Chronicle 08 07 2016 by Guyana Chronicle

Insha’Allah SUNDAY AUGUST 7, 2016

No. 104636

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‒ GPHC boss Michael Khan leaves it up to the Almighty after reinstatement rejected by Health Minister

‒ Chairman says ‘only right’ that Khan was called back to work

Beyond the traditional classroom…

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140 graduate after training in robotics

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Nigerian students say backlog of ‘extension’ 2 cases cleared P.

Policeman arrested after shooting man accused of domestic violence 16 P.

GGMC to investigate possible river pollution from mining in Moruca P.16

Nathifa Bacchus who participated in the STEM robotics workshop at Buxton receives her certificate of achievement at Saturday’s event

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Beyond the traditional classroom…

140 graduate after training in robotics FIRST Lady Sandra Granger on Saturday told the graduating class of participants at the conclusion of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Robotics workshop that the venture has opened new avenues for learning beyond the traditional classroom setting. The First Lady was addressing graduates of the three-week programme titled “Lego Robotics Building and Programming” in the boardroom of the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. Some 140 students from various locations across the coastland including Georgetown , Buxton and Lusignan received certificates for their participation in the robotics programme, which was administered by the United States –based Karen Abrams and her four children - Ima, Asha, Caleb and Joshua Christian, all of Atlanta, Georgia. According to the First Lady, in the classroom environment emphasis is placed on literacy and numeracy but according to her, STEM “encourages our children to use their minds.” She added that the method of learning may spur children who are not so interested in English, to develop their communication skills in order to advance their social field.

First Lady Sandra Granger presents Sunil Latchman with his certificate of achievement at the conclusion of the workshop

The First Lady said that she was heartened at the number of young faces who participated in the programme as she thanked the organisers and sponsors for their support. According to her, while she is entering her 7th decade, there is not much which excites her but the possibilities which she envisioned when the subject of robotics was raised, moved her. This was so since she recognized how much technology and information technology and communications play in everyone’s daily lives. She said she understands the value of the knowledge the children

would have attained over the duration of the workshops. As she commended the sponsors, she expressed hope that the collaboration can be expanded and strengthened to the benefit of the young people and communities across Guyana. She posited that the knowledge should be expanded so that children in every community across the country can access robotics and broader educational ambitions. “I believe that our young people now understand that there is much more to ICT than email and messaging, Youtube , Instagram ,Facebook ,Twitter”, she said . Abrams, in brief remarks, noted that the workshops involved making connections with local representatives in

First Lady Sandra Granger listens as organiser Karen Abrams (backing camera) explains the operation of robotic equipment utilised during the workshops

communities such as Buxton, Lusignan and within the capital city. She said that the workshops catered for persons in the 10-14 age group but according to her, many 16 - 19 year -olds were also interested in the programme and they were subsequently trained as volunteers. She said a class was also enlisted to form a STEM club, and this also attracted additional persons. A drone concept was floated during the workshop and this form of technology will be considered for future workshops. The STEM Robotics programme is a public/private global diaspora venture which was conceptualised several months ago and later attracted the attention of the First Lady. The programme has received the blessings of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Telecommunications, the Ministry of the Presidency and local businesses and professionals among others. Robotics is the branch of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. It is considered the pivot of STEM projects. (Alva Solomon)

Nigerian students say backlog of ‘extension’ cases cleared THE Nigerian Association in Guyana member Onoja Atta Onoja Saturday said the backlog of immigration extensions for students of that country here, have been cleared. And the association, via a letter in the name of Onoja, has commended Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibil-

ity for Citizenship, Winston Felix, for reverting to the three-week deadline as stipulated in the Immigration Act, regarding extensions. Onoja was at the time responding to a statement made by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Chief Whip , Gail Teixeira, who told a parliamentary sub-committee meeting

Wednesday that a number of foreign students in Guyana have been complaining about the length of time it takes to process their extensions. According to her, this has been a concern particularly for the large batch of Nigerian students studying at the Texila American University. According to Onoja, several applications for visas and extensions of stay had been pending for up to nine years in some instances, but these have been dealt with. She called on Texila American University to de-

sist from misleading Members of Parliament by using Nigeria’s name in such scenarios, for political and economic gains. “I would equally like to remind the good people of Guyana that Nigeria as a matter of international policy does not meddle in the internal politics of any country, but rather opts to cooperate and work with every country for the good of all”, Onoja said. This publication had reported that Minister Felix noted that he is willing to consider the possibility of having international students granted work permits.

Teixeira, who chaired the meeting which brought into focus the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Citizenship, asked the subject minister whether the administration would consider the possibility of granting international students work permits. She said a number of foreign students here have been complaining about the length of time it takes to process their extensions. According to her, this has been a concern particularly for the large batch of Nigerian students studying at the Texila American University.

In response, Minister Felix said he is willing to consider the proposal put by the students, however, he refuted the claims made that the process of accessing an extension is usually a lengthy one. “I do not have any application for student visa… or extension on my desk for any prolonged period, any delay,” Minister Felix said. It was explained that international students from Texila American University do not apply for their extensions individually, but through the school’s administration.

Insha’Allah 3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

‒ GPHC boss Michael Khan leaves it up to the Almighty after reinstatement rejected by Health Minister

‒ Chairman says ‘only right’ that Khan was called back to work

Mr Michael Khan

By Navendra Seoraj IN HIGHLY dramatic fashion on Friday last, Michael Khan, embattled Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was reinstated to his position, then booted, then ordered to his desk or face a motion by the board to dismiss him. Within this uncertainty, Khan told the Sunday Chronicle that he hopes to be at his desk come Monday morning; or, in his words, “Insha’Al-

lah” (If God wills). After a discussion held by the Board following the completion of an investigation, the Chairman of the Board, Dr Max Hanoman, wrote a letter to acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Sheik Amir, informing him that a decision was made to reinstate Mr. Khan. The substantive CEO was then sent a letter on Friday last, instructing him to resume duties. But when he turned up for work, the Sunday Chronicle understands, he was sum-

Dr Max Hanoman

moned by Public Health Minister Dr George Norton and informed that he had not been reinstated. However, in defiance of the minister, GPHC Board Chairman Dr Hanoman later instructed Khan to occupy his office, or else he would move a motion at the board level to have him dismissed. As a result, Khan, moved in and out of his office, made a couple of calls and left for the day (Friday), a source told the Sunday Chronicle. The CEO is usually off

duty on weekends, and so it remains to be seen what will play out on Monday. Michael Khan has been CEO of the GPHC for a number of years, before being sent, on September 9, 2015, on administrative leave to allow for investigations to be conducted into the operations of the institution. Mr.

Alan Johnson, who formerly headed the New Amsterdam Hospital, was tasked with acting in the capacity of CEO in Khan’s absence, He is now on leave. It was always held that Khan’s return to the job would be determined by the findings of the investigation. This was Dr. Hanoman’s contention when he spoke with this newspaper on Saturday. “Khan was sent on leave to facilitate the forensic audit… When the findings were released by Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma, nothing criminal or fraudulent was found against him.” Therefore, Dr. Hanoman added, no serious issues cited in the report debarred Khan from resuming duty as CEO of the GPHC; so it is “only right” that he be allowed to return to work. Dr. Hanoman said the GPHC Board has decided on the matter, and he contends that it has nothing to do with the authority of the Health Minister. He said the Directors thought about what was in the best interest of the

hospital. “If things are moving, let (them) roll and get the hospital going… but things cannot get up and running unless I get the cooperation of everyone,” Dr. Hanoman stressed, as he indicated that he has no “preconceived agenda” and intends to remain free and fair. The Chairman also posited that his intention is to seek justice for those who were wronged, and to ensure that everyone has a fair chance at defending themselves. He referred to Chief Matron Collene Hicks being sent on administrative leave in order to facilitate an investigation into allegations of insubordination and obstruction of the proper delivery of health care being levelled against her. “If nothing fraudulent is found against her, she will also be back on the job… We must look for a fresh start, and stop the head-hunting,” Dr. Hanoman asserted. Minister Norton could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

ANC suffers worst defeat since taking power (REUTERS) THE African National Congress lost its grip on local government in Tshwane, home of the South African capital Pretoria, as results on Saturday gave the opposition Democratic Alliance a second big win in the ANC’s worst election since the end of apartheid. The results of Wednesday’s voting have reshaped the political landscape in South Africa, where the ANC has ruled virtually unopposed since it ended white-minority rule in 1994, led by Nelson Mandela. Unemployment, economic stagnation and scandals around President Jacob Zuma led voters to punish the ANC, changing the outlook for national elections in 2019 and potentially emboldening Zuma’s rivals within the ANC to challenge him. Saving some pride, the ANC won in Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic and financial hub, taking 45 percent of the vote to the DA’s 38 percent, but will have to form a coalition to govern. Wins in Tshwane and in Nelson Mandela Bay, which includes the manufacturing hub Port Elizabeth, are a watershed for the DA, which also held Cape Town, a municipality that it has controlled since 2006. Last year it elected its first black leader, Mmusi Maimane, as it tries to shake off an image of a party mainly serving white interests.

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“It signals to everyone that the tide in our country is turning,” Maimane told reporters on Saturday. The ANC still won the most votes overall, and was working to form coalitions in the municipalities where it lost its majority. “We are into negotiations as we speak,” said Paul Mashatile, the ANC chairman in Gauteng province, which includes Tshwane and Johannesburg. “It’s quite clear that our people, our traditional supporters, are still with us but maybe not too many people came out to vote so we need to go back and find out why.” The DA will also need to form coalitions to govern in both Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay. In his first public remarks since the vote’s outcome, Zuma said South Africa was a “democracy where differences of political opinion and diverse political preferences are allowed to flourish”. The ANC has lost support among voters who feel their lives have not improved, and the opposition has accused Zuma of mismanaging the economy. The president survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he had broken the law by ignoring an order to repay some of $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his private home. Zuma has since said he will repay some of the money, as ordered by the court.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Queues, security scares mark shambolic start to Rio Games (REUTERS) THE Rio Olympic Games got off to a shambolic and nervous start on Saturday, with organizers apologizing to angry fans kept waiting for hours at security checkpoints to enter venues while, outside, shootings and bomb scares kept visitors on edge. Athletes competed in front of empty stands early on the first day of full competition as spectators complained of missing their events while queueing for security clearance. The morning after a dazzling opening ceremony, organizers admitted to dropping the ball, with only a few hundred spectators making their way into venues such as the gymnastics arena and the beach volleyball on iconic Copacabana beach. Outside, lines stretched for several blocks as fans stood in full sun and security staff struggled. Organizers blamed a lack of coordination between security personnel, including the police, Games staff and private security firms. Gymnasts performed in

front of swathes of empty seats in an arena that can seat 13,500 people. The boxing venue also had many empty seats as the first professionals in Olympics history entered the ring. “I don’t believe it. It’s absurd, ridiculous,” said Rio resident Natalia Carvalho, 28, who missed seeing Brazilian gymnast and medal hopeful Arthur Zanetti compete on the rings as she waited with thousands of others to enter the Olympic park. “It’s a lack of respect for the fan that bought tickets. It’s a shame,” she said. What should have been a celebration of the start of South America’s first Olympics turned into a damage-control operation, with Games spokesman Mario Andrada vowing an immediate improvement. “We apologize for everybody standing in line outside the venues,” he told reporters. “Within the next hours we will be in much better shape.” At the tennis center, where former world number one Ana Ivanovic played in front of virtually empty

stands in the first round, fans had to wait more than 20 minutes to buy water. Spectators encountered similar situations at the rowing and the rugby venues as temperatures hit 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit). Security has emerged as a top concern after a string of killings, kidnappings and robberies in recent days. Spectators leaving the Olympics opening ceremony at the famed Maracana stadium on Friday night were confronted by the body of a 22-year-old man shot dead by police in the street. Police said the man had robbed several people in the area, but did not give further details. A 51-year-old Brazilian woman was also shot dead during a robbery on Friday in the renovated “Marvelous Port” area meant to be a main attraction for Olympic tourists. That came a day after police confirmed that a man sitting in a car had killed a suspect who tried to carjack his luxury automobile in the main Olympic area of Barra.

An agent of the bomb squad in protective clothing stands in the area near the finishing line of the men’s cycling road race at the 2016 Rio Olympics after they made a controlled explosion, in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil August 6, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hanna The Russian consul denied media reports that the man was a consulate employee. On Saturday, a bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion of an unattended bag, believed to belong to a homeless man, near the finish line of the men’s cycling road race on Copacabana’s sweeping boulevard.

There have been several controlled blasts in recent days as organizers have tightened security around venues, amid concerns the Games could be a target for militants. Three Swedish tourists were briefly kidnapped on Wednesday by an armed man as they pulled off on a

highway near a slum to take photos. They were quickly released unharmed after the gunman checked the photos they took. Drug gangs in Rio do not allow anyone to take photos or video of the areas where they operate, for fear of having their faces seen by police.

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Sunday Editor

Neil Marks

The Omar Shariff Story OMAR Shariff, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Presidency, has been sent on leave to facilitate an investigation into his alleged extraordinary accumulation of wealth, which includes several properties and billions of dollars in the banks. The story of Shariff is among the too many this society has heard of, or know about, happening with public officials entrusted with the people’s confidence to serve them and manage their affairs.

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com

It is not harsh to say that Guyana has sunk into the cesspool of corruption. With the Transparency International Perception Index ranking this country the most corrupt in the English-speaking Caribbean, much work has to be done to remove this tainted image. In the process of cleaning the Augean stables, none -- once suspected -- should be above being investigated; and to wherever or whomever the trail leads, the investigation must follow, and those culpable should be held to account. Absolutely no public official, elected and appointed -- those who served and those who are serving -- should escape the arms of the law if found culpable. It is disgusting that public office has become the platform to enrich oneself at the expense of the people; or, as some would say, a ‘gravy train.’

That Shariff has been sent on leave to facilitate the investigation is a positive sign. But even as he has been so sent, some who have abused public office for personal gain are still continuing to hold office, which constitutes an insult to the people. Two cases before the court that readily come to mind are those of present Member of Parliament and former Minister of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Westford; and Carvil Duncan, who holds constitutional offices on the Public Service Commission. In a regular society, or, rather, in a society wherein officials see public service as being in service to the people and not as opportunity for self-aggrandisement, out of respect for the people, officials would do the decent thing and remove themselves from office, at least until the issues are resolved. But this doesn’t happen in Guyana, where persons seemingly dare the society to have them removed. Also, it is not surprising to see such persons actually engaged in audacious efforts to exculpate themselves from being held to account, hiding behind constitutional and other legal technicalities. This society must develop high intolerance for unethical behaviour from public officials, elected or appointed, irrespective of association. Illicit behaviours rob a society of its integrity and create unpleasant situations wherein citizens, more particularly when they travel abroad, are exposed to all sorts of negative stereotypes. Corruption is a human rights’ violation of Government, given that the State’s resources are being wasted, siphoned off when they could have been directed to providing or improving services for the people. And this is a primary reason why this publication has editorialised often on the need to establish the Public Procurement Commission, which should be able to significantly minimise, if not altogether eradicate, this scourge.

On the matter of integrity, it is encouraging to hear Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, as First Vice President, address this matter. He has said that Government’s Code of Conduct would be incorporated into the Integrity Act, and a draft is before the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. This is welcome news; and it is hoped that this law would not only be iron-clad, but strident enough -- including in its provision of severe penalties -– to cause public officials, elected and appointed, to think more than twice before engaging in conduct that brings disrepute to the office they hold, and insult the people who have reposed confidence in them. Things must change in this society in regard to the welfare and well-being of the people, and change must be for the better. The case of Shariff is one of many, and it is hoped that the authorities would not rest or relent until every last one who has betrayed the public’s trust is held to account. Guyanese must feel free to move about without having to hear how corrupt the society is, and having to prove they are not of the group who, for their own aggrandisement, doesn’t care how besmirched the country’s character is, or how much degradation the average citizen endures. While, like any other, this country has experienced economic downturns and, in some instances, shortages of items, the scale of corruption and protection of the corrupt that this country has experienced within recent times is unprecedented, and is a crying shame. Every Guyanese must work to rid the society of corruption, and those without integrity from public office.

wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial Local government elections in South Africa SOUTH Africans went to the polls last Wednesday to elect their municipal and local leaders based on their constitution. The results, at the time of writing this editorial, have to be astounding for the leaders of the African National Congress (ANC), the governing party that has held office since 1994. The 2016 campaign was premised on the record of the ANC post-Nelson Mandela governance. The dreams that South Africans yearned for, which were enunciated by him, and the realities existing on the ground were analysed, and the results have shown displeasure with the ANC’s management of the country. No longer are young and middle class black South Africans haunted and primarily influenced by the apartheid era, and feel their votes belong to only one party. The reality in the post-apartheid era, more particularly within recent years, has seen a society where elected leaders, their families and friends are living grandeur lifestyles at the expense of the state and people. Jobs are elusive, and the quality of life for the normal South African continues to deteriorate, with no hope of any early improvement. Amidst all of this, there exists an atmosphere within which politicians talk to the people rather than speaking with them. The view is held by some in the ANC leadership that regardless of the party’s performance in government and the treatment meted to its constituents, come election, blacks would vote overwhelmingly for that party. Such level of confidence could be detected in President Jacob Zuma’s remarks that the ANC would be in office “until Jesus comes”, and the party is more important than the country. This election was the litmus test for the party, which lost Nelson Mandela Bay and Pretoria, the capital -- considered two of its strongholds. In Pretoria, the ANC won 41 percent of the vote compared with 55 percent in 2011; and in the Bay, support fell from 52 percent to 41 percent. The party’s major challenger, the Democratic Alliance (DA), a white- dominated party which recently elected black leader Mmusi Maimane, has shown that no political party which in the past controlled the electorate based on race would continue to have a monopoly over new voters.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Look at student loans through holistic and sober lenses Dear Editor, THE APNU+AFC Administration has to be mindful that it does not continue sending the signal that the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, or that decisions are being made without due diligence. The issue being referred to here is the matter of seeking to recoup loans given to students to study at the University of Guyana. It has been reported that the Minister of Finance has proposed that Government may undertake the unconstitutional act of restricting free movement of citizens in and out of Guyana as a measure to have them repay the loans. Subsequent to the Finance Minister’s statement, the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Economic Trade, along with the Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency, with responsibility for Citizenship, made known that they are unaware of any such plan. Following the disclosure of these two men, the President announced that the administration would not place any restriction of movement on borrowers, and that to do so is illegal. The business of government is managed by time-honoured principles, established rules and laws, not gut feelings. To entertain the idea of imposing restrictions on people’s movement without examining the legal implication such would cause should not have happened. The Guyana Constitution is the nation’s supreme law, and every government

official, moreso the elected representatives, should take the needed time to acquaint themselves with this instrument. The Guyana Constitution had within its provisions free education from nursery to university. Free education at university level was excised from the constitution only with constitutional reform. This means that neither the State-owned university nor the Government of Guyana can hold students who were made to sign for loans during this period -- when public education was constitutionally free from nursery to university -- accountable for an act which was clearly in violation of the supreme law. The constitution is explicit that any act that contravenes it is null and void. The introduction of fee-paying at the university started under the PPP/C Administration, although the constitution spoke about free education from nursery to university. Today, members of the PPP/C are very vocal in making known their knowledge of the Constitution, yet when those persons were in office, they ruthlessly trampled this instrument. The APNU+AFC Administration must not make the same mistake. When the rule of law is disregarded, anarchy reigns. There is another element to this matter -- the socio-economic factor. In a society where, according to World Bank and Caribbean Development Bank reports, more than 85

Efforts by the ANC during the campaign to brand the DA as a white party supported and led by stooges did not prevent ANC traditional supporters from turning their backs on the ANC. Though experts believe that the ANC’s lock in the rural communities would guarantee that party the presidency for at least another decade, political watchers are bound to ponder what impact the DA would have had on an assured constituency had it contested. In the 2016 elections, the ANC has a 54 percent showing nationwide, down from 62 percent five years ago; and it has been reported that the decline is steeper in the bigger cities. Last Friday, Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President of South Africa and the ANC, in apparent recognition of the changing times, said at a news conference that the ANC leaders would have to “do an introspective look at ourselves.” South Africa has two major races: black and white; and, over the years, there has been white domination of black. Mandela’s politics, dream and fight in his ‘long walk to freedom’, which included incarceration, was to see a country where everyone is treated justly and equally, and the scourge of poverty and denied opportunities addressed. Today, outside

percent of the tertiary graduates are leaving the country, approximately 40 percent of the young are unemployed, and national unemployment is at 21 percent, we have problems on our hands. Workers have not enjoyed real wage increases (ie: after factoring in inflation and what can be bought now as against previously) for quite some time. There are university graduates who have had to resort to semi-skilled jobs and subsistence businesses in order to provide for themselves and their families. And those who could leave have left. It means that outside of ensuring the Constitution is not violated in its present form and when student loans were introduced, Government has to look at this matter through holistic and sober lenses. This must include recognition of the reality that among the student population are those who, in accessing advanced education, did so because they saw it as a stepping stone for betterment, yet betterment seems elusive. Any repayment strategy must also factor in that the Government of Guyana has failed to create the enabling environment to retain its people and provide employment and economic opportunities for them to thrive. Going forward, Government must also consider examining fee-paying in various forms of national service. LINCOLN LEWIS

of Mandela’s dream and blacks enjoying the right to vote, South Africa is one of the most unequal societies. In the midst of inequality and physical squalor, Zuma has misused in excess of US$16 million to improve his personal mansion. The court, in April, ruled that his action was unconstitutional, and he has promised to repay the taxpayers. Soon after the court’s decision, he travelled to rural Melmoth, an ANC stronghold, and received a hero’s welcome; and reportedly said to the people: “As your shepherd, let me lead you.” The world is a village, and Guyana can learn from South Africa’s experience. The ANC reflects a culture that exists among several of our post-colonial leaders, in that even as they condemn the colonial masters for their mistreatment of citizens, abuse of the nation’s resources and quality of governance, they are quick to become mimic men and women when given leadership opportunity. Steven Friedman, Political Analyst of the University of Johannesburg, said as much: “If you imagine the South Africa of 1994 as a country run by an exclusive club consisting of white people, what has happened over the last 21 years is that new members have been admitted to the club.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

The African Guyanese Forum PRESIDENT David Granger will today deliver the keynote address at the Cuffy250’s fourth annual “State of African Guyanese” Forum. The President has each year performed this task at this event, which brings together hundreds of African Guyanese to discuss and deliberate on issues affecting that community. That he has seen it fit to address this gathering signals that the President attaches great significance to such deliberations. He has addressed similar gatherings of other ethnic groups before and during his tenure in office. Despite some having frowned on such ethnic meetings, these meetings have become a fixture in multi-ethnic societies such as ours, and are not in themselves bad; it is

what they are used for that often leads to controversy. If they are used as platforms to sow ethnic discord, then they should be so condemned; but if they are fora for healthy discussion about the state of the group and the condition of Guyana as a whole, the country as a whole benefits. From all indications, this Cuffy250 Forum falls into the latter category. As a diverse society, each group tends to have its own peculiar challenges, and in some regards, experiences social reality differently. This year’s Forum takes place on the 50th anniversary of Guyana’s independence, and as Cuffy250 has said, it is situating the discussions within the context of Guyana’s next 50 years as an independent nation. This is most laudable; it signals that the organizers see the

destiny of African Guyanese as wrapped up with the larger national destiny. The Forum, the theme for which is “African Guyanese Self-Realisation: Challenges for the next 50 years”, is set to focus on the state of the African Guyanese community. According to the leaders of the community, they are not satisfied with the condition of the community. As Cuffy250 said in its emancipation message, “Cuffy250 believes that, 178 years after formal emancipation, the African Guyanese community still confronts structural barriers to full emancipation. These barriers are manifested in the challenges faced by African Guyanese particularly in the socio-economic sphere.” At last year’s Forum, the President challenged those present to focus on

the restoration of the village economy as a pivotal step in the direction of African Guyanese empowerment. There has since been a lot of discussion about how to achieve that goal. In this regard, many have argued that the revival of agriculture and small businesses is pivotal to this endeavour. We note that these items are very much part of the agenda for today’s deliberations. As most Guyanese know, the creation of villages as self-sustaining socio-economic and political spaces was one of the seminal developments in the period immediately following emancipation in 1838. The decline of villages in recent times is seen as a major causes of the current state of the African Guyanese community. The President’s observation last year is still

Backlog of visa applications for Nigerian students has been cleared The Editor, THIS is in response to a statement made by the Honourable Ms Gail Teixeira, Member of Parliament, that a number of foreign students here have been complaining about the length of time it takes to process their extensions. According to her, this has been a concern particularly for the large batch of Nigerian students studying at the Texila American University.

While commending the efforts of the Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, I wish to state that as an active member of the Nigerian community in Guyana and the Caribbean, to the best of my knowledge the backlog of applications for visas and extensions requested by the Nigerian community in Guyana, which had been pending for up to nine years in some instances, has been cleared.

As a matter of fact, a letter of commendation is being discussed to commend the Minister of Citizenship and his staff for reverting to the threeweek deadline, as stipulated in the Immigration Act, for the processing of these applications. I would use this medium to advise Texila American University to desist from misleading members of the Parliament by using the name (Nigeria) for their political and eco-

nomic gains. I would equally like to remind the good people of Guyana that Nigeria as a matter of international policy does not meddle in the internal politics of any country, but rather opts to cooperate and work with every country for the good of all ONOJA. ATTA.ONOJA, Nigerian Association in Guyana

relevant to the discussions this year. The position of African Guyanese in the private sector has recently come under much scrutiny, especially since the President has declared that Government is not the medium for providing jobs, and instead urged Guyanese to look to creating jobs through entrepreneurship. African Guyanese leaders and commentators have pointed to the structural challenges confronting that group’s participation in the private sector. As Cuffy250 observes, “While the community has made strides in the face of these challenges, the inability to compete in the private economic sector has served to blunt those successes.” If African Guyanese are to overcome those barriers, it would take a massive effort on the part of policy makers, but, more importantly, by the community itself. One of our columnists, Dr. David Hinds, has called on Government to invest in improved infrastructure for the revival of agriculture in the villages. He also pointed to the need to make capital more accessible to those who are inclined in the direction of starting small business. In effect, he advocated for more proactive policy initiatives by the Government. We wish to add that

Government policy has to be accompanied by a change in the mindset of the community. We feel that African Guyanese have to overcome the mindset that they are not suited for entrepreneurship, and, in the process, recover the discipline needed for such endeavours. In this regard, this Forum could be a catalyst in that direction. Cuffy250 seems to have recognized this fact in the following comment: “It is against this background that Cuffy250 brings together the African Guyanese community to begin a movement towards the revival of the spirit of self-realization that was so pivotal to the struggle against slavery and colonialism, and for the survival and advance of the community.” Finally, we are especially heartened that one of the topics for discussion at the Forum is “African Guyanese and Social Cohesion.” In the final analysis, African Guyanese empowerment would be more durable and effective if it is tied to the larger national project. Linkages with other ethnic groups are therefore imperative. We wish the Forum all success, and hope the outcomes would be to the benefit of African Guyanese and Guyanese in general. DAVID HINDS

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Burnham is still difficult for Guyana as a whole to digest YESTERDAY, August 6, marked the 31st anniversary of the death of Forbes Burnham, former president of Guyana. In the coming days, his party -- the PNC -- and his admirers would remember him; his vision for Guyana, and his stature as one of our foremost political leaders would be repeated. But it would be one of those uncomfortable moments for the country. In fact, most of the country would go about its business as if nothing significant is happening. Only two months ago, we witnessed the same scenario when Walter Rodney’s followers remembered him on the 36 anniversary of his death. Here are two significant leaders whose legacies have become victims of our deadly politics. In normal circumstances and in different times, the entire country would be remembering Burnham. You just have to listen to older African Guyanese talk about him and you get the impression that there was something godly about him. He

is their political hero in a country where each ethnic group creates and celebrates its own hero. To those people, Burnham is not fiction; he is flesh and blood, and the embodiment of their independence dream. But to the other large ethnic group, Burnham is evil; he is their independence nightmare. Everything wrong about Guyana is blamed on him. Just the other day, former president Bharrat Jagdeo invoked Burnham to drive home to Indian Guyanese how dangerous the present Government is. The Indian Guyanese narrative of the evil Burnham has been kept alive by the PPP, and has been used effectively in their persistent quest to hold on to the political loyalty of that group. There is a third narrative about Burnham; one that recognizes both his positives and shortcomings, even if the latter rises to the surface more often than the former. Against this background, Burnham becomes difficult for Guyana as a whole to digest. In many respects, he, more than the other leaders, embodies the complexity

and contradictions of post-plantation Guyana. To better understand what Burnham represents, one has to grapple with him both in his totality and in parts; at least that has worked for me. There is something in the nature of Guyanese society and politics that stands in the way of a dispassionate response to Burnham. The Trinidadians, to my mind, have done a better job at constructing an Eric Williams that is minimally accepted by all ethnic groups there. I doubt that Guyana can get to that point anytime soon; the wounds are too deep and too raw. What I wrote last year about Burnham is worth repeating: Our new post-colonial leaders were therefore granted enormous powers by an inherited political system that was created for kings and conceived to dominate. In addition, since they were the ones who had led the children out of bondage, their followers were less vigilant and more accommodating of their political frailties. It is no accident, then, that the leadership in Guyana,

the rest of the Caribbean, Africa and Asia succumbed to the authoritarian trappings of power. In the end, political power was personalized and became absolute. This is a crucial aspect of the making of a Forbes Burnham, a Cheddi Jagan, an Eric Williams and an Eric Gairy. Yet, these were men who were deeply invested in doing something to lift the lot of their people; they were acutely aware of the scourge of poverty and marginalization. In Burnham’s case, the fact that he was dark-skinned in a world of privileged white and brown made him even more sensitive to the reality of the social bottom. These concerns would be reflected in some of the policies he enacted, and in the general socio-economic thrust he championed. Redistribution of wealth as a means of lifting the powerless was a central part of his praxis. In addition to the above, Burnham and his generation were nationalists. Burnham’s fostering of Guyanese, Caribbean, Pan-African and Third World nationalisms was

‘No closer to the truth’ By Navendra Seoraj

MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman as good as told the National Assembly Thursday night that the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was a farce and a waste of taxpayers’ money. “Guyanese are no closer to knowing the truth about the death of Dr Walter Rodney,” he countered during a heated debate over a Motion calling on it to adopt the findings of the Rodney CoI. The Motion was tabled by the parliamentary Opposition, in the hope that the present administration would put measures in place to implement the 11 recommendations detailed in the report. The Rodney CoI was launched by the former Peo-

ple’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration in the hope of bringing closure to the “painful loss” suffered by the Rodney family when the world-renowned scholar, historian and political activist was assassinated when a booby-trapped device detonated in his lap near the Camp Street jail on the night of June 13, 1980. FINDING RECONCILIATION “In trying to find reconciliation,” Trotman said, “we must ask ourselves where it is that we went wrong in the CoI… At the end of it all, we are left without the answer to the question which this commission was supposed to deliver.” What this means, in essence, he said, is that 36

years of waiting and hoping that the truth will be revealed has all been in vain. “This is truly painful,” he said. “The report has failed miserably!” But what is even more painful, he said, is the fact that the very commissioners who conducted the inquiry have admitted that the report lacked thoroughness and completeness. It’s all there in the report, he said, where they highlighted that “there were at least 10 witnesses who were still to be heard.” Warming to the topic, Trotman said that what the commissioners did was that instead of submitting their findings within the allotted four months of its conclusion, they asked for an extra 20 months to compile their report.

And even after its release, he said, the report strayed from the initial Terms of Reference in that the commissioners sought to highlight Guyana’s economic situation at the time of Rodney’s unfortunate demise, which they did at Pages 50 and 51 of the report. A QUESTION OF BIAS Needless to say, this line of argument did not go down well with some segments of the House, but the minister stood his ground and stoutly defended his position, saying that to his mind those sections of the report raised the question of bias, and whether the report was created before the CoI was even completed. “There was no attempt to open doors and investi-

peerless. In the process, he brought a sense of national dignity to Guyana. Burnham, then, was a paradox: the visionary defender of the poor and the nation, but one who succumbed to the lure of authoritarian rule. But the Burnham paradox is a Guyanese and Caribbean paradox that must be worked through and properly explained. We do Burnham and ourselves a disservice by succumbing to the good-versusevil paradigm. In the end, we sink deeper into the dangerous politics of them-versus-us. (Dr. David Hinds, a political activist and commentator, is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Caribbean and African Diaspora Studies at Arizona State University. More of his writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics, and on his website www. guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@ aol.com)

‒ Rodney CoI lacked evidence, showed bias, Trotman tells House gate… even given the fact that you have an administration which was involved in the raising of arms,” Trotman contended, going on to accuse the commission of being way off and even outside its boundaries, added to which there was no supporting evidence for their findings. Taking him up at this point of the debate, former Attorney-General Anil Nandlall sought to remind his learned colleague that a CoI is not a court of law, where supporting evidence is a key requirement. “This is an inquiry, and not a piece of litigation between parties,” Nandlall said, adding that the purpose of an inquiry is not to try or charge anyone, but about presenting facts.

But Trotman again held his ground, saying that as far as he was concerned, justice was not done in this instance, because apart from the lack of supporting evidence, a convict, Allan Gates was allowed to testify before the commission. “We do not accept the evidence of someone whose credibility cannot be accepted,” he said. Again, Nandlall sought to challenge him, saying that 90 per cent of the witnesses who testified in the Prison CoI were felons. According to the Rodney report, “The commission was generously well supported by volunteer witnesses who had relevant and interesting evidence to give. Some came from overseas to testify as well.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Ancestral Land Commission and Social Cohesion ‒ both must happen

AUGUST is the month in which Africans won their freedom from chattel slavery, having fought relentlessly for centuries against this brutish system. The history of Africans would show that, immediately after emancipation, with their pooled pennies, they set about buying up plantations and converting them into villages; and set in place a life of social, economic, cultural and political self-determination. This inalienable right saw the conceptualisation and development of the Village Movement, which was happening throughout the coastland and in every county: Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara. Villages were established, and their management was done through indigenous systems of government (local government) and village economy. As a proud descendant of this indomitable lineage, I am happy to know that my great-great-greatgrandfather Cujoe McPherson, by himself in 1839, bought Plantation Lichfield in West Berbice, later divided same into 12 sections, and sold those sections to other Africans for a profit. I am advised that in the African history, land was seen as belonging to all, and was expected to seamlessly pass down from generation to generation; and what are today known as transported property and “will” were not considered matters of necessity in their household. Africans are known to talk about ‘children property’, and expecting members of the family to utilise the land without fighting among themselves for ‘inheritance,’ since this inheritance is supposed to belong to all. Times have changed. Land today has significant value in monetary and business terms. It can be used for investments and surety in accessing financing from lending institutions. Population movement, market value, and what can be produced on land make it a primary source of wealth. Where our ancestors bought lands in the 19th century and their outlooks on ownership are not in sync with 20th and 21st century realities, we, their descendants, have a right to ensure these lands are correctly accounted for, consistent with today’s reality. The late PNC/R Member of Parliament Deborah Backer had brought to the National Assembly a motion seeking the establishment of a com-

mission to look into the regularisation of ancestral lands. That motion was crushed by the PPP/C Members of Parliament during a Bharrat Jagdeo-led administration. Asking the State, whose responsibility it is to ensure law and order in the system, to put in place a mechanism that would bring about land regularisation was not doing Africans a favour, but the discharge of Government’s civic duty to the citizens. Jagdeo, who recently travelled to the United States to talk about racial discrimination, which he says is happening under the APNU+AFC Administration, has no moral leg to stand on in addressing matters of racial equality. Under his administration, this nation saw a policy being ruthlessly executed to destroy the economic wellbeing of the African community, which caused me to refer to it as economic genocide, consistent with the United Nations’ declaration on this concept. This is not to say, however, that if there is evidence of racial discrimination under the APNU+AFC Administration, it should not be exposed, those responsible should not be held accountable, and efforts should not be made to right the wrong. Persons cannot be talking about social cohesion and failing to implement the principles to bring it about. Social cohesion starts with the acknowledgement that all would be treated equally, and fundamental rights and freedoms would be ensured. Government is expected to treat with similar seriousness the regularisation of Africans’ land as it is doing for the lands of our Amerindian brothers and sisters. Afro-centric leaders must add their voices to this cause, and use their influence with those in the corridors of power to make it happen. In 2017, when groups meet to talk about the state of the African community, this must be recorded as an achievement. In a society where governance is secular and religious freedom (self-determination) is constitutionally guaranteed, social cohesion would never be achieved by targeting only the religious organisations to preach on this subject. Such is not only inconsistent with the constitutional role of Government, but is divisive, given that in our multi-religious, multi-denominational and multi-sect

environment -- including those who believe in God and those who don’t; and those who don’t attend any organisation of worship -- reaching all the people is never achieved. A spirit and intent that informs secular governance is to avoid such divisive actions. The constitution respects diversity, calls on us to celebrate it, and there are laws that have made religious events part of the national calendar in pursuit of such objective; such must see deepening and strengthening. Government must move to further influence the national objective through policies, programmes, and improving laws to entrench equality and create a level playing field for all. This must be done consistent with international declarations, conventions and charters. Where groundwork has been laid, all it requires is picking it up. A good starting point would be the enactment of the 2001 Bharrat Jagdeo/ Desmond Hoyte Agreement, which comprises a menu of measures. Each man signed this document in his

constitutional capacity, and this constitutes a document of the State and political agreement between rivals in areas that, should they be addressed, would strengthen cohesion. One such area is the depressed communities, where race dominates and is diversely spread. Even though Indians would have been positively impacted by this agreement, Jagdeo failed to implement same because of the benefits it would have also brought Africans. This Government must move to right that wrong. Central government must create the space for regional government to function. In regions where the PPP/C secured the majority, it must be allowed to govern. Equally, in places like Linden/Region 10, which was targeted by Jagdeo’s economic genocide, this administration must move to honour the 2012 Agreement signed between the central and the regional governments with the lives, blood, sweat and tears of the people of that community. There is no escaping this agreement, given that it was signed by

governments and approved by the National Assembly; it matters not now who occupies the seats, this agreement must be honoured. We must question African leaders who are in a position to correct the wrongs in society when they settle for giving speeches of political correctness as they actively or tacitly engage in acts that trample fundamental rights and freedoms and continue Jagdeo’s ruthless conduct. Under an APNU+AFC government, for whom Africans votes overwhelmingly, the rights and freedoms of workers employed at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) are being trampled on, with the support of the African political establishment. In some instances of bad governance, there is no difference between Jagdeo, Ramotar and this crew; and this we, the people, must move to eradicate. We must ensure one massa is not replaced by another, lest emancipation rings hollow and insults the proud legacy of those who had fought for it.

T&T gives Guyana the nod ‒ approves establishment of a High Commission in its jurisdiction THE Trinidad and Tobago government has approved of Guyana’s request to formally have a High Commission set up in the twin-island republic, according to a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Efforts to confirm this with Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge proved unsuccessful, while calls to the Foreign Ministry’s Director-General, Audrey Waddell, went unanswered. During the 37th CARICOM heads of government meet here in July, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley said his Cabinet was currently considering the application for an exchange of High Commissioners with an unnamed Caribbean country. The Guyana Chronicle understands that after the David Granger administration came into office in May 2015, a request was made to

the T&T government for stronger diplomatic ties. Guyana currently has a consulate in the twin-island republic. That office, which is located in St Clare, is manned by Consul-General, Ernie Ross. As Guyana’s consul-general to Trinidad and Tobago, Ross’s position is unpaid. At present, Trinidad and Tobago has no representative in Guyana. The agreement of Trinidad and Tobago’s Cabinet for Guyana to establish a High Commission in that country would see the twin-island republic establishing one here. Though dogged by controversy in his native T&T, Ross, a former campaign manager for Trinidad and Tobago’s United National Congress (UNC), headed by former Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, had received full endorsement by Guyana’s foreign ministry under the

former PPP/C administration. Unfortunately, the PPP/C lost its election bid in May 2015 against the David Granger-led coalition, A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). Likewise, in Trinidad and Tobago, the UNC was ousted in September 2015 by Dr Keith Rowley’s People’s National Movement (PNM). Although most of Guyana’s foreign representatives were recalled by the new administration, as per diplomatic protocol, Ross continues to have the confidence of this new administration. Now that the Trinidad and Tobago government has approved of Guyana’s request, the Guyana government, according to our source, must now give official notice to the twin-island republic’s administration of the setting up said commission.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Nat’l Assembly sets tomorrow for Procurement Commission debate PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s effort to have a debate on the report for the long-awaited Public Procurement Commission (PPC) was blocked Thursday in the National Assembly by Opposition members who felt that it was “ill-timed.” The Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly, which is tasked with deciding nominees for the procurement commission, had asked for a report of the PPC-related meetings to be tabled in the National Assembly. Prime Minister Nagamootoo, recognising the report named on the agenda, opted to move a motion for it to be debated. The PM’s motion would

have suspended the requirement for a one-day notice on such motions for debate, allowing the debate to proceed. Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, took to the floor to challenge the Prime Minister’s intention to move for a debate on a day designated for Opposition members’ business. Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, acknowledged that there was a request for the report to be tabled at Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly. Noting that he did enquire as to the urgency of having the report tabled on the day in question, Dr Scotland said: “The answer I was giv-

en was that the question from the Committee is that it should be done today.” Public Accounts Committee Chairman, Irfaan Ali, an Opposition PPP MP, subsequently took to the floor to confirm that the Committee did ask for the report to be tabled, which was done. “What we’re not aware of is the suspension motion from the Prime Minister to proceed with the debate,” Ali said. At this point, the Speaker interjected, saying that there will be another sitting before the Assembly goes into recess, which would allow ample time for a debate on the PPC. As such, he called on the Prime Minister to consider his suggestion. But the PM

countered, saying: “Standing Orders provide motion could be moved to proceed with matters that require a day’s notice… the motion having been laid and having been placed on the Order Paper for today’s sitting is invoking the rules of the House to suspend the one-day notice required.” That said, he asked for his motion for suspension to be allowed, since there were “no contraventions of the rules of the House.” Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence then took to the floor to suggest that the debate on the procurement commission be moved to the next sitting of the House, a position which ran counter to that of the Prime Minister.

But, gentleman that he is, the PM accepted Lawrence’s suggestion and proceeded to propose that the motion be debated instead, and voted on, at tomorrow’s sitting of the House. And while the Speaker was inclined to also consider Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman’s suggestion, which was to have the debate occupy the closing 15 or 20 minutes of Thursday evening’s session, he voted down the PM’s motion altogether, saying that “the House will treat with this matter at the end of today.” The motion, however,

was not considered on Thursday, since debates on the Suicide Motion, followed by the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry Report lasted until 04:00hrs on Friday morning. The Public Accounts Committee has named Emily Dodson, Carol Corbin, Sukrishnalall Pasha, Ivor English and Nanda Gopaul as nominees for the Public Procurement Commission. At the conclusion of the debate tomorrow, once the House so approves, those names will be submitted to President David Granger for the appointments to be finalised.

‘Never underestimate Indigenous Peoples ‒ warns Mainstay/Whyaka Toshao

Toshao Joel Fredericks

“NEVER underestimate the minds of Indigenous People!” It’s a warning that ought to be taken seriously, coming as it did from the Toshao of Mainstay/Whyaka, Joel Fredericks, at the unveiling of the list of activities to celebrate Indigenous People’s Heritage Month. But there’s a reason he said what he did. As he explained, Indigenous Peoples in Guyana are often belittled for their primitive way of life; so all he’s doing is confronting the issue head-on, and in so doing attempting to rectify the perception. And he has every right to; he’s currently Chairman of the National Toshaos Council. Besides, what he’s saying makes perfect sense. “My forefathers were thinking differently; they were thinking about the earth,” Fredericks said, adding that because of this way of life of theirs, they were able to aid in the preservation of the environment while at the

same time enjoying the fruits of their labour. It’s a way of life that’s been passed on to their descendants throughout the ages. In Mainstay/Whyaka, for instance, there’s a strong sense of culture; and what began as a small village is now a thriving community, known the world over for producing what is arguably “the sweetest pineapples in the Caribbean. These days, however, there’s been a shift in focus, in that the emphasis is now more on tourism, as evidenced in the growth, from strength to strength, of the Lake Mainstay Resort, a 40-odd-room facility aback the township of Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast. It’s perhaps because of the facility’s popularity that Mainstay/Whyaka has been chosen to host this year’s Heritage Village Celebrations come Saturday, September 10, as part of Indigenous Heritage Month observations, under the theme: “Our Culture, Earth’s Future: Save the environment. Live the Indigenous Way.” According to Toshao Fredericks, the event will feature, as per usual, Amerindian foods, drink, culture, art and craft and medicine. What better way to show, he said, that in spite of their perceived primitive lifestyle, the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana have been able to aptly survive and contribute, significantly, to the development of their country.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Towards a Good Life in a Green Economy

The green economy at a glance By Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Gary A. R. Best Presidential Advisor on the Environment

‒ and some ‘good life’ benefits

CONSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

and income growth, which in turn reduces carbon emissions and pollution, enhances energy and resource efficiency, and prevents the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. In the final analysis, it is a new model of sustainable development for Guyana, and it aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

THE greening of Guyana’s economy is a clear expression of the Government’s intention to forge an improved development pathway for the country over the coming decades. Government’s action is supported by the following: (a) Paragraph 9 of the preamble to the Guyana Constitution, which provides for its people to “demonstrate our commitment to protect our natural environment and endowment” (b) Article 36 of the Guyana Constitution, which mandates that “the well-being of the nation depends upon preserving clean air, fertile soils, pure water, and the rich diversity of plants, animals and eco-systems” (c) Article 25 of the Guyana Constitution, which directs that “every citizen has a duty to participate in activities designed to improve the environment and protect the health of the nation” And (d) Article 14, which provides for “…creating, promoting and encouraging an economic system capable of achieving and maintaining sustainable competitive advantage…”. At a quick glance, we find that the preamble and articles reflect two distinct features. Firstly, they link protecting and sustaining development of the environment and sustainable economic development; and secondly, they promote an inter-sectorial approach to environmental and economic development. Greening of Guyana’s economy is also an expression of Guyana’s commitment to intensify its contribution to the global actions against climate change. The recent Paris Agreement (December 2015), concluded at the meeting of members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, urges all nations to contribute to emissions’ reductions. The world’s attitude to climate change has moved from viewing it as a large negative to seeing it as an opportunity for the world’s community to develop along a new pathway that provides inter- and intra-generational equity driven and conditioned by the scientific evidence of climate change. There is no better ‘other’ in the context of Guyana’s Constitution than the greening of Guyana’s economy. A KEY OUTCOME The plan to create a green economy in Guyana should provide an integrated set of national and international activities, all connected to each other, with the end state of creating vertical and horizontal integration of actions across all sectors. It is useful for Guyana to integrate all of its policies and activities in a manner that allows for specific identification, direct funding, and avoidance of tracking and duplication. A useful starting point would be the identification of policy misalignment and actions to achieve policy alignment. SO WHAT IS GREENING? Greening Guyana’s economy means building an economy that reduces environmental risks and ecological scarcities. It is an economy that is low-emissions-driven, resource efficient, and socially inclusive; an economy which fosters economic growth and development while ensuring that the nation’s natural capital continues to provide the resources and environmental services on which our existence relies. In a green economy, therefore, the Government of Guyana may use public and private investment funds to drive green

alternative energy solutions at a local scale. This model town should pilot alternative energy grid tie systems, smart metering, individual household sale of excess energy, and a competitive process for energy supply to residents through public-private partnerships or private investments. Likely outcomes are cheaper energy and the removal of Government subsidy on energy.

SOME GOOD LIFE BENEFITS Economically, our nation will benefit from increased GDP; that is: production of green goods and services and increased ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IS A KEY ELEMENT revenue from pricing ecosystem services; economic diversifiAnother way of understanding greening is to interpret it as a cation, such as improved management of economic risks and process of decarbonizing the economic and productive sectors, reduced vulnerability; innovation; access and uptake of green both internally and externally, given that many of our imports technologies, such as improved market confidence; increased (the current mainstay of national economic development) have employment, as green investments are generally more emembedded carbon from high-emissions-developed and devel- ployment intensive, with direct benefits in terms of poverty oping countries. A key activity reduction in communities. The for Guyana is to promote and latter is particularly true in the encourage the development Mr Best is a retired Rear Admiral and forcase of agriculture, where green of a wide range of alternative technologies such as the use of mer Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence energies that are suitable for scientifically developed seeds Force. He is an Attorney at Law and the development of the country’s (hybrid, early maturing) and Presidential Advisor on the Environment. hinterland and coastal comwater harvesting technologies He also holds Masters Degrees from the munities. These alternative (wells, ponds, irrigation, resUniversity of the West Indies and the Unienergy sources include micro ervoirs, waste water treatment) versity of London. His research areas inand medium hydros, wind, all tend to improve the agriculsolar, biomass (particularly clude climate change governance, climate tural productivity and yield of wood waste), solar-hybrids change finance, international relations, farmers. and biofuels. The transition to Rebalancing our economy and environmental law. alternative energies not only towards a green economic reduces the carbon content pathway will also result in of our own energy emissions, new markets in areas such as biofuels; renewable energy; but also the carbon content of our national products now and increased financial instruments, such as green bonds and in the future. organic food production. In particular, retrofitting current Of course this is separate and apart from anticipated reduced infrastructure and buildings, and climate proofing all new energy costs and expected increased competitiveness of the pro- development -- including financial instruments -- provide ductive sector. Granted that alternative energy solutions are fair- abundant opportunities for new jobs, green services, and ly new to Guyana, the identification of Bartica as the nation’s increased income for all citizens to enjoy the good life. first green model town provides a unique opportunity to pilot (Comments can be sent to towardsagoodlife@gmail.com)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Minister Ally to work with Region Five councillors MINISTER of Social Cohesion Ms Amna Ally Friday commended the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five) for their positive response to President David Granger’s

call for reconciliation and advised them that she now intends to work even closer with them to support the strengthening of relationships among members. On August 1, the Regional Chairman (of the

opposition PPP) and councillors of the governing coalition buried the hatchet after a protracted standoff over the chairman’s non-attendance at a ceremony in the region at which the President was the chief

Minister of Social Cohesion Ms Amna Ally and Regional Chairman Mr Vickchand Ramphal engage in conversation at Friday’s meeting

guest. The councillors were demanding an apology from the chairman; since he refused, the councillors disrupted meetings of the council, and that had dragged on for seven months. “My role here in Region Five … is to guide you, to mentor you, to counsel you so that after today we can have a positive, smooth way forward,” Minister Ally said, at a meeting for Mahaica-Berbice regional officials, held at the RDC office, West Coast Berbice. The minister was heartened by the initial steps of reconciliation taken by the RDC. She said negative attitudes were at the root of the stand-off and that respect must be practised to safeguard against a recurrence. “This … is not about personalities. It’s about issues and that is what we

must be mindful of. Putting our shoulders to the wheel to make sure that things happen, forgetting race, forgetting cultural differences, forgetting religious beliefs because while all of those exist and they are differences, they must not be barriers,” she said. Minister Ally further noted that at this crucial time of identifying priority projects and budgeting, cooperation is important. “I want peace. I want the coming together because it is only if you come together and you work together then we can move Region Five… you have got to be a region that is very progressive… we have to ensure…that we do things the right way,” she said. Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Mr Vickchand Ramphal and Region-

al Councillor Ms Carol Smith-Joseph both said that they were pleased by President Granger’s intervention in the stalemate and were now looking forward to a good working relationship. Mr Ramphal charged the councillors to unite. “Let us work as a united team, as a united Region number Five for the people of our region. Let us move Region Five together,” he said. Ms. Smith-Joseph said that she was “elated and buoyed” by the President’s mediation and by the behind-the-scenes interceding by Minister Ally. She said that it broker(ed) a deal that serves to exhort all parties, to explore all avenues of social cohesion and goodwill aimed at working in harmony with one another for the…good of [the] region”.

GDF soldier tops UWI physical training instructor course GUYANA Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces Lance Corporal Brentnol Carmichael was adjudged the Most Outstanding Male at the conclusion of the 2016 staging of the Physical Training Instructor Course, conducted in Trinidad and Tobago under the auspices of the University of The West Indies. “This feat was the result of his dedication and commitment, which vaulted him ahead of the 66 other par-

ticipants on the course,” the GDF stated. L/Cpl. Carmichael, along with Lance Corporal Darrin Henry of Base Camp Ayanganna, attended the course. “My goal was to dedicate myself and earn the Diploma. As a soldier and a representative of the GDF, I knew that I had to work hard and do my very best, not just for myself, but because I was an ambassador of the Force,” Carmichael was quoted by the GDF as saying.

“I was surprised when the announcement of my achievement was made. Yet, I realised that the award reflected the commitment I had made to deliver my best in all that I had to do,” he added. The GDF reported Carmichael and Henry as saying their overall experience was great. “We learned new things, and made new friends in addition to enjoying the hospitality of the Trinidadians,” reflected Henry. Turn to page 13 ►

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Buxton, Victoria youths complete ICT training FIRST Lady Sandra Granger believes that once children are given the right tools, they will press on to higher heights in their education and every other aspect of their lives. She expressed that view Friday at the graduation ceremony of the ICT Training Programme and the Youth Development Initiative, which was hosted in the auditorium of the Friendship Primary School, Friendship, on the East Coast of Demerara. The two programmes were hosted under the auspices of the First Lady and sought to provide children and young adults from the Buxton/Friendship and Victoria villages with Information and Communication Technology (ICT), literary and other skills. Recognising foremost, the community members, teachers and other participants, who contributed their time and resources to executing the programmes, the First Lady during brief remarks

First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger and facilitators pose with the graduates from the ICT Training Programme

stated that the idea for these two programmes came from the people of Buxton. “Buxton is such an icon in the history in Guyana; I felt that what I had to do had to begin in Buxton,” the First Lady said. She said, however, that the parents of the children must also be commended for

encouraging their children to continue to attend the classes over the weeks that they were held. “It is a community effort, and at the back of everything I do, I see it as strengthening your community; building back your Buxton and your Victoria…and as these children grow, they will be able

Two Guyanese for Obama’s youth leadership initiative TWO Guyanese have been chosen to be among 250 participants of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) 2016 projects. They were chosen after a review of 4,000 applicants from entrepreneurs in 36 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. The rising young business and social entrepreneurs are Dason Anthony and Abbigale Loncke. Anthony is the owner of Guyana’s first online clothing store, FIVE92Dresses, while Loncke is a health care consultant who helps run a business providing home-based care for the elderly and others. In 2014, President Obama launched the initiative to build linkages between among leaders across the hemisphere. “Feelings of happiness and joy emanated throughout the room, as I hugged my wife in tears. I’ll now be able to showcase 592Dresses to other countries,” Anthony said of his initial reaction to the news that he had been chosen. “It means that I will be able to seek business coaching, but must importantly, join a larger group of young entrepreneurs across the globe and expand my network,” he added. YLAI will help to ad-

to pass on that spirit to other people,” she said. Regional Chairman of the Demerara-Mahaica region, Ms Genevieve Alleyne, who served as guest speaker at the ceremony, told the graduates that this investment that they have made in their future is only one step in the direction of accessing the good life, which has been promised by President David Granger and his administration. She charged the students to be appreciative of the benefits of the programme and to continue to work towards the development of the nation as the country continues to grow. She stated that she is happy that the First Lady has placed emphasis on leaving a legacy within the region by working with the young people, adding that education is important to the nation.

“Education is the springboard for the development of a community and of a nation. You have been privileged to have been given the opportunity to receive education and skills-training and we hope that you will use your skills to serve your communities and ensure that they grow,” she said to the students. She said that the young people- as the future of Guyana- are the key to taking Guyana forward and hoped that the skills that they received at the training would empower them to recognise their potential. The ICT Training Programme was a 13-week programme, which targeted young adults from the Victoria and Buxton villages and taught them skills in the areas of communications, time management, interviewing tips and introduction to com-

puters, along with literacy and numeracy skills and sexual and reproductive health education. The graduates of the programme received certificates, which are recognised by the Board of Industrial Training, while some students received trophies for attendance and overall performance. The Youth Development Initiative targeted Primary school students and saw over 159 young people receiving lessons in Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. The programme began in September last year, and volunteer teachers conducted classes after school. The students all received gift vouchers to Austin’s Book Services, so as to encourage them to continue developing their reading and numeracy skills.

GDF soldier tops UWI... Dason Anthony

Abbigale Loncke

dress the opportunity gap for youth, especially women, by empowering entrepreneurs and civil society leaders with the training, tools, networks and resources they need to transform their societies and contribute more fully to economic development and prosperity, security, human rights and good governance in the hemisphere. YLAI hopes to generate $1 billion for emerging businesses and social entrepreneurs by the end of 2017 by helping fellows attract new investments and in-kind resources for their businesses or organizations each year. YLAI aims to empower Latin American and Caribbean businesses and social entrepreneurs to transform

their societies and contribute more fully to economic development and prosperity, security, human rights and good governance in the hemisphere. The YLAI Network is a vibrant community of young entrepreneurs and change makers from Latin America and the Caribbean ,who are committed to fostering economic development and prosperity, security, human rights and good governance in the hemisphere. The YLAI Network is a signature part of the U.S. government’s efforts to increase partnerships with future leaders to help promote economic growth and strengthen civil society.

Both soldiers agreed that theirs is now the responsibility to teach their fellow soldiers the importance of keeping fit, and to apply the techniques they have learned in helping to train their peers in the Force. Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Mark Phillips, has congratulated the newly certified Physical Instructors on their success in the programme. “You have done yourselves and the GDF proud. You have also kept the flag of Guyana flying high. Congratulations!” he said. “I can see that your exposure was well-rounded, and that you were prepared to manage physical activity as well as to understand how to plan, officiate at, and manage sports events. I am certain that the GDF will benefit from your knowledge as you ensure that our soldiers are always physically prepared.”

From page 12

L/Cpl. Carmichael at left, and L/Cpl Henry at right, with Brigadier General Mark Phillips (GDF photo)

The Chief of Staff has indicated that the GDF remains committed to expos-

ing more ranks to training on this course, which is held annually.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Burnham was the author of social cohesion, architect of national unity, says President Granger

PAYING tribute to Guya n a ’s f i r s t E x e c u t i v e President and founder of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, O.E., S.C, on the occasion of his 31st death anniversary on Saturday,

was laid to rest, President Granger said, “He (Burnham) established order out of chaos and conciliation out of conflict…He fought against the marginalization and segregation of the colonial regime into which he was born, and sought to

-- during which he said: “this Government holds that all the people of this country are equally important, whether they belong to a large group or a small group. To us the Amerindians are important; to us the Chinese are important; to us

President David Granger laying a wreath at the Mausoleum in the Botanical Gardens, where the late President Burnham is buried President David Granger said the late Forbes Burnham was the author of social cohesion and architect of national unity, who transformed Guyana from a divided colony to a more united and less unequal country. At a wreath-laying ceremony held at the Mausoleum at the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens, where the former President

create a society of equality and inclusivity for posterity. It was through his visionary leadership and wise stewardship that the foundation of a just and cohesive society was laid.” According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, the Head of State referred to a public broadcast made by Forbes Burnham in 1964 -- after he was sworn in as President

the Portuguese are important; to us the Europeans are important; to us the mixed races are important; to us the Africans are important; to us the Indians are important. In short, all Guianese are important and valued members of our community, and we cherish them and consider that, as a Government, it is our duty and privilege to guard, protect and further the real interests

President Granger greeting Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, son-in-law of the late Forbes Burnham

of all.” President Granger said the sentiments and precepts adumbrated in that statement by Mr. Burnham over 50 years ago are permanent and paramount today, as the APNU+AFC Administration proceeds along the path of national unity and social integration. “It is our Government’s duty today, as it was fifty years ago, to protect the interests of all, and not of some. The people cannot be imprisoned in ethnic enclaves; the people are not the property of one or other political party. Forbes Burnham’s ideas were for all time and for all Guyanese… We recall Forbes Burnham’s wise counsel of cohesion today whenever the voices of divisiveness are raised; wherever the hand of hostility tries to hit and hurt our vulnerable citizens, and by whosoever

ment, said Forbes Burnham always advanced the concepts of working together and of national unity. She said that a good example of Burnham’s policy of inclusivity is the coalition he forged between the PNC and the United Force. Minister Ally indicated that there is greater awareness across the country with regard to the need for social cohesion, and she credited this to the administration’s policy and the work of the Social Cohesion Ministry, which has embarked on a sensitisation campaign. “They [Guyanese] have begun to see the importance of us working together. They have begun to see the importance of bridging the gaps so that we can foster social cohesion in our communities. They are seeing the benefits…” the minister said. She informed that the

living in a more cohesive society, rather than being segregated on the basis of ethnicity. He said citizens need to stop looking at the colour of each other’s skin and see themselves as one. “Colour should not matter in our nation. We have lost our way in that sense, and if we are to live together, we have to accept each other for who we are,” he declared. Dakarai Griffith, a member of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement, said he had heard, whilst growing up, a lot about Forbes Burnham’s ideologies and strict method of leadership. “He was the foundation for Guyana, and made Guyana what it is today; and I believe that this Government will make Guyana the breadbasket of the Caribbean, which was Burnham’s vision,” he said. Griffith said Guyana cannot afford to be divid-

The burial site of Guyana’s first Executive President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, who died on August 6, 1985 peddles the propaganda of separateness among our people,” the President said. He said Mr. Burnham was devoted to the task of rebuilding a society that was free of discrimination, distrust and disorder; and was determined to destroy the bastions of prejudice, social injustice and inequality, vices which sustained a stagnant colony; and Burnham was dedicated to providing equal opportunities to all citizens to enable them to develop their talents. Similar sentiments were expressed by Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, who, in a brief com-

Ministry of Social Cohesion is currently engaged in a number of projects, such as training programmes in the various regions. This Ministry is also working closely with religious organisations, youths, and non-governmental organisations with the aim of fostering a more cohesive Guyanese society. Alistair Sonaram, an attendee at the wreath-laying ceremony, described the late President Burnham as a visionary, fighter, and true leader. He declared his strong belief that if Mr. Burnham were alive today, Guyanese would have been

ed, being a country with so many different ethnic groups. He said he is currently in the process of setting up a non-governmental organisation to educate the young generation on Forbes Burnham’s ideologies and legacy. The late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham began serving Guyana as Prime Minister from 1964; and as President from 1980 until the time of his death in 1985, at the age of 62. He had been a lawyer, a politician, a fierce freedom fighter, and a father of six children.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Celebrating our African Heritage

The National Dance Company Saturday evening staged â€œA Celebration of African Heritage 9.â€? The production is held in celebration of African Heritage Month. President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger were the main guests at the event. (Adrian Narine photo)

Chronicle staffer weds

Chronicle Senior Reporter Svetlana Marshall Saturday married the love of her life, Jude Abrams, at a beautiful ceremony in her hometown of Linden. The management and staff of the Guyana Chronicle, especially the Editorial Department, wish the new couple a lasting and happy marriage.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Mahaicony hospital ultrasound services upgraded THE US-based non-profit organization Guyana Medical Relief (GMR) Inc. has donated to the Mahaicony Hospital in Region 5 a brand new state-of-the-art ultrasound machine, valued at $2M. This vital medical equipment will obviate the necessity for patients to travel to Georgetown to obtain a wide range of ultrasound services. Prior to the receipt of this donation, the hospital had one machine, and it was capable of performing only basic readings. The new machine was handed over to the Hospital by Chief Operations Officer Sharir Chan on behalf of GMR Inc., and was received by Ultrasound Specialist Dr Alesha Bulkan. In expressing gratitude on behalf of the hospital, Dr Bulkan said the cost savings would be great to most persons needing specialized ultrasound services, especially those living on the upper East

Coast of Demerara and in West Berbice. They wouldn’t have to travel to Georgetown to get help anymore,” she said. The GMR, Chan said, is a 32-year-old non-profit organization of overseas-based Guyanese headquartered in Los Angeles, California. He said the organization has, since 1984, shipped and donated more than US$60M worth of medicines and medical supplies to various hospitals and health centres in Guyana, at no cost to these institutions. It has also constructed, free of cost, clinics for Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) testing of females for cancer at Mahaicony, Bartica and Charity hospitals; gutted out and upgraded the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit at the Port Mourant Hospital; upgraded the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Linden Hospital; and built medical storage bonds

Policeman arrested after shooting man accused of domestic violence A POLICE constable was arrested on Saturday after shooting Shawn Simons, a man accused of domestic violence, on Friday evening. The constable and Simons had an argument at Itaballi, Mazaruni; and eyewitnesses claim that the policeman struck Simons on his head with the firearm, causing him to fall. It is further alleged that the policeman discharged a round at Simons, hitting him in the upper chest. The constable then allegedly took Simons to the Bartica Hospital, where he is being treated. The constable is alleged to have fled the area, but was apprehended on Saturday. Meantime, Simons’ condition is regarded as serious but stable. He was yesterday air dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. According to police, stringent efforts were launched during the said night to locate the constable, who was still in possession of the firearm. On Saturday at

about 06:00h, the constable was arrested by a subordinate officer and a party of policemen in the vicinity of the Tiperu Crossing. The Police Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting a separate investigation into the purported breaches of standard operating procedure in relation to the report of domestic violence. Police reports reveal that at about 20hrs on Friday, a mother reported to the police at Itaballi Check Point that her daughter’s reputed husband was assaulting her daughter. The subordinate officer-in-charge sent a constable with a service firearm to accompany the complainant. On arrival, the assailant, reputed husband to his victim, was contacted, and in the intervening process an argument ensued between the constable and the assailant, resulting in the police reportedly shooting the perpetrator.

Dr. Alesha Bulkan, ultrasound specialist at the Mahaicony Hospital, receiving the modern ultrasound equipment from Chief Operations Officer of the GMR, Sharir Chan

at the Mahaicony Hospital and the Port Mourant Health Centre, also free of cost to

these institutions. GMR has also procured and donated children’s

shoes, mainly to assist the underserved areas of the interior; provided thousands

of pairs of shoes to school children in the interior, and additionally along the coast.

GGMC to investigate possible river pollution from mining in Moruca – Ministerial team visits

A TEAM from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) will later this month investigate reported pollution of the Waini and Barama rivers. Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman gave this assurance when he, along with Minister within the Ministry, Simona Broomes, and a team met residents of the Region One Sub-District of Moruca during a public meeting on Saturday at the Santa Rosa Secondary School. The ministers told the residents that the visit was part of Government’s efforts to meet with residents of communities to listen to their concerns and issues, “so we can better serve you.” Village Councillor for Santa Rosa and its islands, Graham Atkinson, raised the pollution concerns. He noted that many of the Amerindian communities in the area are dependent on the rivers, particularly the Waini River, for its supply of freshwater fish. Atkinson noted that mining in the upper Barama

River has seen excessive sediment running into the Waini River. He suggested that random water quality testing be conducted by the regulatory agencies as part of their monitoring. Several other village councillors raised concerns about mistreatment of Amerindians employed in the mining and logging sectors in the region. Kamwatta Village Councillor Camilla Frances told the Natural Resources ministers that a “lot of injustice is taking place.” Frances explained that miners from outside the region are seeking employees from the communities in Moruca, but would mistreat them and not pay them in many instances. The treatment of workers in the mining and logging sectors in the region was also echoed by Senior Village Councillor of Mora, Aloysius Daniels, and Toshao of Santa Rosa, Sherwin Abrams. Toshao Abrams said that the miners and loggers seeking workers in the Moruca communities do not “present themselves to the village council.” Often times, Abrams explained, these people would send boat captains or others from the communi-

ty to recruit workers. Abrams said many of the workers are exploited and not paid for their services. However, the problem arises when these workers are unable to identify who they worked for. “It’s a common thing in Santa Rosa,” Toshao Abrams told the ministers. Abrams called for “drastic action from the level of the ministers.” “People used to override Amerindians previously, and we won’t have that anymore,” Abrams asserted. Addressing these concerns, Minister Broomes disclosed that the Natural Resources Ministry has received several similar complaints of exploitation of workers by miners. “I want to make the point clear that not only are we aware of it, but we will address it. I want you to be assured,” the minister said. She also encouraged the residents to ensure that their relatives who work in the interior “get all the information of the person” they are working for. She reminded the residents that the Ministry of Social Protection’s Labour Division has lead responsibility in labour issues, but assured

her Ministry would also assist anyone who brings a complaint. “We can’t provide much help without names. Start this awareness among yourselves… As much information as you can get will really help too,” Minister Broomes encouraged. Another concern raised by the residents was trafficking in persons. Atkinson noted that “trafficking in persons (TIP) is still happening”, and called for greater collaboration among Ministries to address the situation. Residents praised Minister Broomes for her work in Moruca to curb TIP, but pointed out that more awareness in the region is needed. Minister Broomes said she was pleased with the level of awareness within the region, and pledged her continued support to eliminate the scourge. “Personally, anything I can do I will volunteer my time,” Minister Broomes said. Minister Trotman, meanwhile, pledged to leave contact information of officials and agencies with the village toshao, so that persons have a channel to raise any concerns. (GINA)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Regional towns to be unveiled THE coastal regions of Essequibo Islands/West Demerara (Region 3), Demerara/Mahaica (Region 4) and Mahaica/Berbice (Region 5) do not possess capital towns, but over the next three years, regional towns are expected to be unveiled in these coastal administrative regions. This is according to President David Granger, who told a gathering at the commissioning of the supply boat/spill response vessel of construction firm GAICO Construction and Contracting Services on Friday: “This is something we will rectify over the next three years.” The President has said that each administrative region must have a regional capital, and the towns would trigger entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurship, he said, rests on four pillars: information, infrastructure, investment and innovation. He said that while it has been strengthening the four pillars of entrepreneurship over the past several months,

Government has also embarked on establishment of these towns this year in the hinterland: Mabaruma, Bartica, Lethem; and there are plans in the making to transform the Region Eight community of Mahdia into a town. “These towns are important; they are to become the hubs of population, hubs of public services and hubs of economic growth”, he noted. The President said Government is keen on the development of the country’s ten administrative regions. With revitalisation of local democracy in the form of Local Government Elections (LGE) this year, the Head of State noted, towns are expected to intensify links to new markets within the country and beyond the Caribbean region. He said the development of a single economy and perfecting markets will lead to greater access to markets for local goods and services, and to investments. Having toured the length and breadth of Guyana, Pres-

Sunday, August 7, 2016 - 05:30 hrs Monday, August 8, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Tuesday, August 9, 2016 - 09:00 hrs

ident Granger, a historian, is of the view that every town in Guyana has economic potential to open factories, encourage investment, and provide employment for people living in those areas. Following the March 18 LGE polls held earlier this year, Bartica and Lethem were officially commissioned as towns, while

Mabaruma in the North West District awaits its official commissioning, being delayed by the split-results that town received at the polls. Following the March 18 polls, President Granger reminded elected representatives that the towns will serve as administrative centres which they need to further develop.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

15 youths graduate from agro-processing training programme FIFTEEN (15) youths from across Guyana today, graduated after completing a four-day Agro-Processing Training Programme at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. The training was a collaborative effort between the GSA and the office of the Presidential Advisor

on Youth Empowerment, Aubrey Norton. President David Granger had advised that young people be guided to self-employment, since the state cannot provide all the jobs, hence the programme was aimed at empowering young people by training them in agro-processing towards enabling them to become entrepreneurs.

The programme comprises two phases: phase one consists of training in agro-processing, while phase two will see training in financial literacy and business. This will afford the youths the business and managerial skills needed to manage a small business. Norton, in addressing the youths at the phase-one graduation, urged them

to recognise the value in self-employment. Norton advised the graduands to start small, but focus on growing whatever business they venture into. “It is important that we develop into bigger businesses because one of the objectives of this kind of activity is to create employment, so when you become self-employed, you must be able to develop a business so that you can employ others,” Norton stated. The vision is to allow young people to see themselves as entrepreneurs. Additionally, the presidential advisor said that he is aware that one of the biggest problems faced by young people is start-up capital, but it is being addressed. “There is a proposal that is being considered -- I think positively -- in which there will emerge a mechanism where young people will be able to obtain some assistance to start a business and in some cases

Some of the fruits and vegetables processed by the youths who participated in the Agro-Processing Training Programme

where they have, expand. So see this as an opening, as a new opportunity for you young people to develop yourselves, and to contribute positively to the development of the community and Guyana at large,” Norton explained. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, George Jervis, said that he was happy to see youths taking up agriculture and urged them to take full advantage of the training received. Jervis told the batch of students that agro-pro-

cessing is an industry that is fast growing, citing that in 2014, 1538 tons of agro-processing commodities were produced, valued at US$3M. Jervis also advised the graduands not to take the certificate earned for granted. “You have to make money from what you do here, this is not for hobby. I know the time and money invested in you, is not for money, is not for hobby, so I would like to see you displaying your work,” Jervis urged. (GINA)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Refugee Olympic team walk ... From back page that have been affected by humanitarian crises are part of the team. International Olympic Committee (IOC) pres-

ident Thomas Bach also praised the Refugee Olympic Team. Speaking in the Opening Ceremony, Bach said, â€œThe Refugee Athletes are sending a hope to the millions of refugees. Having to leave home because of hunger, vio-

lence and just because you are different. Because of your human spirit, you are making a great cause to humanity. In this Olympic world, we welcome you as an enrichment to our diversity.â€?

Warriors and Tallawahs ... From back page player of the match award. Tanvir has had a spectacular tournament so far, taking 20 wickets in 11 games at an economy rate of 6.66, finding himself second on the highest wicket-taker list. On the batting front, Chris Lynn has performed exceptionally to lead the run-making charts with 447 runs at a strike rate of 133.82. The rest of the team have rallied around these two players, playing their roles to perfection and will need to do the same if they are to win their maiden CPL title come Sunday. Their opponents the Jamaican Tallawahs should thank all-rounder Andre Russell who blazed a personal best maiden Twenty20 International hundred against Trinbago Knight Riders to take his team to victory. Coming to the crease when the team were in a precarious position of 67/4, Russell then proceeded to tear the attack apart, scoring 100 in just 44 balls, a knock which included 11 hits over the fence. Russell was not finished though, coming back to take

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Chelmsford City 09:20 hrs Mr Pocket 09:50 hrs Monumental Man 10:20 hrs Bint Dandy 10:50 hrs Misty Lord 11:20 hrs Roman Holiday 11:50 hrs Possible Future 12:20 hrs Not Your Call LEICESTER 09:00 hrs Bahamian Sunshine 09:30 hrs Berengaria 10:00 hrs Smart Mover 10:30 hrs Paling 11:00 hrs Mustallib 11:30 hrs Nobl Act 12:00 hrs Tomahawk Kid IRISH RACING TIPS Curragh 09:05 hrs Mur Hiba

2 wickets in the second innings to deservingly take home the player of the match award. Bangladeshi spinner Shakib Al Hasan too got into the act, picking up 3/23 to get some form going into the final. Skipper Chris Gayle who has had a stop-start tournament so far, looked dangerous, scoring 35 off 26 only to get out to a lose shot. Jamaica will need all of their top guns firing at all cylinders if they are to beat Guyana in the final and take home their second CPL trophy. Guyana Amazon Warriors Possible XI: Dwayne Smith, Nic Maddinson, Chris Lynn, Jason Mohammad, Anthony Bramble (wk), Chris Bramble, Sohail Tanvir, Rayad Emrit (c), Veerasammy Permaul, Steven Jacobs, Adam Zampa. Jamaica Tallawahs Possible XI: Chris Gayle (c), Chadwick Walton, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Rovman Powell, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Imad Wasim, Jonathan Foo, Oshane Thomas, Kesrick Williams, Garey Mathurin.

09:35 hrs Hydrangea 10:05 hrs Yucatan 10:35 hrs Caravaggio 11:05 hrs Toscanini 11:35 hrs Texas Rock 12:05 hrs Aspen Mountain DOWNPATRICK 09:15 hrs Bertie Bell 09:45 hrs Wrath Of Titans 10:15 hrs Mr Smith 10:45 hrs Emma Beag 11:15 hrs Night Generation 11:45 hrs TB Broke Her SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Turffontein 08:50 hrs Polar Secret 09:25 hrs Mr Mulliner 10:05 hrs Shivering Sea 10:40 hrs Freely Forever 11:15 hrs Rafa

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Sri Lanka spin away to series victory in Galle … Aussies mauled by 229 runs inside three days (REUTERS)-Dilruwan Perera laid bare Australia’s spin frailties again yesterday to spin Sri Lanka to a series-clinching 229-run victory inside three days of the second Test in Galle. The 34-year-old claimed 6-70 as the world’s topranked test team folded for 183 in their pursuit of an improbable 413-run victory target. The off-spinner became the first Sri Lankan player to score a fifty and claim 10 wickets in the same match as the hosts clinched their first Test series victory over Australia since 1999. Perera also became the fastest Sri Lankan to claim 50 Test wickets, achieving the feat in his 11th match, and won the man-of-thematch award for his all-round brilliance. “Not too many teams do this to the number-one team,” home captain Angelo Mathews said after his team prevailed in the bowler-dominated contest that saw 33 wickets tumble on the first two days. “After winning the toss,

we had to put a decent score on the board and once again it was a special effort by Kusal Mendis and what a performance Dilruwan came

though they were merely delaying a defeat that looked inevitable. Perera separated them when he trapped Warner

short leg and went on to complete his five-wicket haul when Adam Voges (28) attempted a reverse sweep only to have his leg stump pegged back. Mendis displayed tremendous reflexes as he

claimed 18 of the 20 Australian wickets to fall in the contest, underlying the tourists’ struggle on turning tracks. “It’s incredibly hard to play against (spin), particularly (coming) from Australia. We are not accustomed to that. It’s very foreign,” Smith admitted. “Our record shows that we’ve won a game in about 15 or 16 in the sub-continent. We certainly have a lot of work to do. We have to find

ways to score and find ways to take wickets and keep the runs dry,” added the Australia captain. Among the visitors, only paceman Mitchell Starc redeemed himself with a match haul of 11 wickets on a spin-friendly track, while none of the Australian batsmen managed a fifty. The teams now move to Colombo for the third and final Test from next Saturday.

SCOREBOARD Skipper Angelo Mathews with the architects of Sri Lanka’s win, Dilruwan Perera and Rangana Herath,who between them took 16 wickets for 205 runs in the Test in Galle. up with,” he said. Resuming day three on 25 for three, Australia captain Steve Smith (30) and deputy David Warner (41) showed positive intent, frequently using their feet against the spinners even

leg-before with a straight delivery. The batsman reviewed the decision but could not get it overturned. The spinner then returned to induce Smith into giving a bat-pad catch to Kausal Silva at forward

stopped a Peter Nevill shot at forward short leg and flicked it back on the stumps to run out the batsman and trigger wild celebrations at the Galle International Stadium. Sri Lankan spinners

SRI LANKA 1st innings 281 (K. Mendis 86, A. Mathews 54; M. Starc 5-44) Australia 1st innings 106 (D. Perera 4-29, R. Herath 4-35) Sri Lanka 2nd innings 237 (D. Perera 64; M. Starc 6-50) Australia 2nd innings (Overnight: 25-3; Target: 413 runs) D. Warner lbw b D. Perera 41 J. Burnsc D. de Silva b Herath 2 N. Lyon c K. Silva b D. Perera 0 U. Khawaja b D. Perera 0 S. Smith c K. Mendis b D. Perera 30 A. Voges b D. Perera 28 M. Marsh lbw b Sandakan 18 P. Nevill run out (K. Mendis) 24 M. Starc b Herath 26 J. Hazlewood c&b D. Perera 7 J. Holland not out 0 Extras (lb-7) 7 Total (all out, 50.1 overs) 183 Fall of wickets: 1-3 J. Burns,2-10 N. Lyon,3-10 U. Khawaja,4-61 D. Warner,5-80 S. Smith,6-119 M. Marsh,7-123 A. Voges,8-164 M. Starc,9-181 J. Hazlewood,10-183 P. Nevill Bowling: R. Herath 19.1 - 1 - 74 – 2, D. Perera 23 - 5 - 70 – 6,L. Sandakan 6 - 1 - 30 – 1, D. de Silva 2 - 0 - 2 – 0.

Bairstow and Moeen lift England to 414 for five Brathwaite recommended (REUTERS)-Johnny Bairstow and Moeen Ali shared an unbroken partnership of 132 to lift England to 414 for five and a lead of 311 runs over Pakistan on the fourth day of the third Test at Edgbaston yesterday. Bairstow was unbeaten on 82 and Moeen 60 not out at the close with England in a good position to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series if they can bowl out the touring side on the final day. After resuming on 120 for no wicket, England lost captain Alastair Cook for 66, driving a wide ball from Sohail Khan to point where Yasir Shah took a fine diving catch. Alex Hales, on 54, then edged Mohammad Amir to Younus Khan at second slip and with the Pakistan seamers bowling wide of off stump to restrict

the scoring rate, Joe Root and James Vince cautiously took the total to 183 for two at lunch. Root, struggling with a back problem and dropped on 25, made 62 before he top-edged Shah to short fine leg. Vince was eight runs short of his first Test half-century when he hung his bat out to a wide ball from Amir and Younus took another neat slip catch. Gary Ballance made a patient 28 before he turned a ball from Shah to Asad Shafiq at leg slip but the arrival of Moeen at the crease changed the tempo of the game. Bairstow went on the attack and reached his eighth test fifty, off 83 balls, while Moeen displayed his full repertoire of wristy strokes and hit eight Jonny Bairstow was unbeaten on fours in a sparkling knock. 82 at the close of the fourth day.

Vietnam win first ever Games gold

VIETNAM claimed their first ever Olympic gold as Vinh Xuan Hoang won the men’s 10m air pistol title. Hoang scored 202.5 points to edge out home favourite Felipe Wu who recorded 202.1 points to clinch silver and Brazil’s first medal of the Games. Wu took the lead after the penultimate shot but Hoang denied him with a brilliant final effort. Pang Wei scored 180.4 to win bronze for China, while South Korea’s defending champion Jin Jongoh came in fifth.(BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1st innings 297 (G. Ballance 70, M. Ali 63; S. Khan 5-96) Pakistan 1st innings 400 (A. Ali 139, S. Aslam 82, Misbah-ul-Haq 56) England 2nd innings (Overnight: 120-0) A. Cook c Shah b So. Khan 66 A. Hales c Y. Khan b Amir 54 J. Root c Hafeez b Shah 62 J. Vince c Y. Khan b Amir 42 G. Ballance c Shafiq b Shah 28 J. Bairstow not out 82 M. Ali not out 60 Extras (b-4 lb-7 nb-8 w-1) 20 Total (for 5 wickets, 125 overs) 414 Fall of wickets: 1-126 A. Cook,2-126 A. Hales,3-221 J. Root,4-257 J. Vince,5-282 G. Ballance To bat: C. Woakes, S. Broad, J. Anderson, S. Finn Bowling: M. Amir 30 - 8 - 73 - 2(w-1),So. Khan 27 - 3 - 102 - 1(nb-8), R. Ali 21 - 8 - 54 – 0, Y. Shah 42 - 4 - 152 – 2, Az. Ali 5 - 0 - 22 - 0

to lead Windies T20 side

THE West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) are not far away from naming Carlos Brathwaite to lead the West Indies T20 side, with its selection panel already making the recommendation. Brathwaite would be replacing Darren Sammy, who led the West Indies to two World T20 titles and helped make the side one of the most fearsome in the game’s shortest format. The allrounder came to prominence when he hit England’s Ben Stokes for four sixes on the trot in the final over of the World T20s last year to take the West Indies to victory. While the reasons for Sammy’s removal have not been made clear, the former skipper took the WICB to task over its handling of players, making toung-in-cheek remarks during the World T20 Championships, with more overt lambastings coming at its conclusion. There is speculation that those actions meant curtains for the former captain. Commenting on his dismissal on social media, Sammy has steered clear of saying why the thought he

CARLOS BRATHWAITE had been sacked as well, instead, choosing to wish the next captain best of luck. Brathwaite does not have the same experience as a leader as does Sammy, and will receive a baptism of fire at the end of August when the West Indies take on India for two T20s in Florida. There is also the likelihood that many of the stars of the T20 World Championships triumph, will not be available to Brathwaite either as the WICB aims to refresh its ranks.(Sportsmax.com)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

GTTA preparing team for Mini-Cadet and Pre-cadet Championships in Jamaica THE Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) is busy preparing a team of some 11 players for the upcoming Caribbean Mini-Cadet (U11) and Pre-Cadet (U-13) Table Tennis Championships which are scheduled to be held at theNational Arena, Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica from 22 - 27 August. The team for Jamaica is expected to comprise, in the pre-cadet category, na-

National table tennis coach Linden Johnson

tional boys Under- 11 and Under- 13 champion Kaysan Ninvalle, Niron Bisu, Isiah Layne and Keshaw Deo on the boys’side, and national girls under- 13 champion Neaveh Clarkson, along with Abigail Martin, and Thuraia Thomas on the girls’side. For the mini-cadet category there is only a boys’ team expected to include Colin Wong, Alex DeAbreu, Ganesh Persaud, and Kristian Sahadeo.

The team is currently busy training twice a day under national coach Linden Johnson, who is also assisted by coaches Zenophan Goliah and Dwain Dick. Johnson noted that the team has been trying to train as much as possible since school is out. The team trains in the morning from 8am – 10am at the National Gymnasium and they are back out for another session from 2pm – 4pm.

Another century for Latham as NZ dominate on day one (REUTERS)-Tom Latham scored a century for a second successive match as New Zealand pulverised the home bowling to finish on 329 for two on the first day of the second test against Zimbabwe yesterday. Latham, who made 105 in the first

test, scored 136 before being caught proved wayward, allowing the visitors and bowled in the last over of the day to set up a consistent scoring rate and by part- timer spinner Sean Williams. dominate proceedings. Captain Kane Williamson, playSpinner Graeme Cremer took the ing his 50th Test, will start today most punishment as he went for 108 five runs short of his century and runs in his 25 overs as the track failed completing a record of tons against to provide any turn. each of the Test playing nations. New Zealand won the first Test Martin Guptill was the first man at the same venue by an innings and out, trapped lbw to a full delivery 117 runs inside four days, scoring 576 from Donald Tiripano. Guptill went for six. for 87 after sharing an aggressive The series is being played over opening partnership of 167 with two matches and marks a first test Latham on a slow wicket after Wil- in 20 months for the Zimbabweans. liamson won the toss. Latham’s century came up off 190 balls and he continued to look comfortable NEW ZEALAND 1st innings M. Guptill lbw b Tiripano 87 until the penultiT. Latham c&b Williams 136 mate delivery of K. Williamson not out 95 the day when he Extras (b-4 nb-7) 11 Total (for 2 wickets, 89.5 overs) 329 spooned the ball Fall of wickets: 1-169 M. Guptill,2-329 T. Latham back to Williams. To bat: R. Taylor, H. Nicholls, M. Santner, B. Watling, I. Sodhi, T. The partnerSouthee, N. Wagner, T. Boult Bowling: D. Tiripano 14 - 3 - 58 - 1(nb-5), M. Chinouya 15 - 5 - 43 – 0, ship for the second C. Chibhabha 9 - 2 - 30 - 0(nb-1),G. Cremer 25 - 1 - 108 - 0(nb-1), wicket was worth J. Nyumbu 22 - 1 - 63 – 0, S. Williams 2.5 - 0 - 15 – 1, 160 runs. ZimS. Raza 2 - 0 - 8 – 0. babwe’s bowlers

SCOREBOARD

Tom Latham brought up his century after tea.

KAYSAN NINVALLE

“The training has been going quite satisfactory so far. The players are making the sacrifice to train twice a day, and we’re looking forward to a good Championships for the Guyana team. We’re working as a team, and we’re trying to get them up to level. We’ve got just a couple more days left.” Johnson noted. Teams are expected to arrive in Jamaica from 21 August for the championships.

Mayor’s Cup football action resumes today ACTION in the annual Mayor’s cup continues today the Georgetown Football Club Ground (GFC) with four matches. In the first game at 15:00 hrs Police will take on Camptown, while from 17:00hrs, Riddim Squad will play Beavers. The third game of the evening will pit Santos and Pouderen from 19:00 while the final game of the evening will Western Tigers playing Den Amstel. The winning teams will proceed to the quarterfinals.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday August 07, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) 2 (Chris Gayle & Colin Munro) (2) 2

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many sixes Chris Lyn struck in the first stage of Hero CPL 2016? (2) How many players were used by the Warriors in the first part of Hero CPL 2016?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Brazil Police detonate backpack near finish line of cycling race By Scott Malone and Caroline Stauffe RIO DE JANEIRO,(Reuters)-A loud blast shook the media seats near the finishing line of the men’s cycling road race on the first day of the Rio Olympics when Brazil’s bomb squad detonated an unattended backpack yesterdayy, amid tight security at South America’s

first Games. A Reuters witness reported seeing bomb squad agents in protective clothing operating near the area where media were seated on the boulevard of Copacabana beach. That followed the detonation of another unattended bag near the same spot on Friday evening during the opening ceremony for the Games. A spokeswoman for the public security department

said that officials believe the bag may have belonged to a homeless man, but protocol requires any unattended objects to be destroyed. The controlled blast occurred at 1:45 p.m. (1745 London time), the spokeswoman said. Lorie Schmetterling, who travelled from Moorestown, New Jersey with her husband Eric to cheer on their daughter

Laura, who is rowing for the U.S. Olympic team, had not heard the blast but was disturbed to learn it had occurred just a few hundred meters from where she was staying. “You hear all these terrible things about how it is going to be and then you get here and it seems fine,” she said. “Then this happens and you feel it, you go on high alert again.”

Schmetterling said the incident would not alter her plans in Rio. A security source said that officials were particularly concerned about this bag because it was close to the Russian hospitality site for the Games. In recent days, bomb squad members have detonated several unattended bags in controlled explo-

sions around Rio amid high security. Brazil detained 12 people for suspected links to Islamic State last month but it has insisted that the risk of an attack at the Games is minimal. Brazil has deployed some 85,000 police and military to guard the Games, roughly twice the number at the 2012 London Olympics.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 7, 2016

Stuart praises Windies character in drawing Sabina Park Test By Rajiv Bisnauth

FORMER West Indies fast bowler Colin Stuart has praised the character shown by West Indies in salvaging a draw in the Sabina Park Test against India, adding that some of their batsmen have shown some semblance of maturity. After a humiliating and embarrassing defeat by an innings and 92 runs in the first Test at Antigua, the West Indies’ confidence would have surely taken a hit. It seemed that there was no stopping their woeful performance in the longer version of the game, and the Caribbean players and the staff would surely have real-

ised that something was terribly wrong and they needed to address the free-fall. H o w e v e r, t h e We s t Indies managed to show character and gave signs of a comeback in the series. There seems to be a change in attitude and behaviour out in the middle, and what is most important was how the West Indies lower middle-order batsmen applied themselves, showing a sense of responsibility. “I thought the batting on the fifth day was impressive, encouraging and promising. From a position of 48-4 on the fourth day, it takes character, judgement and application to actually get out from a situation of that sort, but Roston Chase’s maiden

Roston Chase raises his bat after bringing up his maiden Test hundred © WICB Media Photo/Athelstan Bellamy Test century coupled with 50s from Jermaine Black-

wood, Shane Dowrich and Jason Holder helped the West

Indies end the day on 388-6, with a lead of 84 runs, so definitely they all played with that maturity which is good news for West Indies cricket, Stuart, who played six Tests, pointed out. Chase’s career-best was the highlight on day five. Having begun the day needing just six wickets for victory, India would have fancied their chances, but a spirited rear-guard action from the West Indies lower middle-order ensured that India has only a 1-0 lead going into the third Test. Having won the toss and electing to bat first on day one, it didn’t go according to plan for the hosts as they were bundled out for 196 before tea on the first day. From

then onwards, until day five, it was all India. First, the visitors’ batsmen stuck into the West Indian bowling line-up, with KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane scoring centuries and three more finishing in their 40s. Having declared on 500-9 with a lead of over 300, India were firm favourties and by picking up four wickets on a rain-interrupted day four, they enhanced their chances of victory. But day five belonged to the West Indies and Chase as they finished the day with a lead and salvaged a draw when defeat looked the most likely outcome. The third of four Tests starts on Tuesday in St Lucia.

Guyana team ready for Senior Squash Championships in TT THE national senior squash team that will represent Guyana this week in the Caribbean Senior Squash Championships (CASA) slated for Trinidad and Tobago is expected to depart Guyana today for the twinisland republic. The championships are scheduled to run from 8 – 16 of August, and will see the participation of top players from all across the Caribbean. The Guyana men’s team is led by world-ranked player Sunil Seth, and also includes 2010 men’s champion Rich-

ard Chin as well as Alex Arjoon, Kristian Jeffrey, Jason Ray Khalil, and Benjamin Mekdeci. On the women’s side is current Caribbean junior girls’ Under-19 champion Larissa Wiltshire, and finalist Taylor Fernandes, as well as former junior Caribbean champions Akeila Wiltshire, Mary Fung-a-Fat, and Victoria Arjoon. The female team of course will continue to go without the leading skills of world-ranked Nicollette Fernandes. Fernandes has been unable to represent Guyana

GSA President says squad is well prepared

AKEILA WILTSHIRE

for some time now due to her professional commitments on the international stage, where she continues to excel. The veterans’ team will be made up of Raman ChanA-Sue in the over-40 category, Joe Mekdeci in the over50 and Alwyn Calledar in the over-60 category. President of the Guyana Squash Association, David Fernandes, is of the

TT beat Guyana by Innings and 48 runs ... Jamaica crush Leewards by 146 runs By BRIJ PARASNATH GUYANA were soundly beaten by their Trinidadian counterparts, losing by an innings and 48 runs,in their 3rd round encounter of the West Indies Cricket Board Regional U-19, 2-Innings competition at the Sion Hill playing field, St Vincent and Grenadines,yesterday. Guyana, the 2014 and 2015 back-to-back champions,were dethroned with 16-year-old Bhaskar Yadram being the lone hero with a valiant 84,and emerged with his promising reputation intact as he showed that there is still some hope for the younger players to establish themselves regionally. Facing a deficit of 211 runs after they were bundled out for a paltry 85

(44.4 overs) in their first innings, Guyana made a determined effort to avoid an embarrassing defeat through the brilliance of Yadram, who was promoted to the number three position. On Friday afternoon, he fought bravely and initially got support from Travis Persaud who made (19). Together,the two restored some pride for Guyana with a 78run third wicket partnership which allowed Guyana to close the dayon 102 for the loss of three wickets after 41.4 overs. They had all of yesterday(90 overs) to salvage a draw and preserve some dignity. But it was not to be, and clearly a poor reflection of their past achievements, as they suffered their third

consecutive defeat after they lost their remaining seven wickets for an addition of 61 runs off 22 overs. Yadram, who was unbeaten on 67 on Friday, became Jonathan Bootan’s third wicket of the second innings. The off-spinner finished with three wickets for 37 runs in the second innings. The QPCC player finished with a match-haul of 10 for 60, and was supported by left-arm spinner Bryan Boodram who claimed two for 14,and medium-pacer Jarlanie Seales with three for 31, to spark celebrations among the Trinidadians, whose exploits pushed them into contention for a place in the top three positions, if not the overall title,in the six-nation tournament. Yadram struck one six

BHASKAR YADRAM and eight fours off 156 balls,while Sharfane Rutherford (10), and Marlon Hubbard (11),were the other players to reach double figures. Meanwhile, Jamaica also bounced back into contention for the title when they crushed Leeward Islands by 146 runs in their match played at the Stubbs playing

opinion that the team is very well prepared for this year’s championships and he expects some good performances. “Both the men and women’s teams are very balanced. The seniors that have been in Guyana they have been training very hard for the past few weeks, I would even say they are better prepared than last year and I think that they have good team spirit and

I believe they will do very well,” Fernandes said. The Guyana ladies’ team are currently the defending champions in that category, a title they have held for the past three years. The men’s team on the other hand relinquished the title to Jamaica last year. Overall, Guyana has not held the team title since 2013, when the competition was held on home turf.

field. On Friday afternoon, Jamaica had set front-runners Leeward Islands a mammoth 315 runs to win their third round match at the Stubbs playing field in St Vincent and The Grenadines. On the first day, Javelle Glenn blazed eight sixes and nine fours off 102 balls, as he topscored with 110 and allowed Jamaica to declare their first innings at 250 for 8 off 58.2 overs. At the close of play on Thursday, Leewards replied with 138 for 4 after 38 overs, and added only forty more runs for the loss of their remaining six wickets on Friday. Jeavor Royal 5 for 60, Michael Frew 3 for 48, and Andre Bailey were the main wicket-takers. Having secured a lead of 110,Jamaica made another declaration at 243 for 7 (68.5 overs) in their second innings with fifty-two runs each from Jordane Hill, Michael Frew,and Dominik Samuels.

However, there was no respite for the Leewards’ batsmen who were outfoxed by Royal, who became Jamaica’s chief wrecker with 7 wickets for 64 runs in 23 overs, and match analysis of 11 for 117. Leewards’ openers Tyrone Williams (50) and Kofi James (39) showed tremendous tenacity and posted 92 for the first wicket. But once Royal dismissed both of them,there was limited resistance from the others as Leewards sustained their first defeat after being giant-killers when they defeated Windwards and Guyana in their first two rounds to head the standings at 33.4 points. Barbados 22, Trinidad and Tobago 18.5,and Jamaica 18.2 points respectively,followed in that order after two rounds. A new champion will be crowned,and bonus points will determine the eventual winner with Leewards, T&T and Jamaica the main contenders.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE august 7, 2016

Lady JAG signs one year contract in England By Ras Wadada

OTESHA CHARLES

TWENTY-Two-Year old Lady JAG, Otesha Luletta Charles, recently inked a one- year contract with London-based Watford FC, making a move from Millwall Lionesses, where she spent the last season in the reserves side for the Women Super League2 (WSL2). The semi-professional League is the second tier of women’s football in England, the adopted homeland of Charles. “I am happy for this opportunity that will give me more playing time, which I did not get at Millwall, as I was reduced to the reserves. I attended the Watford trials and the Coach was impressed and offered me a first- team one- year contract. It is the same as WSL2.

I look forward to grasping this opportunity and making good use of the opportunity”, Charles told Chronicle Sport via telephone from London. “I will be working hard to cement my place in the starting eleven at Watford, and with the season due to end in October, I set myself a goal of at least scoring five goals. This contract also gives me renewed enthusiasm since my confidence was at a low at Millwall”, Charles revealed. The Guyana International forward,who hails from Sisters Village, West bank Demerara, left Guyana at the tender age of six with her family to take up residence in the United Kingdom, where she was introduced to the ‘Beautiful Game’ and began honing her skills at the age of twelve. Charles is currently pursuing a

Bachelors in Sports Therapy at the University of East London, where she is a 2nd year student. Charles, through the recommendations of Guyanese football Coach Peter Barry, returned to her roots in 2011 where she made her Guyana debut for the Women’S U-20 team. Her impressive performances earned her a call up to the senior side last year for the qualifiers of this year’s Olympics. Charles,who has scored seven goals so far for Guyana, will wear the number 14 for her new side,The Watford Lady Hornets,where she is expected to make her first appearance today in a friendly game against Tottenham Ladies. In the 2014-2015 season with the Millwall Lionesses,Charles netted an average of just over one goal per game.

Belgium’s Van Avermaet Paruima set to defend strikes gold in Rio’s hills Upper Mazaruni Games 2016…

male and female titles

THE male and female teams from Paruima in the Upper Mazaruni District, Region Seven, will from tomorrow begin their defence in the football tournament when the annual Upper Mazaruni District Games kick off in host village Kamarang/ Warawatta. The teams from Paruima have undoubtedly proven to pose the biggest challenge for their opponents, since they continue to set the bar high on the field of play. And this year’s challenge is no different, since according to a number of ball- weavers, they have gone the extra mile during preparation to ensure the coveted crown remains in their grasp. The curtain on the annual games will be drawn with an extravagant opening ceremony on Sunday, which will see an entourage that will be in support of the 12 villages that will be in fierce competition stretching across the districts.

The games consist of four groups with three teams each, that will be involved in three rounds of intense action before heading into the semi-finals and final in a number of disciplines among them football, volleyball, cricket, archery and a number of water sports. Group ‘A’ consists of hosts Kamarang/ Warawatta, Waramadong and Phillipai, Group ‘B’ Kaikan, Jawalla and Chinoweing, Group ‘C’ Kako, Isseneru and Quebanang and Group ‘D’ defending champions Paruima, Imbaimadai and Arau. Round 1 brings together Kamarang and Waramadong, Kaikan up against Jawalla, Kako challenging Isseneru, while Paruima opposes Imbaimadai. This year’s games brings with it a different atmosphere which is highly anticipated, since for the first time in the history of the District Games matches will be played under floodlights. The activities will run for a week.

Director of Sport extends support to Rio athletes

DIRECTOR of Sport, Christopher Jones, on behalf of the National Sports Commission (NSC) expressed sentiments of support for the Guyana contingent at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. The support was for the athletes who were donning national colours. The support came through a release last Friday, minutes before the Olympic Opening Ceremony. “The pride of our nation rests on your shoulders and no doubt you will display the results of your hard work, zeal and dedication” the release stated.

“The country stands in awe as you represent the Golden Arrowhead with distinction in your disciplines” the release went on to say before finishing with “We are confident that the spirit of Michael Parris who would achieved Guyana’s first Olympic medal in 1980,courses through your veins and will bring renewed strength and vigour to our success.” The first event for Guyana is the Men’s 100m freestyle on Thursday August 11, where Hannibal Gaskin will look to win his heat.

(REUTERS)-Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet snatched gold in a thrilling finish to the men’s Olympic road race, out-sprinting Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang by the Copacabana after six hours of chaotic racing around Rio’s exotic coastline yesterday. The 237.5km course, taking in 5,000m of tough climbing through lush green hills next to the rolling Atlantic, promised unpredictability and delivered in spades as nearly half of the 144 starters failed to finish. After mechanical mayhem on four circuits of the hilly and partly-cobbled Grumari section the fireworks began in earnest over three circuits of the later Vista Chinesa, a cruel 8.9km climb and treacherous descent. Pundits had predicted the race would be won there, but it was where Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali saw his gold hopes shattered by a high-speed crash. He and fellow Italian Fabio Aru launched an audacious attack to shred the race on the final ascent and Nibali looked poised to add an Olympic title to his Tour de France, Giro and Vuelta victories when calamity struck. Accelerating in trademark style down the final descent of the day with Colombia’s Sergio Henao and Poland’s Rafal Majka for company, Nibali careered out of control and crashed, as did Henao, leaving Majka alone with 12km to go. Nibali was taken to hospital with a possible fractured collarbone. Majka weaved between the

… agony for Nibali wreckage and looked set to win Poland’s first Olympic cycling gold but Van Avermaet, who briefly wore the yellow jersey

Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) of Belgium celebrates as he crosses the finish line Reuters/Paul Hanna at the Tour de France last month, and Fuglsang had other ideas. They caught Majka with little more than a kilometer left and Van Avermaet used his sprinting prowess to pedal to glory. Majka hung on for the bronze five seconds back. A course that weaved through Rio’s verdant hills produced a race so unpredictable that even Van Avermaet, who suffered a puncture early on, was not sure where he was placed when Nibali fell off. “When I saw the crash I was confused about how many riders were still up the road,” Van Avermaet, winner of Belgium’s

first Olympic gold medal since 2008, told reporters. “I was working with Fuglsang. We saw Majka. We knew it was possible. I am so happy for gold. Everyone said all week it was for everyone else.” It was a disappointing day for Tour de France champion Chris Froome who finished 12th after struggling on the final climb and having to change his bike early on. Fuglsang described it as a “a crazy race,” saying his only hope of out-gunning 31-year-old Van Avermaet in a thrilling dash to the line was if the Belgian’s chain fell off. Several medal contenders crashed. Australia’s Richie Porte slammed into a wall and was lucky to avoid serious injury while Froome’s British team mate Geraint Thomas came off later. Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski produced a courageous ride, spending most of the day in a breakaway and then as lone leader before being caught with 45km to go. He was still in the hunt before cramp got the better of him. Even then it looked as though Majka could complete the job for Poland, only for the 26-year-old to fall agonizingly short. “In the end I had such hard cramps in my legs I could barely pedal,” he said. “When the others caught me I knew that it was impossible to win.”

Lady JAG signs one year contract in England See story on page 23

Refugee Olympic team walk into Rio opening ceremony to a deafening roar ‘These refugees have no home, no team, no flag, no national anthem,’ says IOC president Thomas Bach

Flag bearer Rose Nathike Lokonyen heads the line of athletes competing for the Refugee Olympic Team into the stadium.

THE Rio 2016 Olympics officially kicked off with a magnificent opening ceremony at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janiero on Friday night. A total of 206 nations displayed their strength for the games. While some nations received some huge cheers, one new entity stole the show and made the moment special. When Zimbabwe were the last country to enter the Athletes Parade, the name of the Refugee Olympic Team entered and the Maracana stadium exploded in loud cheers. The Refugee Olympic Team, competing in the Olympics for the first time, also witnessed a standing ovation which became the symbol of the Olympic opening ceremony. The Refugee Olympic Team are participating as Independent Olympic athletes. It was created to show solidarity with the world’s refugees. The team consists of 10 participants. The key players include 18-year-old swimmer Yusra Mardini, who moved from Syria to Germany and will participate in the 200m freestyle swimming event. Refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo and other places See page 23

Warriors and Tallawahs face off in CPL final tonight THE final of the 2016 edition of Caribbean Premier League is finally upon us and will feature two teams who topped the league table during the group stages, meaning the best teams will compete for the crown this year. Guyana Amazon Warriors take on Jamaica Tallawahs in the final of the 2016 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at Warner Park, St Kitts tonight from 19.00hrs

The Warriors come into the final on the back of a four-wicket win over the same opponents in the first playoff on 3 August. Pakistani international Sohail Tanvir was the star of the show for the Guyana outfit. In a match-winning performance he picked up 2 for 24 and smashed 21 runs off 13 balls to take the See page 23

The Guyana Amazon Warriors will be hoping to win tonight after two previous failed attempts.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2016