Guyana Times ,Wednesday January 1, 2020.

Our next publication will be on Friday, January 3, 2020 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4153

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020

2020 a new year to rebuild Guyana after

APNU/AFC wreckage – PPP … as Granger talks about “decade of development” Page 3 H2H muddle

Revised List of Electors includes unverified ‘new’ registrants …over 650,000 voters on list

See story on Page 7

4 lawyers conferred as Senior Counsel

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: WHAT'S INSIDE:

PPP/C to launch 2020 elections campaign on P20 Sunday Handyman jailed for 20 years for raping schoolgirl P18

British firm P19 to advise Energy Dept on Payara oil field development

Page 19

P16 Over 500 squatters living on Govt reserves in Sophia

M&CC Chief P16 Constable fired

The midnight fireworks are seen during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia (Reuters photo)

Jealous ex-lover kills man at ex-girlfriend’s house Page 14

2 jailed for P8 trafficking over 3lbs cocaine

2

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 2020 a new year to rebuild Guyana after APNU/AFC wreckage – PPP NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, January 1 – 09:00h – 10:30h; Thursday, January 2 – 09:30h – 11:00h and Friday, January 3 – 10:30h – 12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

…as Granger talks about “decade of development”

Wednesday, January 1 – 07:50h – 09:20h; Thursday, January 2 – 08:35h – 10:05h and Friday, January 3 – 9:40h – 11:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine will prevail during the day.

There will be clear skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 19 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 08:28h and 20:47h reaching maximum heights of 2.27 metres and 2.30 metres.

Low Tide: 01:59h and 14:19h reaching minimum heights of 0.86 metre and 0.97 metre.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

03 06 07

12 13 28

FREE TICKET

09 Bonus Ball

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019 DAILY MILLIONS

05 13 17 23 25 LUCKY 3

7

0

5

0

Afternoon Draw

9

7

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

08

09

10

13

PAY DAY

14 17 19 SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

02 08 09 13 17

02 07 09 10 21

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali

T

he new year is here, complete with wishes for a “Happy New Year” from the two major political parties and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Dr Irfaan Ali. According to the PPP/C, the new year is a chance to rebuild Guyana after the wreckage left by the incumbent government.

The Party in its New Year message to the nation said that over the course of 2019, Guyanese saw for themselves the desperation of A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) to hang on to power by using “every legal and arithmetic trick at their disposal”, after falling to a No-Confidence Motion since 2018.

“Happily, by the end of 2019, their desperate attempts have finally been exhausted, and they have been left with no choice but to name a date on which the Guyanese people will be given a chance to elect a government of their choice,” the PPP said in its statement.

“The dawn of 2020 is also an occasion for guarded optimism in our country. We start this year as the world’s newest oil-producing nation.

In order for the benefits of this development to be enjoyed by all of the Guyanese people, the gross mismanagement of the sector by the incumbent APNU/AFC Government will need to be

remedied.”

Touching on the coalition’s legacy, PPP noted that they have failed to put in place an effective regulatory framework for oil and gas and botched efforts to renegotiate the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) after Guyana found oil.

“By ensuring a truly diversified and robust economy, Guyana will soon be joining the fold of prosperous nations of the world and, with good government, every single Guyanese person will benefit from this prosperity. For this promise to be realised, the Guyanese people will be required to make an important choice in March 2020.

The incumbent government continues to engage in shallow sloganeering, promising a “decade of development”. The emptiness of this promise is best illustrated by their abject failure to deliver on that other shallow slogan that they have been parroting for the past five years, as “the good life” is yet to be enjoyed by anybody but themselves and their close cronies.”

The PPP, therefore, called on Guyanese to “join hands in the collective task of rebuilding Guyana from the destruction and disunity sowed over the past five years.” The Party also expressed hope that 2020 will be a year in which the highest standards of democratic norms are upheld through the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful elections. The Party is also hopeful that good governance and responsible economic management will be restored.

ing everyone a happy New Year.

“Decade of development”

President David Granger

Binds us together

Meanwhile, PPP Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali used his New Year’s message to praise Guyanese for the characteristics he witnessed during his travels on the campaign trail. According to him, Guyanese are resilient and their potential must be more fully unlocked in the New Year.

“Fellow Guyanese, there is more that binds us together than pulls us apart.

Guyanese here and in the Diaspora are overflowing with ideas and drive to make our country better. As we stand on the precipice of a new decade, let us look to the future with a deep and abiding hope that tomorrow can be better than today”.

“Let us unlock the potential of the Guyanese people by giving them land, a quality education, affordable and available healthcare, lower taxes and an investment in the creation of jobs and other opportunities for all our people,” Ali also said, going on to call for unity and wish-

In President David Granger’s New Year message, he emphasised that 2020 would be the start of Guyana’s “decade of development”. Granger promised that education and healthcare, infrastructure, energy supply and the economy would improve.

“We can look forward to living in a country which enjoys high levels of growth and human development and with accountable government and greater equality. Constitutional reform will allow for the easier resolution of political differences,” he said.

“Citizens can be assured that their communities will be safer and that borders will be more secure. The productive sectors will be more resilient by receiving increased support to drive economic development”.

Touching on elections, which, according to the Constitution, should have been held since March 2019 but are now scheduled for March 2, 2020, the President promised “free, fair and credible” elections and assured that the security forces would ensure that public order and stability prevail during and after.

“The year 2020 will be an unforgettable year. It will demand diligent and dutiful service from all to attain the common good... I extend best wishes to every Guyanese for a happy and prosperous New Year – one which promises to be the most exciting and exhilarating in our nation’s history.”

4

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Renewed hope in 2020

T

he advent of the New Year has always been a time when people reflect on the past year, perhaps what they have achieved in terms of their personal and professional goals and what they intend to accomplish in the coming year. In Guyana, we have always treated it as a time when we cleanse our houses and got our affairs in order, such as financial, business and even familial so that for the rest of the year, we will be able to accomplish what we did not manage to accomplish in the previous year.

The New Year is also a time when we make resolutions.

Many have quipped that the New Year’s resolutions do not last for more than a week or so but we have known examples of New Year resolutions being very creative and helpful and we think that everyone could benefit from this experience. It is important that we set realistic targets/goals and work hard towards achieving them.

In reflecting on 2019, one can say that it has indeed been a year of both challenges and opportunities. In terms of politics, the drama between the main political parties was on full display with citizens becoming fed up with the level of political rancour and distrust between the main players. In APNU/AFC’s quest to hold on to political power, they used every avenue, including resorting to the Courts, to stall the elections which should have been held earlier in 2019.

To a great extent, this level of political uncertainty had a negative impact on the economy and on national life in general.

Some foreign investors were not certain what would be the outcome and there was some reluctance on their part to invest their scarce resources in an unstable economy. The elections are now set for March 2, 2020 – almost one year after they were constitutionally due following the no-confidence vote on December 21, 2019.

On the positive side, citizens were greeted with news of more significant oil finds offshore Guyana. Also, the Liza Destiny, Guyana’s first oil production vessel arrived in the Stabroek Block after travelling for 42 days from Singapore and weeks after, the nation was told that oil production had commenced. Never before in the history of this country was there so much optimism and excitement as it relates to our development potential.

We are now in 2020. This year is significant and special in many ways as oil production and related activities will be picking up pace. Like citizens across Guyana, our hope is that the opportunities would not be wasted as a result of corruption and mismanagement by our leaders. The wealth garnered from this new-found resource could be used towards developing other areas which were once ignored due to a lack of resources etc. For example, there are still many challenges confronting our nation; for example, quite a number of persons are living below the poverty line, public infrastructure is not up to standard, social services such as health and education need to be improved, there is high unemployment, constant power outages and so on.

In a matter of days, political leaders will be on the hustings as the elections campaign gets into full swing. GECOM will also be heightening its preparations for the polls; their focus should be on ensuring the elections are credible and fair. Having overcome the hurdle of holding the elections, it is hoped that the country, meaning all stakeholders including the new government and other parliamentary parties, the business community and ordinary citizens, will begin to focus on moving the country forward with immediate attention being given to economic development.

We should demonstrate to the world that we can campaign and conduct elections peacefully, and when the results are out, we can then work towards achieving our development objectives as one. In 2020, citizens want to see more strenuous efforts being made by our leaders to work towards achieving common ground on issues that have caused much discord and rancour over the past years.

Guyana has another opportunity to become a wonderful country with unlimited opportunities; a place where young people would be happy to stay and help in its development.

2020 should be seen as a year of renewed hope in our country and all that it has to offer. Our leaders must use this new-found resource to help create the right environment to allow citizens to be able to live in a free, happy and prosperous country where everyone could be given the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

We hope that 2020 will bring happiness, peace and prosperity to everyone.

Happy New Year!

Students cheer as they release balloons during celebrations to welcome the new year at a school in Ahmedabad, India (Reuters/Amit Dave)

It is people and their social relations which matter most

Dear Editor, As we look to this New Year of 2020, all of us are understandably wondering how our year-delayed elections would turn out, and how much of a boon would the recent commencement of the production of crude petroleum far off our shores, bring us. The answers to both questions lie in what our heads and hearts understand and what we make our hands do.

For me, I remain strong in advocating the PPP and the PPP/C in being the better team to be in service of all Guyanese and Guyana, opening up pathways of development which are better matched to our circumstances of an early-stage developing country, providing opportunities for all from whatever their current positions may be, and such safety nets which we as a society value and can provide.

Some may boast that this year-long delay in our

elections demonstrates how smart they are, but for all honest, earnest Guyanese, knowing that there was really no question that elections were to be held within 90 days of the passage of the NCM on December 21, 2018, the succession of events of the year-long delay should demonstrate again the commitment of the PPP and PPP/C to keeping Guyana whole, avoiding paths that might lead to the reversal in the gradual coming together of our people.

We of the PPP and PPP/C have been putting our people and country first. We have invested more in people and country and therefore have more to lose in any failure of people and country. There shall be no failed people and country as far as we go.

I welcome without any reservations the discovery of and beginning of production of crude oil far off our shores and I do so as one who as Minister responsible

for the GGMC in the 1990s welcomed Esso (and others) to explore for petroleum (and other) resources within our borders. But I do so tempered with my experiences of one who as a child shared the awe in which we held our bauxite production, a goose laying golden eggs; and who as an employee before and after nationalisation from 1967 to 1992 and as Minister responsible from 1992 to 2011 saw our bauxite operations from many sides and in various circumstances and needing massive subsidies from the mid-1970s. I can recall also the Trinidad and Tobago that I had learnt about in primary school, as the place of grapefruit and orange juice and of cocoa - the site of the Imperial College of tropical agriculture; the rise of petroleum and the construction of the Hilton Hotel in the 1950s; Prime Minister Manning talking at a shared table at a Petrocaribe Conference

about challenges in finding the monies to keep the prices of oil products low in Trinidad and Tobago. And, again looking at possibilities for employment at the newly built Inter-alumina Plant in Venezuela in 1980, hearing the local people swearing that the Bolivar was backed by oil and will always be 4.3 Bs to the USD. It is people and their social relations which matter most, their worldview, their sense of responsibility, their ability and their pursuit of the greater good. This is what I think Cheddi was working at in his NGHO (New Global Human Order) in his last year.

Whatever comes, let each of us endeavour our utmost to make ourselves the best human beings we can be.

Dear Editor, Our friend Freddy laments that many of his friends including new national hero, Charrandas Persaud, are going back to the PPP. That group also includes me. The PNC failures have forced me to go back too because the “litmus test” for me is which of the big two parties are more likely to give up power when defeated or when the court has ruled, and which party will not willingly give up power once the court has ruled, but would rather keep power by any

means necessary. The PPP followed the Constitution and gave up power twice, but the PNC refused and dragged it out for 15 months, rigging an extra year in office although defeated by the No-Confidence Motion. So the PNC made itself illegal again, just like the old Burnhamist times.

It should not be that every time the PNC is in power, you have to launch a struggle to win back democracy.

Freddy, that’s why people have gone back to the PPP. The PNC violated the trust many crossover vot-

ers placed in them by becoming the “exchange”, not the “change” they promised to be. They are not promise keepers, not keeping promises to the AFC nor the nation. Months into their reign, the enormous goodwill the PNC coalition received was evaporated as the PNC took the wrong trajectory and gave us many scams from the unneeded D’Urban Park, drug bond scandal, to hiding oil money received, many many procurement scams, the sellout of oil, and land and resource grabbing on their way out.

Freddy, that’s why people have gone back to the PPP. The worst was the PNC’s undemocratic nature in Granger and the PNC raping the Constitution in refusing to dissolve the Cabinet and hold elections within 90 days as required.

Granger’s refusal to honour the Carter Formula in appointing the Chairman of the Elections Commission, and referring to Judges’ decisions as their mere opinions and that he has opinions of his own, revived the ghost of unbridled

Sincerely, Samuel A A Hinds Former President and Former Prime Minister

Understanding why Granger and PNC have people rushing back to the PPP

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020

5

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

When will the trickery end?

Dear Editor, I want to take this opportunity to wish all of your staff and your readers a happy, healthy New Year.

In the New Year, may democracy reign in our homeland.

On that note, my first letter for the year is to address the policy paralysis associated with Mr David Granger and his promise of a digital nation after three years. In its 2015 manifesto, the APNU/AFC promised on page 22, that Guyana will be “completely internet-ready in consonance with the objective of ensuring that Guyana becomes a digital nation” after three years. The promise from team Granger was to build the framework to offer “a nationwide broadband network (NBN)” within three years. The evidence, however, illustrates differently.

Another broken promise not delivered by team Granger!

I am in Georgetown, Guyana, today and I can

confirm, without a shadow of a doubt, that this promise is far from being delivered after Mr Granger occupying office for the last four years and six months.

In my communication with some Berbicians, especially in Rose Hall Town, the common theme from them remains – “I was lucky to be in Georgetown to get the best of what the internet has to offer since the internet service in Berbice is multiple times worse”. I was also in Diamond and Leonora and at each of these locations, the evidence confirms the conclusion of these Berbicians; the internet service in Guyana is an international abomination.

So what were Mr Granger and his team at the Ministry of Public Telecommunications doing over the last four years and six months? Building fowl pens? Billions of dollars were spent by these people and all this nation got from them were marginal im-

provements. Where is this efficient and functional national broadband network (NBN) that they promised to deliver within three years?

How can you want to win public office and you have a history of trickery and gross incompetence and now branded the most corrupt nation in the Caribbean by the IDB? Failure to develop this NBN is nothing but disrespectful to the youths who worked with you in 2015 on a principle that you would have done something new for them. But what I am observing today is that the world is advancing faster than Guyana in occupying the Internet superhighway and this situation had contributed to us losing ground with regards to our competitiveness. How can this nation ever trust Mr Granger again? This entire issue goes to the core concept of character and integrity. People of high character and integrity do not say one thing and do

a different thing. Their word is their bond. Mr Granger clearly is a stranger to this school of integrity.

The bottom-line remains, Guyana must have a functional national broadband network to transform our country economically and socially. Anything else is unacceptable. We cannot have these lost periods of four years and six months where the nation has a leader who is only engaged in pageantry rather than implementing policies and action plans to lift all of our people up.

As an example of the Granger “con job”, one only has to reflect on the Facebook page of the popular commentator, Guyanese Critic, concerning his visit to St Cuthbert’s Mission. As the closest Amerindian settlement to the capital city, you would have expected accessible internet service at this location. The evidence proves that there is a dish with a sign that advertis-

Understanding why Granger...

Burnhamism. The lowest point of the PNC was their party leader reportedly saying, “The only friends I got is PNC so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC” (KN, Nov 30, 2018). That statement has killed her politically – there is no recovering from that! We had such doctrines of “paramountcy of the party” under the first PNC and it pauperised our nation.

Freddy, that’s why people

have gone back to the PPP. When we look daily at pictures of who is graduating from training programmes or who is getting PNC goodies, or who is being appointed to committees and commissions, it is nauseating that the PNC has little sensitivity to diversity. The Berbice economy was virtually closed down and the Inquiry Report into GuySuCo was not implemented. The sugar workers had to sue for their severance. They are not enjoying the “good life”

the PNC promised. Yet, Murtland Williams was upset that Mr Jagdeo said people were going hungry (KN, Dec 21, 2019). Freddy, that’s why cross-over voters have gone back to the PPP. The Office of the President has recently been playing up Granger going to church. To win again, he will need a miracle of God turning PPP votes into PNC votes.

Should Granger not be going to confessionals instead and atone for violating the Constitution with PNC

FROM PAGE 4

math that says 33 is not the majority in a 65-member Parliament, which was the basis on which they got into Government?

Freddy, that’s why cross-over voters have gone back to the PPP. Sincerely, Jerry Singh

es “Free Wi-Fi”. But when Guyanese Critic tested his system at St Cuthbert’s, there was none. Several of his viewers, including Christina Hussein also confirmed this reality. This is yet another example of the acts of subterfuge and deception on the part of team Granger.

What a great betrayal to the youths of Guyana especially the Amerindian

youths. The greatest possibility for their human development is through access to the internet, yet team Granger chooses to play with their intelligence on even this most basic service in a sort of “Starve and Feed” modality. When will the trickery end Mr David Granger?

Dear Editor, So now, at last, Parliament has been “dissolved”, what has happened to the hollow calls, by the likes of Moses Nagamootoo, Lincoln Lewis, David Hinds and others of that ilk, for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to consent to go back to Parliament, after the successful No-Confidence Motion, so that, among other things, the date for elections can be extended?

I am left to wonder if those calls were not an admission that the NCM was successful and the requirements of the Constitution required a two-thirds vote to extend the date for elections.

Oh well, at least it appears that we will have elections in March 2020, even though I’m still keeping my fingers crossed.

With regards, Sasenarine Singh

What has happened to the hollow calls?

With regards, H N Nawbatt

6

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

Latoya Freeman

Bibi Toono

Jahvon Azore

Delicia Pompey

Shameer Bux

Makayla Morris

t is a worldly tradition to usher in the New Year with celebration and promises to do acts of self-improvement effective on the New Year’s Day. Guyana Times spoke to various person in Georgetown just hours before the world welcomed 2020 and below is what they plan to do and achieve for the year.

time goes by, God is going to steer me in that path so I’m leaning on him for guidance. For Guyana is 2020, most persons are talking about the oil and I’m excited about it, but I’m hoping that the Government put the money to good use.

I’m hoping that they help the citizens and not themselves, because we are all a part of this beautiful country. I know that big things are in store for Guyana and I am proud and happy to see

that happen.”

“Honestly, I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, I go with the flow. However, I want to see expansion in terms of our educational system and infrastructure in Guyana.”

our new year every day.

Once there is life, there is new things to plan, there is new things to happen, you shouldn’t really have a new resolution, that’s my belief.

Every day should be a new year or a new day for you, so make plans as you go along life.”

nance, also I want to focus on my job. I want to live peacefully with everyone. I also want to live blessed everyday as the days goes by.

I will say again it’s more about family for the New Year”, she said.

Jahvon Anton Azore from Lamaha Park

am preparing for CSEC so I will be working on that for the New Year. I also want to see a Guyana, I want to see better educational facilities, better health facilities, because that is a major thing because right now in the hospitals that are not treat well so that is basically what I want”, she said.

Delicia Pompey from Albouystown

I

Latoya Freeman Thomas as

“There is so much but time progresses and

By Ryhaan Shah

T

he sea was spread wide Between dreaming and dreaming Between remembering and forgetting Waves hurrying in a whitecapped fury To arrive and touch new shores And we who heeded the arkati’s song Of good work, of good labour, of fields of gold in the sun We with our heel arched to fit a mountain slope And hands shaped to plant the

drowned plains Of our village homes took courage From the stoutness of the wide deck And held firm to the rise and fall that came From the depths of the world.

We wore the ship like an armour That would part the shadows of the moon And give chase to the western sun that drew And drew us on like a lure and a temptation To the promised life.

Makayla Morris

“If you are from the truth Ministry, you would know that we don’t have a New Year’s resolution, we start

It was our dreaming that filled the sails And sped the ship on fast Its cargo packed, its cargo filled With rites from an ancient past Diwali nights Holi cheers Eid day feasts They journeyed with us, the dholak The dhantal, the rhythms of India Resurrections for the soul, jahaji joys For it is the known that gives us comfort

Bibi Toono

Shameer Bux

“2019 was ok, a bit challenging but alright. I have no new year’s resolution but what I can tell you is that we [him and his wife] will be taking it one day at a time.”

“I just want to learn French, and learn how to play the piano and also I

“My new year’s resolution is to focus more on my family. Spending time with my two children and my fi-

The familiar that lights the dark

sprang We do not die though bound, though whipped Though screaming from saltfilled wounds Meant to kill the spirit, meant to steal the soul And crush our limbs to dust We do not die but live an eternal life That brings us to the light So those who fell, whose history marks this earth Their dreaming is here in our ready hands And in hearts that forgo the terror of the past When we turn to build our homes now restless With children born to the new earth and eager to begin And when we fill our shop windows bright with hope And stock them well with tomorrow We who have survived to the journey’s end Have made the dreaming good Have made the promise whole: What do we remember most?

What must we forget?

One half of the moon?

Our sister’s face?

Our father’s hands?

Our mother’s grace?

About who will inherit the whole

The questions are asked and become full blown About who we are, about the truth that’s known When a new terror arises, when a new terror comes Alive with bullets, alive with fire Alive with tales of alien intruders Whose dreaming world must die, must end In a story that is written, in a story that is told Of another man’s history, of another man’s soul About who will inherit this earth, this sky

We stand here now uncertain Between the new world and the old With the full weight of our heart And the full weight of our soul The past must be forgiven And the new comes from the old And it’s our kalapani dreaming That makes our future bold And when the sun is risen When the moon displays its light Do we still wonder?

Do we still sigh?

Which is our day And which our night?

What did we bring with us?

What did we let go?

The songs of the gods?

The stories of old?

The promise of love?

The whisperings of the soul?

We who are anchored to an ancient time With hands shaped to praise the lotus bloom We who are the text, the testament of the gods Those who moved mountains and from whom the very seas

Are we nothing but flesh and bone made to be ripped apart By quests for a greedy power torn from this bloodied earth?

Or are we still descendants from the songs of the mythical gods Who stood firm on the field of battle, stood tall through the ancient past?

Are we old or are we new, or do we lie somewhere between The leaving and the arriving The remembering and the forgetting In that wash of sea, the kalapani deep, the kalapani dreaming?

Is this home or a desolation is a question that’s often asked Some answer this with leaving and some answer this with loss They give up on the dreaming as a myth best left alone To wither away, to let it die in a long-forgotten past But to give up now and surrender is not the story told Nor that the dreaming world we brought should be given up for lost

NEWS

7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

H2H muddle

Revised List of Electors includes unverified ‘new’ registrants

…over 650,000 voters on list

T

he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has made a decision to go ahead with the publishing of the Revised List of Electors (RLE) without any additional field verification for those persons that could not be found during the recent verification exercise.

This was confirmed on Tuesday by GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward, who revealed that the list is already available on their website. She also noted that persons can check and visit GECOM offices in their area with their “pink slip” (slip given during registration) to make any necessary changes.

“The posting of the RLE in the field will commence very shortly. That is expected to conclude on January 4, 2020.

So before the end (Tuesday), the PDF version of the RLE will be available on GECOM’s website,” she informed this publication.

“The RLE has been posted for any public scrutiny and to correct any information within the 21 days’ period. Therefore, where changes were not made, persons should visit the registration office in their area with the 'pink slip' from 4th January to inform and update accordingly. The final product would be in the Official List

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

of Electors,” Ward subsequently explained.

It is understood that the Revised List of Electors contains a total of 661,378 names. According to Ward, the RLE will contain everyone captured during the Claims and Objections and the house-to-house verification.

It will also include the over 16,000 names from house-to-house that were flagged and led to GECOM launching a 5-day field exercise to verify them. Some of those persons were not found; however, they will be included.

When contacted, Government-nominated Commissioner Charles Corbin declined to comment on the issue. However, at least one GECOM

Commissioner voiced his disapproval.

According to Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj, while he does not agree with the move, steps will be taken to have these names monitored on Election Day. “I felt that the persons who were not verified should not be on the RLE. But what is going to happen, notwithstanding the fact the Chairman has overruled that, we are putting in place a system where those people will be flagged on polling day…by a mechanism yet to be determined,” Gunraj said.

The over 16,000 ‘new’ registrants were captured during the House-to-House (H2H) exercise that ran from July 20 to August 31, 2019.

However, the Opposition – People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – has always contended that the H2H exercise was largely unsupervised and would produce flawed results.

Indeed, the Party subsequently found that many of the persons listed as new registrants are either dead or were previously registered.

The concern that has been expressed is that this could be the gateway to fraudulent voting and election rigging.

It had previously been announced that over 6500 persons of the 16,863 ‘new’ registrants were not confirmed

He told Guyana Times that they were informed by the Party’s scrutineers who worked along with the GECOM staff during the exercise that there were instances where they went to the addresses to verify the names and were met with empty lots.

Some 370,000 registrations obtained during the scrapped $3 billion H2H

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

during the five-day field verification exercise which concluded on December 22.

Figures released to the media the next day had shown that Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) had the highest number of unconfirmed persons, which tallied to 3657.

According to GECOM, there were 16,863 ‘new’ registrants but only 10,329 were confirmed.

Opposition-nominated Commissioner Robeson Benn told this publication last week that field officers who conducted the verification exercise of “new registrants” captured during the scrapped H2H process have found empty lots at the addresses on record for those persons.

exercise were sent overseas to be cross-matched with the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD) in order to filter out the duplicates.

Only on Monday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that the Party is willing to do a second round of verification to ensure a credible voters’ list come March 2020.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 jailed for trafficking over 3lbs cocaine

S

hellon Barrow and Latoya Griffith, who were charged over a plot to traffic almost over three pounds of cocaine, was on Tuesday jailed for three years and nine months.

Barrow, a vendor of Lot 135 Victoria Street, Albouystown, and Griffith, a hairdresser of Lot 38 Norton Street, Georgetown, were on trial before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The prosecution contended that Barrow trafficked 1.638 kilograms (3.6 pounds) of cocaine on September 15, 2018 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, while Griffith, 37, was alleged to have aided Barrow to traffic the cocaine between September 14 and September

Shellon Barrow

15, 2018 at Sunset Hotel, Kitty, Georgetown. Both women initially denied the charge.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, Magistrate McGusty said that sufficient

evidence was presented by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Narissa Leander for a conviction. The Magistrate added that evidence showed that both women had knowledge of the illegal act and the video footage provided by the prosecution showed them willingly participating.

As such, Magistrate McGusty found them guilty of trafficking and jailed the duo.

The women were also fined $3.5 million.

Reports are on September 15, 2019, at CJIA, Barrow was intercepted while attempting to board a flight. The cocaine was found concealed in the false walls of her hard-cover suitcase.

According to reports, while in custody, she implicated Griffith, telling the CANU of-

Latoya Griffith

ficers that she was given the drugs by her. A video from the hotel, which was presented during the trial, showed the ‘drop-off’ of the drug involving Griffith and Barrow.

Looking forward…

W

…to a lot of newness ell, here we are, Dear Reader – 2020!! And isn’t it serendipitous that the number signals the standard for perfect sight – 20/20?? For your Eyewitness, he feels like bursting out into that evergreen Johnny Nash oldie: “I can see clearly now!” Remember the words? “I can see clearly now the rain is gone/ I can see all obstacles in my way/ Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind/ It’s gonna be a bright (bright)/ Bright (bright) sunshiny day!”

The song came out in 1993 – just after the PPP had defeated the PNC at the first free and fair elections in 28 years and started to put things right in his beloved homeland. Yes, the pall of the Burnhamite dictatorship – lifted a bit by Desmond Hoyte a couple of years before – was now completely gone! And all the obstacles to our development – the bankrupt economy, the crime-infested society, the corrupt officials, the widespread poverty, etc – could now be identified to be tackled by the PPP Government!! Yes…it was going to be a bright, bright sunshiny day!!

In March of this year, there’s gonna be another election, following another PNC regime. This time, it was thankfully only for five years!! But looking at the damage they’ve created in that short time; you’d think Granger was in a hurry to fulfil his pledge to live out his mentor Burnham’s legacy – of destruction, that is!! While we’re still a divided nation, the PNC’s inability to keep up the progress initiated by the PPP after their yeoman efforts to fix the damage in their first iteration, it’s your Eyewitness’s firm conviction that a lot of the PNC’s erstwhile supporters’ eyes have been “cleaned” and they too can see clearly now!!

Enough of them can see through the callous manipulation of their sentiments by the PNC – especially after they joined forces with the AFC. And repeated the exact betrayal of the 1968 PNC with their then coalition partner – the UF!! A significant chunk – including supporters of the dead meat AFC, which didn’t even have the pride to walk out! – will now see clearly that the PPP’s the only hope for Guyana. Especially, now that at long last they’ll have the wherewithal to fund their development plans. The PNC’s so clueless, they couldn’t punch their way out of a paper bag, much less the “resource curse”!!

Your Eyewitness can also clearly see that the PNC will invoke all the old bogeymen they’ve manufactured over the years against the PPP. But you can’t fool all of the people all the time!!

Guyanese can see very clearly this year; they’ll see the last of the PNC regime!! …to ending PNC mamaguy Caretaker Granger used the occasion of re-swearingin the incumbents of the municipal and RDC officials to give them some gratuitous advice. “Gratuitous” because it would’ve done him a world of good – not to mention all Guyana – if he’d taken his own advice!! He lectured his captive audience: “Serve your constituents regardless of political affiliation”. But what about how he served his own constituents – which, as President, was all Guyana – after he got into government??

He ran an administration that was more discriminatory to the political opposition than even his mentor Burnham.

Jobs? Check his Cabinet; Permanent Secretaries; Department Heads; advisors and even sweepers!!

Spending? Compare Anna Regina and Corriverton!

Development? Compare $2.6 billion for rural development in Ithaca, BV, Buxton and Mocha to Gangaram, Cane Grove and Lima Sands! Culture? Compare spending on Emancipation vs Indian Arrival Day! Employment?

Compare the hiring of 7000 People’s Militia/Public Servants – esp OP/Police/Special Projects vs 7000 fired in sugar industry!!

But all of this discrimination will come back like a boomerang to knock Granger and the PNC into history!! …for Guyana’s interest How many times must we Guyanese turn our heads and pretend that we just don’t see how Granger has trampled on our Constitution?

The answer, my friend, will come March 2!!

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

9

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

11

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Satiricu

“He vex? Leh he haul ‘e ass!

I gon get de PM wuk... neva mind ‘e green shut!!”

cus Review - 2019

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Jealous ex-lover kills man at ex-girlfriend’s house M&CC Chief Constable fired A jealous man killed a friend of his ex-girlfriend at her Mazaruni Street, Guyhoc Park, Georgetown home.

Dead is 23-year-old Kyle Chase of Mc Allen, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Reports are Chase was at a female friend’s house playing cards (fun games) on Monday evening at about 21:45h with his cousin, Trevon Chase.

According to the police, two males – one being the

Dead: Kyle Chase

24-year-old ex-boyfriend of the female – turned up at the house and became enraged upon seeing Kyle and Trevon Chase there.

Police said that an argument ensued and a scuffle erupted among the men during which the suspect allegedly stabbed Chase several times with an object.

Chase collapsed and was rushed to Davis Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Chase’s cousin, Trevon,

and the suspect were also injured during the scuffle.

Trevon Chase received medical attention and was discharged, while the suspect is under Police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) nursing injuries to his head.

Police have since launched an investigation. When this newspaper visited the dead man’s home, his family was reluctant to speak about the incident.

H

ead of the Constabulary Department at the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Andrew Foo, was sent packing on Tuesday after the Local Government Commission (LGC) terminated his services.

A reliable source confirmed that the Chief Constable was removed from his portfolio. However, while details pertaining to his termination remain unclear, the source indicated that it was seen as an “early retirement”.

According to the source, the LGC saw Foo’s removal in the public’s interest, citing the passage of the NoConfidence Motion that was passed against him. The motion was moved at one of the M&CC’s statutory meeting, with the aim of ending the “lack of management” that dominated the security department and the poor work outputted by the officers under Foo’s leadership. The motion was carried by 19 council members, two voted against it and three abstained.

In 2018, Foo was summoned before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) in the City Hall which was led by Justice Cecil Kennard (retired), and it was later revealed in the CoI’s final report that oral submissions made by the Chief Constable

Former Chief Constable Andrew Foo

contained conflicting statements. It was then stated in the report that Foo lacks credibility, integrity, competence, and should be dismissed.

Previously, City Hall’s Legal Affairs and Security Committee had recommended that the Chief Constable along with the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Virjanand Gafur, be sent on 14 days leave for serious neglect of duty in relation to their roles in investigating a sexual assault involving a minor at the City Constabulary.

Following the motion, Superintendent Andrew Livingstone was posted as acting Chief Constable.

15

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Ruminations March 2020 elections are the most consequential in Guyana’s history

W

e ended a difficult 2019 and our prospects for 2020 now depend on the choices we make. My family and I wish Guyanese a 2020 that forever changes our destiny, a rendezvous with success and with prosperity for every citizen.

Sir Walter Raleigh failed to find the golden city of El Dorado four hundred years ago but we now find ourselves in that land with black gold. Will Guyanese seize the opportunity to remove the disguise of poverty and really enjoy lives and standard of living of a wealthy nation in 2020?

For the March 2020 elections, the claim is being made by every political party Dr Leslie Ramsammy and, for once, everyone agrees that the 2020 general elections are the most consequential elections in Guyana’s history as an independent country. Our ability to safeguard Guyana’s democracy is at stake, as the David Granger-led APNU/AFC has shown clear evidence that it will try its utmost to rig the elections. But, in addition, these are the most consequential elections in our history because the political choices we make in the March 2, 2020 elections will decide Guyana’s future direction: will we continue being a poor country or will we be immediately a high middle-income country, not just on paper, but in terms of our standard of living? This election will allow Guyanese to choose a path towards the future, whether we want to be a developed country in our lifetime. Truly, this election will decide the future of our country – will Guyana be a boom or a bust?

Oil and gas is definitely a boom for Guyana. But this boom could enrich just a few or could make a meaningful difference in the lives of every Guyanese. The March 2020 elections will decide whether we will bring the benefits of oil and gas to BIG OIL to a few Guyanese or we will ensure every Guyanese enjoy the boom of an OIL economy. Even with the very generous terms, Guyana conceded to BIG OIL, there are enough benefits that could meaningfully change the lives of every Guyanese, not only making Guyana rich on paper but creating a future that dramatically lifts the standard of living of ALL Guyanese, that positively transforms the physical landscape of Guyana. But for OIL and GAS to make an impact this way, lifting Guyana almost immediately to a future we could only dream of yesterday, we must manage the new oil and gas resources responsibly, fairly, without corruption. This is a Guyanese resource, not a resource belonging to those in Government. Without a list of all that has gone wrong, underlining the unsuitability of the present Government to manage OIL, just one question tells us we must make a change – where is the US$18M EXXON bonus money?

After four years of different excuses, we still are in the dark.

This is why the March 2020 elections are so consequential.

The Granger-led APNU/AFC has already revealed its stripes. As early as it is, they have shown incompetence and corruption which will turn OIL and GAS revenues into another opportunity for a handful to get rich. We must make a choice for a government that will be responsive, transparent and accountable. The Sovereign Wealth Fund which is supposed to ensure that OIL revenues are managed for the welfare of ALL Guyanese has been designed for management by a government minister— that opens up the possibility for massive corruption. The March 2020 elections will decide whether we will allow this to happen, condemning the vast majority of Guyanese to continue the lives of poor people, this time in a rich country. The present SWF is designed to make Guyana a rich country on paper but the lives of the vast majority will not change. Allowing APNU/AFC to continue will only give them more spunk for arrogance and authoritarianism, building a rich class that will forever keep the majority poor.

The March 2020 elections will also decide whether we will allow oil and gas to add to our economy or simply to displace what presently exists. The choice before us must be to ensure that Guyana’s agriculture fulfils our potential – the breadbasket of the Caribbean. The Caribbean imports more than US$10B in food. If Guyana captures a small part of that market, agriculture not only can remain the foundation of our economy but can bring in as much as OIL and GAS. The last four years have shown concrete evidence this Government has no interest in agriculture.

We must ensure that we have a government that will embrace our agriculture destiny.

There are other reasons why this election is consequential.

Which government we choose will determine whether SUGAR survives in Guyana or not. Mark my words, should APNU/AFC continue in government, there would be no chance for SUGAR to survive. Guyanese have lived all of our lives with costly and unreliable electricity. Without Amaila hydroelectricity, without other non-fossil energy, Guyana will lag far behind. With APNU/ AFC, we will choose to continue with what we have. To end the GPL woes, we must make a choice for change. There are many other reasons, but even with this short list, we can see why the March 2020 elections are likely the most consequential in our history.

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 500 squatters living on Govt reserves in Sophia O ver 500 persons are living on Government reserves in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

This is according to the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA’s) Settlement Upgrading and Regularisation Unit Director, Gladwin Charles.

Charles was at the time addressing the issue of regularising areas where there is a large number of squatters.

He added that some 85 per cent verification of squatters’ lots throughout various areas which are being regularised across the country has been carried out.

He stated that for Sophia, which is the biggest area in Guyana to be regularised, verification and distribution of land titles are still ongoing.

“That area is one of the largest areas we have in the country in terms of regularisation. We have approximately 5549 lots in the area and we’ve regularised approximately 85 per cent in terms of verification and about 75 per cent of those persons have received their titles to date,” Charles said.

He added that some 24,000 lots will be available throughout the various regions after nationwide regularisation is complete.

The Director also expressed that the CH&PA has been facing difficulties with relocation, however, collaborative efforts with or-

CH&PA Director of Settlement Upgrading and Regularisation Unit, Gladwin Charles

ganisations such as Food For The Poor (Guyana) Inc, have been made to provide homes for families.

“In terms of relocation, we know that’s a bigger challenge, for example, in Sophia we have on the reserves, we’re working with those persons in terms of relocation. We’ve interviewed over 500 persons on the reserves on the power lines… that’s why I mentioned it’s very challenging in terms of relocation but we’re working with those persons with the community groups, community leaders…,” he stated.

Over the years, squatting has posed a major challenge across the country for both the current and previous Administration.

Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, Lelon Saul, said the body has a “zero-tolerance” policy as it relates to squatting.

“Persons who are squatting will be removed but we

must identify appropriate locations for them and we are currently working on that.

There is a lot of issues that must be taken into consideration,” he said.

Moreover, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) had indicated plans to ramp up its work to remove squatters from across the country, as it has now been inundated with reports of incidents with affluent people in society also being accused of partaking in this illegal practice.

GLSC Commissioner Trevor Benn told Guyana

Times that it has been observed by the Commission that there has been rampant squatting taking place along the reserves in Georgetown. Benn said along the area stretching from Bourda to Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, every single landowner has extended their fence.

“And these are people with knowledge, money and who should understand that they should not squat. One of them is a senior businessman, who even went to the courts to prescribe for the land,” he explained.

He added that as a re-

sult of this illegal act, the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown did not have access to clean the reserve which is posing a major problem in keeping the area clean.

Benn said, “So, squatting is not a poor people thing.

It’s everybody squatting. It has become rampant and it has to stop and we will go after people as much as we can. We have a no-compromise policy when it comes to squatting. People should not squat. The law said so,” he asserted.

The Commissioner said it observed that there was

a significant increase in squatting along the LindenSoesdyke Highway and in Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), among other areas. Squatting has taken place on lands already leased for industrial, commercial and residential land use, and on reserves, which constrain development of some areas and delay processing of land applications.

The Commission has said that all squatters, including those who are encouraging squatting, will be prosecuted and new squatter settlements will not be regularised.

ven’t paid. If you look at our collections, what is happening is that 70 per cent of our collections are coming from our metered customers and the rest from the unmetered.

But in terms of water usage, a larger amount of water is used by the unmetered customers, compared to that of the metered,” the Managing Director said on Tuesday as he gave a breakdown of the numbers.

Van-West Charles said that until these matters are rectified, it will be difficult for the company to see a profit. As such, metering all of its customers is one of the steps towards ensuring equity.

“It is imperative for us to ensure that there is equi-

ty in the system by metering every customer. And it does two things – we have more inflows for us to do much more but in essence, the level of service in the system will improve significantly.”

Nevertheless, the net loss for January to November was reduced by more than 40 per cent when compared to the same period the previous year. Gross income, on the other hand, was increased by 14.4 per cent or $845.6 million.

For 2019, GWI performed 66,000 water tests throughout the country in keeping with standards set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO). As per global compliance, heavy metal testing was required in the hin-

terland communities. The water quality parameters tested are based on pH, turbidity, iron content, colour, residual chlorine, aluminium and salinity. On average, the water company shared that the water supplied to customers were 95 to 100 per cent in line with the WHO health-based guidelines.

The access to hinterland communities rose to 85 per cent and 28 wells were drilled in communities.

For the entire year, 6580 meters were installed, and the cover is now 53.2 per cent which amounts to 91,372 accounts.

For the first half of 2020, GWI is looking to cut costs by reducing the use of alum and lime by 50 per cent.

$3B owed by customers to GWI

T

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) did not see a profit in 2019, and one of the contributing factors was the fact that customers owe a whopping $3 billion. While announcing their performance review for this year, the utility company would have recorded its total expenditure for 2019 at $12 billion.

While there was an increased revenue of over $5.1 billion, Managing Director, Dr Richard Van-West Charles informed that this figure was influenced by the usage of water from unmetered persons as well.

“We’re not in a profit as yet because we still have an outstanding debt of about $3 billion for customers who ha-

17

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

18 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Handyman jailed for 20 Fisherman who shot at years for raping schoolgirl City Constable jailed

A

handyman was on Monday jailed for 20 years after a jury found him guilty of rape.

Justice Brassington Reynolds handed down the sentence on 44-yearold Ramgolam Tyrone of Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). The jury found him guilty of raping the grade four student in April this year; however, the sentencing was deferred to Monday to facilitate a probation report.

In presenting the report on Monday, Probation and Welfare Officer attached to the Social Services Ministry, Judith Vankennie, told the court that Tyrone lost his father when he was very young and dropped out of school after his father’s death.

Tyrone claimed that his relatives wanted him out of the house and they made

Jailed: Ramgolam Tyrone

up the allegations against him.

According to the probation report, he claimed that he only drinks on weekends. The probation officer stated that residents in his neighbourhood said he was not a troublemaker.

The probation officer said that after the incident,

the victim was always fearful when visitors went to their house and she stayed upstairs.

Speaking about Tyrone, the victim said she does not want to see him anymore.

The probation officer told the court that the victim’s mother had reported the incident when the child reported it to her.

The rapist said he and the victim shared a loving relationship and they played together.

However, the victim said she did have a good relationship with him until the incident.

State Prosecutor See ta Bishundial said Tyro ne was under relatives’ roof when he violated the young girl and noted that he was bold enough to maintain his innocence despite being found guilty by a jury. According to the Prosecutor, he robbed the

girl of her childhood and acted like a criminal. She asked the court to send a strong message to those who might be like-minded.

Before the sentence was passed, Tyrone said, “I am sorry”.

In passing sentence, Justice Reynolds said he noted the manner in which the offence was committed and the fact that the rapist maintained his innocence up until he was about to be sentenced even after being found guilty.

Tyrone had two previous brushes with the law; however, he was a school dropout and could be a victim of his own domestic circumstances, the trial Judge said.

“But you are a big man and have your own sense. I hope you benefit from counselling and hope you reflect on your actions while in prison.”

M

agistrate Annette Singh on Tuesday jailed a 25-yearold man after he was found guilty of discharging a firearm at a rank of the City Constabulary.

Kevin Allicock of James Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on August 15, 2019, at Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown, he discharged a loaded firearm at City Constabulary rank, Brent Walcott, with the intent to maim, disfigure, or cause grievous bodily harm.

The trial concluded on Tuesday and Magistrate Singh informed Allicock that there was sufficient evidence and as such, she found him guilty of the offence.

According to the prosecution’s case, at about 05:30h, Allicock was observed by a

City Constable attempting to scale the western fence of Bourda Market. The prosecution contended that the rank then raised an alarm and Allicock jumped from the fence, pulled out a gun from the waistband of his pants, and fired three rounds in Walcott’s direction.

The court also heard that the rank, who was armed at the time, returned fire but Allicock escaped.

During the trial, the court heard that shortly after, a party of City Constabulary ranks received information about Allicock’s whereabouts and went to Hadfield Street, Georgetown, where they arrested him hiding under a bridge. He was handed over to Police and charged. Magistrate Singh jailed the fisherman for 12 months.

NEWS

19

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

British firm to advise Energy Dept on Payara oil field development

H

aving evaluated 11 Expressions of Interest (EOI) from international firms to provide technical support to the Department of Energy as it seeks to manage Guyana’s oil and gas sector, one British firm has emerged on top.

According to a statement from the Department on Tuesday, Bayphase Geologists, Engineers and Investment Analysts Limited (or for short, Bayphase Ltd) emerged from the evaluation as the highest-ranked firm.

It is understood that they were invited to submit a technical and financial proposal as part of the process. According to the Department, the consultancy is to provide support to the Energy Department as it handles the Project Development Evaluation of

the Payara oil field.

The Department also said that the Procurement Plan of the Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project (GPRGMP) and the Procurement Method of Consultant’s Qualifications Selection (CQS) was followed in evaluating the firm.

Afterwards, both the evaluation report and the recommendation for contract award were approved by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). It was explained by the Department that the contract commenced December 30, 2019, and will last for 4 months.

“Under this consultancy, Bayphase will provide advisory services and technical support to the Government of Guyana through the Department of Energy (DE) as Guyana seeks to rapidly

Jameela Ali

Roysdale Alton Forde

Stanley Moore

Murseline Bacchus

our long-standing practitioners in the legal field have been conferred with silk, otherwise known as the Senior Counsel title, with effect from January 1, 2020.

This announcement was made by the Ministry of the Presidency. The attorneys are Jamela Ayesha Ali, Murseline Bacchus, Roysdale Alton Forde and Stanley Moore.

A release from the Ministry of the Presidency stated that these individuals were chosen because of their high-quality service to the legal profession and knowledge of the law.

It is the fourth conferral by President David Granger since 2017.

In June of 2019, Robert Ramcharran, Carole JamesBoston, Stephen Fraser,

Rajendra Poonai and Shalimar Ali-Hack were appointed Senior Counsels at a special sitting of the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

The honour of silk is conferred on an eminent lawyer. The conferment was by the Crown, that is, the King or Queen, hence King’s Counsel was abbreviated to KC and Queen’s Counsel, QC, but now in the Republic State of Guyana, they are referred to as Senior Advocate or Senior Counsel (SC).

This status is recognised by the courts and they have the privilege of sitting in the Bar at the Court where they are considered members of the “inner bar”. Since members wear silk gowns of a specific design, the Counsels are usually referred to as silk.

4 lawyers conferred as Senior Counsel

F

build out its in-house technical capacity. The project covers such areas as an indepth review of the Payara field development plan (FDP), environmental impact assessment (EIA) and supporting documents.”

“It also includes on-the-job training for Guyanese and preparation of draft national FDP guidelines. Amongst beneficiaries of training from Bayphase will be the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy (DE) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Petroleum Division (GGMC-PD),” the Department also said.

The Department has been under criticism regarding its sloth in developing key pieces of policy for the oil and gas sector. According to them, however, this consultancy is expected to help to advance their efforts to build capacity.

They were also hopeful that it would help to level the

Map showing the location of the Payara field

playing field between regulators and State agencies and the more experienced international oil companies operating in Guyana’s oil and gas sector.

According to its website, Bayphase has experience infield development planning, resource auditing and valuation; cost auditing and estimates, reservoir model-

ling and strategic studies.

When it comes to field development planning, they list Libya, Sudan, Seychelles, India and Indonesia as some of the places where they have worked.

So far, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL, Exxon’s local subsidiary) has now made 15 oil finds in the

Stabroek Block over 100 miles offshore Guyana, including four for this year.

Last year, the company made five discoveries. These discoveries have pushed the total estimated recoverable barrels of oil equivalent to over six billion. In addition, Exxon is moving ahead with its Liza Phase Two project, which will contain approximately 30 wells.

The Liza Destiny, Guyana’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, arrived in Guyana’s waters at the end of August. The vessel will play a key role in oil production.

The oil giant has said that pending Government approvals and project sanctioning of a third development, production in the Payara field north of the Liza discoveries could start as early as 2023, reaching an estimated 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

20 NEWS PPP/C to launch 2020 elections campaign on Sunday T WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has announced that it will be launching its 2020 elections campaign on Sunday.

The launch will take place at Kitty Market Square, Georgetown, at 15:00h.

PPP/C General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo and Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali will be key speakers at the event.

The party has also indicated that it plans to discuss issues including the creation of jobs, reduction of taxation, improvement of education and health care, affordable housing and the management of the oil and gas sector for the benefit of Guyanese.

Last month, the PPP/C launched their manifesto titled: “Our plan for prosperity”, with excerpts outlining the party’s policies and plans for the country and its people, should it get into office.

Some of the plans outlined include the removal of

Value Added Tax (VAT) on key areas such as electricity, water and healthcare, among other things.

Also high on the party’s agenda is the reversal and/ or reduction of the over 200 tax measures imposed by

the coalition Administration – such as on building materials, on data, and exports.

The party also outlined that it will reverse the VAT on farming, mining and forestry equipment, which has caused untold difficulties for

farmers, miners and those in the forestry sector.

Additionally, the PPP in its 2020 elections manifesto has promised that if elected to office it would advance constitutional reform with the input of the citizens

themselves.

In its manifesto, the party noted the importance of ensuring that the people participate in something as critical as revising the supreme law. The party referenced the constitutional reform it piloted in the late ’90s, early 2000s, as an example of the process that is needed.

The PPP/C has also promised that should it return to office, the restoration of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is high on its agenda.

The LCDS, a brainchild of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, allowed Guyana to earn millions of dollars for deferred deforestation.

When the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) came into power, the programme was scrapped.

Touting the value of Guyana’s forests, the PPP/C noted its potential to make a positive impact and also impact the fight against climate change. According to the party, hundreds of millions of US dollars can still be earned using Guyana’s forests.

The party also noted some concrete measures they will pursue, including establishing an International Centre

of Excellence for Biological Diversity. According to the PPP/C, this centre will promote cutting-edge research, while developing and exporting educational services.

They also promised that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would have its capacity built, to provide enhanced regulation. In addition, the National System of Protected Areas would also be enhanced.

According to the PPP, steps would also be taken to decarbonise the transport sector by implementing a mixture of ethanol into vehicles to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Other measures the party touted were renewable energy technologies and providing incentives for biomass-to-energy projects.

The party promised it would also provide grants for startup businesses for renewable and recycling projects.

Another measure the party promised was to implement a National Land Use policy for residential and commercial interests, as well as establishing an inter-agency mechanism for coordination between the forestry, mining, agriculture, settlements and infrastructure sector.

Superbet makes monetary donation to fire victims

Sonia Charran handing over the monetary donation to Alvin Spencer

G

uiana Holdings Inc, marketed under the name Superbet, made a monetary donation to 58-year-old Alvin Spencer, who lost his home to an early morning fire December 29, 2019.

According to reports, the fire razed Spencer’s three-bedroom house at D’Edward Village, West Bank Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) which he shared with his 16-year-old son Osborne Spencer.

As a result of the blaze, the teen, who was completing his School-Based Assessment (SBA) projects, has lost his textbooks, notebooks and a laptop among other school items.

Spencer had told this publication that the fire was first spotted at about 03:00h and recalled that he was asleep when his son alerted him of the fire. More frustration

was added as the painter by profession recently returned to Guyana from Barbados to assist his son with his Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations preparations.

Spencer has indicated that he will be rebuilding his home as soon as possible and would be grateful for the public’s assistance. He can be contacted via phone on 671-5476.

He also expressed his thanks for the company’s generosity upon receiving the donation at Superbet’s Head Office on Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

The General Manager, Shrikant Kisoensingh, conveyed that the company is always looking for means of giving back to the communities and this is their way of ending the year on a good note.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020

Linden: UDFA Christmas football finale…

21

Coomacka seeking 1st title against 5-time champs

Nigel Hinds (right) and his Financial Services Group came through for the UDFA with the donation of the top prize of $700,000

T

he drama ends tonight to start a new year, but will the gi-

CLASSIFIED ADS ASTROLOGY & SPIRITUALITY Work done by : Djuka. For all Purposes: Healing, Upliftment for Business, Court Matters, Visa, Evil Sickness, Togetherness for lovers, Pregnancy, Jobs, Money Readings, Husband/Wife Seperation. 6334487

FOR SALE For sale as is, 2006 Nissan Bluebird Sylphy, $1.2M call 651-9620.

LAND FOR SALE Lot 90x90 excellent location at EBD, convenience, security and plenty privacy 12.5M. Has 2 family older house. WhatsApp 592-601-3232 Land/Lot 100x275 Prime location privacy security convenient to airport and Georgetown at EBD. Ideal for overseas residents and re-migrants 0.63 acre $27m WhatsApp 592-601-3232.

ant-killing act be seen for another night – even if such a term could be used to describe when Coomacka, in their first-ever final appearance, attempt to upstage the five-time year-end football champions Topp XX? This question will be answered with a winning $700,000 prize; the Most Valuable Player gets a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 valued at $200,000 and bragging rights for one year, all compliments of Nigel Hinds, when the two collide in the final of the Upper Demerara Football Association’s Christmas championship at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC)Ground from 21:00h.

Not to be forgotten is the fact that Coomacka reaching the final is indeed historic and that alone means that their orange and blue colours could adorn the stands of the MSC as they passionately seek a rare title indeed. Topp XX will be wearing their green and white hoping to stop the Coomacka team from making history against them, given their pedigree at this level.

Troy Nelson, the Topp

XX Coach, is leaving no stone unturned to bring his team a sixth title after he would have been a player in the last five championships they won on January 1 over the years when Topp XX were the dominant team in Guyana.

A satisfied Nelson said: “They are giving me maximum respect as the Coach and it’s the first time in a long time I see the players cooperating like how they are now. Before the tournament, my team had not had the chance to train for about a year. And during the tournament, they trained about three days and we are being rewarded greatly.”

Critical to the team reaching thus far was a decision to put their experienced player Travis Waterston to play in the central defensive role on the back line. Nelson said a player of his quality needed to be there to shore-up the defence and at times he has the ability to mix it up coming through the middle.

They have in goal Gregory Hinds and a competent line of defence with Ralph Alexander, Ruel Williams, Waterston and Stephan Tappin to choose from as Ryan Noel, their captain, is in tandem with Carlos Grant and Keon Hall at midfield while up front

are Adrian Browne, Shawn Daniels and Jamal Bentick.

On the other hand, the dream run by Coomacka came after giant-killing victories against the two top clubs in the tournament, Net Rockers and Botafogo respectively. This in itself tells a story: Coomacka are a team to watch.

Their coach, Carlsdale Aaron commented: “Once we stick to our game plan, no team can’t stop we. We are not underrating no team, but come game night they are the known team, but with the type of players we have we get the upper hand.”

TURN TO PAGE 23

ANSA McAL 592 Beer Community Cup…

Exhilarating finale anticipated

A

significant percentage of the Buxton/ Friendship community is expected to travel down to the Golden Grove Community Centre in an attempt to suffocate the anticipated partisan support of the hosts in tonight’s final of the inaugural 592 Beer Community Cup. Hosts Golden Grove will face Friendship in the championship game while in the preceding matchup, Paradise will square off against BV for third place.

Up for grabs are $500,000 and the championship trophy; the second, third and fourth placed teams will take home $200,000, $150,000 and $100,000 along with trophies respectively.

The final has all the hallmarks of a riveting contest with the home side favoured to defend home turf against

a strong and confident Friendship. Golden Grove looked impressive in their 3-1 triumph over BV in their semi-final clash and with what was witnessed in terms of home support, the visitors will need a similar level of fan support to suppress the vociferous home turnout.

Former national player Dwain Jacobs has been leading by example with some exciting performances and the cast of Quason McAulay, Seretse Huntley and Phillip Williams are poised to continue their rampant form. On the other hand, Friendship will be buoyed by their victory over a strong Paradise team, so don’t expect them to be intimidated by the partisan crowd or their opponents.

Once again, Clive Andries, the team’s talisman, will be aiming to engineer the win along with Delon Wright

and the hero of the last game, Seon Thomas. Thomas, who was magnificent between the uprights in their semi-final clash against Paradise – making three stunning saves, will feel inspired to replicate that performance. Andries is a player with the quality to turn a game on its head and Golden Grove’s backline will be aware of this and try to nullify his threatening forays in the attacking third.

As was mentioned before, the game has all the trappings of an epic showdown that will surely benefit the fans, but more importantly underline the quality of football that reside on the East Coast corridor.

In the third-place playoff, one will have to favour BV over Paradise, who clearly missed their leader Quincy Adams in the previous game. This is expect-

ed to occur again, and BV will no doubt take advantage of his unavoidable absence. Reon Hopkinson, Akin Curry, Jemar Harrington, and Omari Glasgow will relish the opportunity to orchestrate incursions with no fear of the opposition’s weakened defence.

However, they must be cognisant of one characteristic that Paradise possess – their determination to fight to the end. This was on display in their elimination of Buxton in Buxton when they came from two goals down to advance.

Meanwhile, there will be entertainment after the game to usher in the new year. The organisers extended thanks to all the fans and teams who have made the tournament a success while helping to revive the game among communities along the corridor.

22 Job not done yet: Sinclair on staking claim for Jaguars 4-Day spot WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020

G

By Brandon Corlette uyana Jaguars will have their final preparation with a three-day match January 2-4 at the National Stadium, Providence before the Regional FourDay commences on January 9 in Antigua, against Leeward Islands.

The first practice match saw Johnson's XI winning by five wickets against Adams’ XI. Speaking to the media after the match, promising all-rounder Kevin Sinclair and veteran batsman Vishaul Singh reflected on the first practice match and gave insights about selection and the 4-Day tournament.

Sinclair hungry for 4-Day selection Fresh from a sweet Super50 tournament with the champion team, West Indies Emerging Players, Sinclair stated that he was hungry for a maiden 4-Day stint. Fresh from scoring a well-composed fifty for Johnson’s XI against Adams’ XI, Sinclair stated that the job was not done yet and he was looking forward to the second practice match.

“I wouldn’t say the job is done as yet; we have another game and I am looking forward to that. I just want to be consistent, sticking all-round performances which will enhance my chances at selec-

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– Singh hails 1st practice match a success tion,” Sinclair explained.

Reflecting on his fifty in the opening game, Sinclair stated that he had to quickly assess c o n d i tions u n der

Johnson’s XI

pressure.

“First, I was l o o k ing at Smithy (Nial

Kevin Sinclair

Smith), he was getting the ball to swing, so I played to my strengths.”

After being one of the finds of the Super50 tournament while representing the Emerging Players, Sinclair emphasised on playing a consistent brand of cricket with both bat and ball –believing this would give him a chance at selection.

Singh hails franchise structure for producing young players One of the senior statesmen in the Jaguars unit, Singh stated that the objective of the first practice match was to spend

time at the crease as the wicket was not conducive to playing shots. Going forward in the Regional 4-Day, Singh stated that the top six should get big runs which will give the team a big total.

With Jaguars losing three matches last season but still managing to clinch their fifth successive title, Singh stated that the Jaguars were mindful of everyone else being on a level playing field.

Shedding some light on the youngsters coming through the ranks, he said: “We have a good crop of young players and our franchise have employed

the academy structure, which have borne fruit.

We have seen players at the regional level for different franchises in the Super50.”

Singh, who made 47 in the opening practice match, stated that it was not easy getting out, with the team suffering a deficit of 47 runs.

The left-handed Singh further said that the batsmen and the bowlers did the job in the second innings which aided in a five-wicket win for Johnson’s XI. The second and final practice match between Johnson’s XI and Adams’ XI will bowl off from 09:00h local time.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020

GFF Super 16 Cup…

23

GDF, Fruta Conquerors promise riveting final and we already took a year end tournament, so we’re looking to put this to our second tournament,” Ceasar stated confidently.

GFF President Wayne Forde who was also present at the event, while

Ready to battle! Fruta Conquerors Captain Vurlon Mills and GDF Captain Sherwin Caesar display the BACIF-sponsored championship trophy flanked by their teammates

T

their thoughts on Wednesday evening’s final.

There, President of the tourism and Hospitality association of Guyana, Mitra Ramkumar shared his content with the tournament as he emphasized on the benefits of sport tourism.

“As you would know that we’re promoting sport tourism and what you see here is us getting some heroes out of the Super 16 games. And these heroes with their natural talent will become tourism ambassadors for us. Sport tourism has huge potential for Guyana,” Ramkumar explained.

While Fruta Conquerors and GDF go head to head at 10pm for the championship trophy, Santos FC and the Guyana Police Force FC will clash for the third position at 7pm.

With his intent to win clear, Captain of the Fruta Conquerors FC Vurlon Mills

his evening, the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground, Bourda will come alive as scores pf football fans gather to witness the monumental clash between the Guyana Defense Force and Fruta Conquerors football clubs in the GFF Super 16 final.

Following three weeks of riveting competition, the owner of a 2million dollar purse will be decided tonight as the GDF FC and Fruta Conquerors FC go head to head in the highly anticipated Super 16 Cup final. If the final is anything like the semis, football fans can expect goals galore and a myriad of skill from the local senior teams.

The Guyana Football Federation on Tuesday morning, hosted a pre- match press briefing at the ‘I love Guyana’ sign in Kingston where stakeholders and players alike, got the opportunity to express

shared that the team intends to win the Super 16, like they did the 2019 Elite League.

“We’re both looking to play 90 minutes and it’s going to be very intense and we’re going to definitely walk away with this championship. We’re going to play as a team and play hard, we going to do everything we’ve been training for all season; the simple things that made us victorious in the league and throughout this tournament,” Mills boasted.

In reply, GDF Captain Sherwin Ceasar was keen to note that the army team has already took home a year end championship and will not hesitate to do so again.

“What the fans should be looking out for is what they have been seeing so far, full excitement when it come to the GDF team. To Fruta Conquerors, I must say welcome to the final, well the army has been there before

Coomacka seeking first title against...

FROM PAGE 21

He was high in praise of his young team saying many are teenagers, but were brave and courageous.

He pointed to their standout goalkeeper, Kellon Major, who has been brilliant throughout the championship while the defence players have been competent in harassing their opposing forwards.

Whether Keiron Daw, Atekeba Edmundson and Wheatland Thom can maintain their level of play with Lionel “Messi” Peters in attacking mode is left to be seen.

Thus, tonight’s matches are keen encounters of a rare kind as history will un-The proprietor of the Trophy Stall presents the first place trophy to fold for football.

Terrence Mitchell, the President of the Upper Demerara Football

Trophy Stall supports

Association.

It comes as no surprise that Trophy Stall has come on board with the Upper Demerara Football Association to assist in the staging of the seventh edi-

tion of the UDFA Year-End Football Championship.

Trophy Stall proprietor Ramesh Sun ich recently donated the first-place trophy to Association President Terrence Mitchell.

The championship,

which commenced on December 13 at the MSC Ground between 10 teams, enters its final day today.

The UDFA would like to thank Trophy Stall for its continued support.

Captains of the top two teams show off the custom-made championship trophy

expressing confidence in the quality of tomorrow evening’s final, shared that he is proud of the 2019 edition of the tournament owing to the increased reach, coverage and skill.

“I would have mentioned that the GFF would have set itself a challenge to make this year’s competition the best for the three attempts that they’ve made. And at this point I must say that we have delivered a really good tournament.”

“I know that we can expect an exciting final and I would like to wish both teams well on January 1st,” the GFF boss went on to say.

Sponsors of this tournament include MACORP; Pegasus Hotel; Brass, Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF); THAG; Marics and Company; NAMILCO; Impressions; and Hits and Jams.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

guyanatimesgy.com

GFF Super 16 Cup…

Page 23

GDF, Fruta Conquerors promise riveting final Page 22

Linden: UDFA Christmas football finale…

Page 21

Job not done yet: Sinclair Coomacka seeking on staking claim for 1st title against Jaguars 4-Day spot ꟷ Singh hails 1st practice match a success 5-time champs For request and renewal of Guyana Times newspaper subscription, call 231-0544 | ext 26 or 55 GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.