Guyana Chronicle E-paper 5-9-2019

THURSDAY 9th May, 2019

No.105632

PPP wants Patterson to stay on for early elections …even if CCJ rules appointment unconstitutional …Judges question level of consultation during appointment process

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Infrastructural development must drive other sectors 15 PAGE

…PM Nagamootoo tells IRF conference

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson join delegates and other officials at the IRF Congress for a group photograph (Adrian Narine photo)

New PUC commissioners sworn in PAGE

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Police probe death of cop

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…was allegedly beaten during fight at Special Constabulary HQ

Greenidge to continue at Foreign Affairs Ministry – President

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

New PUC commissioners sworn in PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday emphasised that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is the guardian of the public interest, shortly after he administered the oath of office to two new commissioners of the body.

The new commissioners are: Dr. Leyland Marvin Lucas and Ms. Verlyn Dawn Eleanor Klass. The commission, in accordance with the Public Utilities Commission Act 2016, is tasked with regulatory, investigative, enforcement and other functions conferred by the Act and other public utility laws.

The commission, under Section 24 of the ‘Act’, is vested with the power “…to initiate and conduct investigations into the operations and standards of service of any public utility and telecommunications undertaking.”

The swearing-in ceremony was held at State House in the presence of Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams; Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar; and Ms. Dela Britton, Chairperson of the PUC. The President said the PUC has the responsibility to ensure that utility services are delivered to the people in a manner that is “safe, adequate, efficient, reasonable and non-discriminatory.”

The commission, he said, in so doing, is tasked with ensuring that the public utility laws are upheld. “Electricity powers homes, industry, offices and schools; telecom-

munication services allow citizens to communicate with each other; transportation moves people and goods, and water is necessary for life and human activity,” the President said.

Underscoring that public utility services are provided, usually, to large sections of a population across networks, the President said in order to ensure a high quality of life for citizens, the PUC improves production and productivity and promotes national integration.

“Gov’t is committed to ensuring that citizens can have easy access to public services and to public utility

lation density and numerous small, isolated hinterland and riverine communities increase the costs, reliability and quality of such services,” President Granger said.

President Granger said government has been decentralising access to public services through its policies of regionalisation and local democracy. “Capital towns – at Bartica, Mabaruma, Mahdia and Lethem – have been established in our hinterland regions in order to boost their development and to ensure that public services, including public utilities, are delivered to the people,” he noted.

twice in three years – are part of the renewal of local democracy aimed at electing leaders and councils to make decisions and take actions to improve public services within their communities.

“Government is investing in improving public utility services. Wells are being drilled in remote communities to provide water. Internet access is being expanded across the country to improve communication. Un-served communities are being linked to the national electricity grid and other communities are being provided with President David Granger

President David Granger flanked by newly-sworn-in PUC commissioners Ms. Verlyn Klass and Dr. Leyland Lucas.

services. The country’s relatively large size, low popu-

Further, he said, local government elections – held

solar-generated electricity. Public infrastructure –

aerodromes, bridges, roads and stellings – are being extended and upgraded to improve transportation,” President Granger explained.

He said public utilities are essential services to which citizens are entitled and government’s expressed policy is to ensure that citizens enjoy greater access to adequate, reliable and quality public services and public utility services.

President Granger said public utilities, because of their essential character and the desirability of universal coverage, must be regulated in the public interest which, in so far as public utility services are concerned, is three-fold.

These are, he said: first,

to ensure that, as far as possible, public utility services are accessible, adequate and provided on a non-discriminatory basis; second, that costs, fees and tariffs associated with their provision or sale are reasonable; and third, that these services are regular, reliable, efficient and safe.

The work of the Public Utility Commission, therefore, he said is vital to protecting the public interest by ensuring the delivery of public services. “Government expects that the Commission will continue to ensure that citizens’ welfare will be continuously enhanced through the provision and delivery of public utility services,” the President said.

PPP wants Patterson to stay on for early elections …even if CCJ rules appointment unconstitutional

By Svetlana Marshall THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP), though maintaining that the appointment of Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson is unconstitutional, told the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that it is willing to have him remain in office if early election is required this year.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Attorney, Douglas Mendes, on Wednesday, told the CCJ that while in normal circumstances the PPP would

Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson

wish to have the appoint-

ment of Justice Patterson as

Chairman of the Elections Commission quashed and a fresh process initiated for the appointment of a new chairman, it would respectfully ask the court to suspend such an order, if it is found that the appointment process was indeed flawed, but only if early election is mandated by the court.

“What I would ask the court to do, if the court does come to that conclusion, is to hear the parties again on what further consequential orders ought to be made. I am saying that because the orders

that you make in this case if you are minded to set aside the appointment may be impacted by the results of the appeal which you are going to hear tomorrow,” (No-confidence motion) Mendes told the court on Wednesday.

At the time, he was responding to a series of questions posed by President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Justice Adrian Saunders, in the appeal brought

by Zulfikar Mustapha, who is challenging the Court of Appeal and High Court’s decisions to uphold Patterson’s appointment.

Mendes, in arriving at that position, took into con-

sideration the appeal that will be heard today in the CCJ, challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision to invalidate the vote of no-confidence against the government.

“In other words, if the court were to conclude in that appeal that elections must be held – and it must be held in a short period of time, then we would want to address the court on whether, you ought to consider suspending quashing the appointment of the chairman in order that the election would not be disrupted,” Attorney Mendes TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

CCJ hears arguments in GECOM chair appointment

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…Judges question level of consultation during process

By Svetlana Marshall in Port of Spain MEANINGFUL consultation between the President and the Opposition Leader could have prevented the legal dispute on the appointment of Justice (Retired) James Patterson as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) asserted when oral arguments in the case – Zulfikar Mustapha vs the Attorney General – were heard.

Mustapha, Executive Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) turned to the CCJ to challenge President David Granger’s decision to appoint Justice Patterson as Chairman of GECOM, after losing the challenge in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.

On Wednesday, during approximately three hours of legal arguments at the Trinidad-based CCJ, Justice Jacob Wit, while underscoring the importance of proper consultation, said “presidents should not be in court, they should govern.”

Justice Wit was part of a panel of five judges led by President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders that presided over the constitutional case. The other judges were Justice David Hayton, Justice Winston Anderson and Justice Rajnauth-Lee. Weighing in on the issue of meaningful or proper consultation, Justice Anderson said he feels a degree of disquiet with the CCJ having to decide on such issues.

“It seems to me that, as my brother just said, to avoid all of this, and I think it is desirable to avoid all of this, that there should be ‘meaningful consultation’, so that the two political leaders in the country arrive at a decision that both can live with, and I think it is a tragedy, to be honest, that we are here in this way,” Justice Anderson said.

Article 161(2) of the Constitution outlines the criteria for appointing a GECOM chairman. A section of that article states, “… the Chairman of the Elections Commission for Guyana shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a

court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.”

In October 2017, President Granger swore in Justice Patterson as Chairman of GECOM after rejecting three lists of nominees totaling 18 names submitted by the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on the grounds that they were unacceptable within the meaning of the Constitution of Guyana. Faced with three unacceptable lists, the President resorted to the proviso found within Article 161 (2), which permits him to independently appoint a chairman.

Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal had in-

posited while Mustapha’s lead attorney, Douglas Mendes was presenting his arguments.

Mustapha was also represented by Attorneys-at-Law Anil Nandlall, Chandrapratest Satram, Kandace Bharath, and Davesh Maharaj.

The Attorney General, Basil Williams – the respondent in the matter, appeared on behalf of himself in association with Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne and Hal Gollop, and the Solicitor General, Nigel Hawke.

Caribbean Court of Justice Judge, Winston Anderson (CCJ) Photo

Barbadian Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne and Hal Gollop outside of the CCJ after defending President David Granger’s appointment of Justice James Patterson, Chairman of GECOM

Attorney-at-Law Douglas Mendes (centre) exiting the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the presence of other attorneys

dicated that the President and the Leader of the Opposition ought to have consulted on the nominees prior to the compilation and submission of the list. Similar sentiments were expressed by the CCJ judges on Wednesday.

“I wouldn’t have thought that anybody wants the court to be the ultimate decider or to get too intrusive in the process. And hopefully with the kind of guidelines which might be given, the two leaders can in fact agree so we don’t have this kind of task before us,” Justice Anderson

Mendes, Trinidad-based Attorney-at-Law, told the Court that Article 161 (2) is intended to achieve the appointment of a chairman that is acceptable to both the President and the Leader of the Opposition.

He said while the Constitution lays out the criteria for one to be eligible, it does not define what is acceptable, as such, consultation ought to have taken place prior to determine who is not unacceptable to the President. Mendes said otherwise, it would be a guessing game. “You would

not know unless you are able to have a conversation with the President. Unless the President is open and transparent about what he is thinking, it may very well be as the Constitution is envisaging the holders of these two high offices will sit and discuss names,” Mendes submitted.

According to him, though not expressly stated in the Constitution, such a consultation is implicitly required by it. “There is no way it can work, other than as a consequence of consultation between the President and the Leader of the Opposition,” he

submitted.

With three sets of six names submitted to the President, Mendes said from the initial list, the President should have indicated whether the entire list or one person among the six was unacceptable.

Interjecting, Justice Saunders noted that while acceptability is subjective, it must be conditioned on objective grounds. Mendes said while the President may find a list unacceptable, he should have given reason to allow for an acceptable list to be submitted.

But Barbadian Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne told the Court that he did not find favour with the view that the President and the Opposition Leader ought to have consulted on the names of the nominees prior to the submission of the first six names. Using Article 161 (2) as the basis of his argument, Queen’s Counsel Thorne said the Constitution only mandated that there be consultation between the Leader of the Opposition and non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly. “There is nothing in the Constitution that mandates the President to enter into dialogue with the Leader of the Opposition,” he said.

The Queen’s Counsel told the court that while it was not a constitutional requirement for the two political leaders to consult on the list of nominees, President Granger, having found that the first list of nominees was unacceptable in January 2017, presented the Opposition Leader with some criteria, during what could be described as a period of consultation.

In May, 2017, President Granger laid out the criteria for the position, among them being that the person must have no political affiliation and that the person should have the general characteristics of honesty, integrity, faithfulness, and diligence.

But Justice Anderson and Justice Saunders questioned the logic and purpose of having dialogue or consultation after the first list was submitted. In response, the Barbadian Queen’s Counsel said consultation, as was done, could take place between the President and the Opposition,

if the list is found to be unacceptable.

Added to that, he said while it was suggested that the list presented to the President ought to have been acceptable to both him and the Opposition Leader; that is not the case. According to the Queen’s Counsel, the suggestion contradicts the Constitution.

“Article 161 (2) places the question of acceptability solely within the bosom of the president,” he submitted. The Barbadian Queen’s Counsel held fast to the position that while the Opposition Leader was constitutionally required to submit a list comprising six eligible persons, only the President could have determined the acceptability of the list or the nominees.

NO MANDATE TO GIVE REASON Gollop, another Barbadian Queen’s Counsel told the court that the Constitution does not mandate the President to give reason for rejecting a list of nominees submitted by the the opposition leader. After three unsuccessful rounds, Gollop told the Court that the President, in keeping with the Constitution, activated the proviso.

Interjecting, Justice Saunders drew Gollop’s attention to the fact that the Constitution was amended to allow for consensus in the appointment of the GECOM chairman.

“There was a provision that entitled the President to select a chairman of the commission in his own deliberate judgement, and then there was a big procedure that said this is not ideal, we want to move from unilateralism to a situation where there is consensus. An amendment was done, that amendment sets out a process that seeks to achieve this aim towards consensus but if we are to accept your submissions now, then all of that amendment and discussion that went into the amendment would be in vain,” Justice Saunders reasoned.

But Gollop respectfully rejected Justice Saunders’ position. The Queen Counsel said the President did not only reject the first list but provided the Opposition Leader with criteria so as to arrive at an acceptable list as a form of consultation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Royal baby: Duke and Duchess US House panel holds Attorney of Sussex name son Archie General William Barr in contempt

(BBC) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have named their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

Introducing him to the cameras earlier in the day, Meghan said: “He has the sweetest temperament, he’s really calm.

He’s been the dream.”

As they laughed, Prince Harry said: “I don’t know who he gets that from.”

The announcement came after the Queen and Duke of

Edinburgh met their eighth and newest great-grandchild for the first time at Windsor Castle.

By deciding to call their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, Harry and Meghan have chosen not to use a title for their first born.

As the first born son of a duke, Archie could have become Earl of Dumbarton - one of Harry’s subsidiary titles - or have been Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor,

but instead he will simply be Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.

BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said it was a “strong indication that they don’t want to bring him up as a formal ‘royal’”.

Talking about their first few days as parents, Meghan said: “It’s magic, it’s pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world so I’m really happy.”

The duke added: “It’s great. Parenting is amazing.

“It’s only been two and a half days, three days, but we’re just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy.”

On which parent the baby resembled more, Harry said: “Everyone says that babies change so much over two weeks.

“We’re basically monitoring how the changing process happens over this next month really. But his looks are changing every single day, so who knows.”

Later, asked to show more of their son’s face to the cameras, Meghan laughed as Harry joked: “He’s already got a little bit of facial hair as well, wonderful.”

Meghan added: “Thank you everybody for all the well-wishes and kindness, it just means so much.”

Queen Elizabeth looks at her great grandson

Thursday, MAY 09, 2019

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(BBC) A US House of Representatives panel has voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress amid a showdown over the Mueller report.

Democrats on the judiciary committee took the rare step after Mr Barr refused to submit an unredacted version of the special counsel’s findings.

President Donald Trump has hit back by asserting executive privilege over the report, shielding it from public view.

The White House and Congress accused each other of abusing power.

Why was there a contempt vote?

The judiciary committee voted 24-16 along party lines on Wednesday to refer a contempt citation against the attorney general for a full House vote.

Democratic lawmakers put forward the measure after Mr Barr did not comply with a legal order to release the Mueller report minus the redactions.

The 448-page report was released last month with parts blacked out, including information that is classified or linked to pending investigations.

The special counsel did not conclude there was a criminal conspiracy between Moscow and the Trump campaign to

05:00 hrs

influence the 2016 US presidential election.

But Mr Mueller detailed 10 instances where Mr Trump possibly attempted to impede the investigation.

Democrats say they need to see the full report and its underlying evidence to investigate possible obstruction of justice by Mr Trump.

House judiciary chairman Jerrold Nadler said afterwards that the vote was a “grave and momentous step”.

He called the Trump administration’s refusal to provide the full Mueller report to Congress “an attack on the essence of our democracy”.

“We have talked for a long time about approaching a constitutional crisis, we are now in it,” the New York Democrat told reporters.

Earlier, Doug Collins, a leading Republican on the committee, said Democrats were acting out of anger and fear “without any valid legislative reason”.

Could the attorney general be charged?

For Mr Barr to actually face the prospect of charges, the entire House - where Democrats hold a 235-197 majority over Republicans - would have to vote against him.

The measure may be largely symbolic as few expect the Department of Justice to indict its own head with criminal contempt.

However, it would send a powerful message to the White House that congressional Democrats won’t retreat in an increasingly vitriolic showdown.

Mr Barr is the first attorney general held in contempt of Congress since the Obama administration’s Eric Holder in 2012.

HOW DID THE WHITE HOUSE RESPOND? The White House earlier on Wednesday accused Democrats of a “blatant abuse of power” and blocked access to the full Mueller report by claiming “executive privilege”.

Executive privilege allows a president to keep certain

materials private if disclosing them would disrupt the confidentiality of the Oval Office decision-making process.

Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the president had taken such a step at the attorney general’s request to reject “unlawful and reckless demands” by Democrats.

She added in a statement: “They didn’t like the results of the [Mueller] report, and now they want a redo.”

The judiciary committee chairman argued the White House was misapplying the doctrine of executive privilege.

Mr Nadler said: “This decision represents a clear escalation in the Trump administration’s blanket defiance of Congress’s constitutionally mandated duties.”

Mr Barr was greeted with a standing ovation as he entered a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Will Robert Mueller testify?

The House Judiciary Committee has formally requested Mr Mueller testify, though a date has not been set.

The special counsel is still a Department of Justice employee, which means the attorney general could prevent him from testifying.

Mr Barr has previously said he would not mind Mr Mueller testifying before Congress, but Mr Trump has said the special counsel should not appear before lawmakers.

When Mr Mueller handed in his report, a spokesman said he would be leaving the department “within the coming days”.

If he does quit, he will become a private citizen and able to testify regardless of the department’s wishes.

Meanwhile, the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, was reportedly served with a subpoena to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The panel’s investigation into alleged Russian meddling in US politics has been rumbling on for the past two years.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

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Cuba cancels annual Conga Against Homophobia march (BBC) The Cuban government has cancelled the country’s 12th annual march against homophobia.

In a Facebook post, the state-run National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX) blamed “new tensions in the international and regional context” for the cancellation.

Activists have condemned the move and questioned the government’s motives.

Cuba was set to approve same-sex marriage under a new constitution, but removed the clause after protests.

President Miguel DíazCanel publicly backed the change in September, saying it was “part of eliminating

any type of discrimination in society”.

But the government backtracked after an outcry

from religious groups.

Cuba holds events at this time every year to mark the International Day Against

Homophobia on 17 May. Why has the march been cancelled?

CENESEX posted on

Cuba has held parades against homophobia for the last 11 years

Facebook that it was officially cancelling the Cuban Conga against Homophobia and Transphobia “in compliance with the policy of the Party, the State and the Revolution”.

The group is led by Mariela Castro, daughter of the Communist Party of Cuba’s leader Raúl Castro.

No specific reasons were given for the change, with the post blaming “certain circumstances that do not help [the march’s] successful development”.

However, only the conga itself is cancelled, with other events going ahead as planned to mark LGBT rights.

What have activists said?

Activist Norge Espinosa

Mendoza called the move “a new step backwards”.

“The enemies of a more diverse and progressive Cuba will be happier now,” he wrote on Facebook. “Not allowing [the parade] is a signal that... we are not welcome.”

Another campaigner, Isbel Diaz Torres, told Reuters news agency the government could be “once more ceding to pressure from religious fundamentalism that has shown itself to be quite active recently”.

New Facebook groups have been set up calling for people to “march for our rights”.

Discrimination due to someone’s sex or gender is illegal in Cuba.

PM: Kamla knew about Anand, Ramdeen (TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar will not be allowed to exonerate and distance herself from the issues involving her one-time Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan, and ex-Senator Gerald Ramdeen following their arrests on corruption-related charges last week-end.

“It is my intention to bolt them to your chest,” Rowley said as he lashed out against the Opposition Leader at a PNM public meeting at Signature Hall, Chaguanas on Tuesday evening. He was referring to the charges brought against the former Attorney General and Senator for which they appeared in Court on Monday.

“If after all of this, if the people of this country want you back as PM they free to do so,” he said. his comment directed at Persad-Bissessar.

“Monies were being sent to lawyers by the Attorney General’s office and Persad-Bissessar cannot say she did not know because she was in a position to know that something is radically wrong.”

According to Rowley, Persad-Bissessar as a Se-

nior Counsel would have known of the numbers passing through the budget to the AG’s office every year would be a problem to the people of TT, but he added she sat in parliament and approved it every single year.

“The budget moved from $20 million a year to $60 million and then to $84 million and at the end of the year

$500 million in five years,” Dr Rowley said.

While in office, he said members of the UNC were all holding secrets for one another and they all moved as if they were each a prime minister.

“Kamla gave all her ministers a ‘tush’ at being prime minister for a while,” he said.

The PM claimed that

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

it was $100 million, and if continued it would have been

the opposition is condemning laws that will deal with

have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Officials say the incident was sparked by a fight between two inmates, one of whom was “in an alleged state of intoxication”.

Pavón prison houses at least 4,000 inmates, despite originally being built for only 1,000 people in the

1970s.

Inmates had control of the prison for about eight hours on Tuesday, officials told the Associated Press news agency.

“Security forces have already entered and have regained control of the centre,” Carlos Morales, a spokesman for Guatemala’s

white collar crime and violent crimes.

“They vote it down.” he said in reference to the lack of support from the opposition for Whistleblower legislation which caused the measures to fail in the Parliament on Monday. Explain Your Wealth legislation is under attack from the opposition, Rowley said charging that it seems everyone wants to have their hands in the treasury.

He suggsted that in this country where no one is safe, the opposition is against laws that will keep criminals down.

“If found with a firearm you should he held for 120 days. This was not passed and therefore criminals can continue to do crime,” the PM said, adding that there was a time when high level crime was associated with Laventille and Enterprise, but today “no one is safe.”

On the issue of homes being searched by the police in the Gulf View area, Rowley said the police says they are engaged in civic operations and in time they will reveal what it is about. He said the opposition members of parliament jumped into race, ethnicity and religion saying this could not take place in

Guatemala prison shooting kills at least seven inmates (BBC) At least seven people have been killed in a shooting at a prison near the Guatemalan capital Guatemala City.

Some 1,500 soldiers and police officers were reportedly sent to the prison to try and stop the violence.

Another 20 people were injured in the gunfire, and

prison system, later told Reuters news agency.

He also told local media that the shooting started with “a confrontation between an inmate in an alleged state of intoxication, shooting at another inmate”.

In 2016, 14 people were killed in a riot that broke out in the same prison.

Westmoorings.

“They want to divide this country,” Rowley said, reminding that the police raided residents of Westmoorings who were held with drugs. As leader of the country, he said he will not tolerate the police operating in one part of TT, but throughout the country.

“A new society has to be built in Trinidad and Tobago if we are to benefit from our

potential where when you elect public officials, you did not elect them to fill their pockets and turn millionaires.”

This operation he said had to do with the law involving life and limb.

“Only last week a police had to intervene and shoot a man who was chopping a woman.” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Equality for Guyanese with disabilities

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LL Guyanese are entitled to equal treatment, equitable opportunities for self-improvement, and equal access to services. That includes Guyanese who live with disabilities, or who may be differently-abled. Guyana signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007 and ratified the Convention in 2013. In 2008, the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities was established. In 2010, the Persons With Disabilities Act was passed by the National Assembly.

Despite this flurry of paperwork by the previous regime, probably as a result of international pressure, very little practical measures were enacted to make any meaningful difference in the lives of affected citizens. Considering that a recent survey has concluded that some seven per cent of Guyanese live with impaired ability relative to the majority of the populace, we, as a country, through neglect in the past, may have deprived ourselves of many of the contributions that many of our citizens could have otherwise made to national development. Fortunately, though, the APNU+AFC coalition administration has embarked on a course of action to correct that injustice.

Article 149 D (2) of the Constitution states, “the State shall, for the purpose of promoting equality, take legislative and other measures designed to protect disadvantaged persons and persons with disabilities.” The supreme law goes on to define what ‘equality’ means. Article 149 D (3) elaborates: “Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms guaranteed by or under this Constitution or any other law.”

In addition to the Constitutional mandate, The Act states that “[the Act is intended to] provide certain right to persons with disabilities; to provide for the promotion and protection and full and equal enjoyment of the rights; to facilitate the enforcement of the rights; to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability; to provide for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities . . .” among other provisions. It is recognised that persons who are so affected face daily challenges that others can only imagine. At the most basic level, there is even disagreement on what constitutes a disability; is a disability the presence of a physical

or mental impairment (the medical definition), or is it the limiting effect that such impairment has or may have on a person’s ability to function in society (the social definition)?

Understandably, affected persons may be less concerned with definitions and more interested in what is being done to assist them to have full, rewarding, and satisfying lives while being given the means to contribute to the improvement of their communities.

Observers will note that the administration has taken a systematic approach. It has been noted that following discussions and decisions on the most effective and efficient way forward, the coalition began tackling the issue with the undertaking of a nation-wide survey to gauge the extent and nature of the matter. According to a government release last year, “The National Commission on Disability has rolled out a country-wide survey. This survey is intended to locate persons with disabilities, categorise their condition and identify their respective needs. At the end of this process, all the relevant data gathered will be forwarded to major administrators for consideration in their decision-making process.” It is from this exercise that the 7 per cent figure, quoted earlier in this article, was obtained. According to Communications Officer attached to the Commission, Avonel Corrica, the survey aimed to ascertain the needs of persons with disabilities as it relates to health, education, housing and access to public facilities among other critical inputs that government and other policymakers can influence. “For this survey, we are going to various houses, in the ten regions, to locate persons with disabilities, find out their needs and whatever is required in terms of education, housing and so on,” Corrica explained.

It was found that the challenges faced by affected persons are diverse and, in many instances, severe. For example, For 18-year-old Rajni Persaud, a student of the University of Guyana pursuing a diploma in accountancy, easy access to transportation is key, having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was six-months-old. Rajni has spastic triplegia cerebral palsy which causes stiffness in the muscles of the lower parts of her body, particularly her legs as well as her left arm. As such, she depends heavily on a wheelchair to move around. Her mother, Usha Persaud, said transportation remains a stumbling block because mini-bus operators fre-

quently refuse to carry persons who appear differently-abled.

However, with motivation from others in the community, Usha said she allowed her daughter to attend secondary school, even though this came at a cost of $5000 per week for a taxi to take Rajni to school. But it paid off as Rajni graduated from President’s College in 2017 with eight grades one and three grades two. Determined to give her daughter a fair chance of attending university, Usha and her husband, Khanai, agreed to foot the hefty taxi bill.

(Credit to a Naomi Marshall report). Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who has responsibility for transportation, said the Public Transportation Policy will address this issue.

Many other affected persons deal with similarly difficult situations. However, government has since made clear that the various problems are being addressed. Issues ranging from the concrete, such as the transportation problem, to the abstract, are being worked on. Another facet of government’s intervention is through partnerships with private entities. For example, the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre received a computer-smart lab, courtesy of STARR Computers.

Various other initiatives are being undertaken. In the 2019 budget, provisions have been made for affected Guyanese to access vehicles and smartphones tax-free, as part of government’s goal of fully integrating persons with disabilities into society. Government is also training persons on the correct way to interact with persons with disabilities.

A workshop to equip journalists with the relevant information needed for reports and stories regarding persons with disabilities has been conducted, and more are planned. Such sessions will equip journalists with the necessary knowledge to accurately and sensitively report on the subject.

Government is evidently not only committed to equity, equality, and inclusion, but is actively engaging non-governmental entities to do the same. This is a welcome development. All Guyanese, regardless of whether they may have physical challenges or not, deserve a good life. All citizens are entitled to contribute to their communities. As such, we should all welcome, support, and, if possible, become actively involved in initiatives with that noble objective.

Sheriff Security Service regrets paying ex-staff late Dear Editor,

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HE management of Sheriff Security Service first and foremost regrets the late payment of some of our ex-employees who have, by virtue of their frustration, descended at our office to express their disappointment in that regard.

We, however, wish to state that the late payment of those

ex-employees was not in any way an act by management to deliberately bring any discomfort to those who have served us, but rather, the late payment came as a result of a number of factors of which the management had absolutely no control.

Our employees are usually paid on the 5th of each month, but in the circumstances i.e Indian Arrival

Day which falls on the fifth day of the month and is also a national holiday, coupled with the fact of the roll-over holiday as is customary when holidays in Guyana falls on a Sunday, our hands were tied.

At the time the disgruntled workers began showing up at our office, some even before noon, our finance controllers were at a city bank engaging in a process to initiate

payment to staff and, in this case, ex-employees also, as this was already decided upon since last week. Given the process at the bank which, among other things, require a number of paperwork to be completed before the transactions could be finalised, it appeared to the ex-employees that we were not prepared to pay them for services rendered,

a notion that does not reflect the principles of the company or what we stand for. Further, it should be noted that these ex-employees were all paid on Tuesday afternoon as was scheduled since last week, giving consideration for the holidays mentioned earlier.

The company apologises for the inconvenience faced by those affected due to the

late payment and reassures those who would wish to join our company as those who continue to remain in our employ, that workers welfare and commitments outside of the job are of equal importance to us as is their service to us.

Regards Management of Sheriff Security Service

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Police probe death of cop

By Leroy Smith

POLICE have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of 25-year-old Lance Corporal Carlos Alleyne which occurred at the Georgetown Public Hospital earlier this week.

Police said in a release that the rank had gone to the hospital earlier to seek medical attention. He had reportedly complained of feeling unwell following an incident at the Special Constabulary Headquarters on Princess Street, Worthmanville about 09:30hrs that very day.

An autopsy done on Wednesday revealed that Alleyne died from brain haemorrhage and blunt trauma to the brain. A further update will be given later, police

said.

Meanwhile, Guyana Chronicle was told that Alleyne died hours after he was involved in a fight with a police sergeant. According to the dead man’s mother, on Wednesday she received a call requesting that she visit the Police Constabulary Headquarters on Princess Street. However, while on her way there, she was told that she needed to go to the Alberttown Police Station.

There she was asked to give some information and was then escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Morgue where she identified her son’s remains. This was three days after her son had died and his body was at the morgue, unknown to the police.

Based on what was related to this publication, the

Lance Corporal Carlos Alleyne

rank and sergeant were involved in a misunderstanding which led to a fight and the lance corporal was cuffed, kicked, slapped and even beaten with an object by the sergeant. After that, the sergeant, although observing the visible marks of violence on the young man’s body, mostly to his chest, head, neck and shoulder, placed him under close arrest and denied him access to medical attention.

It was while under close arrest that the lance corporal began losing consciousness and then he was allowed to leave to seek medical attention. He was not accompanied to the hospital by any of the ranks. He subsequently died at the hospital while receiving treatment. However, no one in the force was aware of this until Tuesday when

…was allegedly beaten during fight at Special Constabulary HQ they realised that the young man was not showing up for work.

His mother explained

that it was someone who called her and informed her that something was wrong with her son.

Man pleads guilty to ‘ganja’ possession charge

MARVIN John, of Lot 4, Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, charged with having 157.6 grammes of marijuana in his possession.

John pleaded guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of $100,000; he was unrepresented by counsel.

According to the prosecution, ranks from the Grove Police Station, acting on a tip-off on Sunday, October 28, 2018, carried out a search at the afore-stated address and John was found in possession of the drug.

John will have to return to court on May 13, 2019, for the continuation of his case.

Gov’t has shown the will to fight corruption Dear Editor,

I

MUST challenge Ralph Ramkarran’s highly misleading contention in his Sunday Stabroek column of April 14, “Corruption has now become endemic”, which seeks to convey the understanding that the cancer of corruption became of age, or became a fact, in the post-2015 period.

This article is wholly mischievous, and without foundation, since Ramkarran was able to remind readers as to the reason why he had been abused by senior PPP/C members, and eventually kicked out after a lifetime of membership and service to the party, in 2012. The fact that he took a determined stance against a monster that had been nurtured and allowed to grow into gargantuan proportions, which he knew would have caused him to collide with the hard-nosed members of the PPP/C executive, was because he saw the great moral and material damage that its destructive, shameless, and unconscionable actions had been exacting on the people and country of Guyana. For this brave stance, he must be applauded; except that his confrontation with his party was because of a monster that

had been running amok, prior to 2015.

However, one must remind Ramkarran of this fact: That the Burnham PNC, while in government, had taken stringent actions against corrupt officials, to the extent that a special fraud court headed by the late justice Ramraj Jagnandan, had presided over as senior magistrate to prosecute those accused of corrupt practices.

This action by the Burnham government was not mere window dressing or pretence. It resulted in the following convictions: conviction of a former GNCB legal advisor for fraudulent conversion, jailed for 18 months; the imprisonment of a former GUYSTAC high functionary and permanent secretary for his part in the $7.6M Ministry of Trade conspiracy fraud that involved a former well-known businessperson; imprisonment also for a former general manager of the Transport and Harbours Dept; and the indictment of the then Head of the Re-migrant Scheme. These are just some of the corruption cases which are recalled at this time.

Compare, even these few examples, to the PPP/C’s declared intention in 1992 of combatting corruption,

and one will realise that its government never even bothered to lift a finger against this criminality which it allowed to become central to the criminalised state during its 23 years in office. It was a free-for-all, as evidenced by the many audit reports which exposed the naked plunder in all forms of the nation’s financial and other related assets.

Editor, though one will also give due recognition for the updating of seven years of the Auditor General’s report, even that did not act as a catalyst for further state vigilance, as evidenced by the numerous instances of red flags being raised during the subsequent 23 years of PPP/C governance. It was cronyism in all forms, with nepotism becoming the order of the day, especially without the presence of a National Procurement Commission, which was finally established by the current administration.

It took a new government-- the coalition A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC)-- that inherited a morass and a quagmire of PPP/C state criminality, to commence the battle against the criminal malignancy of state corruption.

Far from Ramkarran’s

view that “There is clearly no across-the-board political appetite for steps to curb corruption and nepotism”, the coalition government has demonstrated the political will to book those found guilty of such crimes. A fact which the current United States Ambassador to Guyana recognized and lauded the efforts of the government. But perhaps, Ramkarran should explain his former party leader’s public vehemence whenever former PPP/C state officials are charged and brought to court.

He should also say whether the GBTI had been correct in refusing to allow the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) access to requested documents, causing such a refusal to become the subject of a court battle.

To suggest, further, that “One ethno-political alliance obtains office and gorges itself, then the other gets into office and takes its turn”. This is clearly not an assumption; it is clearly a very evil, wicked, and devious attempt to paint the current government as corrupt as the former. Ramkarran is resorting to a Jagdeo political card of reverse psychology.

Editor, we all know the truth about corruption and its prime movers. The evi-

dence is so publicly plain, that one often marvels at the disrespectful, bold show of opulence that has become so reminiscent of the criminal state. For example, just how did a permanent secretary account for a reported $14B in several bank accounts?

Through the phone card business as he brazenly insulted the national intelligence?

Ramkarran surely is aware as to the pervasiveness of state corruption in this country, which has secreted its blood-sucking tentacles in every nook and cranny of this nation. He must know, too, that no such socio-immorality of an almost insurmountable level that threatens the viability of the state can be effectively confronted in its entirety, unless all the political sectors especially are willing to collaborate in a genuine manner. To such an end, it is clear that Jagdeo is not interested in such a joint enterprise, for he is very much aware of what the spotlight will reveal. The fact also that he had refused to be part of a “Walk against corruption”, held in April 2018, supports the view that the leader of the opposition is a totally disinterested party.

Let it be stated that no amount of constitution-

al amendments, proposed

by Ramkarran that proposes re-configuration to how the Executive must function, while giving increased powers and authority to parliament, will end corruption. The latter will only be defeated by a clear national understanding as to the deleterious effects that it exacts on national development; its deprivation of social amenities to communities; and its capacity to distort and corrupt human morals.

Added to this is the absolute necessity for our laws to be clearly unambiguous, in being dispensed for prosecution of offenders, and a judiciary ready to be condign once it becomes necessary.

The fact that the coalition government, in its many approaches in battling this national scourge since 2015, has been convening public awareness engagements in many regions, is testimony that it recognises that public education is a key factor that will bring about a self-awareness as to the need for public servants to resist involvement in dishonest practices that will have negative consequences for even their welfare.

Regards Earl Hamilton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Climate-resilient infrastructure necessary for Caribbean region Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen [Adrian Narine photos]

By Vishani Ragobeer AS the Caribbean Region seeks to continue developing its infrastructure to spur development, members attending the Eight International Road Federation (IRF) Caribbean Congress being held here, were told that climate-resilient infrastructure is necessary.

While speaking at the opening ceremony of the congress at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC) on Wednesday, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen, explained that transportation infrastructure is considered fundamental for economic growth and development since the movement of people and goods are at the core of economic activity and development.

It is widely acknowledged that for the Region

- IRF Caribbean Congress told

to continue developmental efforts, developing transportation is fundamental. In crafting newer solutions vis a vis transportation development, Makonnen underscored that three areas must be considered: Developing road connectivity in the face of challenges posed by climate change; road safety since there are more vehicles, cargo and people on the roadways; and what options exist to finance road infrastructure development.

“Roads for the next generation need to be sustainable so that today’s infrastructure serves and benefits the next generation,” she said. “These will become the assets for tomorrow, for the country, for the next generation, and they must be guided not only by the traditional high-benefit cost analysis ratio, but also by climate resilience.”

She reminded that climate change is leading to an

increase in the frequency and intensity of natural hazards.

“This compounded by the increased vulnerability because of the weakness and enforcement of safe construction regulation and the relatively low risk analysis in investment decisions - further increase the impact of disasters in the Region,” she said.

However, she related that the significance of the threat that climate change poses has brought sustainable infrastructure at the centre of policy discussions in this regard. This “sustainable infrastructure”, the IDB representative explained, refers to infrastructure projects that takes into account, critical components such as environmental and social issues, environmental sustainability, climate change adaptation and mitigation, natural disaster and conservation.

“The transportation sector needs to take steps to-

wards mitigating climate change and increasing its resistance to hydrological and climatological changes,” she stressed, while positing that the incorporation of climate-smart practices into infrastructure is more beneficial than any other means of mitigation.

Makonnen also noted that multilateral development banks in the Region are well positioned to provide finances for infrastructure and investment, as well as to support sustainable infrastructure agenda by supporting the bolstering of knowledge and institutional capacity.

“The hardest part of financing the way forward is to generate the conditions to attract the climate investors,” she noted, but advanced that the supply of finance exists once the financiers are reassured of profitability and low project risks.

In times of relatively low

interest rates, the supply of finance exists. But the challenge lies in reassuring the owners of the capital of the profitability and risk of the projects.

Representative of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Daniel Best, also opined that transport is a key growth enabler since it fosters economic activity within and across the Region through increased access to market and services.

He noted, however, that road transport needs have changed significantly over the past two decades and this is attributed to the new patterns of communication and trade. According to Best, this has led to the increase in the number of vehicular owners and users in a space where there is limited capacity physically, economically and environmentally to accommodate this.

Over the last 20 years

Representative of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Daniel Best

also, he noted that the Region has seen an “astronomical” increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, as a result of climate change. “Many of our borrowing member countries are not supported by a resilient primary highway network, robust enough to withstand the impact of increasingly destructive natural disasters,” the CDB representative noted.

Of pivotal importance, in this regard, is that the investment in road infrastructure is underpinned by a thrust to ensure climate-resilient designs. “It is imperative, therefore, that we do not only continue investment in our road infrastructure to guarantee sustainability but we must also invest with a view to future-proofing our infrastructure if generations to come are to benefit,” Best ascertained.

CDC opens Oil Spill Planning and Readiness Assessment Workshop THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC), on Wednesday, opened an Oil Spill Planning and Readiness Assessment workshop at the Duke Lodge, which is aimed at finalising the Contingency Planning and Implementation of the Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Cooperation (OPRC) Convention for key public and private players in the local oil and gas sector.

The first workshop was held in March at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC) to provide stakeholders with a detailed under-

standing of the National Oil Spill Response Contingency Plan and the requirements, policy and procedures for implementation of a national oil spill response.

Out of that first workshop, a recommendation was made for another session to be held to finalise the assessment of national readiness for oil spills before implementation can take place. CDC Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, said the workshop has been organised to complete the assessment so that systematic gaps, lead agencies and deadlines, can

be identified and established.

He also said that the CDC aims to create a sustainable disaster risk management system; noting that as Guyana advances towards becoming an oil-producing territory, the probability of oil spills increases significantly. Therefore, simultaneous plans and actions are taking place.

Lieutenant Colonel Craig also commended the stakeholders at the workshop for their commitment and recognition of the need for collaboration. “We are here today to take steps to formally develop a national mechanism for Oil

CDC Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig addressing participants

spill Preparedness and Response. Over the last couple of months, a number of steps were taken in advancing the oil-spill response mechanism.

Primarily at the legislative level, the Department of Energy (DoE) is working with the relevant stakeholders, international bodies and countries to devise and develop new legislation for oil spill response.

At the CDC, we are currently developing a Disaster Risk Management Bill and we are ensuring that provisions are also made for Oil Spill response and preparedness,” he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Craig noted that the Bill is being drafted by international experts and during this week, it would be available on the CDC’s website and sent to all stakeholders so that they can make recommendations for its enhancement and improvement.

“It is our hope that we can have this Bill ready by the end of this year. Apart from the Bill, what you would find happening is that the Working Group for Oil Spill Response continues to meet every week to further develop the Oil Spill Response Plan. We have drafted a general aspect of that plan, which covers the competent national authority, the CDC; outlines roles and responsibilities, and so forth. As it relates to the roles and responsibilities, we have

identified who are responsible for detection and monitoring; what and who is responsible for reporting, assessments and response. We are hoping to have a good draft of this by June 30, 2019,” he said.

to see what are some of the resources that they require because we are not just buying materials; we are buying what is most needed,” he asserted.

The workshop caters to national stakeholders

Participants of the training workshop

The director-general said that apart from planning, the commission is also working to acquire resources to ensure that all key agencies are equipped to deal with any adverse effects of the oil sector. “Right now, there are four containers of oil spill resources that have been procured by the DoE and which will be handed over to the CDC. It is our intention to take these and hand it over to the necessary agencies. We are also trying to procure other materials and very soon, the CDC would be meeting with key agencies

drawn from agencies such as the Guyana Energy Agency, Protected Areas Commission, Guyana Marine Conservation Society, Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Coast Guard, the Maritime Administration Department, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Aircraft Owners’ Association and the Guyana Red Cross Society. (Ministry of the Presidency)

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Wisroc residents battle erosion of roadway

WITH the start of the May- June rainy season, residents of Second Phase Wisroc Housing Scheme are battling the erosion of the community’s main access road.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the community, a large section of the corner of the road was already broken away, leading into an already existing gully. With the daily heavy showers, residents are fearful that not only will they lose the road but also under threat, are the lands and homes of those residing in close proximity. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle was Councillor of the Constituency Gary King, who related that the community suffered several brush fires during the recently-concluded dry season. One particular fire was so threatening that the residents were forced to open a main pipeline in the now eroded area to put out the inferno. The gushing water from the pipe, initially caused the area to become eroded, but this worsened as the rainy season stepped in. “That is what people are afraid of, the erosion is undermining the road and that is the only access road,” King lamented.

He will be visiting the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Orrin Gordon, to solicit urgent assistance to correct the situation. Erosion has been one of the major issues resulting from heavy rains in Linden, given the topography of the Wismar shore, as it is filled with gul-

The eroded section of the Linden Soesdyke Highway

lies and sandy hills.

In an invited comment, Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, said that he only received reports of erosion occurring on the Linden Soesdyke Highway, in the vicinity of Bamia, but given what has occurred in Wismar communities in the past, the RDC is closely monitoring the situation. That matter was reported to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

He said that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), has been conducting ongoing clearing and other works in the town,

throughout the year, in an effort to avoid widespread flooding and erosion during this period.

Meanwhile, relative to the brush fires that occurred during the dry season, Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, related that over 40 were recorded in a matter of days, 11 occurring on one day alone.

To create a better response system so as to avoid residents from doing what they did in Wisroc, as mentioned above, a stakeholder meeting which had present representatives from

Missing autopsy report, weapon allow murder accused to walk free AFTER spending the last six years behind bars on a manslaughter charge, Trevor Williams was, on Wednesday, freed of the capital charge at the Demerara High Court.

Williams, called ‘Short man,’ 26, formally of Kamwatta, Aruka River, was on trial before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury.

The indictment read that on April 4, 2013, at ‘Bruck Up’ Landing, North West District, Williams unlawfully killed Randy Raphael.

Williams was represented by attorney-at-law Mark Conway, while the state was represented by Teriq Mohammed, Tuanna Hardy and Abigail Gibbs.

The trial commenced on Wednesday afternoon

Trevor Williams called ‘Short man’

with four witnesses giving evidence. However, the state did not have the alleged murder weapon, nor the post- mortem report to ten-

der in court. Consequently, attorney Conway made a nocase submission, citing the lack of evidence by the state to support the charge.

Justice Singh upheld the no-case submission and directed the jury to return a not- guilty verdict. According to a police report, on the day in question around 21:30hrs, Williams and Raphael were both in a building at ‘Bruck Up’ Landing consuming alcohol. An altercation ensued, during which Raphael armed himself with a handgun and shot Raphael to the head.

Williams then went into hiding, but surrendered to the police several days later.

the Linden Fire Station and E’ Division, the Guyana Water Incorporate, among others, was called to address the issue. The official reiterated the need for sensitization, to inform residents on the dangers of setting and outing fires irresponsibly. “The fire station was having problems with so much fires, in order for them to get water needed to out most of those, because they would have had to come back to office to get water, so we pulled the two entities together…. they decided that if fires are occurring in specific areas, once GWI is informed, they would activate those fire hydrants. Arrindell is looking to collaborate with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to have fire hydrants placed at key locations around the township.

A section of the eroded area at Second Phase Wisroc

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Chief-of-Staff satisfied with renovation of People’s Militia Drill Hall CHIEF-OF-STAFF, Brigadier Patrick West, has expressed satisfaction with the renovation works which have been completed at the Guyana People’s Militia Drill Hall in Linden.

West made the observation during a recent visit to the site. During his visit, Brigadier West also visited

two sites at which preliminary construction has taken place ahead of the establishment of two projects to be completed under the 2019 New Horizon (NH) Exercise here in Guyana.

Foundation work has been completed at Richmond Hill, where a Centre for Battered Women is to

be built, while, at Blueberry Hill, similar works have been completed for the construction of a Community Centre.

Guyana Defence Force engineers are complimenting the work of the NH partners.

The Chief-of-Staff and his team also visited Base Camp Seweyo to inspect buildings which have been

Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West speaking to other senior ranks during the site visit at Guyana People’s Militia Drill Hall

The foundation of one of the many buildings to be constructed at the site

constructed by the NH’s Red Horse Team.

Those buildings have been outfitted with water supply, air conditioning and water-purification systems, and will house the body of US NH troops which are expected to ar-

rive in Guyana by next week. Accompanying the Chief-of-Staff during the visits were, Commandant of the Guyana People’s Militia, Colonel Paul Arthur; Quartermaster General, Colonel Godfrey Bess; Commander of the Engineer Corps, Colonel Gary

Beaton; Commandant Guyana National Cadet Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Eon Murray; Commander Four, Engineer Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Selwyn Austin, and Commanding Officer Two, Infantry Reserve, Major Dale De Mendonca.

Cops charged for robbing TIP victims …deny demanding money with menace from Venezuelan women THREE policemen were on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, granted bail by Chief

Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court, after being

charged with three counts of demanding money with menace from three Vene-

zuelan women.

The men, 34-year-old Ceon Jones of Lot 434 Crane Housing Scheme,

at Makari Top, Essequibo, the three men also demanded with intent to steal, six pennyweights of raw gold worth $63,000 from another woman .

The third charge stated

were reportedly stationed at the Issano police station, were identified as the ones who had demanded money from the three women.

The men allegedly com-

From left Tevin Estriado, Ceon Jones and Corwyn Mingo.

West Coast Demerara; Tevin Estriado, a 26-year-old of Lot 41 Farm, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara; and 30-year-old, Corwyn Mingo, of Lot 188 Section C’ Enterprise, East Coast Demerara,pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that between May 1, 2018 and May 31, 2018, at Makari Top, Essequibo, they demanded, with intent to steal, six pennyweights of raw gold from one of the women.

The second charge alleged that, on the same day,

that between May 1, 2018 and May 31, 2018, at Makari Top, Essequibo, they demanded, with intent to steal, three pennyweights of raw gold worth $31,000 from another woman.

Mingo’s attorney applied for bail on behalf of his client, while the other men were unrepresented.

In court on Wednesday, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield contended that during the month of June, 2018, the force was conducting investigations into a Trafficking in Persons (TIPs) matter. It was during then that the police ranks, who

mitted the act during a stopand-search operation at the Makari Top, where they allegedly demanded a quantity of money and the women subsequently handed over a total of 15 pennyweights of raw gold worth $ 157,000.

After listening to submissions made by the prosecutor, the chief magistrate granted them bail in the sum $30,000 each. They will make their next appearance at the Bartica Magistrates’ Court on May 16, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Greenidge to continue at Foreign Affairs Ministry – President

FORMER Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, will contribute to the continuity of work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially in relation to the territorial controversy with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

This was disclosed by President David Granger on Wednesday during an interview with the media at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Conference Room. Dr. Karen Cummings, who has served for four years as Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, was recently appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

She was appointed to the post following the resignation of Greenidge, who was forced to resign after the Court of Appeal confirmed a High Court decision that

persons with dual citizenship are constitutionally barred from being elected to the National Assembly. President Granger explained that he had several meetings with Mr. Greenidge, and he will remain in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“I have had meetings, of course, with the new minister, Dr. Karen Cummings and I am to meet them again to decide, or to let them know, what my decision is, but I expect that Mr. Greenidge will contribute to the continuity of work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially with relation to the territorial controversy with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela that is ongoing,” President Granger noted.

He continued: “He (Mr. Greenidge) is engaged with the team and as you know,

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge

President David Granger

the case is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and there are certain aspects of the economic and international relations of Guyana with other countries that I will ask him to accept responsibility for.”

Guyana submitted its application to the ICJ requesting the Court to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award regarding the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

The President explained that Dr. Cummings is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, “a member of the Cabinet and she has to go to the National Assembly to speak for Guyana’s international relations and to defend her ministry.”

No witch-hunt on gold miners …Min. Trotman assures EITI report is to improve industry

By Lisa Hamilton MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has assured that the recent Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) report is not meant to negatively affect small miners, but to improve transparency in the industry.

On Tuesday, in a release, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) accused Guyana’s first EITI report as working to cripple the local industry. The Ministry of Natural Resources received the EITI report from the Guyana EITI on April 29, 2019 which is expected to pave the way towards positive reformation in the industry.

It includes a summary description of the legal framework and fiscal regime; the sector’s contribution to the economy; production and export data; state participation in the extractive industries; revenue collections; the sustainability of revenues; licence registers and licence allocations.

The industries studied included 24 entities and from the government, oil and gas and mining sectors. However, the GGDMA has since referred to the report as “inaccurate and uninformed about

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman

the nature of the local small and medium scale gold and diamond mining industry”.

It further claimed that the government is on a mission to “brand local miners as villains” even as it justified that providing the information the report will put small miners at risk.

“The GGDMA also recognises that the EITI report, by demanding disclosures of ownership, valuations and profits in a manner outside of the law, will expose local miners to additional criminal targeting and security risks, while also creating an easy ledger for bandits to carve up local operators,” the release stated, adding that this includes Venezuelan gangs.

It gave the position that local agencies such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold Board are already in possession of the information.

However, speaking to the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday, Minister Trotman acknowledged the concerns of the association even as he sought to explain the importance of the report. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing security concerns in mining locations and stated that steps will be taken to ensure that sensitive information is protected.

“I believe that the mining community has genuine concerns about security.

Wherever there are valuable commodities like gold and diamonds there will be criminals trying to steal them.

This has been a decades-old concern and we are working to address it and to maintain a high level of security,” Trotman said.

“Miners are concerned about disclosing their wealth and we appreciate their concern. They are already providing information to GRA and so we have to work out a way of sharing the information in a confidential manner and without breaking laws

of confidentiality of information.

Following the handing-over of the report by the GYEITI, Trotman and Executives of GYEITI held a press conference on May 2, 2019.

They informed media

operatives that the report was handed in to the EITI International Secretariat.

Meanwhile, Trotman stated that the process will work towards an improved investment climate; licensing strengthening; record keeping; tax collection systems

and legal and fiscal frameworks. The report points to how reforms and governance can be improved while it will eventually assist in the promotion of greater economic and TURN TO PAGE 14 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Actions will be taken at SOCU

– President Granger says public confidence essential in unit’s operation PRESIDENT David Granger said necessary actions will be taken in relation to the damning audit findings into the operations of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

The President made this disclosure on Wednesday during an interview with the media at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Conference Room, following the swearing-in of two new members of the Public Utilities Commission.

“I have taken note and I agree with the Minister of Public Security that in the event that there have been any impropriety or misconduct, disciplinary actions can be taken,” the President said.

An audit of SOCU, which is a branch of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), was ordered by Police Commissioner, Leslie James, in February, following claims of grave mismanagement, which included the misuse of its operational fund.

“SOCU is an integral part and organic part of the Guyana Police Force and the head of SOCU is a police officer, and the Police Commissioner and the Minister of Public Safety presumably will take the necessary action to ensure that the unit continues to enjoy the confidence of the public,” the President noted.

Further, the President noted, “it is an organic part of the police force and it is not a free agent; it is not a loose cannon and we will ensure that the public confidence in SOCU is restored but it’s going to remain. It’s not going to be dismantled. It has work to do.”

Head of SOCU, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sydney James, who has also been interviewed during the investigation so far, is still on

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

the job. Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, at a news conference last week, had hinted that a shake-up at SOCU was imminent. On Friday, Minister Ramjattan noted at an Alliance For Change (AFC) press conference that, “The commissioner is the head of SOCU as you know. I have seen the report, it is not a very nice report and the commissioner has told me that he is going to take action. Operational matters a minister must not indulge in and that is an operational matter. “I am hoping that it will be action taken very early. Certainly [there] will have to be shifting around, probably some terminations too. I don’t know what his [commissioner] decision will be, but that is going to be the commissioner’s decision,” he added.

The audit has reportedly uncovered serious irregularities, including the falsification of records. The police commissioner had cause to summon the SOCU head to a meeting to discuss issues including mismanagement of operational funds at the agency, after it came under public scrutiny. This was after the firing of then adviser, Dr, Sam Sittlington, and the resignation of another senior

President David Granger

official. According to an earlier report by this publication, the problems at SOCU have been long-standing, and it was reported that Sittlington had observed issues pertaining to mismanagement at the agency and those issues were raised with the head of SOCU. It was also reported that Sittlington had encountered resistance at a very high level within SOCU when he first joined the agency, but given government’s determination to have the programme of the agency remain functional, such resistance had to be quelled.

Among the more notable issues which recently made its way into the public domain, was the resignation of Sheronie James, the former deputy head of SOCU, who resigned amid concerns about her credentials. Ms. James was hired by SOCU on the basis of documentation she had reportedly presented, indicating that she was an ACCA affiliate; it was subsequently discovered that the certification she had proffered belonged to another person who lives in Ghana and who bears the same name.

Venezuelan miner shoots Guyanese over money A VENEZUELAN miner on Tuesday shot and injured his colleague over an outstanding debt during a confrontation at Arau Mountain Top, Region Seven.

The injured man, Teon Moffatt, a miner of Haslington Village, East Coast Demerara, is hospitalised and is nursing two gunshot wounds to the left leg.

Reports indicate that Moffatt was at a mining camp and was leaving the location when the Venezuelan approached him from the opposite direction. The Venezuelan miner reportedly confronted Moffat about the money which he is owed.

Moffatt allegedly owes the Venezuelan national for 2.5 grams of raw gold, valued at $15,000. However,

Moffat told the Venezuelan that he was not in the possession of the gold. As such, the suspect became very annoyed and whipped out a revolver from under his jersey and shot the man twice to his upper left leg.

When contacted, police confirmed the shooting and noted that investigations are ongoing along with a search for the Venezuelan.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Land regularisation for Region One

A TEAM from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), this week, commenced the land regularalisation process for numerous residents in Region One (Barima-Waini) who occupied lands for decades without land titles.

The efforts came following a visit by the commission, headed by Commissioner Trevor Benn, to the villages of Matthews Ridge,

from the Commission.

He stated then that at a team from the Land Administration division of the Commission would be deployed within the next few days to begin the regularisation process.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament (MP) representing the government, Richard Allen is also expected to assist in the supervision of the process.

and the overall status of their communities.

Benn stated: “The objective is to make sure that in a short space of time we can resolve the issues for all of you. I am surprised to learn that almost no one in Matthews Ridge has title to their lands. This is depressing and we have to fix that for each of you. You cannot improve your lives if you do not have ownership to basic things

Residents gathered to meet with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission team (GLSC) in Region One (Barima-Waini)

Port Kaituma and Maburma last weekend.

In the case of Matthews Ridge, Commissioner Benn expressed disappointment that none of the residents has been issued with titles for their lands even though they have been occupying the lands for years. “[This is] unacceptable and it is something that we must correct. I am assuring you this,” Benn told residents, according to a release

“We will be sending a team during the week to work with you to ensure that these issues are addressed, so we are urging you to be here when our team is on the ground and work along with them so we can get this thing over with and move on from here,” Benn said.

He explained to the residents that granting of titles to establish rightful ownership would help people to improve their quality of life

like land. You cannot get a mortgage if you do not have the documents for the land.”

He said that while the Commission will be doing all in its power to ensure that the community becomes regularised, residents also have the responsibility to cooperate and to pay all outstanding dues to enable the Commission to execute its mandate. “You must follow the rules and for those who are entitled,” he encouraged.

FROM PAGE 02

PPP wants Patterson ...

explained.

In wrapping up his submissions in the GECOM Chairman Appointment matter, Mendes said the parties involved would only know how the playing field looks after the court makes a decision in the No-Confidence Motion case. “Certainly we wouldn’t want any order that you make in this case (GECOM Chairman Appointment) to disrupt an election that you ordered to be held if in fact you think that should be done,” Mendes said tentatively.

He noted that if the CCJ upholds the decision in the Court of Appeal and further invalidates the Vote of No-Confidence, there would be no need to suspend the quashing of the appointment, that’s if the court ruled that the process was flawed.

Starting today for a period of two days, Guyana’s final appellate court will hear extensive arguments on

what constitutes an absolute majority in the 65-member National Assembly, all in an effort to determine whether the vote of no-confidence was valid or invalid.

The Court of Appeal in March, 2019, overturned the decision of the High Court and ruled that the vote of no-confidence was invalid.

According to that court, the opposition needed 34 votes and not merely 33, in other to defeat the court – a position held by the government. The Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo; an ex-Government MP, Charrandass Persaud; and political activist, Christopher Ram, are now challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal at the level of the CCJ. The CCJ, in its final determination, will indicate whether 34 votes were required to carry the motion. Another disputed issue is whether one of the then Member of Parliament, Charrandass Persaud, who

voted in favour of the motion, was ineligible to vote because he held dual citizenship.

The three consolidated cases are: Christopher Ram v The Attorney General, the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon and the Guyana Elections Commission; Bharrat Jagdeo v The Attorney General, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Joseph Harmon and the Guyana Elections Commission; and Charrandass Persaud v Compton Reid, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Attorney General, Bharrat Jagdeo, Joseph Harmon and the Guyana Elections Commission. The coalition government, through the attorney general, has filed a cross appeal. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, and a battery of lawyers are representing the government.

GLSC Commissioner Trevor Benn stands and addresses residents on the need for regularisation.

“Regardless of whom you support, once you are entitled, you will get your land. We will do a thorough investigation of the issues raised. These are very serious issues and we want to ensure that in the shortest possible time that we can deal with those issues and get you your titles.

Unless you are prepared to work with us then we cannot get anywhere. We need to cooperate.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

First Lady says women must ‘push back’ against disrespect

–– during courtesy call with Mother and Daughter Pageant delegates FIRST LADY, Mrs. Sandra Granger on Wednesday encouraged the delegates in the Supa-Stylistics Mother and Daughter Pageant to be strong and confident and to push back against disrespect in their daily lives. The First Lady made these comments during a courtesy call the group and organisers paid on her at her State House office.

“Every time you look around, you see the image of women being battered…“If we’re always afraid; we will always be battered and people will begin to believe that it is normal, so we have to begin to start pushing back,” Mrs. Granger said.

The First Lady also advised the delegates to stay true to themselves by holding firm to their values, educating themselves and by cultivating self-confidence so that they can fight against the negative stereotypes of women that is often publicised. “So, we have to start somewhere…I would like to see that when our young girls grow up, they don’t think of being somebody’s assistant or secretary, they look to becoming Chief Executive Officer, Presidents and the Ministers in charge,” she said.

Meanwhile, Producer of the pageant, Dr. Sulan Fung, said the organisers took the decision to arrange a meeting with the First Lady and the delegates because they view her as a role model for women.

“We see her as the epitome of what a Guyanese woman should be and we wanted our mothers, our women, our children to have her as an example,” she said. (Ministry of the Presidency)

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (fourth from left); Founder of the Supa- Stylistics Mother and Daughter Pageant, Ms. Ingrid Fung A.A (back row, first left); and Producer of the pageant, Dr. Sulan Fung (first right) along with the contestants in the junior category of the pageant.

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (centre); the founder and producer of the Supa-Stylistics Mother and Daughter Pageant; and the delegates in all of the categories of the pageant, in the Baridi Benab at State House.

FROM PAGE 11

No witch-hunt ... political stability.

On Wednesday, Trotman discouraged the notion that the EITI report is motivated by ill-intentions and reminded that while the participation of mining organisations is

crucial, the process is a voluntary one.

“I don't see the miners as not complying with EITI but rather as choosing not to participate. They are complying with the taxation laws, which

is what they are obliged to do.

EITI is a voluntary process,” Trotman stated, adding: “EITI didn't brand miners as villains. I believe society wrongly paints miners as the worst sort. The newspapers

report miners engaged in all kinds of unlawful activities and as such mining and miners get a bad name unreservedly. I have explained before that this is Guyana's first EITI report; we couldn't expect perfection. In future, we will work to correct the mistakes and misconceptions, but we had to make a start. I believe that the various min-

ing organisations will now agree that it's better for them to fully participate, so as to ensure accuracy and appropriate context, than to exclude themselves.”

He stated further that Guyana's membership in EITI is “vitally important” and was affirmed since in November 2015 by Cabinet. The Natural Resourc-

es Minister stated: “The report, which flows from membership, is an important tool for better and open government and now that we have started, there is no turning back. We just have to work hard to ensure that each report is an improvement on the former and better reflects the realities or Guyana.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Infrastructural development should drive other sectors …PM Nagamootoo tells IRF conference

By Lisa Hamilton THE Eighth International Road Federation (IRF) Caribbean Regional Congress opened in Guyana on Wednesday with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo urging that infrastructure development across the Region must be used as a vehicle to help boost the performance of other sectors.

The congress brought together Ministers of the Governments of Jamaica, Barbados and Suriname; Vice-Pres-

idents and Directors of the IRF; members of the diplomatic corps and a visiting delegation from CARICOM and around the world.

They met at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) where they commenced a three-day discussion under the theme ‘Modernising the Region’s Roads for Future Generations’.

The event serves to allow infrastructure leaders to learn, explore and share solutions and technologies which will work to improve on transportation challenges in the Region.

In his address to the congress, Nagamootoo welcomed the visiting engineering and finance experts to the discussion of critical factors impact-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

omies upscale.”

Remarks also came from Minister of Transport and Mining in Jamaica, Robert Montague, who also expressed gratitude to the IRF on behalf of the Caribbean for their investment in the Region.

He stated that Jamaica, through improved transportation and road infrastructure, is working to reduce their high number of road fatalities, which already stands at 174 for the year. Mon-

Guyana’s Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, addresses the audience at the Eighth International Road Federation (IRF) Caribbean Regional Congress at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) (Adrian Narine photo)

sound building practices,” Nagamootoo said.

Meanwhile, presenting

A section of the audience

Children present to the audience, some of Guyana’s most notable infrastructure projects

ing the transportation sector in the Region. He urged them to work to define policies which will create balanced economies of development in infrastructure and other vital areas such as agriculture.

Nagamootoo explained that while infrastructural development is crucial, it must be used to propel other sectors needed for the basic survival of a country’s citizens. “We need to learn from the experiences of countries nearby, perhaps a contiguous state, where you can have all the infrastructures based on incalculable revenues but those infrastructures did not lead to the production of food; did not guarantee the basis for food security,” he expounded.

“When you hear mention of countries and great econ-

omies facing a possible melt down, it is the lack of balance and proportionality between infrastructural development and the opening up of the country to produce the other benefits the society depends on for its prosperity and even survival.”

The prime minister also urged the leaders in the sector to place emphasis on the need for sound building practices, which will ensure public safety. “We should strive, [here] in the Caribbean, that we are not only concerned with putting up infrastructure, [but] we’re concerned with having safe infrastructure; people-friendly infrastructure; infrastructure that have high resilience and they’re designed with relevant technology that depend or reflect

Guyana’s position as it relates to infrastructure was Guyana’s Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson. He said the holding of the IRF Regional Congress represents the commitment of the involved countries to go beyond the stage of conceptualisation to development and implementation.

He announced that with oil production engraved in Guyana’s future, the Ministry is working in accordance with an Infrastructural Development plan to set the stage for the next five years for development in Guyana. This will include roads, bridges, overpasses, ports and stellings, both in hinterland and urban areas.

The plan includes the construction of over 577 kilometres (km) of newly-paved

highways and the rehabilitation of over 120km of roadways beyond central Georgetown. Patterson thanked the IRF for its past contributions and welcomed future collaboration in the areas of road safety; transportation systems and road financing.

“I give my absolute assurance that our ministry will continue to set the pace; execute our policies and create the enabling environment for the transformation of our public infrastructure,” he said.

“The future is bright for Guyana and by extension, our Region. Together, we can partner to capitalise on competitive advantage of each of our countries as we position ourselves to maximise econ-

tague explained that country is working to implement smart technology into its road system which it believes will ultimately lead to fewer fatalities.

During the opening ceremony, visiting members were serenaded with a taste of Guyanese culture through music, dance, folklore and poetry, while several booths at the location displayed local businesses on the rise.

Over the next two days, those attending will participate in several breakout sessions which follow the themes of road safety; construction and testing; public-private-partnerships and more.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Nigerian remanded for illegal entry A 30-year-old Nigerian man was on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, remanded to prison at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court

by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan for allegedly entering Guyana without presenting himself to an immigration officer.

ANTHONY Ogbonna Eze pleaded not guilty to

the charge, which read that between June 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018 at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, he entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer.

The prosecution is contending that during the period he failed to present himself to an immigration

officer, after he had reportedly arrived at Lethem from Brazil. It was established that he was in Lethem for the period working as a miner.

The magistrate eventually remanded the defendant to prison until his next court appearance on May 13, 2019.

Jury returns guilty verdict in Mocha man murder trial

By Clestine Juan A MIXED 12-member jury on Wednesday found Kenkassie Lynch guilty of killing Nelson Street, Mocha-Arcadia, East Bank Demerara resident, Terrence Lanferman.

Justice Navindra Singh presided over the trial at the High Court.

The indictment read that on June 1, 2015, at Nelson Street, Mocha-Arcadia, EBD, Lynch murdered 23- year-old Terrence Lanferman.

Lynch, 24, and formerly of Eccles, East Bank Demerara, was represented by attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson, while the state was represented by prosecutors Abigail Gibbs, Tuanna Hardy and Teriq Mohammed; 15 witnesses testified during the trial.

The jury, after deliberating for almost two hours, returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Attorney Thompson then requested a probation report for Lynch; Justice Singh therefore deferred sentencing to May 30,2019, when the report is expected to be presented.

According to reports, Lynch also implicated a

Convicted Kenkassie Lynch

cousin of his, Sedley Liverpool, called ‘Birdman.’

Liverpool was later charged for Lanferman’s murder and is currently awaiting trial at the High Court.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the shooting stemmed from a feud between ‘Birdman’ and Lanferman, but Lynch reportedly admitted that he alone carried out the shooting.

On the day in question, Lynch allegedly returned to Mocha and met his cousin, Liverpool. Lynch then proceeded to Nelson Street

in the same community, to conduct surveillance on Lanferman’s house, after which he returned to ‘Birdman’s’ residence around 19:00hrs; Liverpool then allegedly gave Lynch a handgun. The two later returned to Nelson Street on a ‘CG’ motorcycle; while Liverpool waited in a nearby street, Lynch reportedly went to Lanferman’s residence and knocked on the front door. Lanferman opened his door and was confronted by the gunman.

Policeman bailed for allegedly stealing colleague’s cellphone TWENTY-TWO-YEAROLD Ornesto Thomas was on Wednesday placed on self-bail by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a cellphone from another police rank.

Thomas, who resides at Belmont, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on May, 5, 2019, at the Police Sports Club, he stole one Samsung Galaxy S5 valued $60,000 and a

Digicel phone card worth $2000, the property of Carl Saul.

According to Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, Saul is a serving member of the Guyana Police Force and is stationed at the Canine Section. On the day in question, he was at the Police Sports Club coaching a football team for an upcoming tournament and it was during this period that he thought he had his phone on him.

After the coaching session

was over, Saul made several checks for his phone in his pocket and surrounding areas, but could not find it.

The matter was reported and an investigation was launched; this led to Thomas’s arrest. When questioned, Thomas reportedly told the police that he had sold the phone to a man in Albouystown.

The defendant will make his next court appearance on May 21, 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Rain forces abandonment of England’s first ODI (BBC) - ENGLAND’S first one-day international against Pakistan was abandoned because of persistent rain on a frustrating day at The Oval.

The weather first saw the game shortened to 47 overs-a-side; another delay brought a further cut to 41, with the heaviest shower then leaving the outfield too wet for any further play.

Pakistan reached 80-2 in the 19 overs that were possible.

Perhaps most pertinently, England pace bowler Jofra Archer (4-2-6-1) served further notice of his World Cup credentials with a hostile new-ball spell.

Aside from that, England learned little to aid their task of finalising their World Cup squad at the end of this five-match series.

The second match is in Southampton on Saturday.

With opener Jason Roy and all-rounder Moeen Ali absent injured, this should have been a chance for fringe players James Vince and Joe Denly to press their claims to be included in England’s 15.

However, neither was afforded the opportunity to get into the game because of the rain.

Archer, though, did enough in a four-over spell to reinforce the notion that it is not ‘if’ he will be part of the World Cup, but who from England’s preliminary squad he will replace.

Touching speeds of 93mph, Archer bowled with such relentless accuracy that he did not concede a run off the bat until his 19th delivery. In all, his four

overs cost only six runs.

Nipping the ball around off the seam, he tormented Fakhar Zaman until the left-hander poked to second slip, where Joe Root took a juggling catch.

Archer’s replacement, Liam Plunkett, was out of sorts in conceding almost seven runs an over, but he at least had Babar Azam caught behind to leave Pakistan 45-2.

Opener Imam-ul-Haq was unmoved at the other end, moving to 42 not out in the company of Haris Sohail.

Haris should have been stumped for 14 off Adil Rashid, only for Jos Buttler to fail to gather the ball - a delivery that proved to be the last before the game-ending rain.

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CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday May 09, 2019)

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

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: Chennai Super Kings Sachin Tendulkar (MI)

(1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: Which four teams made it to the IPL 2019 ‘play-offs’.

Which two teams made it to the IPL 2019 final?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Capitals snatch playoff win from Sunrisers SUNRISERS Hyderabad played almost the perfect experience game after losing the toss, but made one big mistake in the 18th over to give Delhi Capitals their first win in the 12-year history of IPL playoffs.

Capitals played some sublime cricket at times, but nearly bottled it in the end after Rishabh Pant took 22 off the 18th over to turn it into what should have been a cakewalk.

On a slow pitch that was described as “tacky” by both captains, Sunrisers were disadvantaged by having to bat first, but their experience showed in how they found their way to what they

Rishabh Pant flays one through the offside. (BCCI)

thought was a winning total of 162.

It looked like that for a major part of the first 17 overs of their defence, but Basil Thampi bowling ahead of in-form Khaleel Ahmed proved to be the game-breaker.

Sunrisers knew this pitch would be difficult to score on in the middle overs so Martin Guptill had the licence to play big shots while the ball was new.

He tucked into Trent Boult, whom he was facing for the first time in a competitive T20 match, after having dismissed Ishant Sharma from his presence.

Ishant bowled a pretty

good sixth over - the most difficult over statistically but was let down by some nervous fielding.

Sunrisers made their way to 54 for 1 in the Powerplay, but Guptill kept on with his aggressive intent.

He strikes at over 8.5 an over against leg-spin in all T20 and at above 9 an over in the IPL, but when he went after Amit Mishra in the seventh over, the lack of bounce and pace meant he only managed to hit the shot off the toe end, offering a simple catch to deep square midwicket.

Axar Patel and Mishra against a predominantly right-hand batting unit on a turning track were always

going to find it a difficult proposition.

Had Manish Pandey and Kane Williamson tried anything too fancy, there was a very good chance Sunrisers might have lost the game in this spell.

They chose to respect the bowlers and wait for the quicker ones to come back.

Mishra, second-best among all bowlers when it comes to balls per boundary this season, bowled his four overs without conceding a single four or six.

The middle overs produced just two boundaries, but Sunrisers did well to lose just one wicket in this period.

Moura’s hat-trick sends Spurs to CL final

Tottenham scored three second-half goals to reach their first Champions League final.

(BBC) - LUCAS Mour a s c o re d a d r a m a t i c 96th-minute winner to cap an astonishing Tottenham fightback against Ajax and set up an all-English Champions League (CL) final against Liverpool.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Spurs made the worst possible start in Amsterdam when a towering fifth-minute header by 19-year-old Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt doubled the advantage for Erik ten Hag’s exciting young side.

Tottenham hit the post through Son Heung-min before Hakim Ziyech doubled Ajax’s lead on the night with a sweeping finish after an assist by former Southampton winger Dusan Tadic.

That left Spurs 3-0 behind on aggregate yet, in another pulsating semi-final, Mauricio Pochettino’s side

scored twice within five minutes in the second half.

Moura reduced the deficit with a composed finish before the Brazilian’s shot on the turn levelled the scores on the night and left Spurs requiring one goal to reach the final in Madrid on June 1.

In a frantic finish, Vertonghen headed against the bar before Moura completed his hat-trick with a left-foot shot from 16 yards deep into stoppage time on a famous night for Spurs.

It will be the second all-English Champions League final after Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow in 2008.

Pochettino could not contain his emotions at the final whistle and shed tears of joy as he celebrated wildly with his players on the pitch.

The Argentine, who celebrates his fifth anniversary

in charge of Spurs later this month, was on his knees after a night that rivalled the jaw-dropping drama of Liverpool’s incredible semi-final victory over Barcelona on Tuesday.

Harry Kane, who is still recovering from an ankle injury, also joined his teammates on the pitch as they celebrated in front of their 2 500 travelling fans.

Spurs looked dead and buried when Ziyech made it 3-0 on aggregate before half-time yet they somehow pulled themselves together to reach a first CL final.

Moura was the inspiration, producing three clinical finishes, the third after former Ajax player Vertonghen headed against the bar from four yards with four minutes of normal time remaining.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Pollard signed as TKR Marquee Player

TRINBAGO Knight Riders announced today that they have signed Kieron Pollard as their Marquee Player for the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which will be played from September 4 to October 12, 2019.

The Trinidadian all-rounder, who played for Barbados Tridents from 2013 to 2017 and for St Lucia Stars in 2018, will be playing for his home franchise for the first time in his Hero CPL career in 2019.

Making the announcement, Venky Mysore, Director of TKR said, “We are delighted to welcome Pollard back home and it’s great to continue our efforts to bring as many Trini boys home as possible. I can’t wait for the reaction of the fans when Pollard takes the field at our opening game on September 4.”

Pollard will be hoping to help TKR add to the three championships they have won in the last four tournaments in 2015, 2017 & 2018.

Pollard has played in 474 T20 matches so brings a vast amount of experience to the Knight Riders squad, from CPL and from tournaments around the world.

The rest of the Trinbago Knight Riders squad will be decided at the Hero CPL Players Draft, which takes place on May 22, 2019.

Athletes from every region to compete at GOBSA’s 4th Independence Track & Field Meet

ATHLETES from all 10 of Guyana’s administrative regions will be taking to the track in the fourth annual Independence Track and Field Championships from May 18 to 19 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

GOBSA president David Thomas

The meet, which is organised by the Guyana Overseas-Based Sports Association (GOBSA), was first introduced during Guyana’s

Independence Jubilee.

At the launch of the event on Tuesday, president of the Overseas-Based Sports Association (OBSA), David Thomas, revealed that since last year plans were in the pipeline to make the meet more inclusive by involving athletes from all ten administrative regions.

Events will be run off in the Under-9, 9-11 years, 12-14 years, 15-17 years, 18 years and above and the Masters (35 years and over).

Meanwhile, Director of Sport Christopher Jones was also present at the launch and committed the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s support for the event.

The sponsors, who have thrown their support behind the meet so far are: Forrester Lumber Yard, Banks DIH, Guyana Committee of Services, Guybisco and Sybil’s (USA-based).

An entrance fee of $300 will be charged on both competition days.

FIFA upholds Chelsea ban

In this handout image provided by CPL T20, Kieron Pollard of St Lucia Stars hits 6 during match 15 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League between St Lucia Stars and Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground on August 24, 2018 in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images)

Pure Racing secure Sprite sponsorship

LOCAL Karting team Pure Racing have secured sponsorship from Banks DIH under its Sprite Brand.

The company yesterday handed over sponsorship to several members of the karting team ahead of the 2019 season-opener, set for GT Motorsports this weekend.

Speaking to the media today, Non-Alcoholic Brand manager Jennifer Khan contended that the company is looking to

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move in a new direction.

“It’s an area where it’s new for us so this is just testing the water to see what happens. It falls under the Coca-Cola umbrella and this is our first venture into this. We hope it bears fruit.”

Representing Pure Racing, Annalisa Phang expressed the team’s happiness to have secured this sponsorship.

“Pure Racing is delighted to have Banks DIH and Sprite on board finally.

We’ve been working very hard to get them on board with us and we will certainly make you proud.”

“That is what Pure Racing is about. It’s about loving the sport, loving the machines and the need for speed.”

The team includes Ben Phang in the Baby Cup, Justin Ten-Pow in the Sunburst 60cc Kids cup, Jeremy Ten-Pow and Paige Mendonca in the 125cc X30 Juniors and Jhon Phang in the 125cc

X30 Seniors.

This weekend’s GT Motorsports Georgetown Grand Prix is billed for Saturday and is expected to include drivers from Trinidad and Tobago as well as Jamaica.

Trinidad’s Kristian Boodoosingh and Zachary Boodram are expected in the 125cc X30 senior class along with Jamaica’s Collin Daley. Daley’s countryman Tommi Gore is expected in the 125cc X30 junior class.

(REUTERS) - FIFA said yesterday that they have upheld Chelsea’s one-year transfer ban but the English Premier League club will be able to register youth players during the period following an appeal.

Chelsea were fined 600 000 Swiss francs (£453 404.9) and sanctioned in February in relation to 29 cases where regulations relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18 were breached. “ T h e F I FA A p p e a l Committee has decided to partially uphold the appeal lodged by Chelsea FC against the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to sanction the club with a ban on registering new players at both national and international level for the next two complete and consecutive registration periods,” FIFA said in a statement.

“This ban applied to the club as a whole – with the exception of the women’s and futsal teams – and did not prevent the release of players.”

But FIFA’s Appeal Committee decided the

club can still sign players under the age of 16 as they concluded imposing a ban on registering each and every minor “would not be proportionate to the offence committed”.

In a statement, Chelsea said they are “very disappointed” with FIFA’s decision and will take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“Chelsea FC categorically refutes the findings of the FIFA Appeal Committee. It acted in accordance with the relevant regulations and will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” the club added.

Manager Maurizio Sarri said the ban could give him an opportunity to play a number of youth prospects who are out on loan this season.

“Every month I have a report on every player on loan, we have about 45,” Sarri told reporters.

“There are two or three players who have been out on loan this season who are ‘interesting. I do not want to name names now. But the level they have been playing at must be considered.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

592 Beer/I-Cool Water Twelve teams advance to softball cricket tournament Corona Futsal group stage bowls off on May 18

THE inaugural 592 Beer/ICool Water 10/10 Softball Cup, which was recently launched at Ansa McAl Corporate head office, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, is expected to begin on May 18.

The tournament, which is open to all teams across Guyana, is being sponsored under the 592 Beer and I-Cool Water brands and is organised by the Demerara Softball Cricket Association (DSCA).

According to DSCA’s Samuel Kingston, the registration fee is $12 000 per team. Each team will also receive one case of 592 Beer, one case of I-Cool Water and a pack of tournament balls ahead of their opening match.

Kingston further revealed that a special yellow supreme ball is the official ball of the tournament.

T h e b a l l s a re o n l y available at Trophy Stall in Bourda Market or at the match venues on match

At the launch of the tournament, from left, Ansa McAl’s Marketing Assistant Gabriell Lopes, 592 Beer Brand Coordinator Seweon McGarrell, Samuel Kingston and Ansa McAl’s Business Unit Head Non-Alcoholic Division - Errol Nelson.

days.

According to the organisers, the use of any other ball by any team will result in immediate disqualification of that team.

Teams who have signalled their intention to compete so far are: Farm XI, Speed Boat All Stars, Omesh XI, De Hoop All-Stars, Success All Stars, Super Stars, Lusignan All Stars, Regal All-Stars, Park Rangers, HS All Stars, Ariel All Stars, Boots All Stars, Grill Masters XI, Canje All Stars, Corriverton All Stars, Edinburg All Stars and Young and the Restless.

Registration is still open and teams may contact the following persons: West Demerara - Omesh on 6757961, Essequibo Coast Patrick Rooplall 671-5697, Berbice - Roy Jaferalli, Georgetown and East Bank Demerara - Samuel Kingston on 692-8815.

Matches will be played in Berbice and Georgetown.

Mahadeo, Adonis for 2019 Reebok CrossFit Games GUYANA’S Dillon Mahadeo and Delice Adonis will compete at the July 29-August 4 esteemed Reebok CrossFit Games in Wisconsin, USA, according

to a Newsroom report.

Mahadeo got the nod to fly the Golden Arrowhead after finishing as thefittest of 21 men who entered for a chance to represent the coun-

try at the event, while Adonis emerged top of a field of 10 females.

The Reebok Games is the pinnacle of CrossFit globally and the prestigious title of

Dillon Mahadeo (left) and Delice Adonis doing what they know best.

(Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

‘Fittest on Earth’ is at stake.

While Mahadeo and Adonis will compete in the Individual category, there will be rivalry in the Team, Teen and Masters divisions.

In an exclusive interview with the Newsroom, Mahadeo said, “Qualifying for the CrossFit Games was on a different format this year. It was through the Open, which is a five-week-long online qualifier.

“So each week they released one workout and you had to attempt the workout and submit your scores and based on how you tally up locally amongst your competitors, the winner at the end of the five weeks would determine the national champion, which qualifies you directly to the 2019 CrossFit Games.”

THE twelve teams that will contest the group stage of the Corona Futsal tournament were decided on Tuesday evening at National Gymnasium.

Tucville, North East La Penitence, Leopold Street, Back Circle, Sparta Boss, Bent Street, California Square, West Front Road, Mocha, Future Stars, Beacons and Tiger Bay have advanced.

The teams will be split into four equal groups with the top two teams and the best two third-place finishers advancing.

FULL SCORES FROM TUESDAY’S GAME: ○ California Square 2 vs Pele 1 California Square - Mishack Barritla 5th, Ryan October 8th; Pele - James McAulay 6th ○ Game 2: West Front Road 5 vs GFC 3 West Front Road - Colin Nelson 9th, Randolph Wagner 3rd, 16th & 18th Michael Pedro 7th GFC - Kevin Baptiste 10th, Ronnel Peters 7th & 14th ○ Game 3: Broad Street 2 vs Mocha 4 Broad Street - Paul Norton 16th, Ryan Dowlin 17th, Mocha - Teon Jones 18th, Adonei Rutherford 13th & 19th Lyliton Ramsay 10th ○ Game 4: Future Stars 6 vs Order and Discipline 0 Kevin Solomon 15th, Jamal Cozier 4th, William Europe 7th, Shamar Fraser 14th, Wayne James 17th, Julian Bamfield 9th ○ Game 5: Sophia 1 vs Beacon 4 Sophia - Joshua Kamal 16th,, Beacon - Shane Morris 14th,, Wesley Greenidge 7, Darien Dickson 6th & 15th ○ Game 6: Tiger Bay 8 vs Eastveldt 2 Tiger Bay - Alpha Fletchman 9th & 15th, Keome Gravesande 2nd, Soloman Austin 7th & 16th, Deon Alfred 4th, 5th & 19th Eastveldt - Leslie Woolford 1st, Mace Assanah 3rd.

GPF swimming team excels at Dolphin Speed Swim Meet THE Police Force Swimming Team participated in the Dolphin Speed Swim Meet at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal ECD. There were competitors from six other clubs.

The Police contingent, headed by swimming coach Rural Constable Christopher McAdam, performed outstandingly.

Sergeant Linden Barkoye picked up first in the 50m breaststroke and second in the 50m freestyle while Woman Corporal Eva Harry copped second in the 50m breaststroke, third in the 50m freestyle and second in the 50m butterfly.

Woman Lance Corporal Bernard picked up second in the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle while Constable Akeem Alfred finished third

in the 50m freestyle and second in the 50m backstroke.

Constable Trumaine Cole snapped up three first-place finishes in the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke while Special Constable Joel Murray placed second in the 50m butterfly and third in the 50m backstroke.

Rural Corporal Nikita Fiedtkou claimed four firstplace finishes in the 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly.

The members of the team wish to thank the Force Administration for putting the necessary system in place for the competition and look forward to participate in other invitational events of such nature in the future.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, May 9, 2019

Department of Tourism/THAG planning Sports Tourism agenda

THE Department of Tourism (DoT) and Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) are looking at a ‘Sports Tourism Agenda 2019-2021’.

The bodies yesterday brought together a number of sports administrators, media personnel and tourism agencies at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Liliendaal to craft the way forward for the plan.

“Guyana’s tourism offering is primarily nature-based and even though that is what we seek to promote, there are still a number of areas where there are tremendous opportunities for growth, one of which is sports tourism,” Minister of Business, Hemraj Ramkumar, declared as he delivered remarks during the event’s opening ceremony.

“According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), sports tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in tourism.

If Guyana is going to position itself to capture a greater share of global demand then we have got to be deliberate

in our actions and today’s activity is another step in that direction; where we bring key stakeholders together to chart a course for maximising the benefits to be derived.”

Ever since DoT and THAG have taken a more official role in partnering with sports administrators whenever international or regional sports events are held

from now for 2019 – 2021 and we know of all the sporting events that are coming up, then we can plan and be able to have packages readily available; then we can inform the fans and everyone coming for these events to say these are the things that they can participate in.”

Ramkumar noted that there exists a wide array of options that the tourism industry can offer, that can be incorporated into or work alongside an event whenever there is free time for those attending.

“There might be an off day, there might be a free afternoon and we want to be there to share this information and say this is what is available for you to do and it A section of the attendees at the Sports Tourism Agenda 2019-2021 event (Carl Croker photos) doesn’t have to take much. A In 2017 the Department in Guyana, also to market the events in a way to ensure that trip to Kaieteur Falls is four of Tourism held its first two country’s varying tourism the events carry a tourism hours or you can do an EsseSports Tourism Workshops opportunities. aspect. quibo River tour where you and Seminar, in a conscious Later this month the “It’s about being able to can touch a number of resorts effort to officially bring the Guyana Football Federation have the visitors participate in one day. You can visit Fort tourism agencies and the (GFF) is scheduled to host a more, and spend more and Island and learn about the rich varying sporting bodies to- FIFA Conference on Develop- stay longer at the destination, Dutch history. gether, since sporting events ment at the Guyana Marriott, so that area is what we’re “You can do a walking in Guyana bring thousands of while the spotlight is also on working on,” Ramkumar said. tour around Georgetown or visitors to the country.

Guyana’s preparations for the “If we have a schedule an aerial tour of Georgetown,

Guinness Greatest of the Streets

Final group stage games on tomorrow in Linden

hosting of the 2021 CARIFTA Games.

THAG president Mitra Ramkumar explained that the aim of the agenda is to work out a schedule of upcoming

which is just 15 minutes. So these are some of the packages that we want to develop for sports tourism, for all the events we’re looking at,” Ramkumar said.

Given the rise that Guyana’s tourism has seen over the past few years, particularly with the attention from Guyana being named the “World’s Best Ecotourism Destination”, the country continues to see increasing number of visitors.

The impending oil and gas industry is also a major pull factor. All across the country tourism focus is being heightened.

“This workshop is both significant and opportune. It comes at a time when tourism in Guyana is on an upward trajectory – Guyana has been experiencing double-digit growth in visitor arrivals over the past three years.

“Our administrative regions have heightened their tourism awareness and are finding it fit to set up tourism committees to advance their regions tourism potential,” Ramkumar said.

Opening day of Essequibo vs Select U-17 hit by rain … Hand-in-Hand U-19 3-Day Inter-County

Scenes from the Guinness Greatest of the Streets Linden competition at the Mackenzie Market tarmac

WITH several berths still up for grabs in the elimination round, the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden Championship will resume tomorrow with the final round of group matches at the Silver City tarmac.

In the opening match, Assassa Ballers will oppose Amazings from 19:30hrs, while NK Ballers oppose Capital Storm from 20:00hrs. The third fixture will pit High Rollers against Retrieve Unknown from 20:30hrs, with Amelia’s Ward Russians scheduled to battle Coomacka at 21:00hrs.

In the final two matches, Swag Entertainment will match skills with Wisroc at

21:30hrs, while Silver Bullets will engage Barsenal from 22:00hrs.

According to an official release from the coordinators, “Several teams still have the opportunity to earn a place in the knockout round. Teams such as defending champions Silver Bullets, Dave & Celina’s All-Stars, High Rollers, Amazings, Retrieve Unknowns and Barsenal have yet to seal their place in the elimination round and will need positive results to secure their passage.”

The release further stated, “Given the circumstances affecting many of the teams, a highly competitive and

thrilling night of action is expected. Fans will be treated to quality football, as the teams vie for a place in the knockout stage and a change to secure the coveted title.”

COMPLETE FIXTURES ► Assassa Ballers vs Amazings - 19:30hrs ► NK Ballers vs Capital Storm - 20:00hrs ► High Rollers vs Retrieve Unknowns - 20:30hrs ► Amelia’s Ward Russians vs Coomacka - 21:00hrs ► Swag Entertainment vs Wisroc - 21:30hrs ► Silver Bullets vs Barsenal - 22:00hrs

THE opening day of the Essequibo vs Select U-17 third round Hand-in-Hand U-19 3-Day Inter-County tournament, at the Everest Cricket ground, was heavily affected by rain.

Select U-17s won the toss and sent in Essequibo to bat, opener Kevin Christian fell early, dismissed by Anand Rajkumar for just four runs.

When the skies opened up

Flashback!

just before lunch, Orlando Jailall was unbeaten on 13 as was Ameer Singh who had six runs to his name. Essequibo are on 30-1.

Due to the heavy downpour the outfield was flooded and no further action could take place. Meanwhile at Lusignan, the day’s play was abandoned without a ball being bowled in the Demerara vs Berbice

Action in round two of the Hand-in-Hand U-19 3-Day Inter-County tournament

encounter.

That match-up is the title-decider as Berbice are top of the table on 17 points while Demerara are second on 16.3 points.

Select U-17 are on 10.4 points while Essequibo are in cellar position with just 0.3 points.

If there is fair weather today, play will begin at 09:30hrs at both venues.

Twelve teams advance to Corona Futsal group stage Page

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Action in the ongoing Corona Futsal tournament. (Samuel Maughn photo)

THAG president Mitra Ramkumar and Minister of Business, Hemraj Rmakumar.

Page

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Pure Racing secure Sprite sponsorship

Department of Tourism/THAG planning Sports Tourism agenda

Page

25

Pure Racing’s Justin Ten-Pow collects the Sprite sponsorship from Banks DIH’s Jennifer Khan.

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THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019