Guyana Chronilce E-paper 6-30-2019

30th June, 2019

No.105684

MEETING ON GECOM CHAIR SOON ‌ both President, Opposition Leader 03 to submit nominees PAGE

DNA machine can corroborate identities of Lindo Creek victims 13 PAGE

Forensic Science Laboratory Director, Delon France, and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan at the recent commissioning of the DNA machine

Guyana hosted over 36,000 Venezuelan migrants 25 PAGE

Cops destroy large ganja fields in Berbice River 02 PAGE

Students seen riding to school in the developing community of Orealla during a visit by the Guyana Chronicle last week (See inside our Pepperpot Magazine for more photos and stories on our visit to the Indigenous village (Delano Williams photo)

‌ seize another 123 pounds at roadblock in Weldaad

2

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

Cops destroy large ganja fields in Berbice River … seize another 123 pounds at roadblock in Weldaad

POLICE in Berbice, last week, destroyed several fields of cannabis cultivation at De Veldt and Fort Nassau in the Berbice River.

Police said that on Thursday between 04:00hrs and 16:00hrs, ranks of the Guyana Police Force conducted a narcotics eradication exercise at De Veldt and Fort Nassau

,Berbice River ,during which they found four fields of cannabis cultivation with about 10,500 plants ranging between six inches and six feet in height, with an estimated

One of the nurseries of cannabis plants

weight of 5,250 Kilograms.

A nursery with about 20,000 seedlings, five camps and about 100 Kilograms of dried cannabis were also found. The entire area was photographed and the plants, camps and dried cannabis were all destroyed by fire. No arrest was made.

Meanwhile, ranks in Berbice were on roadblock duty on Weldaad Public Road, on Friday, when at about 23:30hrs they observed a Georgetown-bound vehicle stopped before the said roadblock and shortly after, two males were seen in a nearby street with two large bags. When challenged, the men dropped the bags and escaped. The bags

The parcels of cannabis that were seized during the operation at Weldaad on Friday were checked and found to contain 13 parcels of cannabis. A further check nearby also revealed nine more parcels of cannabis.

The illegal, compressed narcotics have a combined

weight of 123 pounds. The vehicle was searched but nothing illegal or unlawful was found.

The driver of the vehicle is in custody assisting with the investigation.

Devolution of decision-making better for conservation … Dr David Singh

By Vishani Ragobeer THE devolution of decision-making to local communities will help to bolster efforts geared at promoting the conversation of Guyana’s natural patrimony, according to Former Executive Director of Conservation International Guyana, Dr. David Singh.

The devolution of the decision making process has been seen over the past few years with the government decentralisation of the local government system, and empowering more communities to become architects of their local affairs.

“When you look at the devolution of decision making in Guyana over the last number of years there has been an increased devolution of decision making to the ground level, enabling organisations to take more ownership,” Dr. Singh explained to the Guyana Chronicle in a recent interview.

This, he said, is a good move in allowing more persons- stakeholders within local communities- to decide how the resources they have to be used. Explaining this, Dr. Singh said: “If you enable rights holders to have greater control of the ecosystems to

Former Executive Director of Conservation International Guyana, Dr. David Singh

which they are more connected to, if they have more control over the decisions of those ecosystems, then there is a greater chance that the decisions for those ecosystems will be more sustainable.” And with the government engaging in efforts of decentralising governance and services, he opined that conservation will “work better than ever”.

In simple terms, he related that someone would make better decisions for things that belongs to them instead of other people who make those decisions for those things they have owenership for. Resultantly, he said, if you enable these rights owners to have more control over the decision making of their ecosystems,

there is a better chance that those ecosystems will be better managed and maintained over the long term.

“The decision President Granger made on devolving planning and development to regions and local communities is an important decision for conservation,” he stated firmly. Dr. Singh also said that this devolution is only part of the wider and noteworthy commitments of the political leadership of Guyana in bolstering conservation efforts.

He made reference to the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which was launched in June 2009 and outlined Guyana’s path to a low carbon economy, and now the State Development Strategy

(GSDS): Vision 2040, which seeks to guide Guyana’s developmental trajectory. “It is very important for us as Guyanese to recognise that the commitment to sustainable agenda crosses political boundaries and it something as a people we have to be so proud of,” he said.

However, he noted that Guyanese has a responsibility to ensure that the government, regardless of who it is, maintains this kind of commitment to conserving the natural patrimony. He also said that Guyanese need to play a greater role in the decision-making process. The GSDS, which is currently the model that the government intends to use to guide the sustainable development of Guyana alongside its oil and gas industry, needs to have more persons educated on the aims and merits intended from this. At the implementation level specifically, he noted that there needs to be “more detailed conversations” between policy makers and the average citizens. He also opined that people need to understand what the GSDS, and Guyana’s development pathway, means for them and their communities using relatable metrics like education, health, security and infrastructural development.

“To get participation of people in decision making is only as good to the extent to which the people participating have the tools to which they can participate effectively,” the Former CIG boss said.

“These tools include understanding what is being discussed and secondly having a reference point outside of themselves.”

3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE june 30, 2019

Meeting on GECOM chair soon … both President, opposition leader to submit nominees

PRESIDENT David Granger is likely to nominate persons to go on the list for consideration to be the next chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission.

Following the recent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the appointment of the chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), government said it interprets this to mean both the President and opposition leader will provide names of persons for the top post- a position the Opposition Leader said he is comfortable with.

Government’s position on the matter was stated by Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, in a correspondence in reply to one penned by opposition spokesperson, Gail Teixeira, on Friday.

The letter from Harmon stated that President David Granger reiterated his commitment to meet with the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, to discuss the important constitutional requirement.

Quoting paragraph 26 of the CCJ ruling, the Director General stated, “the court decided that the most sensible approach to operationalising the article was for the leader of the opposition and the President to communicate

with each other in good faith and perhaps even meet to discuss, eligible candidates for the position of Chairman before a list is formally submitted. The aim of these discussions must be to agree the names of six persons who fit the stated eligibility requirements and who are not unacceptable to the President.”

On Saturday, Teixeira, in response to Harmon’s letter, noted that Jagdeo does not agree with the President being able to nominate persons for the GECOM chair post.

However, she later stated that in an effort to find “consensus” Jagdeo is not “averse” to President Granger being able suggest the names of nominees in their proposed engagement for the former President to consider.

The CCJ ruled that the President and the opposition leader ought to have met prior to the submission of the list, and consulted on names. President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, explained that consultation between the President and the opposition leader would have allowed for consensus and submission of a list of six persons who would have reached the eligibility requirements. “In this regard, the Constitution anticipates that the leader of the opposition and the President will conduct

themselves in a reasonable and responsible manner, eschew partisanship and seek the best interests of the Republic and the Guyanese people,” the CCJ President added.

He said use of the double negative sent a clear message on how the President ought to have viewed the nominees or list provided.

“In our view, employment of the double negative, ‘not unacceptable’, signals that an onus is placed on the President not to find a nominee unacceptable merely because the nominee is not a choice the President would have himself made. By a majority, the court found, the President should only find a nominee unacceptable for some good reason on objective ground,” Justice Saunders told the parties in the matter.

The Judge explained: “If a President were permitted, capriciously or whimsically, without proffering a good reason, to reject eligible nominees, this would frustrate the proper working of the Constitution, defeat the intention behind the amendment to Article 161(2) and pave the way for unilateral presidential appointment.”

The CCJ President said the court found that once the President and the leader of the

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon opposition have come up with a list of names not unacceptable to the President, the list, comprising the six persons, must then formally be submitted to the President by the leader of the opposition.

This would automatically be followed by the President’s selection of a chairman from among the names

$303M jungle highway nears completion THROUGHOUT the hinterland region, the restoration and rehabilitation of previously neglected roads have been high on the Coalition Government’s

agenda. Recently, the road between Mile 33 to Mile 52 of the Bartica-Potaro road has undergone a massive transformation.

The construction of the

$303M roadway within the jungle was no easy task.

Hinterland Engineer within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jeffrey Walcott, highlighted the condition of

Mile 33 to Mile 52 of the Bartica-Potaro road

the roadway prior to the rehabilitative works. “The easiest thing to move through was an ATV. There was not enough space for two vehicles to move comfortably through.

[It was] 10 to 12feet in width [with a] heavy tree cover.”

Walcott explained that with the current works, the carriageway has been expanded 24-30feet and the roadway itself is approximately 100 feet wide.

Laterite, a reddish clay material, is currently being stockpiled from a mine in St. Mary’s, Region Seven, to be used on the road. At present, the highway is in the white sand, sand-clay phase.

The weather condition has been the main challenge during the project as with most roadworks done in the hinterland. Walcott noted “Currently, the guys have

stopped work because of the weather; it has been raining a lot right now.” Works are expected to resume when the rains cease.

As with all road infrastructural projects, maintenance is a topical issue.

With this roadway within the jungle, maintenance works will be rolled out as of 2020, as the need arises. The beginning of 2018 saw the mileslong road being initiated as part of a broader objective to connect Bartica to Mahdia in Regions Seven and Eight, respectively.

JR. Ranch Incorporated was awarded the contract for the project. (DPI)

4

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

Trump says China trade talks 'back on track,' new tariffs on hold OSAKA (Reuters) - The United States and China agreed on Saturday to restart trade talks after President Donald Trump offered concessions including no new tariffs and an easing of restrictions on tech company

Huawei in order to reduce tensions with Beijing.

China agreed to make unspecified new purchases of U.S. farm products and return to the negotiating table. No deadline was set for progress on a deal, and the world’s two largest economies remain at odds over significant parts of an agreement.

The last major round of talks collapsed in May. Financial markets, which have been rattled by the nearly year-long trade war, are likely

to cheer the truce. Washington and Beijing have slapped tariffs on billions of dollars of each other’s imports, stoking fears of a wider global trade war. Those tariffs remain in place while negotiations resume.

President Donald Trump says is 'in no hurry' for a deal with China “We’re right back on track,” Trump told reporters after an 80-minute meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit of leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies in Osaka, Japan.

“We’re holding back on tariffs and they’re going to buy farm products,” Trump said, without giving details about the purchases. Trump tweeted hours later that the meeting with Xi went “far better than expected.”

“The quality of the transaction is far more important to me than speed,” he tweeted. “I am in no hurry, but things look very good!” The U.S. president had threatened to slap new levies on roughly $300 billion of additional Chinese goods, including popular consumer products, if the meeting in Japan proved unsuccessful. Such a move would have extended existing tariffs to almost all Chinese imports into the United States. In a lengthy statement on the two-way talks, China’s foreign ministry quoted Xi as telling Trump he hoped the United States could treat Chinese companies fairly.

“China is sincere about continuing negotiations with the United States ... but negotiations should be equal and show

mutual respect,” the foreign ministry quoted Xi as saying.

Trump offered an olive branch to Xi on Huawei Technologies Co [HWT.UL], the world’s biggest telecom network gear maker. The Trump administration has said the Chinese firm is too close to China’s government and poses a national security risk, and has lobbied U.S. allies to keep Huawei out of next-generation 5G telecommunications infrastructure.

Trump’s Commerce Department has put Huawei on its “entity list,” effectively banning the company from buying parts and components from U.S. companies without U.S. government approval. U.S. But Trump said on Saturday he did not think that was fair to U.S. suppliers, who were upset by the move. “We’re allowing that, because that wasn’t national security,” he said.

Trump said the U.S. Commerce Department would study

in the next few days whether to take Huawei off the list of firms banned from buying components and technology from U.S. companies without government approval.

China welcomed the step.

“If the U.S. does what it says, then of course, we welcome it,” said Wang Xiaolong, the Chinese foreign ministry’s envoy for G20 affairs.

“We are encouraged the talks are restarting and additional tariffs are on hold and we look forward to getting more detail on the president’s remarks on Huawei,” John Neuffer, president of the U.S. Semiconductor Association, said in a statement. Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, however, tweeted that any agreement to reverse the recent U.S. action against Huawei would be a “catastrophic mistake” and that legislation would be needed to put the restrictions back in place if that turned out to be the case.

Sunday, June 30, 2019 - 02:30 hrs & 14:30 hrs

Friday June 29, 2019

02 05 13 15 19 22 17

28, June, 2019

H

04 05 10 12 17 02, 06, 10, 21, 25

3, 6, 3

2, 5, 5 01, 05, 06, 12, 14

5

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

Antigua critical of OAS resolution with regional countries still divided on the issue MEDELIN, Colombia, Jun 29, CMC – The Organization of American States (OAS) ended its 49th General Assembly here on Friday with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries still divided on the situation in Venezuela.

As they have done in the past, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Haiti and the Bahamas broke ranks with the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping and voted in support of a resolution on the situation in Venezuela. Bahamas will host the 50th OAS General Assembly in 2020.

But, Antigua and Barbuda Foreign Affairs Minister Chet Greene in a statement following the vote on the resolution that included a paragraph that accepted the seating of a designee of the opposition-controlled National Assembly of Venezuela as the representative of Venezuela, said his country could not accept the resolution.

“While we are concerned about the flow of migrants from Venezuela into other states and we sympathize with the burden being placed upon the g\Governments and people of those states, we recognize that the causes of migration from Venezuela are many; some flow from external actors not reflected in this resolution,” Greene said.

He said further the Antigua and Barbuda government has acknowledged that Venezuela has withdrawn from the OAS in accordance with the relevant article of the OAS Charter. “Therefore, we do not consider it to be a member-state of the OAS. Antigua and Barbuda, like the vast majority of nations of the world and international organizations such as the United Nations, also recognizes the de facto government of Venezuela.”

He said in this connection, St. John’s has rejected “each of the Resolutions adopted by a simple majority that have been named in this present resolution before us. “Indeed, we are persuaded, by legal advice, that the method employed in the Permanent Council, to seat a nominee of the National Assembly of Venezuela as a representative, was ultra vires of the OAS Charter and the rules of the Permanent Council.

“It is a matter of record that Antigua and Barbuda formally registered at the

Permanent Council that it reserves its right not to accept or be bound by any resolutions, declarations or positions of the Permanent Council or any other organs of the OAS by a majority of 18 states that includes the purported representative of Venezuela.”

Greene insists that the resolution before the OAS is designed to “repeat the same process of seating a designee of the National Assembly of Venezuela that my delegation rejected in the Permanent Council. “This General Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of our Organization. Its decisions, collectively made by all member states, bind all organs of this Institution. But, delegations cannot bound by a decision made only by a simple majority that disregards and discounts the legitimate rights and positions of other member states.

“We wish it to be noted that we continue to reserve our rights not to recognize any resolutions or declarations adopted with the participation of a non-member state or anyone purporting to be a representative of a non-member state.”

Opposition political parties in Venezuela, backed by the United States and some other western countries are seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office and replace him with Opposition Leader Juan Guaido.

CARICOM countries have repeatedly indicated their position of non-interference and non-intervention in the internal affairs of the South American country. The OAS resolution, which had received thr support of 19 member states, urges “support the peaceful restoration of democracy in Venezuela, led by the people of Venezuela, guided by the Venezuelan Constitution and urge that free, fair, transparent and legitimate presidential elections be convened as soon as possible” Meanwhile, the OAS Working Group on Venezuelan has presented a report on the situation in Caracas noting that if the existing problems in Venezuela continue or worsen, “the projection of Venezuelan migrants and refugees could reach between 5.3 and 5.7 million by the end of 2019 and between 7.5 and 8.2 million by the end of 2020.”

The group calls on the on the entire international

community “to give a global response to the crisis of Venezuelan migrants and refugees. “This should not be considered a regional or much less sub-regional issue.

It also highlights that this crisis of migrants and refugees represents an unprecedented challenge in the region for the member countries of the OAS and the rest of the international community.

“Despite the difficulties, the migrant and refugee crisis also creates an immense opportunity to integrate millions who are willing to work, study, and positively impact the countries that receive them.” It said defining Venezuelans who fled, and continue to flee, their country as refugees “will guarantee them permanent protection with the right to identity, access to services such as health and education, and the opportunity to enter the labour markets.

“Today, approximately two million Venezuelans are in irregular status or at risk of being so in the short term,” the group said in its report, which also calls for the creation of a regional identity card so that Venezuelans can move from one country to another without major restrictions.

“At the time of this General Assembly there are 4 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees, the largest migratory flow in the history of the region,” said the coordinator of the Working Group, David Smolansky. “It is currently the second largest in the world, second only to Syria, which has endured a war for more than 8 years,” he said, adding that given the serious situation, “it is imperative to grant Venezuelans refugee status at the regional level, according to the Cartagena Declaration.”

According to the reported presented to the OAS General Assembly, while most of the Venezuelans fleeing the economic and political situation in their homeland, most of them could be found in Latin and Central America.

However, the report notes that two CARICOM countries, namely Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana have between them accommodated 76,000 Venezuelans with Port of Spain accounting for 40,000 people. This is in mark contract to statements made by the Trinidad and Tobago government following a two-week registration exercise that there are just over

16,000 Venezuelans here.

The government has since introduced visa requirements for Venezuelans wanting to enter the country.

OAs Secretary General, Luis Almagro, a constant critic of Maduro told the OAS Assembly that “Ven-

ezuelans need our help and they need it now. “We must implement all possible measures that help mitigate the drama they face. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that the exodus has only one cause: the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. The

best solution for the crisis of Venezuelan migrants and refugees is the end of the dictatorship and the redemocratization of Venezuela where the most basic human rights that have been taken from people are restored,” he said.

6

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

The land allocations row THERE has never been a doubt that some politicians are prepared to stoop to some of the lowest levels, in their public utterances, not only to give a semblance of representing the highest import of personal integrity and defender of public morality as they seek to court the favours of their supporters.

But, as has always been the case, they are often the ones who would end up being seen for their double standards. Adversarial politics, yes; because the latter, as traditionally known, is one that is common in the two-party system, with each representative from both sides often taking the opposite pole of opinion to that of the other.

However, what has been daily off loaded by the political opposition in the local political milieu has been more than taking different viewpoints

on a national issue. It has continued to be bold and brazen in its daily outpourings of misinformation and fake news that continue to defy both logic and established truth, although the latter reality is so evident throughout Guyana.

It is a continued attempt, on the part of the PPP/C, led by Bharat Jagdeo, to discredit not only the government, whose record of achievements continues to attract high praises and commendations, despite a very challenging four years of governance, and a deviously, contrived PPP/C No-Confidence Motion, aimed at grabbing power.

The response to what were specifically baseless and scandalous accusations, levelled against the President David Granger administration, through the Guyana lands and Surveys Commis-

sion (GLSC), is another dark notch up the journey ladder of PPP/C disinformation, deception and fake news strategy. But it has also served to expose what many see as institutionalised marginalisation of a section of our society by that party.

Jagdeo’s claims of “land grabbing” by several persons last week, some close to the government, was both shocking and deceptive. Not only has his claims been debunked by the Commissioner of the GLSC in his press conference, but also by Geotechnical Engineer and Groundwater Hydrologist, Charles Ceres and Eric Phillips. It also illustrated the stark and ugly discrimination against those individuals in terms of the price for the leases by the former PPP/C administration, as against that paid by favoured friends of the Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar

administrations. There was even an instance of a court decision that ordered the then government to return 2192 acres that it had re-possessed from an African Guyanese businesswoman, which court decision was not honoured, until the new dispensation.

What had also been revealed by the Commissioner was the kind of government, in its official state policy, which openly discriminated without any compunction, against a section of our society. It was as if this category was not supposed to own any material possession. And this is not to forget that thousands of acres of land had been given to PPP/C officials, inclusive of Jagdeo.

Undoubtedly, it is the kind of nepotism that has left an indelible trail in the pillaged track of PPP/ politics; as well as mapping its penchant for political opposition

misinformation that seeks to disingenuously place the coalition government, as in the same category as what has been the sordid and immoral record of the Jagdeo/ Ramotar administrations.

And again, it is the worn-out Jagdeo strategy of reverse psychology, which has been exposed for all its criminally dishonest practice of seeking to paint the government with the same brush, justly applied to itself.

Finally, for Jagdeo to be waving “stolen Documents” documents of a confidential nature, no doubt acquired illegally from the Commission, is a criminal offence that amounts to collusion with similar hostile elements within, and again underlines the threat of “moles” within the public service, being activated by ‘’powerful forces’’ “who intend to take control of all our land…”, as correctly

described by Commissioner Trevor Benn.

It cannot be over-emphasised that this category is not performing official duties in the best interests of the state which they have been employed to serve.

Further, their clandestine activities run counter to the objectives of government policies, while constituting a counter to the authority of the immediate department in which they are located. We hope that Law enforcement will be summoned to investigate this criminal act, and arrest those responsible. These are very dangerous persons who, for financial favours and other considerations, are prepared to collude with forces hostile to the government. They must be ferreted out, and made to face prosecution.

Further evidence of PPP consistent effort at mariginalisation of African community Dear Editor, I COMMEND those media houses that saw the importance in taking time to provide pertinent background information to Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo’s claim that the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, within recent months, has engaged in acts of impropriety in land distribution, favouring the African community.

This kind of reporting helps the society where the media must no longer be satisfied to regurgitate claims made by leaders, but also to provide information to

substantiate or invalidate such claims. The media has a role as the fourth estate to bring society to a level of understanding where truth and integrity prevail. This is particularly so in a diverse society such as ours, bombarded by constant distortion, political division and ethnic tension.

We are living in challenging times, moreso since the passage of the confidence vote and, in an era of unprecedented dis-information, lies and distortion. Where the Leader of the Opposition sought to lead the nation into believing his claims, evidence did not hold such

claims true.

Thanks to persons like Charles Ceres who saw the importance of publicly defending his honour and in so doing set the record straight, the media for taking a closer look, and Lands and Surveys Commissioner Trevor Benn for presenting data, so the nation can be enlightened. Evidence shows some of these lands were taken away during the PPP/C administration, which the aggrieved challenged in the court, the court had ruled, and the PPP/C administration refused to respect the court’s rulings. In other cases, lands were approved during the

PPP/C administration, but the titles were never granted until during the stewardship of Benn. These is further evidence of that administration’s consistent effort at mariginalisation of the African community in all areas.

We will have endless problems in this society where there is cherry-picking of the laws, the court’s rulings and whose rights are be respected or transgressed.

We are living in a tense period and if not managed with truth, civility and decency playing important roles, there can be clashes. Some damage has been done to the reputation of people.

The Leader of the Opposition had to know what he was doing at that Thursday press conference. He had to have known the consequences of his conduct on a nation conditioned to believe whatever its leaders say or the media report is correct.

That he set out to do this and also said he will inform the international community of his fictitious claims is troubling. As President he would have condemned the Leader of the Opposition mischaracterising the working and functions of a state institution and seeking to bring into disrepute a country based on distortion, which is an act of

grave un-patriotism.

The development of this nation is dependent on us evolving to the stage of questioning and demanding that evidence be provided, for this is integral to us as a people moving forward together in peace and harmony. We have to hold elected leaders and public officials accountable. It is only through accountability that they will treat us with respect and manage our affairs prudently.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

7

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

Within a year of the PPP taking office in 1992, we saw signs of extra-judicial killings Dear Editor, THERE are happenings in our coalition government that sometimes give rise for discomfort and warrant criticism.

The foibles of senior administrators need to be brought to the fore so that they can be corrected, thereby, being faithful to the promises made by the President. The President has charted the proper course. His subordinates within the Cabinet and elsewhere need to scrupulously follow his lead or the path of righteousness and rectitude.

The police force now has a new leadership as part of a new dispensation. To achieve the above condition of absolute propriety, the police force is vital. The force must be like Caesar’s wife, beyond suspicion and reproach. His Excellency told this nation that the security of the State and the well-being of all citizens are of the utmost importance.

M s . Teix eir a s ay in g things in the media that seem to ignore these fundamentals and seem forgetful of what took place when her party, the PPP ruled Guyana.

When it comes to security and maintaining the morality of our society, only a Granger-led Government can give us such. I have no intention to advert to this and other related security matters, but felt compelled after listening to the fulminations of the PPP’s well-oiled propaganda machine.

I would have otherwise held my peace.

Some may have short memories, so let us be reminded of this: within a year of the PPP taking office in 1992, we saw signs of extra-judicial killings and murders that had signs of political directions or at best the turning of a blind eye to the horrors of the PPP’s 23 years.

Recall, killed in April, 1993 – Marlon Benn and Arjune Khemraj, the same year.

However, it was after Dr. Jagan’s passing in March 1997 that ‘all hell broke loose.’ Dr. Jagan’s sane and stabilising leadership was no more. For example, police deaths over the next period increased by a staggering one thousand percent (1000%).

Strange but true.

We had an unabated spree of extra-judicial killings and the murder of over four hundred (400) young men, clearly superintended by the PPP regime.

No adult and no child should be exposed to this sort of behaviour.

Next, the PPP leader has not yet explained the role of Mr. Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan while they were in office.

This is even after a fullpage paid advertisement by Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan on Friday, May 12, 2006, where he publicly said he was in the business of ‘crime fighting,’ (sic).

Among the things he wrote, were the following absurdities - “From the time the G.D.F started to play a role

in Guyana’s crime problem in 2002 and now again in 2006, their only real target has been me, leading to my illegal arrest by the G.D.F in 2002 and the targeting of my business premises and persons connected to me, in 2006.

The timing of the request by the Americans for my extradition is no coincidence. It has coincided with a period of Guyana’s history when the country’s security is most at risk, and most vulnerable to a coup d’etat.”

Mr. Khan knew that extradition would have required the co-operation of the Guyana Government. He was confident this would not happen.

This statement by a known drug dealer King Pin, escaped the attention of the then government. Now, like Peter, some folks are denying the gentleman.

He, Khan, was not invited to explain where or how he possessed such resource.

Khan openly chastised the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.

Any credible government would have invited him to say how he arrived at his conclusions, etc.

It took the US Government to apprehend Mr. Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan in a neighbouring country to have him brought to justice. A man who was operating freely in Guyana, apparently, heading a private enforcement gang.

Recall the sophisticated tracking equipment purchased in the name of PPP Minister, Dr. Leslie Ram-

sammy.

After, a deafening silence and evidence which was clear that the illegal equipment imported was cleared with ease was in his name, Dr. Ramsammy denies knowledge of this clandestine operation.

He claimed that his signature was forged. Yet, there was never an investigation to find out who forged his signature or whose signature it was. A mystery fit for a paper-back novel, but Dr. Ramsammy is an honourable man and we must believe him; but the old folks taught me a truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.

I recall the deaths of Nigel Brown – 17th June, 1997/ Andrew Smith – 23rd July, 1997. Then we had the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Ronald Gajraj episode.

I spoke with one of his recruits, and later victim, George Bacchus and his brother Shafeek Bacchus.

Bacchus before he was gunned down, expressed remorse and started to talk; this was his mistake. He was assassinated on Princess Street.

Before he was murdered, Shafeek gave a sworn statement to the US Embassy in Georgetown.

His statement identified the intellectual author of this sorry, sad saga.

Remember Axel Williams, a young man whose mother worked with me. All of her efforts to have him go straight failed. He was soon part of the Gajraj establishment.

Axel Williams, after the

shooting to death of a food vendor because the vendor demanded payment for food he supplied to Williams, instead of being charged with murder, the minister had his firearm upgraded to a higher calibre weapon. That was the justice we experienced.

We had the high-profile cases of Inspector October, Ronald Waddell, Hon. Minister Satyadeow Sawh, the Lindo Creek Massacre and Courtney Crum Ewing.

We can remember Colin Mc Gregor, 14th November, 1999, Dexter Randolph, January 2000 and the list runs into hundreds of state-sponsored killings by squads who operated with a great degree of freedom.

The record of irregularities in the issuance of firearms by the PPP Minister of Home Affairs is well known.

This and other unsavory happenings may have led the Embassy of the United States revoking the visa of Minister Ronald Gajraj, as did the Canadian High Commission in Guyana.

In all of this, the PPP Leadership did nothing, instead, Mr. Gajraj was rewarded by being appointed our High Commissioner to India.

I could burden this letter with pages of similar instances, which suggest that whatever may be the weaknesses of the Coalition, and there are weaknesses I submit, that the next time Citizens are asked to vote, regardless of religion, race or class, they must avoid putting in to govern this nation, a group with such

a tainted history and a known proclivity to disrespect Law and Order and human life.

When an administration shows scant regard for the fundamentals that secure a civilised society, then all of us, whether we live in Black Bush Polder, the Corentyne River, the NorthWest, Mazaruni, Cuyuni, the Rupununi, the coastal belt or our urban centres, we are all exposed to the wiles of State-sponsored gangs that cannot be controlled.

I read the news this week of a 26-year-old male placed before the court on 11 counts of armed robbery. No surprise, he was born in 1993 during the PPP regime and weaned and nurtured in an environment of violence and criminality.

We must avoid even the possibility of returning to that era.

Notwithstanding the above, I still feel our leaders should seek a form of unity to save our country and present a solid front to those who are experienced in the exploitation of small countries and people for centuries – imperialism, slavery, neo-colonialism, indentureship and mis-education are still hurdles we must get over quickly.

I write only because Ms. Teixeira and the Freedom House propagandist seem determined to misrepresent our recent history.

Regards Hamilton Green

Improvements at East Bank Berbice Dear Editor IT was an awesome experience and mind-blowing sight last Saturday when I journeyed to the East Bank of Berbice in Region Six for an open-air street corner meeting organised by the Alliance For Change Regional Management Committee in that region.

As I was leaving New Amsterdam with my AFC colleague Devindra Sookraj, I was wondering what the ride will be like after listening to all the comments from the PPP about the road on the East Bank of Berbice. It was told and being said that the road is no good and was all sub-standard work being done

through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and bad leadership from that said ministry towards the project. But, what the eyes see it cannot lie and what the eyes see is proof of what is being done as seeing is not deceiving.

As we passed Stanleytown, I asked my colleague knowing that he traverses the area frequently, how are things on the East Bank and what are the major complaints from residents.

He said to me, “you gonna see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears, let me not tell you because you going to say I am one sided.”

As we passed Stanleytown, I didn't notice that we were now driving on the newly asphalted East Bank Berbice Road. It was

so smooth. When I did notice that we were at Gay Park due to the large Mandir there, I said stop. He asked why? I replied bro, I can't travel on this newly asphalted East Bank Berbice Road and cannot take a picture of it when Minister David Patterson and the government are being cussed out by the PPP for bad work. We stopped and I took a few pictures. My friend then said to me, that's just a glimpse of development you seeing thus far. I asked what more is there to see?

He then took me all the way to the area leading into Bermine.

I didn't look for anything strange.

So I asked him what's new here.

He said to me the PPP destroyed Bermine and left hundreds of

workers without work and their families struggle and now they want to talk about sugar, which they also destroyed. I said that's not news, we all knew what the PPP has done. But wait, I didn't realise at that time I was looking at something that will last my lifetime that never happened on the East Bank of Berbice.

So he said to me look there, this is improvement and still we having cuss out from PPP. He pointed to the newly constructed bridge that is being painted in yellow and black.

I was so amazed when he pointed that to me. I had to ensure pictures are taken because I was so happy to see that this APNU+AFC government cares for all. But wait, it didn't end

there. As we turned around to head into Edinburgh Village, I looked up and noticed road lights and asked, when was it installed? My friend said to me lately under this APNUAFC government.

As I talked to many of the residents living on the East Bank of Berbice, they said to me, that it's a blessing for them to now traverse the road any hour without fear and mostly without thinking that their vehicle will break down or get stuck in one of the many big or large potholes that was there before. They said to me that they are happy for the road lights and that this government needed to highlight those positives that took place. Many of the residents of Edingburgh

told me that what the PPP could or didn't want to do for them in 23 years, the APNU+AFC government did it in four years for them. This is another testimony of the commitment shown to the development of Guyana, regardless of race, religion or political affiliations throughout Guyana. I must say hats off to Minister David Patterson and team for a job well done thus far and mostly must express on behalf of the many residents of East Bank of Berbice a big thank you to the APNU+AFC government for caring and making their dreams a reality.

Regards Abel Seetaram

8

TIME TO TALK

THAT was the title of an open invitation that I had issued in 2012 to the Ramotar-led government, one year after the fateful November 28, 2011 elections, at which the PPP lost its majority in the National Assembly for the first time since 1992.

My intention at that time was for national dialogue, and probably for some form of shared governance. But after two uncertain years, the weakened PPP administration prorogued, then dissolved Parliament.

It plunged head on, but blindly, into premature elections, which it lost in 2015 to the newly minted, pro-democracy APNU+AFC Coalition parties.

DOUBLE WHAMMY The post-Jagan PPP suffered a double-whammy when it consecutively lost its parliamentary majority in 2011, and then its government authority in 2015.

This is the root of its hatred for me. But unless it learns from its past, to paraphrase the philosopher-poet George Santayana, it is condemned to repeat and relive it. The third whammy hovers.

I have returned to the title, “Time to Talk”, on the eve of the presentation by opposing lawyers of additional written submissions to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the likely consequential orders following judgment on the validity of the no-confidence motion against the Guyana Government.

The CCJ has said that it would make the consequential orders on July 12, that is, what should be done to give effect to the no confidence motion for fresh elections to be held, in principle, within a reasonable time.

The court has advised that in doing so, there would be need to combine principle with practicality, which seems to form the substratum for dialogue

SUNDAY CHRONICLE june 30, 2019

and consensus between the Government and the Opposition.

LANDMARK FORAY As an old political hand and as a lawyer watching from the outer edge of the Bar, I see this case before the Caribbean Court of Justice as its landmark foray into Commonwealth Caribbean constitutional jurisprudence, that seems to recognise the autohchthonous nature of what Professor Francis Alexis described as the “Changing Caribbean Constitutions”, and which Professors Rudy James and Harold Lutchman earlier outlined in “The Law and the Political Environment in Guyana”.

There can be no doubt that our courts have an inherent and unfettered jurisdiction to interpret our constitutions. In so doing, they have so far opted for the purposive approach, that would in effect blend

principle with practicality.

As I noticed in the June 18, 2019 judgment of His Honour, President Adrian Saunders, the preference in execution of constitutional functions or even executive discretions has shifted from exclusivity and unilateralism to inclusion and consensualism.

When applied to the appointment of the Chairman of the Elections Commission, His Lordship Adrian Saunders foresees a process of meaningful consultation that could result in the Leader of the Opposition giving a list of six names, none of whom is unacceptable to the President.

SENSIBLE APPROACH I was impressed with the mature manner in which the CCJ navigated this contentious matter, in the pronouncement of Justice Saunders:“We are of the view that the most sensible approach is that before a list is submitted, the Leader of the Opposition and the President must communicate with each other in good faith on, and perhaps even meet to discuss, eligible candidates for the position of Chairman. The aim of these discussions must be to agree on the names of six persons who fit the stated eligibility requirements and who are not unacceptable to the President.

“In this regard, the Constitution anticipates that the Leader of the Opposition and the President will conduct themselves in a reasonable and responsible manner, eschew partisanship and seek the best interest of the Republic and the Guyanese people.”

Towards this end much depends on the Leader of the Opposition to act in good faith. I do not expect him to repeat his three previous rituals of submitting lists that had provoked and invited unilateralism.

Unilateralism was never intended when the Carter Formula was contemplated for the 1992 elections.

All six names submitted by the Leader of the Opposition were acceptable, and President Hoyte selected the non-partisan,affable, quintessential public servant, Rudy Collins, whose name was recommended by me to Dr. Jagan. He delivered Guyana’s first post-independence, universally acceptable elections.

CONSEQUENTIAL ORDERS The CCJ has advised that it would make the consequential orders on July 12. In keeping with the guiding principles that I have read so far, I would expect that this distinguished court of last resort would make orders that are advisory and not coercive.

It would be guided by the unique constitutional arrangements, as well as the problematic electoral history and ethnic polarisation in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, which it fully understands.

A priori, the Guyanese President has accepted the resignation of the Chairman of the Elections Commission, whose appointed was voided by the court. His Excellency has written to the Leader of the Opposition, inviting him to meet, as was done previously, to dialogue on the way forward.

I believe that it is not inconceivable that an accepted list could be crafted within a reasonable time.

The next thorny issue would be the likely timeframe for new elections.

Here again, the CCJ would be expected to navigate in a practical way, the schedule for previous elections, and would not be constrained by any hypothetical deadline.

There should be an outer limit that gives proper room for sanitising of the voters’ list, for dissolution of Parliament, for Nomination Day and then, Polling Day. PRACTICAL TIME-FRAME Except for the 1992 polls where elections were

already delayed by some two years, the time frame between dissolution of parliament and election day is usually no sooner than eleven weeks – around 80 days.

For the 2015 elections President Ramotar dissolved parliament on February 28, set April 7 as Nomination Day, and May 11 as Polling Day. That was within the context of a proper voters list.

Given an early timeframe for completion of voter revision before the end of November, from a practicable stand-point, new clean and credible elections could not be expected until an outer limit of January-February, 2020.

At this time there is no voters list. The last list expired under law on April 30, 2019. At the November 28, 2011 elections there were 342,126 voters. By 2015 there were some 583,444 registered voters in a population of just above 750,000 citizens.

It is quite possible that that expired list was heavily padded with phantom names!

NEW REGISTRATION On the eve of the 2015 elections the then Chairman of the Elections Commission, Dr. Steve Surujbally outlined the factors that resulted in revision of the voters list.

These included (a) registration of persons coming of age; (b) deceased electors; (c) emigration of an unknown number of Guyanese who registered and subsequently emigrated; and (d) movement of citizens from remote rural to urban areas, and to new housing schemes across the country.

Dr. Surujbally concluded that ”notwithstanding the enormous costs associated with such an undertaking, it would be advisable to have another H-t-H (house to house) Registration exercise before the scheduled 2020 General and Regional Elections”.

This is enough reason why the time has come for talk. Serious talk.

9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

The ‘mother of all elections’ has to be the most transparent

THE 2019/2020 elections have been labelled the ‘mother of all elections’.

Understandably so, this is the first elections that will occur in the pre-oil period.

The party or parties who are given a chance to exercise custody over the Guyanese state apparatus will be afforded the opportunity to embark on unprecedented economic transformation. This may afford the victor of these elections enough political capital to lock the other side out of power for possibly three electoral cycles. It is for this reason, the term, ‘mother of all elections’ is succinctly applicable to the upcoming general and regional elections. This applicability leads to the logical continuum, these have got to be the most transparent and above board in the most supreme way. The anxiety created by the discovery of black gold means if an ant runs across a

ballot box, there will be a hue and cry. It is for this reason, it must be the most transparent.

Firstly, pursuant to the aforementioned, how critical is a clean, uncorrupted list to ensuring elections are transparent and completely above board? The list is the basis, the crux, the epicentre and the nucleus of credible elections. If a list is padded, it can import dubious electors to favour a specific political grouping. This can be done in a strategic way and it automatically discredits those elections. The ‘mother of all elections’ cannot have those clouds of electoral doubts hovering over this process.

Even worst, it does not augur well for the nation when one side is adamant and passionate about a disputable list; why the passion?

No President or party should feel proud about beginning a term in office with their legitimacy hanging in

the balance. This affects the confidence of a population in their rule and a loss of national confidence can trickle into every crevice of a society and have long term negative effects. Conversely, free and fair elections that are perceived to be of the highest standard and quality can be the perfect panacea for small societies; the mere perception of a clean voter list, an independent electoral body with independent leadership, augurs well for a nation. We should strive for this.

‘Winning or losing the election is less important than strengthening the country’. It is an opportune time to reflect on these sage words of Indira Gandhi. The ‘mother of all elections’ is pregnant with the possibility of plunging Guyana into its worst crisis if not carefully shepherded by the custodians of the state. There is unprecedented historical

and national responsibility on the shoulders of the head of state to make good on his duty to the people to ensure these elections are credible beyond review. In service of that noble and supreme interest, the constitutional provisions that stipulate the execution of elections must be followed to the letter.

Irrespective of the fact that there was a no-confidence motion and judgement that speaks to the appointment of a Gecom Chair, the seriousness of the ‘mother of all elections’ takes precedence. Therefore, it is the President who must make this call based on the advice of Gecom. Any other method that affects these elections will cast ambigu-

ity over these elections and based on what portends, this would be disastrous for Guyana.

Doubts about the legitimacy of elections can reverberate for decades and sow seeds of mistrust that may ensure a nation never recovers. Just think of such

a development in the context of Guyana being an oil and gas economy.

Just imagine first oil is met with this. All and sundry owe to the next generation to support every effort to ensure the ‘mother of elections’ is the most transparent.

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE JUNE 30, 2019

PPP flip-flops on house-to-house registration …Nagamootoo says exercise was key plank of party’s activism

FOR the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the sanitisation of the voters’ list through house-to-house registration was a key platform of interest in the past but, years later, under new management, the national exercise is being trodden in favour of “opportunism”.

This is the review of Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, who has a wealth of knowledge of the party, having joined it in the 1960s.

“The PPP was not a conventional political party,” Nagamootoo stated during an interview on ‘Straight Up’, a discussion being hosted

by Mark Benschop on his Radio Station, 107.1 FM on Monday.

“It was a strong party under Cheddi that had ethical principles, strong revolutionary convictions and a clear

vision as to where it wanted to take the country.”

Nagamootoo left the PPP in 2011 to be a part of the Alliance For Change (AFC), which now forms part of the coalition government which governs Guyana today.

On the radio programme, he told of the difference between the past PPP under the leadership of former President Cheddi Jagan and the governance of the party under now Opposition Leader and former President, Bharrat Jagdeo.

During the extensive interview, he also made the connection between the PPP’s former push for “fair” elections and how, under the current management, this has changed for the worse.

October 5, 1992 marked Guyana’s first free and fair elections which were moni-

tored by the US- based Carter Centre led by former US President, Jimmy Carter; it resulted in a victory for the PPP. Nagamootoo explained that going back into the 1960s, there was a call for the eligible voting age to be moved from 21 to 18.

While this was not heeded to over the years, eventually the platform to empower young people to lobby for the cause grew.

This was coupled with other concerns other than the list, such as overseas voting which raised additional questions about the validity of the then list coming out of the National Register.

CLEAN LIST By the 1992 elections, Nagamootoo stated that one of the key elements being

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

pushed for by the PPP was the cleaning up of the voter’s list.

“Even if it was only perceived or it was an allegation or a claim that there had been phantom voters on the list, dead people etcetera, then it was a valid call, irrespective from which quarter, the list had to be sanitised,” Nagamootoo began.

“We have that same situation re-occurring in Guyana right now and it is very shameful, rather shameful and pathetic that those who claim to have emerged out of Cheddi Jagan’s party are today resisting new voter registration; resisting the enlisting of young people to place them on the voters list.”

He stated that the importance of the full sanitisation of the voter’s list for fair elections have, in the past, always been “part and parcel” of the platform of the PPP. Today, PPP Opposition

Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, with new elections on the horizon, is lobbying his party supporters against the holding of house-to-house registration in favour of Claims and Objections period crammed within a three-month timeframe.

He does so based on the interpretation of the Constitution which states that following the successful passage of a no-confidence motion against the government, the government shall call elections within three-months.

However, beside this mandate of the Constitution is the provision for a “resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly” to extend the fixed period should challenges arise.

BLOATED On the other hand, the current government believes that several challenges exist in relation to the to the voters’ list, now expired, which many have observed is “bloated” with the dead and non-resident persons and void of thousands of unregistered youths.

While engagements between President David Granger and Jagdeo are soon expected, the opposition has already closed the door to compromise, denying the need for the national registration exercise for the sanitisation of the list.

“That was the platform on which the PPP got into the government: a clean voter’s list, a list that is cleansed.

Now you have a population of [just over 700,000] people and you have a voters’ list of with 600,000 people. How could that happen when you say the majority of the population are young people?” he questioned.

The last time house-tohouse registration was conducted in Guyana was in 2008, 11 years ago.

The conduct of the exercise was budgeted in 2018, prior to the no-confidence vote against the government and some $700M has already been spent towards preparation for a previously expected June 2019 start.

Nagamootoo stated that while the opposition leader seeks to convince his supporters that house-to-house registration is a delaying tactic, the exercise caters not only to coalition supporters, but also to all Guyanese.

Later questioned by the programme’s host, Mark Benschop, on what he believes could have caused the shift of the PPP to discredit the exercise, the prime minister said, “hypocrisy and opportunism”. “[The PPP] wants to capitalise on a bloated list in order to be re-elected to office,” Nagamootoo said, adding: “The non-Jaganite PPP would have seen an advantage in going into election with this discredited list, this padded list, this bogus list because it wants a list that will ensure that they have a majority.”

GTT says provided call log report of murdered female taxi driver to police THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company on Friday revealed that it has fully cooperated with the Guyana Police Force in its efforts to solve the murder of female taxi driver, Indira Bipat.

Bipat, who died as a result of strangulation, compounded by blunt trauma to the head on May 19, 2019, was said to be seen leaving her home after receiving a phone call. On Friday June 28, the Guyana Times published an article captioned

Turn to page 11

Dead: Indira Bipat

11

SUNDAY CHRONICLE JUNE 30, 2019

Dharmic Sabha tackles peer pressure, bullying in school having similar and more sessions around the country to tackle serious issues that confront youths.

The seminar hosted by the Dharmic Sabha was the first of series of awareness sessions in mental health and social issues targeting youth.

A section of the gathering at the Dharmic Kendra, Prashad Nagar on Saturday (Adrian Narine photo)

MORE than 260 students from private and public schools participated in a seminar on peer pressure, abuse and bullying hosted by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha on Saturday.

The students were drawn from Georgetown, East Bank and East Coast Demerara, East and West Berbice and Upper-Corentyne.

Among the schools which had a presence at the very informative session held at the Dharmic Kendra, Prashad Nagar

were Queen’s College, Bishops’ High School, St. Roses High School, Mae’s Secondary, Marian Academy, Tucville Secondary, Graham’s Hall Primary, Cummings Lodge Secondary, New Campbelville Secondary, School of the Nations, Rama Krishna Primary and Camille’s Academy.

The students were receptive to the insightful presentations delivered by Paediatrician, Dr. Rohan Jabour; Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Psychiatrist,

Dr. Davendrand Sharma; Life Coach, Social Worker and counselor Dr. Jo Ann Rowland.

Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud of the Dharmic Sabha piloted the sessions and was very happy with the responses from the students and the schools.

She thanked the Ministry of Education, headteachers and teachers of the various schools and the Praants of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha for responding positively to the activity.

She also committed to

GTT says provided call log...

“Police yet to locate missing car of murdered female taxi driver, GTT to provide information about the dead woman’s call log.”

However, in a release, Officer- in-Charge at GTT, Travis Piggott, explained that the company has been in full support of the GPF’s investigation in this matter.

“I am quite appalled at the information coming out of the ‘D’ Division, West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo. We received the request from the GPF on May 24 and we related the necessary information to them on the same day,” Piggott said.

“The force did not request additional information and I am quite distraught that it has brought GTT into such spotlight, stating that they are still awaiting information from the company.”

Piggot further expressed frustrations at the Guyana Times, since the entity did not reach out GTT to confirm the information stated by Commander of the Division, Edmond Cooper. “At this point we at GTT are demanding an apology from the Guyana Times Newspaper for publishing an article without the facts. As a media house, good journalistic ethics should be practiced among its media practitioners and in this case it was not. This has been the second encounter with the news entity and I hope the GPA is observing.”

The GTT Officer-in-Charge said the telephone company is committed and will continue to provide full support to the Guyana Police Force in future investigations.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that the

47-year-old Bipat was found dead at Lust-enRust, near ‘Diary’, not far from La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

The Toyota Axio motorcar with which she plied her trade and had purchased just six months prior to the incident was reportedly missing. Her son, Derrick Samaroo, had told this newspaper that his mother left home saying she was going out for about an hour or so, but never returned.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that while he could not say what may have led to her demise, he had the presence of mind to report her missing at the Vreed-enHoop and La Grange Police Stations after she did not return home after work.

Court condemns use of judges’ photos in social media posts THE Supreme Court of Judicature has condemned the use of judges’ photographs in social media posts after at least two of its officers were featured on a poster making the rounds on Facebook.

Captioned: “Confidence in Youth Leadership-Promised Delivered”, the posters featured the names and photographs of several young professionals working in government departments.

In its statement the Supreme Court of Judicature said it “is calling on members of the public to refrain from associating judges and judicial officers with any political party or activity.” “The judiciary reaffirms its independence and integrity and rejects any attempt to tarnish and discredit its reputation,” the statement added.

12

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

Lindeners tap apiculture sector

THIRTY Lindeners are now equipped with the knowledge to tap into apiculture, a non-traditional agriculture sector, following completion of an entrepreneurial and apiculture training programme.

The training, which came to an end on Friday, aimed to push agriculture in Linden in keeping with the vision of the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN).

Present at the closing ceremony of the training was Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for rural affairs, Valerie YearwoodPatterson.

She said the programme was a much-needed one for Linden and commended the participants who took the

Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for rural affairs, Valerie Yearwood-Patterson, hands over a beehive to a participant

challenge of venturing out into what she considers a “non-traditional sector.”

Patterson noted that the trained Lindeners now have a responsibility to use the knowledge gained for their success “and for the success of Region 10 and Guyana”.

She encouraged the participants to be diligent, self-motivated and to think big.

“Stick to the business at hand, be diligent in what you do, be self-motivated, don’t wait for somebody to come and spur you on, it’s your business and you must want to do it; be serious about what you do. Think about the big possibilities, not only in apiculture, but in agriculture as a whole. I

learnt of so many by-products that can come from honey, so don’t just think little that you are going to get the honey and sell it in the market. Think about all the possibilities and I want to urge you to think big. This is a time to begin to think big and the only way you could do that, you have to see yourself as somebody who can become big,” the minister said In addition, she charged the Lindeners to think outside the box.

“Don’t keep yourself in the little box. Think outside the box and if you do that, you are going to come out of the little box and see the possibilities on the outside.

You have to do networking.

Networking helps you to

In addition, LEN committed to assisting the participants with start-up loans to purchase other hives in order to kickstart their beekeeping businesses.

All participants also received certificates at the closing ceremony.

The six-day training programme targeted mainly farmers within Region 10. The participants were taught beekeeping, apiary planning principles and going into value-added production.

The programme consisted of both theory and practical exercises.

Participant, Elton Griffith, said the programme was very beneficial and is happy it was introduced to Linden.

Left to right: Participant, Elton Griffith receives a certificate from the Regional Executive Officer for Region 10, Orrin Gordon expand; it helps you to improve…. Think development, you must have a determination to succeed, be consistent in what you do, persistence will certainly bring great success,” Patterson posited.

Furthermore, Patterson committed to providing each of the 30 Lindeners with a beehive.

Five additional beehives were also donated to outstanding participants of the programme by the Regional Democratic Council, Region 10.

Sting-proof bee suits were also donated to 15 participants by the Church of Jesus Christ.

“I think that we can tap into the market. You don’t have to invest much into it but once you have the knowledge you can also share it by which we can create jobs for other people. From this, we could also do workshops and train more people.”

Griffith plans to open up his own apiary.

Also present at the event was Regional Executive Officer of Region Ten, Orrin Gordon, representatives of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, the Guyana Marketing Corporation and the Regional Democratic Council, Region 10.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

DNA machine can corroborate identities of Lindo Creek victims

By Rabindra Rooplall THE recently-commissioned Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing equipment can assist in bringing closure to the families of the eight miners who lost their lives in the Lindo Creek Massacre on June 2008.

“We can help them, proving that the evidence that was found at the scene is of the victims, if not, then it’s an open case, because as it is, there were bodies burnt to ashes and we cannot specifically say if that family member was indeed there at that point and time when that crime occurred,” Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Delon France said at the recent commission-

Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Delon France, and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan ing of the equipment.

France explained that it can clear the air on if the bodies were at the scene, where they were burnt or if it they were thrown somewhere else.

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan said the DNA testing can prove whether the burnt bodies were indeed the persons who were killed.

“We are certainly going to be in a better position having the DNA equipment in this lab now to move forward with that. As to what will be the conclusion as to whether a death certificate will be issued, I really cannot say,” the minister said.

Ramjattan said that government will engage the families of the victims.

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry was established on February 1, 2018, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killings of Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Horace Drakes, Bonny Harry, Lancelot Lee, Compton Speirs, Nigel Torres and Clifton Berry Wong, on or about June 21, 2008.

The men’s burnt bodies were discovered at Lindo Creek, by mining camp owner Leonard Arokium, on the morning of June 21.

He had told officials that information he received from eyewitnesses showed that it was the Joint Services that was responsible for the death of his son, brother and six other miners in his employ.

The completed report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the June 2008 Lindo Creek Massacre recommends, among other things, that compensation be given to the families of the eight murdered miners.

13

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

Specialised health services reach Orealla, Siparuta … more than 200 residents access services

RESIDENTS of Orealla and Siparuta took advantage of a health initiative that saw a wide array of specialised health services being brought to them.

The outreach was a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health’s Regional Health Services department and the Region Six health department.

Services included Voluntary Counselling and Testing

the costs attached to VIA or Ultrasound screening among other services at private institutions would often deter them from having it done.

Through the outreach, they were informed that these services are available free of cost at public health facilities along the coast.

Residents also noted that while health outreaches are hosted quarterly in the community of Orealla, a special-

A resident accessing the service at the outreach for HIV, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid screening, Ultrasound Screening, Dental services, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Chronic Diseases clinic and basic testing of blood pressure and blood sugar. Some of the specialists on the team were from the Cuban Medical Brigade in Guyana.

The decision was taken to hold the exercise after it was observed that residents often travelled to the Corentyne Coast to access these services. The residents welcomed the initiative as some remarked that

ised team of this nature was not a common occurrence.

As such, this outreach was beneficial to many residents as it saved them time and money. Sharmin Smith, a schoolteacher, shared that she wanted to have an Ultrasound done. She believed the service coming to the village was a godsend. “I think it’s beneficial because people don’t have money to pay for these things out on the coast, so it should be done regularly.”

Clement Henry, another Orealla resident, also said, “right now for about a week now, I was ill with a terrible cold, and I was having pain in my body and my joints and I was just deciding to catch a boat to go to Corriverton to see a doctor and that would have cost me about 20 to $25,000.” However, with the outreach arriving in his community, he was able to have his checkup without any costs attached. Orealla is a riverine Indigenous village

located just over 50 miles off the Corentyne coast with a population of approximately 1,200 persons; while the nearby village, Siparuta, has 450 residents. While the health needs of the two communities vary, the Siparuta residents also requested the specialised health services.

Therefore, after wrapping up the exercise in Orealla, the team travelled to Siparuata the next day.

Councillor of Siparuta, Brenda Herman, was happy that the doctors took the time to come to her village. “I really appreciate this outreach because lots of persons who are sick are unable to go to Orealla because it’s difficult.

Sometimes we don’t have a boat, so we have to carry the patients who are unable to walk. We are really happy the doctors came and anytime return to Orealla, visit Siparuta as well.”

Director of the Ministry of Public Health’s Regional and Clinical Service, Dr. Kay Shako, noted that the ministry’s vision is for Guyanese to be among the healthiest in the Caribbean. Outreaches like this set out to capture those lagging with poor health statuses and ensure they are properly diagnosed and treated as necessary.

“Our mandate, at the level of regional health services, is to ensure that there is appropriate and adequate health care across all ten regions… It can be challenging at times, that is why the Ministry of Public Health would have deliberated and said that in order for us to meet our goals, then we have hold outreaches, especially in those areas that are remote.”

In January, two similar teams were deployed to Waipa and Karisparu in Region 8.

Specialists are scheduled to be a part of outreach teams to Kamarang, Lima Sands and other farflung communities shortly.

(DPI)

Residents waiting to be treated at the outreach

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

Centre for diabetes education opened in Pearl

The new centre which was commissioned at Pearl (Vishani Ragobeer photo) THE Dr. Moreen Bishop-Joseph and Kenrick Clensford Bishop Centre for innovative nutrition, diabetes education and health and wellness was commissioned at Lot 90 Pearl, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Saturday.

At the launch of the centre, CEO of the facility, Dr. Bishop-Joseph, said her team is committed to creating a health-conscious environment by building health awareness infrastructure through nutrition education.

According to the doctor, diabetes has become a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Diabetes is a threat to the health and well-being of citizens in Guyana and has placed enormous burden on the public healthcare system.

“One of the biggest challenges for the increase in diabetes is unhealthy lifestyle which includes poor diets, sedentary habits, smoking and increased alcohol intake,” said Dr. Bishop-Joseph.

In that regard, the centre, which is dedicated to Kenrick (Uncle Ken), aims to promote healthy lifestyles through innovative education programmes, research and teaching initiatives, and community outreach projects.

Dr. Bishop-Joseph believes that those initiatives will lead to the reduction and if possible, elimination of diabetes locally.

Based on nutrition and diabetes education, health awareness and exercise strategies, the centre is designed to promote prevention and

to promote nutrition education and healthy lifestyle habits.

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, who was present at the launch of the centre, congratulated Dr. Bishop-Joseph for taking a step to open the centre.

She said Diabetes remains a concern for the country but, with interventions like Dr. Bishop-Joseph’s, Minister Lawrence believes that the disease can be tackled.

CEO of the centre, Dr. Moreen Bishop-Joseph (Vishani Ragobeer photo) intervention programmes through innovative collaborations and partnerships throughout Guyana and beyond.

The goal of the centre is to form national and international partnerships and collaborations with academic institutions, government agencies, food and beverage industries, faith-based and healthcare organisations.

Those partnerships will be created in order to produce measureable outcomes in reducing critical health issues in Guyana.

The centre will also promote the translation of research findings into prevention and intervention health and nutrition education outreach programmes; lend data and knowledge on successful practices to similar global communities; and use television, social media and radio

15

16

GSDS key to Guyana’s sustainable development SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

…former CI head says country can tap oil finds and still pursue green agenda

By Vishani Ragobeer As Guyana seeks to push the frontiers of its development, particularly amidst substantial proven oil finds offshore, the government’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS): Vision 2040 is critical to the execution of the mandate of sustainable development.

This was the view articulated by Former Executive Director of Conservation International Guy-

ana, Dr. David Singh, who spoke with the Guyana Chronicle recently. “The GSDS is government's means by which it frames the discussion around how do you develop an economy with a future,” Dr. Singh explained. “One of the things it's built on, is that it seeks to provide a mechanism by which Guyana's new found oil wealth will be used towards what is essentially a sustainable development agenda for the country.”

He noted that the GSDS follows the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which was launched in June 2009 and outlined Guyana's path to a low carbon economy. The LCDS, he said, developed a strong macroeconomic base and a suite of investments to enable the country to engage on the climate agenda. “What the GSDS has done is it has taken that agenda forward and really has sought to establish a na-

tional strategy on a future inclusive green economy,” Singh said. An inclusive green economy, according to the conservationist, is one which advances economic development in a way that harnesses resources in a sustainable manner, while simultaneously advancing social equity and managing environmental scarcities and ecological risks.

And importantly, he said that the GSDS when taken into context with the previous LCDS represents Guyana's commitment to addressing climate change while recognising the country;s abundant natural resources.

However, what the GSDS also details is an “ambitious” model of how Guyana can align its ‘green’, sustainable economy with its ‘brown economy’, according to Dr. Singh. With a brown economy, economic growth is largely dependent on the use of non-renewable resources like fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. And Guyana is readying itself to become an oil and gas producing nation in a few months.

OUTLIER Dr. Singh however shared his belief that Guyana can tap into its oil and gas resources, currently estimated at approximately 5.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels on the Stabroek Block, and still develop its sustainable agenda.

In fact, he said that Guyana can distinguish itself from any other country in the world, in this regard. “When you look at our forest ecosystems, and put that on a per capita basis… and on the other hand you look at the projected oil revenues for the proven oil finds per capita, and you put those two and compare that to any other country in the world, we (Guyana) are an outlier,”

Dr. Singh highlighted.

“There is no one else that's close to us.”

In simple terms, an outlier represents a figure that falls, sometimes drastically, outside the normal range. In this context, Guyana has both massive oil revenues and already has its abundant natural resources that can really distinguish the country.

Dr. Singh further says that Guyana, being an outlier and choosing to pursue this sustainable development path, means that the country can make a “massive difference” in the way in which the world develops tools to address climate change.

“In one fell swoop, Guyana can demonstrate how in fact you address climate and inequality though the implementation of the GSDS, and the development of a mechanism by which you find an intersection by which the brown economy of the oil and gas intersects with the green economy,” the former CI Boss said. “We are set right there, we can make this happen.”

However, he warned too the GSDS is also “extremely ambitious” and as such, the strategy should be carefully implemented and monitored. It also calls for some maturity in management, according to him, where it builds upon successes. And he related that one success that the GSDS can build on, at this point in time, is that of the forest sector.

The forest sector, encompasses the forestry sector- which is traditionally viewed as timber harvesting- and forest ecosystems, including all the goods and services derived from that, in its entirety.

“I am absolutely, totally and firmly convinced that the forest sector sits smack at the intersection between the brown economy and the green economy,” he said,

noting that this sector already possesses the institutional capacity, adequate monitoring systems and support from stakeholders.

‘IMPORTANT STEP’ Specifically in the context of the expected oil revenues, Dr. Singh hailed the GSDS as “an incredibly important step” to guide the management of those resources.

“When you look at natural resource governance across the world, one of the things that is absolutely important in the decision chain for the management of revenues like oil and gas, it is very important that there is a national plan or a nation strategy,” Dr. Singh said.

This plan details how the revenues accrued from the extractive sector is actually spent, and in what manner. In Guyana’s case, the GSDS articulates that the oil revenues will be used to fund the sustainable pathway. The objective of the ‘Green’ strategy is to reorient and diversify Guyana’s economy, reducing reliance on traditional sectors and opening up new sustainable income and investment opportunities in higher value adding and higher growth sectors. It is aimed at building greater economic resilience by diversifying production and reducing Guyana’s dependence on fossil fuels by generating renewable energy. What oftentimes happens, according to Dr. Singh, is that countries which find themselves in possession of large amounts of revenuesparticularly accrued in a short time- tend to become “distracted”.

And the man said that this is one of the reasons be believes having a plan like the GSDS in place is important. It ensured that country does not stray from its intentions to be a sustainable, green economy.

17

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

$126M roadworks from White Hill to Issano 90% completed

ISSANO road is located some 75 miles from the Bartica-Potaro road, it extends approximately 52 miles to the Issano Landing in Region Seven. Currently, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is working around the clock to rehabilitate the Issano road which runs between White Hill and Issano Landing.

Residents living along Issano Road at Mile 14 are already benefitting from phase one of the roadworks, which included the rehabilitation and construction of the Issano Road up to White Hill. Rushell Allicock, who runs a beverage store, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that, “during the dry season, travel time is really fast... you just pass through easy.” Located a few houses down the upgraded road is Shafi Ali who transports fuel to the hinterland region. He recalled the deplorable state of the road before the transformative works. “It was in a terrible condition, man. The white sand alone on the hills made it hard to travel. The hills steep and you would slide back,” Ali said. With respect to the completed works in Mile 14, he stated, “it is in better condition. They grade down the

quila Glyne, explained that the road was in a deplorable state for some 16 years. “It was very bad, but now it is better than before.”

Glyne noted that one of the major gains of the upgraded roadway is the hours of reduced travel time. These residents are merely a subset of those who welcome the works to complete the entire length of Issano Road.

With phase one finished, work on phase two is 90 per cent complete. Hinterland Engineer within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jeffrey Walcott, mentioned that the remaining works from White Hill to Issano Landing include minor base prep and placement of laterite as the finishing touch.

Hinterland Engineer within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jeffrey Walcott hills. They have made greater turnoffs so you can see the vehicles approach.” Ali also said that night travel is much safer since there is a wider view to see headlights of oncoming vehicles.

Additionally, grocery store owner, Se-

Laterite is hard when dry and is a favoured alternative to many other types of soil in hinterland regions due to its resilience. At present, the rainy season presents a considerable challenge to the completion of the road, but the Public Infrastructure Ministry is committed to ensuring the success of the project.

MMC Incorporated has been contracted to execute the works for phase two of the Issano Road from White Hill to Issano Landing.

The cost of the hinterland project totals $126M. Once finished, the road will provide improved access to residents, miners and loggers between Regions Seven and Eight. (DPI)

18

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

HP offering service to oil, gas sector –– adds STARR Computer to platinum awardees

By Rabindra Rooplall

HEWLETT-PACKARD (HP) officials say that the company will be offering its services to the local oil, gas sector on a recent visit to tech company, STARR Computer.

The officials, HP Territory Manager, Gustavo Gurdian and HP trainer, Liz Angela Romero, presented

the HP Platinum Plaque award to STARR Computer’s President, Mike Mohan, for supporting the brand for the past 25 years.

Gurdian said of all the English-speaking countries in the Region, only 11 have received the prestigious award and Guyana is now on that list.

“I would like to present Mike with the HP Platinum

Plaque for the fiscal year 2019. It is an honour that is very difficult to achieve as it’s based on partnership, sales, and how they help us move our product within the country. The second announcement I want to make is that Starr Computer has completed their courses and has become an authorised service provider for HP products,” Gurdian said

during the presentation of the award.

He said the workstations of American multinational information technology company are among the most robust in the world and trusted by many in the oil and gas industry.

“Together with our partners, we will build on our progress and find innovative ways to turn the challenges

From right: HP Territory Manager, Gustavo Gurdian, presents the HP Platinum Plaque to STARR Computer President, Mike Mohan, and General Manager, Rehman Majeed, for the company’s outstanding performance of today into the opportunities of tomorrow,” the HP manager noted.

He explained that HP’s progress requires the company to rethink every aspect of its business to find new ways to make life better for everyone, everywhere.

HP makes durable, premium products using recycled plastic as part of their efforts to transform businesses to drive a more efficient, circular and low-carbon economy.

HP trainer, Liz Angela Romero, noted that the company is now designing all of its products around security and collaboration to stay competitive.

MAJOR COMPONENT “In the middle of all these things, security is one of the major components, basically because it’s something that concerns all of us. Some of us would think that it’s just an IT problem that somebody else has to fix,” Romero said.

She went on to say that oil and gas needs devices with very proactive performances to know where what is, at any given time, and to be able to generate data to ensure that the investment was a wise one.

“The workstations are computers that are part of a

special line of products that could process hundreds of gigabytes of data in a short period of time and they have an impenetrable security system, which are perfect for the job. The computer also has a very modern, up-to-date system when it comes to graphic designing and they could also handle seismic data, which Guyana would be using very soon in the industry,” Romero said.

She said HP will continue to partner with Starr Computer as the company currently has a number of new products in the making and are placing heavy focus on introducing technology to Guyana.

STARR Computer President, Mike Mohan, said HP is one of six international vendors that visited the company to share their products and services to Guyana’s consumers.

Mohan noted that HP’s proactive leadership makes it trusted brand.

This year, he said HP was once again among the Corporate Knights’ Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the world ranking.

For the fifth consecutive year, HP was recognised as a pioneer, acting on climate change and building future economies that work for both people and the planet.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JUNE 30, 2019

19

Department of Public Information 20

INFOHUB SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JUNE 30,RECAP 2019

Housing units for Broad and Lombard Street residents May 24th to May 30thv

51 public servants recognised for commitment to duty

Fresh calls for house-to-house registration made

About twenty families will soon own their own homes after the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has partnered with Food for the Poor (Guyana) Incorporated (FFTP) to fund the construction of the houses. The families are among those who are being relocated from the Broad and Lombard Street Squatting area. In July 2017, a court order was issued in favour of the De Freitas and Gonsalves company ordering more than 140 persons to vacate the Lot 17-18 Broad and Lombard Street property. Just about two years later, a Memorandum of Understanding (MIU) was been signed between CH&PA and the FFTP to relocate the residents. Phase one of this MOU will see an initial 20 families being housed in Prospect on the East Bank of Demerara by November 2019. Phase two will see homes for the remaining 50 families constructed in Cumming’s Lodge.

Guyana-India reaffirm strong bilateral ties Fifty-one public servants, representing various ministries, departments and agencies were recognised for their years of service to the government and country. For their dedicated efforts, the government hosted an awards ceremony at the Baridi Benb, State House. During her remarks, Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley expressed appreciation for the commitment shown by the public servants over the years. The Public Service Minister particularly acknowledged the employees who had reached the age of retirement but continued to dedicate their time and efforts to the nation. She appealed to them to use their knowledge a teachable tool to guide the younger public servants. The list of awardees comprised of employees who gave their time and efforts to the development of Guyana - with some stalwarts serving for almost five decades.

42 youths get a second chance at CSEC Forty-two youths were informed that they will have the opportunity to re-write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC) in September. This was made possible through a collaboration between the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), attached to the Department of Labour and the Ministry of Education. The announcement was made during a forum entitled ‘Horizon to a brighter future’ hosted at the Sophia Night School. Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott noted that the initiative will ensure school dropouts are also given a second chance.

“We need house-to-house registration in order to have credible elections” This was the call made

by Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams who joined a protest outside the offices of the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) at Lamaha and Main Streets, Georgetown. The State Minister along with ministers, members of parliament, representatives of the coalition government, councillors, young professionals, students and even senior citizens exercised their freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. “We have to ensure that we do not disenfranchise anyone,” Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, stated, sharing similar sentiments. Also lending her support was newly elected Chairperson of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Women’s Arm, Tamara Khan. “There are over ten thousand people who will not be able to vote in the upcoming elections if we do not have house-to-house registration,” Khan emphatically stated.

GECOM Chair demits office President David Granger, met former Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, who has since demitted office. President Granger thanked Justice Patterson for his service over the past 20 months. The former GECOM Chair resigned on Monday June 24, 2019 thereby rendering that post vacant. The decision by the former GECOM Chair to demit office is in keeping with the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that his appointment was “flawed” and thereby unconstitutional.

The Guyana-India relations are based on the democratic values and common interests as well as the economic and cultural aspirations of the two states and peoples. This is according to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who was speaking at a reception held at the Pegasus Hotel Guyana in commemoration of 50th years of diplomatic relations between Guyana and India. The Prime Minister explained that both countries continue to hold in high regard, respect for international law and treaties, the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, and together embrace the search for alternative energy to mitigate the growing effects of climate change. Prime Minister Nagamootoo highlighted that the number of visits by officials during the last five years to India has borne fruit which resulted in Guyana’s support for India’s candidates to serve on high-level international fora.

CCJ sets July 12 for decision on consequential orders The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has set July 12, 2019 as the date when it would make a decision on the consequential orders regarding its recent ruling on last December’s no confidence motion and accompanying legal processes. CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders, in making the pronouncement, urged both parties involved in the case, mainly the President and the Leader of the Opposition, to meet in order to find common ground for a way forward. The timeline given by the regional court was based on request from Attorney General, Basil Williams and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) attorney in the matter, Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus. AG Williams told the Court that President David Granger is prepared to set a date for General and Regional Elections once he is duly advised by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

President invites Opposition Leader to meet following CCJ ruling President David Granger has invited Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to meet with him to “discuss the current political situation in Guyana resulting from the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice made on Tuesday, June 18.” The two are expected to meet at the Ministry of the Presidency. They will also discuss, “the consequential order that will be made on Monday, June 24, 2019.” In a letter dated Thursday, June 20, Director General, Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon made the correspondent on behalf of the President. On Tuesday, June 18, the Caribbean Court of Justice ruled that the December 21, 2018 vote was validly passed.

Guyana ready for DNA testing

Guyana’s security sector is now equipped to conduct human identification using DNA analysis, following the commissioning of a DNA identification equipment at the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL). Through support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the GFSL can now offer to test in DNA direct comparison or matching evidence to criminal suspects, paternity and family mapping. Testing samples include semen, vaginal, hair with root, blood and touch DNA. The equipment can run eight samples at once in less than two hours, allowing for a fast turnaround and improved investigation rate and closure in matters requiring DNA analysis. Another equipment, the Scanning Electron Microscope, also called Phenom XL or Phenom GSR, was introduced to Guyana for the first time. This will be used for gunshot residue testing. Together, the two-equipment cost $97M.

$10M health centre commissioned in Leonora The Regional Administration of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara commissioned a new Health Centre building which was constructed earlier in the year at a cost of $10Million much to the satisfaction of the staff and patients. Regional Executive Officer Jennifer Ferreira-Dougall noted that the project was birthed through consultation and communication which are effective tools that promote good governance. The building is equipped with four rooms inclusive of a private room for examination and is more spacious than the former building.

INFOHUB RECAP

Department of Public Information

21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JUNE 30, 2019

161 Million MMU annex commissioned

The new multimillion-dollar annex of the Materials Management Unit (MMU) was commissioned

by Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence.

The $161 Million extension to the Diamond warehouse was funded by the Government of Guyana, and according to Minister Lawrence, is “a robust confirmation of the government’s commitment to providing access to safe, effective and quality essential medicines”. The additional floor area of 428.5 square metres will provide 284 more pallet locations for bulk storage of pharmaceuticals and health products. The new extension also comes with a new mini-lab that will support level one inspections of pharmaceuticals received at the MMU.

GSA students engaged at Agriculture Entrepreneurship seminar

“Plan your future in agriculture and achieve what life has to offer… think about becoming your own boss whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others by creating employment opportunities.”

This was the charge delivered by Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood to the students of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) during a one-day entrepreneurial seminar.

The forum was hosted by non-governmental organization, Move on Guyana Incorporated. Several agencies engaged the students at the seminar aimed to stimulate innovation while providing them with the necessary information such as procedures for small business start-ups and various agriculture business opportunities. Minister Adams-Yearwood pointed out the profitability of the agriculture sector and encouraged the students to consider the prospect of self-employment and to become small business owners.

GDF welcomes 50+ ranks

Fifty-two (52) newly commissioned officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were, presented with their Instruments of Commission by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President David Granger at a ceremony held at the Baridi Benab, State House, Georgetown. The second lieutenants recited their oaths before the president, Chief-of-staff, Brigadier Patrick West and other senior officers. The ranks graduated with an Associate’s Degree in General Studies from the University of Guyana. The Head of State reminded the ranks that their commissions are not just certificates to indicate the successful completion of a training course; they constitute the lawful license for them to exercise leadership and stewardship as officers of the Guyana Defence Force.

New surgical technique piloted in Guyana Four specialised surgeons attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporations’s (GPHC) Department of Surgery have been trained to perform thyroidectomy procedure. Their training was part of a one-day workshop hosted by the Caribbean College of Surgeons (CCOS), a day before the start of their 17th Annual scientific conference which ran from June 20 to 22 in Guyana. As a result of this pilot, four surgeries were performed.

A team of visiting surgeons did the first operation while the local team conducted the other three procedures under the supervision of the visiting team of surgeons.

‘Coalition is on a good footing’ - PM Nagamootoo “What is important is to carry the baton of struggle; all of us have to put our shoulders to the wheel to ensure that the Coalition wins the next election with a larger majority.” This statement was made

by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, during his appearance on the programme Straight Up with Mark Benschop on Radio 107.1FM. According to the Prime Minister, the proper governance of the country is of utmost importance.

He explained that the Coalition government is on ‘good footing’ since it has a credible record of achievement over the past four years. “Having worked under five presidents now and being in politics for 58 years, I would say this is the best government we have had for a first term,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo remarked.

Financial transparency, hallmark of Coalition Govt – Min. Jordan.

Financial Transparency has been a trademark of the APNU+AFC Coalition government. “In some cases, no law required us to do that, but we did, and we laid it in the National Assembly every year.” Minister Winston Jordan. The Finance Minister was responding to the recently released IMF report which, aside from giving Guyana a more than just positive review – projecting a 4.4 percent growth in Guyana’s economy ahead of oil production in 2020, also praised the government’s planning, management and transparency.

Of this, Minister Jordan said the Ministry of Finance has ensured that financial reports and records were available and accessible to the public.

Since coming into office in 2015, the Ministry has produced its fiscal package ahead of the beginning of the financial year, a decision, Minister Jordan said he is proud of. The Finance Minister said with time, much more positive changes will be made to his department regarding access to financial records. He believes this is necessary and in keeping with good governance.

First Lady commissions ExxonMobil’s first FPSO for Guyana

First Lady, Sandra Granger commissioned the ‘Liza Destiny’, the first in a series of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels for ExxonMobil Guyana at the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore. The vessel will depart Singapore in July and is expected to arrive in Guyana in September to prepare for the commencement of oil production for the Liza Phase 1 project in the Stabroek Block by the first quarter of 2020. In her remarks at the commissioning and naming ceremony, the First Lady said that the vessel has been aptly named as it represents what Guyana can become in the years ahead with the expected revenues and its impacts on the country. Mrs. Granger noted that the vessel in itself will encompass the destinies of the country and all its stakeholders.

The vessel can produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day and has a storage capacity of 1.6 million barrels. Phase 2 of the Liza development is expected to start-up in mid-2022 and will develop approximately 600 million barrels of oil through the ‘Liza Unity’, the second FPSO in the series.

Watooka House gets $50M Upgrade Watooka House has been upgraded at a cost of $50M. The colonial-style complex boasts a guest house, a newly refurbished swimming pool, pedicured lawns, a basketball court, a tennis court and a new deck overseeing the Demerara River.

Also included in the upgrades was an overhaul of the establishments’ suites and kitchen, extension of the restaurant and the installation of a wireless internet access system and the acquisition of several modern amenities. In attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand reopening were Minster of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Annette Ferguson, Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood and Linden Mayor, Waneka Arrindell.

Harmony Village moves to Region 6

Hundreds of patrons flocked the Harmony Village which was held at the Scottsburg Community Ground in East Berbice. This was the third such event to be hosted by the Department of Social Cohesion and the first to be held outside of Region 4. Cultural dances, songs and poems, were among some of the captivating performances that entertained those gathered for the opening ceremony of the much-anticipated occasion. The event also featured 60 booths from both the public and private sectors. In his address to officially open the Village, Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George said the event is a clear indication that Guyanese can work together to foster national cohesion.

DEPARTMENT OF

PUBLIC INFORMATION

22

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

Linden River Front Festival opens

By Vanessa Braithwaite

THE Government of Guyana remains committed to the development of river fronts in the various administrative regions as it forms part of plans to transform the country into a ‘green state’ within 30 years.

This was the message brought to the people of Linden, at the official opening of the 2019 River Front Festival,

by Director General within the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon.

For this to see fruition;

however, the entire culture and mentality of all Guyanese have to change and reflect that of a people who respect, honour and embrace the beauty and cleanliness of the environment, Harmon said.

"We are going to be transformed into a ‘green state’ and a ‘green economy’. What that means is that our behaviour and our attitude towards our environment have to change in keeping with that strategy; and so our attitude to rivers, our attitude to creeks, our attitude to the trees, our attitude to our environment, the air we

breathe, has to undergo significant changes," he said.

In this regard, Harmon commended the initiative of the river front festival, which serves to celebrate and raise awareness on the importance of the waterfront to the lives of every Lindener. One significant issue now affecting the river is pollution by a host of items, including plastic. To curb this challenge, Harmon said the government is mulling the ban on single-use plastics by 2021.

"That is something we are embracing and that by 2021, we are going to ban single-use

Director General, Joseph Harmon delivering the feature address

plastics in Guyana and this of course will benefit tremendously, our rivers and waterways," he revealed.

Interventions as these, he said, require a series of legislative interventions and more importantly, enforcement of those legislations. Government has made some strides with regard to the environmental protection act and will continue to push for a clean, ‘green’ Guyana.

SUPPORT The government, he said, will continue to support river front development and festivals or any activity that serve to campaign for the preservation of Guyana's rivers. Since 2015, there has been massive transformation of river fronts, notably in Bartica, Supernaam and New Amsterdam.

While the government will play its role, Guyanese have to meet them half way and change their mentality on how they view the river and waterways. They are not just means of transportation but are an important feature in the beauty and aesthetics of the environment. This, the director general said, must not be taken for granted.

Samuel Wright, the brainchild behind the Linden River Front Festival, spoke extensively on the preservation of the Demerara River which divides Linden in two, by not only focusing on the river itself, but on every single water body such as valleys, springs and creeks that drain into the river.

Indiscriminate activities that take place in these various water bodies will no doubt, affect the river, he said.

"In order for us to protect the river, we have to understand it and something we have been doing is destroying the swamps," he explained, adding: "The river front is the cradle of Linden... we must stop blocking that passage."

Wright explained that the festival is to bring people together to the river in a conscious way by allowing them to do what they do in and around the river, but with more excitement and vibes such as fishing, swimming and water sports.

Also advocating for the river front to be developed and embraced were mayors of Linden, Waneka Arrindell; Bartica, Gifford Marshall, and Deputy Mayor of New Amsterdam, Wainwright McIntosh.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING Marshall posited that there is development in this regard not only on the coast but in the hinterland region and while Bartica benefitted from this tremendously, he is willing to share best practises to ensure that every town is transformed as Bartica's waterfront was.

"We all have a responsibility to transfer this town of yours; we ought to do what it takes to preserve this beauty," he said. Mayor Arrindell spoke on the importance of the river and its rich heritage and urged Lindeners to embrace it.

McIntosh said that New Amsterdam will emulate the initiative of a river front festival and the call to preserve and develop the river.

In addition to these positive messages and encouragements, the opening ceremony also included cultural performances.

It was followed by a boxing competition and a live band. On Saturday, the Linden River Front Festival continued with a market day, fishing competition, cycle parade, kids festival, street football and club night and bar hopping. The event will culminate on Monday with a grand regatta. This is the fifth edition of the Linden River Front Festival.

A section of the audience at the Linden River Front Festival opening ceremony. In the front row, from left: Founder of Linden River Front Festival, Samuel Wright; Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell; DG Joseph Harmon; Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira and Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall

The Mount Caramel Senior Women Dance Group performing a cultural dance

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

PSC urges political leaders to meet consensus on CCJ rulings -encourages parties to maintain stability AS the Government and the opposition prepare to make their submissions to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has urged both parties to reach a consensus on the matters.

The CCJ had ruled that the no-confidence motion against the government was validly passed and that the appointment of the chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was flawed.

The CCJ, having upheld the no-confidence vote against government and simultaneously quashing the appointment of Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson as GECOM chair, will make a number of consequential orders on July 12, 2019.

This has given the parties in the two cases an opportunity to meet and hammer out a consensus before the court gives those orders. All parties in the matter have been asked to make submissions to the CCJ on or before July 1, 2019. Against this backdrop, the private sector remains cautiously optimistic that the political directorate will come to some compromise.

Chairman of the PSC, Desmond Sears, said the people of Guyana and investors are hopeful that political stability

will be maintained.

“However, until such time the business climate, with the exception of oil and gas, which remain largely unaffected by political circumstances, other businesses are closely monitoring the situation as business activities are noticeably dwindling,” said Sears in his remarks at the PSC’s Annual General Meeting at the Marriott Hotel on Friday.

He said political instability would affect growth and can dampen investor confidence and private investment. “It is of paramount importance that the situation of political instability or crisis be averted at all cost,” said Sears, adding that if there is political instability, private investment would become slumped and stagnated.

In that regard, the PSC chairman urged political leaders to resolve those issues in a swift manner, which is in the best interest of Guyana. CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders had also urged both parties involved in the case, mainly the President and the Leader of the Opposition, to meet in order to find common ground for a way forward.

Chairman of the PSC, Desmond Sears

23

24

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JUNE 30, 2019

25

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

Guyana hosted 36,000 Venezuelan migrants ALTHOUGH the figures may have since risen, as of February this year, Guyana hosted approximately 36,400 Venezuelan migrants.

At the same time, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reported that a survey of 1100 Venezuelan migrants in Guyana indicates that 17 per cent of that population, which is school-aged, is attending school here.

Although USAID did not differentiate how many persons have stayed permanently and how many came as a means of moving onto another country, the figures are likely to be higher since boatloads of Venezuelans have been coming here this year.

USAID posted on its website its second fact sheet for the year regarding Washington’s response to the issue and the data illustrated the broad efforts of the agency to the blooming migration issue; the agency reported

that regional nations continue to adapt to the influx of Venezuelan migrants.

According to USAID, this country’s public healthcare system has been “strained” by the influx of the migrants and this report was attributed to United States Department of State officials who travelled to the western border region of Guyana in late March this year.

With US$550,000 in funding this year, the US will support UN partners in Guyana through activities providing multi-sector assistance to vulnerable Venezuelans, including activities to combat gender-based violence, the report said.

Guyana has been making moves to accommodate the children of re-migrants into the school system here.

Over the past several weeks, an advertisement was published on multiple occasions in the Guyana Chronicle in which the Ministry of Education has made note of an examination which will be

Gerry Gouveia new PSC Chairman -says PSC will pay more attention to budding oil and gas sector

CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Roraima group, Captain Gerry Gouveia, has been elected to serve as Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

Gouveia, who served in the capacity before, replaced Desmond Sears, after being elected at the PSC’s 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Marriott Hotel on Friday.

Among the persons who were elected to serve on the PSC executive body are Komal Singh, who will serve as Vice-Chairman, Ramesh Dookhoo as Secretary and Ramesh Persaud as Treasurer.

“There is an executive management committee in place and we will be meeting on Monday to draw out the new work programme and strategy,” said Gouveia in an invited comment.

He anticipated that there will be some sort of continuity in the work of the PSC, since Sears had done a good job.

According to Gouveia, there will be no broad-based difference in the work of the PSC but they intend on paying more attention to the oil and gas industry and making energy affordable. Outgoing Chairman of the PSC, Desmond Sears, had said the PSC intends on continuing its effort to improve the business climate in Guyana. In 2018, the PSC met with President David Granger and expressed its commitment to working closely with the

New Chairman of the PSC, Gerry Gouveia

government.

At the meeting, some of the key matters which were discussed included the participation of the PSC in the development of the ‘Green State Development Strategy’ and the inclusion of the committee members on government boards and bodies across the country.

The PSC, which was established in 1992, is primarily an advocacy body which upholds the interests of not only its members but the entire business community as well as consumers and the nation. In fulfilling its mandate, the commission liaises with government and government agencies as well as other domestic and international organisations and the diplomatic community.

For most of 2018, those relationships were broadened, as more organisations reached out the commission.

Tagged bags which USAID shipped to Colombia for movement into Venezuela to assist persons in the latter country which is experiencing a devastating economic downturn

conducted on July 25, 2019 for re-migrants, private and public school candidates.

According to the advertisement, re-migrants guard-

ians are required to submit a copy of the children’s travel documents, birth certificates, report booklets and the relevant application form to the

Department of Education by July 14, 2019.

USAID said that its partners are working with the Government of Guyana to address education needs among Venezuelans, including launching a safe-school initiative to increase service delivery in host communities.

On the grey side, USAID said that Venezuelans continue to experience anti-migrant sentiment from some host communities and reportedly face heightened risk of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

As regards the latter, it was one of the grey areas which were pointed out in the 2019 Department of State, Trafficking in Persons report.

In that report, which was released last week, the US said that the Government of Guyana fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking

and it was noted that the government here continues to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period as Guyana remains on Tier One of the ranking of nations.

However, it was recommended that local authorities should fund specialised victim services, in particular for child, adult males, and Venezuelan victims.

It was noted that the government increased efforts to identify and protect victims of TIP. However, victim assistance remained a concern, especially in areas outside the capital and for Venezuelan, child, and male victims. The report stated that in the face of an increase of Venezuelan migrants, there is need for standard operating procedures (SOPs) to protect the migrants.

(USAID photo)

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JUNE 30, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

27

28

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JUNE 30, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JUNE 30, 2019

29

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JUNE 30, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JUNE 30, 2019

31

32

SUNDAY CHRONICLE JUNE 30, 2019

SUNDAY CHRONICLE JUNE 30, 2019

33

34

SUNDAY CHRONICLE JUNE 30, 2019

35

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 30, 2019

ExxonMobil U-14 Football Girls segment South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:15 hrs Captain Flynt 08:55 hrs The Rising Legend 09:30 hrs Operetta 10:05 hrs Popsicle Toes 10:45 hrs Byron Bay English Racing Tips Cartmel 09:00 hrs Dolly Sensation 09:35 hrs Project Bluebook 10:05 hrs The Jam Man 10:40 hrs Ringaringarosie 11:15 hrs Demi Sang 11:50 hrs Melody Of Scotland 12:25 hrs Judge Earle Windsor 09:10 hrs Benny And The Jets 09:45 hrs Drummond Warrior 10:15 hrs Junius Brutas 10:50 hrs Vasilev 11:25 hrs Itizzit 12:00 hrs C’Est No Mour 12:35 hrs Jai Hanuman Uttoxeter 09:25 hrs Chef De Troupe 09:55 hrs Santani 10:30 hrs For Good Measure 11:05 hrs Regal Encore 11:40 hrs Double W’S 12:15 hrs Show And Go 12:4512:35 hrs Jai Hanuman Uttoxeter 09:25 hrs Chef De Troupe 09:55 hrs Santani 10:30 hrs For Good Measure 11:05 hrs Regal Encore 11:40 hrs Double W’S 12:15 hrs Show And Go 12:45 hrs Bold Record

Big wins for New Campbellville, Dolphin THERE were big wins for the female teams of New Campbellville and Dolphin in the latest round of action in the ExxonMobil U-14 Schools Football tournament which continued yesterday.

In the opening game of the day, Ann’s Grove won via walkover from Richard Ishmael while Dolphin won their first game of the day against Annandale.

In game three, New Campbellville steamrolled Uitvlugt 8-0, with Roshana Warren leading the charge in the 8th, 22nd, 35th, 38th and 40th minutes. Grace Miller in the 6th, Nuella Haynes in the 15th and Rayana Benjamin in the 26th all accented the scoreline.

Keithana Mollyneaux’s 23rd minute strike for Tucville cancelled out Michelle

Fitter’s 16th minute strike for Lodge as the game ended 1-1.

Charlestown edged East Ruimveldt 3-2 through Daniel Smith’s 24th minute strike after two early goals from Shania Eastman (2nd) and Carletta Ross (3rd). East Ruimveldt had Shaqwana Wright score both their goals in the (17th and 19th).

St Stanislaus College needled St Mary’s 1-0 thanks to Madison Chichester in the 5th while Dolphin’s 5-1 drubbing of Ann’s Grove came through a pair of braces from Akila Smith (19th and 32nd) with Jerica Paris brace (30th and 40th) sandwiching Niomie Williams’ 33rd minute strike. Rennae Wills (16th) scored for Ann’s Grove.

Annandale won via a walkover from Richard Ismael in the final game.

Santos stun Fruta; to face Dynamic FC in KFC U-20 Independence Cup Final IN what many viewed as the final of the GFF/KFC U-20 Independence Cup between fierce rivals Santos FC and Fruta Conquerors FC, the semi-final stage of that tournament produced upsets.

Santos, buoyed by a late brace from talisman Stephen Reynolds, knocked out Fruta to book a spot in the final where they will face Dynamic FC who defeated Botofago FC. Yesterday at the National Training Centre, Providence, Botofago faced East Coast outfit Dynamic FC in semi-final one and lost by a 2-4 margin after Maurice Adams notched up a brace for Dynamic.

Botofago took an early

1-0 lead courtesy of Shane Haynes in the 24th minute but Maurice Adams equalised for Dynamic in the 33rd minute before his teammate Julius Hamilton made it 2-1 in the 43rd minute. Adams made it 3-1 with his second of the game in the 60th minute, before Andre Mayers pulled one back for Botofago via a penalty in the 71st minute.

However, John Gonsalves sealed the deal in the 90th minute to leave the scoreline at 4-2.

In the highly anticipated second semi-final of the day, it was a tough midfield battle for most of the game between Georgetown-based sides Fruta and Santos.

However Stephen Reyn-

olds exacted revenge on Fruta for their Georgetown FA zone final defeat of his side with a late brace. Reynolds struck in the 80th and 88th minutes to leave Fruta in shambles.

The winning team will collect $500 000, a trophy and medals while the runners-up will pocket $300 000, a trophy and medals.

Third-place winners will walk away with $200 000, a trophy and medals while fourth place will get a trophy and medals.

The third-place and finals are set for Monday (July 1) at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence. (Michelangelo Jacobus)

Archibald, Gustave 100m ...

FROM BACK PAGE

dominance on the national scene.

Meanwhile, George had to settle for silver with a time of 10.36 secs, while GDFG athlete Rupert Perry made a welcome return to the podium grabbing bronze with a time of 10.45 secs.

On the distaff side, guest athlete Gustave showed her class and power to finish with the gold medal in a time of 11.61 secs ahead of junior champion Phillips who had to settle for second this time around in 11.73 secs. GDF’s Tonya Rawlins claimed bronze in a pedestrian time of 12.02 secs to round out the podium spots.

In the field, there was an unusual upset as University of

Guyana student-athlete Ruth Sanmoogan beat last year’s female long jump champion Chantoba Bright; Sanmoogan had a best leap of 6.02m to cop gold ahead of Bright, who recorded a best try of 5.86m, with Keliza Smith claiming third place with a best effort of 5.59m.

Bright had her second silver of the day when Natrena Hooper outjumped her in the women’s high jump event by some height; Hooper’s gold came courtesy of a 1.75m best effort while Bright had 1.65m with Shantel Browne settling for bronze with 1.60m.

Meanwhile, in the middle distance events, the Men’s 1500m Police athlete An-

fernee Headecker reigned supreme with a gold medal time of 4 minutes 01.7 secs with Marlon Nicholson coming in second in 4 minutes 09.81 secs while Ronell Newton copped bronze in 4 minutes 22.53 secs.

In the females 1500m, Aaliyah Moore grabbed gold in 4 minutes 56.45 secs as Kissana Glen finished second (5 minutes 02.88 secs) and Tia Azore (5 mins 34.10 secs) claimed third place.

Action continues today at the same venue from 10:00hrs with the 200m events timed to run off from 14:00hrs. Admission is just $300 per person.

36

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 30, 2019

Pakistan edge Afghanistan in World Cup thriller (REUTERS) - All-rounder Imad Wasim’s unbeaten 49 guided Pakistan to a thrilling three-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Leeds yesterday, maintaining their hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals.

Chasing a target of 228, Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman for a duck on the second ball of the innings when he was trapped leg-before by off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Babar Azam, who scored his maiden World Cup cen-

tury in Pakistan’s win over New Zealand earlier this week, combined with Imamul-Haq to stabilise the innings with a steady 72-run partnership.

Off-spinner Mohammad Nabi removed the pair to expose the middle order, before Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail fell cheaply to leave Pakistan reeling at 142-5.

Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (18) and Shadab Khan (11) were run-out to set up an intense finale but Wasim and

Wahab Riaz (15) ensured there were no further hiccups as they chased down the target with two balls to spare.

“When I went in they were bowling brilliantly but I just hung in there. We wanted to bat out the 50 overs and see,” Wasim, who was named man-of-the-match, said.

“Thank you to the crowd, it feels like home here. They gave us a boost in confidence.

Win our next game and we’ll see what happens. Now we believe we can win from anywhere.”

Scoreboard AFGHANISTAN 1st innings Rahmat Shah c Babar Azam b Imad Wasim 35 Gulbadin Naib c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shaheen Afridi

15

Hashmatullah Shahidi c Imad Wasim b Shaheen Afridi

0

Ikram Ali Khil c Mohammad Hafeez b Imad Wasim

24

Asghar Afghan b Shadab Khan

42

Mohammad Nabi c Mohammad Amir b Wahab Riaz

16

Najibullah Zadran b Shaheen Afridi

42

Samiullah Shinwari not out

19

Rashid Khan c Fakhar Zaman b Shaheen Afridi

8

Hamid Hassan b Wahab Riaz

1

Mujeeb Ur Rahman not out

7

Extras: (lb-8, w-10)

Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz hits a six.

(Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith)

Pakistan, who moved ahead of England to fourth in the table, now need to win their final match against Bangladesh on Friday and hope other results go their way to advance to the semi-finals.

EARLY BLOWS Earlier, Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi claimed four wickets to restrict Afghanistan to a modest 227 for nine from 50 overs on a flat batting track at Headingley.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Afghanistan stumbled early on, losing captain Gulbadin Naib and Hashmatullah Shahidi in back-to-back deliveries to Afridi, who produced a blistering opening spell with the new ball.

Afridi, playing only his 18th ODI at the age of 19, returned in the death overs to remove Najibullah Zadran and Rashid Khan

to finish as pick of the Pakistan bowlers with 4-47.

It was a third consecutive win for Pakistan as their campaign gathers momentum in the business end of the tournament.

“We know it was not an easy target. Their bowlers used the conditions very well. Everyone chipped in, it was good team work,” Sarfaraz said.

“We all know that it is not easy to win our last four games, but we go match by match. We will all be watching India v England tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Afghanistan remain winless after eight games, and just as they did against India earlier this month, they came agonisingly close to a memorable victory.

The game was marred by a clash between the supporters of both teams in the stands, with ESPNcricinfo reporting that at

Total: (nine wkts, 50 overs)

18 227

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-27, 3-57, 4-121, 5-125, 6-167, 7-202, 8-210, 9-219.

Bowling: Imad Wasim 10-0-48-2, Mohammad Amir 10-1-41-0 (w-1), Shaheen Afridi 10-0-47- 4 (w-4), Mohammad Hafeez 2-0-10-0, Wahab Riaz 8-0-29-2 (w-4), Shadab Khan 10-0-44-1 (w-1).

PAKISTAN 1st innings Fakhar Zaman lbw Mujeeb Ur Rahman

0

Imam ul-Haq stp. Ikram Ali Khil b Mohammad Nabi

36

Babar Azam b Mohammad Nabi

45

Mohammad Hafeez c Hashmatullah Shahidi b Mujeeb Ur Rahman

19

Haris Sohail lbw Rashid Khan

27

Sarfaraz Ahmed run-out (Najibullah Zadran) 18 Imad Wasim not out

49

Shadab Khan run-out Gulbadin Naib

11

Wahab Riaz not out

15

Extras: (1b-1. lb-4, w-5)

10

Total: (seven wkts, 49.4 overs)

230

Fall of Wickets: 1-0, 2-72, 3-81, 4-121, 5-142, 6-156, 7-206.

Bowling: Mujeeb Ur Rahman 10-1-34-2,Hamid Hassan 2-0-13-0, Gulbadin Naib 9.4-0-73-0 (w-1), Mohammad Nabi 10-0-23-2, Rashid Khan 10-050-1 (w-3), Samiullah Shinwari 8-0-32-0 (w-1).

least two fans were evicted from the match.

Videos shared on social media also showed fans fighting outside the venue, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) saying it will take action against “any anti-social behaviour”.

Mackenzie Sports Club AGM and elections set for today THE Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) will today stage its highly anticipated Annual General Meeting and Elections from 17:00hrs at the MSC Lounge.

Incumbents, president Avery Trim and general secretary Marlon Pearson are expected to deliver their reports to the membership while there will be the financial report in the absence of the treasurer John Trim who is overseas..

The MSC remains the oldest club serving the community of Linden after it was established in 1956 at the present location on Greenheart Street, Mackenzie.

Membership of this club would have dwindled as the fortunes of the bauxite in-

dustry did over the years but there is hope that this once live-wire centre for sports in Linden would again become the eye for sports in the mining town.

Over the past two months the club’s Committee of Management has been clamouring for the members to pay up their monthly subscription dues to ensure they are eligible for participation on the business of the meeting but the response by most has been slow.

However, it is expected that the members will get involved and the holding of the important elections will follow the meeting today.

37

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 30, 2019

Starc five-for trumps Boult hat-trick as Aussies beat New Zealand

By Saikat Chatterjee

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Trent Boult became the first New Zealand bowler to claim a hat-trick in the World Cup but it could not stop champions Australia from cruising to an 86run victory in yesterday’s rematch of the 2015 final between the trans-Tasman rivals at Lord’s.

Boult dismissed Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorff in successive deliveries but he was later to be upstaged

by Australian match-winner Starc, who became the first bowler ever to earn three World Cup ‘fivefors’.

Australia, who had been reeling at 92-5 in the 22nd over, managed to post a competitive 243-9 after electing to bat and it turned out that each of Boult’s three late hat-trick victims played significant part in their victory.

Khawaja (88), who was dropped at slip before he could open his account, and Alex Carey (71) had combined to arrest their slide before Boult (4-51) wrecked their lower order. then dealt early blows before Starc spearheaded New Zealand’s rout, claiming 5-26 as the Kiwis were shot out for 157 in the 44th over with not one of their players managing a half-century.

It was the third time the Australian left-arm strike bowler had taken five wickets in a World Cup innings, following his 5-46 against West Indies at Nottingham earlier in the tournament and his 6-28

Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates winning the match by taking the wicket of New Zealand's Mitchell Santner. (Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley)

also against New Zealand in Auckland in 2015. “(It was) a great partnership from Alex Carey and Usman Khawaja on a wicket we knew would turn,” Australia captain Aaron Finch, who had a rare failure with the bat, said afterwards.

“I think it was important that we got some time in the middle, but not in the way we did. It was a difficult wicket to start on, and the way Alex came in and hit the ball was excellent.

It was not easy to time the ball.”

Australia, who had already secured a place in the semi-finals, remain on top with 14 points from eight matches, three points ahead of India who have played six. New Zealand remain third with 11 points from eight matches but their second successive defeat leaves their qualification still not assured.

“What we needed was one major 100-plus partnership where we could soak up some pressure and turn the momentum our way,” New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said.

WORLD CUP STANDINGS

“It wasn’t to be today.

We have to pick ourselves up and move on.”

Earlier, Finch’s decision to bat first appeared to backfire as Boult dismissed the in-form opener in the fifth over.

The champions lost four more wickets before reaching 100 but it could easily have been worse if Martin Guptill had not spilled Khawaja in the slips when the batsman was yet to open his account. Carey and Khawaja then rebuilt the Australian innings with a sixth-wicket stand of 107, which Williamson broke when he had Carey caught at cover.

Boult claimed the tournament’s second hat-trick, after India’s Mohammed Shami achieved the feat against Afghanistan, but Australia put enough on the board for their bowlers.

The Australians bowled with lot of purpose and Behrendorff denied New Zealand a strong start, dismissing both openers Henry Nicholls and Guptill cheaply.

Key batsman William-

son and Ross Taylor (30) tried to steady the innings but the wheels came off their innings after the Kiwi captain’s attempt to play his trademark dab shot resulted in his dismissal for 40.

Starc then mowed down the New Zealand lower order to consolidate his position as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 24 victims and maintain his own personal push to be crowned player-of-the-tournament for a second successive World Cup.

Scoreboard AUSTRALIA innings

NEW ZEALAND innings

D. Warner c Latham b Ferguson ........16

(target: 244 runs from 50 overs)

A. Finch (c) lbw b Boult .........................8

M. Guptill lbw b Behrendorff ................0

U. Khawaja b Boult ...............................88

H. Nicholls c Carey b Behrendorff ......8

S. Smith c Guptill b Ferguson ...............5

K. Williamson c Carey b Starc ...........40

M. Stoinis c Latham b Neesham ..........21

L. Taylor c Carey b Cummins ............30

G. Maxwell c & b Neesham ....................1

T. Latham c Smith b Starc .................14

A. Carey c Guptill b Williamson ..........71

C. de Grandhomme c Khawaja b Smith.0

P. Cummins not out .............................23

J. Neesham c & b Lyon ........................9

M. Starc b Boult ......................................0

M. Santner c Behrendorff b Starc .....12

J. Behrendorff lbw b Boult ....................0

I. Sodhi lbw b Starc ..............................5

N. Lyon not out .......................................0

L. Ferguson b Starc ..............................0

Extras: (lb-3, w-7) .................................10

T.. Boult not out ....................................2

Total: (nine wickets, 50 overs) ..........243

Extras: (b-4, lb-3, w-10) ......................17

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-38, 3-46, 4-81,

Total: (all out, 43.4 overs) .................157

5-92, 6-199, 7-243, 8-243, 9-243.

Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-42, 3-97, 4-118,

Bowling: T. Boult 10-1-51-4, C. de Grand-

5-118, 6-125, 7-131, 8-141, 9-144.

homme 8-1-29-0, L. Ferguson 10-0-49-2,

Bowling: J. Behrendorff 9-0-31-2, M.

I. Sodhi 6-0-35-0, J. Neesham 6-0-28-2,

Starc 9.4-1-26-5, P. Cummins 6-1-14-1,

M. Santner 3-0-23-0, K. Williamson 7-0-

N. Lyon 10-0-36-1, S. Smith 2-0-6-1, A.

25-1.

Finch 1-0-7-0, M. Stoinis 2-0-12-0, G. Maxwell 4-0-18-0.

38

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 30, 2019

PEPSI Hikers remain unbeaten at Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey … Finals set for today PEPSI Hikers put in another dominant performance on Friday evening to complete their pool round, unbeaten, in the men’s division of the 2019 Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey Championships.

GCC Vintage also came up successful by the narrowest margins to secure the second spot in Pool A SHC Splinters draw with YMCA Old Fort Top form saw then secure second place in Pool B behind the Hikers Generals.

A convincing win by the Bingo Spartans held them in the top position of the ladies’ pool round while the GBTI GCC Tigers and GBTI GCC Spice hold the second and third spots.

The final match of the evening proved to be the most entertaining matchup of the day.

The GCC Vintage, primary comprising former national players, took the floor against SHC Slick Sticks fea-

turing some of the most talented juniors in the country.

Despite Slick Sticks enjoying an 8-goal handicap to the Vintage 5, Baraka Garnett answered a Dwayne Scott 7th minute opener for Vintage with a goal for the Slick Sticks four minutes later.

The Slick Sticks kept the tempo high with a stifling, pressing game that seemed to age the Vintage even further as time went on. The halftime score remained 9-6 in favour of the Slick Sticks.

After a scoreless ten minutes in the second half, Scott finally found a solution as he drilled home three successive penalty corner goals to tie the score with three minutes left in the match.

As the seconds counted down to what seemed to be a certain stalemate, a right-sided attack for Vintage by Alan Fernandes saw him carve a pass that split the Slick Sticks defence and found lurking

Dominique DeGroot scores for GBTI GCC Spice

striker Patrick Edgehill in front of goal.

Edgehill’s deflection rattled the back board of Slick Sticks goal with just 6 seconds remaining on the clock.

A scoreless first half The 10-9 victory secured the second spot in the semi-finals for Vintage and knocked Slick Sticks out of the semi-finals.

SHC Splinters and YMCA OFHC Top Form almost had a similar encounter as Splinters en-

joyed a 9-goal handicap while Top Form began the match with a 5-goal. seemed to indicate an easy Splinters victory but the individual brilliance of Omar Hopkinson made its mark on the game as the midfielder hammered in two penalty corners and a field goal within the first twelve minutes after resumption.

Former national stalwart Aderemi Simon drew the game with a 36th minute goal for Top Form who topped the

game to a 9-9 full time score.

PEPSI Hikers made light work of a depleted YMCA OFHC Pacesetters with an easy 20-11 victory after Pacesetters began the game with 11 goals as their handicap.

Aroydy Branford was at his usual devastating best as he scored a match-laden 7 goals for the Hikers.

The Ladies competition saw the three GCC affiliated teams all come out victorious and earn semi-final berths.

The Bingo GCC Spartans upstaged the YMCA OFHC Bellatrix by 15-9 with striker Abosaide Cadogan leading the charge with 5 goals.

Sarah Klautky added a double for Spartans while cousins Georgiana and Madison Fernandes, in addition to Alana Chung, each scored one.

GBTI Spice, top-ranked side in the tournament based on their zero handicap, defeated the YMCA OFHC Wolves 8-6.

With Wolves starting with a 5-goal handicap, they mustered only one goal

through Jasmine Assanah but Spice scored four penalty corner goals and a similar number of field goals to secure the victory.

GBTI GCC Tigers managed just two goals in the first half against Saints.

The 5-goal handicap of Saints compared to three for GBTI GCC Tigers meant the halftime scores were locked at 5-5.

The second half was all GC, however, as the Tigers shredded the defence of Saints with five more goals to one solitary goal for Saints.

The victory ensures a semi-final spot for Tigers while Saints needed to await the outcome of yesterday’s games to know their fate.

In the final two days, the men’s competition moves to the quarter-final stage while two more matches in the women’s competition will determine the four semi-final spots.

The finals are scheduled for today at 17:40hrs.

Dutch head into World Cup semis after 2-0 win over Italy

By Simon Evans VALENCIENNES, France (Reuters) - Second-half headers from Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt earned the Netherlands a 2-0 win over Italy

yesterday as they reached the women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time.

The Dutch, deserved victors in intense heat at the Stade du Hainaut, will face the winners of yesterday’s other quarter-final between

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday June 30, 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)

Mohammed Hafeez

(2)

Arjuna Ranatunga (SL) & Mark Taylor (AUST)

Today’s Quiz: (1) How many centuries were scored in the 1979 World Cup? (2) Who was Man of the Match in the World Cup 2007 final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Germany and Sweden, who played later in Rennes.

Italy, who have never gone beyond the last eight, had the better of the chances in the first half but the European champions stepped up their game after the break and both goals came from quality setpiece deliveries from Sherida Spitse.

Defending World Cup champions United States will face England in the opening semi-final on Tuesday in Lyon with the second semi on Wednesday.

The Netherlands’ left-sided playmaker Lieke Martens was passed fit despite suffering a foot injury while celebrating a goal in the previous round.

With the venue only a two-hour drive away from the Dutch border, the 22 600 crowd was mostly bedecked in orange in the bright sunshine.

But despite those boosts, the Dutch initially struggled to create openings against an Italian defence, well marshalled by captain Sara Gama.

The Azzurre had the first real chance when Barbara Bonansea’s flick-on found Valentina Bergamaschi in the area but the midfielder’s lob was too easy for Dutch keeper Sari van Veenendaal.

Bergamaschi had another chance when, after a smart interchange won her space in the box, she scuffed her shot and then moments later Valentina Giacinti pulled her shot wide from a promising position.

The Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman clearly took advan-

tage of the break to address their problems and it was a very different approach after the interval.

The introduction of Lineth Beerensteyn for the out-of-sorts right-winger Shanice van de Sanden also helped the Dutch step up the tempo but when the breakthrough came in the 70th minute it was from a set piece.

Sweden upset Germany to reach World Cup semis

(REUTERS) - Goals from Sofia Jakobsson and Stina Blackstenius helped Sweden to come from behind to stun Germany 2-1, in the women’s World Cup quarter-finals at Roazhon Park in Rennes yesterday and set up a lastfour clash with the Netherlands.

After enjoying an early spell of possession, midfielder Lina Magull put the Germans in front in the 16th minute with an acrobatic volley through the legs of Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.

Sweden equalised six minutes later when winger Jakobsson latched on to a long ball straight down the middle from Linda Sembrant, and slotted home past goalkeeper Almuth Schult.

German coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg threw on midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan, who had not played since breaking a toe in their tournament opener against China, at the start of the second half but it was Sweden who took a shock lead.

Schult did well to turn away a powerful header by Fridolina Rolfo but the rebound fell kindly for striker Blackstenius, who fired home from point blank range to get her second goal in as many matches.

Marozsan missed a glorious chance to force the game into extra time when she headed wide with the goal gaping in the 80th minute but Sweden held their nerve to reach their fourth World Cup semi-finals.

39

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 30, 2019

Anglin Enterprises USA donates uniforms to EBFA … promises to contribute annually

David Anglin (2nd left), EBFA president Franklin Wilson (2nd right), GFF executive member Dion Inniss (right) with responsibility for the EBFA, and Roger Murray display the new uniforms at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza.

IMPRESSED with the vision and development thrust of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA), Founder and CEO of Anglin Enterprises USA (Tax 365 USA), David Anglin, donated two sets of uniforms to the association recently.

Anglin, who resides in New York, made a trip down to Kansas City to rally with the Golden Jaguars in their final match of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago.

While in Kansas City, the former footballer handed over the uniforms to EBFA president Franklin Wilson,

in the presence of Guyana Football Federation (GFF) executive member Dion Inniss, who has responsibility for the association.

In making the presentation at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza Hotel, Kansas City, Anglin said that it was an easy decision to make when he was approached by Wilson for the uniforms, which were procured by long-time friend and sponsor of the EBFA Under-11 League, Ralph Green.

“God has been good to me and I’m blessed as the Founder and CEO of Anglin Enterprises USA and

Tax 365 USA. Soccer was always good to me and I am very impressed with the way the EBFA is developing its youths for the sport. It is for the youths to take advantage of what is offered and move to the next level.”

Called to national trials at the Under-18 and U-19 levels when he represented Linden back in the 1970s, Anglin promised that he would be doing something for the EBFA. “I just like giving back and there is no better way to do it, I will do whatever I can to support your association, keep up the good work and focus on the young people as

youth development is key to senior success.”

Anglin, whose parents were in charge of the Salvation Army in Guyana, also informed that he attended Christ Church Secondary and Mackenzie High School, graduating from the latter in 1975 then went to further his studies at the University of Guyana.

He also played for the Camptown FC (Campbellville) and Linden, at the Under-19 and Senior teams.

His playing days saw him match skills with the likes of ‘Zipper’ Johnson, Joey Alberts, Kenneth Solomon, the Charter brothers and Nigel ‘Mice’ Cummings, among others.

Anglin, whose mother is Guyanese, and father Jamaican, once resided in Cato Street, Agricola, East Bank of Demerara, before his parents took up responsibility for the Salvation Army. His wife Roxanne was born and raised in Prospect, EBD. The couple has four daughters, Celene, D’Andra, Zahara and Kelly.

He migrated to the USA in 1980 and set up his business, Anglin Enterprises, which is a thriving business entity.

Windies have themselves to blame, says Lloyd MANCHESTER, England (CMC) - Legendary former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has insisted that the West Indies are solely responsible for their dismal performance at the ongoing ICC World Cup. The Windies have recorded just one victory in their seven matches played, with only games against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka remaining.

Lloyd, who had predicted the regional side would go all the way, said in too many matches the West Indies were in full control,

only to let the advantage slip out of their grasps.

“West Indies’ chances of making the semi-finals are now over – and that really has to be called a disappointment, particularly considering what a good start they made to their campaign.

“They won well against Pakistan and then when they had Australia at 79-5 in their second game – I really thought they might be able to do something special this year. But in the end that Pakistan game has been their only victory and they have only themselves

to blame,” Lloyd, the last man to lead the regional side to World Cup glory said.

And while he lauded the fielding and said the bowling was impressive at times, he was particularly harsh on the Windies’ batsmen, who he said simply did not apply themselves.

He charged that batsmen gave their wickets away needlessly.

“Too many times the batsmen have got themselves out when all it needed was a bit more application. They have lacked the

experience needed to bat their opponents out of a game,” Lloyd said.

“The odd batsman has received one with their name on, but really very few balls have really deviated and caught somebody unaware.

“They have some terrific young players in this side. Guys like Nicholas Pooran, Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer have shown in flashes that they are a match for anyone in the world, but no-one has really made a big score,” he argued.

Drepaul declines to confirm names of U-17 squad

By Rajiv Bisnauth CHAIRMAN of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) junior selectors, Nazimul Drepaul, yesterday declined to name the members of the Under-17 squad to represent Guyana at the upcoming Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-17 tournament scheduled to be held in Trinidad and Tobago.

This, according to Drepaul, is based on the recent High Court ruling where the executive committee of the GCB was deemed illegal.

Speaking with Chronicle Sport late yesterday afternoon, Drepaul made it clear that he is not in a position to reveal any information based on the High Court ruling on April 3 last, and directed this reporter to GCB head office for further details on the squad. However, those efforts proved futile up to press time last night.

The current group of executives of the Board cannot hold themselves out to be office-bearers or perform functions of the Board.

The matter was brought before High Court Judge, Justice Fidela Corbin, by Attorney Arudranauth Gossai on behalf of Secretary of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Rabindranauth Saywack, who claimed that the GCB was operating in contravention of the Guyana

Nazimul Drepaul

Cricket Administration Act established in 2014.

Meanwhile, prior to the High Court ruling, the junior selectors had put together a squad which participated in both one-day and three-day formats of the Inter-County Under-19 tournament in April/May. That tournament was used as preparation for the regional tournament.

The 14 players selected then were Matthew Nandu, Sarwan Chitnarine, Marvan Prashad, Mavendra Dindyal, Niran Bissu, Zeynul Ramsammy, Andre Seepersaud, Sheldon Charles, Azizi Christiani, Chandrapaul Ramraj, Jagdesh Dowlatram, Chaitram Balgobin, Avinash Rajkumar and Ajay Gainda.

The 2019 CWI Regional Tournament is scheduled to be played from July 4 to July 15. Barbados are the defending champions while Guyana finished third in 2018.

Record ticket sales for Windies-India T20s ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has reported almost sold-out tickets for the upcoming two T20 Internationals between West Indies and India, which will be played in the U.S. The two MyTeam11 Twenty20 Internationals between the sides will be played on August 3 and 4 at the Broward County Stadium in the American city of Lauderhill, located in Florida.

Cricket West Indies ticket solutions provider, Zoonga, reported record gross ticket sales for a single West Indies match over a 24-hour, online sales period.

Tickets for the India Tour of the West Indies 2019 – sponsored by

MyTeam11 and co-powered

by Skoda – went on sale to the public last Monday.

“Nearly all of our premium seats and mound access seats have been sold with over 8 000 tickets sold across the two T20Is in just over 24 hours,” said CWI commercial director Dominic Warne.

“Such has been the demand that we’re releasing almost another 5 000 tickets for each day’s play, with 4 600 additional covered and uncovered bleacher seats on sale today. We’ve also extended the mounds area to fit in another 300 places.

“Fans will continue to have the opportunity to buy a double-header bundle for the two matches at a 10 per cent discount to individual day tickets.”

AAG National Senior Championships

Archibald, Gustave 100m champions on day one Emmanuel Archibald (centre) celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of Winston George (2nd from right) and Rupert Perry (right) to cop gold in the Men’s 100m at the NTFC, Leonora, West Coast Demerara. (Adrian Narine photos)

By Michelangelo Jacobus

Y Barbados-based Guyanese Jovanna Gustave (left) crosses the finish line ahead of Kenisha Phillips to win gold in the Women’s 100m event.

OUNG upcoming track star Emmanuel Archibald dismissed veterans Winston George and Rupert Perry in the Men’s 100m to become the sprint champion of Guyana yesterday, at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, while Barbados-based Guyanese Jovanna Gustave outclassed Junior champion Kenisha Phillips to become the 2019 female 100m champion in an action-packed day one of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) National Senior Championships.

Archibald produced one of the finest runs of his career so far with an explosive start, a smooth cruise through the middle and a powerful finish down the back stretch, to cross the finish line ahead of Olympian Winston George in a time of 10.26 seconds to establish his Turn to page 35 ►

ExxonMobil U-14 Football Girls segment

Big wins for New Campbellville, Dolphin

Santos stun Fruta; to face Dynamic FC in KFC U-20 Independence Cup Final

SEE STORY ON PAGE 35 ► SEE STORY ON PAGE 35 ►

Female action in the ExxonMobil U-14 Schools Football tournament. (Adrian Narine photo)

Record ticket sales for Windies-India T20s

PAGE

39

Action between Santos FC (white) and Fruta Conquerors in their GFF/KFC U-20 Independence Cup semi-final encounter, at the NTC, Providence. (Adrian Narine photo)

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2019