and punctuality of learners is of major concern to us.”

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

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Herstelling AOG celebrates 50th anniversary –– with medical outreach and street expo

HUNDREDS of residents turned out at the Herstelling Assembly of God Global Outreach Centre to benefit from the services provided at a medical outreach and street expo that was held as part of the church’s 50th anniversary celebrations on Saturday.

Held in partnership with the Giving Hope Foundation, some 11 doctors were on site volunteering their services and equipment, including the church’s pastor, Dr. Ravindra Shiwnandan and his wife Michele Shiwnandan.

Services provided in-

and glucose monitoring, etc, while there was also a blood drive.

The medical outreach follows a four-day series of domestic violence combating activities that the church held a few weeks ago.

“We’ve been doing these for the past 25 years. We would do them at our church, but we would also do them at outlying communities,” Dr. Shiwnandan said.

The medical outreach is not the only way that the church has been giving back to its community and society at large. Ten years ago the

A patron’s pressure being tested at the medical outreach (Delano Williams photos)

Cake decorating is one of the courses offered at the Vocational Training Institute

cluded pap smears, vaginal inspection with acetic acid, breast examination, prostate screening, HIV testing, eye testing, blood pressure testing

church established its Vocational Skills Training Institute, aimed at helping under privileged youths in the community through training in a

number of vocational skills.

“Over the past 10 years we have trained about 3000 school dropouts and youths,” Dr Shiwnandan noted.

“We assessed the com-

ment, lack of skills; so we thought a good thing to do would be to set up an institute to help the students.”

Working in collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training, the institute offers certification in Information Technology (IT), office procedures, catering, cake decorating, cosmetology, sewing, and floral decorations. In previous years, the institute had also offered training in welding, electrical installation and joinery.

Classes are open to persons from 16 – 35 years old.

And everything is offered

ed with the European Union and the Trust Bank. All of the instructors come from our church-- generally volunteers-- they do it as a service unto the Lord.”

A batch of 97 students is scheduled to graduate from the institute today. Many of the students had their products from their classes on display at the street expo yesterday.

The activities culminate with the church’s official 50th anniversary ceremony next Sunday. Dr Shiwnan-

Students of the floral arrangements class had their work on display yesterday at the street expo

munity and we noticed that there were a lot of school dropouts and low literacy rate and problems with drugs, problems with unemploy-

free of charge.

“It’s funded basically by the church in partnership with the Government of Guyana.

In the past we’ve collaborat-

dan took the opportunity to remind that the entire public is invited to the celebrations.

GNBA targets increased accessibility for persons with disabilities The Guyana National Broadcasting Agency (GNBA) is working to increase accessibility to information for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) by 2019 with specific focus on the hearing-impaired.

Speaking with this newspaper GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers said that the agency is already in the

planning stage and such a change can see greater inclusion for those often excluded in society.

“One of the things that the GNBA will be looking at very shortly is the accessibility of persons with disabilities to broadcast materials. That is going to be very soon on the agenda because we have

come to realise that a considerable amount of Guyanese are persons with disabilities, especially those with hearing impairments,” he stated.

In many countries it is not uncommon to see sign language services being provided, especially during television news and emer-

gency broadcasts catering for the deaf or hearing-impaired.

Although this provision only tackles one disability, Sobers believes it is a just cause and necessary step towards greater inclusivity.

“We may not be able to do anything much for those with visual impairments, but for the hear-

ing-impaired there’s more that can be done for the thousands of persons in Guyana who are left out of the information flow.

“There is signing for the news and signing for other events. I know some persons have tried -- E-Networks Turn to page

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Queens College '

celebrates Diwali Students participate in the Diwali Puja- which is a tradition of the college

Students from the Lower sixth form joined hands to create this design FROM PAGE

17

GNBA targets increased accessibility for ... and NCN -- but we don’t have a policy to say that television stations must have at least one broadcast per day or one newscast per day with signing. We don’t have that, but we will be considering things to that respect,” Sobers said.

In understanding the wide spectrum of challenges which come under the umbrella of being hearing-impaired, the GNBA will also be working to ensure that

the right degrees of loudness are adhered to by broadcasters.

“Are the broadcasters transmitting at a uniform level, so that when persons move from one station to the next you don’t have to adjust the volume of the television or your radio? All those things will be examined as we prepare to increase the accessibility to information for the hearing-impaired,” Sobers said.

Research shows that individuals with hearing loss cannot understand speech in noisy places and noise often worsens the symptoms for those with disorders such as tinnitus and hyperacusis.

Meanwhile, according to a 2002 census, there were 42,577 disabled adults and 5,842 disabled children in Guyana of which 4,287 were hearing-impaired.

STUDENTS of Queen’s College joined together on Saturday to celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights, known as Diwali, with their annual Puja and Rangoli competition.

The day’s activities began early Saturday with the ‘Diwali Puja’, that has been a tradition of the college for many years. The Puja is always held in the school’s auditorium and is done the Saturday before Diwali. It is intended to usher in blessings for all students and members of the college.

Upon the completion of the Puja, there is the Rangoli competition where groups of students within the college compete to create magnificent designs, as part of the

celebrations for Diwali. Both the Puja and the competition are organised by the school’s Hindu Society.

“The Rangoli is essentially a decorative artwork and it is done on festive occasions,” President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) Dr. Vindhya Persaud, explained to the Guyana Chronicle earlier.

For this year’s competition, there were twelve teams participating and the Rangoli created by the Nobbs (L) house within the college was adjudged the best.

Diwali will be observed on Tuesday, November 6.

Another group of students from Queen’s College in the process creating their Rangoli

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

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The struggles and triumphs of Tamya Healis –– young Bartican set to graduate from UG with distinction in Economics

By Gabriella Chapman

grammes at UG,” she said.

AS Tamya Healis anxiously awaits graduation from the University of Guyana (UG) on Saturday, she anticipates her dream to take her hometown, Bartica, to higher heights in terms of development.

This 23-year-old expressed her passion to the Guyana Chronicle while sharing her prolonged years of accomplishments in Bartica. She has been an academic highflier since sitting the National Grade Six Assessment in 2007, emerging as the third best graduating student in Region Seven with 511 marks. She went on to pursue her secondary education at the Three Miles Secondary School, and in 2012, emerged as the best graduating student for Region Seven at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), with 11 subjects.

Healis said her next step after her high school graduation became blurred as she had lost her grandmother to cancer, a few days prior to the release of the CSEC results. But after a year of finding herself and consulting persons for advice on the way forward, she finally decided to venture off to UG and read for a degree in Economics.

“I consulted one of my past teachers and she suggested I try Economics. At that point I wasn’t 100 per cent into it, but I felt like this is what I needed to do. So I came to UG and at first it was a battle, after all Economics is one of the toughest pro-

UG STRUGGLES Healis said her maintenance at UG became quite a hassle, that it forced her to juggle her studies with multiple side jobs to sustain herself throughout the four years.

“As you know, a girl has needs and not everything your parents can provide for you, so that’s when I started venturing off into part-time jobs so as to be able to maintain myself. The first one I did was selling honey roasted nuts to my classmates, which was very profitable. It even grew and ended up at the canteen, so I had a large customer base.

And that’s how most of my personal bills got paid off,” the young woman shared.

“But after I grew, I moved on to other things. I was actually asked to tutor one of the courses under the business management department (Computer Studies). So I eventually did away with the honey roasted business and focused more on the tutoring.

And that lasted throughout my university life and still is ongoing for a two-year period,” she added.

In addition to the tutoring, because she always had a love for nature and taking pictures, Healis shared that she grew into the habit of capturing scenes and sharing those captures on her social media platforms.

This grabbed the attention of her fan base on social media, to the extent that persons started asking her why she hasn’t tried photography.

The constant confrontation

of the question lead her to take on the challenge, so she saved her tutoring money and purchased a professional camera and started photography as another part-time job.

“Balancing those two jobs and studies was quite challenging, especially coming down to my final year.

I had a lot of times wanted to give up. But there was always that inner voice that said ‘keep going, you’re on your last lap’. Now here I am today, awaiting graduation day where I’ll graduate with a distinction in Economics.

So my four years of rough road paid off,” she said with a glistening smile.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED Though losing sight of her lifelong goal after her grandmother’s death, Healis said that her tertiary achievements were not coincidental.

In fact, it has always been her childhood dream and she knew all along what she will become one day.

“From a very tender age, it wasn’t clear as day, but I knew I wanted to move Bartica forward. Because knowing that [in] Region Seven most persons vote for the green party and growing up, we were under the leadership of the red party, and we were starved in many areas under their leadership. And seeing Bartica being constrained for so many years, and knowing its potential, that’s what

started to drive me. I kept telling myself ‘I gotta do well in school, I gotta make that step to make this place better’,” she said.

The young woman shared that what she really loves about Bartica, is its potential.

And knowing that under bad management, or persons who do not have that vision, the potential can be lost, she said that it motivates her to be educated and take up these roles so that she can make her hometown a better place.

PLANS AFTER GRADUATION

After graduation on Saturday, Healis said her next step is to work along with leaders in her hometown to give it the boost it so deserves.

“Seeing that Bartica is on the verge of becoming a tourist destination, I believe that everyone in Bartica needs to be on that very page, otherwise the goal will fail. The people are the ones who have to ensure that it gets to that point and be maintained because their actions play an integral role in the development and having it being sustained,” she said

She added that sensitisation through seminars, workshops and outreach, among others, are most definitely important to ensure that everyone knows the role they have to play in development.

“Leaders are the most powerful in a community, I am by no means conforming to a specific group of leaders, I am however, conforming to being a liaison individual with the leaders, to aid as a spokesperson to assist in the execution of pushing our town on the global map,” she said emphatically.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Always be inquisitive –– Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle tells medical research conference

By Lisa Hamilton DOCTORS, nurses and medical students in Guyana were briefed on new research and findings in the local medical field and how they can use this information during the 11th Annual Guyana Medical Scientific Research Conference.

The event took place at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Sunday and was

(DCMO), Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle encouraged the audience to never lose their capacity to be inquisitive.

She underscored the need for medical practitioners to utilise research to increase their capacity on how several external factors can influence the health of Guyanese in different regions.

“I challenge you to see each patient [not only] as a unique opportunity to apply

factors.

“I recognised that a young man between the ages of 18 and 30 in that region is much more likely to interface with the health services due to stab wounds, lacerations or other violence-related injuries, than would another of a similar age in, let’s say, Region Four,” she said, adding: “These social inequalities and morbidity pat-

terns are stark reminders that when planning for our health services we have to have the human being, the person in mind… and need to ensure that we counter the social, cultural and geographic cluster of risk factors with health services specifically designed to mitigate them.”

This, she stressed, can only be accomplished through a drive to know more and a

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle

Members of the audience at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Sunday

hosted by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) Institute of Health Science Education (IHSE).

Held under the theme: ‘Refining Health Care in Guyana through continuous Medical Research’, the conference focused on a range of fields and topics such as diabetes, breast cancer, seizures, neonatal care, neurology and more.

During the opening ceremony, IHSE Director Dr. Alexandria Harvey stated that the conference places special emphasis on local research conducted on Guyanese patients.

With research being a key role in the development of quality health care, she explained that focusing on local research makes all findings directly applicable to the Guyanese society Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health, Deputy Chief Medical Officer

all that you have learnt to improve the quality of patient care and management; but also to see each patient as an opportunity to learn how the individual’s history, place of birth, where they grew up, played, worked or lived can impact their ability to achieve optimal health,” she said.

The DCMO also took the opportunity to spread awareness about the ministry’s Life Course approach; this approach recognises the environmental, economic and social factors and the consequential behavioural and biological processes that act across all stages of life to affect disease risk.

Telling of a recent trip to Region One (Barima-Waini), Dr Gordon-Boyle highlighted that there are still inequalities and patterns of morbidity in some regions of the country, which may be linked to social

willingness to serve the underprivileged in most remote regions of the country. “[You must recognise] that this is an opportunity to take all that you have learnt to make the biggest impact where it’s needed most; to change the landscape of disease patterns by including quality of healthcare one patient at a time, but doing so where it is needed most,” Dr Gordon-Boyle advised.

To further encourage re-

search, since its last conference, the IHSE has introduced a hands-on training workshop on research and statistics, as well as a mandatory residency training programme in research.

Meanwhile, the programme also allowed for breakout sessions for discussions; for the viewing of health booths and for questions to be asked and answered at the end of each session.

Health booths at the conference on Sunday (Samuel Maughn photos)

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

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Matthews Ridge to Baramita road nearing completion RESIDENTS traversing the Matthews Ridge to Baramita Road, in Region One, will have a smoother ride as a massive road rehabilitation project from Matthews Ridge to Baramita advances.

The rehabilitation of the approximately 40 kilometres of roadway commenced in March this year and is expected to wrap up before the end of the year if favourable weather permits.

A $318M contract was awarded to A and S General Construction Incorporated for the rehabilitation of laterite road. The Acting Foreman for the project, Vincent Pancham, said to date the work is 50 per cent complete. He explained that prior to the works, the road was heavily covered with ‘bush’ and was inaccessible, which required crucial work.

Pancham explained, “if it weren’t for the weather the work would have been completed. The scope of works includes: excavation of the road, the establishment of the carriageway which is 24

The Matthews Ridge to Baramita road nearing completion

feet and the placement of laterite on the road. We also had to do the drains and shoulders of the road and widen it.”

The unpredictable weather pattern continues to be a challenge for hinterland

road projects. As a result, the contract for the rehabilitation of the Matthews Ridge to Baramita roadway was extended to eight from the original six. Pancham assured that providing there

is favourable weather, the works will be completed in four weeks’ time.

“We’ve had other unforeseen challenges which were dealt with. The laterite, while accessible, was difficult to

dig up. Our excavator was occupied for one month getting the laterite. Bridges were also a challenge; we replaced the beams of the 26 bridges along the route to cross them.

Nevertheless, we do expect to

complete the works within four weeks, as long as there is good weather,” the Acting Foreman related. The Matthews Ridge to Baramita Road Project is a follow up to the major rehabilitation works undertaken in 2017 to restore the Port Kaituma to Matthews Ridge corridor which was observed to still be in good condition. The Port Kaituma to Matthews Ridge and the M4 Bridge at Matthews Ridge are already completed.

Several other rehabilitation projects are ongoing in Region One including the upgrade of roads in central Port Kaituma to concrete structures. This project is being executed

by International Imports and Supplies and the main access from the Airstrip into Port Kaituma is being completed by KP Thomas.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has allocated $1.5Billion this year for the development of hinterland roads. (DPI)

Diwali Motorcade scenes

Youths of the Golden Om Youth organisation positioned in their float

A beautiful young girl depicting Mother Lakshmi, the Goddess of Light and Wealth

A depiction of Lord Shiva, his wife Parbatie and the Lord Ganesha (seated below)

The elaborate float created by youths of the Golden Om Youth organisation in Berbice

A multitude of floats illuminating the Rupert Craig Highway

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Ming gains vital support ahead of Radical Caribbean Cup HAVING been absent from competition in Guyana for the last four years, Calvin Ming is happy to be back to participate in the final round of the Radical SR3 Caribbean Championship Series, at the South Dakota Circuit this weekend.

Calvin is currently pursuing a Degree in Civil Engineering at the Florida International University (F.I.U.) for the last three years, and at the same time competing in karting, Formula 1600, Formula 4, and the

USF2000 Championship Series in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Ming, in an invited comment, said, “I am feeling pretty good. I came in Thursday night and I had some good sessions thus far. I haven’t seen any other radicals but I think our setup is pretty solid for the weekend.”

He was the NACAM, F.I.A. Formula 4 Champion for 2016-2017 and was a driver on the ‘Pabst Racing’ team in the USF2000 Series that won

Vice-president of Princess Guyana Ramada Hamdi Karagozoglu hands over a cheque to Stanley Ming for his son Calvin.

the team championship for 2017 and 2018. He also won the prize of $5 000, for the slickest pass in the USF2000 Series for 2018.

He is being sponsored and supported for the weekend by the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, the New Thriving

Archery Guyana hosts year-end Indoor Recurve Competition ARCHERY Guyana held the first of four year-end competitions of its 2018 Championships, at the National Gymnasium on Sunday, November 4.

The indoor recurve competition began with 14 competitors in the ranking rounds of adult male, adult female and youth female categories vying for top spots.

After the opening ceremony and remarks by president of Archery Guyana, Mr

Mohamed Khan, the action began at 11:00hrs with 8 competitors in the Adult Male Individual category shooting in the 300 ranking round.

That was followed by the Ladies in the Adult Female Individual and Youth Female Individual categories also shooting in their ranking round of 300 (a ranking round of 300 is where an archer shoots 30 arrows with a possibility of scoring all 10s).

After the Individual rounds,, athletes were paired for the Mixed Team ranking rounds, with the highest scoring male paired with the lowest scoring female and vice-versa.

Part 2 of the Indoor Championships will be held on Sunday, December 2, 2018 when the 4 teams will compete for gold, silver and bronze in the semi-finals and final.

The next event (Outdoor Recurve) will be held on

Sunday, November 11, 2018 at the Carifesta Sports Club ground, Carifesta Avenue from 11:00hrs.

Archery Guyana would like to thank the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for their kind permission to use the National Gymnasium and Carifesta ground.

In photo below, participants pose after the 1st part of the Indoor Recurve 2018 Championships.

Restaurant, Ming’s Products & Services (MPS), Ming’s Optical and E-Network, for which he is most appreciative.

Last week’s results ADULT MALE INDIVIDUAL 1st place - Umasankar Madray 225 points 2nd place - Anand Mangra 198 points 3rd place - Sean Duncan 174 points 4th place - Ryan McKinnon 164 points 5th place – Latchman Singh 89 points 6th place – Mohamed Khan 82 points 7th place – Jeewanram Persaud

80 points 8th place - Nicholas Hing 76 points ADULT FEMALE INDIVIDUAL 1st place – Samira Duncan 104 points 2nd place – Narda Mohamed 101 points 3rd place – Shereeda Yusuf 65 points 4th place – Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon

29 points YOUTH FEMALE INDIVIDUAL 1st place – Talitha Kissoon 102 points 2nd place – Jessica Callender 21 points TEAM SHOOTING RESULTS 1st place - Sean Duncan & Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon 137 points 2nd place - Umasankar Madray & Nicholas Hing 123 points 3rd place - Jeewanram Persaud & Talitha Kissoon 93 points 4th place - Ryan McKinnon & Shereeda Yusuf 91 points 5th place - Anand Mangra & Jessica Callender 73 points 6th place - Samira Duncan & Mohamed Khan 73 points 7th place - Latchman Singh & Narda Mohamed 63 points The top 3 Scoring Teams moved on to the Eliminations Rounds and all the other Teams got a chance to battle it out for a final spot in the Elimination Round.

The Results were as follows: 1st place - Anand Mangra & Jessica Callender 126 points 2nd place - Ryan McKinnon & Shereeda Yusuf 121 points 3rd place - Samira Duncan & Mohamed Khan 92 points 4th place - Latchman Singh & Narda Mohamed 69 points

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending November 09, 2018

Dottin the I’s!

Pacer’s 5-5 bowls West Indies to 60-run win over Bangladesh

By Rajiv Bisnauth WEST Indies’ quest to retain the ICC Women’s World T20 title is on track after the tournament favourites defeated lower-ranked Bangladesh by 60 runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup fixture last evening at the Guyana National Stadium.

At the start of the game, Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bowl. The defending champions put up a below-par batting performance scoring 106-8, but Bangladesh struggled in the run chase and were eventually bowled out for 46 in 14.4 overs.

Medium Pacer Deandra Dottin was just too good for Bangladesh's middle and

lower-order, as she ended with 5-5, her career-best, best by a Windies bowler and in the history of the tournament.

Bangladesh might have hoped for an upset as they began the 107 chase, but that hope evaporated pretty soon.

Their technique was found out and their temperament was non-existent. Not even a single batter reached double figures, some dismissals exposed the amount of work they need to do with their batting.

Earlier, it was the batting that let the Windies down with only Kycia Knight's 24ball 32, and Stefanie Taylor who never got going during her 44-ball 28 that gave the hosts something to bowl at.

Jahanara Alam, who finished with three wickets, was

the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, but it was the spinners who dried up the scoring on a wicket predicted to be slow and low.

After a first over which cost nine runs, including a six from Deandra Dottin off Alam, the visitors hit back hard with three wickets inside the powerplay overs.

Alam claimed the wickets of Dottin and Hayley Matthews off consecutive balls at the start of the third over, before Salma Khatun trapped Shemaine Campbelle lbw at 18-3.

Things went further downhill for the defending champions with the dismissals of Natasha McLean and Britney Cooper, but Taylor and Knight added 37 for the sixth-wicket to prop the innings up.

Rumana Ahmed (2-16) and a wicket for Khadija Tul Kubra, were the other successful bowlers.

The pitch did deteriorate by the time Bangladesh batted in the second innings, and the run chase was not any ease.

Apart from Dottin, the other Windies’ bowlers all kept a tight leash on the opposition, and shared the wickets around.

This is the first standalone Women’s World Twenty20 and the first global cricket event in the region since 2010.

Guyana’s leg of the tournament continues tomorrow with India playing Pakistan at 11:00hrs and Australia takes on Ireland from 16:00hrs.

COURTS Peewee 2018 finale

West Ruimveldt to defend title against St Pius today THE curtain will come down on the 2018 COURTS Under-11 Pee Wee football tournament this afternoon at the Ministry of Education (MoE) ground on Carifesta Avenue, when 2017 champions West Ruimveldt clash with St Pius from 16:30hrs in the eagerly-awaited final.

In the lead-up to the final, West pulled off a comefrom-behind win against Mocha Arcadia in their feature semi-final last Saturday at the MoE ground to set up today’s dream final.

Mocha’s Jiheam Lewis gave the reigning champions an early scare when he fired his team ahead in the fourth minute of the 20-minute-per-half encounter, but a second-half equaliser by Mark Philips from a corner set-piece and an extra-time screamer from West Ruimveldt skipper Jonathan Andries, ensured that they have another chance today to prove that they are the best.

Ruimveldt will face St Pius, who looked like title-contenders from the early stages of the competition. St

The 2018 COURTS Pee Wee title will be decided today between West Ruimveldt and St Pius.

Pius won the first semi-final during last week’s penultimate match-day after needling the much-disciplined, defensive, Tucville team, thanks to Jamal Fraser for a well-taken shot from just outside the box, one minute from full-time.

Some of the key players in the encounter will be West skipper Andries who was last year’s MVP and Mark Philips along with St Pius’ Jamal Fraser and Kaden Wellington who stands a good chance of becoming the tournament’s Most Valuable

Player (MVP).

The day’s play will begin at 12:30hrs with 5th to 16th seeding matches while the third-place battle will kick off at 15:30hrs, followed by the grand finale at 16:30hrs.

23

GMR&SC Ignite set for today RACE fans and enthusiasts will have two action-packed days of racing when the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) stages the Ignite race meet set for today and tomorrow.

The event, which forms the basis for the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships 2018 will see competitors from Trinidad, Jamaica, Barba-

dos, United States, Canada and Europe compete in nine classes.

Tickets for the 27-race programme are on sale at $2 500; children $1 000 at B.M. Soat Auto Sales, Croal Street office. Meanwhile, VIP tickets are available at Parc Rayne and Rent-a-Tent at the cost of $17 500 for adults and $9 000 for kids, for tomorrow’s action.

Dottin the I’s!

Pacer’s 5-5 bowls West Indies to 60-run win over Bangladesh

Deandra Dottin celebrates with her teammates after completing her five-wicket haul. (Adrian Narine photos)

Ming gains vital support ahead of Radical Caribbean Cup

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Archery Guyana hosts year-end Indoor 22 Recurve Competition PAGE

Salma Khatun is bowled by Deandra Dottin

Rumana Ahmed is bowled by Deandra Dottin