Guyana Chronicle E-paper 5-14-2019

TUESDAY 14th May, 2019

No.105637

AFC Diaspora to file complaint against proposed PPP Facebook 'ads' …Diaspora group to file complaint

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Recruitment agency finds jobs for 156 persons 15 PAGE

High Court throws out Ramson lawsuit against Chronicle

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Rice export nets US$41.7M

in first quarter SEE STORY ON PAGE 10 ►

‘Shun extremism, divisiveness’ 03 PAGE

…PM says Guyana must never become a “hot spot” for religious bigotry, terrorism

Dancers entertain the audience at the National Cultural during the Social Cohesion Day observances (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Not the gov't, but the Speaker –– who referred no-confidence matter to the Court …PPP led the challenge to the CCJ

Contrary to a recent report in the Guyana Times on Monday, it was the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, who had referred the No-Confidence Motion to the Courts, and not the Government of Guyana.

In an article published in the newspaper under the headline “Caribbean wonders reasons for Govt approaching CCJ – UWI Political Science Head…,” it was reported that observers are questioning the rationale behind Government’s decision to approach the court on the matter. But what are the facts of the situation?

According to the facts, the Speaker, approximately 13 days after declaring that the No-Confidence Motion had been passed, referred the matter to the Court for “full, final and complete settlement.” He had explained then that since the passage of the motion on December 21, he received from diverse sources, information backed by case law and practice from other jurisdictions which had raised doubts as

to whether the no-confidence motion was effectively carried.

“The information which I have received raises two issues. The first of these issues included a claim supported by several cases that the requirement for the successful passing of a No-confidence Motion is a majority of the elected members of the National Assembly.

“That majority, it is contended, was to be formed by a mathematical half of the elected membership of the National Assembly which is 65 plus the vote of one other member. Such a formula would require a majority of 34 votes instead of 33 by which the No-confidence motion was declared carried,” the Speaker had explained during the January 3, 2019 Sitting of the National Assembly.

It was on that basis that Dr. Scotland referred the matter to the court. “Full, final and complete settlement of these issues by a Court of competent jurisdiction will place beyond doubt any question which may exist

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland

and serve to give guidance to the Speaker and to the National Assembly for the future,” Dr. Scotland said as he addressed the National Assembly in the voluntary absence of the Opposition.

The next day, a New Amsterdam farmer, Compton Reid, filed an ‘Urgent Fixed Date Application’ in the High Court challenging the validity of the vote cast

by Charrandass Persaud, who had defected and voted

in favour of the Opposition-sponsored Motion to bring down his Government.

Reid, through his lawyers Rex McKay, S.C; Neil Boston, S.C.; and Robert Corbin, had asked the High Court to set aside the order of the Speaker that the No Confidence Motion, Resolution No. 101 was passed on the grounds that Persaud not only crossed the floor but occupied a seat in the National Assembly despite being a dual citizen. At the time, he was in total breach of the Constitution.

Article 155 (1) (a) of the Constitution states: “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who – (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

It was not until January 7, 2019 that the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams filed a challenge to the motion, in keeping with the advice of the Speaker. The Attorney

General argued that the Parliamentary Opposition did not secure an absolute majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly as stipulated by Article 106 (6) of the Constitution. Though Persaud had defected, the Parliamentary Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had only secured 33 votes. “In the instant case as half of 65 results in the fraction of 32.5, that figure should then be rounded to the next whole number being 33 which would now represent half of the elected members, the majority thereby being a number greater than half means that ‘1’ ought to have been added to the whole number ‘33’ to calculate an absolute majority of 34,” the Attorney General had argued.

Though the passage of the motion was upheld when Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire handed down her decision in the High Court on January 31, the Court of Appeal, by a 2-1 margin, adopted Government’s position that an abso-

lute majority was required. , Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice of Appeal Dawn Gregory ruled that the Opposition needed 34 votes to defeat the Government and not 33. Justice Rishi Persaud, however, had a dissenting opinion. Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice of Appeal Dawn Gregory ruled that the Opposition needed 34 votes to defeat the Government and not 33. Justice Rishi Persaud, however, had a dissenting opinion.

While the Guyana Times’ report indicated that the Government had approached the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), it is public knowledge that it was the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo; recalled Member of Parliament, Charrandass Persaud; and political commentator, Christopher Ram, who had turned to the CCJ. The Government has long indicated that it will respect the ruling of the CCJ, as was done in previous cases.

President Granger saddened at passing of Robert Allicock His Excellency, David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana said he is saddened at the death of Mr. Robert Frederick Allicock, MS. Allicock was laid to rest on Monday in his home village of home village of Suruma, North Rupununi, Region 9.

In a message of condolences, President Granger said Mr. Allicock, who was the father of Fourth Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock and Chairman of the Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo Region (Region Nine), Mr. Bryan Allicock, died on Sunday at the age of 86.

Mr. Allicock served as Regional Vice Chairman for Region Nine from 1986 to 1991. He also served as Operations Manager and Consultant at the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conser-

Fourth Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock helps to remove the body of his father from the church following a thanksgiving service

vation and Development, where he played an integral role in the establishment of the Iwokrama Rainforest Project. On May 26, 2016, he was bestowed with the

Medal of Service, the fifth highest award of the Order of Service of Guyana for his outstanding work at Iwokrama and the role he played in the Project.

President Granger extends heartfelt condolences to Vice President Allicock, his siblings, relatives and friends.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

‘Shun extremism, divisiveness’

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…PM says Guyana must never become a “hot spot” for religious bigotry, terrorism

Some of the politicians and diplomats on stage at the NCC at Monday’s National Social Cohesion Day ceremony (Delano Williams photos)

Dancers of the National Dance Company performing a piece celebrating Guyana’s six races

By Tamica Garnett With many countries across the world ravished by civil war brought on by cultural differences, Guyana is a beacon to the rest of the world.

This was emphasised by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton as they delivered remarks at a ceremony held on Monday at the National Cultural Centre to celebrate National Social Cohesion Day. Among the events cultural display was a moving performance by the National Drama Company of a skit entitled “Appreciation for Religion” which ended in resounding applause for its promotion of how the different religions in Guyana all contribute to our national identity.

“Not every nation is gifted with a social cohesion platform like what we have in Guyana. Look around ev-

erywhere in the world there are social disturbances and disruptions. There are civil wars in Syria and Libya; conflict in the Middle East, look at Palestine and Israel; dislocation of people based on their ethnicity in Myanmar; religious extremism and acts of terrorism as we’ve recently seen in Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and in Yemen, just to mention a few so-called hot spots in the world. We must vow that Guyana must never become a hot spot,” Nagamootoo remarked, speaking to an audience that included many school students and a number of diplomats.

Those in attendance included First Lady, Sandra Granger, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn and UNDP Representative Mikiko Tanaka, and Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore.

First held in 2017, National Social Cohesion Day is celebrated annually by the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Social Cohe-

sion to celebrate and further promote unity among all Guyanese and an appreciation for our diversity. “We are observing national social cohesion day because Guyanese have shown a willingness to accept each other’s beliefs, and differences,” Nagamootoo noted. “As Guyanese we have a natural respect for who we are, we are one people. This respect comes from our shared collective duty imposed on all of us by our supreme law.

Indeed appreciating our diversities is the stepping stone towards forging unity and building a better Guyana.”

He told the gathering that, recently, when Guyana observed Arrival Day on May 5, “we were reminded about our diversity. We were reminded about the arrival in this land of Africans, Portuguese, Indians and Chinese.

They intermingled with the Amerindians, our indigenous peoples who were here centuries before, to form one, common Guyanese nation, as

Members of the audience enjoyed the performances by the West Demerara Secondary School Steel Pan Band

we know it today. “ The Prime Minister said Government has recognised this diversity. “We honour each and every one of our ethnic groupings. We celebrate Emancipation Day on August 1, in recognition of our African brothers and sisters and their ancestors.

We observe Chinese Arrival Day on January 13; Portuguese Arrival Day on May 3; Indian Arrival Day on May 5, which coincides with National Arrival Day; and we observe September – an entire month - as Indigenous Heritage Month.

“It is my view that a nation that respects its diversity, reinforces the integrity of its composition, and strengthens the bonds that bind its different peoples together. “ Nagamootoo said during the observance of Indian Arrival Day on May 5, 2017 – two years ago - President David Granger told the gathering at Highbury on the East Bank of Berbice, where the first batch of East Indians had landed in

1838: “Diversity is a precious asset”.

He said it was on the foundation of our diversity that a society was formed.

“It was not easy, over time, to bring people closer to each other. The different races were set up by the colonial planters against each other, and they competed against each other as units of cheap labour. They were suspicious of each other, and had cultivated social distrust of each other.” “As the President noted then, social cohesion had to be built gradually and deliberately, family by family, community by community.

The observance of National Arrival Day therefore is a remarkable achievement, a national trophy for the painstaking work of building social cohesion,” the Prime Minister noted.

He said as Guyanese “we have sworn to obey the laws of Guyana. Our laws bind us to respect each other as equals; not to discriminate against another; not to be

intolerant of each other’s belief or customs. Our social cohesion is reflected in our common love of our country.

Earlier, we recited the National Pledge. It commands us to be loyal to our country, to love our fellow citizens.”

The prime minister alluded to Article 7 of Guyana Constitution which states that “it is the duty of every citizen of Guyana wherever he or she may be and of every person in Guyana to respect the national flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, the national pledge and the Constitution of Guyana”.

“We are bound together by the sentiments, the emotional lyrics of our National Anthem. Our National Anthem sings out about our common heritage in a dear, green and great land. Our Guyana is revered and literally worshipped as our Great Mother.”

The event’s programme opened with inter-faith TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Trump to meet Xi after defiant China slaps U.S. with new tariffs WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month, as the trade war between the world’s two largest economies intensified, sending shivers through global markets.

Earlier, China announced it would impose higher tariffs on a range of U.S. goods including frozen vegetables and liquefied natural gas, a move that followed Washington’s decision last week to hike its own levies on $200 billion in Chinese imports. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office

later said it planned to hold a public hearing next month on the possibility of raising duties of up to 25% on a further $300 billion worth of imports from China. Cellphones and laptops would be included in that list, but pharmaceuticals would be excluded, the office said.

The prospect that the United States and China were spiraling into a no-holdsbarred dispute that could derail the global economy has rattled investors and led to a sharp selloff on equities markets in the past week. A gauge of global stocks shed a further 1.9% on Monday, its biggest one-day drop in more than

five months. China’s yuan currency fell to its lowest level since December and oil futures slumped. Trump, who has embraced protectionism as part of an “America First” agenda, said he would talk to Xi at a G20 summit in late June.

“Maybe something will happen,” Trump said in remarks at the White House.

“We’re going to be meeting, as you know, at the G20 in Japan and that’ll be, I think, probably a very fruitful meeting.” U.S. farmers are among those most hurt by the trade war, with soybean sales to China plummeting and U.S. soybean futures hitting their lowest level in a decade.

Trump said on Monday his administration was planning to provide about $15 billion to help farmers whose products might be targeted. Farmers, who are a core political constituency for Trump’s Repub-

licans heading into the 2020 presidential and congressional elections, are growing increasingly frustrated with the protracted trade talks and the failure to reach an agreement.

“What that means for soybean growers is that we’re losing,” Davie Stephens, president of the American Soybean Association, said in a statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping meet business leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, November 9, 2017. REUTERS/ Damir Sagolj/File Photo RC1E974F0B70 STEADY DRUM BEAT China said on Monday it plans to set import tariffs ranging from 5% to 25% on 5,140 U.S. products on a $60 billion target list. It said the tariffs will take effect on June 1. “China’s adjustment on additional tariffs is a response

to U.S. unilateralism and protectionism,” its finance ministry said. “China hopes the U.S. will get back to the right track of bilateral trade and economic consultations and meet with China halfway.” In the middle of the negotiations last week, Trump hiked tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25% from 10%. The move affected 5,700 categories of Chinese products, including internet modems and routers. Sources have said talks stalled after China tried to delete commitments from a draft agreement that its laws would be changed to enact new policies on issues from intellectual property protection to forced technology transfers.

Beijing said on Monday it would “never surrender” to external pressure, and its state media kept up a steady drum beat of strongly-worded commentary, reiterating that the door to talks was always open, but vowing that China would defend its national interests and dignity. In a commentary, state television said the effect of the U.S. tariffs on the Chinese economy

was “totally controllable.”

Trump has said he is in “no rush” to finalize a deal with China. He again defended the move to hike U.S. tariffs and said there was no reason why American consumers would pay the costs.

Economists and industry consultants, however, maintain that it is U.S. businesses that will pay the costs and likely pass them on to consumers. U.S. tariffs last year triggered retaliation by China, which imposed 25% levies on $50 billion worth of U.S. products including soybeans, beef and pork and lower tariffs on a list of $60 billion in goods. In a research note, Goldman Sachs economists said new evidence showed the costs of Washington’s tariffs on China last year had fallen entirely on U.S. businesses and households, with no clear reduction in prices charged by Chinese exporters. They added that the effects of the tariffs had spilled over noticeably to the prices charged by U.S. producers competing with goods affected by the levies.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019 01:30hrs.-03:00hrs./13:30hrs.-15:00hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

CARICOM calls for end to US embargo against Cuba ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, May 13, CMC – Secretary general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Irwin LaRocque, Monday called on the United States to lift the “unwarranted economic embargo and sanctions” against Cuba.

Addressing the 22nd meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), LaRocque said that next month, the 15-member grouping will host the Sixth Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CARICOM and Cuba.

“Cuba has been a long-standing, supportive partner particularly in building the region’s human capital in fields such as public health and sport. Our Community

reiterates its call for the lifting of the unwarranted economic embargo and sanctions on Cuba which were strengthened recently,” he added.

Washington strengthened the decades old embargo on the Caribbean island after it publicly stated its support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro whom the United States and several other western countries are seeking to remove from power. CARICOM has called for non-intervention in the internal affairs of countries and that it has adopted this principle with regards to Caracas.

LaRocque said that the meeting here was taking place “at a time when our hemisphere continues to face great challenges. “The ongoing

political situation in Venezuela is worrisome and requires an urgent and concerted response from all actors. Since the beginning of the year, CARICOM has been very active on the issue and spared no effort on its own as well as working with like-minded countries and other parties, towards a peaceful internal outcome to the crisis, an objective on which all member states agree,” he said.

The Secretary General said that CARICOM has been operating within the framework of the Montevideo Mechanism process established with Mexico and Uruguay. “The Community has been resolute in reaffirming its guiding principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the affairs

of states, prohibition of the threat or use of force, respect for sovereignty, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for the constitutional framework, human rights and democracy.”

He said last week, CARICOM chairman, Dr. Timothy Harris, led a CARICOM delegation to the outreach session of the third Ministerial Meeting of the International Contact Group in Costa Rica, where perspectives on the situation in Venezuela were exchanged.

LaRocque said, Venezuela and Cuba apart, other issues of interest to the Community’s welfare also feature on the agenda for the two-day meeting. “The implications of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the Eu-

ropean Union (EU), and the ongoing Post-Cotonou negotiations which will determine CARICOM’s and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) future relationship with the EU. “Our meeting today will have to consider several issues as we formulate the Community’s position going forward.

We are facing a world where major actors are showing a decreasing interest in a collective approach to global problems. It is an era where the multilateral architecture has come under increasing strain. Geopolitical competition in a multipolar world has increased, as well as the exercise of state power by the powerful to the detriment of international law and of

smaller countries.”

LaRocque said that CARICOM, as small states, must therefore rely more than ever on focused and coordinated diplomacy, bolster its relations with like-minded states and continue to advocate for multilateralism. The two-day meeting is being held under the theme ““Leveraging the Community’s Voice in an Era of Challenges and Disorder” and LaRocque said it is more than timely and “constitutes a wakeup call that reminds us as small states that the best way to protect the region’s interests in such a challenging time is to be cohesive, to work together as a collective, and to speak with one voice”.

CARPHA urges the region to deal seriously to eradicate mosquitoes PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, May 13, CMC –The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is warning the region that as the rainy seasons approaches every effort must be made to intensity efforts to deal with mosquitoes, which it describes as “the world’s deadliest animal”.

CARPHA executive director, Dr. C. James Hospedales in a message coinciding with Mosquito Awareness Week 2019 said the mosquitoes could seriously affect the health of Caribbean people.

“Mosquito borne diseases stress our region’s health care systems, threaten social and economic development, and negatively impact our tourism industry,” he said. CARPHA said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that the dengue virus alone threatens approximately 3.9 billion people in over 128 countries.

Mosquito Awareness Week 2019 is being observed with the slogan “Fight the Bite, Destroy Mosquito Breeding Sites”, and CARPHA said the week focuses on mosquito borne diseases and risks associated with them. It said climate variability can influence the number of persons exposed to mosquito-borne diseases. “As the rainy season approaches, mosquito control and awareness activities need to be intensified. Significant rainfall can lead to a proliferation of mosquito breeding sites, increased mosquito populations and an increased risk of disease transmission.”

Senior Technical Officer, responsible for Vector Borne Diseases Prevention and Control at CARPHA, Rajesh Ragoo, the best way to “fight the bite” is to be on the lookout for standing water and clean up our surroundings. “The two most important things to control mosquito populations in our Caribbean countries is through source reduction, specifically management of water storage drums and tanks, and properly dispose of used vehicle tires to prevent mosquitoes breeding,” he added.

Ragoo said it is also important to minimize exposure to mosquito bites especially for vulnerable populations such as infants, young children, older adults and women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. CARPHA said it is urging all to work as a team to reduce the mosquito populations. “We need to be more engaging in our battle against mosquito borne diseases which do not recognise boundaries. It means a regional intersectoral approach, greater collaboration between government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and community groups,” said Dr. Hospedales.

CARPHA said it is providing support to member states by enhancing regional surveillance, and the agency’s capacity for testing mosquito borne diseases; and monitoring regional and global developments. Dr. Laura-Lee Boodram, the head of Vector-Borne Diseases said “CARPHA utilizes, integrated strategies to support its Member States and oth-

er regional organizations in the fight against mosquito borne diseases. “We focus on strengthening capacity in our countries to detect prevent and control the spread of mosquito borne illness, which also involves limiting the spread of mosquito vectors. We are implementing advanced molecular diagnostic laboratory techniques, such as, to better characterize mosquito borne viruses and improve public health prevention and control measures.”

Additionally, CARPHA

said it is providing valuable information that can help in the prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases, spread by the Aedes aegypti, the common vector for dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and Yellow Fever. Another area of concern is the possible re-emergence of malaria in the region. Malaria, spread by the anopheles mosquito, was eliminated from most of the Caribbean when global eradication efforts were undertaken in the 1950s and 1960s. The disease is endemic in the

Dominican Republic and the CARPHA Member States of Belize, Haiti, Guyana and Suriname. However, few countries have already reported an increase in imported cases of Malaria.

CARPHA said that it has developed “Mission Mosquito”, an innovative information toolkit, which includes animated videos, posters and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about mosquito borne diseases. It said the toolkit is specially packaged to meet the needs of a di-

verse audience, which include public health professionals and clinicians, pregnant women, and children.

Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week was declared at the 17th Special Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government in November 2014 on Public Health Threats and is an important reminder to the general public to take action to reduce their risk of diseases spread by mosquitoes. It is observed annually during the second week of May.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

The Tobacco Council

LAST week, Guyana took another progressive step by launching the National Tobacco Council. This is one of the provisions of the revolutionary Tobacco Control Act, which was enacted by the Coalition Government. Among the Council’s functions is that it Council shall advise the Minister of Public Health on matters related to tobacco control, and the administration and enforcement of this Act. The Act also stipulates that, subject to Section 7, the Minister shall appoint each member of the Council.

Each member of the Council shall be appointed for a term of three years, and shall be eligible for re-appointment.

The appointment of each member of the Council, and every change of appointment, shall be published in the Official Gazette. At the launch of the Council, Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence called for decisive action in tobacco

industry. Noting that she was happy that Guyana has achieved many firsts in the the Caribbean region, Minister Lawrence drew reference to the passage of the Tobacco Control Bill by the National Assembly, and his Excellency, President David Granger’s assenting to it in 2017, thereby earning Guyana the PAHO/WHO award on World No Tobacco Day 2018.

Minister Lawrence said that in establishing the Council, there is a duty to ensure that the proper advice is given to the Minister of Public Health on the control of tobacco, as well as the administration and enforcement of the Act. She stressed: “You have a mandate to advise me.

And please ensure that you advise me, giving me all the facts, and all the horror stories too, because it’s part of my mandate. Please do not withhold anything from me.”

The Tobacco Control Bill of 2017 is geared at protecting future genera-

tions from the detriments of tobacco smoke. The Bill was initially conceptualised during the tenure of former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, but when he departed the then Ministry of Health, for some strange reason, work on the legislation got lost in the proverbial smoke. Though speculation abounds,the real reason(s) for the neglect of this revolutionary, forward-looking and progressive piece of legislation remains unknown. But, be that as it may, simply put, by virtue of not addressing a serious problem head-on, it can be seen as adopting a casual approach to decisively tackling some very serious non-communicable diseases in Guyana.

Non-communicable diseases account for a sizeable chunk of the health budget.

The destruction wrought by smoking, both to the smoker and non-smoker (by virtue of inhaling second-hand smoke) is relatively well known. Among other ail-

ments with which it has been associated, smoking is the cause of coughs, colds, asthma, pneumonia, stroke, heart diseases and lung cancer.

And according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), second-hand smoke accounts for about 600,000 deaths every year. Globally, smoking accounts for more than five million deaths annually, and has been identified by the WHO as the world’s single greatest preventable cause of death.

In fact, the WHO puts the number of deaths due to smoking and second-hand smoke closer to over 100 million over the course of the 20th Century. Remarkably, this is more than the total number of deaths (an estimated 97 million) caused

by World Wars I and II combined. In Guyana, no data has been made public on how many persons die from smoking every year, but according to the WHO, tobacco kills more than half of its users.

Again, according to a Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 21 per cent of students aged 13-15 smoke, or have smoked in Guyana. PAHO Country Representative, Dr William Adu-Krow had observed some years ago that some 50 per cent of the local population are smokers, and about 30 per cent of the homes here have smokers.

Some observers have also pointed out that while men in Guyana smoke much more than women, the gap in recent years appears to be narrowing. These observations cannot be dismissed out- ofhand when cancer, diabetes and heart diseases, though not due to smoking or smoke inhalation entirely, are the leading causes of death here.

In Guyana, many things that are wrong still pass as accepted norms. There are still cases of minors purchasing and selling cigarettes. This reportedly happens mostly in the countryside. And there are still reports of persons smoking

in public transportation, and even officials doing so in public spaces. The legislation, with its provision for this Council, seeks to right these wrongs, and institute a meagre fine of $20,000 for persons found guilty of smoking in public.

And, importantly, it also seeks, in a very direct way, to quell the billowing of tobacco smoke in public, by prohibiting advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products and delivery systems. There is nothing fashionable about smoking when it is a slow, silent killer, and a destroyer of homes and families, and places an unnecessary financial burden on the government, which has very limited resources at its disposal to deal with preventable health issues.

The government must be commended for passing this landmark legislation, and the subsequent steps it has taken to ensure that it is enforced.

Kudos to the mayor and his deputy Dear Editor, THE recent disclosure by the Mayor of Georgetown that he, along with his deputy and a small team from City Hall, successfully renegotiated the terms to which they will engage the solid waste contractors, thereby bringing down the monthly charges from a whopping $32M to a manageable $14M speaks volumes about City Hall.

First, it shows a keen understanding by these two gentlemen of the negotiating process. It shows creativity, courage, and good judgment; but, most of all, it shows their considerable honesty. They should be congratulated by each citizen

for saving the City some $18M per month, which could be diverted to other critical municipal services.

Indeed, I admire the concept of cutting expenditure rather than just seeking to rake in more and more revenue by taxing the citizens out of their minds, like his predecessors did, burdening citizens with container taxes, increased property rates, market fees etc. What he needs to do now is to continue cutting costs, by halving that bloated staff structure the Council has, which costs them well over $100M per month, theby reducing the nearly 1000- strong workforce by closing down some of the useless departments of the municipality such as the Human Resourc-

es Department and the Public Relations Division and sending home the friends and family, church pals and paramours of ‘the big ones’ there who have been heavily feather-bedding the Council over the last four years.

But the flip side to this incredible negotiation is the unwitting exposure to the public of the high level of debauchery, depravity, iniquity, profligacy, graft and corruption that has been occurring within the Georgetown Municipality over the last four years. Eighteen million by 12 months by four years totals close to one billion dollars. Where did this money go! Just as overpayment to the contractors?

This spectacular negotiation reminds

me of when the Council renegotiation committee and Smart City Solutions (SCS) reached an agreement to slash the parking fee from an enormous $500 per hour to $150 per hour, VAT-inclusive, to park in Georgetown. Mind you, SCS would have still made a profit at $150 per hour, so it is logical to assume that the extra 350 per hour, per car would have greased a lot of wheels to keep the machine turning smoothly.

Someone at City Hall should negotiate our country’s future oil contract awards.

Regards, Sean Levius

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

What has Freddie Kissoon ever done for Guyana?

Dear Editor,

SO, Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon could criticise my letter published in Sunday’s edition of this newspaper only by resorting to name-calling and hypocrisy in his column in the Monday edition of KN. He says I should stop writing about Guyana, because I don’t live there.

But this is the same Freddie Kissoon that so often offers opinions on issues and events in countries that he has never even visited.

Yet he suggests that I, who was born and grew up in Guyana, and who perhaps has done more and continues to do more for Guyana and Guyanese than he does, should stop writing about Guyana. Has Freddie Kissoon ever facilitated a single investment

in Guyana? Well, I have! Has Freddie Kissoon ever gone to the halls of a Parliament or Congress of another country to lobby for laws, or the change thereof, to benefit Guyana and Guyanese? Well, I have, and continue to so do! Has Freddie Kissoon ever facilitated the overseas training of Guyanese? Well, I have, as recent as a few weeks ago! Has Freddie Kissoon ever facilitated his nice friend, and my dear brother, Dr. Mark Kirton in meeting high- ranking officials of any US university to explore the possibility of collaboration? Well, I have.

Has Freddie Kissoon ever negotiated for UG to get free registration and display space at any international conference/expo? Well, I have. And there is so much more that I can say that I have done and do for Guyana, which I don’t brag about.

He also sinks into his own filth by resorting to name-calling. He says I am a fool. But this is the same Freddie Kissoon I had to admonish for advocating in one of his columns that his daughter (and others) should disobey a police request to pull over while driving, since unwarranted stops by the police are illegal, according to the then Commissioner of Police. He then went on to advise that a copy of the article quoting the then commissioner should be kept in everyone’s car and shown to the same police, should they pursue the driver for not pulling over. So, Freddie was in fact encouraging his daughter and others to create a situation that would necessitate a police chase, thereby exposing his daughter and other innocent people to danger and even death. So, tell me, who is the fool and who is really the one making sense?

I am not in the habit of characterising people. I might say someone did something foolish, but would never call anyone a fool.

While I disagree with Freddie on many issues, I respect his right to express his views.

I strongly believe that “even the dull and the ignorant, too, have their story”.

He asked who paid for the lunch I had with the VC. UG nor the VC paid for the lunch. The one full quote from my letter he published in his column included the words, “jealous admiration”. Oh, how accurate are my thoughts! And, just so Freddie should know, I have been spending most of my time in recent years in Guyana.

Regards, Wesley Kirton

There’s only one race: The human race

Dear Editor,

THE arrival of a new royal baby in the United Kingdom reminds us all that not only mixed-race people are the United Kingdom’s fastest-growing ethnic group; it also underscores that what it means to be mixed race is changing. Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor will join the ranks of those second-generation mixedrace people who challenge our very perceptions of ethnicity and black identity.

In fact, the changing face of mixed-race Britain is something we barely notice even as we are looking directly at it. Perhaps that is the point. Back in the early 2000s, we were vaguely aware that young celebrities such as the late reality TV star Jade Goody or footballer Ryan Giggs, had a black grandparent.

But they rarely discussed it, or talked of how

they perceived themselves.

Our current view of mixed-race, particularly in the context of the black African/ Caribbean community, has become so familiar that it is now almost a cliche. I know it, because I have lived it. My four boys are mixed-race too!

Of course, African people in the UK have a long history of integrating and inter-marrying into wider society. Furthermore, mixed-race people span all ethnic groups; not just those with black and white parents. But it is important to recognise that this phenomenon has a particular new significance to black Britain, for two key reasons. First, interracial relationships and the growing mixed-race population is something the British black community is experiencing in exceptionally higher numbers compared with other groups.

This likelihood also increases with each new

generation: The chances of people of mixed black/white heritage having a white partner are about 80%. The demographic implications of this for the future of black Caribbean in Britain are obvious.

For some Africans, the increasing dominance of interracial relationships can feel like a devaluing of relationships between two black people. More pointedly, in a society where the stereotypical appearance of mixedrace people with light- brown skin and curly hair is held up as the perfect symbol of Britain’s exciting multicultural future. How does that make you feel if you are a dark-skinned black person with Afro hair?

A black perspective in these discussions is so important. The country has been fascinated by how it might feel to have the Queen’s great-grandson recognised for his African-American heritage. Few have stopped

to think about how the Duchess of Sussex, or her mother, Doria Ragland, would feel if he were not. Perhaps the least discussed aspect of second-generation mixed-race Britons is how it feels to be their mixed-race parent.

Many parents these days are brining up children to believe that racial integration, including interracial marriage, is not only a good thing but is the natural progression of a healthy society. Many still believe that.

Children are also taught by example that “race” is largely a “social construct” that limits us, and we should strive to see it as irrelevant. Editor! There is only one race; and that is the human race! And we are all leaves and flowers of one garden, and fruits of one tree!

Regards, Rooplall Dudhnath

No anti-rejection drugs for kidney transplant patients Dear Editor,

I READ in the Kaieteur News of kidney transplant patients being in a dilemma because of the apparent absence of anti-rejection drugs.

Mr. Editor, please permit me to explain why these drugs are important. Our immune system is like our army: It defends us from all foreign invasions via assassins call white blood cells. So, if you are to develop an infection, the body would view that infective agent as foreign, and attack and kill it, hence saving your life. When someone has a kidney transplant, that transplanted kidney would be viewed as foreign, since it is not native to the recipient. As a result, the immune system will attack and destroy it. To stop this from happening, patients with transplanted organs are given immunosuppressant drugs to sedate the immune system, hence allowing the transplanted kidney to live in peace. I predicted that problem last year. I wrote about it on many occasions. I clearly stated that GPHC lacks the basic skills for kidney transplants, and to manage the transplanted kidney.

Secondly, upon reading the article, I’ve gotten the impression that the only immunosuppressant these transplants are receiving is mycopnenolate. This is not consistent with

international standards. After a kidney transplant, the patient is risk-stratified on their chances of rejection. Those at high risk of rejection require at least three types of immunosuppressants. Those at low risk require two. Most patients would commonly be on calcineurin inhibitors, usually tacrolimus, because of its lower risk of side effects when compared to ciclosporin. In addition to calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolate could be used. For high-risk patients, steroids are added.

The calcineurin inhibitors require regular blood monitoring, which is not available in Guyana. If the patients start to have dysfunction of the transplanted kidney, then special investigations are needed, which is not available in Guyana. Some patients may require biopsy under ultrasound guidance, which is not available in Guyana.

To examine the biopsied kidney, a histopathologist is required to examine it, with supporting staff to prepare the samples. And many more Mr. Editor. I wrote about this many times, outlining my reasons, supported by medical evidence, and I was attacked on Facebook. In my letter, I predicted that because of the lack of facilities in Guyana, those transplanted kidneys would last less than five years. A live donor-related transplant can last up to 30 years. In effect, doing kidney transplants

in Guyana is a complete waste of time without the necessary pre and post- management care, and should be aborted forthwith.

Regards, Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS MSc MRCP(UK) FRCP(Edin) Consultant Acute Medicine Nottingham University Hospital UK

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Tackling paddy bugs

…rice farmers urged to adhere to GRDB’s recommendations

AS part of on-going efforts to tackle paddy bug infestation, rice farmers across the country are being urged to adhere to the recommendations and guidelines of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

“They don’t spray right and they are not mixing the recommended amount of insecticides,” said General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Nizam Hassan, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday.

In April, the Council of the Central Corentyne Chamber said it is expected that approximately 20 per cent of the entire crop of 58,200 acres in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) would

be ravaged by paddy bugs.

Hassan however debunked those claims, noting that the situation is not so bad and that the board of the GRBD has been working assiduously with farmers to find a way to manage the situation. “In order to manage the infestation farmers need to follow the guidelines provided by the GRDB,” he said.

The GRDB recently conducted an outreach in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) where they reminded farmers about those guidelines and supported them to reduce the damages caused by paddy bug infestation. In order to curb high infestation, the board had also provided chemicals to farmers in Region Two. “We provided assistance to

12,690 acres,” said Hassan, adding that it is part of an effort to increase the national yield. According to reports on the first crop, the national yield increased from five tonnes during the first quarter last year to six tonnes of paddy per hectare this year.

The GRDB had said that famers have been assisted with monitoring their fields for paddy bugs for a number of years. GRDB extension officers monitor farmers’ fields daily for a ten-day period before harvesting and based on the levels of paddy bugs, they advise farmers on whether to spray their fields or not.

Following the re-emergence of higher levels of paddy bugs a dedicated Paddy Bug Management Officer (PBMO) was employed and

SBM to construct Liza Unity FPSO

A depiction of the Liza Destiny FPSO (credit: ExxonMobil)

SBM Offshore has been awarded contracts to construct, install, lease and operate the Liza Unity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) which almost doubles the capacity of the Liza Destiny FPSO. SBM made the announcement recently and the contract award was confirmed

by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), an affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

The Liza Unity FPSO will be designed to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day with a storage capacity of 2 million barrels in comparison to the Liza Destiny FPSO witth120,000 barrels of oil per day with 1.6 million barrels storage capacity.

Under the contracts, SBM Offshore will lease and operate the Liza Unity FPSO for

up to two years. According to SBM, the awarding of the contracts follow the completion of a number of front-end engineering studies; receipt of government approvals and the final investment decision on the Liza Phase Two project by ExxonMobil and block co-venturers.

Meanwhile, the Liza Unity FPSO design is based on SBM Offshore’s industry leading Fast4WardTM programme which will incorporate the Company’s new build, multi-purpose hull combined with several standardized topside modules.

The FPSO will have associated gas treatment capacity of 400 million cubic feet per day and water injection capacity of 250,000 barrels per day. It will be spread moored in water depth of about 1,600 meters and able to store some 2 million barrels of

crude oil.

“We are proud that ExxonMobil awarded SBM Offshore the contracts for the Liza Unity FPSO. The Company is confident that this project will demonstrate the value that our Fast4WardTMprogramme brings to our clients. We look forward to continuing the cooperation with our client ExxonMobil on this second important project in Guyana,” SBM Offshore Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bruno Chabas commented.

The Liza field is located in the Stabroek block some 200 kilometers offshore Guyana.

EEPGL is the operator and holds a 45 percent interest in the Stabroek block; Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds a 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds a 25 per cent interest.

General Manager of GRDB, Nizam Hassan

placed in each rice growing region. The PBMOs work along with the extension officers to enhance the management of paddy bugs.

The chamber had suggested that more research and other biological methods of pest

control have to be explored.

Members of the chamber had suggested that GRDB should make one aerial spraying per crop, countrywide, in order to take care of pests in abandoned acreage, dams and trenches. GRDB, however, said area-wide management with aerial spraying will get rid of an existing paddy bug population, but it will not prevent reinvasions from occurring.

Aerial spraying of pesticides require environmental authorisation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Area-wide management with an insecticide is most effective when the age range of the crop in a given block is within ten days, said the GRDB. Research has been ongo-

ing to develop effective and sustainable management strategies for paddy bugs.

Among the activities are investigations into the bug’s reproduction and survival strategies, its biology and economic impact. The GRDB said a sound monitoring and surveillance system has been one of the main focal points for efficient and effective management of paddy bugs.

Other aspects to developing effective mechanisms to control this bug will be to utilise natural resources like botanicals and biological control agents.

Ultimately, there should be reduced dependence on the use of chemical insecticides, coinciding with a sound integrated pest management programme.

TT engineer floats sustainable infrastructure options for Guyana

TRINIDADIAN Engineering Consultant, Richard Small has floated that Guyana can pursue several sustainable infrastructure options, as it seeks to develop its infrastructure from imminent oil and gas revenues.

Small was speaking at a panel discussion entitled: “Infrastructure Development in an Oil and Gas Economy, The Guyana Reality”, on Friday. This discussion was organised as part of the Eighth International Road Federation (IRF) Caribbean Regional Congress, which was opened on Wednesday and concluded on Friday. As it relates to the development of infrastructure in Guyana and in the wider Caribbean region, Small stressed: “We need to move away from thinking strictly and solely about road construction, overhead bridge construction, etc.”

Specifically in Guyana, he noted, there are several infrastructural developmental avenues that can be pursued in tandem with the country’s aspirations of being a sustainable, ‘Green State’. One such avenue was the development of a “transportation corridor”.

“A transportation corridor is a mechanism in infrastructure facility that allows for mass movement of things and people,” he explained. On that

transportation system, also, he noted that utilities such as a communications system can be integrated.

J Zietsman (2006) in his study on transportation corridors in Texas and South Africa, noted: “A sustainable transportation system seeks to ensure that the major issues of economic development, social equity and environmental stewardship are addressed within the transportation sector.” And according to Small, this corridor can be one that reduces lengthy transportation times, thus bolstering the exchange of goods and services and driving economic activity.

“You have stops and points along the way and from there you have your network of roads, but that (the corridor) is the main artery,” Small explained further and said that instead of crafting massive roadways from, for example, Georgetown to Lethem, he indicated that a corridor can be used instead.

Small noted that transportation corridors can also be built on rivers, as is the case with the Mississippi River in the US, and could integrate Guyana’s major ports.

The consultant also floated a “Smart City” initiative.

The Smart City initiative is a model which taps into available capital (like that which is expected to be available from

oil revenues) to harness technology in an attempt create novel cities.

According to him, these cities are crafted from what is known as the “core infrastructure” and would encompass an adequate supply of utilities, proper sanitation measures, efficient transport, affordable housing, technology and connectivity, good governance, health and education considerations and of course, a sustainable environment. With both ideas, Small highlighted that they were just mere ideas for considerations. Small opined that a common pitfall to development in the Caribbean is that governments and oppositions tend to be myopic and do not see beyond the five-year election period.

He however noted that Guyana should safeguard against this. “Planning is necessary. It has to be a thirty year view… you cannot be thinking and acting in the short-term view, or else you will not achieve the maximum desired results,” he said. “It is very important in Guyana’s specific case- being so pristine and environmentally sensitivethat we also have to have to take into consideration that the role of the structure of development does not negatively impact on the environment,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

AFC Diaspora to file complaint against proposed PPP Facebook 'ads' THE Alliance for Change (AFC) will soon be contacting experts in its America diaspora to file complaints to social media giant Facebook on plans that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) intends to use the platform “to rig elections.”

This is according to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, in a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday.

Minister Ramjattan accused the PPP of hiring the Washington-based public relations firm, Mercury Public Affairs, to target thousands of Guyanese on the social media platform, convincing them to vote for the opposition through disgruntled

messages.

He explained that the disinformation, misinformation and fake news will be packaged in a professional manner against the APNU/ AFC administration.

“Bharrat Jagdeo is so cunning and wicked that that firm has nothing to do with public relations, but with brain-washing people through targeted advertisements,” the Public Security Minister said.

Minister Ramjattan said that the distractions that will surface on Guyanese Facebook user’s accounts will focus heavily on election campaign advertisements aimed at distorting voters’ perspectives.

He explained that the

Labourer remanded for alleged robbery DEXTER Forde, a 25-yearold Labourer, was, yesterday, May 13, 2019, remanded by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lenann at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a quantity of items, while being armed with a gun.

The father of one who resides at Lot 35 West Ruimveldt pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that, on March 19, 2019, at Sideline Dam, La Penitence, while being armed with a

gun, he robbed Raz Ghani of one black Alcatel cellphone valued $5500, one bird stage worth $6000, $25,000 cash, one haversack valued $2000 and 1 pair of slippers worth $4500.

In the court yesterday, Prosecutor Aduni Innis objected to bail, due to the fact that a dangerous weapon was used in the incident and the defendant was positively identified.

Forde was remanded to prison until his next appearance on May 20, 2019.

MoE fixes leaky roof at Smith’s Memorial Primary THE previous issue of a leaking roof at the Smith’s Memorial Primary School has been rectified by the Ministry of Education.

“The Ministry of Education is pleased to report that, over the weekend, officials from the Ministry of Education Buildings Department visited the school on Saturday 11th May 2019 and rectified the problem. The leaks were identified and the old

leaking zinc sheets are now replaced with new ones,” the release said.

It added: “The children of Smith Memorial Primary School have returned to learning in a comfortable environment, free from any distraction.”

In the release, the Ministry took the opportunity to recommit its efforts towards providing learning in a comfortable and conducive environment.

Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal was a major political scandal in early 2018, when it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica had harvested the personal data of millions of people's Facebook profiles, without their consent, and used same for political advertising purposes.

Minister Ramjattan noted, that the scandal has been described as a watershed moment in the public understanding of personal data, and precipitated a massive fall in Facebook's stock price and calls for tighter regulation of tech companies' use of data.

Meanwhile, the PPP has hired Mercury Public Affairs to run its elections campaign.

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

The firm was one of the groups that were recruited by Paul Manafort, seven years

ago, to help improve the image of the Russia-aligned president of Ukraine, the New York Times reported recently.

The PPP on March 5, 2019, signed a contract with Mercury Public Affairs.

According to the contract, which was seen by this newspaper, the firm will provide strategic consulting and management services specific to issues facing the party in areas of government relations and issues management.

The services, according to contract, shall include, but not limited to, representing the party before and arranging meetings with the Executive Branch and the Congress of the United States, the Organisation of American

States and think-tanks in connection with issues relating to the anticipated general and regional elections.

Additionally, according to the contract, the PPP agreed to pay the firm US$ 150,000; US$100,000 of which had to be paid at the time of the signing of the contract and the remainder on May 1, 2019.

The PPP also agreed to pay and reimburse the firm for all business expenses in providing the services for it.

The party also has to pay the lobby firm for all filing fees, costs and expenses paid or incurred related to compliance requirements in any jurisdiction.

Bus drivers, conductor charged for attempted murder

Three of the men involved in the attempted murder

FOUR men were yesterday granted bail by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court following an attempted murder charge read against them.

The men: Raymond Sawh, a 33-year-old bus driver of Lot 332 A’ Field Sophia; Akeem Lawrence, a 24-year-old conductor of Lot 340 B’ Field Sophia; Eson Henry, a 24-year old who resides at Lot 594 Cane view, South Ruimveldt; and Terry Campbell also known as ‘Fabulous’, a 41-year-old bus driver of Lot 70 Louisa Row, Werk-en-Rust were

not required to plead to the indictable charge.

It was alleged that, on February 23, 2019, at Peter Rose and Forshaw Streets, Georgetown, they unlawfully and maliciously injured 40-year-old businessman, Vishnu Budram, with intent to commit murder.

The prosecution represented by Gordon Mansfield did not object to bail being granted to the defendants.

According to reports, on the day in question, at about 20:30 hours, Budram was driving North along Peter Rose Street heading to Forshaw Street, when one of the

defendants ‘pulled up’ his minibus along his car. That almost caused a collision between the two vehicles. This prompted Budram to come out of his vehicle and have a discussion with the defendant about the manner in which he was driving, and an argument ensued.

Sawh then dealt the businessman several chops with a chopper, while the others joined in and began to beat him. Budram was stabbed on several parts of his body, causing him to fall unconscious to the ground. He was rescued by public-spirted persons and rushed to the

Woodlands Hospital where he was admitted and remained for several days.

The matter was reported to the Albertown Police Station and the men were subsequently arrested and taken into custody. After listening to the submissions made in court, the Magistrate eventually granted the four men bail at the sum of $200,000 each.

They are expected to lodge their passports and report to the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters, every Friday, until their next court hearing on May 21, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Rice exports doubled for the first quarter

–– earnings pegged at US$41.7M THE performance of the rice industry continues to improve rapidly with earnings for the first quarter of the year reaching US$41.7 million, about 2.15 times the US$19.3 million which was earned in the corresponding period last year.

This was according to General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Nizam Hassan, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, on Monday.

According to information presented by Hassan, Guyana exported 103,024 tonnes of rice from January-March 2019, more than twice the 49,629 tonnes ex-

ported during the same period last year.

Portugal remained the top export destination for Guyana rice with 25,477 tonnes in January- March 2019 followed by Italy 20,848 tonnes; Venezuela 15,105 tonnes; Jamaica 8,883 tonnes; the Netherlands 6,698 tonnes; the United Kingdom (UK) 6,294 tonnes; Panama 5,273 tonnes; Trinidad 5,206 tonnes; Honduras 1,566 tonnes; Greece 956 tonnes; Poland 949 tonnes; Spain 759 tonnes; France 707 tonnes; and others 4,298 tonnes.

Despite the recent challenges pertaining to export to the Jamaican market, there was a notable increase in ex-

port which moved from 6,638 tonnes in the first quarter last year to 8,883 tonnes for the same period this year.

There was also an increase in exports to Panama where there were challenges in the past. Exports to Panama were 5,237 tonnes compared to 3,771 tonnes last year.

Export to Caricom countries was netted at US$8.4 million this year compared to US$6.4 million last year, an increase of about 30 per cent.

Export earnings from the European Union increased tremendously, moving from US3.8 million to US$22.1 million.

Meanwhile, export of rice

General Manager of the GRDB, Nizam Hassan (Adrian Narine photo)

to Latin America decreased but the total earnings increased from US$9 million to US$11.1 million.

No rice was exported to West Africa for the first quarter but, revenue from export to the United States of America was US$26,962.

In 2017, due to an increase in global rice prices, the board was able to enjoy an increase in its export earnings which also saw farmers benefiting from increased prices paid per bag of paddy. Export earnings for 2017 was almost US$200,000,000 as opposed to 2016 earnings which were US$179,000,000.

Hassan attributed the increase this year to the determination of rice producers and millers to meet production targets.

Meanwhile GRDB is on its way to achieving its first crop target of 88,500 hectares. As the first crop draws

closer to an end, 83,402 hectares have been harvested, 95 per cent of what was targeted.

According to information from the GRDB, 7.9 million bags of baddy have been acquired so far from the 503,569 tonnes of paddy which were harvested.

In a breakdown of the information, it was shown that 13,222 hectares were harvested in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 7,547 hectares in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 38,225 hectares in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); and 20,847 hectares in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Police Constable charged for assault, use of obscene language EON Jacobs, a 29-year-old police constable, was yesterday, May 13, 2019, placed on self-bail by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Court, after he allegedly assaulted his wife and also used obscene language.

Jacobs, who resides at Lot 123 Middle Road, East La Penitence, pleaded not

guilty to the charge which read that, on February 23, 2019, at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, he assaulted Amanda Morris Jacobs. He also denied that, on the same

day, at the said location, he used a series of obscene language towards Jacobs.

According to reports, on the day in question, the couple had an argument which

resulted in him (Eon Jacobs) taking a wood, with which he dealt his wife several lashes after she attempted to walk away.

Prosecutor Gordon

Mansfield did not object to bail. The Magistrate placed Jacobs on self-bail and he will make his next appearance in court on May 20, 2019.

GDF awards military personnel

The Citation and Badge presented to Captain Andrade

by Commanding Officer, Training Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Julius Skeete.

THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has awarded the Jungle and Amphibious Training (JATS) Badge to Brazilian Captain, Bruno Correa Andrade, in recognition of his provision of training of an exceptional standard in jungle warfare

to GDF troops.

The Citation and Badge were presented to Captain Andrade on Friday last by Commanding Officer Training Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Julius Skeete.

Additionally, Training Corps’ Sergeant, Davendra

(From Left) Awardees Petty Officer Kevin Price, Sergeant Jamal Branco, Sergeant Kessa Massiah and Sergeant Davendra Narine who completed the Platoon Sergeant Course.

Narine, gained top honours when he copped the Best Graduating Student Award, at the conclusion of the Platoon Sergeant Course (PSC) 2019-01, on Friday last.

The award for Runner-up

Student went to Petty Officer Kevin Price, who also copped the Best Shot award.

Other awardees were Sergeant Kessa Massiah (Best Military Knowledge) and Sergeant Jamal Branco

of the Guyana Police Force, who gained the Best Fitness award.

Thirty-seven Sergeants graduated from the course.

As part of their training on the PSC, the Ser-

geants completed the Force Methods of Instruction (FMOI) course and were awarded their certificates for that module.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Key regional foreign policy discussions ongoing at Grenada meeting Coordinating foreign policy matters to help promote the Region’s development, and ensuring that the Caribbean remains a Zone of Peace are underpinning discussions at a two-day Meeting of CARICOM Foreign Ministers which opened in St Georges, Grenada, Monday.

Grenada’s Foreign Minister, the Honourable Peter David is chairing this Twenty-Second Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), which is also deliberating on CARICOM relations with the European Union, particularly the Post-Cotonou negotiations between the EU and the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, and the United Kingdom’s exist from the EU. Guyana is being represented at the meeting by newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings. As Bahamas’ Foreign Minister, Darren Henfield handed over the Chairmanship of COFCOR to Grenada, he cautioned that “our bonds, though tested, must always remain strong.”

He pointed to the recent traction gained through cooperation with, among others, Romania and the United States, aimed at building resilience, including financial resilience. The financial services sector, he noted, was being “severely impacted” by what he described as the “unfair and unwarranted pressure” from mechanisms proposed by the European

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings and Ambassador of Guyana to CARICOM, Charlene Phoenix represent Guyana at the Twenty-Second Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) in St. George’s, Grenada

CARICOM Secretary-General, Amb. Irwin LaRocque, makes remarks at the opening of COFCOR in St. George's, Grenada

Commission and other developed countries to regulate the sector.

CARICOM, he said, was heartened by Romania’s

commitment that during its presidency of the European Union (EU), it will advocate and facilitate discussions on blacklisting of CARICOM

Young Bartician gunned down A young resident of Bartica succumbed to gunshot injuries which he sustained at a popular nightclub in the mining town, on Monday morning.

Dead is Antonio Dos Santos, called "Lil boy."

Reports are that the man was shot twice by another man outside the Top Notch nightclub around 02: 00 hours on Monday.

Residents reported that the perpetrator is well-known and they noted that the young man's death has left the entire family in shock.

Police are investigating the incident.

Dead: Antonio Dos Santos

countries by several EU member states. CARICOM must still continue to address this issue, he said, noting that the Region is looking forward to

discussions later this month in Germany.

The incoming Chairman, Minister David, in acknowledging the recent very challenging period that witnessed escalating regional political and social tensions and adverse security concerns which demanded keen analyses and prudent decision-making, said: “Grenada assumes the mantle and will work assiduously to ensure that gains are cemented, that the fundamental principles of the Community are espoused in all undertakings, and that we coordinate all policy efforts to the benefit of all Community Member States and to ensure that the Region remains a Zone of Peace through meaningful dialogue.”

In his remarks, CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said co-operation with the US, the UK, Canada, Spain, Germany and Italy, to mention but a few, continue to make valuable contributions to the well-being of the people of the Community.

He too recognised the “great challenges” facing the hemisphere.

“The ongoing political situation in Venezuela is worrisome and requires an urgent and concerted response from all actors,” he said, adding that CARICOM is being guided by: “…principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the affairs of states, prohibition of the threat or use of force, respect for sovereignty, adherence to the

‘Shun extremism, ...

prayers performed by a number of school students. In addition to Guyana’s three main religions there were also prayers on behalf of the Bahai, Rastafarian and Indigenous communities. Guyanese Ingrid Devair was honoured with A Social Cohesion Award, while there was also a choral presentation by the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) Choir, and a dance by the National School of Dance.

Norton, during his address, raised nostalgia as he reminded

of how well-knitted communities were in the past. “We’ve heard of stories of day when neighbors lived like brothers and sisters and the community felt like a large home. Everyone was their brother’s keepers. Unfortunately, as years went by, tightly-knitted communities disintegrated and persons cited diversity as a thing for separation rather than unity.

Through programs and participation undertaken by this Department we are hoping to return

rule of law, and respect for the constitutional framework, human rights and democracy.”

Ambassador LaRocque told the Foreign Ministers that as they coordinate the Community’s position going forward, they must be cognizant that the Community faced a world where major actors show a decreased interest in a collective approach to global problems. “CARICOM, as small states, must therefore rely more than ever on focused and coordinated diplomacy, bolster its relations with like-minded states and continue to advocate for multilateralism,” Secretary-General LaRocque stated.

The Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) consists of Ministers responsible for the Foreign Affairs of CARICOM Member States. Among the Council’s main objectives, it aims to coordinate the foreign policies of the Member States of the Community and seeks to ensure the adoption of Community positions on major hemispheric and international issues. Additionally, the council determines relations between CARICOM and international organisations and third states, respectively.

The two-day meeting will wrap up today.

Minister Cummings, former Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, has replaced Carl Greenidge, who was among four Government Ministers who resigned due to having dual citizenship in the Parliament of Guyana.

FROM PAGE 3

Guyana to those days,” Norton noted. “Even though decades have passed, that spirit of social cohesion is still alive in our hearts. We all possess the desire to experience the glorious good old days that our grandparents bragged about. That life is now seen as essential to the sustenance of humanity. So much so that the promotion of inclusive societies is being addressed on a global level.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

'Take the plunge' …private sector woos investors to Guyana at OTC conference

AT the Guyana Evening of Information Sharing and Networking hosted at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) President Nicholas Boyer urged businesses interested in investing in Guyana to “take the plunge”.

At the May 6-9, 2019 Conference, a trade mission of over 20 businesses in Guyana represented the country at the world’s largest OTC at the NRG Park.

There, the local businesses showcased their offerings to overseas investors with the aim of developing profitable partnerships, thanks to collaboration between the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and GCCI. In his presentation to the audience on May 8, Boyer established Guyana as having a very stable macro-economic environment for doing business, even more so as the country prepares to head into oil and gas production.

“The government has put together a number of incentives for investors and we’ve got very attractive policies especially in the extractive industries and in the agriculture sector,” Boyer said.

It is expected that by the end of the decade, even with no additional oil finds, Guyana will be producing 750,000 barrels of oil per year.

“If you think about that for a second, our GDP is roughly [just over] 3 billion and if you think about what that growth represents to the whole of Guyana in the future, that is mind blowing,” Boyer said, adding: “That GDP is growing at an astronomical rate. It’s going to make us the star of the CARICOM Region.”

He stated that, historically, Guyana has been defined by a certain number of products such as sugar, bauxite, gold and rice but

the country now looks forward towards its future in oil.

Boyer also notified the participants that it is fairly easy to enter the Guyanese business market.

Regarding the local policies and regulatory frameworks which are to facilitate smooth flow of business in the developing sector, he stated that the country’s laws are being revamped to cater for such.

ysis, the Petroleum Engineer stated that Guyana will be seeking to secure a legal firm to upgrade the legislation--- a contract expected to be awarded by the end of 2019 or early 2020.

He noted that they have also completed a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) template which will guide future oil contracts for companies entering the Guyana business arena.

Chuck-A-Sang added

“I think there has really been an impressive growth in the Guyanese supply base. People have really picked up on oil and

2.0”.

At the end of the conference, Houston’s largest daily newspaper the Houston Chronicle reported that

shared during the conference, by Greg Clarke of the HFS Corporate Services Inc., who summed up the

Interested attendees mingle at the Guyana Evening of Information Sharing and Networking hosted at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas.

Petroleum Engineer at the Department of Energy, Nicholas Chuck-A-Sang

Explaining this in detail was Petroleum Engineer at the Department of Energy, Nicholas Chuck-A-Sang.

He stated that the country is in the process of conducting a legislative gap analysis of its oil and gas-related laws while its Petroleum and Exploration Legislation, Environmental Protection Act and Maritime legislation are being updated.

“We’re looking to upgrade a suite of legislation to ensure that we’re preparing for very good governance in the offshore [industry] and also to create certainty so that companies know what they’re working with and develop a kind of no-surprise approach to operating in Guyana,” he said.

Following the gap anal-

that the country will also be adopting a data-driven approach to auctions which will include seismic surveys and will enable investors to better determine their biddings based on the value they see.

Meanwhile, Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD) Project Manager, Patrick Henry, informed the attendees about CLBD Supplier Registration Portal as a gateway for businesses to oil and gas prime contractors.

Henry indicated that there are over 1,500 registered Guyanese businesses in the database and the CLBD is willing to share information on the companies with prime contractors so that they can find suppliers from all spheres.

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), President Nicholas Boyer, interacts with attendees to the OTC.

gas; they’ve made investments; they’ve made improvements in things like Health, Safety, Security and Environment; ISO certifications, things that didn’t exist in the economy before,” he said.

Altogether, Boyer stated that the main aim of the Guyana contingent to the OTC is to build what he referred to as the “Guyana

the conference had commenced on the right foot for Guyana.

“The conference kicked off with a sense of optimism in the wake of recent offshore oil discoveries, including several by Exxon Mobil off the coast of the South American country Guyana,” the newspaper stated.

These sentiments were

experience, agreeing : “There’s a lot of interest at this OTC on Guyana.

Guyana is leading the world in oil discoveries as of 2018 and so there’s a lot of interest. A lot of companies are coming by expressing an interest and asking the question ‘how do we get in’?”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

High Court throws out Ramson lawsuit against Chronicle JUSTICE Fidela Corbin-Lincoln on Wednesday last dismissed the application filed by Charles Ramson Jr against the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), publishers of the Guyana Chronicle.

In the application, Ramson contended that the State newspaper tarnished his professional reputation through an article dated April 20 2017 and captioned “Corruption Probe deepens”, of which he was the subject.

The article had to do with the 2017 police probe into the allegations of corruption involving the then Registrar

of Deeds, Azeena Baksh and Ramson.

The allegation was that Baksh approved a $6M waiver in defaulting fees for Film Makers International Limited, following a written request from Ramson, who was the lawyer for Film Makers.

In his request, Ramson cited Section 342 C of the Companies Act of 1991.

The article that Guyana Chronicle had published quoted top legal sources who said that it was inconceivable that a lawyer of Ramson’s ilk would quote such a provision in requesting a waiver of defaulting fees. “The whole transaction seems suspi-

Charles Ramson Jr. (Stabroek News photo)

cious,” the article quoted the legal sources as saying.

Ramson, in his court application, outlined that the Guyana Chronicle article quoted anonymous sources who sought to “discredit my professional integrity and competence”. The application also said that the article sought to establish a connection between Ramson and corruption.

It was on those grounds that Ramson was seeking general damages for defamation; special damages for loss of income; aggravated damages; exemplary damages; and an order for the Chronicle to publish a prominent

apology for and retraction of its publication.

While the newspaper company was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Sharon Small, she did not have the chance to present defending arguments on the matter due to Ramson’s default on the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR).

A case management was held in October last, and Ramson was expected to file his witness statements. In March of this year, a pretrial review was done, and he defaulted on filing the witness statements.

According to CPR 25:04 (4), a written application has to be made to vary a

case management timetable date for trial. Ramson was obligated to file a written application to the court, giving reasons for not filing the statements. No application was before the court. Instead, Ramson filed for an adjournment on May 3, 2019, without giving any reason.

It was on those grounds that Justice Corbin-Lincoln said, “The claim is dismissed.

The claimant shall pay the defendant costs in the sum of $250,000 within 21 days of service of this order.”

Ramson was served the order on Friday.

Sergeant Narine cops top honours at training course

The graduating officers

TRAINING Corps' Sergeant Davendra Narine gained top honours when he copped the Best Graduating Student Award at the

conclusion of the Platoon Sergeant Course (PSC) 2019-01, on Friday, May 10, 2019.

The award for Runner-up

Student went to Petty Officer Kevin Price, who also copped the Best Shot award.

Other awardees were, Sergeant Kessa Massiah

(Best Military Knowledge) and Sergeant Jamal Branco, of the Guyana Police Force, who gained the Best Fitness award.

Thirty-seven Sergeants graduated from the course.

As part of their training on the PSC, the Sergeants completed the Force Meth-

ods of Instruction (FMOI) course and were awarded their certificates for that module.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

First Lady urges more focus on ICT, robotics in the hinterland

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (fourth right), Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mr. Syndey Allicock (fifth right) Iwokrama’s Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar (third right); and Principal of the Bina Hill Institute, Dr. Laureen Pierre (second right) among facilitators and graduates of the ICT workshop conducted at the Bina Hill Institute [Ministry of the Presidency photos]

FIRST Lady, Sandra Granger has called for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), including robotics, to become a primary area of focus in the hinterland regions of Guyana.

On Saturday, the First Lady addressed participants of two workshops which were conducted in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

“We do not want our technology to be learnt only on the coastland; we want our Hinterland students, our rural children and young people to understand and be ready for the world of work in the 21st Century… If you’re doing agriculture, if you’re in any field, you are going to need skills in robotics,” the First Lady said.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), the workshops, which were

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, presented two robotics kits to Headmaster of Kurupukari Primary, Mr. Quado Vancooten

hosted at the Bina Hill Institute and the Kurupukari Primary School in Regions Nine and Eight respectively, were aimed at introducing ICT to the 91 participants in attendance.

The First Lady, in partnership with STEM Guyana,

Three charged with larceny following 2018 robbery ON Monday May 13, 2019, three men appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at Providence Magistrate’s Court, charged with simple larceny.

The court was told that, on May 7, 2018, in the vicinity of Coverden, East Bank Demerara, the men reportedly robbed a gas station of a sum of $5 M. Alvestus Primo of 23

Supply, East Bank Demerara, Mark George of 1st Dam Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara, and Shayne Morgan of 43 East La Penitence, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the offence.

They were represented by Attorneys-at-Law Brandon Scott De Santos and Bernard Da Silva The men will return to court on June 3, 2019.

the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (Iwokrama) and ExxonMobil, hosted a STEM Robotics workshop for 50 Kurupukari Primary School pupils. At the end of the workshop, Mrs Granger presented two Ro-

botics kits to the school so as to further pique the children’s interest in the subject.

Meanwhile, at the Bina Hill Institute, 41 students graduated from the ICT workshop, which was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection’s

Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

In his address at the graduation ceremony, Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock said he was impressed with the progress made by the students, and encouraged them to continue to pursue learning opportunities in ICT. “What is happening here is an irreversible movement, and you have to be dedicated. Commit yourselves!

You have the opportunity; let us work together! The Ministry will continue to support you,” the minister was quoted as charging the 41 graduands.

Iwokrama’s Director for Resource Management and Training, Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar also encouraged the graduates from both sessions to think about how technology can be used in a practical way in their daily lives.

“It’s really about how we merge these wonderful new skills that you are gaining; especially the technological skills. With the traditional skills to help preserve, conserve and maintain, a lot of the elements of your heritage that are very important, you can use Robotics and the scratch programme that you learned about to actually apply it to real life situations...

Think about how can you make a robot to help your mommy and daddy fetch the cassava from the farm,” she said.

The graduates all expressed gratitude to the First Lady and her partners for bringing the workshop to their areas. Importantly, the Office of the First Lady has said that plans are also in train to conduct similar sessions at Mabaruma, in Region One (Barima-Waini), and at Mahdia, in Region Eight.

Gingesh Khan to be sentenced today HIGH Court Judge, Justice Brassington Reynolds, is today, expected to pass sentence on 51-yearold Gingesh Khan called ‘Links’, who was recently convicted on three counts of indecent assault of a nine-year-old girl along

with a count of carnal knowledge.

Khan was on trial before Justice Reynolds in the Sexual Offences Court at the Demerara High Court for the four charges and was found guilty of the offences by a 12-member jury.

The accused was placed on remand after being found guilty of committing the heinous acts on the child, who was under the age of 16, between August 1 and August 31, 2008, in West Demerara.

A probation report is expected to be read in court,

along with the victim impact statement.

Khan was represented

by Attorney Ravindra Mohabir, while the state’s case was presented by Prosecutors, Seeta Bishundial and Lisa Cave.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Trans Guyana gets contract to provide flights for Goldfields LOCAL air carrier, Trans Guyana Airways (TGA), has been contracted by Canadian mining firm, Aurora Gold Mines (AGM), to provide flights into the company’s gold mining operations in the Cuyuni River from the Coastland.

According to a release from the gold mining firm, TGA was selected after a process in which several local airlines were engaged, following the advertising for expressions of interest in providing flight services to the mining firm and its parent company Guyana Goldfields Inc. “We are happy we are able to expand our local content by allowing local provid-

ers in the aviation industry to provide us the service that we need, thus ensuring that more local players are involved.

We are happy to partner with Trans Guyana on this journey,” said Peter Benny, Director, Corporate Office and Compliance.

In addition to an interview process with local carriers, the mining firm said Guyana Goldfield’s Supply Chain Director, Ravi Samaroo, and an AGM team met individually with local operators, in the event, that they had not seen the advertisement. It was noted that seven air charters responded to the advertisement. Following their expressions of interest, the charters were all asked

to give information on the services they provide. The mining company said that the information, which included, among other things, relevant costs, number of airplanes owned by the company and dates of registration, was evaluated and TGA was given the nod to provide the services that AGM requires.

AGM moved to charter service after a decision was taken to sell the Twin Otter model aircraft the company procured last year. The twin otter is being sold overseas and it is due to depart Guyana around mid-June, the company said.

In the meantime, TGA will provide the spill-over flights until the twin otter departs.

Recruitment agency finds jobs for 156 persons In just the first quarter of 2019, the Ministry of Social Protection’s Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA) facilitated the employment of some 156 persons.

This was announced by the Ministry on Monday, through CRMA Chief Recruitment and Manpower Officer, Valarie Moore, who explained that, during the

first quarter, a total of 781 applications were submitted to employers and 156 persons were successful.

“When we submit persons to vacant positions we cannot guarantee the person [of] getting the job. We help persons to get to the human resource department within a short space of time,” Moore stated, adding: “You may have all the

necessary requirements but at the interview sessions you have to perform so that you can be successful.”

In a public post the Ministry stated that officers from CRMA actively visited work places to solicit vacancies from employers in order to accumulate employment.

Some 393 work places were visited and employers there were presented with

Gov’t, UNICEF partner in project for children of Venezuelan migrants The Government of Guyana and the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Guyana have partnered on a 'Safe School Project' for the children of Venezuelan migrants, who are living in the Barima- Waini Region (Region One) and other regions.

This was announced by Mr. Ian Jones, UNICEF Guyana’s Emergency Specialist, at Monday’s Multi- Stakeholder Committee Meeting at the Department of Citizenship, which is tasked with the monitoring of the migrant situation in Guyana. As part of the project, UNICEF Guyana is partnering with the University of Guyana's (UG) Engineering students to expand the learning spaces in the regions using local materials during the July/August school break.

The Region One villages of Kamwatta, Imbotero, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma will benefit from this initiative while Whitewater, Mabaruma and Wauna (also in Region One) will receive learning materials and aids.

Moreover, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF Guyana will continue its Early Childhood Development engagements in Yarrakita, Imbotero and Khan's Hill.

Meanwhile, the Department of Citizenship is in the process of finalising a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) developed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the implementation of Population Registration Identity Management Eco System (PRIMES). Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix

explained that the PRIMES will see migrants being registered using information and communication technology. The migrants will be issued with a card, which will be used as an indicator that they were processed and are legal in the country.

"So we are going to have laptops stationed in Regions One, Seven and other areas that are deemed necessary to capture information on the arriving persons. These systems would be supported by a mobile printer, which will facilitate the printing of an identity card to say that they were registered and are legal. I would like to make it clear that this is not a National Identification card and cannot be used for citizenship purposes. It is simply to identify them and for them to access social services," he said.

Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA) Chief Recruitment and Manpower Officer Valarie Moore

fliers and brochures and they were encouraged to use the CRMA services for free. The Chief Recruitment and Manpower Officer highlighted that the agency collaborates with its sister agency, the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) to train the many unqualified young people who visit the agency seeking employment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Elderly Buxtonian women cheered up on Mothers’ Day THE Caribbean Voice (TCV), in collaboration with Saint Matthias Church of Buxton Middle Walk, East Coast Demerara, reached out to 12 elderly mothers in the Buxton area on Sunday.

These mothers who were identified by St. Matthias Church were either bed-ridden or stay indoors at all times.

They benefitted from baskets with commodities such as personal self-care and basic food items.

Some also received diapers, walkers, walking sticks and /or wheel Chairs.

The Caribbean Voice was represented by Bibi Ahamad, Managing Director, while St. Matthias delegation was led by Reverend Desiree Watts.

Among the elder mothers visited was Evadney Talbot, who celebrated her

TCV Managing Director Bibi Ahmad flanked by members of the St Matthias Church when a presentation was made to one of the mothers on Sunday.

107th birthday on Friday to much fanfare, Ruby Blair, an 84-year-old senior citizen, Ms Huntley, 98 years old

and Ms Francis, 95 years old.

Reverend Desrey Watts of the Saint Matthias Church said the programme was launched in keeping with the church’s 30th anniversary.

“All these years we would invite the elderly at the home or wherever we are doing a programme, like August 1st programme; we do a programme with them.

But instead of just feeding them like that, the children would dance and do different things to entertain them. So we continued doing it all the years and as time goes by I started to think about other things to do,” she said.

Meanwhile, TCV Managing Director, Bibi Ahmad, explained that her organisation was not only collaborating with the Saint Matthias Church, but also with the Buxton Fusion School of Music and the Youth Empowerment and Faith Group, in order to carry out the exercise.

“Wherever we can make a difference, we go,” she explained. “We are not just

about suicide prevention, or bringing awareness about abuse. We also partner to do humanitarian work; we have the distribution of pampers, wheelchairs, walkers and walking sticks.”

She continued: “Primarily the activities were coordinated by the reverend and I collaborated with her to supply things to give to elderly mothers. These mothers we are visiting are more or less the real elderly mothers, such as the shut-ins.”

The Caribbean Voice, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has more often been associated with its work on suicide prevention and its partnership with other bodies, including the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) last year.

Last year, it conducted a community mental health workshop at Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, and two student workshops at a high needs high school at Ash Youth Developers Education Learning Institute, Vigilance, ECD.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Florida prosecutors drop charges against McGregor

(BBC) FLORIDA prosecutors have dropped all charges against UFC star Conor McGregor after he was arrested for allegedly smashing a fan’s phone.

The Irish fighter had been charged with strong-armed robbery and misdemeanour criminal mischief.

But yesterday state prosecutors said the alleged victim had gone abroad and

stopped co-operating with police.

The incident took place on March 11 as McGregor, 30, left the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel.

According to a police report filed at the time, the fan was trying to take pictures when the fighter knocked the phone out of his hand, before stamping on it, picking it up and leaving with it.

The phone was valued at $1

000 (£760).

“The victim of the crime does not wish to return to the United States and prosecute this case,” Prosecutor Khalil Madani told the Miami court yesterday.

McGregor had already settled a civil lawsuit with the victim out of court.

Video of the incident captured by CCTV cameras appears to show the fighter getting into an altercation

outside the luxury hotel.

The former two-weight champion had been in Florida preparing for his UFC comeback after losing his last fight to Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia in 2018.

That came a year after McGregor lost a boxing match, thought to be the most lucrative in history, to multiple world champion Floyd Mayweather.

The former two-weight UFC champion was arrested in Florida in March.

American Mayweather earned a reported $100M (£76M) from the bout, with McGregor thought to have pocketed $30M. Last year, McGregor was ordered by a court to

have anger management training and perform five days of community service in return for the dropping of criminal charges for attacking a bus containing rival UFC fighters.

Berbice beat luckless Grant-Stuart turns in Essequibo by six wickets commendable performances in

BERBICE whipped Essequibo by six wickets in round one of the Hand-in-Hand Under-19 Inter-county one-day tournament yesterday at Albion.

Watched by a fair-sided crowd, the visiting side’s batting once again collapsed much to the delight of the home supporters.

The lack of proper cricketing shots, coupled with excellent bowling, brought the Essequibians’ downfall.Batting first they were restricted to 123 in 42.4 overs. The hosts then reached 124-4 in 24.5 overs.

Four Essequibo batsmen reached double figures with opener Orlando Jailall top-scoring with 37 off 73 balls with two boundaries.

Ameer Singh and M. Ramnarine contributed 16 runs apiece while Jeremiah Scott made 10, in a total batting meltdown.

All the Berbician bowlers contributed with spinners Junior Sinclair and Nigel Deodat claiming two wickets apiece while Kevlon Anderson, Gevon Schultz, Kelvin Umroa, Seon Glasgow and Doorsammy Mahadeo, all had a wicket apiece.

In the run chase, the hosts lost opener Alex Algoo (7), and Glasgow without scoring, but fellow opener Sinclair stood firm at the other end, hitting a composed 58 off 74 balls with four fours and two sixes.

Anderson contributed a 36-ball 28 with four boundaries. Sinclair and Anderson were both removed by Amit Persaud and Ramnarine respectively, but their dismissal did not hurt the hosts much, as Garfield Benjamin (17 not out), took his team home.

The tournament continues tomorrow. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

Para-cycling Championships

GUYANA’S only para-cyclist, Walter Grant-Stuart turned in commendable performances over the weekend in Corrada, Italy at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Para-Cycling Road World Cup. First on Saturday, in the Men’s Category 5 (C5) Time Trials (TT), he placed 13th out of 20 participants over a distance of 27.1km in a time of 47 minutes 19.35 seconds, the TT was won by Brazil’s Lauro Mouro Chaman (40 minutes 44.25 seconds).

Meanwhile on Sunday, Grant-Stuart took part in the Men’s C5 72.8km Road Race (8 laps) and crossed the finish line in 14th, he was the last of the riders to complete the race while six others could not manage the eight laps.

His time was two hours 16.12 seconds, some 15 minutes 44 seconds off winner Daniel Abraham Gebru (Netherlands).

Grant-Stuart will next head to Belgium for the final stage of the Para-Cycling World Cup.

RUSSIA’S anti-doping chief calls for the head of ROC (REUTERS) - RUSSIA’S anti-doping chief has called for the dismissal of the head of the country’s suspended athletics

federation as part of a proposal to ensure all Russian athletes can compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a letter seen by

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday May 14, 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) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 1. WI defeated Ireland by 196 runs 2. John Campbell (WI) Today’s Quiz: 1. What was the results of Match #2 in the ongoing WI/IRE/BANG Tri-Nations ODI series?

2. Who won the Man of the Match award?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Reuters yesterday showed.

In the five-page letter addressed to Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) president Stanislav Pozdnyakov, RUSADA director Yuri Ganus proposed the dismissal of the federation’s senior officials, including its president Dmitry Shlyakhtin, and all national team athletics coaches, among several other measures.

“Given that there is critically little time left until the start of the 2020 Olympics, and there is much to do in coordination with (global athletics governing body) IAAF, work toward the transformation of the federation requires an immediate resolution,” Ganus wrote in the letter, which RUSADA later published on its website.

RUSADA and Russia’s

athletics federation were suspended after a 2015 report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found evidence of state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics.

RUSADA was reinstated last year by WADA, angering a string of sports bodies and athletes around the world.

Ganus also called for the creation of an international work group in which Russian and foreign experts would help bring the federation back into the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) fold.

He also called for the dismissal of officials at sports schools and other training centres tied to the doping scandal, as well as officials who have served doping bans.

“The Russian athletics

federation needs real change,” Ganus wrote.

“We have to stop deceiving not only all those around us, but ourselves first and foremost.”

Russia’s athletics federation did not immediately reply to a request for comment, while Shlyakhtin could not be reached for comment.

Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov dismissed RUSADA’s proposals as “untimely” in comments to TASS news agency.

Following Ganus’ proposals, the ROC said it would create two working groups to help the federation get reinstated and to safeguard the rights of Russian athletes.

Despite the federation being banned, some Russians - including twice world champion high jumper Maria Lasitskene - have been cleared to compete

internationally after demonstrating they are training in a doping-free environment.

The IAAF is set to review Russia’s status at its council meeting next month.

Russia was banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from last year’s Pyeongchang Winter Games as punishment for alleged state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

However, some Russian athletes with no history of doping were cleared to compete as neutrals.

The IOC chose not to ban all Russian athletes from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics after a WADAcommissioned report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren revealed a statebacked doping programme across many sports.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Guyadeen storms to 12-stroke lead in WI American Golf Association Spring tournament ARMED with his new TaylorMade golf clubs, Guyanese-born golfer, Crisendat Guyadeen, took control after day-one of the West Indian American Golf Association (WIAGA) Three-Day Spring Tournament by romping to a 12-stroke lead.

The 60-year-old shot a score of 64 at the Douglaston Golf Course in Queens, New York last Saturday.

His amazing 18-hole round included seven birdies, three of which were scored in the first four holes.

Guyadeen, who qualified for the 2019 Golf Channel Amateur Tour Senior National Championship last year, finished with a score of 31 in his front nine.

The US-based golfer, who hails from Bush Lot on the West Coast of Berbice, told the Guyana Chronicle that he had an amazing day on the greens.

“I won the Queens Open last year at that same course, so I have a fair idea of the course. Also, I putted very well and dropped seven birdies.”

Guyadeen was able to upstage 35 other golfers on the small course (smaller than regulation courses with five par threes). In fact, both the second- and third-place finishers ended with scores of 76 each. In total, only seven of the 36 golfers shot under 80.

The three under par score (par was 67 at the course) was one of Guyadeen’s best finishes in his career.

He still rates a par score of 70 at the extremely difficult Bethpage Black in Farmingdale Long Islands in 2017 as his best score to date.

The golfer said he is prepared for the second round of competition, which is scheduled for Forest Park Golf Course (Woodhaven NY) and the third round, which is billed for the Marine Park Golf Course in Brooklyn.

Guyadeen only started to play golf in Guyana three years ago. He learnt the game in the US after moving there in 2004. In 2010, he joined the Golf Channel Amateur tour, where he played in their ‘A’ flight. During that time, the building contractor won several local tours and a twoday major.

Rahim, Sarkar put Bangladesh in final (ESPNCRICINFO) - BANGLADESH ensured their place in the tri-series final after a resounding five-wicket win over West Indies in Malahide.

After their bowlers fought hard to restrict them to 247 for 9, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim struck fluent half-centuries and dominated the chase as they sealed victory with 16 balls to spare.

Mustafizur Rahman’s first four-wicket haul in eight months, as well as discipline from Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan, and Mashrafe Mortaza’s three wickets took the momentum from West Indies twice, after they chose to bat first.

Then it was Soumya’s turn in the spotlight, his 54 off 67 balls getting Bangladesh off the block quickly.

After they had lost three quick wickets in the middle-overs to Ashley Nurse, Mushfiqur put together two partnerships, 83 runs for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Mithun, and 50 runs for fifth wicket stand with Mahmudullah, to boss the chase.

West Indies also contributed heavily to their own defeat, missing five chances during the Bangladesh innings. Kemar Roach dropped two catches while Fabian Allen and Shai Hope couldn’t reach the ball despite a dive. Nurse’s poor throw cost them Mithun’s wicket early during the defining fourth-wicket stand.

After Tamim Iqbal struck the fourth ball of Bangladesh’s chase for a thump-

Mushfiqur Rahim

Soumya Sarkar

ing four, Soumya piled the pressure on Sheldon Cottrell and Roach, hitting them for six and four boundaries in the first five overs. Tamim then cover-drove Cottrell, before getting two more fours off Nurse in the ninth over.

But later in the same over, Nurse bowled Tamim with one that dipped on the left-hander, and struck his legstump.

After their 54-run opening stand, Soumya added 52 runs for the second wicket with Shakib. During this partnership, Soumya survived two chances: at short cover when Allen couldn’t quite hold on to the chance diving forward, as well as Roach dropping a straightforward chance at short midwicket.

Nurse who suffered the Roach drop, struck twice in his next over. He first had Shakib caught at short cover, before Sunil Ambris caught Soumya at short midwicket.

Things could have gone worse for Bangladesh had Nurse sent a better throw to wicketkeeper Hope when Mithun, batting on 7, slipped mid-pitch after being sent back by Mushfiqur in the 24th over. Mithun also survived Roach dropping him at deep square leg when he was 22, and eventually the Mushfiqur-Mithun pairing made West Indies pay heavily.

There was one more fielding lapse: Mahmudullah, dropped by Hope off Holder when he was on 10, before the game was done.

Crisendat Guyadeen finished with seven birdies in his opening round.

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES innings S. Hope c wkp. Mushfiqur Rahim b Mashrafe Mortaza 87 S. Ambris c Soumya Sarkar b Mashrafe Mortaza 23 D. Bravo lbw b Mehedi Hasan 6 R. Chase c Mahmudullah b Mustafizur Rahman 19 J. Carter lbw b Mustafizur Rahman 3 J. Holder c wkp. Mushfiqur Rahim b Mashrafe Mortaza 62 F. Allen lbw b Shakib-al-Hasan 7 A. Nurse c Sabbir Rahman b Mustafizur Rahman 14 R. Reifer lbw b Mustafizur Rahman 7 K. Roach not out 3 S. Cottrell not out 8 Extras: (b-1, lb-8, w-3) 12 Total: (9 wkts, 50 overs) 247 Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-56, 3-89, 4-99, 5-199, 6-207, 7-211, 8-234, 9-236.

Bowling: Abu Jayed 9-0-56-0, Mashrafe Mortaza 10-0-60-3, Mehedi Hasan 10-0-41-1, Mustafizur Rahman 9-1-43-4, Shakib-al-Hasan 10-1-27-1, Soumya Sarkar 2-0-15-0.

BANGLADESH innings Tamim Iqbal b Nurse 21 Soumya Sarkar c Ambris b Nurse 54 Shakib-al-Hasan c Chase b Nurse 29 Mushfiqur Rahim c Bravo b Roach 63 Mohammed Mithun b Holder 43 Mahmudullah not out 30 Sabbir Rahman not out 0 Extras: (lb-2, w-5, nb-1) 8 Total: (5 wkts, 47.2) 248 Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-106, 3-107, 4-190, 5-240.

Bowling: Roach 6-0-46-1, Cottrell 9.2-0-38-0, Nurse 10-0-53-3, Chase 6-0-24-0, Allen 3-0-11-0, Holder 8-1-43-1, Reifer 5-0-31-0.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Anthony surges to victory at Arokium Memorial 50-miler in Berbice MICHAEL Anthony returned to top form on Sunday, producing a breathtaking ride to grab the Philip Arokium Memorial 50-Mile road race in Berbice.

Anthony and Andrew Hicks managed to put distance between themselves and the peloton from the start of the race, for a two-way sprint down the back stretch to the finish line.

Hicks, who is known for his explosive finishes, could not hold off Anthony who was simply too powerful at the death. The latter crossed the finish line in two hours 12 minutes 11 seconds to claim the $50 000 cash prize, a trophy and bragging rights.

Meanwhile, Andre ‘Padlock’ Greene with Balram Narine came in third and fourth respectively. Marcus Keiler, Christopher ‘Chicken Legs’ Griffith, Ajay Gopilall and Ralph Seenarine placed fifth to eighth in that order.

Of the eight sprint prizes up for the taking, Deeraj Garbarran copped two while Hicks

and Anthony had three apiece with Narine and Curtis Dey taking one each.

The evergreen Junior Niles was the top veteran cyclist while Paul Choo-Wee-Nam and Jaikaran Sukhai settled for second and third respectively.

Over in the Juveniles category, Mario Washington beat last year’s winner David Hicks to cop first place while Steve Bhimsen finished third.

Shemika Teixeira retained her title in the female category while Deancea Welch and Maria Carrington placed second and third in that order.

The race was organised by the Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC) in honour of the late proprietor of the Arokium Funeral Establishment, Philip Arokium.

The route began at Alexander Street in New Amsterdam, and proceeded to the turning point at Nand Persaud Rice Mill at No.36 Village, Corentyne, before returning for the finish at the point of origin.

Michael Anthony returned to winning ways on Sunday in Berbice by capturing the Arokium Memorial 50-miler.

Hopetown Flames Pooran to play for Guyana raring to go at GOBSA Amazon Warriors Independence track meet

Some of the athletes who are part of the Hopetown Flames Athletics Club

BERBICIAN athletics club, Hopetown Flames are prepared and will have their eyes set on the Independence Track and Field Championships this weekend (May 18-19) at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

The club boasts a number of phenomenal talents and team manager, Keisha Burnett, is optimistic that her athletes will do well over the weekend.

She revealed, “We are well prepared and looking forward for the Independence meet, I expect my athletes to perform well because they having being doing great from the start of the year.”

In recent times, with Guyana becoming a dominant force in athletics at the youth and junior levels in the Caribbean, Burnett pointed out that meets such as these will aid in the development of athletes. ”Our athletes are preparing for future meets so the more they compete the better for them and I believe this meet provides exposure for our athletes and that is important,” she said.

Hopetown Flames boasts athletes such as 2019 Carifta gold medallist Matthew Gordon along with the likes of sprinter Loneil Marks among its ranks.

Action will kick off on both days at the NTFC at 10:00hrs. Spectators will be asked for a $300 contribution at the gate.

NICHOLAS Pooran has been signed by the Guyana Amazon Warriors as their Marquee Player for the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League which will take place from September 4 to October 12.

The Trinidadian wicketkeeper-batsman played for the Barbados Tridents last year but in a big move for him and the franchise, he will be playing for the Guyanese team in 2019.

Pooran has played 11 T20 Internationals for the West Indies and has become a fixture in T20 tournaments around the world.

He is also a member of the West Indies squad for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. This will be the third CPL team that Pooran has represented, having started his career with the Trinbago Knight Riders before moving to the Tridents.

The rest of the Amazon Warriors squad will be decided at the Hero CPL Player Draft which takes place on May 22 2019.

Omar Khan, Team Operations Manager for the Amazon Warriors, said: “Nicholas is among the very best T20 batting talents in the world and we wanted to bring him into our team as we push to go one better

than last year where we finished as runners-up. He is explosive and exciting, and we are very pleased to be able to have such an impressive young talent representing

Corona Futsal continues tonight FUTSAL returns to the National Gymnasium this evening with the second night of round-robin play.

From 19:30hrs Tucville will play Tiger Bay while

Leopold Street will face Mocha from 20:15hrs.

Back Circle is also in competition against Beacon from 21:00hrs while Bent Street oppose Future Stars from 21:45hrs.

Sparta Boss are also in action tonight as they play California Square from 22:30hrs while West Front Road and North East La Penitence clash in the closing game.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Guyana to open Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador today

By Rawle Toney DRAWN in ‘Group D’ of the 2019 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, Guyana will open their quest to qualify for this year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, against El Salvador today in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The Abdulla Hamid-coached team will be led by Deshawn Joseph (captain), Jermaine Grandison, Michael Wilson, Kennard Simon, Keon Sears, Cordel Johnson, Jeffon Figueira, Shane Luckie, Jamal Haynes, Ethan Sparman Trevon Archibald and Jashaun Moore.

Dwallon Farrell is the team’s manager, while the physiotherapist is Quincy Paddy.

Following today’s game against El Salvador, Guyana will next play Guadeloupe tomorrow, and will close their Group D round of matches against Belize on May 16.

The 2019 edition of the biennial CONCACAF tournament, which will be held with the support of the Municipal Government of Puerto Vallarta, will see Guyana among the best 16 national beach soccer teams in the region – Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Bonaire, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the United States and the US Virgin Islands.

The best-ranked two teams in the compe-

FLASHBACK! Guyana’s Jamal Haynes, who picked up the 2017 Scotiabank Young Player Award at the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, scored what was described as the Goal-of-the-Tournament.

tition will ensure qualification for the FIFA

Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019.

In Group A, Mexico, the home side, will face Costa Rica, Jamaica and Guatemala.

Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and the US Virgin Islands are in Group B, while in Group C, United States will face opposition from Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda and Bonaire.

After round-robin play, the first- and second-place finishers of each group will advance to the quarter-finals, whose winners will advance to the semi-finals. Semifinal winners will automatically qualify for the tournament’s final, as well as the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019.

In the last edition of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in The Bahamas, Panama overcame Mexico in the final, to win their first Beach Soccer title.

In 2017, Guyana’s Haynes walked away with the Scotiabank Young Player Award, as the 21-year-old Haynes impressed fans, players and officials with a dazzling array of skills and goals.

Guyana defeated Belize 4-1 in the group stage and Antigua & Barbuda 6-4 in the placement stage to end 12th out of 16 teams.

Playing up front for most of the tournament, Haynes scored a hat-trick in the win against Antigua & Barbuda, including one of the goals of the tournament – a spectacular overhead kick that soared into the top corner.

GFF/FIFA commissions FIFA Forward Project Football Pitch

By Rawle Toney THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in the presence of a number of delegates from visiting affiliated Caribbean Football Union (CFU) countries for the start of the two-day FIFA Conference on Development, yesterday commissioned the football pitch at the country’s FIFA Forward Project, which will house their National Training Centre, at Providence.

The facility, located at the former Providence Community Centre ground on the East Bank of Demerara, sits on 8.5 acres of land which the GFF received via a 30-year lease from the Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

“Today’s commissioning ceremony, will barely underscore the symbolic significance of the GFF, successfully completing its first FIFA FORWARD, all-weather artificial field,” GFF president Wayne Forde said during a brief statement at the auspicious occasion.

“To many we are finally delivering on a promise made almost three decades ago, to some. It is a proud achievement for the local football family and to others it is an appropriate reminder of the limitless potential of a stable and unified football

fraternity. Through the FIFA Forward programme, we have had both the opportunity and privilege to render ourselves to the unfinished work of those that served before us,” Forde noted.

According to Forde, the unavailability of good quality football facilities across Guyana continues to strangle the progress of the game, adding that “football cannot fully develop without proper playing surfaces, changing rooms and field lighting.

We have set ourselves an ambitious target, to construct one artificial field in each of our nine Regional Associations, over the next five years. This task must not be left to FIFA and the GFF alone, we need the Government of Guyana and Corporate Guyana to play their role.”

Meanwhile, FIFA’s Director of Member Associations and Development Veron Mosgengo-Omba, said the FIFA Forward Programme and the realisation of the facility at Providence, align perfectly with the vision of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, which is expressed in his ‘FIFA 2.0: the Vision for Football’ which, among other things, is to invest massively in the game of football, in order to help countries like Guyana, to realise and maximise their dreams in the sport.

Mosgengo-Omba further pointed out that the FIFA is proud of the progress made by

the GFF, more so under the stewardship of Wayne Forde, while also noting that the sport’s world governing body is looking forward to building a stronger relationship with the Government of Guyana.

Christopher Jones, the Director of Sport, said the Government of Guyana shares the ‘apparition’ of the GFF and FIFA, to have nine facilities similar to the National Training Centre across Guyana, while reflecting and reminding the gathering of the David Granger-led Administration’s vision of helping to establishing a football facility at D’Urban Park.

“The government of Guyana recognises the importance of sports development, in which young people in this country will have an opportunity to exercise, to participate, to build and of course to provide to opportunity where the GFF will get to scout for talent throughout the length and breadth of this country … I am here to reaffirm the Government’s commitment, to president Wayne Forde and the GFF, where it is necessary and where land needs to be available to them, we want you to rest assured that such will be done,” Jones added.

Guyana in 2007 under former president Colin Klass began work at Orangestein, on the East Bank of Essequibo, for what was supposed to be the location for Guy-

ana first Goal Project.

When Klass found himself in ‘hot water’ for the ‘cash for votes’ scandal, Franklin Wilson, his vice-president at the time (2013), had assumed the post of president (ag) and travelled to Zurich where negotiations with FIFA’s Development Committee brokered US$500 000 to be allocated to Guyana to help get the ‘Goal Project’ off the ground.

Football in Guyana was in its worst state and for the first time in decades, elections were held and Christopher Matthias was elected as president.

Matthias, upon taking office, abandoned the plot of land, already owned by the GFF at Orangestein, stating that the distance was too out-of-bounds and sought further negotiations with the Ministry of Sport for land behind the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.

Things again didn’t materialise, since the Government had only offered a little over three acres of land which FIFA said was a ‘no-no’.

Guyana was actually earmarked by FIFA to pioneer its ‘Goal Project’ with president Sepp Blatter making his maiden voyage in 1999 for the turning of the sod at the University of Guyana, but that also fell through after negotiations with the Guyana Government.

GFF/FIFA commissions FIFA Forward Project Football Pitch

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Fruta Conquerors and National midfielder, 15-year-old Alleia Alleyne, cuts the ‘symbolic ribbon’ to commission the football pitch at the FIFA Forward Project.

Also in photo (Standing in the forefront from left), CFU president Randy Harris, GFF president Wayne Forde, FIFA’s Director of Member Associations and Development Veron Mosgengo-Omba and Director of Sport Christopher Jones. (Delano Williams photo)

Pooran to play Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-county cricket Berbice beat luckless for Guyana Essequibo by six wickets Amazon Warriors

See Page 20

Junior Sinclair

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Soumya Sarkar plays off the back foot, Bangladesh v West Indies, Ireland tri-series, Dublin, yesterday. (AFP)

Nicholas Pooran

Rahim, Sarkar put Bangladesh in final

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TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019