Issuu

WEDNESDAY 23rd January, 2019

No.105526

Man shot dead at 02 McDoom Jonas was never appointed SC 18 PAGE

Voters list ‘bloated’

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… Alexander says 500,000-list exceeds resident voters … insists new round of registration key to new elections

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… lacks ‘weight of years’ says AG

JFAP has ‘strong, 20 strong’ faith in coalition PAGE

–– CN Sharma

Government on Tuesday handed over to the Palms Geriatric Home and the Mahaica Children’s Home one Special Needs minibus each. The value of the two buses stands at $11.4 Million. In photo Minister of Social protection, Amna Ally and Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ann Greene and other officials observe a demonstration exercise of the Special Needs Bus

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Man shot dead ‘Go out and work’ Chairman urges councillors of new Gibraltar/Fyrish NDC at McDoom A MAN was shot dead in an apparent hit at McDoom, East Bank Demerara Tuesday night. Dead is Kelvin Walters, 48, of Forshaw Street Queenstown. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the man and his family, inclusive of his reputed wife Roxanne Henry and a five-year-old, were in the vehicle. As Walters was traveling along the East Bank Demerara heading south, two men on a motorcycle rode up alongside him. There was some form of exchange and the men then rode up in front of the car and blocked its path. Walters, according to information, drove

his vehicle into the motorcycle but the two men took evasive measures. The car rolled over the motorcycle but the pillion rider got up and opened fire on Walters. He was shot to the mouth according eyewitnesses. As a result, he lost control of the vehicle which slammed into the median. Henry also suffered injuries. Police sources have said that the men then got up and fled on foot into a nearby village, leaving behind a 9MM pistol and 14 matching live rounds of ammunition. They did not take anything from their victims. Up to press time on Tuesday night, the police were still searching for the

Deceased: Kelvin Walters killers. Thus far the police are unable to say if the incident was actually a road rage or a hit. Investigations are ongoing.

THE new Gibraltar/Fyrish Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), says it is working to provide better infrastructure and services to residents of the East Berbice community. On Monday last, at the first sitting of the 2019 statutory meeting, Chairman Charles Crandon reminded the councillors of their duties and responsibilities: “All those who have positions, I want to see you work. Go out in the communities, call meetings, plan, discuss, that’s the only way we can see progress,” he emphasised. Crandon added, “We have to work for the residents because they put us here. We are not looking at which political party you’re from … development would not happen in a day, but we need to start now.” With much enthusiasm, Vice-Chairwoman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Wonza Richards, encouraged her colleagues to “make a positive impact in the lives of persons within our society” and to cease bickering and get the job done. Among the many topics and issues discussed, the Gibraltar/Fyrish NDC plans to focus on the areas of health and sanitation in its jurisdiction. According to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Coun-

cillor Erwin Abdulla, they are several residents who practise cattle and poultry rearing. He noted that while their efforts are accepted, the health of other residents must also be taken into consideration when managing their ventures. Therefore, the council must be notified and approval must be granted before residents can operate such businesses. In an effort to alleviate the huge amount of garbage, the council has sought permission from the relevant authorities to establish a dumpsite for the area. When the request is addressed, the NDC will provide a garbage collection system for the residents at a minimal cost. Additionally, the new council intends to forbid the illegal use of government reserves. The vacant positions for an assistant overseer and a permanent tractor operator were discussed. Four committees, including finance and housing, were also established. Also highlighted at the meeting was the construction of several roads and bridges and the NDC thanked the coalition government for the successful major rehabilitative works. It was disclosed that the Minister of State, Joseph Harman, has also donated street lamps which are expected to be installed shortly. (DPI)

Voters list ‘bloated’ 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

… Alexander says 500,000-list exceeds resident voters … insists new round of registration key to new elections

By Lisa Hamilton GECOM to decide on readiness tomorrow THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will meet on Thursday this week to discuss when new General and Regional Elections can be held and long-standing commissioner Vincent Alexander stressed the need to have a new round of house-tohouse registration as per a decision taken years ago. Following Thursday’s meeting, and at the soonest possible time, the commission will meet with the government and opposition chief whips to discuss the entity’s readiness for the same. At the end of the first statutory meeting of the commission on Tuesday, which also marked the return of GECOM’s Chair Justice (ret’d) James Patterson, a few

Commissioner Bibi Shadick of the commissioner’s briefed the media on the proceedings of the meeting. BEST LIST A PRIORITY Alexander’s view is that despite the circumstances surrounding an election, whether routine or urgent, the best list must be the commis-

sion’s priority. “I am an advocate for house-to-house registration. I am not only an advocate, but one who is aware of the institutional decision taken years ago that we should have registration every seven

Commissioner Vincent Alexander years; and that we haven’t means that we do not have what is considered to be the ‘best list’,” Alexander said. He further stated that this has been a collective view expressed by commissioners as the scheduled house-to-house registration would rid the list of persons now deceased. “Some people feel that we have to get the dead off the list. The fact of the matter is, we do get the official dead off the list… but in any circumstance I do think that the number of dead people on the list is a minority of the excess. We have a population of 740,000 I’m told; we have a list in the vicinity of 500,000, which is clear that the list is in excess of the resident voters. In my view, that allows for the elections to be corrupted in the sense that political people can use the excess to manipulate voting and have a result that is not reflective of the resident Guyanese; and so we need

to deal with that,” Alexander affirmed. He stated that while there are efforts in place to prevent such occurrences, he would rather to err on the side of caution. Alexander also reminded the media that the constitution is clear when it stipulates that elections ought to be held within 90 days, or any such time that has been determined. “If we have reasonable and logical people discussing the matter, it’s not a matter of just 90 days, it’s a matter of anytime that is considered to be reasonable time in the circumstances…the constitution has anticipated the possibility that it cannot be done in 90 days,” he stated. Another commissioner, Desmond Trotman, shared similar views on the matter of registration as he told the media: “I do believe that we need a new house-to-house registration in order to legitimise the process. I do not want to have what we’ve been having at previous elections. After the elections, there is some faction in the society who find the results unacceptable and, for me, the one way in which you can guarantee that it will be cleansed from the impurities that exist on the present list is by doing a new house-to-house registration.” The meeting is scheduled to commence at 09:00hrs and will also see pertinent election-related issues such as staffing, materials and statutory deadlines being discussed. Meanwhile, in preparation for Thursday’s meeting, another commissioner, Sase Gunraj said: “We at the commission level have to get a report from

The office of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) the secretariat. We’ve put a system in place whereby the CEO will prepare that report for us and hopefully we’ll have it within 24 hours; and we are meeting again on Thursday morning to go through that report,” said Gunraj, a People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-nominated commissioner. He stated that the report would contain the “vagaries that would affect readiness for the elections,” but only after Thursday’s meeting would the commissioners be able to provide more feedback. Meanwhile, his colleague Commissioner Bibi Shadick added:“[It will include] what’s the longest possible time he needs, the optimum time or the shortest possible time that we can deliberate on those and come to some kind of [agreement]. Because, you know, he has to have time to do certain things.” With the provision of such information, Shadick believes that stakeholders in the mix will be better informed. Patterson had suspended the previous agenda of

the meeting, which did not include electoral matters as a topic for discussion to facilitate the same. Shadick confirmed this, stating: “I must say that the suspension of the agenda was at the chairman’s request. We didn’t have to ask to suspend the agenda, the chairman said that first, we agreed and so we continued to discuss.” On the issue of the current list, both Shadick and Gunraj said it is valid for General and Regional Elections, noting that it would expire only on April 30, 2019. “If the CEO gives a timeline…

that is necessary for everything like to procure this or to procure that, and that timeline will take us beyond the 30th then he may have other things that may have to be done [and have to state] how quickly those things can be done,” Shadick acknowledged. However, speaking further on the possible facilitation of new house-to-house registration, she said: “If that has to be accommodated then we’re saying to the constitution ‘go wherever you want, we’re doing what we want’.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Trump plans to reopen gov’t., build border wall undercut by Supreme Court WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s bid to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall and end a month-long partial government shutdown suffered a

blow on Tuesday when the U.S. Supreme Court left in place for now a programme protecting young illegal immigrants from deportation. The border wall, govern-

ment funding and “Dreamer” immigrants have become intertwined in an epic Washington battle being waged by the Republican President and Democrats in Congress.

The Supreme Court ruling deprives Trump of a key bargaining chip. Amid this battle, an array of government agencies have not been fully operating since Dec. 22 and 800,000 federal employees are not being paid. On Saturday, Trump proposed ending the government shutdown by fully funding the one-quarter of U.S. agencies that are affected. In return, he would get $5.7 billion toward building a southwestern border wall that Democrats oppose. Trump also is offering to restore temporary protections for Dreamer immigrants who were brought illegally into the United States as minors. In 2017, Trump moved to end the Dreamers’ protections, triggering a court battle. Democrats promptly rejected Trump’s plan as insufficient, warning they would not trade a temporary restoration of the immigrants’ protections in return for a permanent border wall that they view as ineffective. But with the Supreme Court refusing, at least during this term, to consider an administration appeal of lower court rulings allowing continued temporary protections for the immigrant youths, Trump may have lost his main negotiating point. Instead, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program established by then-President Barack Obama in 2012 lives on with or without approval by Congress. Before the Supreme Court’s announcement, U.S. lawmakers were poised this week to take up competing remedies for ending the partial government shutdown, which has interrupted scores

US President Donald Trump

of vital federal services. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will introduce Trump’s offer later on Tuesday, according to an aide. But it was unclear whether the Senate would vote on it this week. Democrats in the House of Representatives, meanwhile, would also end the partial shutdown of agencies including the departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor and Interior. While their legislation would contain new border security money, there would be nothing for a wall. Once the government reopens, Democrats said, they would negotiate with Trump on further border security ideas. Representative Jim Clyburn, the No. 3 House Democrat, welcomed any effort by the Republican-led Senate to debate and vote on legislation to reopen the government following that chamber’s month-long abstention. “This gets us started,” Clyburn told MSNBC in an interview. There were no guarantees that votes by Congress this week actually would break the impasse,

as Trump held firm on his $5.7 billion demand and Democrats said they would not talk about that until the government reopens. Many federal employees and contractors were turning to unemployment assistance, food banks and other support as the shutdown entered its second month. Others began seeking new jobs. U.S. airport security officer absences rose to a record high over the weekend with some airports experiencing longer wait times and a least one major East Coast airport closing one security checkpoint. Federal courts will soon exhaust whatever funds they have been operating on since Dec. 22. Trash has piled up at some national parks, the collection of data vital to farmers, investors and others has been disrupted and the ripple effects of the shutdown threaten to damage a U.S. economy that had been humming for several years. The funding standoff comes at time when fears of a global recession have been rising as the blockbuster Chinese economy slows.

Saturday 19, January, 2019

06 17 22 23 24 27 21

16, 15, 24, 26, 14

9, 9, 4

7, 2, 9

02, 03, 06, 12, 15

18, January, 2019

01 03 10 15 17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Brazil’s new leader vows growth with environmental protection Brazil’s new far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has vowed to grow the economy while protecting the environment. In Davos, on his first foreign trip, he also promised to implement tax and social security reforms and reduce the size of the state. But he did not give details about his plans, frustrating business leaders and investors, correspondents say. Critics fear his policies to boost growth could mean a relaxation of environmental protections. A deeply divisive figure, Mr Bolsonaro was sworn in on 1 January promising to free Brazil of corruption, crime and economic mismanagement. But the 63-yearold’s racist, homophobic and misogynistic remarks have angered many. In a keynote address at the World Economic Forum, Mr Bolsonaro said economic development and environmental protection should go “hand-in-hand”. In his eight-minute speech, he promised to open up the “relatively closed” economy to foreign investment and

said his government had “credibility” to implement reforms, without giving details. In an interview later he said he planned to carry out tax and social security reforms. While many in Brazil agree that difficult reforms are needed to restore the economy, correspondents say there are concerns about the potential impact of his policies. Hours after he took office, Mr Bolsonaro transferred the creation and limitation of indigenous reserves to the agriculture ministry, a decision that was seen as a victory for agribusiness. Last week, Mr Bolsonaro signed a decree making it easier to buy firearms, a controversial decision that was one of his main campaign pledges. Brazil has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and Mr Bolsonaro has said more guns will allow “good people” help combat violent crime. Critics, however, say the move could actually lead to more gun deaths. In Davos, Mr Bolsonaro - who enjoys support among evangelical groups - also reaffirmed his commitment to defend

President Jair Bolsonaro

“family values” and attacked left-wing politics in Latin America, saying it would not prevail in the region. He also vowed to tackle corruption without mentioning a scandal about suspicious payments involving his politician son, Flavio, who denies wrongdoing. Who is the far-right leader? Despite portraying himself as a political outsider during his campaign, Mr Bolsonaro served seven terms in Brazil’s lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, before being elect-

ed president. He has been a member of several political parties but is currently in the Social Liberal Party (PSL), which has grown from having a tiny presence in Congress to becoming the party with the second largest number of deputies in the lower house. Before becoming a politician, Mr Bolsonaro served in Brazil’s military, where he was a paratrooper and rose to the rank of captain. During his time as a lawmaker, Mr Bolsonaro represented the interests of the armed forces and has named several former military men to head key ministries. He has also expressed nostalgia for the time when Brazil was under military rule and the hard-line policies enforced during the period, which saw thousands jailed and tortured. (BBC)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

David Granger’s legacy of equal opportunity MANY persons vote for political leaders on the basis of their (leaders’) legacies – a gift or a bequest that is handed down. To have a political legacy, a party or a person must have a history of leadership. Brigadier David Granger has served as Guyana’s president for fewer than four years, yet, his legacy is already significant. Even if David Arthur Granger ceases to be president today, his will remain a memorable presidency; and this, for all the right and enviable reasons. His legacy of equitable opportunities for all Guyanese is already well established. Historians will doubtless spend many years analysing President David Granger’s first term -- and overall -his entire contribution to the country. Guyanese are already aware – whether they support the man politically or not – that Guyana’s ninth president is one with a refreshing difference. David Granger is a man who gen-

uinely cares about the welfare of people, particularly those who are disadvantaged. President Granger’s already established record of caring about people who have fewer privileges will certainly feature prominently when his overall legacy is examined. One of President Granger’s first and most notable observations is the existence of what he called, the gap between coastal developmental prospects and those of the hinterland. In other words, he noticed that people residing on Guyana’s coast had better and a greater number of opportunities for personal betterment, as compared with Guyanese who live in hinterland communities. President Granger declared his intention of closing that gap. He vowed to ensure that all citizens have equal access to the chance of building better lives, regardless of where they live. President Granger has repeatedly emphasised that he is, “president of all the

people of Guyana” ; as such, all Guyanese must have equal opportunities, as this is their God-given right and constitutional guarantee. Early in his presidency, he unveiled his 10-Point Plan of Action for Hinterland Development. Those 10 points are the: 1. A Hinterland Education Support Programme 2. A Hinterland Poverty-Reduction Programme 3. A Hinterland Infrastructure Extension Programme 4. A Hinterland Energy Development Programme 5. The Hinterland Employment and Youth Service 6. A Hinterland Happy Household Programme 7. A Hinterland and Indigenous Peoples’ Land Commission 8. A Hinterland Language, Cultural, and Sports Commission 9. A Hinterland Tourism and Development Service, and the; 10. A Hinterland Public

Services Provision Scheme The President’s plan, which is continuously being implemented, has already resulted in improvement of the standard of living in many of Guyana’s less advantaged communities and villages. In each succeeding year of President Granger’s term, there have been improvements and additions to that plan, as needs are continuously identified and feedback is analysed by government. More recently, the 2019 budget reflects President Granger’s continued focus on equality of opportunities for everyone. As the ministry responsible for taking the lead in this aspect of government’s policy, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs has made that commitment clear. Minister within that ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe said, “Since this government took office, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs has been focusing on building the capacity of our indigenous and hinterland people. Your

government does not believe in handouts. We believe in empowering people and giving them the economic support required, so they can create successful and meaningful lives for themselves.” Minister Garrido-Lowe underscored that the almost $60 million allocated to hinterland development is not a handout; instead, the minister said, it is an investment in “green,” innovative, and sustainable, income-generating projects. Apart from that allocation, Barima-Waini will benefit from a $16 million investment in a cassava flour processing factory at Kwebanna; Smith Creek will be further developed by the instillation of a $6 million solar farm at its crab-processing facility; and Santa Rosa will get a brand new ground-coffee processing plant, at a cost of $15 million. Potaro-Siparuni’s lapidary project will be supported with the injection of $3 million. Under the Hinterland

Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme, 3,795 youth from 222 villages have benefited from one-year training courses in 2017 and 2018. Those young persons have used their newly acquired skills to establish 2,054 small businesses in villages as far as Karasabai, Tipiru, and Achiwib in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region; as well as in Monkey Mountain and Red Creek in Potaro-Siparuni. That determination to improve the quality of life of all Guyanese to the point where all citizens have equal opportunities for living fulfilling lives is a primary commitment of President David Granger. As such, that commitment is guaranteed only if and when the APNU+AFC coalition remains in government. It is therefore up to all Guyanese to ensure that President Granger remains in office to continue to build the legacy of equal opportunity.

PPP/C supporters’ culture of non-criticism and silence facilitated Ali’s nomination

Dear Editor

THE nomination of Irfaan Ali as the presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) should not have been and is not surprising for those who are familiar with this party’s political culture, especially given its maximum leader brand of political leadership culture of Bharrat Jagdeo. The Robb Street political household, by its acquiescence to Jagdeo’s bullyism, has laid bare what it really is, despite its voiceless bravado – a sorrowful bunch of political cowards who has allowed one man to snuff out whatever courage at intra-party dissent that may exist, and allow themselves to be cowed

into complete silence. Toothlessness, to be more precise. Central Committee hell! It has simply rubber-stamped Jagdeo’s nominee, giving him on a platter what they knew he wanted. Of course, it is quite obvious that throughout the years, he ensured that this body became stacked with his diehards who would grant him his every wish. For the PPP/C supporters, they ought to have known the political persona of their “shining light” Jagdeo, is one predicated solely on total control, and having to get what he wants – the “control freak.” In fact, they should have been able to anticipate Ali’s nomination, given the former instance of Donald Ramotar’s pick as the party’s nominee, and Jagdeo’s sole input

in that now historical farce which was to culminate in the former’s defeat at the 2015 poll, culminating in his eventual eclipse in his party’s pecking order. So, why all the shouts of despair, vehement protests, and seemingly hostile criticisms from PPP/C supporters, suddenly questioning the integrity – especially on the question of suspected fraudulent academic certificates, and calibre of a candidate that has been foisted upon them? Were they not also aware that questions about Ali’s integrity had already become public, especially given the 19 criminal charges for which he has been placed before the court? Instead of their asking serious questions of their party leaders, thus seeking answers

to the likelihood of Ali being selected as its presidential candidate, as to why such a tainted person is being offered – they proceeded to give disparaging responses to what could be described as valid criticisms made by correspondents: a clear example of this palsied mindset can be found in blog responses of Raj Beekie and Alesha Persaud in response to the letter captioned “Allegations about Irfaan’s qualifications”, in the Guyana Chronicle dated January 13, from the eminent Guyanese physician Dr. Mark Devonish, whose investigations unearthed grave contradictions surrounding Ali’s claim to his academic certification. TURN TO PAGE 7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

New mayor must enquire into City Hall’s top-heavy workforce PPP/C supporters’... FROM PAGE 6

Dear Editor, QUITE laudably, I observed Georgetown’s new Mayor His Worship Pandit Ubraj Narine leading by example in a clean-up operation in an effort to return Georgetown to its Garden City appearance. But citizens by and large would prefer at this stage the cleaning up of the Georgetown municipality, rather than the mere optics of a token clean-up of Georgetown. With the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown in a state of complete bankruptcy, His Worship would be well advised to enquire of the administration as to the rationale of maintaining a top- heavy and distended staff structure of almost 1,000 workers, many of whom are friends and relatives of the top brass at City Hall, whilst contracting out almost every service the council provides to the citizenry. Simply put, the council cannot have their cake and eat it too. Since the beginning of our capital in 1812 to the late 1980s, the Georgetown municipality collected garbage from citizens itself, first using animal-drawn carts all the way up to rear-loading compacting trucks that they owned, they weeded the parapets with cutlasses and hand scythes up to power weeding brush cutters, dug the drains by shovel and

then progressed to using modern hydraulic excavators etc, and at the same time balanced their budgets, whilst satisfying the citizenry completely. Since then they have contracted out all of their services, run the municipality into total bankruptcy whilst creating what is now known as the ‘Garbage City.’ The choice is simple: it is either they give about 500 of their employees the pink slip and put them on the breadline, whilst saving tens of millions of dollars each month to bring them back to solvency, which they would hate to do as it would be devastating to the pockets of their kith and kin, or they could fire the contractors and use the humongous savings to purchase weed whackers, excavators, garbage trucks and litter vacuums. This would of course bring a halt to the gravy train. Outsourcing may seem like a perfect solution for deficit-plagued municipalities, but the morning after can bring some unpleasant surprises and realities. Shifting municipal work to the private sector makes sense only where a company can be shown to provide equal or better service at significantly lower cost to the city. This has certainly not been the case in Georgetown. Regards Jermain Johnson

These two particular apologists and their comments represent a traditional, sickening dumbstruck silence when it comes to PPP/C supporters calling on their party leaders to account for issues of personal integrity, propriety and their stewardship of governance, with the issue of GuySuCo and the PPP/C’s role in its collapse being a seminal example. Their signal failure to do so through the decades are what has been responsible for their party leaders’, especially Jagdeo’s, continuing arrogance, and disrespect for the truth, even in the face of proven acts of malfeasance that involve so many of his former cabinet and other high state officials. This is a fact that party supporters generally are now apparently prepared to acknowledge in their current vitriol against Ali’s nomination, given their veiled criticisms of his stewardship as minister of housing. But even here in what may be seen to be a principled stand on the type of party presidential candidate, there is dishonesty and convenience. One would have observed that there is seemingly popular preference for Anil Nandlall as party pick; but he too, comes under a cloud and is tainted for two reasons: his ugly and vicious phone attack on the staff at Kaieteur News, during which he uttered physical threats, and his attempts at procuring a sexual liaison for a relative. Add

to this sickening verbal assault that was totally unbecoming for the chief legal officer of the then government, would be the accusations of theft of the law books, for which he has been committed to stand trial. Both these issues, in any jurisdiction that upholds and adheres to the principles of their country’s leaders, and would-be leaders being held to the highest standards of propriety, renders both Ali and Nandlall ineligible for such a consideration. This is the clear dishonesty and conundrum, and is what is responsible for Jagdeo’s continuous patent disregard and disrespect for his party’s support base, due to their well-known monolithic culture of not breaking ranks because of race. Unfortunately, it is this archaic, unenlightened, and decrepit political culture on their part that continues to give support to the party’s continuous self-enclosure in its protective, self-debasing cocoon that prohibits their accountability to party base, and evolve a modern political culture. All that has taken place with regard to Ali’s nomination is that, despite their roof top and middle of the ocean shouts – they have been given the candidate which their silence/not wanting to publicly hold their party leaders accountable, has facilitated. Regards Earl Hamilton

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Jagdeo’s reaching out to blacks Dear Editor, PLEASE see the statistics below to explain the reason why Jagdeo is now reaching out to blacks. When the Indians were close to 50 per cent, he knew with their vote and the Amerindian vote he could get over the electoral line. With the Indians less than 40%, many turning away from his racist policies and the Amerindian votes not guaranteed, in view of the formation of the

‘Amerindian party,’ he is now ‘reaching’ out to blacks. He would have stood a chance if the Phantom Squad did not murder hundreds of us. Regards Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS MSc MRCP(UK) FRCP(Edin) Consultant, Acute Medicine Nottingham University Hospital UK

Jagdeo years were brutal Dear Editor THE PPP administration’s treatment of young Guyanese, especially those who originate from areas that traditionally supported the coalition government, has been brutal, merciless and genocidal. The PPP engaged in a well-planned and systemic execution of psychological warfare and intentional marginalisation of Guyana’s youth in coalition strongholds. From 2002 to 2006, former Minister of Home Affairs, the late Ronald Gajraj and the former PPP administration, had partnered with Roger Khan, a known drug trafficker and fugitive from the United States with strong links to the Colombian Mafia and Gorilla Gang, and killed over 400 young men, mainly of African descent. Whether some of these men were considered criminals or not, they like any other citizen in a democratic society deserved to go through the due processes of the law. They deserved fair trials before juries, which would listen to the evidence and determine if the young men were guilty or innocent. They did not deserve to be savagely murdered; these acts were a breach of ‘NATURAL JUSTICE.” Among their victims was 18-year-old University of Guyana Student Yohance Douglas. On March 1st, 2003, Douglas was shot and killed by police while travelling with four of his friends at the corner of Sheriff and Bonasika streets, Section ‘K’ Campbellville, Georgetown. The five young men, O’Neil King, Kwesi Heywood, Randolph Goodluck and Ronson

Grey along with Douglas who had just left basketball practice, were model citizens and exceptionally talented basketball players. Ronson Gray, who was 19- years -old at the time, was also shot to his mouth. O’Neil King, the son of police officer Pamela King, was shot in the right hand. The slaughter of Yohance Douglas was part of the genocidal attack on mainly Afro- Guyanese young men carried out by the PPP and former Minister of Home Affairs “Death Squad.” This was a dark time, a dangerous time to be an Afro- Guyanese man living in Guyana as even the educated, model young black men were executed without cause. I was also profiled as a college and university student and was frequently pulled out of public transportation for what was termed “random searches” by masked, black clothes police officers for drugs, I presume, because I sported dreadlocks, was my conclusion at the time. Growing up you frequently heard the old adage, “Education is the key to success” and lifting one’s self out of poverty; however, after observing the quality of education dished out to us by the PPP government I knew that there was a grave disconnect with what I was told versus what I had observed and experienced. Government scholarships were given predominantly to PPP supporters. Even those who were undeserving benefitted because of their association with a family, friend or a considered supporter of the PPP. Names on the list for scholarships that were not spelt or sounded a certain way were scratched off, even if

those persons overwhelmingly satisfied the requirements for such scholarships. Today, some of those individuals’ academic credentials are being challenged publicly. The PPP engaged not only in economic genocide of some of the coalition’s stronghold communities, but also in educational apartheid. For more than a decade, the nation heard the cries from the University of Guyana Turkeyen campus about being severely underfunded. With evidence, I submit that the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen campus which is the country’s premier university campus, was merely put on life support by the PPP administration. It must be stated for emphasis and to reaffirm my aforementioned position Mr. Editor, that the Turkeyen campus is located in a coalition stronghold. While for 23 years the Turkeyen campus suffered neglect and underfunding, the Tain campus which was opened in Corentyne was given all of the necessary facilities and funding. Please note also, that the Tain campus is located in a perceived PPP stronghold. Education, which cannot be overemphasised as the key to the economic upliftment of all of our young people, was used by Comrade Jagdeo and the PPP to systematically impoverish a generation. During the PPP’s tenure, the Corentyne campus of the University of Guyana had approximately 550 students, and received $132.6 million or approximately $241,091 per student. By contrast, the Turkeyen campus with approximately 5,500 students received $575.2 million or $104,581 per student. Sim-

ilarly, the capital budget for the Turkeyen campus was $35 million, while that for Berbice was $20 million. This ratio of funding is most disturbing to say the least. For years under the PPP administration, University of Guyana, Turkeyen, struggled to maintain the campus, meet overheads and introduce new programmes. It resorted to raising the tuition fees at Turkeyen as a means of offsetting this reduced expenditure. In 2002, The PPP administration also discontinued the government subsidy for law students to complete their LEC at the Hugh Wooding Law School. The discontinuation of the subsidy to our law students for a 15-year period, had resulted in students taking burdensome loans to pay for their education and some students putting off their Legal Practical Training certification until years after. In 2016, just after one year in government, the coalition government assisted the batch of 25 law students with $17.5 million to cover 25 % of the total tuition fees for Guyanese students entering the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago. These contributions provided much needed financial relief to our law students. It is a known fact that during the PPP’s tenure, the Critchlow Labour College suffered also as a result of the intentional withdrawal of subventions by the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, while GAWU’s labour college was given a handsome subvention to take care of its programmes. The withdrawal of this subvention, which was based on political spitefulness and

lacked logic, severely crippled this education institution for a long period. While Bharrat Jagdeo and his cohorts built the National Stadium for USD30 million (G$ 6 Billion Guyana Dollars), and the Marriott US$98 million (G$20 Billion), he only allocated the following amounts to education: 2011- $24 billion, 2012-$26.5 billion, 2013 - $28.5B, 2014-32.2 Billion. Under the David Granger-led coalition government, look at the stark contrast: 2016- 40.3 Billion, 2017G$43.1 Billion, 2018- G45.3 Billion, 2019- $52.2Billion. Any economist can tell you that this stark difference isn’t due to inflation, but it reflects the priorities of the different governments. The misdirection of budgetary allocations by the Jagdeo-led PPP administration had a systematic, adverse effect on an entire generation of young people, especially those from coalition strongholds. After undermining the country’s education system, Jagdeo attempted to fix the country’s education woes by his “One laptop per family scheme.” This scheme allowed Jagdeo and his cohorts to syphon off large volumes of cash for themselves through procurement fraud, while they pretended to assist the nation’s youth and address the country’s education deficit. Finally, as part of their all-out assault on youth in coalition strongholds, they created an entity to culturally bombard people of the main coalition strongholds through several known entertainment outfits with their various international shows and concept parties. The conceptualisation

of this PPP- owned entertainment company was intentionally set up to distract the nation’s youth while they were being disenfranchised, destroyed, marginalised and robbed of opportunities for upward mobility. The PPP has never cared for the nation’s youth, there was no properly put together policy framework to cater for their artistic, athletic or out-of-the-box ideas of our youths. No consideration for their ethnic, religious, cultural interests, or the geographical makeup of their society, be it in the form of a cultural policy, youth policy or sports policy were in place to give direction. Hundreds of young people were incarcerated for small quantities of marijuana, while drug pushers reigned supreme. It is this government that has taken giant steps to address the many deficiencies of the previous administration and much more is being done to rescue and lift our nation’s youth and Guyana from the abyss of an ingrained and entrenched lawlessness, corruption, malfeasance and nepotism that permeated the Jadgeo era of a failed narco state, inherited by this coalition government. Guyana under the David Granger coalition government is better equipped to continue serving this nation and we must never allow ourselves to forget that most evil, wicked and corrupt PPP administration. Regards Jermaine Figueira Member Of Parliament Region 10.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Nations spreads wings

– brings students from Afghanistan, Gambia to study here

– hosts grand fundraiser this Saturday at Duke Lodge

By Tajeram Mohabir IN keeping with its motto “Learning knows no bounds”, Nations Inc. will bring four overseas students to study at its ever-expanding New Market Street, Georgetown Campus. The students, who are yet to be identified, will hail from The Gambia, a West African nation battling issues of poverty and Afghanistan, a South-Central Asian country which has been ravaged by war. Founder and Principal of Nations, Dr Brian O’Toole, told the Guyana Chronicle that the students, who will be here, will pursue the Association of Business Executives (ABE) programme which will be delivered in six months. The students are not from privileged backgrounds and ABE and Nations have waived tuition fees for them. At the local end, efforts are also being made to assist the visiting students. Dr O’Toole said Nations’ Sixth Form students, who are part of the school’s Student Council, have come together to raise enough money to cover the expenses of the foreign students expected here. The expenses include air tickets, accommodation and meals. The Sixth Form students, thus far, have been able to raise US$5000. In addition, Sean Major of Publik Wing and Burger House, Bio Med Engineer, Courts (Guyana) Limited and Roraima Airways, have made donations towards the fundraising dinner. The sums garnered, however, are not sufficient to cover all living expenses of the students, and as such, with the approval of Nations, the sixth form students will be hosting a gala dinner at Duke Lodge on Saturday at 07:00 pm. Tickets for the worthy cause are available at Nations, New Market Street Offices

at $5000 per person. Persons purchasing tickets at Duke Lodge, on Saturday, will pay $1000 more. WORTHY CAUSE At the fundraiser, art work and videos of Gambia and Afghanistan will also be on sale, and according to Sonia Ganpat, one of the students organising the event, it will be very much a worthwhile occasion. “It [fundraiser] will enable Nations the opportunity to not only host four underprivileged students from Gambia and Afghanistan, but provide them an opportunity to have a quality education,” she said. The students visit here is supported by Farzin Rahmani, who more than three decades ago, contributed to the upgrade of the local health sector through the supply of medical equipment and services. Rahmani, a follower of the Bahai Faith, through non-governmental organisation (NGO) Zambian Gems, has done much charitable work in Zambia, Afghanistan and South Africa in the areas of education, health and entrepreneurship. With the aim of promoting wide and inclusive learning, Nations has also engaged Full-Circle Learning. President of Full-Circle Learning, Dr Teresa Langness, said the NGO seeks to help young people embrace their role as change agents and humanitarians in society. Its educational programmes integrate and expand students’ character strengths, academic excellence, artistic capacities and peacemaking skills in service to the global human family. Full-Circle Learning serves communities around the world and provides training and monitoring of teachers; curriculum, music and ancillary materials to support sites; and liaises with collaborating schools to foster global

classroom relationships. Dr O’Toole, who was earlier this year bestowed the prestigious Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) award for his outstanding work in education in Guyana by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11, views the students visit here with much optimism. “It is part of Nations efforts to really become a school of nations,” he said, pointing out that the school intends to attract more foreign students in the future.

EXPANSION PLAN This, he said, is part of Nations’ wider expansion plan. Currently, the western section of the building is being expanded to accommodate 26 more classrooms while the school, in recent years, has partnered with top educational institutions to offer new programmes at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Programmes offered at the top private school in-

clude MBAs, LLB, LLM, MA Education, BA (Top Up) Business Administration and a number of advanced diplomas and certificates from various awarding bodies, including the University of London, the University of Cambridge, the University of Bedfordshire, ACCA, the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Association of Business Executives (ABE). Through the University of Bedfordshire, Nations is also working to introduce master’s programmes in finance, pub-

lic health, journalism and social work. These programmes are being offered at very competitive rates compared to universities in the US, UK and Europe. “Nowhere in the world can you study for an internationally recognised and accredited MBA for less than US$8,000,” the Nations principal told the Guyana Chronicle, as his school prepares to offer a Doctor in Business Administration through the University of Bedfordshire.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Miner remanded on mining camp robbery charges

A 29-YEAR-OLD miner of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, was, on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, charged with two counts of robbery committed at a mining camp located at 29 Miles Backdam Matthews Ridge, North West District.

Conrad Henry also known as ‘Andre’

Conrad Henry, also known as ‘Andre,’ made his appearance before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the two charges. Particulars of the first charge alleged that, on November 13, 2018, at 29 Miles Backdam, he robbed Hinds Joseph of a Honda generator, a caterpillar computer box, along with other mining equipment totalling $1.6M, the property of James Fowler. The second charge alleged that, on the same day, and at the same location, Henry robbed Hinds Joseph of a BLU cellphone valued $26,000 with the use of personal violence, during the commission of the

crime. The unrepresented accused, in his defence, told the court that he did not know about any robbery but, accepted that he stole the caterpillar computer box and went away because he was not paid by his boss, James Fowler. Prosecutor Corporal Quinn Harris strongly opposed to Henry being released on bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the charge, pointing out that the victim, Joseph, had suffered two fractured legs. According to the evidence presented, Henry and Joseph were employed by James Fowler, at his mining camp, and Joseph was left in charge of the operation. However Henry requested the key for the generator and Joseph refused causing Henry to become annoyed. On November 13, 2018, while Joseph and others were working, he (Joseph) was hit on his legs by Henry and then tied. Henry also gagged Joseph and attempted to throw gasoline on him, with intent to light him afire. However, Joseph was rescued and Henry made good his escape. Harris told the court that the defendant was confronted by James Fowler on January 19, 2019, at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara, after he was reportedly seen in the area. It is alleged that Henry handed over the caterpillar computer box and was arrested by the police. The Magistrate ruled in favour of the prosecution’s objection and remanded Henry to prison. The matter was transferred to the Matthews Ridge Magistrate Court for hearing on February 4, 2019.

Minibus conductor granted pre-trial liberty on alleged rape charge A 37-YEAR-OLD Route 42 minibus conductor was, on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, charged with two counts of rape after allegedly being involved in a relationship with a13-year-old girl. Thandikuma Bakker made his appearance before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Marcus- Isaacs, at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plea to the indictable charge which was read in camera. Particulars of the first charge alleged that, during the month of May 2018, at High Street, Georgetown, he engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16. It was further alleged that, during the month of June 2018, at Mahdia, Potato-Siparuni, he engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16. Bakker was released on a total of $300,000 bail with the condition that he kept away from the victim until the completion of trial. The

matter was adjourned until January 29, 2019 According to the evidence presented, Bakker and the teen were involved in a sexual relationship. It was alleged that Bakker would take the 13-year-old girl on trips and buy her things. However the teen’s parents found out about the relationship and reported the matter to the police.

Thandikuma Bakker

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

(From left to right) Director of Social Services, Whenthworth Tanner; Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ann Greene; Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mohan Ramrattan; Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally; Permanent Secretary, Lorene Baird, Administration Assistant, Colleen Roberts and staff of the Palms Geriatric Home.

Gov’t gifts special needs buses to Palms, Mahaica Children’s Home THE Palms Geriatric Home and the Mahaica Children’s Home on Tuesday received from the Ministry of Social Protection one Special Needs minibus each, at a total cost of $11.4 Million. The vehicles will improve the transporting of elderly citizens and special needs patients. Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally and her team officially handed over the minibuses which are fully equipped with multiple lifts, seatbelts and advanced security mechanisms. Minister Ally said her ministry is dedicated to providing proper services to the citizens of Guyana and will ensure that the patients of the Palms Geriatric Home are offered the right amenities.

“We are very happy that we can provide service to the elderly, we will put in the extra effort and this is just one step further. We have done a lot of refurbishing at the Palms and there will be more infrastructural advancement in the future,” the minister said. Additionally, Minister Ally noted that along with the Palms and the Mahaica Children’s Home the buses will also provide services to other organisations when the need arises. In 2018 three elevators and a rehabilitated ward were commissioned at the Palms Geriatric Home in keeping with the ministry’s mandate to raise the standard of Geriatric Residential Facilities. (DPI)

Minister Amna Ally is joined by her team as she cuts the ribbon at the commissioning of the buses in the compound of the Palms Geriatric Facility

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally and Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ann Greene observing a demonstration exercise of the Special Need Bus

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Ministry of Natural Resources holds annual sector review Minister of Natural Resources The Hon. Raphael Trotman; Junior Minister of Natural Resources The Hon. Simona Broomes, along with other officers at the meeting

WITH the aim of strengthening the institutional capacity of the ministry and providing a judgment of how well the ministry’s agencies are performing and are

expected to perform, the Ministry of Natural Resources held its annual Sector Review and planning session at the ministry’s Duke Street office on Monday.

Present at the meeting were: Minister of Natural Resources, The Hon. Raphael Trotman; Junior Minister of Natural Resources, The Hon. Simona Broomes, along with staff

of the ministry and representatives of the various agencies that fall within the purview of the ministry: the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI), Compliance Department, and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Project (FCPF). According to a release by the ministry, the meeting was addressed by Minister Trotman who welcomed everyone and iterated the government’s positions and

expectations of the ministry and its agencies in the ensuing period. Thereafter, each representative made a presentation on the work of their agency, which included reports of projects, highlights for the year 2018, work plans, successes, challenges and the way forward. It further allowed an assessment of the economic and financial conditions and prospects of the agencies within the sector. Each presentation gave way for discourse where questions were posited and advice and recommendations on improvements were given. Heads

of the agencies were encouraged to continue the inter-agency coordination, for enhancement of the implementation of systems, achievement of goals and overall improved sector performance. The ministry remains committed to working together with its agencies towards achieving our common vision. Our ability to direct our energies towards our overall accomplishments is the fuel that allows us to continue the utilisation, promotion and sustainment of our country’s natural resources to the benefit of all Guyanese.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Women’s participation in paid work continues to be lower than that of men …regional forum hears MINISTERS for women’s affairs and senior authorities from mechanisms for women’s advancement in the region on Tuesday opened discussions in Santiago on the progress and obstacles to achieving women’s autonomy and gender equality ahead of the XIV Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, which will take place on November 4-8 of this year in Chile. The authorities are participating in the fifty-eighth meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, inaugurated today by Isabel Plá, Chile’s Minister of Women and Gender Equity; Janet Camilo, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Women and Vice President of the Presiding Officers; Cielo Morales, Chief of ECLAC’s Latin American and Caribbean Institute for Economic and Social Planning (ILPES), on behalf of Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena; and Lara Blanco, Deputy Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). During her remarks, Minister Isabel Plá reiterated the Chilean government’s commitment to the gender equity agenda, which includes measures to increase women’s own income as well as zero tolerance for violence against them. In that framework, she

called on countries to participate in the XIV Regional Conference on Women that will be held in Chile in November, the main theme of which is precisely women’s autonomy in changing economic scenarios. Meanwhile, Janet Camilo, the Minister of Women of the Dominican Republic, urged for “articulating, in the framework of the Conference, actions that can stop conservative advances that imply backsliding on the rights acquired by women in Latin America and the Caribbean.” For that reason, she said, it is important to analyze, in accordance with the Montevideo Strategy for Implementation of the Regional Gender Agenda within the Sustainable Development Framework by 2030, approved at the XIII conference held in Montevideo in 2016, “how our States, our countries, are doing in terms of strengthening the fight for equality through public policies” backed by concrete budgets. In her remarks, ECLAC’s representative, Cielo Morales, warned that the low levels of growth seen in the region in the last few years “limit the opportunities for creating jobs for women and reducing poverty.” “It is worrisome that the proportion of women living in poor households is systematically greater than the proportion of men,” the senior official sustained, indicating that the persistent sexual division of labor – which, among other things, leads to women

being primarily responsible for domestic work and unpaid care – has negative repercussions for their incorporation into the labor market. ECLAC data from 2017 indicates that women’s participation in paid work continues to be lower than that of men (50.2% and 74.4%, respectively) and that the level of female unemployment remains above that of males (10.4% versus 7.6%). Although in recent years

the number of women without their own income has declined, the female population is still overrepresented in the group garnering income below the minimum wage. According to figures from ECLAC’s report Social Panorama of Latin America 2018, 49% of employed women have work-related income that is below their country’s minimum wage. Finally, Lara Blanco, of UN Women, addressed

the support that the United Nations system provides to countries on promoting gender equality and welcomed the holding of the next Regional Conference, which she described as an “essential space for decision-making to be able to reach consensus and advance toward substantive equality.” Participants in the meeting included authorities from Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,

Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela, as well as representatives of United Nations agencies, intergovernmental bodies and civil society.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Region Three nursery schools kick off Mashramani THE Department of Education in Region Three has commenced activities celebrating Mashramani 2019 under the theme, “Celebrate 49 with Victory in Mind – Rediscovering El-Dorado”. Nursery schools from across the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Region assembled at the National Track and Field Cen-

tre at Lenora on Monday. Coordinator of the Regional Nursery Children’s Mashramani Competition, District Education Officer, Caroline Daniels, noted that the competitions are part of the school curriculum and provide the children with necessary exposure that can guarantee a well-rounded child. “These competitions and

activities …are an avenue to expose our children and boost their self-confidence. It ensures participation of parents and guardians. It promotes competitiveness and social cohesion from a tender age. It builds creativity and guarantees well-rounded children. The benefits are tremendous in the education sector and improve every year.”

Children getting ready to take the stage

Addressing a packed audience was Regional Executive Officer Jennifer Ferreira Dougall, who underscored

the importance of having cultural presentations of this nature: “We as adults must nurture our future generation the correct way, and engaging them in activities such as these will guarantee their

from Parafaite Harmonie Nursery placed second and third respectively. The dance category was divided into sub-categories including Ring Dance, Fantasy Dance and Religious

Winners in one of the categories receiving their trophy

success as they get older. Activities like these help us to find hidden talents in our country and then we can develop the talents and ensure our youths contribute meaningfully to our country. It all starts from here and that is why the regional administration will always support activities of this nature.” In the Calypso category, first place went to little Christen Roberts from Belle West Nursery. His song was entitled, “Eat Right, Stay Bright fuh Mash Tonight”. For dramatic poetry, J’Kaylee Duke from Bagotville Nursery took the first place position, while Ariela Wilkinson from Leonora Nursery and Kienna Hazel

Dance. Anna Catherina Nursery, Tuschen Nursery and Parfaite Harmonie Nursery ran away with the first, second and third prizes respectively in the Ring Dance category, while for the Religious Dance the first, second and third went to Goed Fortuin Nursery, Bagotville Nursery and Philadelphia Nursery respectively. January 23 will see the primary schools competing at the same venue, while the following day will see the secondary school students competing. The winners of these competitions will represent the region at the National Children’s Mashramani Competition 2019. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

IDB, Microsoft strengthen pact to expand transparency through technology In a new phase of collaboration that seeks to promote trust among citizens, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Microsoft have strengthened their partnership to accelerate the expansion of MapaInversiones, an initiative that develops digital platforms to encourage transparency in government spending. Currently, new platforms are being developed in Argentina, the Bahamas, and Jamaica, while additional countries are being considered. Launched in Colombia, Costa Rica , Paraguay , and Peru to date, MapaInversiones allows citizens to track public investments across economic sectors. It includes information on the funding and progress of individual projects at national, subnational, and local levels. These platforms are created by the IDB in collaboration with Microsoft, which provides cloud, and design support. In the next round, MapaInversiones will feature new Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics capabilities to gather insights and improve decision making among policymakers. “Since its launch in 2017, MapaInversiones has helped

build trust and transparency by providing citizens with information on public investments. Building upon its success so far, at Microsoft we are excited to expand our action plan with the IDB to bring this robust platform into more countries in the region,” said Anayda Frisneda, Public Sector General Manager for Microsoft Latin America. “We believe that digital transformation is an agent for economic growth and social progress in Latin America and the Caribbean. MapaInversiones proves that technology can play a role by democratizing efficient and transparent public information management and em-

GAWU holds Berbice conference

THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Saturday held its Berbice Area Conference at the Albion Sports Complex under the theme, “Protecting Workers Rights and Benefits in a Challenging Period.” The conference attracted approximately 130 delegates and observers from the Albion and Blairmont estates, the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) and Amazon Caribbean (Guyana) Limited, where the union enjoys bargaining rights, GAWU said in a release. According to the union, the conference noted that the future does not appear to be bright, notwithstanding the grandeur-like promises by the administration’s spokespersons that conditions will be greatly improved in the country with the commercial production of oil. GAWU said delegates pointed to loss of jobs in the sugar industry and elsewhere. The conference, according to GAWU in reviewing the work of the union since their last congress, received the Report of the General Council which was presented by General-Secretary, Seepaul Narine. Several matters of concern were considered at the international, local and workplace levels. At the international level, delegates also expressed their apprehension about the possibility of a new world war; they were upset to note the heightening global inequality, increasing impoverishment, and the swelling of the global army of unemployed. The conference also passed, unanimously, resolutions on the situation in the sugar industry among others. The union said the convening of the Area Conference is a requirement of its constitution which mandates the organising of two conferences between the union’s congresses. The last congress – the 21st – was held in August, 2016 and the Demerara Area Conference was held in June, 2018.

powering citizens through tools that facilitate under-

standing and stimulate trust in institutions,” asserted Bernardo Guillamon, Manager of the IDB’s Office of Outreach and Partnerships. This expansion of MapaInversiones is a key

component of an action plan announced by the partners in 2017 to promote digital transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean. A central pillar of this plan is dedicated to us-

ing technology to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability across the region. The Inter-American Development Bank mission is improving lives. Founded in 1959, the IDB is one of the main sources of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research projects and offers policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private clients throughout the region.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

$20M to commence dredging works at Coomacka

THE mining community of Coomacka, Region 10, which has been plagued with environmental af-

ter-effects of decades of unregulated mining, will very soon see the commencement of dredging and other

correctional works, to the Upper Demerara River and other areas in the community.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian said that monies had been provided in the budget of the National Drain-

age and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and that $20M will be used to commence the first phase of the project. Morian previously pointed out that the entire process would cost about $400M. NDIA officers, during the previous week, visited the region to ascertain the state of the affected river and other areas of the community. Another technical team is expected to visit the identified area today, January 23, 2019. Morian expressed excitement that Coomacka’s woes would soon be a thing of the past. He added that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will be giving the NDIA team whatever support would be needed, to ensure that Coomacka returns to what it used to be. Minister of State Joseph Harmon, had during his address to Lindeners at the launch of Linden Town Week 2018, indicated that Conservation International (CI) and World Wildlife Federation (WWF) should be stepping in to collaboratively look at the environmental issues plaguing Coomacka. Those environmental issues affecting the over 2,000 residents, include flooding and erosion which have destroyed the community’s access bridge and roadways. The erosion of bauxite sediment and other aggregates such as sand, mud and clay, keep draining from the mined-out areas during heavy rainfalls into the Upper Demerara

River, which passes through the community. The aggregates are washed from the mined-out holes that are some 15 feet above Coomacka, which sits in a basin below, into the community and the Demerara River that passes through.. The state of the river has threatened the livelihood of the residents, since they depend on the river as a main source of transportation, as well as for other domestic purposes such as fishing, swimming, bathing and washing. In addition to bringing an end to the environmental issues, Minister Harmon also pointed out that Coomacka, as well as other mining communities, will benefit from the International Solar Alliance Agreement (ISA). The mined-out areas, he said, allowed for greater access for solar power on the ISA, and those areas could be converted to green tourism. “The solar footprints of Linden is one of your greatest assets and, this is something that we have to explore, and you have to understand there’s a benefit for that,” Harmon noted. “So sometimes when we cry about the way our mines have operated...these mined- out areas serve as demotivators to us, we have now to recognise that, that itself is a positive,” he added. The residents of Coomacka are expected to benefit from employment, as the NDIA prepares to commence work.

Ex-cop sentenced A FORMER policeman was, on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, sentenced to four years in prison by Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly, for trafficking cocaine pellets at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). Former constable, Louie Dublin, was on trial and was found guilty of having 558 grammes of cocaine in his possession, at the Lotus Restaurant and Bar located at the CJIA, Timehri, on March 17, 2017. At the end of the trial, Magistrate Daly ruled that Police Prosecutor Richard Harris had proved his case that Dublin, on the day in question, had knowledge and control of the cocaine which was found in his possession. Meanwhile, Delvor Bunbury Jr. and Gavin Harris who were also charged separately were freed, due to the

Louie Dublin lack of evidence. The prosecution’s case was that Dublin, on March 17, 2017, was arrested with the cocaine pellets during a sting operation, at the airport, after ranks became suspicious of his actions. Dublin had given a caution statement to the police to the effect that Delvor Bunbury Jr and Gavin Harris had given him the bag with the drugs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Progress made but not fast enough –– says report on Caribbean fight against HIV epidemic

ALTHOUGH the Caribbean has made progress over the years in responding to the HIV epidemic, a recent evaluation shows that the Region is not progressing fast enough to meet its 2020 targets. In fact, the annual number of new HIV infections among adults in the Caribbean declined by only 18 per cent from 2010 to 2017, while the number of HIV-infected pregnant women receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dropped. According to UNAIDS 90-90-90 target, the Region should diagnose 90 per cent of all HIV positive people; provide ART for 90 per cent of those diagnosed and by 2020, achieve viral suppression for 90 per cent of those treated. The research, which showed the Region’s shortcomings was conducted by the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS’ (PANCAP) Priority Areas Coordinating Committee (PACC). It saw the evaluation of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF) 2014 – 2018 and detected that the impact of the prevention response has been inadequate, particularly among key populations. Those among the key populations are men who have sex with men (MSM); Sex Workers (SWs) and their clients; partners of key populations; transgender persons and persons who use drugs, all of which accounted for 68 per cent of the new HIV infections during this period. One positive the body note, however, was that new infections among children fell from an estimated 2,300 in 2010, to 1,100. Although significant progress has been made in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, for the period 2015-2017, data shows that HIV-infected pregnant women receiving ART to reduce HIV transmission declined from 92 per cent in 2014 to 79 per cent in 2015. It declined further to 75 per cent in 2016 and 2017 respectively, illustrating a significant decrease which the PACC has determined warrants investigation.

While PANCAP noted that progress has been made regarding placing more people living with HIV on treatment, much more needs to be done, especially to retain people on treatment. “The gap to achieving the first 90 of the 90–90–90 targets in 2017 was 54,800 people living with HIV. The gap to achieving the first and second 90s of the 90–90–90 targets in 2017 was 74,700 people living with HIV. The percentage of people living with HIV who achieved viral suppression increased from 37 per cent in 2016 to 40 per cent in 2017,” the report said. “However, the gap to achieving all three 90s at the end of 2017 was the need for an additional 103,000 people living with HIV to be on ART and be virally suppressed. Given this situation, the Caribbean is at risk of not achieving the 2020 targets.” LOCAL EFFORTS While the information is generalised, Guyana has been making its own strides in this regard. In November 2018, the Ministry of Public Health’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) reported that 86 per cent of all people living with HIV now know their status; 74 per cent of those diagnosed are receiving ART while 65 per cent of those on ART have achieved viral suppression. The news was announced as the ministry launched its ‘Know Your Status’ Guyana campaign to further propel efforts to meeting the 2020 deadline. “Clearly, you can see from this that Guyana is not too far away from achieving the first 90. However, we have a lot more work to do to achieve the second and the third 90,” said NAPS Programme Manager Dr. Rhonda Moore. In Guyana, marginalised communities account for the most positive tests of HIV and multiple sexual partners continue to be one of greatest contributors to HIV. According to a UNAIDS 2018 report, nearly 90 per cent of new infections in the Caribbean in 2017 occurred in four countries: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti

and Jamaica. Meanwhile, 87 per cent of deaths from AIDS-related illnesses occurred in Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica with Haiti alone accounting for nearly half of new HIV infections and deaths due to AIDS-related illness. RECOMMENDATIONS PANCAP noted that there are financial challenges to the Caribbean region which may have

some correlation with the decreases experienced. “Global financial resources to support the HIV epidemic have been progressively decreasing since 2011. However, domestic financing has improved during the implementation of the CRSF 2014-2018,” the report said. “As at the end of 2017, domestic resources were contributing significantly to the cost of ART and the overall treatment programme. Despite this

trend, national resources to support services to achieve prevention continue to be low, with the implication that the gains could be reversed if this gap is not quickly filled.” As a result of their findings, the evaluation team proposed a number of overall recommendations for the goal as well as specific recommendations to address the gaps and challenges identified. The team proposed the following strategic priority areas should be retained in the new CRSF: An Enabling Environment, Prevention of HIV Transmission, Treat-

ment, Care and Support, Integrate HIV into Health and Socioeconomic Development and Sustainability. Meanwhile, the evaluation report was accepted by the Priority Areas Coordinating Committee and the PANCAP Executive Board. The board has now called on all countries and the partnership to renew efforts to build capacity; promote age-appropriate sexual education; introduce innovative prevention approaches; and work together to achieve the targets.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Jonas was never appointed SC … lacks ‘weight of years,’ says AG By Lisa Hamilton

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams SC says attorney-at-law Timothy Jonas was never appointed senior counsel, insisting that the bestowing of such honour is the sole discretion of the President. Williams said too that there might have been some confusion when the protocol person contacted Jonas and might have unwittingly conveyed to him that he was approved to be elevated, when in fact he was rec-

ommended for the honour; but this still had to be considered by President David Granger for the conferral. Earlier this week, attorney Sanjeev Datadin told the media that Jonas was “disrobed” of the title due to his affiliation with the party A New and United Guyana (ANUG). “…In the last list there was a very, very alarming thing where Timothy Jonas was apparently afforded the honour… when it was announced that he was involved in the new party…he was promptly informed that as fast as he was robed, he was dis-

robed,” Datadin told the Sunday Stabroek. The next day Jonas himself spoke with the media and he referred to the alleged occurrence as “vindictive politics,” one which has “tarnished the whole image of Silk.” PRESIDENT’S DISCRETION However, giving some clarity on the matter, Williams said the bestowing of of senior counsel is the sole discretion of the President. He told the Guyana Chronicle that the proce-

Attorney-at-law Timothy Jonas dure includes the chancellor of the judiciary after consultations with the judges, sending to the President a list of names

of counsel she was recommending to be elevated to the dignity of SC. Williams explained that the protocol staff at the Ministry of the Presidency would then contact those individuals who have been recommended, to ascertain whether they would accept the honour before the list goes to the President for his final approval. Williams said this procedure is important, as there has been at least one case where someone was recommended for silk, but turned it down when that individual was contacted. “So in the case of Jonas, he was recommended, but there was no approval by the President…” Williams surmised that the protocol officer might have unwittingly conveyed to him that he was approved to be elevated. The attorney general said when the list goes to the President, he, in his own deliberate judgement would consider the names and determine who he would elevate. “In determining names, he is guided by certain criteria: length of time of practice; quality of that practice and integrity.” Williams said once the persons meet those criteria they would be contacted again, this time regarding the time and place for the ceremony. WEIGHT of YEARS He said Mr Jonas did not fulfil all of the criteria. “It is apposite to note that in terms of the persons considered in this round, they have over 30 years of service. Since President Granger resuscitated this award, the people who have been considered all have had several years of practice, but Mr Jonas in fact could not have made the cut because he does not have the weight of years,” Williams explained. Responding directly to Datadin who sought to cast doubts about the process, Williams said the attorney should be the last person to criticize; instead, he should be applauding President Granger who after over 18 years of PPP neglect, resuscitated the conferral of this dignity of senior counsel and has insisted he would do so annually and has done so and many deserving people have received.” Williams said Datadin should reserve his criticisms for the PPP “who didn’t see it fit to bestow such honour on lawyers.” NO CONFERRAL Also adding her voice to the issue, Assistant Di-

rector of Public Information and Press Services within the Ministry of the Presidency, Ariana Gordon confirmed that while Jonas was on the list of those recommended, at no point was the title conferred on him. While Jonas had told the Kaieteur News that he was informed of his appointment by Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards late last year, Gordon outlined that the only person with this power is the President. “Attorneys are conferred senior counsel based on their exemplary experience, erudition, excellence and diligence in the practice of law. In fact, recommendations are made to the President, who is the lone person authorised to confer the aforementioned title,” Gordon asserted. She like The attorney general noted that as is customary, several recommendations were put to the President by chancellor of the judiciary. However, it is for the President, based on the said recommendations, to confer senior counsel on an attorney and no one else. “Mr. Jonas’ name was indeed on the list of those recommended, but at no point was he conferred the title,” Gordon explained. She noted that since taking office, President David Granger conferred upon deserving attorneys the title of senior counsel ending a 20-year hiatus by announcing the first batch in 2016. Among them were Neil Boston, Charles Fung-A-Fat, Justice Alison Roxane McLean George-Wiltshire, Clifton Mortimer Llewelyn John, Rafiq Turhan Khan, Vidyanand Persaud, Rosalie Althea Robertson, Justice Claudette Margot Cecile Singh, and Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams. Then in 2017, Kalam Azad Juman Yassin, Josephine Whitehead, Fitz Le Roy Peters and Andrew Mark Fitzgerald Pollard were appointed senior counsel with effect from January 1, 2018. The most recent announcement was made in December 2018 when the President named Shalimar Ali-Hack, Stephen Fraser, Carole James-Boston, Robert Ramcharran and Rajendra Poonai as attorneys conferred the title with effect from January 1, 2019. The latter five legal practitioners will be presented with their instruments of commission elevating them to senior counsel at a ceremony to be announced later, Gordon said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

East Coast road widening project 55% completed

THE East Coast Demerara (ECD) road widening project is fifty-five percent completed, Technical Services Manager, Ministry of Public Infrastructure Nigel Erskine has assured. So far, the contractor, China Railway First Group limited, has finished the construction of 14.2 kilometres of the reinforced concrete side drain and 473 metres of reinforced revetment. Five of the seven bridges along with the 10 culverts have also been completed. During an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Tuesday, Erskine said the contractor is currently working on the four-lane section. He said all utilities within that section have been relocated. “The contractor presently is focusing primarily on the paving activities. We are hoping that by the end of January, we should have a significant portion of the paving completed within the four-lane section, which is between Better Hope to Annandale.” According to Erskine, reassured that while there have been reports of traffic congestion on the East Coast, the ministry has a traffic management plan,

way First Group limited in 2014, however, the physical work commenced in August 2017. The two-year project is set to be completed by the end of September of this year. In 2016, the government and the People’s Republic of China

Technical Services Manager, Ministry of Public Infrastructure Nigel Erskine which it uses to monitor and adjusts, based on the feedback it receives from the travelling public. “We have a hotline, so persons who have a concern can call us. We have a consultant that is responsible for the project. We have been having regular meetings with the Guyana Police Force for them to work along with us to assist in the management of the traffic on the East Coast, so they have been cooperating with us,” he told DPI. Erskine said several construction zones, diversion and speed limit signs have also been set up to guide road users accordingly. The contract for the East Coast Demerara road widening project was awarded to China Rail-

The road works have progressed smoothly

signed a GYD $9.6Billion (US$45.5Million) concessional loan for the completion of the widening of the road between Better Hope and Belfield. Guyana has contributed some $2.7Billion towards the project.

Completed section of the East Coast Demerara road

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

JFAP has ‘strong, strong’ faith in coalition –– Chandra Narine Sharma LEADER of the Justice For A ll Party (JFAP), Chandra Narine Sharma, has affirmed that the party stands firm behind the coalition government and President David

Granger as the presidential candidate for the APNU+AFC slate. “I am sticking with the coalition; Sharma is sticking with the coalition and that will not change,” the party’s leader the told Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday. The JFAP is one of the five parties that constitute the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition. The other parties include the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the National Front Alliance (NFA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). APNU was formed in 2011 and the party joined forces with the Alliance For Change (AFC) in 2015 to contest elections that year. The APNU+AFC coalition was elected to government. According to Sharma, he has been continuously engaging his party base and from all indications, President David Granger has the nod to lead the coalition. “The coalition is more interesting than anything,” Sharma said, adding that: “They [supporters of the JFAP] have faith in the coalition... strong, strong faith in the coalition.” Elections are constitutionally due in 2020, but due to a no confidence vote parties have been gearing up. Cognisant of this, Sharma said the JFAP is battle-ready. “We are ready... the Justice For All Party is ready with the coalition.” As the political parties gear up for upcoming elections, whether this year or in 2020,

JFAP Leader Chandra Narine Sharma Sharma said there are some things the coalition must do to return to government. Sharma, however, did not wish to share his thoughts on the other political parties and their candidates but noted that he is studying all of the developments taking place. Aside from the JFAP, other parties of the coalition have endorsed President David Granger as their presidential candidate heading into the next elections. By way of a letter published in local newspapers, PNCR General Secretary Amna Ally said the President is the ideal man for the post. “I, on behalf of the PNCR, would like to indicate that he is ‘fit and proppa’ for a second term and the PNCR endorses his candidature,” Ally said. Members of the AFC have expressed similarly sentiments. Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and leader of the Guyana Action Party Sydney Allicock; Working People’s Alliance executive member, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine; and executive member of the National Front Alliance and Minister of Labour, Keith Scott, have also indicated their party’s support for President Granger and their commitment to the coalition.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

New political party supports legalisation of marijuana –– says legalisation will not be done in ‘haphazard’ manner GUYANA’S newest political party – A New and United Guyana (ANUG) – has said that it supports the legalisation of marijuana but should the party gain power, it will not pursue legalisation in a ‘haphazard’ manner. ANUG was officially launched on Friday, January 18, 2019, at the Moray House, Georgetown. Prior to that launch, founding member of the party, Timothy Jonas, had penned a letter to the editor indicating the party’s support for the legalisation of marijuana in Guyana. He also noted that, “.... [ANUG] will do everything in its power to ensure that this is done.” Jonas explained that his position and that of his party on legalising the ‘herb’, stemmed from cognisance of two problems in Guyana: The overload of the criminal justice system and, the extreme overcrowding, in appalling conditions, in the local prisons. “One of the myriad causative factors [of these two problems] is our approach to marijuana offences,” he wrote. At the party’s launch, Executive Member of the Guyana Rastafarian Council, Ras Leon Saul, questioned Jonas’ and, by extension, the party’s aim in stating their position on this issue. “In [Friday’s] Stabroek Newspaper, you did a whole lot of work on legalising marijuana but for the last three and a half years, I can’t remember hearing or seeing anyone of you in the trenches representing marijuana… and I am wondering why you are being so opportunistic,” Saul said. Further, Saul questioned: “How will I guarantee that when you get into power that you will legalise marijuana?” “...If a law is not fair, then we must not obey the law. Laws are here to serve us and to be fair. My view is that there is no moral stigma in doing what you do – and the law that says that you must go to jail for it is unfair,” Jonas, who is an attorney-at-law, responded. Jonas added that, in addition to the law being unfair, youngsters were being sent to jail and taxpayers’ dollars were being used to house them in prison. Further, he noted that the criminalisation of marijuana was “...blocking up the criminal justice system and overworked magistrates were sending them [youths] into overcrowded prisons, in horrendous conditions.”

“The small step of legalising marijuana possession and use would be celebrated by the majority in our society as the removal of a tiny mote of repression, and the lifting of an unfair aspect of the judicial system,” he had said in his letter. Additionally, he explained that the “overload” of the court system would be relaxed and the dozens of young people languish-

Executive Member of the Guyana Rastafarian Council, Ras Leon Saul ing in the prison system could be reprieved, while the cost of maintenance could potentially be reduced. “Those youths could, hopefully, be returned to the society without the stigma of previous criminality,” he said. Another member of ANUG, Businessman Kian Jaboor stated that: “We’re not haphazardly advocating for the legalisation of marijuana. There are lots of things that need to happen before we can even get to that stage.” According to him, the first step would be decriminalising marijuana. “As we can see the trends across the world, we can see lots of countries and states are getting into the trend of legalising marijuana and we see the economic side of legalising marijuana. The social side is another very different situation,” Jaboor said. Before reaching to the stage of legalising, he said that an intensive system of education must be put in place for healthcare professionals, schoolchildren and students. Addressing Saul’s concerns of ANUG being “opportunistic”, Jonas noted that he and other members of the party had only now begun speaking out because they had positioned themselves to take the risk of putting words to action and trying to make a positive change. One citizen, Audreyanna Thomas, disagreed with

ANUG’s approach. “There is no doubt that we definitely need to find a solution to the issue of our young people having criminal records due to marijuana (small amounts) related offences, but this must not necessarily be done through legalisation,” Thomas said. She contended that the position of ANUG, voiced by Jonas, was one that

only considered the legal and economic spheres, but failed to integrate others, such as the sociological, psychological, inadequate safety nets, inter alia. “What about addressing issues which lead our young people to resorting to the use of marijuana, whether as a way of trying to cope with life’s challenges, or other? Our society and our young people

are grappling with a myriad of other issues, some of which may lead to marijuana use,” she said. Though she agreed that young people were being criminalised for small amounts of marijuana, she said: “The issue has to be addressed in the wider context, beyond legalisation and the economic benefits of legalising marijuana.”

ANUG founding member and attorney-at-law, Timothy Jonas

Six-year-old cancer patient fighting for life

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

–– as report on death of two other young patients expected by weekend By Vishani Ragobeer Six-year-old Sherezer Mendonca is still in critical condition as

she continues to battle Leukemia amid an investigation launched at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

(GPHC) into the deaths of two other young cancer patients. Aunt of Mendonca, Azeena Bakraj, told the Three-year-old Roshini Seegobin died on January 18, while six-year-old Sherezer Mendonca is currently on life support Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that the young girl’s heart rate was around 57 beats per minute (BPM) and she is still unresponsive. For children ages six to 15, the normal resting heart rate is between 70 and 100 bpm, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). A lower heart rate is not cause for concern, according to the AHA, unless it is paired with other symptoms. However, two children have died so far after receiving the treatment for Leukemia at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Seven-year-old Corwin Edwards succumbed on January 14 and Roshini Seegobin, three, died on January 18. Seegobin of Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was cremated at the Good Hope crematorium, ECD on Tuesday. Mendonca is critical after an alleged adverse reaction to medication which was administered to her. The GPHC has since confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident. During the investigation, all medical persons who were directly involved will be interviewed and the medication which was administered will be assessed. “Further, usage of that medication has been discontinued while the investigation continues… we advise members of the

public to resist the urge to speculate on what is a sensitive matter and to await the findings of the investigation,” the GPHC said. The hospital confirmed that it will continue to work closely with all stakeholders including the Ministry of Public Health, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other agencies, in an effort to improve services provided to patients. Bakraj noted that Mendonca’s family spoke to GPHC officials, who indicated that the full report of the investigation would be shared with the families by the end of the week. As the families await the report of the investigation, Bakraj complained about the treatment her niece has been receiving. According to her, the child has been placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) because of her condition but has been moved a few times between that unit and the recovery room. “When we got to the hospital this morning... dressed in protective gear... she was moved yet again to the recovery room because they needed the bed [in the ICU, for another patient],” Bakraj said. Bakraj related that family members were taken aback because the child was moved and they were not informed.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Two-year mark of global community towards a shared future (Xinhua) -- TWO years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the United Nations (UN) Office at Geneva, calling for joint efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Two years on, the appeal, which represents a vision of common development and progress, has gained wide support and helped form synergy among the international community in pursuing a better shared future. IN HARMONY WITH ALL “China has been a strong pillar of multilateralism,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, highlighting that the aim of multilateralism is to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Over the past two years, the appeal by the Chinese leader has been incorporated into various documents, including UN Security Council resolutions, UN Human Rights Council resolutions, the Qingdao Declaration of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2019-2021). The Chinese proposal, with its

foresight and wisdom, has witnessed tremendous changes across the globe and resonated with people’s longing for peace and development. As China hosted a number of significant diplomatic events at home and Chinese leaders paid visits to other countries, the idea of building a community with a shared future has been increasingly accepted worldwide. “It is a common ideal for mankind to build a world without conflicts, one with equal development opportunities and every people in it blessed with happiness,” said Yasuo Fukuda, former Japanese prime minister. ACTIONS In 2018, China launched the China International Import Expo in Shanghai which attracted over 3,600 companies from around the world and more than 400,000 Chinese and foreign buyers. Deals for intended one-year purchases of goods and services worth a total of 57.83 billion U.S. dollars were reached at the six-day event. The China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) celebrated its third anniversary in December. Over the past three years, the

investment bank has approved financing worth 7 billion U.S. dollars for development projects in Asia and Africa, with the aim to promote sustainable economic development through investment in infrastructure. In July 2018, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, the first ever crosssea bridge in Maldives, was completed. The bridge is deemed one of the landmark projects of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In fact, nearly 170 countries and international organizations have signed BRI-related cooperation documents with China. The BRI is a manifestation of China’s vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, said John W. Allen, former vice chairman of the UN Business Council. FUTURE OF HOPE China’s General Administration of Customs said recently the country’s foreign trade rose 9.7 percent year on year to a record high of 30.51 trillion yuan (about 4.5 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2018. Official data also show China’s FDI hit a record 885.61 billion yuan (134.97 billion dollars) last year.

China launches 2019

The numbers have demonstrated China’s resilience after 40 years of reform and opening up, even at a time when unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise. In April 2018, Xi announced a series of new measures for expanding China’s reform and opening up, demonstrating China’s willingness to work with the outside world. The new initiatives include easing foreign shareholding restrictions in the industries of automobile, ship and aircraft, and implementing the management system based on pre-establishment national treatment and negative list. Over the past two years, China has been promoting innovation and improving inclusive development amid external uncertainties. On such issues as the Korean Peninsula situation, the Syrian crisis and UN peacekeeping operations, China is committed to safeguarding peace and stability. According to Gai Lin, secretary-general of the EU-China Friendship Group of the European Parliament, the future of mankind will surely involve bringing together nations for a world of cooperation. Building a community with a shared future is undoubtedly the best option for safeguarding world peace and promoting development.

'Happy Chinese New Year' global celebration (Xinhua) --CHINA has launched an annual “Happy Chinese New Year” global celebration campaign as the 2019 Spring Festival draws near. More than 1,500 live performances, exhibitions and temple fairs, among other celebration events, are scheduled to take place in 396 cities in 133 countries and regions across the globe during the campaign. The combination of cultural exchanges and tourism will be heavily featured in the campaign, with major activities scheduled to be held in tourist destinations along the Belt and Road, including Cairo and Dubai. The campaign will also feature activities celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and countries including Russia, Mongolia and Bulgaria. The “Happy Chinese New Year” global celebration, a series of cultural events celebrating the Spring Festival worldwide, was first initiated in 2010 to promote cultural exchanges between China and other countries.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

GDF, GPF complete river blockade training TROOPS from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) SWAT team recently completed a five-day River Blockade Training with ranks of the ninth Marines Infantry Battalion Engineering Company of the French Military. The course was conducted at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School at Makouria. The French team left Guyana on Monday. Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West and a corps of senior officers visited the troops to witness a demonstration of the skills

acquired. For the officers and other ranks of the GDF, the objective of the training exercise was to acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge to construct and command a river blockade. The training is also intended to foster continued bilateral relationship for future military cooperation and development between the two militaries. Modules of the training included See page 28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

The GDF, GPF and French Military after completion of the five-day River Blockade Training.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Agriculture self-sufficiency growing in Mahdia

FARMERS in the mining town of Mahdia are helping to reduce the cost of chicken and fresh farm produce, such as vegetables and ground provisions, through a variety of innovative approaches. This was witnessed by Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, and his team during an outreach exercise to the area on Thurs-

Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) last year. The challenge faced by farmers in Guyana’s interior is usually the weather, which features an extended dry period. The minister and team visited the farms of Roger Hinds, Lennox Nedd, Stuart (only name given) and poultry farmer Richard Owenkirk, where they were shown a variety of

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder [centre] visits farms in the Town of Mahdia along with Chief Planning Officer of the ministry, George Jervis [left] and Mahdia farmer, Roger Hinds. (Tanuja Raikha photo) day, January 17, 2019. The minister was accompanied by Heads of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, (GLDA) Nigel Cumberbatch; National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, (NDIA) Freddy Flatts; the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, (NAREI) Dr. Oudho Homenaught and the ministry’s Chief Fisheries Officer, Denzil Roberts. The visit to farms in the mining town completed an earlier outreach to communities in south

approaches to agriculture development. At the farm of businessman/farmer Roger Hinds, it was noted that he (Hinds) incorporated the use of a Hydo-irrigation system and water storage in tanks, for use during the dry spells. Hind’s acreage showcased an amazing variety of crops, including vegetables, spices, fruits and a huge section dedicated to citrus, all of which were in full production. Other innovations revealed to the visiting team included green-

houses with vegetables such as pak choy, sweet See page 28

Crops on the farm belonging to Mahdia farmer, Roger Hinds (Tanuja Raikha photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Agriculture ... From page 27

Some of the poultry being raised by Richard Owenkirk (Tanuja Raikha photo)

peppers and lettuce, among others. In his interaction with Minister Holder, Hinds assured that along with other farmers, he was committed to producing enough to make his Town self-sufficient in vegetables and poultry supplies. “For as long as I can remember, the only source of fresh veggies and meat

was from the coast and this was at a significant cost for transport through the trail or by aircraft. This cost was passed on to the residents of the community – I wanted to change that. I wanted to bring down the cost of food in Mahdia,” he told the team. Hinds showed the visitors his poultry operation which had successfully reared the GLDA’s Black giant dual-purpose chickens to produce eggs. He explained that the Black Giant chickens had significantly impacted the cost of eggs in Mahdia. “I get approximately 400 eggs a week from these chickens, and I sell them along with the other produce at the farm [and] at my supermarket. Previously a tray of eggs could be as much as $3000, I sell for $1500 including the tray,” he said. Apart from this business, Hinds also operates the ‘Roger Hinds Hotel’, a supermarket complex and wholesale depot in the town. The cost for poultry in the town has also been positively impacted by the efforts of farmer Richard Owenkirk, who said he saw a need in the Town and was the first to establish a poultry operation

such as his. “I would see how much a pound of chicken would cost us here in Mahdia, as much as $1200 at times. But I understood the challenges suppliers had in sourcing the meat in Georgetown then having it refrigerated for the long haul here. I felt I had a plan that could ease the hassle. Today, that plan is paying off for me and for the consumers of my town,” Owenkirk said. He now sells his chickens at a wholesale price of $320 per pound to wholesalers who then retail for around $450 per pound. Meanwhile, at the farm managed by Stuart, the minister and team were given an insight of his (Stuart’s) efforts in the production of papaya and citrus, as well as exotic fruits such as soursop and sugar apples. Minister Holder committed to working with the Region Eight’s Regional Democratic Council, along with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, with a view of having the farmers access lands to facilitate the continued growth of agriculture in the region.

GDF, GPF complete ... From page 26 construction of barriers, attachment of cable tension, security and safety brief, monitoring and building of demonstration barriers and execution of blockade drills. Practical exercises were conducted at the Delcante/Makouria River junction. The river blockade training is a new concept to both the GDF and the GPF. The training was well received by the ranks of both organisations.

A French soldier and local troops participating in the construction of a barrier

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Bartica’s modern sports complex soon to be completed

THE residents of Bartica will soon benefit from the new sports facilities being constructed at what used to be the Bartica Community Centre Ground. The town’s Mayor, Gifford Marshall told the Guyana Chronicle that this complex will achieve a major objective of providing meaningful recreation to young men and women of Bartica, in addition to fostering social cohesion and boosting the sports sector. He explained that the first council of the municipality, which expired on December 31st 2018, would have made a commitment to transform what was then the Bartica Community Centre Ground into a modern

The Basketball court and newly-constructed stand at the modern sports complex in Bartica sports complex. “Unfortunately we don’t have many grounds or open spaces in the community, so council would have made a conscious effort to begin to develop our sporting facilities so that our young people can not only become competitive in sports and compete at a national level, but at least they can enjoy on a regular basis, clean

The new volleyball court in Bartica recreational fun, and of course develop their skills and abilities,” Marshall said. With the support of the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Culture Youth and Sport he said, they were able to develop a fenced volleyball court, and build a stand at the basketball court. And with the council’s subvention, they were able to carry out major renovations on the actual community centre building, to See page 30

Bartica’s modern sports complex soon ...

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

From page 29

The renovated community centre building in Bartica which they now have a beautiful auditorium to host activities for the benefit of the people of Bartica. However, though a huge transformation is noticeable, the playfield is not yet completed. Marshall said over the past year they have had some major setbacks to the completion, but assures the residents that all will be completed by the end of February 2019. “We have had some challenges… The work on the field started since last year and there was cause for us to remove the first contractor and we are now commencing with a second contractor. The weather is posing some challenges but we are hoping that it is completed by the end of February,” he posited. Upon completion, the playfield will have a new and improved surface and there will be installation of a perimeter drain to ensure adequate draining, Marshall shared. Coming on stream very shortly, he revealed, will be a new stand to the tune of $21 million that was awarded to Courtney Benn Construction. That stand he said, is a double sided stand that will be constructed between the basketball court and the playfield, so persons can sit on

The soon-to-be-constructed double-sided pavilion one side to watch football and whatever game is being played on the field, and the other side of the stand they can sit to watch basketball games. He said that the council has started some consultations with the aim of naming that stand the ‘Neil Hernandez Pavilion’. “Because Neil was someone who loved sports and at a very young age represented Guyana. He would have contributed significantly to the development of sports and was a real role model to other young people within the township,” Marshall said. Neil was a renowned football player in the community who died in 2007 at age 27. Persons may have different views on who it should be named after, hence the reason for consultations, Marshall pointed out. Persons expressed to this newspaper their expectancy for the completion of the playfield since football is the main sporting discipline in Bartica.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Hire Purchase Bill needed to protect consumers – CCAC director THE Hire Purchase Bill which will offer protection to buyers who use hire purchase agreements is yet to be tabled in parliament, and it should be redrafted before such a process is undertaken. This is according to Director of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission, (CCAC) Dawn Cush, during a presentation on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at a Guyana Press Association (GPA) lunch-time lecture at Moray House, Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown. Cush noted that repossession can occur, even when a person, who has paid a significant amount towards his/her purchases, defaults on one payment. Gold miners have long complained of losing millions, pointing out that, after paying more than 50 per cent of the value of their items, they (the items) are repossessed without regard for the sometimes unavoidable hardships the industry faces. The CCAC Director said the Hire Purchase Bill had been pending even before the current attorney general took office and it may have to be redrafted, since a more contemporary and relevant law may be Director of CCAC Dawn Cush required. The rights of consumers are detailed in the Consumer Affairs Act 2011, which outlines in simple terms, the responsibilities of both the supplier and the purchaser of any goods or services. According to the Act, if or whenever a consumer is dissatisfied with the performance or appearance of a purchase, be it food, electronics/appliances, furnishing, tools, construction materials, interior or exterior décor, clothing or any sundry item such as umbrellas, cookware or jewellery, he/she has the right to return it to the place of purchase and seek redress. Further, the Act states that before payment is accepted from a purchaser, the supplier has the responsibility to provide to consumers, in English, all information pertaining to the product, e.g. place(s) of manufacture and assembly, brand, guidelines for installation and hazards. If a supplier fails to provide all necessary information, despite the issuance of warranties, he/she will become liable for any damage to the product or damage/injury caused by the product to persons or property. In fact, this failure is an offence under the law. Suppliers are also bound, under the law, to issue receipts which must be printed with ink that remains legible for at least 12 months, since they would be used for refunds or legal redress. Meanwhile, the Act also states that every supplier must comply fully with the principles of Return and Refund. A consumer may return goods to the place of purchase if the purpose for which the product was bought has changed or ceased to exist. These goods are deemed to be new and fit for re-sale at the original value. The consumer has the responsibility to return the product, in its original packaging, no later than seven days from the date of purchase, if it was not used, tampered with or treated in a manner to cause it damage. On return, the consumer has the right to select another item of the same value in lieu of a refund, and the supplier may charge a restocking fee that is less than 10 per cent of the purchase price of the returned item. At no cost to the consumer, the supplier shall return the receipted payment, or replace the product within 14 days, or repair the defect. In the case of the latter, the supplier must provide the consumer with a temporary substitute of comparable value, until the consumer’s item is repaired or replaced. No supplier, under any circumstance, is allowed to post notices which state that ‘Goods are not Returnable’, or that No Refunds would be given for Returned Items. Such is a contravention of the law.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Local testing for chemical residue in greens to commence by April – as PTCCB anticipates ISO certification soon GUYANA will soon be able to test local produce for chemical residue and determine the safety of fertilisers, as the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) gears up to open its state-of-the-art laboratory in April. The lab, which was initially scheduled to be opened last year, had to undergo further infrastructural development, said Registrar of the PTCCB Trecia David, during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday. She said that not opening the facility last year was one of the few shortfalls of the board, but procurement of the furnishings took some time. In addition, the project was also halted because of an ongoing Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) project which seeks to certify and accredit labs which play a key role in food Registrar of the PTCCB, safety management. Trecia David “We had to do a lot of (Delano Williams photo) infrastructural changes to ensure we can be certified and accredited…the infrastructure which existed had to be upgraded, so we took a step back and invested in laboratory, chemical grade furnishing,” said David, adding, that sourcing the materials for the lab was a challenge because they were not available in the Caribbean. The board nonetheless managed to get the equipment but for now, the focus is on quality management and preparing the lab for certification and accreditation. David said a consultant from the IDB has already audited the facility, so they hope to be ISO certified by July although the facility will be fully operational by April. Once certified, she said, that rice millers, for instance, will be able to test their produce here instead of having it tested in Europe. “We will be able to do more for agri exporters because we will be able to test the produce that is going out,” said David. The facility was initially designed to test produce for chemical residue but, the board has taken on the mandate to also do fertiliser analysis in order to ensure that fertilisers which are imported are not substandard. The laboratory is located next to the PTCCB headquarters at Agriculture Road, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The PTCCB laboratory which will be opened in April (Delano Williams photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

FIRST WINDIES, ENGLAND TEST AT KENSINGTON OVAL

Windies aim for consistency amidst Pybus controversy Barbados, (CMC) – Underdogs West Indies will hope to shake off the controversy that has overshadowed their buildup and spring a major surprise when they take on powerhouses England in the the opening Test of the Wisden Trophy Series starting here today. Ever since Englishman Richard Pybus was named as interim head coach earlier this month, his controversial appointment has dominated the headlines and caused friction in the Caribbean fraternity. Cricket West Indies direc-

tor, Enoch Lewis, slammed the appointment and then sparred publicly with fellow director, Barbadian Conde Riley, over the contentious issue. And last week, CWI said it had referred comments made by Lewis to its ethics committee, further increasing the rancour. Almost unnoticed in the midst of the mayhem, the Windies have quietly gone about their preparation at a training camp here, and captain Jason Holder said Tuesday the Caribbean side would not be distracted by the swirling controversy. This is the first time I’m working with him (Pybus) in a coaching capacity and it’s been refreshing. He’s copped a lot of criticism off the field but that is something that I really can’t control or get involved in,” Holder told reporters. “We’ve got a job to do and it’s just about us players sup-

porting him as much as we possibly can. We’ve got our goals in the side as well and it’s just a matter for us to concentrate on that. We can’t concentrate on the peripherals and things that we have no control over. “Once we do that I’m sure we’ll have a really good series.” West Indies know that a strong performance over the next few days will immediately change the narrative but it will be finding the consistency to produce such, which has proven challenging for the hosts in recent years. They are coming off a chastening series in Bangladesh where they were swept 2-0, with neither Test lasting beyond three days. The tour capped off a disappointing year where the Windies managed just three wins in nine Tests. However, Holder said there was belief within the unit that

Sprinter-turned-footballer Usain Bolt declares his ‘sports life over’ EIGHT-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt has declared his “sports life over”, frustrated in his bid to begin a post-athletics career in football. The Jamaican, 32, spent two months training with Australian side Central Coast Mariners, but left in November after the club failed to find financial backing for a professional deal. “It was fun while it lasted,” said the 100m and 200m world record holder. “I don’t want to say it wasn’t dealt with properly, but I think we went about it not the way we should.” But he added: “You live and you learn. It was a good experience - I really enjoyed just being in a team.” In October 2018, Bolt scored two goals on his first start for the Mariners in a

friendly against Macarthur South West, celebrating with his trademark lightning bolt pose. The A-League side were not the only team interested in signing Bolt - he turned down an offer from Maltese club Valletta, reportedly because the club could not meet his wage demands. He had also spent time training with Norwegian team Stromsgodset and German giants Borussia Dortmund. Bolt, who retired from athletics in 2017, has said his focus now lies with his various commercial endeavours. “I’m now moving into different businesses, I have a lot of things in the pipeline, so as I say, I’m just dabbling in everything and trying to be a business man now.” (BBC Sport)

they could produce positive results through the series. “I think we’ve got to be consistent – consistency is really something that has plagued us in the past, particularly with our batting,” the all-rounder pointed out. “I think we just need to start the series well in terms of putting some runs up on the board in the first innings and making an early statement. They’ve obviously got a quality bowling attack and we have seen glimpses of what we can do against this bowling attack as well. “We had a really good time in Headingley and we really fought back well in that series. And obviously the last time they came here in the Caribbean, we did really well to fight back here in Barbados. “We definitely know we can perform against this attack, it’s just a matter of being

consistent and sticking to our game plans for long periods.” Despite their wretched overall record in recent years, West Indies have not fared badly against England in the Caribbean. In the last series four years ago, they drew the first Test, got hammered by nine wickets in the second but picked themselves up to win the final match at Kensington Oval by five wickets. In the five-match series of 2009, West Indies won the first Test and drew the next four to earn a precious series win. West Indies enter the series at number eight in the ICC Test rankings, well behind their rivals who have climbed to number three, but Holder said his side were looking forward to challenging England. “The last time we played against England it was a highly competitive Test series,

with them starting the series quite well and them fighting back here in Barbados,” he said. “I’m definitely looking forward to it. They obviously have been playing very good cricket so it’s going to be good task.”

SQUADS: WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Darren Bravo, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shane Dowrich, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Shannon Gabriel, Shamarh Brooks, Alzarri Joseph. ENGLAND – Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

‘Lightning’ stays, ‘Dynamite’ rises, ‘Violence’ enters … Soldiers occupy three of six spots CARIBBEAN bantamweight boxing champion `Lightning’ Keevin Allicock has remained as the highest rated elite boxer, according to the latest `Priority’ release from the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA). Allicock leads a list of six elite boxers following his Best Boxer performance at last month’s Caribbean Championship held here. The lightning-quick puncher was undefeated in two fights of the championship which assisted Guyana to reclaim the coveted Champion Country award. Middleweight sensation `Dynamite’ Desmond Amsterdam is second on the list, having moved up one place from last year. Amsterdam, arguably the most feared middleweight in the Caribbean, brushed aside all three opponents during the last Caribbean Championship in a performance that could have challenged Allicock’s for the Best Boxer

Award. Former Caribbean light welterweight champion Colin `Superman’ Lewis slipped from second to third place on the list. The gangly Lewis lost to stylish Michael Alexander of Trinidad during last month’s event, relinquishing his light welterweight title in the process. Meanwhile, Jamaal Eastman and Markember `Violence’ Pierre have made the top-six for the first time. Eastman and Pierre are placed fourth and fifth respectively. The talented Eastman, who hails from Berbice, shocked the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall when he stopped Trinidad champion Jessie Edwards at 33 seconds of the second round to snatch the Caribbean lightweight title. Pierre, a veteran of over 20 years in boxing, baffled his detractors while earning many new fans, following a sublime performance which ended with three bruising victories. He was also crowned the light

heavyweight champion of the region. Flyweight Seon Griffith is the sixth fighter on the list. GBA president Steve Ninvalle disclosed that the list compilation was left solely to the Coaches Commission which is headed by AIBA Three Star coach Sebert Blake. “Our executive has full confidence in the modus operandi of the Coaches Commission and applauds the work it has been doing over the years,” Ninvalle said. Amsterdam, Lewis and Pierre hail from the Guyana Defence Force Gym, Allicock and Griffith from the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym while Eastman trains with coach Gregory Cort at the Rose Hall Jammers Gym. All six boxers are expected to be featured during the Patrick Forde Memorial International completion, scheduled for February 17 at the National Gymnasium.

Sold-out Oval set to herald start of Wisden Trophy series

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – A near capacity crowd is expected for today’s opening day of the first Test between West Indies and England at Kensington Oval here. Cricket West Indies’ commercial and marketing director, Dominic Warne, confirmed on Tuesday that very few tickets remained for day one while the second and third day were also shaping up well. “It looks like we’re on track for a sellout of the seats. We’ve still got tickets for the party stand which is very famous for bringing Caribbean cricket to life … but most of the seats are sold out,” Warne said in reference to the opening day. We’re hoping to absolutely confirm it as a sellout and we’re on track. So day one and two are looking really good. Day three is looking really good … we’re looking at seven-and-a-half thousand tickets sold so far

and the seating capacity is 11 000.” England’s tour of the the Caribbean has always been a high profile affair, especially in Barbados which historically has been referred to as ‘Little England’ because of the heavy British influence here. In recent tours, Kensington Oval has reached near capacity for attendances, making this leg of the series commercially successful. Warne said fans would be monitoring the development of the game over the first few days before committing to buying tickets for the final days. “We know there are a lot of locals and English who will be looking to see what happens with the game because you just don’t know in Test cricket these days,” he explained. “You’ve had two day games and four day games and five day draws. It’s been a lot more irregular Test

cricket over the last four or five years.” Warne said CWI had undertaken several different ticket promotions which had been relatively successful. “We’ve put these concessions in place because we wanted to make sure that fans got the best chance [of seeing West Indies play],” he said. “We’re trying to make sure because fans make such a difference to the team. The players have been talking about what it means to be home … and those concessions give locals the best chance possible of getting into the stadium.” The three-Test series will see matches played at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua from January 31 to February 4, and at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia from February 9-13.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Ruthless Nadal sees off Tiafoe to cruise into last four By Sudipto Ganguly MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal kept the flag flying for the old guard at the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over American Frances Tiafoe yesterday for a place in the semi-finals where he will meet another next generation player in Stefanos Tsitsipas. Nadal’s match against Tiafoe, who turned 21 on Sunday, was billed as an intriguing clash of generations after Roger Federer’s loss to Tsitsipas, but the second seed was ruthless as he reached the last four without dropping a set. The 17-time Grand Slam champion broke Tiafoe’s first service game in each set and with a second break in the third set wrapped up victory in an hour 47 minutes. “I felt having the break at the beginning of every set; that gave me a lot of confidence. Then I was serving well, playing solid,” Nadal told reporters. Nadal was forced to retire hurt in the fifth set of last year’s quarter-final against eventual finalist Marin Cilic, eight years after pulling out midway his last-eight clash against Andy Murray with a knee injury. “It’s very emotional for me to be back in the semi-final in Melbourne,” Nadal said on court. “I had some troubles in this event all my career. “To be back to the semi-final without playing for a while means everything to me. So I just want to say ‘thank you very, very much everybody’. Great feelings. To be able to play in this court is always so special. “And of course I’m very happy with the way I played tonight.” Doubts about his ability to withstand seven matches on hardcourts were reinforced when he retired in the U.S. Open

semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro last year. His season also ended early with ankle surgery and an abdominal injury. REMODELLED SERVE Nadal is leaving no stone unturned in Melbourne to win another major and has brought a remodelled serve, aimed at generating more pace which once again worked effectively yesterday. His serve was only threatened in the fourth game of the second set but the Spaniard, who is bidding to become the first man in the Open Era, and only the third man ever, to win each of the four Grand Slams twice, saved both breakpoints he faced. Tiafoe, the son of immigrants from Sierra Leone, was content with his performance and said it was an “unbelievable” experience on Rod Laver Arena. “I knew he was going to bring crazy intensity, I knew the ball was going to be jumping. I knew if he got hold of a forehand, it was going to be barbecued chicken,” Tiafoe said. “But point in, point out, I’ve never seen someone so locked in.” For a place in the final, Nadal will meet 20-year-old Greek sensation Tsitsipas, who earlier yesterday became his country’s first player to reach the last four at a major with a 7-5, 4-6,, 6-4 7-6(2) triumph over Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. After destroying Alex de Minaur, the highly-regarded 19-year-old local, in straight sets in the third round and Tiafoe in the last eight, Tsitsipas will be the latest youngster to test Nadal. “When you face these young players, they are in permanent improvement. He’s with confidence. He won a lot of good

Singh leads McGill into WDCA President Cup final … Rain ruins Zeeburg, Independence clash THE McGill Super Star Sports Club are into the final of the West Demerara Cricket Association President Cup after an unbeaten aggressive half-century from Prahalad Singh in their semi-final battle against the Cornelia Ida Cricket Club (CICC) on Sunday at the Canal Number 2 ground.

Prahalad Singh scored an unbeaten 70 from 33 balls for McGill Super Star.

McGill will have to wait on a rematch or a board decision between the Zeeburg Sports Club and Independence Cricket Club (CICC) after that game at the Joe Vieira Park finished as a no-result because of rain. At the Canal Number Two ground, CICC won the toss and batted first in a reduced fixture. Led by senior national

cricket Akshaya Persaud and D. Azmudeen, CICC were able to reach 211-5 in 38 overs. Persaud spanked six fours and four sixes in an unbeaten score of 98, while Azmudeen also belted four sixes to go with three fours in a score of 53. Azar Deen led the bowling for the eventual winners with 2-43. McGill, in reply, had reached 49-3 from 12 overs before the game was further revised and they were asked to score 154 for victory from 27 overs. Singh led the attack as he blasted seven sixes to score an unbeaten 70 runs from 33 balls to lead McGill to 157-8 in 26.4 overs. Daniel Basdeo supported with 20 (2x6), while Travis Persaud added 12. Akshaya Persaud with his left-arm spin led CICC’s bowling attack with 3-21 from 6.4 overs, while off-spinner Richie Looknauth supported with 2-12 from six overs. RAIN DECIDES In the other clash, another reduced fixture (45 overs), Independence won the toss, but were bowled out in 33 overs for 188. Vivian Beckles led the attack with 54, while J. Hector and S. Bissesar supported with 32 and 30 runs respectively. Malcolm Hubbard finished

with 5-46 from nine overs with his off-spin bowling, while Yutesh Dhanpaul supported with 2-30 from eight overs. Zeeburg, in reply, were asked to score 126 in 30 overs in a revised total, but they only managed to reach 77-5 in 11 overs before rain stopped play without a result. Hubbard scored 21, while C. Jaisingh added 27 and Dhanpaul was 23 not out.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the match against Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. (REUTERS/Aly Song)

matches. Will be a tough one,” Nadal said. Fears grow for missing plane which was carrying Cardiff City’s Sala “For me is always the same: you are in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam, you can’t expect an easy opponent. Stefanos is one of the best players of the world. “To have the chance to be in that final, I need to play my best, and that’s what I am looking for.”

WADA opts not to suspend Russian anti-doping agency MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said yesterday it had decided not to re-impose a suspension on Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA despite Moscow missing a deadline to hand over laboratory data. RUSADA had asked WADA last week not to suspend it after missing the deadline at the end of 2018, which was a condition for the agency to hold on to its accreditation. RUSADA was suspended in 2015 after a WADA-commissioned report found evidence of state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics. WADA reinstated RUSADA in September last year, angering sports bodies around the globe. The global body said failure to provide access to data from the former Moscow anti-doping laboratory by the end of 2018 would lead to a renewed ban. But WADA yesterday said that it would continue to follow a roadmap for RUSADA to keep its accreditation and would not suspend the agency for the missed deadline. WADA said last week it had eventually retrieved the data from the laboratory, more than two weeks after the deadline had passed. Russia has denied the existence of state-sponsored doping in the country but has acknowledged some shortcomings in its enforcement of anti-doping regulations.

CA announces Head, Cummins as vice-captains for Sri Lanka Tests TRAVIS Head and Pat Cummins have been named the new co-vice-captains of Australia for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. They replace Josh Hazlewood, who’s been ruled out of the series due to injury, and Mitchell Marsh, who hasn’t been picked after an indifferent series against India. Australia announcing two vice-captains had raised eyebrows not so long ago, but the fact that they have had to replace one of them, thanks to poor form and not injury, raises further questions about the leadership crisis that awaits Australia after Tim Paine. Cummins was impressive with the bat and ball against India, and has been touted as Australia’s future leader by Shane Warne among others. With his form and fitness, Cummins has shown

how indispensable he is to this rebuilding Australian unit and how his certainty in the Playing XI makes his vice-captaincy a no-brainer. “Pat is a fine young man who displays strong leadership through his actions on and off the cricket field. He is also a well-respected and popular member of the

dressing room, who consistently lives and demonstrates the team’s values and standards,” National Selector Trevor Hohns said. Head too was impressive, although India found a way around him as the series progressed. But he remains one of the few certainties in Australia’s middle-order going into

Travis Head (left) and Pat Cummins

the first Test in Brisbane. In addition to that, he was deemed an “impressive candidate” when interviewed during the leadership identification process conducted last year and this additional responsibility of being a vice-captain should allow him to grow on the sidelines until CA is ready for life beyond Paine. “Travis is an experienced State captain who has had a reasonable amount of success with South Australia and the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL. Travis was also captain of the Australia A One Day team on their tour of India,” Hohns said. “He is a respected member of the dressing room, he consistently demonstrates care for his teammates, provides valuable contributions in team meetings, and embodies the values of the team.” (Cricbuzz)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Kohli becomes first player to bag top three ICC awards in single year Virat Kohli etches his name in the history books after sweeping top honors at the ICC awards

(REUTERS) - Indian captain Virat Kohli capped a memorable 2018 season by becoming the first to win the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) cricketer, Test and one-day international (ODI) player-of-the-year awards, the ICC said yesterday. Kohli, the top scorer in both

Tests and one-dayers in 2018, was also named captain of the ICC Test and ODI teams-ofthe-year. The 30-year-old top-order batsman scored 1 322 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 55.08, and scored 1 202 runs in 14 ODIs at an average of 133.55, notching up 11 centuries across

Kvitova crashes Barty party to reach semi-finals

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A ruthless Petra Kvitova trampled on the hopes of the host nation with an emphatic 6-1 6-4 defeat of Ashleigh Barty to reach her second Australian Open semi-final on Tuesday. The double Wimbledon champion silenced home fans at a packed Rod Laver Arena, who had barely settled in their seats before the first set was over in a dizzying 27 minutes. The eighth-seeded Czech faced stiffer resistance from Barty in the second but broke the former cricketer in the ninth game before sealing victory when Barty, seeded 15th, netted a return. The Czech, who reached the 2012 semi-finals at Melbourne Park, returned to the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time since claiming her second Wimbledon title in 2014. She will play unseeded American Danielle Collins for a place in Saturday’s final.

Ronaldo accepts fine for tax evasion, avoids jail By Isla Binnie MADRID, Spain (Reuters) Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was fined almost 19 million euros (£16.6 million) yesterday for tax fraud but will avoid serving a 23-month prison sentence after agreeing a deal.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo, holding hands with his Spanish fiancée Georgina Rodriguez, came out of the courtroom smiling, pausing to sign autographs before leaving in a black van. The 33-year-old Juventus forward, who played for Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018, agreed to settle the case by paying an 18.8 million euro fine and accepting a suspended jail sentence. Under Spanish law, a first offender can serve anything less than a two-year sentence under probation and Ronaldo will not have to go to prison. His court appearance lasted about 15 minutes as the five-time world footballer-of-the-year only

needed to sign off on the previously settled agreement. The trial of Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid team mate Xabi Alonso, also in court yesterday over accusations of tax fraud, was suspended, a court magistrate said. Prosecutors were seeking a five-year jail sentence and a fine of 4 million euros for Spaniard Alonso, who retired as a player in 2017, accusing him of defrauding the Spanish state of some 2 million euros between 2010 and 2012. Alonso said he was confident he had not committed a crime and would have to wait while the magistrates evaluated his case. “I’d be worried if I thought I had something to hide or something I didn’t do right but as that isn’t the case I am carrying on,” Alonso told reporters outside the court. Ronaldo had to enter the courtroom through the front door after his request for special security measures to avoid the spotlight was denied on Monday. In 2017, Ronaldo denied the accusation that he knowingly used a business structure to hide income generated by his image rights in Spain between 2011 and 2014. After reaching the deal, he paid a fine of 5.7 million euros, plus interest of about 1 million euros, in July 2018, the prosecutor’s office said last week. Additional reporting by Miguel Gutierrez; Writing by Paul Day; editing by John Stonestreet and Ed Osmond.

the formats. “It feels amazing. It’s a reward for all the hard work that you do throughout the calendar year,” Kohli said in a statement. “To be rewarded in this manner ... is a very proud moment for me and something that gives you more motivation to keep repeating the same things because you have to keep the standard of cricket up and keep bringing in consistent performances.” Kohli, who won Cricketer and ODI player-of-the-year

in 2017, was the unanimous choice for the former award in 2018, with South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada finishing runner-up, the ICC said. Rabada also finished second in the Test player category, while Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan was runner-up to Kohli for the ODI award. ICC AWARDS: Test team-of-the-year: Tom Latham, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli (captain), Henry Nicholls, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Jason

Holder, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Lyon, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Abbas. ODI team-of-the-year: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Virat Kohli (captain), Joe Root, Ross Taylor, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes, Mustafizur Rahman, Rashid Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah. ■ ICC Men’s Cricketer-of-the-Year - Virat Kohli (India) ■ Men’s Test Cricketer-ofthe-Year - Virat Kohli (India) ■ Men’s ODI Cricketer-of-the-Year - Virat Kohli

(India) ■ Men’s Emerging Cricketer-of-the-Year - Rishabh Pant (India) Patriots’ fans celebrate return to Super Bowl. ■ Men’s Associate Cricketer-of-the-Year - Calum Macleod (Scotland) ■ Men’s T20I Performanceof-the-Year - Aaron Finch (172 off 76 balls v Zimbabwe)(Australia) ■ Umpire-of-the-Year Kumar Dharmasena ■ Spirit-of-Cricket - Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

GFC to clash with Police in Search for missing Sala plane suspended STAG Beer Revival Cup Final

Cardiff City signed Emiliano Sala from French Club Nantes in a record deal on Saturday.

GUERNSEY Police have suspended the search for Emiliano Sala, with the force having so far found “no signs of those on board” an aircraft on which the Cardiff City striker was travelling. The French Civil Aviation Authority confirmed on Tuesday that the 28-year-old was on a plane that had gone missing while travelling from Nantes to Cardiff late on Monday. Sala, who was confirmed as Cardiff’s record signing on Saturday after opting to leave Ligue 1 side Nantes, is said to have been one of two people on an aircraft that disappeared while crossing the English Channel.

Search and rescue teams searched for Sala throughout Tuesday but Guernsey Police confirmed in a statement that operations would not take place through the night. “During the course of the 15-hour search, which used multiple air and sea assets from the Channel Islands, UK and France, a number of floating objects have been seen in the water,” the force’s statement said. “We have been unable to confirm whether any of these are from the missing aircraft. “We have found no signs of those on board. If they did land on the water, the chances of survival are at this stage, unfortunately, slim. “Search and rescue operations have been suspended as the sun has now set. The current plan is for it to resume at sunrise tomorrow. There will be no further updates tonight.” Fans have begun to lay tributes to Sala outside Cardiff City Stadium, while a rally will be held by Nantes supporters on Tuesday. Nantes’ Coupe de France fixture against Entente SSG,

which was set to be played on Wednesday, has been postponed. Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo also gave an update on the Sala situation to Sky News. “He’s such a great person, he was so happy to join Cardiff City, you can see from his place that he is so happy to be here and so ready to start,” Choo said. “Words cannot describe the look on his face when he met us and we walked him around the ground. He was absolutely ready to give it a go and we knew him then and we really feel sad to hear of this news because he is such a great person. “You could see the happiness on his face when he signed for Cardiff, it was one of the best days of his life. We are very sad and we’d like to thank all the people who are supporting us today, we have received lots of messages. “We’ve had support from the Premier League executives as well but we are just waiting for information like everyone else with the authorities on

whereabouts the plane is and the circumstances. “When we get some news we will convey it from the club but we have a lot of supporters who are very concerned and we understand that, we are too. “We are just waiting for them [the authorities] to inform us and we are trying to communicate with them as well. We’re trying to reach the agent of the player, the family as well because we are very concerned. We’d like to reach out to the family because it’s a tough time for them. We just want to know if he’s okay and if the pilot’s okay and where the plane is.” Sala’s former Nantes manager Claudio Ranieri now at Fulham - also paid tribute to the striker, lauding his character and “wishing” for good news. “I was devastated to hear the news,” the Italian said on Tuesday. “Emiliano is a wonderful character. He’s a fighter. “The world of football will be united in wishing for some positive news. I pray for Emiliano and his family.”

van der Dussen, Phehlukwayo help South Africa draw level AANDILE Phehlukwayo’s allround show (4-22 and 69*) and Rassie van der Dussen’s unbeaten 80 helped South Africa beat Pakistan by five wickets in the second ODI at Kingsmead in Durban, yesterday. There’s hardly a South Africa run-chase devoid of drama. The hosts were rattled early by Shaheen Afridi, who was breathing fire with the new ball, getting rid of Proteas’ top guns - Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks and Faf du Plessis - leaving them reeling at 29-3 in pursuit of 204. Miller and van der Dussen started the repair work and struck a flurry of boundaries to grab the momentum back from Pakistan. With the new-ball bowlers coming to the end of their opening spells, a major assault could have been on the cards. But they navigated through the difficult phase to take South Africa to safer shores. Sarfaraz then decided to introduce his trump card - Shadab Khan - in the 15th over and the leg-spinner reaped rewards instantly extracting purchase on a track that showed some wear and tear. Two wickets in two balls off his first over pegged South Africa back. However, van der Dussen adapted to the conditions with ease and right from the beginning, he played with a touch of calmness. The 29-year-old absorbed the pressure impressively and registered his second consecutive fifty in ODIs. Unfazed by wickets falling at the other end, he carried on to keep the scorecard ticking. Phehlukwayo played his

part too in the hard-fought victory. His intent seemed clear when he swiped Shadab Khan off his second ball over mid-wicket, and it became clearer when he smacked Mohammad Hafeez for two sixes in the 24th over. After scalping his career-best of 4-22 with the ball, the southpaw played a crucial hand with the bat. A record unbeaten partnership of 127 runs between the duo shut the door for the visitors. Earlier, Hasan Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed resurrected Pakistan’s essay, powering them to a challenging score. The former notched up his second ODI fifty in the 44th over driving a low full toss off Duanne Olivier to cover and followed it up with an elaborate celebration - he jumped in the air, pumped his fist and dedicated his knock to his team-mate Shadab. Incidentally, Pakistan had found themselves in troubled waters when Hasan walked in to join his skipper. They scored 90 runs together in 79 balls but the real blitz that propelled Pakistan to a respectable total came from Hasan. The effort brought the visitors back in the game, but losing a cluster of wickets in the middle period meant they were forced to play catch-up for a significant amount of time. The promising stand came to an end when Sarfraz was bowled by Phehlukwayo in the 46th over and Pakistan capitulated for 203, a total that wasn’t enough to halt South Africa on the day. (Cricbuzz)

van der Dussen crunched a superlative unbeaten innings of 80. (Getty)

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN innings Imam ul-Haq c Andile Phehlukwayo b Kagiso Rabada 5 Fakhar Zaman c David Miller b Duanne Olivier 26 Babar Azam c Andile Phehlukwayo b Kagiso Rabada 12 Mohammad Hafeez c Faf du Plessis b Andile Phehlukwayo 9 Shoaib Malik c Reeza Hendricks b Andile Phehlukwayo 21 Shadab Khan c Rassie van der Dussen b Tabraiz Shamsi 18 Hussain Talat stp. Heinrich Klaasen b Tabraiz Shamsi 2 Sarfaraz Ahmed b Andile Phehlukwayo 41 Faheem Ashraf lbw Tabraiz Shamsi 0 Hasan Ali c Faf du Plessis b Andile Phehlukwayo 59 Shaheen Afridi not out 1 Extras: (lb-2, w-7) 9 Total: (all out, 45.5 overs) 203 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-37, 3-58, 4-58, 5-85, 6-92, 7-107, 8-112, 9-202. Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 9-1-35-2 (w-2), Dane Paterson 8-137-0 (w-2), Duanne Olivier 9-0-51-1 (w-1) Andile Phehlukwayo 9.5-2-22-4 (w-1), Tabraiz Shamsi 10-0-56-3 (w-1). SOUTH AFRICA innings Reeza Hendricks c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shaheen Afridi 5 Hashim Amla b Shaheen Rassie van der Dussen not out 80 Faf du Plessis c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shaheen Afridi 8 David Miller c Imam ul-Haq b Shadab Khan 31 Heinrich Klaasen b Shadab Khan 0 Andile Phehlukwayo not out 69 Extras: (lb-2, w-4) 6 Total: (five wkts, 42.0 overs) 207 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-15, 3-29, 4-80, 5-80. Bowling: Faheem Ashraf 7-0-32-0, Shaheen Afridi 9-0-44-3 (w-2), Mohammad Hafeez 6-0-6-0, Hasan Ali 8-0-31-0, Shadab Khan 10-0-46-2, Hussain Talat 2- 0-16-0 (w-1).

THE Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda will come alive on Sunday (January 27) as the STAG Beer Revival Cup final is staged with the GFC team doing battle with Police FC in a bid to capture the inaugural title. Both teams grabbed their final spots last Sunday. Police were the first to seal their spot as they narrowly beat GT Panthers 2-1.. Steffon Ramsey was the first to score for Police in the 37th minute and they went into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead. However, when play resumed in the second half, Sherral Daniels struck for the Panthers in the 57th minute to equalise. It was end to end action but Deon Rodney’s 70th minute strike sealed the deal for Police.

GFC captain Ralph Parris takes on a Fruta Conquerors defender in their semi-final last Sunday.

The second game of the night between Fruta Conquerors and GFC was a thriller which had to eventually be decided via penalties. Fruta Conquerors took the lead through the boot of Dellon Williams in the 35th minute but GFC soon equalised three minutes later with a goal from LaVaughn Innis. With the game at a stalemate 1-1, both teams played their hearts out. In the 85th minute Fruta received a gift in the form of a penalty but Williams shot wide of the goal. With regulation and extra time failing to produce a winner, the game went down to penalties. GFC held their nerve to beat Fruta 3-2. The winner of the final of the STAG Beer Revival Cup is expected to walk away with $500 000, while second- and third-place will receive $250 000, and $150 000 respectively. The Revival Cup was launched last year by the GFA with support from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to cater for football clubs within the Georgetown area.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday, January 23, 2019)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) (1) (2)

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: Bridgetown, Barbados 1930 Match Drawn

(1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: Who were the captains involved in the first ever WI/ENG Test match? Who were the captains involved in the first ever WI/ENG Test match in the Caribbean?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Magnum Mash Futsal Championship to kickoff February 2 … $600 000 up for grabs for the winner THE Magnum Mash Futsal Championship will be returning for a second edition at the National Gymnasium from February 2 to March 2, with 32 teams battling for a winners’ purse of $600 000. Launched yesterday at the Windjammer Hotel in Kitty, the tournament, which has the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Ansa McAl as its main sponsors, will be played on a round-robin format then knockout stage on February 5, 9, 13, 16, 19, 21, and 24, with the grand finale set for March 2. Apart from the attractive prize money for the winners, the team finishing second will pocket $350 000 and third place $200 000. Gold is Money, Sparta Boss, Back Circle, Future Stars, Bent Street, Leopold Street, Albouystown, Tiger Bay, Avocado Ballers, Broad Street, North East La Penitence, Sophia, Showstoppers, Stabroek Ballers, Gaza Squad, California Square, Swag Entertainment, Ol Skool Ballers, Agricola, Mocha, Buxton Diamond, Silver Bullets and Ansa All-Stars are expected to be among the competing teams.

Michael Singh tipped to head GABF

GABF president Nigel Hinds (R and vice-president Michael Singh, who is tipped to take charge of the sport locally.

MICHAEL Singh is tipped to become the new president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) when the sports local governing body holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Executive Committee Elections on Saturday, January 26, at the Roraima Duke Lodge from 13:00hrs. Nigel Hinds, who was elected in January of 2014 to the helm of the GABF, told Chronicle Sport that he will not seek re-election, despite Guyana’s success on the regional stage. It was under Hinds that Guyana made a return to the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship, a tournament they won for the first time last year when it was hosted in Suriname. Singh, who served as a vice-president during Hinds’ tenure at the GABF, according to a recent release from the Federation, will lead a ‘slate’ that has Kenrick Thomas, Lawrence Simon and Alex Graham as vice-president, General secretary Patrick Haynes, treasurer Gavin Singh and technical coordinator Andrew Hercules. According to the GABF release, “Affiliate Members of GABF are eligible to vote; and include basketball associations from Bartica, Berbice, Georgetown, Linden and Guyana Basketball Officials Council, Women’s Basketball Association, Georgetown Masters and GT Pioneers. Two votes are allowed per affiliate for each position.” The GABF will also use the occasion to celebrate its achievements from 2014 to 2018 in the development and promotion of basketball in Guyana.

Christopher Jones, Director of Sport, makes the presentation of the winners’ trophy to organiser Esan Griffith at the launching at Windjammer Hotel.

First Windies, England Test at Kensington Oval

Windies aim for consistency amidst Pybus controversy Page

Sprinter-turned-footballer Usain Bolt declares his 43 ‘sports life over’ See Page

England captain Joe Root and West Indies captain Jason Holder pose with the series trophies at Kensington Oval. (Getty Images)

‘Lightning’ stays, ‘Dynamite’ rises, ‘Violence’ enters … Soldiers occupy three of six spots

Keevin Allicock Usain Bolt played on trial at Australian side Central Coast Mariners, scoring on his first start for the club.

See page 43

Eastman Pierre

See Page 43

Desmond Amsterdam

Sold-out Oval set to herald start of Wisden Trophy series

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019