77 per cent of murder cases solved last year Page 12
– Ramnarine
No. 105149
TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2018
Price: $80
(VAT Inclusive)
Banks DIH profit at $3.5B
...Chairman credits growth in increased sales, reduction in prices for key raw materials
Page 3
Car dealer accused of $5M fraud Fire guts Houston apartments Page 4
Page 5
First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger was, Monday afternoon, feted by the members of her staff and other well-wishers at a birthday reception hosted at State House. The Ministry of the Presidency, Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally and Commissioner (Ag.) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Mr. David Ramnarine, also sent their best wishes, through their representatives, for the First Lady as she celebrates her 69th birth anniversary. Assistant Commissioner of Police - 2IC Administration, Ms. Maxine Graham, Superintendent and Director of Music and Culture, Ms. Charmaine Stuart and Assistant Superintendent, Ms. Dorette Gibbons, who represented the Commissioner, all joined with the members of the First Lady’s staff to help her to celebrate her birthday.
Fly Jamaica to meet GCAA today – promises passengers they’ll be able to fly by weekend ■ Page 4
AG turns up heat on CLE chair Page 9
…over handling of Guyana’s push for law school
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Panel picked Justice Benjamin …AG plays down concerns over backlog of written decisions ATTORNEY General, Basil Williams has assured that the high-level panel that had interviewed the candidates for the top judicial posts had recommended Justice Kenneth Benjamin to be chancellor of the Judiciary, playing down reports in another section of the media that the Belize Chief Justice did not score the most marks in the interview. Justice Benjamin was selected and recommended to the President by a panel comprising former Justice of Appeal, Claudette Singh; Justice James Patterson and Professor Harold Lutchman. “I know that the person identified was Mr Kenneth Benjamin… [He] was recommended by the panel,” Williams, a Senior Counsel told a news conference at his chambers on Monday. Asked why Justice Benjamin is a good choice to hold the post of Chancellor here,
Attorney General, Basil Williams
the Attorney General said the question should be directed to the President. He noted however, that the nomination of Justice Benjamin derived from the panel of persons identified by the President
to interview and recommend a nominee. “I am sure the President had set out the transparent process and he appointed three exceptional luminaries and they dealt with it,” said Williams.
Asked whether he believes it would not be better to confirm the acting Chancellor and Chief Justice to the substantive posts, Williams said, “I couldn’t answer a question like that- it is not a matter for me…[But for] the president and Leader of the Opposition.” He noted that acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire did not apply for her substantive post. On January 2, President David Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo met and agreed to meet again next month for a another round of consultation on the appointment of a substantive chancellor of the judiciary and a chief justice. It was the Opposition Leader who requested time to consider the nominees for the top judicial posts. Justice Benjamin, who is Guyanese by birth, was nominated by the head of state to hold the post of Chancellor, while acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards was nominated for the post of Chief Justice. Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire is currently serving as the acting Chief Justice. Justice Benjamin had served as a magistrate in Georgetown in 1980 and 1981, and subsequently an Assistant Judge Advocate for the Guyana Defence Force. The Guyanese scholar has served 17 years as a High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Court (ECC). If appointed chancellor, Justice Benjamin will replace Justice Cummings-Edwards,
Justice Kenneth Benjamin
who has been acting in the post since March, 2017. Justice Cummings-Edwards has previously acted as the chief justice. Article 127 of the Constitution of Guyana states that the Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition; it is as a result of this constitutional provision that President David Granger is bound to meet with the Opposition Leader on the matter. It is expected that at the next meeting, slated for next month the Opposition Leader is likely to indicate his agreement with the nominees put forward by the President. Guyana has been without a substantive Chancellor since 2005 since the then Chancellor, Desiree Bernard, retired and took up the post as judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) the same year. BACKLOG OF CASES Meanwhile, Williams on Monday also brushed
aside concerns about Justice Benjamin's inability to complete a number of written decisions in Belize. The Attorney General using the biblical analogy in answering the question said: “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.” He added that there is no jurisdiction, certainly not Guyana that has not been beset by these issues of backlog of cases,” Williams said. Acknowledging that Guyana has over 10,000 backlogged cases, the Attorney General said when he first took office; he approached the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to partner with government on the issue. The IDB he said explained that it had invested lots of money on a pilot project here but that proved to be a failure. In fact, Williams said when he took office in 2015 he discovered equipment purchased under that IDB funded project was hidden at his Ministry rather than being in the courtrooms. “We have to pass legislation in this country to delineate the time within which judges should render a judgment,” said the Attorney General even as he believes that implementing measures such as the digital voice system (verbatim) in the court will speed up trials and will provide judges with accurate information. “The evidence is recorded electronically and you can get a printout in a short space of time,” he stated noting that his government is inclined to ensure that there is access to justice and that there is speedy justice. It should be noted that reports in the Belizean press indicate that Justice Benjamin was under intense scrutiny for failing to reduce the number of backlog cases. In fact, it was published in the Amandala on December 16, 2017, a Belizean newspaper, that the Belize Bar Association in September had passed a resolution calling on Justice Benjamin to deliver delayed judgments for 32 cases he heard. Additionally, the Belizean Bar had threatened to have him removed from his post for misconduct.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Banks DIH profit at $3.5B ...Chairman credits growth in increased sales, reduction in prices for key raw materials
Chairman and Managing Director, Clifford Reis (center) flanked by the board of directors
By Rabindra Rooplall AS Banks DIH prepares for its 62st Annual General Meeting (AGM) on January 27, 2018, the beverage giant has announced that the company’s profit after tax increased from $2.9 billion in 2016 to $3.5 billion 2017- being $636M or 21.6 percent. According to the Chairman and Managing Director, Clifford Reis in his report he stated that in the prior year the company benefitted from the one-off gain of $1.4 billion accrued as a result of the disposal of the Investment Securities held in Banks Holdings Ltd and Desnoes
and Geddes (Jamaica) Ltd and the dissolution of BCL (Barbados) Ltd. The group’s net assets value per share has increased from $31.72 to $33.33 and the company has increased its dividend proposal to shareholders to $1.04 per share unit resulting in an overall cost of $884M. “The improved results were made possible as a result of the increase in sales of our malt products, aerated and liquor beverages and food products,” the Chairman noted in the 2017 annual report. He said the company also benefitted from the reduction in prices paid for several key raw and packaging materials
which included sugar and pre-forms. “Prudent management of our asset base and financial resources also contributed to the overall results…while the global economy experienced some shock as a result of the recent general elections in the US there were marginal improvements resulting from the increase in commodity and oil prices,” the Chairman said. ARTIFICIAL INCREASE IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE Reis stated that the company weathered the effects of an artificial increase in foreign exchange rates which affected the
acquisition costs for raw and packaging materials, plant and machinery spares and capital equipment; in addition to foreign exchange and payment of goods and services. Adding that the recapitalisation of the company’s production, distribution and power generation facilities continued in 2017, Reis said the distribution warehouse was extended with an additional 15,900 square feet of new storage space. “A new malt intake system was installed in the brewery and the beer bottling benefitted from the installation of a crate washer and a new
cleaver brook boiler. The modernisation of the Trisco Cookies, crackers and snack lines was continued with the acquisition of new packaging equipment and machinery,” he said. CITIZENS BANK Meanwhile, the Chairm a n i n t h e 2 0 1 7 a n n ual report noted that the revenue of Citizens Bank was $3.5 billion compared to $3.2 billion, an increase of $287M or 8.8 per cent. Profit after tax was $727M. Underscoring that in creating wealth for shareholders through the creation of synergies, the implementation of finance
and marketing initiatives and continued emphasis on cost reduction strategies, Reis said from a net profit of $3.8 billion, a dividend payment of $802M was made leaving $3 billion for transfer to retain earnings. He noted that the company performed well in 2017 and the uncertain global and local economic environments together with the effects of changing global weather patterns are factors which will adversely affect the company. “We continue to examine areas in which we can diversify our business portfolio,” the Chairman said.
GEA installs ‘solar’ lights at ‘Stabroek Square’ – in keeping with gov’t-led ‘Green Initiative’ THE Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), through a project financed by the Government of Guyana, has installed 12 integrated 80W solar-powered street lights around the Stabroek Market, better known as ‘Stabroek Square’. They have also installed 750 energy-efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs around the eastern facade of the building. The bulbs use renewable energy from the sun to charge the batteries which provide lighting at nights using energy efficient LED lights. The lights, on the oth-
er hand, are controlled by a light-sensitive circuit to switch them on and off automatically. The technology causes the lights to dim by 50 per cent when motion is not detected, and return to 100 per cent brightness when motion is detected. One advantage of the system is that they are not powered by regular electricity, thereby avoiding the use of fossil-based energy from the grid and the associated costs. The second component of the project was the replacement of the 750 13Watt compact fluorescent (CFL) lamps that outlined
the eastern façade of the market with 7-Watt LED bulbs. According to Mr. Kenny Samaroo, the project’s lead engineer, “The LED technology is more efficient than CFL, and the change out will result in almost 50 per cent reduction in energy consumed.” Based on the existing Street Lights Tariff, the 12 solar-powered street lights will result in annual energy savings of about 4,205 kWh, the resultant annual cost savings of which is about G$184,170 and 2,523kg of avoided CO2. The computed simple
The new-look Stabroek Square at nights, now that solar-powered street lights have been installed around it
payback, when compared to a similar installation using utility-powered 80W LED lamps is six years. The second component of the intervention, which cost an estimated $9M, will result in annual energy sav-
ings of about 19,710 kWh, resultant of annual cost savings of about G$1.3M and 11,826 kg of avoided CO2. The computed simple payback is 1.6 years. As Samaroo explained: “The initiative was in keep-
ing with the agency’s mandate to carry out research into all sources of energy, including those sources presently used in Guyana, for the generation of energy and securing more efficient utilisation of energy and sources of energy.” According to GEA’s Dr. Mahender Sharma, “The project was completed at a total cost of $9,611,000, and was in keeping with the Government of Guyana’s ‘Green Initiative’, which is in keeping with the Agency’s vision to provide reliable energy in an environmentally, socially and sustainable framework.” The GEA will continue to monitor the installations, and provide technical support and maintenance.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday January 9, 2018
Fly Jamaica to meet GCAA today --but reassures passengers they’ll be able to fly by weekend
By Ravin Singh AS Fly Jamaica Airways prepares to meet the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) today over consistent cancellation of flights, the company has sought to reassure passengers that they will be able to travel by this weekend. The GCAA wrote the airline recently requesting
to meet with its management today, following a number of reports of cancelled and delayed flights entering and leaving Guyana. Fly Jamaica also operates from Kingston, New York and Toronto. The company’s commercial manager, Carl Bowen confirmed that the meeting is scheduled for today. He said that no prior discussions were had, and the company will be looking to present its case fully to the authority. He also sought to reassure those passengers whose flights were cancelled indefinitely over the last few weeks that they will be able to travel soon. “Operations will definitely begin by Wednesday, but we won’t be back to our regular schedule until three to four days after… So that will take us into the weekend,” Bowen said.
The airline’s planes were down for maintenance two months ago, and the company began leasing aircrafts to facilitate travel. But as Bowen explained, these leased aircrafts have brought with them “crew-related issues” which caused major setbacks for the company. A snow storm in New York was also reported to be one of the causes for the delays. On Saturday, Bowen said that he was contacted by the Operations Director of Terminal One at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport, New York, and told that no flights should enter or leave the terminal because of the inclement weather. As a result of flights not being able to leave that airport, he said that the passengers in Jamaica were not able to return to Guyana, since the flights originating
from JFK would have had to stop in Jamaica for passengers there. He, however, said that by Wednesday, Fly Jamaica’s 767-300 aircraft will be back to accommodate those passengers, some of whom have been waiting to return home since last week. Despite the flights re-commencing by Wednesday, Bowen said that this would not mean a resumption of the regular flight schedule, due to the fact that the airline would have to work with available landing slots regulated by airports. In other words, the company is not at liberty to fly as it pleases, but must wait on instructions from airports. “People are complaining about the time of the flights, but we don’t have those as yet. And I have letters from the airports telling us when
we can go there, so, a lot of things are happening that we have no control of,” Bowen explained. He said that landing slots in New York have been made available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and the load to be transported to and from the US “is not that big”. He reiterated, though, that “all passengers will be cleared out by this weekend,” as the airline’s aircraft and the leased aircraft will be utilised. And if luck is on the side of the company, Bowen said that all passengers currently awaiting flights could be transported as soon as today. That’s because the airline has made a request for a 777 aircraft, but the leasing company is yet to respond. Hinting at the size of that aircraft, Bowen said that should a favourable response be forthcoming, then passengers will be facilitated by today. Should this not be possible, he said that they will be
transported by this weekend. In the interim, efforts are also being made to have passengers accommodated on other carriers, while those in need of compensation have been receiving same. Bowen also said that he has been in direct contact with many of the passengers, who, despite their eagerness to return home, have been understanding. “The passengers I have spoken to have been understanding; they are travel-savvy so they understand that these are issues which are not new to the aviation industry,” he said. “Most of them are eager to return home and to their jobs, but they have been understanding.” Meanwhile, US media have reported that Terminal Four arrivals at the JFK Airport has been reopened after been closed temporarily due to a broken water main which resulted in the suspension of international arrivals, including those from Caribbean Airlines.
Accused of $5M car swindle A 30-year-old auto sales dealer was on Monday charged for swindling a $5M-vehicle from its owner who had left it in his care to be sold. Komal Maraj of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman and denied the fraudulent conversion charge when it was read to him. Particulars of the charge alleged that Maraj, between December 20, 2017 and December 22, 2017, at Thomas Street, Kitty, was solely entrusted by Krishandat Ramadeen with a Toyota Tacoma valued $5M, to keep until he found a purchaser. Maraj
Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 11:30 hrs
Komal Maraj
is accused of fraudulently converting same to his own use and benefit. Magistrate Latchman released Maraj on $100,000 bail and adjourned the matter until January 29.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday January 9, 2018
Fire guts Houston apartments
Roger, one of the affected tenants (Photos by Adrian Narine)
THREE Barrington Apartments at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD), were gutted last evening by fire shortly after 19:00hrs. According to one of the affected tenants, Roger (only name given), the fire originated at Apartment Seven, which is located on one of three apartment blocks in the compound. “My neighbours from Apartment Seven came bang-
Occupants of the complex look on as firemen work feverishly to contain the fire
ing on my apartment door to tell me there was a fire,” Roger said, adding that after he went downstairs and attempt-
ed to open up the apartment, “it was practically too late”. Roger said that the occupant of the apartment where
the fire originated told him that it started in her bedroom. He could not say what started it.
“All that she was able to tell me was that there was a fire in her bedroom. So I went in and attempted to make it
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up the stairs, but the smoke was too thick, and there was really nothing I could do,” the seemingly composed man said. Realising that there was nothing he and the other tenants could do, Roger said he made efforts to contact the fire service and the owner of the apartments, after which he disconnected the electrical panel to prevent further damage. “We couldn’t do anything else; it was just too late,” he reiterated. Though the fire originated in Apartment Seven, three other apartments were also gutted, while two were not affected. The extent of the damage could not be assessed, though most of the occupants reportedly lost their belongings. Two fire tenders arrived shortly after the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was contacted, and were able to prevent the fire from further spreading.
Caribbean passengers delayed at JFK Airport in NY NEW YORK, CMC – Caribbean nationals are among scores of passengers that are expecting long delays after John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York tries to “dig out” from last Thursday’s winter storm. Scores of rescheduled flights, damaged equipment and other lingering effects of the winter storm have combined to create long delays for passengers at JFK, and forced US federal officials to limit some flights into the airport on the weekend. Adeola Dorris just wanted to go home to Guyana, but instead, she was standing among other stranded passengers amid stacks and stacks of luggage at JFK Sunday afternoon. Dorris, 40, an accountant who arrived at the airport Saturday night, had no idea when her connecting flight would leave. “When the flight was suspended, I literally cried,” she said. “Because I’m here alone, and I have nowhere to go. And you can’t tell me when
I’m going to get home. And I have to work tomorrow.” On Sunday, JFK remained in disarray, three days after New York City’s first major snowstorm of 2018 disrupted operations. Since the storm, a lingering, bone-chilling cold and a series of missteps have contributed to a logjam that has left thousands of travellers stranded, and caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled or diverted. As a result, the disorder at JFK, one of the world’s busiest airports, rippled across the world, affecting passengers as far away as Beijing. Flights headed to New York were forced to turn back, and connecting flights that were only supposed to bring passengers to New York for a brief stay were grounded indefinitely. On Sunday, just as there were signs that things were finally improving, a water main break in a terminal plunged the airport back into chaos, flooding sections of Terminal 4 .
This compounded the confusion that had gripped parts of JFK all weekend, as airlines tried to rebound from the cancellation of thousands of flights because of the storm. Officials of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates JFK, were still trying to sort out what had gone wrong on Saturday when they had to scramble on Sunday to cope with the burst pipe. Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority, said that he was ordering an investigation of the water main break and the continuing flight problems. He emphasised that the terminal with the flooding was operated by a private company, and not the Port Authority. For the second day in a row, the Port Authority had to ask US federal aviation officials to block some international flights from landing at JFK, the Times said. It said that order would add to the two dozen flights that had been diverted to other airports since Satur-
day. The protracted chaos at JFK drew harsh condemnation from US Senator Chuck Schumer, who called for “a thorough re-
view” of the airport and the Port Authority to find out what went wrong, especially since Thursday’s storm had not come as a surprise.
“They should have been way better prepared, plain and simple,” he said. “JFK has to follow the Boy Scouts’ motto: ‘Be prepared.’ They weren’t.”
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Editorial
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday January 9, 2018
Power Sharing EVEN before the current government came to power, there was much talk about constitutional reform. But this government campaigned on that issue—it was a central tenet of their manifesto and their campaign platform. Since attaining office, the government has taken some steps in that direction—a task force was set up and there has been an attempt to initiate discussions with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which has been rebuffed by the latter. Some commentators such as Ralph Ramkarran, Henry Jeffery and David Hinds have been urging the government to be more pro-active on this issue. They have argued that reform of the electoral system and movement towards shared governance or power sharing are vital to the country’s hope of overcoming its ethno-political barriers. We wish to add our voice to that thrust. The need for a governance arrangement whereby our two major political factions and others are involved in the stewardship of the country is long overdue. We have seen since the split of the national movement in 1955 that neither side is prepared to allow the other side to govern without undue humbug. This was an observation made by Eusi Kwayana when he made his proposal for joint-premiership in 1961. Since that time political positions have hardened and with our politics split along ethnic lines,
the situation is more urgent. From 1961 to the present, there have been several other proposals, including ones from the PPP, PNC and WPA. But despite the rhetoric from all sides, there have not been any breakthrough. The political parties have tended to be very strident in their commitments while in opposition, only to change or modify those positions when the take office. The PPP, for instance, while in opposition was very consistent on the need to end winner-take-all politics, but during its 23-year reign, the party did nothing to initiate power sharing. To the contrary it argued that the time was not ripe for that. This was a drastic departure for a party that proposed in 1977 the need for a National Patriotic Front and in 1985 commenced talks with the PNC for a power sharing government. The PNC for its part declared through its then leader, Desmond Hoyte, that the time for power sharing had come and committed itself to its institutionalisation. To that party’s credit it has kept the ideal alive and moved towards partnership politics. Its membership of the APNU and the current Coalition government is testimony to that fact. The APNU includes the WPA which since its birth in 1979 has consistently advocated for such a government. While the other major partner, the AFC, has not been a vocal supporter of the idea, it has never objected to it. Indeed, one of its major leaders,
Moses Nagamootoo has been a major advocate since his days as a PPP member. We feel that the time for real power sharing is now. If the political antics of the opposition PPP this past year is anything to go by, there is need to stop the drift. There is no magic in power sharing—it has its weaknesses as a system of governance. But which system does not have weaknesses? As we move towards becoming an oil-driven economy, political stability is imperative. And power sharing has proven in countries where it is used to be a great contributor to stability. We therefore call on the leaderships of the major political parties to get on with the business of constitutional reform—they owe it to the Guyanese people. Without a political process in which all groups and factions feel included Guyana is doomed. The constitution and the praxis drawn from it must guarantee the security of all citizens and groups. If we share the country, we must also share its governance. One-party governance has never served us well—it is time to try something new.
The invasion of ‘cuss words’ in our society Dear Editor, WE are living in a society that has been getting from bad to worse because we have fallen morally, intellectually and spiritually. Every day we can hear our citizens behaving in a very vile manner by using curse words in their speech. We can hear this on our way to work, in our workplaces, in our own homes, in the police stations, in the schools, and even in some places of worship. What has really happened to our society? Where are we heading? Even many of our ministers in government use foul language. I was fortunate to hear a lot of them on the road with their friends or even at places like ‘’Sleep In Hotel’’ or Princess Hotel and many other places. These are the ministers that ought to set the example to our citizens. When I was a little boy growing up I would hear clean conversation in our community. A citizen could have been charged by a police officer and taken to court for using ‘cuss words’ or indecent language. Today we have quite the opposite; our police officers and soldiers are cursing more than the citizens. We are now living in a land where some of our educators and lawmakers are ‘curse birds’, we should stop and think about what will happen to the next
generation. It is my opinion that laws about indecent language should be implemented. On my visits to several schools in our country I would hear students cursing while they are playing in the school compound. In some schools teachers are unable to deal with students because they are abused verbally both by students and their parents. It’s time we introduce religious education in our school system from nursery to university. When people use curse words in their speech they may feel big or great but they have shown their lower personality in action. Real teaching begins in the home; parents are the first teachers of their children, but because of illiteracy and ignorance parents in every community are using curse words to their children. Husbands curse wives, wives curse husbands, children curse parents. Here is a real moral breakdown that needs to be addressed. This new habit of indecent language and curse words is not only in our society, it’s all around us in the Caribbean and the Western hemisphere. In most films today the film stars will curse; also in Indian films there is a lot of sexual immorality and violence. In lots of songs by Jamaican, Trinidad, Barbadian, American and some Guyanese singers, curse words are used. These can be heard in minibuses every day as well as on TV and radio. Many music videos promote vile sexual
acts, violence, and lots of immorality that are destroying the moral fabric of our society. Those who help to promote drinking are also encouraging the public and family into drinking alcohol which will motivate people to curse and behave in a vulgar manner. President Granger in his New Year’s speech emphasised that we must ‘’abstain from vulgarity’’ but how can we do that- I say by implementing severe laws against those who use indecent language. While many literary activists are promoting Guyanese literature, which is a good gesture, some of it is loaded with curse words and vulgarity that can destroy our young students who wish to study the subject. I took the time to read a number of books that won the Guyana Prize for Literature. To my amazement, some of these books have some of the most obscene passages, curse words, sexual overtones, etc. yet they are given $5 000 US dollars as Award Prize Money for the Guyana Prize for Literature, that’s the most corrupt and compromised prize in the world that’s won by a society of friends and an incestuous clique of judges. How can a teacher of literature teach a child a book of literature that contains curse words? How can that child read such vulgar material? Will that child acquire any knowledge from such books? Yet many are advocating that these Guyana Prize-win-
ning books be placed on the CXC English B syllabus. It seems as if our academics have a very shallow mentality in relation to education. What we need for literature is classics from Shakespeare, Virgil, Dante, Homer, Tagore, Shelley, Pope, Keats, Byron, Eliot, etc. Everything that surrounds us depict sexual things to sell even a lighter to light a stove has a nude woman on the top of it. Drinks and rum are promoted with nudity also most songs of dance hall singers has cuss words from Alkaline, Kartel, Movado to name just a few of these rogue elements. The wise man King Solomon wrote: ‘’Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.’’ (Proverbs 14:34) It’s about time our political leaders, including our religious leaders, wake up to the truth. Mahatma Gandhi wrote: “Literary education without character is a waste of time. God is truth and truth is God.” What we need is the truth from the Word of God to invade the lives of our citizens so they are given good words to speak to their fellow men. In this new year we must change ourselves to change the world. We must be that change of attitude and character. Regards Rev Gideon Cecil
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday January 9, 2018
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Thanks for the compliment “Jester” Rawle Welch
Dear Editor
SINCE I have been advised not to pursue a lawsuit against Mr. Rawle Welch for libel and slander in relation to the publication of his letter captioned “Sealey struggling to convert thinking” K. N. 03//01/18 wherein the individual’s mention of me by name and implying “to be stuck in prejudice and blind loyalty to his employers; that he is afraid to point to for fear of payback”. Within the “Courts of Law” had I gone that route, could Welch have provided circumstantial, photographic and supportive evidence of name of employers, place of employ and hours of work? Nevertheless, “bring me giants not those molded in the realm of Polyphemus, whose one eye enabled him to see everything for himself, and nothing for no one else.” Is Welch a clone of the one-eyed giant? Since an antiquated and outdated mould wouldn’t be around now for the casting! By the way, when Welch was employed at Kaieteur News as a sports journalist, was he ever a “hired pen, de-facto public relations officer/propaganda relations officer”? If so, then my goodly friend and not brethren would have achieved another cloning in relation
to propaganda, compliments of Hitler’s former Minister, Goebbels. Is Welch struggling to convert his thinking that [is] “stuck in prejudice and blind loyalty; he is afraid to point to for fear of payback”. Wherein on 2 consecutive occasions, “extensive column space was utilized to promote the candidacy of 2 presidential nominees for the successful presidency of the G.F.F”, while being prejudiced to the challengers. As a consequence, in a “subtle way” the G.F.F’s head will be attacked in the print media, with “gutter” letter writing devoid of intellectual content – ala Goebbels. Suffice it say “stuck in blind loyalty”. The Digicel’s Schools K.O Championship remains a typical example of “continued under-development”, since knockout tournaments are not conducive to development, an integral point Welch couldn’t have comprehended, but was afraid to point fingers at Digicel’s coordinator (then) for providing accommodation to Waramadong Secondary at YWCA, with hot-dogs for breakfast. It’s with a great degree of honour, having served as Liaison Officer, Kashif & Shangai Organization, that Waramadong Secondary, for the K&S Schools’ K.O Tournament,
was accommodated at Dawn Cari (one night only), thereafter Windjammer. Meals, 3 times daily were always of a highly nutritional content, along with sponsored dinners in two instances. Transportation internally for training; attendance at an Adventist Church Convention, National Cultural Centre, was also addressed. Additionally, the very evening of arrival, a rapport with the Manager, Ms. Campbell entailed. “One of the best players in the squad came with a prior ankle injury”. Upon hearing this, Kashif, my “brethren” indicated: “Lester, in 10 minutes arrange a taxi for GPHC, for a doctor’s examination, ahead of physiotherapy treatment the following day and thereafter”! As brethren in tandem with Shangai, grounded spiritually our oath was, is and would always be: “Do not crave for recognition and respect from others; Crave rather [for] winning grace from the Lord”. Sai Baba. Is that applicable and relevant to Welch? Is he “spiritually alive, or dead”? That aside, in my probationary period as the Liaison Officer, within 2 weeks of the tournament’s completion, a report was submitted consisting of recommendations for improvements. Based on the afore-mentioned, clubs had the privilege of re-
City patrol in the cemetery Dear Editor,
EACH time you hear from the Georgetown City Council, it is always something more outrageous and bizarre than the previous declaration. On this occasion the Town Clerk revealed an ‘ambitious’ plan which he has that would involve placing security guards within the cemetery to patrol from sundown to sunrise, which will in fact be having them watching the dead. Can you imagine that? This is the very City Council which always claims to be short-handed in its City Constabulary Department. This is the very City Council that is unable to halt the almost daily robberies in and around the municipal
markets and said that they had to retrench staff because it claims to be unable to meet its monthly payroll of over a hundred and twenty million dollars. This is the very Council that cannot prevent chic chic board men from operating on its pavements and is unable to prevent itinerant vendors from selling rat poison, pesticides and other toxic chemicals which are dangerous to health and against the law. This must be the Colgate Comedy Hour at City Hall. Persons are getting robbed routinely in Georgetown when they leave the commercial banks, city by-laws are being broken daily with impunity, pirated DVDs and CDs are sold openly on the pavements, touts continuously harass mini
bus passengers, juveniles are molested by elements within the Council’s security arm, and yet the Council’s priority is to protect the dead. The great ideas of the ages have come from people who weren’t paid to have great ideas, but here in Georgetown, we are paying super salaries to some senior municipal officers for them to come up with ideas and plans that fly in the face of reason, and common sense. Demosthenes the Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens once said ‘As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not; so men are proved, by their speeches, whether they be wise or foolish’ Regards Modi Sankar
questing monies in advance of meals’ preparation. Caledonia Fire-AIA, in St. Lucia and Joe Public, in Guyana, provided me with professional assignments. In the final analysis, “the confounded nonsense and the vibrancy of the General Council at the time”. Indeed, what a time it was to the extent that: “the GFL/GFA and all other affiliates benefitted from disbursements, emanating from collective levy fees; Mayor’s Cup included. “FIFA have spoken” not once, not twice, but thrice! “A two year suspension for Klass; disbanding the Matthias-led Administration; ruling Alpha United and Slingerz FC ineligible for CONCACAF Club Championship. Dictatorial? Let’s make FIFA great/ white again. A timely reminder publicly in 2010, in the print media I suggested – inter alia. “Rotational/Confederation FIFA Presidency”. This would enable an African, Asian, CONCACAF and others occupying the seat. Rather than European dominance, with the latest “scrapping Anti-Racism Task Force”. Epistle, Epis-
tle…“Must have stimulated serious deliberations among editors”. The most recent instance- “Two former donors/ sponsors and a former football stalwart are not longer with us”. A mental stimulant, resulting in 2 publications the same day”. Letters column and the Sports page”. In the past did Welch ever derive that benefit? My writing of letters --controversial, realistic and factual,is always to help shape football’s administration for the better--was never subjected to libel, despite retiring from active involvement, day-to-day in 2010. Despite it all “I fought the good fight, I fought against principalities and powers, and wickedness in high and low places, never fought against flesh nor blood”. In so doing, Welch have defied” professionalism, dragging Marlan Cole, a senior public servant, into his subconscious mindset”. Did I ever mention Troy Mendonca, a Co- Director, Petra Organization in relation to reports – between 2008 -2010. The GFA’s executive had established a record, unsur-
passed to date: Sixteen sponsored competitions, Pee-Wee to seniors, worthy of note between Marlan Cole and myself; Hon. Secretary and Asst. Secretary/Treasurer respectively, completed 16 reports and submitted to GFF, sponsors, affiliates and the electronic and print media. So who are my friends that Welch ever assisted in this endeavor. Or is it a figment of his imagination? Welch’s penalty-kick, after diving in the box, unchallenged when he should have been booked, resulted in his spot-kick, uprooting the corner flag. Then appealing for a retake, citing a distraction, a second bookable offence enabling him entry into the dressing room, via the tunnel, which doesn’t exist in Guyana. Happy New Year Welch, from the “Jester.” Thanks for the compliment. In accordance with the Webster and Oxford Dictionary, Jester (noun) --a professional entertainer in a Royal Court in the Middle Ages. Royalty, indeed! Regards Lester Sealey
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Korner Kick accountant Causing death case against attorney begins found dead with gunshot wound to head
POLICE are investigating the circumstances under which a 21-year-old accountant employed at Korner Kick Bar was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head on Monday morning at his home. Dead is Tevin Parris of lot 66 Garnett Street Kitty, Georgetown. The accountant lived in a two-storey wooden and concrete building that is currently under construction. The body was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital and later escorted to Lyken’s Funeral Home,
awaiting a post-mortem examination. Reports indicate that Parris was living alone in the building and he was last seen alive by his uncle on Sunday. On Monday his cousin, Allister Parris, who is the owner of Korner Kick Bar located at Lime and Bent streets, tried contacting him via his cell phone, but was unsuccessful. As a result he decided to visit the young man at home. The cousin who has a key to the building, entered and found the accountant lying motionless on his bed.
A Lyken funeral parlor vehicle minutes before the body was removed from the house (Adrian Narine photo)
Dead: Tevin Parris
He was at the time holding a 9mm pistol in his hand and there was blood on a pillow next to the body. The businessman quickly summoned the police. The area was cordoned off and, according to relatives, a spent shell was found under the body and there was no forced entry into the building. Police noted that the young man was not a licensed firearm holder.
THE trial against attorney-at-law Keisha Chase on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, which resulted in the demise of a 47-year-old man in 2015, commenced on Monday before Magistrate Allen Wilson. Chase is charged with driving motor vehicle PRR 8181in a dangerous manner, causing the death of Julian Leitch on November 10, 2015, at Duncan Street, Campbellville. She is currently out on $250,000 bail. The trial commenced with the testimony of Pamela Leitch, the mother of the deceased, who explained that the incident occurred while her son was heading to watch the Diwali motorcade. The woman said that about 18:00hrs on that night, her son left their Lot “C” Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, home and said “Mommy, I’m going and see the light-up; I’ll be back soon.” Mrs. Leitch stated that she became worried after several hours had passed and Julian
had failed to return home. “I decided to call his phone to find out where he was. A male answered and I asked him what he doing with my son’s phone. He then identified himself as a police officer and told me that my son was in an accident,” the woman said. While holding back tears in court, Mrs. Leitch said when she inquired about her son’s condition, the officer told her he thought it best for her to come down to the hospital. According to the witness, on her arrival at the hospital, her son had already died and his body was being transported to the mortuary. Three other witnesses also testified during Monday’s hearing: Police Constable Carmichael, Constable Hicken and Inspector Reynolds. The matter was adjourned until January 29. According to reports, Chase fatally struck Leitch on Duncan Street, Georgetown. Leitch was attempting
Attorney-at-law, Keisha Chase
to cross the roadway when he was hit. Police in a release had stated that the driver reported that she was proceeding east along Duncan Street, when she heard a loud sound. Upon investigating, she saw a man lying on the road. He was picked up by public-spirited persons along with the driver and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital. He reportedly suffered multiple abrasions to his body and died while receiving treatment at the medical facility.
½ gram of cocaine – 3yrs jail PI into Sophia killing CITY Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday sentenced a 40-year-old man to three years in jail along with a fine of $30,000 for possession of cocaine. Jermain Earl admitted that on January 6 at Light Street, Georgetown, he had 1/2 grams of cocaine. According to reports, on the day in question Earl was seen by police acting in a suspicious manner and was searched. The cocaine was found in his pants pocket. The unrepresented man was sentenced to three years in jail along with a $30,000 fine.
commences
Jermain Earl
THE preliminary inquiry into the murder of 18-month-old Ronasha Pilgrim, who was allegedly killed by her teenage uncle over a pair of gold earrings commenced with the testimony of her father, Ron Pilgrim. The proceeding was done before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan with evidence being led by police prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers. Sherwyn Roberts called ‘Big Head’ is charged with killing his niece Ronasha Pilgrim on September 1, 2017 at Lot 98 North Sophia, Georgetown. He is currently on remand. During the hearing police witnesses testified and the matter will continue Tuesday. According to reports, on the day in question, the toddler along with her brothers, aged 10 and 12 years, was left in the house by her father, a security guard,
Dead: Ronasha Pilgrim
Murder accused, Sherwyn Roberts
while he went to work. It is alleged that the accused, her 18-year-old uncle, at about 03:30 hrs the said day, broke a window, and gained entry into the house where he tried to relieve the child of her earrings. But in trying to do so, the child started to scream and the man tossed her through a window into the swamped yard. He then hurried away from the area, but not before placing a pile of wood on
top of the child, who was submerged in 18 inches of water and slush. When the child was discovered by her father shortly after, she was in a motionless state and was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The suspect was arrested at his ‘B’ Field Sophia home shortly after the incident. He reportedly confessed to the police at the Prashad Nagar Police Station and explained to ranks that he was “high on weed.”
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 9, 2018
AG turns up heat on CLE chair …over handling of Guyana’s push for law school ATTORNEY General, Basil Williams has expressed disquiet over the manner in which Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Reginald Armour has been handling Guyana’s move to open its own law school and has threatened that this country may soon take the issue to the Caricom Heads of Government. Guyana moving ahead with the school has hit a snag with Armour reportedly saying that no permission was given to this country to have its own institution. But Williams has disputed this contention while making it clear that should Armour continue to interfere in the matter, it is likely that Guyana would resort to taking the issue to the CARICOM heads. “If this chairman continues to act in the manner in which he is acting, against the interest of Guyana, we would have to take the matter to the CARICOM heads again. I am not sure Guyana would be comfortable with such a person remaining in office to chair this organisation,” Williams threatened during a news conference at his office on Monday. Williams himself early December had announced that a Review Committee of the CLE has agreed that the Council should defer the establishment of new law schools; a move he believes is as a result of the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) intention to sabotage Guyana’s efforts to establish its own law school. The AG said Armour, of Trinidad and Tobago, relied on a report of a Review Committee which included former Chancellor Carl Singh, to say that the CLE never gave permission to Guyana to establish its own Law School. Justice Carl Singh, former acting Chancellor of the Judiciary here, was the only Head of Judiciary on the Review Committee established in 2009 and was allowed to continue to serve on it by the new Chairman, until his removal was requested, as he had retired from that office at the last CLE Council Meeting held in Trinidad
and Tobago from September 7 to 9, 2017. Justice Singh has since denied any involvement in any meeting. Williams contends that the Review Committee which was set up for a different purpose, suddenly reopened a decision of a
Chairman of the CLE, Reginald Armour, S.C. (The Trinidad Guardian)
Council Meeting in Antigua in September 2016, chaired by previous Chairman, Jacqueline Samuels-Brown S.C., of Jamaica, who concluded after considering several documents, including an unauthorised letter of inquiry by one Trevor Hamilton of Jamaica, that some “determination had been made”; that is, granting Guyana permission to establish a Law School. The Review Committee comprised the Principals of the three Law Schools under the CLE: a Senior Counsel from Barbados; former Chancellor Carl Singh, and the new Chairman. Guyana’s delegation at the September, 2016 meeting of the CLE in Antigua included Madam Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chancellor (ag); President of the Bar Association, Ms. Gem Sandford-Johnson; Secretary of the said Bar, Ms. Excellence Dazzell and AG Williams S.C. It is as a result of the decision of the Council that Guyana entered into the MoU with the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) and the Law College of the Americas (LCA) last January. The MoU provides for a feasibility study to be undertaken to determine
whether the Joint Venture Partners should proceed to execute the establishment of the Joseph Haynes Law School (JHLS) here. In light of this, Guyana and its partners pursued the feasibility study and made a request to Chairman Armour to provide Guyana formally with the criteria to operate the local law school. This was not done. The Executive Council’s CLE will be meeting in Guyana sometime in September and the matter is likely to be raised and discussed then. STRANGE ACTIONS Williams described Armour’s actions as “strange” noting that he never afforded Guyana a hearing on the matter. “He never disclosed to me that the reason he put the item on the agenda is at the behest of Mr Nandlall. We have emails which he wrote to (Anil) Nandlall, thanking him and saying he will put it on his agenda. He engages the opposition without consulting the sitting Attorney General and fixes the matter on the agenda without asking my permission first,” Williams stated Monday. The Attorney General said he is unsure of Armour’s motives but believes he is acting in a manner contrary to a person who is the custodian of the organisation he heads. “The action of this person is unheard of in an international public service situation…and we are wondering whether it would be in our interest for the person to continue… The agenda is set by sitting members, people in government, not people in opposition. Secondly, the review committee can’t make no decision to overrule a council decision,” he declared. Additionally, Williams said that in the past Guyanese law students suffered and nothing was done to alleviate their suffering. He explained that approximately 200 law students are churned out annually from Jamaica and Trinidad while Guyana only has the opportunity to send 25 students. “Our first year, we had to ask the president who was
at CARICOM heads meeting to put the issue on the agenda and that is where the heads of government decided that the Guyanese law students must be admitted,” Williams reminded. DEMARCATING LAND Meanwhile, Williams said the establishment of the school is still on the cards, assuring reporters that efforts are continuing to ensure that the school is established. In fact, he disclosed that he has since written Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Professor Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith to facilitate the demarcation of lands at the Turkeyen Campus to house the law school. “We are working for the school,” he assured. He told reporters that the feasibility study, though incomplete, is going well. “The thing we are waiting for now is to get the land demarcated and I have written the Vice-Chancellor Dr Griffith... [who] asked the Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Dr Barbara Reynolds, to facilitate the demarcation of the land on the campus.” “We have started far apart but we are very close now. Once we have the land, we will try to move ahead to al-
Attorney General Basil Williams, S.C. (Delano Williams photo)
leviate the sufferings of the law students,” he assured. Williams, in January 2017, had announced the launch of the project for the establishment of the JOF Haynes Law School. The project comes after some two decades of lobbying for an alternative to the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago and the Eugene Dupuch Law School in The Bahamas. The JOF Haynes Law School is being established through a Public-Private Partnership between the Govern-
ment of Guyana, the Law School of the Americas (LCA) and the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) and will add to the existing options available to holders of a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB), and who intend to pursue their Legal Education Certificate (LEC). A timeline of 2018 was set for the establishment of the local institution. Guyanese students are faced with hefty sums they have to pay and along with the small quota of students accepted into the Hugh Wooding Law School, are of concern to his administration.
Teen murder accused committed to stand trial TWO youths were on Monday committed to stand trial at the High Court for the murder of a 16-yearold boy who was fatally stabbed during a school concert at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara, in April 2017. Andy Daniel Peters, 18, and Shannon Cox, 21, were committed by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman when the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the matter came to an end at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The duo is charged with killing 16-year-old Brian Charles on April 29. The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Vishnu Hunt, during his submission to the court, explained that based upon police investigations prior to the incident, Peters and the victim had an altercation the day before his death, over Charles’ bicycle accidently
Andy Peters
Shannon Cox
hitting Peters at Gove, E.B.D. However, on April 29th the two defendants, along with two other friends, were at a fair when they saw Charles. It is alleged that Peters walked up to Charles and asked him: “You is na that boy from the other night” then suddenly Cox was seen in a stooped position.
Hunt further submitted that the two friends told the police that Cox told them: “My knife have blood on it, we can’t stay”. It is alleged that Cox stabbed the 16-year-old several times. The teen was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre but was pronounced dead on arrival. The police recovered a knife at the home of the 21-year-old suspect.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Corentyne Chamber decries sub-letting of rice lands – says it's hurting small farmers PRESIDENT of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, Mohammed Raffik, is calling on the government to address the issue of sub-letting of rice lands in Berbice, as it is hurting the industry, not only in the region, but across the country. According to Raffik, these non-resident landowners are exploiting local farmers who are required to pay a rental fee of $20,000 to $30,000 per acre per crop, when they are only required to pay the government $1000 per acre annually for the leased state lands. “It is something that the government should address with some amount of urgency, as it is not only affect-
ing the industry, but small farmers as well,” Raffik said. “These said landowners, who pay a meager fee for the land annually, are taking the huge sums of monies and returning overseas without paying a dime in taxes; they are not looking to develop Guyana,” he added. Last November, Agriculture Minister, Mr Noel Holder, during his 2018 Budget presentation, spoke of the seriousness of sub-letting, noting that it is a breach of the Rice Factories Act. According to the Act, leaseholders found to be in breach of the conditions of their lease can have it
President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, Mohammed Raffik
cancelled. Raffik was among several private sector represen-
tatives who sought an audience with the minister at a meeting organised by Special Representative of the Prime Minister in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Mr Gobin Harbajan. The meeting was held in the boardroom of the Nand Persaud rice milling operations in Black Bush Polder on Thursday. Responding to the concerns raised by the Chamber’s president, Minister Holder agreed that there is urgent need to have the matter addressed, but said it is a matter for the Lands and Surveys people, especially where State lands are concerned. “The question of sub-letting is a vexed is-
sue that has been engaging my ministry for the past two years, especially in the MMA/ADA project in West Berbice,” Minister Holder said, adding: “Imagine it’s these big land-lease holders who were refusing to pay the rates for land rental and D&I charges, even before the increase in rates, who turn around and demand upfront $20,000 to 30,000 per acre per crop from small farmers.” He disclosed that the MMA/ADA is owed approximately $700M by these defaulters, not at the new rate per annum, but at the old rate of $1000 per annum, all the while fleecing local producers.
Minister Holder assured the Chamber head and private sector representatives at the meeting that definitive action will be taken against these lease-holders who have gotten away with this practice for years. Already, defaulting farmers in the MMA/ADA have been issued with demand letters advising them to pay up immediately or face the possibility of having their leases cancelled. Minister Holder stressed that what is currently being considered is to cancel leases held by the overseas individuals and have those lands reissued to the farmers who were subletting and are actually the producers of rice.
GuySuco’s social resilience training starts today THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will today roll out its first phase of social resilience training among its health-related staff. In its bid to cushion the effects being felt by retrenched sugar workers, GuySuCo has gathered its health personnel to be trained in areas dealing with suicide, alcoholism and
mental health in related communities. GuySuCo’s spokeswoman, Audreyanna Thomas told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that the GuySuCo staffers to be trained will include doctors, nurses, and counselors, among others. The mental health department of the Ministry of Public Health will be conducting the four-day seminar that will be
held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. This training, Thomas continued, will be based on the internationally designed guidebook provided by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). According to Thomas, GuySuCo has recognised social problems that already exist in some identified com-
munities and intends to bring as much relief as possible. “Apart from the business and economic plans that we have begun, we understand the need to address the social aspect of their (retrenched sugar workers) lives,” Thomas said. She continued that the sugar company recognizes also that some social problems already exist and the changes being made by GuySuCo to downsize could escalate the situation. As a result, GuySuCo will at a later date commence training with teachers, community leaders, religious leaders and other prominent community members to aid in the transition process. “Our social resilience programme is geared toward providing counselling and advice, while
assisting workers to adapt with the transitioning.” GuySuCo has rolled out an elaborate plan for retrenched sugar workers. It has basically three main parts that deal with economic, social and environmental resilience. With regard to the social aspect, Rose Hall and Skeldon will receive the first set of training while Enmore and Wales estate staffers will commence on the 17th and 18th respectively. GuySuCo is thinking ahead with regard to anticipated problems, while building capacity at the same time, Thomas noted. She said that while GuySuCo must transform its operation for its own survival, consideration must and is being given with regard
to the social impact being faced by ex- workers. She said when this aspect of training is over, another programme that deals specifically with men’s health will be rolled out as the majority of the sugar workers laid off are males. In 2012, a WHO report indicated that Guyana had a suicide rate of 44.2 per 100,000 people, and that for every single female suicide, there were 3.2 male suicides. At one point, the Berbice region had earned the title of being the country’s suicide belt with a high incidence of alcohol abuse. For these specific social issues, Thomas said a more in-depth programme will be hosted to earnestly deal with the issues of alcoholism and suicide.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Spurned man confronts teacher in classroom A 27-year-old teacher is now fearful for her life, after her ex-abusive partner reportedly breached security protocols at a public secondary school in the city to confront her in front of a classroom full of students. Since August, 2017 the man has been evading the police though several attempts have been made to arrest him for questioning with regards to a string of allegations from threatening language, to assault causing bodily harm, defamation of character and most recently, simple larceny. In an interview with Guyana Chronicle on Monday, the teacher, Coleen Rogers, said the incident has left her traumatised and at the same time fearful for her life. Rogers said after more than two years of allegedly being battered at the hands the man, she mustered the courage to break ties with him around October, 2017 but the torment did not end
there, with Monday being one of the worse incidents since. Rogers and the man hail from Linden, Region 10, but now live separate lives in the city. According to the high school teacher, it was while she was teaching a morning class that the man barged into her classroom and demanded that she speak with him. “He was like Miss, I want to show you something, I want to show you something. We have to talk,” Rogers recalled. Her pleas to have him leave the classroom fell on deaf ears. “I was packing up my bag to head to the headteacher’s office when he all of a sudden snatched my phone,” she added. Rogers pursued him to the parking lot but he jumped into his car and drove away. In a state of panic, Rogers asked another teacher to inform the headmistress of the incident, and that she was proceeding to the station to file a report.
English Teacher, Coleen Rogers
A report was subsequently filed at the East La Penitence Police Station. Questioned how her ex-partner was able to pass the security guards on duty to access the class room, Rogers contended that the security guard on duty and the man are friends, and may have been given permission to access the school’s compound. Though Monday’s incident did not entail a physical con-
GLDA acquires £5000 PCR Machine – early detection of diseases seen as economic importance EARLY detection and prevention of diseases in animals is an important component of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), which recently acquired a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine. This was made possible through collaborative efforts with the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago Campus as part of the ‘One Health One Caribbean One Love’
Project at an estimated cost of £5000. According to a Ministry of Agriculture release, Chief Executive Officer of GLDA, Nigel Cumberbatch indicated that the machine, which is presently housed in the Molecular Biology Department of GLDA’s laboratory in Mon Repos, forms a major component of the laboratory’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks, if the need arises. The PCR machine pro-
vides a platform for disease detection from an early stage of infection, specifically diseases of economic importance. “It works by detecting DNA or RNA of the target organism you want to find. Basically it allows you to say, with a high degree of certainty after considering the signs and epidemiology, that your target may be causing the disease condition seen or is present in Turn to page 16 ►
frontation, Rogers said it could have been worse; emphasising that there is an established system at the school for visitors and should have been upheld. “The situation would have been detrimental knowing the type of person the young man is, seeing that he would have threatened the lives of persons close to me, and also me. So since he would have entered the classroom I felt a sense of fear and I was in shock and dismay at his presence,” the still traumatised teacher told this newspaper. “Because I know the type of person he is, I tried to console the situation to prevent the students’ lives from being in harm’s way, so I decided to pack up and head to the head teacher’s office, but he snatched the phone,” the English teacher added. When the Guyana Chronicle contacted the secondary school on Monday, the head teacher said the matter had not yet been brought to the school’s administration attention. However, she said that there is an established protocol at the school for visitors. It was explained that all visitors are expected to check in with the security guard on duty, provide Identification Cards and sign in a log book. All visitors are then expected to be directed
to the head teacher’s office, where requests are made to speak with either a teacher or a student. All “meetings” are expected to take place in the vicinity of the head teacher’s office. Over at the East La Penitence Police Station where the incident was reported, the matter is being investigated. Additionally, attempts were made to have him arrested, inclusive of checks at his Turning Point Tucville home, but he was not there. Rogers told this newspaper that 2018 got off to a rocky start. It was explained that in addition to sending friend requests to all of her close friends on the popular social media network – Facebook – the man published several photos of her with messages that sought to defame her character as a private citizen and as a public servant of Guyana on January 1, 2018. A report of the matter was made at the Brickdam Police Station, the East La Penitence Police Station and the Ruimveldt Police Station. Screenshots of the messages and photos were shown to the Guyana Chronicle. Additionally, in the lead up to 2018, the man also allegedly threatened the young teacher that if she did not return to his residence he would have taken stern actions against her. “This is all over Guyana
social media. You have up to today to turn up when I done make these fliers, plus fb (Facebook) it going, so continue…You have up to 4 o clock to meet me. Let see who will get the biggest hurt. I will shake up everybody I promise you. Later plan ‘A’ starting, so far you only get smoke,” the man wrote to Rogers in a series of Whatsapp messages on December 18, 2017. The messages were also shown to this newspaper. It is alleged that the accused would periodically trace the teacher but would evade police presence whenever a report is made. Rogers said it is her hope that her ex-partner be caught before he follows through with his threats. “I am not going to lie, in the past I sympathised with him, I believed his lies, that he loved me and he would have changed, but all those are just promises. I want nothing to do with him because as women, we must stand up for ourselves, stand up against domestic violence and gender-based violence. My only hope now is for him to be caught to allow justice to take its course. As women we need to take a firm stands against domestic violence and speak out, no longer can we be silent, and no longer will I be silent.”
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 9, 2018
77 per cent of murder cases solved last year – Ramnarine THE Police have said it solved 77 percent of all murder cases last year, the highest percentage achieved by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in years. Acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine told a news conference last week that there were 116 reports of murder in 2017 as against 142 in 2016. The figure represented a decrease of 18 percent, but what was more significant is of the 116 cases of murder, 88 were solved. “This percentage has been very high for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and for this country for quite a long while and we believe this ranks among the highest solved or clear-up rate anywhere in recent times,” he said. Speaking about the 11
per cent decrease in serious crimes, the acting Top Cop said that at the end of the
Acting Police Commissioner (ACP), David Ramnarine
year, the figure was around 10 per cent. He commended his ranks for the extra work they put in during the hol-
idays to achieve a further reduction.” He also expressed concern about the troubling spate of carjackings, with the perpetrators showing a preference for Toyota Premio and Toyota Allion brands. According to Ramnarine, the carjackings seem to have some sort of “criminal industrialised concept, with apparent collusion between several players in the criminal enterprise. “In the first two months of the last quarter of 2017, we saw an increase (in carjackings) which was worrisome. In 2015, there were 41 cases, there were 36 in 2016, and 47 (carjackings) in 2017. We note of the 47 cases, in 2017, 16 (of the stolen vehicles) were Toyota Premio, and eight were Toyota Allion,” he said.
Paul Williams confirmed as new Crime Chief THE country’s new Crime Chief is Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Williams, Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine confirmed during a recent press conference at the Police Headquarters, Eve Leary. Williams’ had acted as the head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force when then Crime Chief Senior Superintendent of Police Wendell Blanhum proceeded on vacation leave last September. Blanhum later returned and was reassigned as Deputy Commander of “A” division. Williams is now settling into his new role, having been pulled from ‘B’ Division late last year where he was serving as commander.
In striving to be vigilant, the crime chief describes his leadership style as participative and one which looks out for the well-being of his team. “I have an open-door policy for both members of the public and my staff. Whatever problem is there we deal with it as a team from a team perspective,” Williams told the Guyana Chronicle. He added that as long as the individual possesses the necessary experience and knowledge to make a valuable input, “I bring them from around the country, we sit, we deliberate and we discuss.” “I am a servant-leader, I reach out to all my staff from the lower rank to the higher rank; in everything
Crime Chief, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Paul Williams
during my engagement with them, my utmost concern is about how they feel, if they’re comfortable and if they’re alright. “And I know once they’re within that same good stead and positive thinking, I’m going to get a lot out of them.”
Decomposed body of miner found THE decomposed body of a 37-year-old miner of Herbidia Village, North West District (NWD) was on Sunday found in a crouching position and suspended by a wire from a tree in the same village. He was identified as Ryan Roberts. His step-father, Raymond LaRose and other villagers found him
clad in a pair of red short pants. The face was badly decomposed but there were no marks of violence on his body. The man’s wife, Bridgette Roberts had told police that she last saw him leaving her home on December, 30 last. She related that her husband when he was leaving
said he was heading to Franklin Chappell’s shop which is also located in the same village, but he never returned home. The body was escorted to the Moruca Regional Hospital where an examination was done. The matter was subsequently reported to police and an investigation is ongoing.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 9, 2018
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday January 9, 2018
D’Urban St fire leaves two homeless A distraught Mr Lennox Smith outside what’s left of his D’Urban Street, Wortmanville home
A MAN and his grandson are now homeless after a fire, believed to be electrical in origin, gutted the upper flat of their 74 D’Urban Street, Wortmanville home on Monday morning. The occupants of the house are 68-year-old Lennox Smith, and his 27-yearold grandson, David Harbin, a clerk at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Smith said that he was at the hospital for an appointment when he received several calls from unknown numbers. It was only on recognising the name of one of the callers that he answered the call, only to be told that his home was on fire.
“I left my grandson home and I went [to the hospital]; I had a medical appointment this morning, and it’s at the doctor I got this call saying the house on fire,” Smith recounted to the media. Smith’s grandson, Harbin, says when he left home around 07:30hrs, there were no electrical appliances left on, and that prior to the fire, the house had never had electrical issues. “I had no dealings with gas stove or anything this morning,” Harbin said. “The points that we use to watch TV, I turned it off from the main switch. When I left, everything was in order; everything.”
Harbin, who says he’d been living in the primarily wooden two-storey house for the past 20 years, estimates that their loss could run into the millions, the fire having consumed two flatscreen televisions among other household furniture and appliances. Firemen, nonetheless, were quick on the scene, neighbours reported, and were able to contain the blaze, which managed to scorch an adjacent house. Police officials were also at the scene collecting information from nearby residents for an investigation into the matter, which has already been launched.
Firefighters battle the blaze inside the house
Firemen dousing the remaining flame with water from their truck(Photos by Samuel Maughn)
Major road works begin in Port Kaituma
The “airstrip” road which is being rehabilitated at Port Kaituma
ROAD works at Port Kaituma commenced recently, a move which residents welcomed over the weekend given the high cost of travel around the North West District community. At the same time, persons in the area are calling on the authorities to ensure the contractor install culverts along critical parts of the road network. For years, the roads in the North West District community have been in an impassable state and this has led to taxi drivers calling high fares for residents to traverse to various parts of the community. A contract in the sum of $213.2M was awarded last year to KP Thomas and Sons Contracting Incorporated by the government to rehabilitate the Port Kaituma Road from the airstrip to the Fitzburg Housing Scheme. On Mon-
day, a businessman told the Guyana Chronicle that while residents welcome the works which are ongoing, there is need for the construction of culverts along the roadways. The contractor started working on the stretch of road several days ago, a move which residents anticipated, since similar works were undertaken in the Region recently, mainly at Mabaruma. “The airstrip road is usually under water during May/ June rains,” a resident, noted as he called on the project managers to ensure culverts are constructed along sections of the roadway. The contractor has compacted and raised the level of the roadway which leads to the airstrip and according to reports; the measure is being put in place for concrete works to be under-
taken in the future. At the moment, taxi drivers charge persons $1000 each for travel between the airstrip and the waterfront at Port Kaituma. The cost rose over the years given the state of the roadways which were characterized by large crater-like pools. Works were undertaken on the roadway which connects Port Kaituma with Matthew’s Ridge last year and the improved state of roadway has led to a reduction in travel time between the two mining communities. In April last year, Minister of State , Joseph Harmon during a Post Cabinet briefing, announced that a contract in the sum of $334.2M was awarded to International Imports and Supplies, for rehabilitation of roads from Port Kaituma to Matthews Ridge, Phase Two.
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Religious health advocates being trained to educate nation on dangers of NCDs awareness campaigns on the importance of living healthy lives and the dangers associated with NCDs. In expressing deep gratitude to all the stakeholders, who are partnering to execute the research project, the Public Health Minister said communities, in addition to the need for them to become more actively involved, they must be educated on the pivotal role they need to play in addressing the multidimensional causes of NCDs. “It is regrettable to mention this, but I am convinced that our residents in our communities, in fact a significant
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, addressing the forum on Monday
HEALTH advocates are being trained by the Public Health Ministry in collaboration with local, regional and international partners and religious institutions, to educate the residents in their communities on the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyles and simultaneously on the dangers of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The health advocates were drawn from religious institutions in Regions Three and Four, and are currently undergoing training at the Regency Hotel. This is the first workshop for Health Advocates from the CONTACT STUDY PROJECT. On Monday, during the opening ceremony, Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence told those present that the prevalence of NCDs in Guyana remains a major problem. “The statistics on NCDS worldwide are alarming, and Guyana’s situation reflects the global trend since about 57 per cent of the adult population is suffering from one of the main NCDs, and annually, approximately 70 per cent of all deaths between 35-60 years report-
“These figures underscore, my esteemed Health Advocates, the major health challenges that NCDs pose to our country and the tremendous responsibility placed upon your shoulders to reach out to the residents of your church communities and to impress upon them the need to educate themselves and others thereby making the necessary accommodations that would result in stemming the overwhelming cancerous tentacles of NCDs,” she told the health advocates. In keeping with the political declaration made at the High-Level meeting of the UN General Assembly, the health
Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence
A section of the audience during the health advocates workshop
ed to the Ministry of Public Health, are related to heart disease and hypertension, diabetes, cancers or chronic lung disease,” the Public Health Minister pointed out. In fact, Guyana and the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago have been ranked as first and second respectively, in terms of the prevalence and deaths from heart disease and diabetes. Minister Lawrence said it was for this reason that President David Granger, during the launch of the National Presidential Commission to combat NCDs, underscored the importance of intensifying
percentage of our general population is not fully cognizant of the threat to life that non-communicable diseases embody. Their behaviour and lifestyles seem to indicate, despite the startling data, that they have not fully grasped the risks and the extent to which they are exposed with respect to NCDs,” she explained. For this reason, Minister Lawrence said the workshop intervention to school residents about the modifiable risk factors, which, if acted on, can result in their enhancement of life and the enjoyment of the good life, is critical.
advocates have been tasked with enlightening their religious groups on the strategies to prevent and control heart disease and stroke, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cancer by addressing their causal risk factors of unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and alcohol abuse. Such actions aid in reducing the number of premature deaths from NCDs by 25 per cent by 2025 thereby lessening the burden on our Health Sector. “Health Advocates, Nurses who will train our Health advocates, Research Staff,
in short all those involved in this activity, we cannot close our eyes to the timeline 2020, 2025; 2030; time is the of essence; we all have to have the same vision and work in sync to unanimously stop the epidemic of chronic NCDs threatening our human resource which is so pivotal to the social and economic sustainability of our country,” Minister Lawrence emphasised. Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, who was also present, said the task entrusted on the health advocates is a very critical one.
“You will be the champions of good health and healthy lifestyles through your interactions with the members of your communities. Through your words and actions, you will be leading one of the greatest change movements in this country. You already have a captive audience through the various FBOs you represent, therefore it will be imperative that you utilize every opportunity available to reach out and create impactful change in your respective communities as it relates to spreading awareness about NCDs and the accompanying lifestyle changes that are necessary to effectively reduce and possibly reverse its impact,” Minister Cummings posited. Armed with the knowledge to facilitate in behavioral and lifestyle changes, the advocates must remain committed in spite of the challenges faced, she added, while noting that persons often times find it difficult to adapt to lifestyle changes. Minister Cummings also used the opportunity to applaud the coordinators of the CONTACT STUDY.
Mayor wants Stabroek clock ringing by Independence By Telesha Ramnarine GEORGETOWN Mayor Patricia Chase-Greens wants the historic Stabroek Market clock to be back in operation by May 26 (Independence Day), even if this means approaching the government for assistance to have it done. In October 2016, the United States Embassy had approved US$41,000 (G$8.2M) for the rehabilitation of the clock, and Councillor Junior Garrett at Monday’s statutory meeting questioned just what became of that money. Town Clerk Royston King responded that that the
sum is with the Treasurer’s Department in the ‘general rates’ account. However, he said advice was provided by the City Engineer that the area housing the clock should be repaired first before the clock. Otherwise, “once the clock chimes, it might fall out of place.” King said the Brass Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF), along with Chung’s Global, were asked to provide estimates. BACIF provided a $34M estimate, while the other firm said it can do the repairs for $24M. Councillor, Bishram Kuppen offered that as was his position in the past, he
still believes that the council should seek government’s help in getting the project done because the clock is a national symbol. Furthermore, he noted that the municipality cannot afford to spend that much money behind the repairs at this time. But the Town Clerk insisted that the council must continue to fend for itself and not seek to approach central government every time it faces hardship. He said the municipality did try to find outside funding but was unsuccessful and hence decided to look at doing it with council’s resources. “We do not have a credit card with government,”
King said, adding that it is council’s responsibility to organise funds. Government continuing to bail out the municipality results in the dilution of its authority and autonomy, King maintained. But Chase-Green begged to differ, reasoning that with no new or increased revenue coming into the council, nothing is wrong with asking for help. Although the clock project was tendered out twice in the past, Chase-Green said she prefers that it goes out to tender again. She challenged King to prove that the council can fix the clock independently at the next meeting of the
Markets and Public Health Committee this month. Otherwise, she said Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran, who expressed his willingness to approach government for help, will be furnished with all documentation to do so. Meanwhile, the US Embassy had approved rehabilitation of the clock through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. The money was given at a time when Guyana was about to celebrate 50 years of Independence, as well as 50 years of diplomatic relations with the US. Chase-Green had said that City Hall intends to use the clock as a tourist
attraction. “The alarm of the clock will be heard once again throughout the area, and Guyanese will be able to experience what it was like when the clock was active in the past,” she had said. Chase-Green recalled that the Stabroek Market and the clock were constructed between 1880 and 1881, and remains one of the oldest structures still in use in the country. The market covers an area of about 80,000 square feet and houses a wide variety of items for sale. The market and the prominent clock tower are reminiscent of the Victorian era of Great Britain.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Major plans afoot to boost coconut industry – to meet growing overseas demand for home-grown fruit, its by-products
THE National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has received its first batch of coconut tissue culture from Mexico, which will be used to further advance its coconut revitalisation plan this year. This was disclosed during a telephone interview with the Institute’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO, Dr. Oudho Homenauth who confirmed the receipt of 450 samples as part of its first batch of tissue culture samples. “The materials are being hardened at our Mon Repos facility, and will be planted in our nursery later in the year,” Dr. Homenauth said. “When mature, these plants will be used solely for observational and experimental purposes, because we would need to carry out
an extensive amount of research to see how these new species will manage in our climate and soil type,” he added. With Guyana’s coconut products gaining more and more recognition on the regional and international markets, the Agriculture Ministry is continuing to collaborate with farmers across the country to further improve the industry. During the course of 2018, a minimum of 1000 acres of land is expected to be put under the plough to meet the demand of this growing industry, and to complement the thousands of acres already under coconuts. NAREI, recognising the increased need for planting material, will be utilising resources not only from its nursery at Mon Repos but from Hope Coconut Industries,
NAREI boss, Dr. Oudho Homenauth
Charity and other private coconut farmers in the Pomeroon. It is also in the process of rehabilitating its coconut nursery at the Stoll Estate
GLDA acquires £5000 PCR... the samples processed.” Mr. Cumberbatch said. The Authority will soon commence its early disease detection operations in sev-
eral areas for diseases such as Foot and Mouth disease (FMD), Avian influenza (AI) and New Castle disease (NDV). It will also be
used for carrying out tests on domesticated and wildlife animals that are being exported. Although the machine
in Pomeroon. Agriculture Minister, Mr Noel Holder in an invited comment said that his ministry is looking at developing the coconut sector into an industry where farmers can benefit year-round. “Coconuts take a while to develop, but in the interim, farmers are encouraged to practice inter-cropping on their estates. Crops like cassava can be grown and harvested while coconut trees are developing,” Minister Holder said, adding:“We are also lobbying for persons to get involved in value-added commodities. Products like the virgin coconut oil, shredded coconut flakes, coconut flour and coconut shells for generating power are products that have the potential to significantly boost the industry.”
From page 11
is not commonly used as a tool for disease surveillance, it offers other applications in areas of research where it serves to provide vital evidence of the existence of targeted organisms. The GLDA is a semi-autonomous agency under
The processing factory at Marudi, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, is expected to become operable before the end of March of this year. Initially, the facility will be able to process 30,000 dried nuts per day, but once fully operable, the factory will be able to process 100,000 dried nuts per day. With all these plans on stream, Guyana’s coconut industry is expected to have a major boost as the year progresses, thereby allowing farmers from across the coconutgrowing regions to significantly benefit. The demand for coconut oil and other by-products is high regionally and internationally and as such, NAREI has been better positioning itself to respond to those market-driven forces.
the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for monitoring and providing support services to the local livestock industry. It currently has extension officers in all regions of Guyana and continues to provide several services to farmers and other stakeholders. For 2017, the authority did not record any major disease outbreak.
The animal health unit however, conducted a number of ambulatory visits to farms across the country to deal mainly with health issues that were manifested as a result of poor management practices on farms. These included high worm burden in some animals and other incidents that developed as a result of poor nutrition.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Bauxite workers’ refunds delivered to GRA from RUSAL BAUXITE workers attached to the Russian Bauxite Company - RUSAL Guyana, can now claim overtime payments following the handing over of some $173M in refunds by the company to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, explained the refunds for the bauxite workers will require a specific procedure before they can be uplifted. “The correct procedure is for the workers to make a claim to GRA
for overtime payment. That process was communicated to the union (Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union) and all parties concerned, by the GRA,” Minister Scott explained. The minister said, with the help of the union, and adhering to the required procedure, will ensure that the bauxite workers are paid in a timely manner. “It’s for the union to do what the union deductions entitle them to do; that is to make proper representation on behalf of the workers. What prevents the union from going to the union hall, or building a tent
and inviting the concerned workers and say ‘we are going to help you fill your forms of reclamation to the GRA?’ That is what a union should be doing,” said the Minister. In 2016, RUSAL workers were asked to pay taxes on their premium and overtime payments. In January 2017, a group of employees representing the workers of RUSAL Guyana met with the central executive of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) in Linden and outlined the urgency for the
matter concerning their tax-free overtime payment to be dealt with. Following several deliberations with
the company in 2017, Minister Scott issued a letter to RUSAL in November demanding the effective
release of payments to the employees under the company’s employ since October 1, 2016. (DPI)
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Johnson hails fitness, team work for Jaguars Four-Day dominance KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Captain Leon Johnson has hailed the achievement of Guyana Jaguars after they wrapped up their fourth straight Regional Four-Day Championship title with two rounds to spare. With second-placed Barbados Pride managing to earn only 7.6 points from their tame draw against Windward Islands Volcanoes at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Sunday it left Jaguars with an unassailable lead on 135 points. “As you can imagine, it’s a very good feeling for us to win the title for a fourth straight year,” Johnson said. “I am someone that delves into the history of the game – Barbados would have achieved this in the late 1970s, and Jamaica did it between 2008 and 2012.” “We are only the third team to have achieved something like this in Windies first-class history. It is very pleasing to be part of it and to
be at the helm for the fourth consecutive year of our winning this title. “It is testament to our hard work. We have won it with two matches remaining, which is a feat in itself.” Jaguars entered the eighth round with a healthy lead - almost 43 points clear of Pride - and earned a further 17 points following their nerve-jangling two-wicket win over Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park on Saturday. The victory was their sixth in eight outings this season without defeat and Johnson praised the commitment of his players, stressing they were now focused on finishing the campaign unbeaten. “It is also testament to the way we have played this season. As a team, we have played well,” the Test batsman said. “I think everyone who has played has made a contribution, some more significantly than others, but I do not think there is a game that we played where someone
did not put his hand up and played well for the team with bat or ball. “We have two matches remaining – against Pride and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force – and we want to play unbeaten this season. We accomplished this two seasons ago (2015-16) and this is our aim for those two matches.” Jaguars have been carried by strong performances from their senior players with wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble (494 runs) and Vishaul Singh (485) their leading run-scorers, and leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul taking 44 wickets. Veteran former Test batsman Shiv Chanderpaul has also been key with 333 runs from six matches, with a hundred and three half-centuries. However, Johnson said the players’ conditioning and mental toughness had also been crucial to the winning campaign. “There are a number of factors that contributed to our recent success. Fitness is
FC Cincinnati deal ‘deserving’ – Welshman By Rawle Toney GOLDEN Jaguars forward Emery Welshman believes his signing with Futbol Club Cincinnati is one that was well-deserved, as he now shifts his attention to shining in the United Soccer League (USL). Futbol Club Cincinnati, one of the teams vying for a place in the USA’s Major League Soccer (MLS), last Wednesday announced the signing of Welshman, with the team’s head coach Alan Koch calling the 26-yearold Guyanese International a “player who has had a few setbacks with injury, but when at his best, he has the ability to play in MLS.” “He has not peaked yet and we look forward to working with him to help achieve mutual goals,” Koch said. Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport yesterday, Welshman added, “I’m very excited to be joining a top club. This is a step forward in my career. (I’m) looking forward to playing in front of some of the best fans in North America. I’m very blessed for this opportunity and will continue to work hard to reach my goals.” In 2016, while at Real Salt Lake, Welshman had two surgeries done to repair a hip flexor injury and after recovery, he moved to Real Monarchs, and then to North American Soccer League (NASL) side Puerto Rico FC. Welshman had a relatively successful stint at the Carmelo Anthony-owned Puerto Rico FC before being picked up by FC Cincinnati, but the Guyanese forward told Chronicle Sport that there’s no pressure heading to the ULS and playing for a team that’s looking to join the MLS. “I’m grateful for this opportunity yet I feel it’s well-deserved. I’ve worked very hard to overcome some obstacles in the past and I will continue to work hard to go even further
in my football career,” the Golden Jaguars forward highlighted. Welshman added, “It’s going to be very important for me to do well with my club regardless of my international football status. Club and international football are very different, different coaching styles, different players etc. “What’s important is that I’m playing at a club with similar ambitions to my own. I now have to go out there every day and earn my spot on the team. After that everything else will fall into place.” A member of the Guyana National Team, Welshman collected six caps and scored three goals for Guyana, including two in a World Cup Qualifying match against St Vincent and the Grenadines. Welshman played with Puerto Rico FC last season, converting on five of 12 shots on target with all five goals coming from inside the box to go along with three assists. Welshman was named both to the NASL Team-of-the-Week and Team-of-the-Month twice on 2017. A member of Real Salt Lake in 2016, Welshman missed the season due to injury and was loaned for a short stint to USL side Real Monarchs, where he made three appearances. In 2015, Welshman logged a full season with the Monarchs and finished as the team’s second-leading scorer with six goals over 19 appearances. During their inaugural season, Welshman chipped in two assists and helped the club end the season with a five-match win streak. In 2014 Welshman played with Ligue 1 Ontario side Sigma FC in Canada’s third division and made his professional debut in 2013 after being selected as the 16th overall pick by Toronto FC in the MLS SuperDraft.
a big part of it,” he explained. “Our players have remained fit throughout the competition. We have not had a lot of injuries during this period, and we have not had to change a lot of players and bring in new players.” He continued: “Players have also responded well when put under pressure. We have won a lot of games over the last four seasons, but it has not always been smooth sailing by any stretch of the imagination – and at those times, when we have come under pressure, players have always found a way to dig us out of the hole. “The weather sometimes has not always cooperated and allowed us to prepare as well as we would have liked but we have always found a way to make do with what time and facilities are available, and so this means a lot to us were able to remain this consistent over such a long period.”
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday January 9, 2018
Cummins leads Australia’s 4-0 rout of England AN unwavering Australia wrapped up a decisive fifth Test victory at the SCG and 4-0 series triumph on an Ashes finale overshadowed by an illness to stricken England captain Joe Root. In a dramatic ending to a somewhat underwhelming series, Root struggled with a viral gastroenteritis bug forcing him to be able to bat only for an hour yesterday. He added 16 runs to his overnight score of 42 but was unable to resume batting after lunch. Without their ailing captain, England crumbled after lunch against a withering spell from dynamic Australian quick Pat Cummins, who claimed three quick wickets as Australia completed a dominant series with an innings and 123-run victory. England finished on 180 for 9 with Root retiring on 58 not out. In a fitting grim end to a nightmare Ashes tour for the hapless England, there was a dramatic start to the Ashes
Pat Cummins claimed three quick wickets after lunch to wrap up an innings and 123-run victory. (Getty)
finale with Root not resuming his innings of 42 not out after being hospitalised with the bug. There were initial fears that Root had suffered from severe dehydration after being in the thick of oppressive conditions for much of Sunday with temperatures hitting 57.6 degrees in the middle of the
SCG at one point. Amid stifling humidity, Root bravely came to the crease an hour into the day at the fall of Moeen Ali’s wicket and quickly notched his fifth half-century of the series. He battled hard alongside Jonny Bairstow to reach lunch 58 not out as England’s hopes
of salvaging an unlikely draw increased slightly. However, an ill Root was unable to resume his innings after lunch and England’s chances quickly nosedived with Cummins, arguably Australia’s best quick of the series, ending Bairstow’s (38 from 143 balls) resistance
with a piercing delivery that trapped the wicketkeeper lbw. Moments later, Cummins (4 for 39) bounced out Stuart Broad as England quickly plummeted to 148 for 7. Cummins, the team’s enforcer and emerging into Australia’s best quick, then repeated the dose by dismissing Mason Crane with a brute of a short ball as Australia stormed to their ninth victory from their past two home Ashes series. England started in a perilous position at 93 for 4 still trailing by 210 runs and without their captain at the crease. With Root ailed, struggling all-rounder Moeen came out to bat with Bairstow and the pair shed their attacking instincts to defend gamely against probing Australian bowling. With Root stricken, the prevailing belief was that the embattled tourists would roll over but Bairstow and Moeen offered dogged fight on a pitch showing little wear although off-spinner Nathan Lyon relished extracting men-
Calf injury rules Chris Lynn out of ODI series SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Aggressive batsman Chris Lynn’s terrible run of luck with injury struck again yesterday with the 27-year-old ruled out of Australia’s squad for their one-day series against En-
gland. Lynn, who was brought back into the team after shoulder surgery ruled him out of the squad a year ago, suffered a calf injury in a domestic Twenty20 match last week.
“Chris initially left the field ... complaining of tightness in his calf,” said Cricket Australia’s Sports Science and Sports Medicine Manager Alex Kountouris. ”He reported increasing discomfort over the 24 hours
that followed and ... medical staff made the decision to send him for a scan. “That scan confirmed the injury, which is expected to prevent him from playing for three to four weeks.” Lynn returned to cricket only last month and while he is batting well he has been hidden in the field by his Brisbane Heat captain Brendon McCullum due to concerns over whether he can dive safely or throw the ball with any velocity. McCullum said he felt the triangular Twenty20 series in February with New Zealand and England would have been better timed for Lynn’s return to the international arena. Kountouris, however, hinted that could be the case anyway. “When Chris recovers, the expectation is that he will need to prove his fitness in match action before being considered again for international selection,” Kountouris said. Lynn’s absence has possibly opened the door for dumped all-rounder Glenn Maxwell to return to the team, with the selectors still
acing turn. There were no chances for almost an hour until Moeen (13) was trapped by his tormentor Lyon on the stroke of the drinks break. It was the seventh time in the series Lyon dismissed Moeen, who finished a horrendous series with a miserable average of 20. Despite every Test going into the fifth day for the first time in the Ashes since 199495, it was a lopsided series with none of the matches going down to the wire in thrilling fashion. Quite fittingly for a lack-lustre contest, the Ashes finale at the SCG inevitably fizzled out to finish a one-sided Test and series. After a convincing Ashes triumph, Australia will be celebrating long into the night having stunningly regained the urn. Conversely, an embattled England are set to feel the heat after a highly disappointing campaign ended in another embarrassment Down Under. (Cricbuzz.com)
SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings (346) Australia 1st innings 649 for 7 declared England 2nd innings (overnight) 93-4 A. Cook b Lyon
10
M. Stoneman lbw b Starc
0
J. Vince c Smith b Cummins 18 J. Root (c) retired hurt
58
D. Malan lbw b Lyon
5
J. Bairstow † lbw b Cummins 38
Chris Lynn
mulling their options. Maxwell, who has played 80 ODIs for his country and can be one of the most destructive and entertaining batsmen in world cricket on his day, was surprisingly left out of the squad when it was named last week. Captain Steve Smith and chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said at the time he needed to show he could be more consistent at the international level to get back into the team. The opening match of the five-game series takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
M. Ali lbw b Lyon
13
T. Curran not out
23
S. Broad c †Paine b Cummins 4 M. Crane c †Paine b Cummins 2 J. Anderson c †Paine b Hazlewood
2
Extras: (lb 2, pen 5)
7
Total: (88.1 overs) 180 all out Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-15, 3-43, 4-68, 4-93, 5-121, 5-144, 6-144, 7-148, 8-156, 9-180 Bowling: M. Starc 16-4-38-1, J. Hazlewood 17.1-6-36-1, N. Lyon 35-12-54-3, P. Cummins 174-39-4, S. Smith 2-0-6-0, M. Marsh 1-1-0-0
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday January 9, 2018
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Philander career-best six for 42 powers Proteas to 1-0 series lead By Nick Said CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - Seamer Vernon Philander took career-best figures as rampant South Africa claimed a 72-run victory over India on a gripping fourth day of the first Test yesterday. Set 208 for victory, India were skittled out for 135 in 42.4 overs in their second innings on a lively wicket with Philander the chief destroyer recording figures of 6-42. India had looked to seize control of the Test when they bowled South Africa out for 130 in the morning session, but found the home attack on the seamer-friendly wicket too much of a challenge. ”I was nervous we did not have enough runs,“ South Africa captain Faf du Plessis told reporters. ”I knew the new ball would be key for us, if we could strike early, we believed we could get through their batting line-up. “But I came in this morning hoping to get a 350 lead
and bowl at them tonight, so obviously that did not go to plan.” After day three had been a washout, 18 wickets fell in 64 overs yesterday, all going to seamers. South Africa resumed on 65 for two, but were only able to double their score before they lost their last eight wickets. Mohammed Shami (328) and debutant Jasprit Bumrah (3-39) were the pick of the Indian bowlers. Only an attacking 35 from AB de Villiers stemmed the tide to a degree before he was the last man out. South Africa, without injured seamer Dale Steyn who will miss the rest of the series with a heel problem, weathered a first-wicket stand of 30 for India in reply. Shikhar Dhawan (16) was out first, as he sparred a rising deliver from Morne Morkel (2-39) to gully. Philander picked up his first wicket as fellow opener Murali Vijay (13) edged to third slip.
Twenty players shortlisted for ECB U-15 preparation WITH the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-county Under-15 tournament forthcoming, the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) has shortlisted a squad of 20 players to commence preparation. The players will commence encampment at the Essequibo Cricket Board Hostel at Anna Regina from next Friday to Sunday and will continue the following weekend before the final 14 are selected. The players were selected from the eight area committees and will be under the guidance of coach Forbes Daniels and manager Vickram Ramnarine. Those shortlisted are: Ronaldo Scouten, Ryan Atkins, Mahendra Basdeo, Davindra Ramdahin, Ramesh Ramnarine, Ricky Persaud, Jarad Allicock, Shaheen Haniff, Kevin George, Raynard Ramroop, Adaish Ramdial, Steven Corbin, Anthony Deonarine, Dwayne Fredericks, Terrence Softliegh, Irfan Bradshaw, Avick Ramdial, Jonathan Lynch, Gladwyn J. Twan and Komal Shaw. Ramnarine said that their preparation is being hampered somewhat by the inclement weather so they will be looking closely at the players in the camp in order to arrive at the best possible squad. Ramnarine added that the Essequibo U-15s will be looking to follow in the footsteps of their senior team who have won the GCB Jaguars three-day Franchise League and are leaders in 50 overs format at the play-off stage.
SCOREBOARD
Pacer Vernon Philander took the last three wickets in the space of four balls to give South Africa a 1-0 lead against India. (Getty Images)
SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings (o/n 65 for 2) A. Markram c Kumar b Pandya 34 D. Elgar c Saha b Pandya 25 K. Rabada c Kohli b Mohammed Shami 5 H. Amla c Sharma b Mohammed Shami 4 AB de Villiers c Kumar b Bumrah 35 F du Plessis (c) c †Saha b Bumrah 0 Q de Kock c Saha b Bumrah 8 V. Philander lbw b Mohammed Shami 0 K. Maharaj c Saha b Kumar 15 M. Morkel c Saha b Kumar 2 D. Steyn not out 0 Extras: (w-2) 2 Total: (41.2 overs) 130 all out Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-59, 3-66, 4-73, 5-82, 6-92, 7-95, 8-122, 9-130. Bowling: B. Kumar 11-5-33-2, J. Bumrah 11.2-1-39-3, M. Shami 12-3-28-3, H. Pandya 6-0-27-2, R. Ashwin 1-0-3-0 . INDIA 2nd innings M. Vijay c de Villiers b Philander 13 S. Dhawan c sub. (CH Morris) b Morkel 16 C. Pujara c de Kock b Morkel 4 V. Kohli (c) lbw b Philander 28 R. Sharma b Philander 10 W. Saha lbw b Rabada 8 H. Pandya c de Villiers b Rabada 1 R. Ashwin c de Kock b Philander 37 B. Kumar not out 13 M. Shami c du Plessis b Philander 4 J. Bumrah c du Plessis b Philander 0 Extras: (lb-1) 1 Total: (all out, 42.2 overs: 135 Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-30, 3-39, 4-71, 5-76, 6-77, 7-82, 8-131, 9-135. Bowling: V. Philander 15.4-4-42-6, M. Morkel 11-1-39-2, K. Rabada 12-2-41-2, K. Maharaj 4-1-12-0.
Smith praises Australia’s ‘exceptional’ bowlers SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) - Captain Steve Smith has praised the collective efforts of his “exceptional” four frontline bowlers for contributing to Australia’s crushing 4-0 Ashes series win over England yesterday. The Australians rounded off a dominant five-match series with an innings and 123-run hammering of the beleaguered tourists on the final day of the fifth Sydney Test. Mitchell Starc, John Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon all finished with 20 or more wickets in the series to take 87 in total to dominate the England batsmen. Despite this, Smith was not prepared to rate them higher than the quartet of Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle and Lyon who bowled Australia to a 5-0 whitewash in the last Ashes series in Australia in 2013-14. “I think all the bowlers did an exceptional job,” he told reporters. “All of our bowlers have over 20 wickets which showed that the guys have bowled together as a group, bowled in partnerships, bowled for one an-
Australia’s bowling attack of Josh Hazlewood (L), Nathan Lyon (2/L), Mitchell Starc (2/R) and Pat Cummins celebrate after defeating England and retaining the Ashes (AFP Photo/William West)
other and helped us take the 80odd wickets that we’ve needed to take four Test matches.” But he stopped of declaring them a better bowling unit than their predecessors four years ago. “I think they are all great bowlers. I can’t put any of them ahead of each other,” he said. “I think both attacks were outstanding and got the job done. I can’t say any one is better than the other.”
Cummins, who captured four for 39 to finish man-of-thematch in Sydney, finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 23 at 24.65 and played in all five Tests. Starc claimed 22 wickets at 23.54, Hazlewood 21 at 25.90 and Lyon 21 at 29.23. Lyon, the leading all-time Australian off-spinner, has now taken 290 wickets at 31.64 in 74 Tests. “Nathan has been excep-
tional with the way he’s bowled and the consistency he’s had has been outstanding,” Smith said. “For me the moment that changed the whole series was Nathan Lyon and his run-out (James Vince on 83) at the Gabba, that was such a huge moment in the series. “Those sort of plays can change a series and I think that was a series-changing moment.” Smith, who was the undoubted man-of-the-series with 687 runs including three centuries at 137.40, praised the entire team’s input into the triumph. “Everyone has had a role to play and had some impact on this series,” he said. “That’s what has been so special about it, it hasn’t just been one or two guys stepping up and doing the job. You can’t really win an Ashes series when that’s the case. “Looking at the series as a whole, England had their foot in the door in most Test matches. “But we just won the key moments in the games and didn’t let England back into the games, which was crucial. I was really pleased that we were able to do that.”`
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday January 9, 2018
ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup opens in New Zealand THE ICC Under-19 Cricket World 2018 Cup officially got underway in style at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand on Sunday with an impressive ceremony showcasing New Zealand’s culture. According to a media release of the ICC, the ceremony was attended by representatives of all 16 participating sides, Christchurch Councillor Aaron Keown, as well as New Zealand Cricket President Debbie Hockley, who, on behalf of the ICC and NZC, welcomed the teams to the tournament. The tournament proper gets underway on January 13 with matches spread across seven venues in the cities of Christchurch, Queenstown, Tauranga and Whangarei. The winners will be crowned in Tauranga on February 3. The teams will get a chance to get into their groove with practice matches in Christchurch from January 8 to 11.
“The squads, officials and other spectators present at the event enjoyed the short opening programme, the highlights of which were traditional Maori dances. The cultural event was followed by photo shoots of participating teams in a festive atmosphere that saw the teams mingling with each other,” added the ICC release. Pakistan captain Hassan Khan said: “Our aim is to win the tournament. We have prepared well and hopefully we will perform well and make it three times for Pakistan and catch up with India and Australia (who have won three times each). Most of us are touring New Zealand for the first time but we are adjusting well and have a good chance to express ourselves.” Australia and India have both won the tournament three times, Pakistan are the only ones to have won back-toback titles (in 2004 and 2006) while England, South Africa
In photo are representatives from all 16 participating teams at the ICC U-19 tournament which opened on Sunday.
and the Windies are the other winners of the tournament. New Zealand Cricket President Debbie Hockley said in a statement: “This event plays an important role in developing its participants into international professionals, teaching them invaluable lessons in camaraderie, disci-
pline, leadership, playing under pressure and, of course, appreciating the spirit of the game.” Tournament Director Brendan Bourke said in a statement: “Never before has an opening event taken place at an ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup featuring all 16 teams,
so we jumped at the opportunity to create a very special occasion for them.” The teams attending the opening ceremony were enthusiastic about the event with the captains looking to make the maximum of the chances that come their way. The ICC U-19 Cricket
World Cup, which is held every two years, replicates a major global tournament experience in terms of organisation. The upcoming tournament from January 13 to February 3 is the 12th edition of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup and the third time it is being held in New Zealand. Group A comprises the Windies, New Zealand, South Africa and Kenya; Group B is formed by Australia, India, PNG and Zimbabwe; Group C consists of Bangladesh, Canada, England and Namibia; Group D comprises Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Ireland. According to the event format, the top two sides from each group will advance to the Super League while the remaining eight teams will figure in the Plate Championship. The preliminary round matches will be followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, plus the play-offs.
Yadram leads Windies U-19s to warm-up win against PNG LINCOLN, New Zealand (CMC) – West Indies warmed up for the defence of their ICC Under-19 World Cup title by brushing aside minnows Papua New Guinea by eight wickets, in their first official warm-up match here yesterday. The reigning World
champions restricted Papua New Guinea to 105 all out in the 42nd over before racing to their target in the 23rd, to make a winning start to their campaign. Bhaskar Yadram slammed an unbeaten 37 from 23 deliveries while opener Keagan Simmons and (23) and captain Emmanuel
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday January 09, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)
Colin Munro-104
(2)
Andre Flectcher-46
Today’s Quiz: (1) What were the best bowling figures in a match by a WI in the recent T20 series against NZ? (2) Who were the best bowling figures by a NZ player? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Stewart (21) produced a patient innings in support. Earlier choosing to bat first at Lincoln Green, Papua New Guinea were undermined by left-arm spinners Jeavor Royal (2-4) and Ashmead Nedd (2-10), along with off-spinner Alick Athanaze (2-15). Opener Igo Mahuru topscored with 22 while Ovia Sam chipped in with 21, combining in the best stand of the innings by adding 28 for the third wicket. Royal claimed Mahuru and Athanaze accounted for Sam as Papua New Guinea slipped to 70 for eight in the
Guyana’s Bhaskar Yadram top-scores in the Windies Under-19 win.
32nd over – a position from which they never recovered.
In their run chase, West Indies Under-19s suffered an early setback when the free-scoring Kimani Melius was lbw to left-arm swing bowler James Tau off the fifth ball of the innings, without scoring. However, Simmons struck two fours in a 43-ball knock and Stewart, three boundaries in a 53-ball innings, rebuilding the innings patiently in a 52-run, second-wicket stand. When Stewart was stumped off off-spinner Boge Arua in the 16th over, Yadram arrived to dominate the remainder of the innings
in two small but handy partnerships. He slammed five fours and two sixes, driving stands of 24 for the third wicket with Simmons and 29 for the fourth wicket with Cephas Cooper, who finished 11 not out. West Indies Under-19s take on Zimbabwe Under-19s in their second official warm-up tomorrow at the same venue here, before opening their Group A preliminary campaign with a tough clash with hosts New Zealand Under-19 in Mount Maunganui on January 13.
Guyana earn US$14M from 2017 CPL event
THE Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has announced the tournament’s economic impact for Guyana. The 2017 event, which took place between August 4 and September 9 last year, created a total economic impact of US$14,183,035 in the country. This figure has been arrived at by using organiser spend, visitor spend and media value and was calculated for Hero CPL by world-re-
nowned researchers, SMG Insight. In addition to that economic impact figure, the Hero CPL created 492 jobs in Guyana. The tournament also filled 4 097 hotel rooms during the event and broadcast matches played in Guyana to a cumulative TV audience of 19.1million. There was significant value for Guyana in terms of the country being given that coverage through the televi-
sion broadcast of the event. The total brand exposure for Guyana has been calculated at US$3,294,323 with more than 37 hours coverage of the country across the tournament. The Hero CPL spent just under US$1million in Guyana during the 2017 event with over 40 percent of that figure going to local staff and suppliers. This organiser spend represents a 17 percent increase from what Hero CPL
invested in 2014. “Guyana is a hugely important market for Hero CPL and we are delighted to have such a strong set of figures to share with the country. “We know that we will continue to see excellent numbers from Guyana, a country that loves its cricket and has been so supportive of Hero CPL over the years,” said Hero CPL Chief Operations Officer, Pete Russell.”
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday January 9, 2018
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Overseas group holds successful football extravaganza in New Amsterdam By Colin Bynoe AN overseas group, calling itself ‘Overseas Disturbance Sports Club’ held its third annual football Fun Day last Sunday at the All Saints ground in New Amsterdam. The day’s activity catered to young and upcoming talents from Corriverton Links Football Club, Arsenal Football Club, Cougars and Hearts of Oak FC. The matches were done on a round-robin format with each team playing two games and the categories were Under-11 and U-13 along with an Under-21 matchup between Cougars FC and Shoe Lane Dominators FC. In the Under-11 age group Corriverton Links FC prevailed over Arsenal FC in the final. The win for Corriverton Links had to be decided by penalty kicks. Both teams exhibited
their own flavour of football throughout the 20 minutes allocated to them.. At the end of the allotted time the score was locked 2-2. The penalty phase brought much excitement to the group and spectators at large, as Corriverton Links held their nerves to edge a spirited Hearts of Oaks lineup. In the Under-13 final which featured Hearts of Oaks FC and Arsenal FC. Hearts of Oaks got the better of Arsenal 2-0. Moving on to the older boys in the Under-21 age group, a ding-dong battle ensued between Shoe Lane Dominators and Cougars FC. At regulation time the score was locked 1-1. Shoe Lane Dominators carved out 7 goals at the penalty stage to Cougars’ 6 to win on penalty kicks, 7-6. At the presentation ceremony the players were rewarded for their efforts. In
The victorious Corriverton Links Under-11 team pose with their hardware.
the Under-11 age group, Mikel Georgeson was awarded Most Valuable Player, Shaun Pestano Best Goalkeeper, Timothy Harris Best Defender, Jamal Adams
Best Midfielder and Michael Cumberbatch Best Striker. In the Under-13 and U-21 category trophies were presented to the winning teams, in addition trophies for MVP,
Kohli wants a more positive mindset from Indian batters By Nick Said CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - India’s batsmen must show a more positive mindset to combat the South Africa bowling attack, their captain Virat Kohli said after losing the first Test yesterday. The match was effectively over in three days with Sunday washed out as 18 wickets fell in 64 overs on day four on a seamer-friendly Cape Town wicket and South Africa won the match by 72 runs. Set 208 for victory, India were bowled out for 135 in under 43 overs with South African seamer Vernon Philander collecting career-best figures of 6-42. ”The pitch was outstanding. I really like the type of wicket this was,“ Kohli told reporters. ”It was great for Test cricket and we got a result within four days having lost a day. “It was not one-sided; both teams were in it at different stages. As a team, we really enjoyed being part of this Test match and so did South Africa.” Kohli says the failure of his side to build partnerships was ultimately the difference between defeat and what would have been
a sweet victory in such unfamiliar conditions. ”It was a wicket where things were happening every day and we let ourselves down with the bat,“ he said. ”We wanted one big partnership to get the job done, which we failed to do.” Kohli suggested that with tracks that are likely to have even more bounce and pace to come in Pretoria and Johannesburg for the rest of the series, his batsmen needed to find a way to transfer the pressure on to the South African bowlers. ”The mindset matters when you’re travelling away from home on pitches which challenge you. You need to be positive in defence and when you’re leaving also. You need to grab scoring opportunities. ”We need to think about taking the attack to the South African bowlers more. That is something for all the batsmen, starting at the very top. “They (South Africa) force you to play good cricket in every over that you play against them, which I think is a good credit to their bowling attack. As batters we need to step up.” The India captain Virat Kohli was pumped after The second Test in Pretoria taking the catch in the slip cordon to dismiss starts on Saturday. Kangiso Rabada. (BCCI)
Best Goalkeeper, Best Defender Best Striker were awarded. The Overseas Disturbance Sports Club also recently held its Annual
food drive for the elderly. This activity was held on the 29th December, 2017 at the All Saints Anglican Church, New Amsterdam.
Dass re-elected president of Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon Umpires and Scorers Association INCUMBENT Deva Dass was re-elected unopposed as president of the Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon Umpires and Scorers Association (ECPUSA), following its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last Saturday at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground. All the other members were also reelected unopposed as follows: vice president - Wazeer Mohamed, secretary - Wazeer Dhanraj, treasurer - Muneshwar Rup, Assistant secretary/treasurer/ PRO - Elroy Stephney while the Committee members are Dasroy Balgobin, Cecil Ramdeen and Ramadhar Persaud. Meanwhile, the decision was taken for Wazeer Dhanraj and Muneshwar Rup to be the body’s representatives to the Essequibo Coast Umpires and Scorers Association (ECUCA). The Association follow-
Deva Dass
ing the elections has undertaken to increase its drive to recruit and train prospective umpires in Essequibo. The president also urged the members to consolidate their efforts in continuing to be committed towards the profession and seek to be better informed regarding the constant changes to the laws of the game. The sub-committees, comprising Discipline, Selection and Training, will be established at the Association’s next statutory meeting.
Overseas group holds successful football extravaganza in New Amsterdam Page 31
Johnson hails fitness, team work for Jaguars Four-Day dominance Page 23
Anthony Bramble (left) with 494 runs and Vishaul Singh 485 have been Jaguars’ leading run-scorers.
FC Cincinnati deal ‘deserving’ – Welshman Page 23
Emery Welshman
Emery Welshman in action at the Guyana National Stadium against St Vincent and the Grenadines. (Samuel Maughn photo)
Guyana earns US$14M from 2017 CPL event Page 26
Guyana Amazon Warriors complete squad for CPL 2017
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2018