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Oil and gas summit opens No. 105178

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

… heavy focus on local content strategy, oil discovery impact on Guyana

Cultural revival steals show

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Main witness admits packing cocaine in wood

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Broad, 19 Lombard sts squatters to be moved by October PAGE

Cocaine-inGuyana, Singapore fish busted sign open-skies 05 at CJIA 13 agreement

Students of Hope Secondary performing a dance at the Enmore Community Centre Ground as part of the Region Four Mashramani Children Dance and Masquerade Competition (Samuel Maughn photo)

Woman among five in custody –– for money changer’s murder

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Cultural revival steals show –– as Region 4 goes for broke at dance, masquerade By Lisa Hamilton IT was a day of cultural revival and storytelling in motion yesterday as the annual Region Four Mashramani Children’s Dance and Masquerade Competition entered day two. Held at the Enmore Community Centre Ground, the day’s activities saw both individual and group performances from the various schools participating in the categories of Masquerade ‘Flounce-Off’ and Band Presentation as well as Dance. Speaking on the subject of masquerade was Event Coordinator Collis Nicholson, who said he was very impressed by the day’s performances. “We would have seen dance and masquerade at another level,” he said. “The traditional steps for

Beterverwagting Secondary representing the African culture in dance and dress dance and masquerade were in order; they were on par and… I’ve seen that schools have been evolving in that art from.” For this segment, the students were graded on the

The value of education being demonstrated in a dance from Annandale Secondary(Photos by Samuel Maughn)

variety of the traditional steps, the style, the costumes, the methods of picking up coins and their overall look on stage. “We fully know that masquerade has been dying and it’s a part of our tradition, but yet, we see the schools in Region Four are really grappling with it and they’re moving it to another level,” Nicholson said. Meanwhile, the categories for the dance segment were: Religious belief, Interpretive, Legends and Tradition and Social Commentary. Said Nicholson: “We would have seen participation from all different levels of the secondary schools, and we would have also seen a rich diversity of how they would have cooperated what

they learnt in the classroom on to the stage.” After tallying the day’s performances, the judges revealed that snatching first place in the Masquerade ‘flounce-off’ and Band Presentation Category was Golden Grove Primary, which will represent the district at the regional level. While in the categories social commentary, religious belief, interpretive and legends and tradition, President’s College, Hope Secondary, Covent Garden Secondary and La Bonne Intention Secondary won first place respectively. President’s College will go on to represent at the regional level in this segment, after racking up the highest dance points overall.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Detectives yet to locate missing station weapon DETECTIVES at Police ‘A’ Division Headquarters are yet to locate a service revolver which went missing Saturday night, moments after it was reportedly booked out by a police constable. While a number of ranks who were on duty at the time were questioned and statements taken, there has been no indication as to where the weapon has gone. Detectives were told by the constable that he booked out the weapon and shortly before heading for the road, he rested it on a desk, turned his back to uplift a key and when he turned around the weapon was nowhere to be seen. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the police are mulling the option of treating the disappearance of the weapon as a criminal probe. They are preparing a file to be sent to the legal adviser of the Guyana Police Force for recommendation and advice on the way forward. Saturday night into Sunday morning, the police locked down the compound and launched an aggressive search for the weapon. The .38 revolver was signed out by a male constable attached to the impact base. However, several sources within the police compound said that after signing out the weapon, the constable went to several different areas within the compound. They are contending that he may have put the weapon down and forgot where exactly he did. There are those at the station who have seen the statement of the young man and heard his account of what transpired and have drawn the conclusion that the story is not adding up. With the weapon missing along with six live rounds of ammunition, it is unclear if same was picked up by either a member of the public, who might have been in the station on other business or if a colleague found it lapsing and rather than having it secured, took it for himself.

Oil and gas summit opens

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

… heavy focus on local content strategy, oil discovery impact on Guyana

THE Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit (GIPEX 2018) opens today to showcase Guyana’s oil-and-gas potential to the world and to facilitate networking and partnership opportunities as the country prepares not only for continued exploration, but for production in early 2020. The summit which will take place at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, will be the first of its kind to be hosted in Guyana. It is expected to bring together many local and overseas companies and individuals in the oil-and-gas sector, according to official host, the Ministry of Natural Resources, in a press release. The ministry said the potential for networking cannot be overstated, as capacity-building and local content are some of the foundations of the summit. “The summit is not only expected to showcase Guyana as a vibrant investment destination in oil and gas and energy-related fields, but also highlight opportunities for knowledge

transfer and partnerships which can be to the benefit of local and regional entities who provide services in the oil-and-gas sector. According to the release, the Ministry of Natural Resources sought to be a part of this event “as it was believed that the timing was opportune and our local companies will be better prepared in the long term for the new economic sector.” The ministry noted that international attention is being placed on Guyana as the new oil “Mecca” and that bookings for participation in GIPEX 2018 are full. The release noted that the interest came not only from foreign companies, but also from their local counterparts. The GIPEX 2018 agenda is packed with presentations from industry voices – both national and international. Following the welcoming remarks from the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) and the business community, there will be an overview of oil-and-gas development in Guyana and a presentation on building

a successful local content strategy. Later in the day, there will be presentations on the impact of the oil discovery on Guyana, on subsea technology in Guyana, on managing expectations and preparing for the new reality and on effective management of Guyana’s oiland-gas resources, among others. Participants at GIPEX 2018 include ExxonMobil, Repsol Exploracion S.A., HESS, CNOOC Nexen, CGX Energy Inc. Schlumberger, JHI, GBTI, GTT, Baker Hughes, Siemens, ECO Atlantic, Tiger Tanks, Oceaneering, DAI, EDO, Clariant, TechnipFMC, Scotiabank, Macorp, Bristow, VSH, ERM, and Laparkan. Today’s summit comes at a time when Guyana is gearing for first-oil in 2020. Early last month, ExxonMobil announced its sixth oil discovery offshore Guyana, adding to its previous world-class discoveries since 2015. The company said then that its Ranger -1 well encountered an approximate 230-ft high-qual-

ity, oil-bearing reservoir some 60 miles northwest of its Liza Phase One project within the Stabroek Block. Exxon said that the new discovery provides a new play concept for the 6.6 million-acre Stabroek Block. “The news of an additional find of this magnitude, particularly at the start of the new year, can be seen as a further blessing, and underscores the richness and diversity of Guyana’s natural resources,” the Guyana Government said through the Department of Public Information (DPI). According to Exxon, the Ranger-1 well discovery adds to previous world-class discoveries at Liza, Payara, Snoek, Liza Deep and Turbot, which are estimated to total more than 3.2 billion recoverable oil-equivalent barrels. The company said that its affiliate, Esso, began drilling the Ranger-1 well

on November 5, 2017 and encountered approximately 230 feet (70 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing carbonate reservoir. The well was safely drilled to a depth of 21,161 feet (6,450 metres) in 8,973 feet (2,735 metres) of water. “This latest success operating in Guyana’s significant water depths illustrates our ultra-deepwater and carbonate exploration capabilities,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company. “This discovery proves a new play concept for the 6.6 million-acre Stabroek Block, and adds further value to our growing Guyana portfolio,” Greenlee added. Following completion of the Ranger-1 well, the Stena Carron drillship will move to the Pacora prospect, four miles from the previous Payara discovery. Exxon said that additional exploration drilling is planned for the Stabroek

Block for 2018, including potential appraisal drilling at the Ranger discovery. Several companies have advanced their seismic data collection and are expected to drill in 2018. The government has repeatedly called on all stakeholders to act responsibly and patriotically as Guyana continues its thrust into this new sector and as news and events continue to unfold about the extent of the oil reserves offshore and the manifold opportunities and benefits for the Guyanese people. Late in December, the government released the full petroleum agreement with ExxonMobil at a high-level forum held at the Ministry of the Presidency. During presentation on the contract, it was disclosed that Guyana stands to gain some US$7B over a 20-year period from the LIZA Phase One well alone.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Taiwan earthquake: Deaths Elon Musk’s Falcon Heavy rocket launches successfully confirmed amid rescue effort A strong earthquake in Taiwan has killed at least two people and injured more than 200 others, officials say. The powerful 6.4-magnitude tremor struck at 23:50 (15:50 GMT) about 20km (12 miles) off the island’s east coast. Emergency responders have rescued about 150 people from hotels and residential buildings that have partially collapsed in the city of Hualien. Photographs show tilting structures, scattered debris and extensive damage to roads in the area. Among the several badly damaged buildings was a hospital, local media reports. About 40,000 homes are without water, and highways and

bridges have been are closed. One member of staff has been rescued, but another two are said to be still be trapped in the building. “We know there are people who are trapped inside we can see lights inside the hotel,” eyewitness Zeena Starbuck told the BBC. “People with phones are shining their lights to let people know they’re there.” At least two others are known to be trapped in residential properties, officials say. The army has been called in to help with emergency rescues. Hualien has about 100,000 residents and is a popular tourist destination. People reported feeling the

quake in the island’s capital, Taipei, more than 160km (100 miles) away. Rescue efforts have been complicated by powerful aftershocks. Dozens of smaller tremors have been felt throughout the island over several days. Taiwan sits near a junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes. The earthquake happened on the second anniversary of a 6.4-magnitude tremor that killed 117 people. Taiwan is an island which has for all practical purposes been independent since 1950, but which China regards as a rebel region that must be reunited with the mainland. (BBC)

US entrepreneur Elon Musk has launched his new rocket, the Falcon Heavy, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mammoth vehicle - the most powerful since the shuttle system - lifted clear of its pad without incident to soar high over the Atlantic Ocean. It was billed as a risky test flight in advance of the lift-off. The SpaceX CEO said the challenges of developing the new rocket meant the chances of a successful first outing might be only 50-50. With this debut, the Falcon Heavy aims to become the most capable launch vehicle available. The aim was to send the car and mannequin towards Mars’ orbit It is designed to deliver a maximum payload to low-Earth orbit of 64 tonnes - the equivalent of putting five London double-decker buses in space. Such performance is slightly more than double that of the world’s next most powerful rocket, the Delta IV Heavy - but at one third of the cost, says Mr Musk. For this experimental and uncertain mission, however, he decided on a much smaller and whimsical payload - his old cherry-red Tesla sports car. A space-suited mannequin was strapped in the driver’s seat, and the radio set to play David Bowie’s classic hit Space Oddity on a loop. If all phases of the flight are successful - and that will not be known until at least 6.5 hours after lift-off - the Tesla and its passenger will be despatched into an elliptical orbit around the Sun that reaches out as far as the

Planet Mars. The Falcon Heavy is essentially three of SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 vehicles strapped together. And, as is the usual practice for SpaceX, all three boost stages - the lower segments of the rocket - returned to Earth attempting controlled landings. Two boosters head back to Florida’s Space Coast Two came back to touchdown zones on the Florida coast just south of Kennedy; the third booster was due to settle on a drone ship stationed several hundred kilometres out at sea. During the launch, the video signal from the drone ship was lost, so the fate of the third booster is not yet clear. The upper-stage of the Falcon Heavy, with its Tesla cargo, began what hopefully will be an escape trajectory to Mars’ orbit. That requires the engine on the upper-stage to fire on three separate occasions, with the third and final ignition only occurring after a long cruise phase. Mr Musk warned before the flight that this was one of the phases he was most concerned would not work properly. The upper-stage has to pass through a concentrated region of radiation above the Earth, known as the Van Allen Belts, and this could interfere with electronic systems. Having such a large and powerful rocket should open up some fascinating new possibilities for

Mr Musk and his SpaceX company. These include launching: Much bigger satellites for use by US intelligence and the military. The scale of these satellites is limited by current rocket performance. Large batches of satellites, such as those for Mr Musk’s proposed constellation of thousands of spacecraft to deliver broadband across the globe. Bigger, more capable robots to go to the surface of Mars, or to visit the outer planets such as Jupiter and Saturn, and their moons. Huge telescopes. Hubble’s successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, is having to be folded origami-like to fit in its launcher next year. But it is the low cost - brought about through the recovery and reuse of the boosters - that Elon Musk believes will be a game-changer when allied to the new performance. “It’ll be game-over for all other heavy-lift rockets,” he told reporters on Monday. “It’ll be like trying to sell an aircraft where one aircraft company has a reusable aircraft and all the other companies had aircraft that were single-use where you would parachute out at your destination and the plane would crash-land randomly somewhere. Crazy as that sounds - that’s how the rocket business works.” (BBC)

Wednesday, February 7, 2018 - 10:30 hrs Thursday, February 8, 2018 - 11:30 hrs Friday, February 9, 2018 - 12:30 hrs Saturday, February 10, 2018 01:00 hrs - 13:30 hrs

DATE: Saturday, February 3, 2018

7 10 15 16 20 17

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Cocaine-in-fish busted at CJIA Anti-narcotics agents on Tuesday night discovered a quantity of cocaine concealed in fish at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA),

Timehri. Reports are that a Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara businessman who is connected to a string of businesses was

being sought in connection with the bust.Some seven persons have been arrested so far for the shipment of frozen that was destined for the United States of

Road collapses in central Brasilia A BUSY overpass has col- had not been carried out on this happened around 11:30 local lapsed in the centre of Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, with images showing two lanes of the Eixão Sul having fallen on to the ground below. Rescuers are at the scene, and there are no initial reports of injuries. However, there are concerns for those who used the space underneath for trading and for parking. City Governor Rodrigo Rollemberg told local press that maintenance work

stretch. “Brasilia is a city that is aging. It’s a city made of concrete,” Mr Rollemberg said, according to local news site Veja. He said that since his government took over in 2015 it had carried out reinforcement work on some stretches of the city’s main roads, but this was not one of them. There were no reports of any casualties. The collapse

time (13:30 GMT). Globo TV said four cars were crushed underneath. One driver - who was not in his vehicle at the time - told the news network that it all happened in under five minutes. The space is used by a steak restaurant, Churrascaria Floresta, and Globo TV said some of its tables had been buried. The area is also sometimes used for parties. (BBC)

Paraguay’s EPP rebels free two Mennonite hostages

A PARAGUAYAN guerrilla group has freed two Mennonite men it had been holding hostage for five months. The two were released after their families paid a ransom and handed over food to local communities, Paraguayan media report. They were abducted by the Paraguayan People’s Army (EPP), a Marxist rebel group which has carried out a string of kidnappings and killings. A third kidnapped Mennonite farmer was found dead in January. The family of 36-year-old Abraham Fehr said they were not able to pay the $500,000 (£357,000) ransom the rebels had demanded after his kidnapping in August 2015. His body was found in a grave in the north of the country. Forensic tests suggested he had died months after being taken.

The cause of his death could not be established.

FREED FOLLOWING PAYMENT The families of the two Mennonites freed on Monday, Bernhard Blatz and Franz Hiebert, reportedly paid $750,000 and $500,000 in ransoms. They were found in a rural area by a farmer driving a tractor, the spokesman for the joint military and police task force Víctor Urdapilleta said. Mennonite Christians settled in Paraguay in the first half of the 20th Century and have more recently been joined by Mennonites fleeing drug-related violence in Mexico. Mr Hiebert, 32, is one of the Mexican Mennonites who settled in northern Paraguay. The Men-

nonite community has become one of the main targets of the Paraguayan People’s Army, which is thought to be trying to gain control of the area the Mennonites farm because it is a strategic route for marijuana smuggling, one of the rebels’ main sources of income. The Paraguayan authorities have long tried to defeat the EPP, which claims to fight against Paraguay’s oligarchy and for the rights of country’s poor. The joint task force has further stepped up its efforts since the killing of eight soldiers in a rebel ambush in August 2016. Paraguayan officials say the rebels are responsible for the killing of 21 military personnel, 13 police officers and 27 civilians since the group first emerged in 2008. (BBC)

America. The businessman was reportedly on the radar of anti-narcotic agents for some time now since he is said to be associat-

ed with a popular gold dealer who is before the courts on fraud related charges. In recent weeks the Customs Anti- Narcotics Unit (CANU) has

been making inroads into the trafficking of illicit substances here. Several persons have since been placed before the courts.

Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Teaching the young our history ALL Guyana must be happy by the recent decision of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Senor Antonio Guterres to finally refer the Guyana–Venezuela controversy over the 1899 Arbitral Award to the International Court of Justice, for juridical settlement. We say hats off to President Granger and his coalition government, that from its first day in office, and confronted by a new round of threats and aggression from the Bolivarian Republic, highlighted Guyana’s case to international fora in a sustained manner. Guyana’s strategy, highlighted what quiet, but robust diplomacy from a small state can achieve, against bullyism from a larger and wellarmed state as Venezuela. Also, commendations must be given to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vice-President Carl Greenidge and his staff and distinguished advisors for the support in

preparing and articulating Guyana’s case for this very seminal step. This process, as explained, may take a while; however, we have no doubt that Guyana’s case is irrefutable, and will be vindicated by The Hague Court’s final decision. But as we will anxiously await the outcome, we must ask ourselves this pivotal question: how much of the border controversy is known by the current generation of Guyanese, and even those in the diaspora? Also, by our students? Beginning with the study of history as an academic discipline. Sadly, this scholastic piece has been gradually downplayed in importance, because of its perception as being unattractive as a financial non-earner, employment wise. But it is its importance as a medium of knowledge, especially with regard to one’s land of birth, heritage and the significant incidents that have shaped its current existence, which

must be emphasised. The fact is that every country needs its history -- and its historians, Guyana being no different; also, History as a discipline is critical to every nation understanding its journey from the past, to its future. History is pivotal as a source of general information, even for the citizen who may not have any serious academic inclination, since its knowledge provides a window to the future. This makes for a better sense of understanding the significant signposts of incidents that have made his/her country and fellow citizens, who and what they are. It should be the same for our young at school, even from the nursery and primary stages, where there should be a basic History for Country, written in the simplest language, and taught to our children. This should be done on a progressive basis, as our young advance through the scholastic lanes.

As an aside, there is need for a comprehensive history to be taught in our schools, given the ethnic diversity of our country. Such can only foster a better understanding of our individual peoples, and inspire a mutual appreciation of who we are as a people and nation. It can only make for a genuinely determined effort at fostering togetherness and unity, beginning at such an early age. A country’s key moments in history must begin to be known by its youth, particularly a critical matter such as a border controversy. Apart from digesting the knowledge for an intelligent explanation to be given to anyone – it fosters a better sense of patriotism, with a better knowledge and understanding of the key facts. This is what both Suriname and Venezuela have been doing in their schools, with regard to their individual, dishonest claims to Guyana’s territory. Even their citizens are well informed as to the

illegal claims. Through the decades that we have known about this controversy, there has not been a shortage of monographs and research articles written on this vexed question of Venezuela’s brazen claim to our territory. Since 2015, there have also been numerous programmes on which the controversy has been explained, which should have brought about greater awareness. This information should also be made available to the young in very simplified form. However, we would recommend that with the advent of Information Technology, that these educational materials on Venezuela’s claims to Guyana’s territory especially, be updated, replicated and disseminated, utilising tra-

ditional, new and convergence communication tools in a way that is interactive, innovative and increasingly fast. All communicators tasked with this education campaign can choose to use traditional communication routes such as newspapers and print, as well as increasingly ICT tools - such as websites, emails, online audio/video – and they also mix the technologies, utilising ‘convergent’ tools and strategies such as content distributed via email to newspapers, thereby reinforcing basic knowledge, some of which is already in the public sphere with updated, relevant information. History must be taught to the young, for an early and better understanding of our country.

Venezuela’s totally unfounded claim must be subjected to worldwide scrutiny Dear Editor,

THE RK’s Group and family and most Guyanese, as far as I know, welcome the United Nations Secretary- General (UNSG)’s decision to direct the border controversy involving neighbouring Venezuela to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after ongoing failed Good Offices talks to resolve the issue. Three years ago, the Granger administration announced the most welcome decision that it wanted to abandon the Good Offices option in favour of the intervention of the ICJ to settle this controversy, which has been simmering for about 51 years. During those 51

years, Venezuela’s claim to a portion of Guyana has even expanded. They have even hijacked the Ankoko island and we have been too quiet about it. The Good Offices process had been ongoing since 1990 and former UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon had directed that it should continue until the end of 2017, but during that time there has been no meaningful progress in the bilateral talks. Sir Ronald Sanders said that the move to the ICJ should be viewed as constructive and helpful, because it enables adjudication in a “structured and legal” framework. We concur. Notably, Venezuela rejected the referral to the ICJ and prefers

the non-productive Good Offices process, even though last year’s talks made little headway. Venezuela has no valid case; therefore, they can only try to get a vast portion of our resource-rich lands by thievery and brute force. To me, it is quite clear why they are pressing us to continue the failed Good Offices process. They know we will reject it, but they intend to use our rejection of that fruitless process as the basis for strongarmed tactics they plan to use in the future. It is noteworthy that the UNSG, while admitting that the Good Offices process did not make much progress last year, nevertheless feels that Venezuela and Guyana could still benefit from the talks.

How is this possible considering that the Good Offices process has been failing since 1990? Ambassador Odeen Ishmael suggested that the UNSG might be trying to appease the Venezuelan Government, which, by the way has reserved the right to not accept the ICJ’s decision if it is considered unfavourable. RK’s Group supports government’s bold decision to abandon the Good Offices process, unlike previous governments which I believe were going along with the process simply because they wanted to benefit from Venezuela’s cheap oil and other support. Those previous governments’ decisions to accept Venezuela’s largesse while

that nation was committed to stealing Guyana’s most resource-rich area are bound to come back to haunt them. The border controversy was a festering sore disguised by a band-aid and sweet-smelling lotion. It was inevitable that one day the band-aid would be removed and the sore would be exposed. Now, the chickens have come home to roost and we face the painful reality that we have to pay a hefty price for all the freebies we received from Venezuela in the past. The only reasonable plan of action for the government to take is to move quickly and decisively to resolve this matter now -- once and for all. The cur-

rent administration must use every ounce of influence it has in every regional and international forum to expose Venezuela’s shameful and baseless rejection of the UNSG’s attempt to have the matter resolved at the ICJ. Guyana has to ensure that Venezuela’s totally unfounded claim is subjected to worldwide scrutiny, which would force that nation to think twice about the possibility of global condemnation before making any further expansionist moves. We compliment President Granger for this bold stand; it is time to take the fight to the next level. Regards ROSHAN KHAN

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

This situation with Exxon needs bigger help Dear Editor,

CONTRARY to much of the callous and unfair criticisms that the current government has received, I have measured their ‘works’ against their critics and I am confident that this regime will deliver a return to a sense of law and a better feeling about being Guyanese, their infrastructural works is testimony to it and they are doing this outside of a booming economy, that defy all in comparison of what went before with respect to principles and fair play, and not resort to permit the chaos of the troubled Jagdeo era to revisit us, though its violence and drug abuse continue to haunt us. But these are humans, in some cases flawed and out of sync, in a six-party coalition, our first functional national front government. I don’t expect perfection and an absence of hiccups, which brings me to the little observations I have paid to oil and Exxon until the incident about the bonus came up, that generated so much criticism, which caused me

to go back to all those articles Christopher Ram had written on ‘Sensitizing on Oil’. My surprise with the bonus was that all these professional thinkers, Goolsarran, Ramkarran, and even Christopher Ram were indicating that this was an illegal act, I was astonished. I have done small contracts with publishers, CARICOM, UNICEF, CIDA, WI Cricket Board and locally over the past 21 years, there have in most cases merited at signing, a non-refundable bonus, Advances or Grants, a few cases outside of the agreed cost, you call it what you want. How could these learned men not understand that there was nothing wrong with the bonus, much less the unexposed citizen, what was wrong with the Exxon bonus as I mentioned in my GNNL column in Dec. 2017 was the amount, Nigel Hughes and Tarron Khemraj are the only two I have read who agreed with this,[I could have missed others] who insisted that the bonus should have been much higher, I say about $US300M. We need the money, we are worth it.

Then the disturbing revelation of the IMF declaration that the “Oil agreement generous to Exxon - IMF team-loopholes for abuse seen” Sunday Stabroek December 24, 2017. I realise that we are screwed. Now I’m paying full attention to ‘Oil’, bruk too long not to. Based on our dismal legal performance with the ‘Demerara Gold’ Trade Mark case some years ago and the list of violations by companies brought against this country over the past 20 years, which the complainants won, brings me to the position supported by some legal friends I’ve exchanged views with, that we have mostly criminal case lawyers accustomed to pitting their wits against hopeless, barely trained police prosecutors and not against a seasoned team of international negotiators from an Industry that we know nothing of. Our Ministry of Natural Resources has no expertise to negotiate with EXXON. These guys have bettered older and stronger nations,

we need help to re-negotiate the agreement, and we need it now; get overseas friends with knowledge about oil, local geologists and sources that can ensure we receive a sustainable return for our

oil resources or we will miss both the sunset and the new dawn, because we choose to dabble in the deep shadows of the night. That is too simplistic a fate; the President must micro-manage for this

once, in this respect, this matter requires direct executive involvement. Regards BARRINGTON BRAITHWAITE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Main witness admits packing cocaine in wood

THE trial of motorcycle racer Stephen Vieira and three other men, including a former customs official, commenced on Tuesday with the testimony of the main witness. Former Customs Officer Sherwayne De Abreu of Street Eight Section ‘A’ Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown; Vieira of Middle Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown; businessman Tazim Gafoor and his son, Nazim Gafoor, a motor car racer, both of Menzies Street, Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara are on trial for aiding Hakim Mohamed to traffic 84.986 kilograms of cocaine between March 1 and May 2, 2017. The main witness,

Hakim Mohamed, was the first person to take the stand before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool in the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on behalf of Customs Anti-narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Kunyo Sandiford The men are being represented by Attorney at Law Latchmie Rahamat; Everton Lammy-Singh, Glenn Hanoman and Nigel Hughes. Mohamed started his testimony by explaining that he was employed by Narine Lall (who is still on the run from the CANU in relation to the matter) as a wood-cutter at his sawmill at Parika Lookout, East Bank Essequibo. The witness under oath

told the court that on several occasions he saw Tazim Gafoor at the sawmill and Lall explained that Gafoor was his business partner. According to Mohamed, before the Easter holidays, two individuals came to the sawmill while Tazim was there and brought a black garbage bag. He said Tazim emptied the bag and 65 square brick-like parcels wrapped in black plastic with white tape fell out. “I opened the plastic and the thing inside was white,” the witness said as he explained that Tazim told him that the substance was cocaine. He further detailed that Tazim took the cocaine into a room at the sawmill and

only he alone had a key for the door. Two weeks before Easter 2017, Mohamed recalled a fine Negro man in a white Premio motor car came with a black garbage bag to the sawmill, while Tazim was there with the same brick-like white substance. As before, Mohamed noted Tazim empty the bag. There were 15 parcels of the brick-like white substance. The witness further recalled that Tazim told him that the fine negro man’s name was ‘John Corby’ and took the parcels into the room in the sawmill. “About a week later, a next guy came to the sawmill in a white car and brought 19 brick-like things in a black bag. Tazim counted them and put them in the room and lock it,” the witness said. In court, Mohamed disclosed that it was Sherwayne De Abreu who had brought the 19 packets of the alleged drug. He explained that Stephen Vieira called ‘White Boy,’ was present when the wood was being cut. The witness stressed that Lall bought 400 BMs of wood and asked him to carve out the inside. “It get a machine that is dig out the middle of the wood and it does become

hallow” he said. Days later, Mohamed along with Tazim and a man named “Rasta” packed the cocaine inside the holes. On May 12, 2017, half of the lumber was taken by a truck to the Guyana National Industrial Corporation wharf where it was examined by a customs officer while the rest remained on another truck at the lumber yard. Mohamed added that Vieira met him at the wharf where he was informed that the other truck had broken down. Mohammed related that he went back to the second truck at the sawmill road and was in the process of offloading the lumber from the second truck when he was busted by CANU ranks. The trial has been adjourned until February 7 with Mohamed still giving evidence. The four defendants are currently out on $5M bail each, which was granted by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire in the High Court. They were first charged and remanded on May 30, 2017. According to reports, the bust was made after CANU officials received a tip-off on May 12 last year. When the ranks acted, the boards were being packed onto a truck.

The truck driver and porters were arrested but were subsequently released after it was discovered that the vehicle and its workers were hired to transport the timber. The drug agency in a release said that ranks conducted a search at the parapet in front of the premises of Mohamed and searched a truck laden with several pallets of 1×6 dressed lumber boards prepared for export. Several pieces of boards were drilled randomly by the ranks and a whitish substance was revealed (cocaine). The lumber was packed at a sawmill located at Lookout, East Bank Essequibo, belonging to Narine Lall to be transported to a wharf in Georgetown and then shipped to the United States of America, CANU stated. According to reports, Vieira is listed on the shipping documents as a representative of the shipper, Lall. An arrest warrant has been issued for Lall According to CANU. Tazim was placed before the court, charged for his role in another cocaine matter. The 43-year-old man was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice last year September, following the discovery of over nine kilograms of cocaine.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Woman among five in custody –– for money changer’s murder

THE police have arrested four males and one female as investigations into the murder of 47-year-old foreign-currency trader, Sean Nurse continue. The Guyana Chronicle has learnt that those arrested are from the East La Penitence area, and that the woman is the fiancée of one of the male suspects being ques-

tioned. On Sunday, Nurse who was robbed three times in the past, was shot in the head after he refused to comply with the suspect’s demand that he turn over whatever cash he had on him to do business with that day. Reports are that after Nurse snubbed him, the suspect unhesitatingly shot the

father of three at point blank, and made good his escape. The police have since been running the CCTV footage from surrounding buildings to see what clues they can come up with in an effort to solve the crime. They have also been utilising their intelligence arm to gather information from persons they believe might have vital information pertaining to what occurred on Sunday morning. Just last year, Nurse was

robbed but was later able to identify two of the persons who allegedly committed the offence. A relative of theirs reportedly opted to settle the matter out of court, by returning the sum of money Nurse claimed was taken from him. But persons close to the

money changer have said that the amount he claimed he lost was a fabrication, and are wondering whether the shooting on Sunday had anything to do with that incident. Even his mother said as much during an interview with the media on Sunday at the crime scene.

Other currency traders along America Street, meanwhile, had mixed reviews when asked to attest to his character and his interpersonal relationship with colleagues and customers. An autopsy is scheduled for some time today to ascertain the cause of death.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Gov’t launches novel reading programme

–– in quest to awaken love for books from infancy By Lisa Hamilton GUYANA’S first-ever ‘Back to basics: Toddler Reading Programme’ was launched Tuesday at the East La Penitence Health Centre, and from there it

will be taken to 361 other health centres across the country. The new programme is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Social Protection’s Child Care Protection Agency, the Ministry of Pub-

lic Health’s Maternal and Child Health Unit, and the National Library. According to Minister of Social Protection, Ms Amna Ally, schools and moreso parents have a crucial role to play in the development of

At the launching yesterday of the ‘Back to basics’ reading programme. Seated from left are: Adolescent Health Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, Dr Oneka Scott; Supervisor of the East La Penitence Health Centre, Ms Keisha Chin; Chief Librarian at the National Library, Ms Emiley King; Early Childhood Development (ECD) Ms Lavern Thorne; and Minister of Social Protection, Ms Amna Ally children from young. She said that studies have shown that babies begin absorbing language while still

in the womb, and that sensory and brain mechanisms for hearing are developed since the foetus is just 30 weeks old. In the circumstances, she feels that it is of utmost importance for parents or guardians to understand that

will understand the importance of the project. “If we as a nation are to realise the dreams of becoming an educated nation, we must ensure that we invest in our valuable human resources, as young as they may be,” Minister Ally said, adding:

This little cutie was only too happy to let her mummy share in her excitement (Photos by Samuel Maughn) they have the strongest influence over their children from birth to five years old, and that reading to their toddlers is a powerful learning tool. “It increases a child’s attention span and the parents’ own cognitive ability, Minister Ally said, adding: “It facilitates the development of their growing brain; it sparks their interest, and grows towards a life-long passion for reading and good literature.” She said, too, that as parents read to their children, although that toddler may not be able to understand everything they are saying, they are able to listen to sounds and eventually make the connection between words and pictures. “We are in a knowledge-based era where we have access to critical, scientific research and information on toddlers’ development,” Minister Ally said. “We have to act; we have to share the knowledge and promote it in the most effective manner possible, so that we can have maximum gains of facilitating the development of our young minds.” She also made the point that an educated population is essential to a nation’s prosperity, and that the government is hopeful that parents

“This government is committed to working to ensure that all Guyanese achieve economic prosperity and not poverty; a sense of self-worth and dignity and not self-pity.” ACCESS TO BOOKS As Chief Librarian Ms Emiley King observed,through partnership with the National Library, parents will have access to books and resources which support learning and early literacy in children. “When our team learnt of the programme, we contacted the Child Care and Protection Agency to become a stakeholder in this initiative,” she said. “In this venture, the National Library will become an active connector as we join with other stakeholders in assisting parents to be their children’s first teachers.” Also enthused by the programme was Early Childhood Development (ECD) Chief Executive Officer, Ms Lavern Thorne, in that its objective is to promote reading as an enjoyable activity for both toddlers and their parents. “We have to go back to that stage where our See page 11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Pastor faces jury trial for rape FORTY-SEVEN-year-old Andrew Hannibale of Benneth Dam, Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, pleaded not guilty to rape indictment when he appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a mixed jury at the Berbice Assizes on Tuesday. The indictment, which was read by the court’s registrar, revealed that between January 29 and 31, 2016, in the County of Berbice, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child aged 15. The in-camera trial will commence on Wednesday after Defence Counsel Arun Gossai sought an adjournment. Hannibale was initially remanded to prison following his initial court appearance before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at Blairmont Magistrate’s Court. However, he was granted $200,000 bail after police failed to fill the proposed additional charges. Hannibale is the founder of the Faith Deliverance Ministries which has branches throughout Guyana. At the lower Court, the police said between Friday 29 and 30 January last, a sibling awoke and discovered that the teenager was not in her bed. As a result, their parents were informed and a search was carried out. The 15-year-old secondary school student was seen in an outhouse. The pastor was allegedly inside with her. A report was made at the Blairmont Police Station, after which the virtual complainant was seen and examined by a medical practitioner, who indicated that the child was sexually violated.

Gov’t launches novel reading ...

From page 10

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, interacting with parents and children at the launch of the government-led innovative reading programme yesterday children are put on our laps, and they’re having that engagement time with us,” Ms Thorne said. “We want to set the foundation for them that when they get to Nursery School, they are ready, because we would have done our parts as parents to help them.” At yesterday’s launch, books were handed out to all the parents that were there with their toddlers, and the story-telling session with staff of the National Library was a huge hit with the children. Encouraging parents to take good care of the books they were given and to be careful to return those that they borrowed from the library was Adolescent Health Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Oneka Scott. She noted how pleased the Ministry of Public Health is to be a partner in such a positive venture, and joined previous speakers in stressing the point that early experiences matter. Collectively, the represented bodies commended individuals such as Apostle Ferreira and Mr. Davenand Sukhdeo of the Canadian School of Arts and Science, who were among the first to donate and act on the initiative.

Man jailed for killing neighbour AFTER being remanded to prison for almost seven years, murder accused Narvin Sugrim Andrews was given a 12- year sentence by Justice Sandil Kissoon, after he ‘threw in the towel’ and pleaded guilty to a lesser count of manslaughter. He was initially indicted for murder. Sugrim Andrews called ‘Pumpkin’, had been the longest-serving remanded

prisoner at the New Amsterdam penitentiary, and had previously made several appearances before various judges in an effort to have his case heard. However, Justice Kissoon accepted his plea and sentenced him to 12 years, but instructed the director of prisons to deduct the time the prisoner had already spent on remand. Further, the judge noted that the prisoner did not

waste the court’s time. He had accepted the charge and the death of the deceased had resulted from a single stab. The state’s facts revealed that on March 27, 2011 at Lot 194 Rahaman Street, Number 78 Village, Corentyne, the accused entered his elderly neighbour’s yard, where an argument ensued about money. As a result, Andrews dealt Hilton Ward, a pensioner, a stab wound, which

resulted in him being hospitalised. Twelve days later, Ward succumbed to his injuries. A post-mortem report revealed that death was due to acute peritonitis. Meanwhile Defence Counsel Sasha Roberts brought to the court’s attention that her client had no previous antecedents and that he had chosen to accept the responsibilities for his action.

Strategic planning for a post-sugar Caribbean

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

By Ronald Austin Jr WITHOUT prejudice to the hard-working men and women of the sugar industry, it seems like folly for the English-speaking Caribbean countries to cry over the demise of the sugar industry at this point in history. It behooves any fair-minded apolitical nationalist who loves this country to concede that it is time to strategically embrace the notion of a post-sugar industry Guyana. If guided by history, this should have been done a long time ago. There are many threads in the tapestry of the decline and fall of sugarcane in the English-speaking Caribbean, but for all intents and purposes of this column, coupled with the limited space and time, I will focus on the Sugar Duties Act 1846. Sugar received its kiss of death 172 years ago with the passage of the Sugar Duties Act, 1846. This column will briefly shed light on the rise of ‘King sugar’, the kiss of death received by the Sugar Duties Act and demonstrate why it is short-sighted to shed tears over an industry that was moribund centuries ago. When Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) officials appeared before the Economic Services Committee of the Guyana Parliament in June 2017, they gave a dire update on the state of sugar. Many became very concerned about the future of the sugar industry. It was reported that sugar prices had dropped $US 250-$US275 per tonne. This apprehensive update also included the fact that the cost of sugar on the world market is an average US$0.19 per pound, while GuySuCo’s cost is US$0.40 -- more than double. These numbers would spook anybody who has an interest in Guyana’s economic stability. Some historians would not be surprised. A cursory glance at the generic history of the English-speaking Caribbean’s sugar industry would reveal that these calamitous days were centuries in the making. During the 17th century when sugar replaced

Tobacco as the main crop, the English-speaking Caribbean experienced a ‘sugar boom’ which academics have coined, the ‘Sugar Revolution’. Eric Williams, writing in his usual effortless academic excellence, aptly described ‘King Sugar’ during the 18th century: ‘Sugar occupied the place in the 18th-century economy that steel occupied in the 19th and oil in the 20th. Sugar was king’-‘From Columbus to Castro.’ The reality described above was due to the demand for tea. Tea was woven into British culture and where there was a need for tea, there was a need for sugar. Complacent planters who enjoyed unparalleled shield from Britain were never interested in investing or making their business efficient enough to compete with others. This sense of security made the English-speaking Caribbean sugar industry dangerously poised for destruction. This is 1777 years ago, not 2018. ‘King Sugar’ made Barbados one of the richest spots under the sun. The case of Colonel James Drax epitomises the unparalleled economic rise of the British Caribbean sugar industry. According to Robert C. Batie, ‘Caribbean Slavery in the Atlantic World’, Colonel James Drax arrived in Barbados with $300 and by 1650, he returned to England with sufficient money to buy an estate. Sugar was the get-rich-quick scheme during the 18th century. Get-rich schemes are never fraught with long-term strategic planning. Having reached its economic apogee during this period, the inevitable cycle of ‘boom and bust’ visited this commodity. This visit culminated in the Sugar Duties Act, 1846.The Sugar Duties Act to which I devote this column came into existence in 1846, a year of infamy and betrayal, the dreaded year for the planters of the English-speaking Caribbean. Sweet, sweet sugarcane that gave them their fortune turned bitter at the hands of free trade. Placing a comfortable industry directly in competition with Cuba and Brazil, whom they could not match in terms of efficiency and

productivity of ‘King Sugar’. No longer comforted by the Navigation Act, the planters were exposed. I can envision planters cursing the day that this piece of legislation came to the British Parliament. The ‘Ayes’ were in the majority to make legal, the Sugar Duties Act, 1846. This Act, in one fell swoop, whished away centuries of privileged economic protection for the British Caribbean planters. Prior to 1846, they enjoyed a monopoly over the British sugar market. The Sugar Duties Act, 1846, ended this consortium. It was a sad day for planters who knew that the Sugar Duties Act was the kiss of death. The death knell was sounded and I have no hesitation in pointing out that devastation is the apt word to describe what ensued for the British Caribbean sugar industry. The question needs to be asked, who really cared? The colonial powers and by extension, the planters, had no long-term strategic societal development plans for their Caribbean possessions. In their minds, this land mass was a grand plantation scheme, a farm strictly for production. The discussions today on sugar are being fraught in complete oblivion to the fact that sugar, insofar as the English-speaking Caribbean is concerned, was virtually facing the possibility of extinction 172 years ago with the passage of the Sugar Equalisation Act, coupled with other factors such as the coming of Beet sugar. Again, strategic long- term planning was never on their agenda. The onus was on the post-colonial generations of planners and policy-makers to strategically plan beyond sugarcane, once the reins of control were handed over to them. The planters exited and the colonial authorities abdicated their fiscal and administrative responsibilities. In 2013, the European Union decided to abolish national sugar quotas and this took full effect on October 1st 2017. A long overdue reality. For me, strategic planning should have started 172 years ago with the passage of the Sugar Equalisation Act, 1846.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Guyana, Singapore sign open-skies agreement

GUYANA and Singapore last weekend inked an air services agreement, paving the way for airlines to operate between both countries as well as any third country, with no restrictions on capacity, frequency, aircraft-type and rout-

nette Ferguson and Singapore’s Second Minister for Transport, Ng Chee Meng, cargo carriers will be able to base aircraft in each other’s countries and use the base as a hub for operations to any third country. The agreement was signed on the sidelines

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson and Singapore’s Second Minister for Transport, Ng Chee Meng shortly after the signing ing. According to a release from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), under the agreement signed by Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, An-

of the Singapore Leadership Summit and Airshow 2018. The agreement also makes provision for code-sharing, whereby airlines of both countries can partner with other airlines to facilitate services to

26 children picked up during truancy campaign TWENTY-SIX children from Lima Sands and the Charity Housing Scheme in Region Two were recently caught by schools welfare officers for not attending school. This was done during the Region Two Education Department’s ongoing anti- truancy campaign. According to Senior Schools Welfare Officer Haimraj Hamandeo, since the department launched its 2018 campaign 26 truants were found during the exercises. Hamandeo said during the exercises, parents were spoken to and issues affecting them were discussed. Some parents he said complained that transportation costs were too exorbitant for them and as such, they could not afford to send their children to school. In addressing the issue, Hamandeo said those children were transferred to schools closest to them. He encouraged parents to fulfil their obligations in ensuring that their children attend school regularly and punctually. Truancy campaigns will continue during the course of the term with the objective of ensuring that all our school-aged children receive the education they deserve. Also, parents are advised to visit the department if they are faced with any difficulty.

each other’s market. At the signing, Minister Ng said: “We are very pleased to conclude this Open Skies Agreement, which will fully liberalise air services between Singapore and Guyana. This is testament to the strong bilateral relationship between Singapore and Guyana. This agreement will open up new opportunities for our carriers, enable

greater movement of people and goods between the two countries, and benefit our economies and businesses.” On the other hand, Minister Ferguson remarked that Singapore has been a friend of Guyana and provided support for Guyana in the form of training and capacitybuilding for the aviation and maritime sectors.

Many Guyanese over the years have benefited from fellowships and scholarships offered by the Government of Singapore. The agreement creates opportunities for both countries to explore deeper trade relations, the release stated. The move forms part of the government’s thrust to develop and advance the aviation sector and is

the first of 21 such agreements, recently approved by Cabinet for signature, the GCAA stated. The economic impact of the aviation sector in Guyana is substantial, contributing some 3.2 per cent to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and creating some 12,000 jobs, which is one in 20 jobs in Guyana, the GCAA added.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Emergency expert testifies in 'Turning Point' murder trial

DR. ESAN REID on Tuesday testified before Justice Navindra Singh prior to commencement of the voir dire to determine the admissibility of evidence in the “Turn-

ing Point” murder trial. On trial are Edward Skeete called “Pretty Boy” and Nabadingi Gobin called “Dangles” for the alleged July 14, 2015 murder of Ryan Clem-

entson at Turning Point, Tucville, Georgetown. An expert in emergency medicine, having served nine years at the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)

Accident and Emergency Unit, Dr Reid recalled when he examined the injured Ryan Clementson he saw an incised wound with fragmented edges on the right thigh. The doctor added that there was no exit wound and he did not recall seeing any foreign object lodged. Dr. Reid under cross-examination by defence counsel Nigel Hughes told the court that he did not retrieve any warhead from the wound and cannot recall seeing any bullet on the x-ray. When questioned by defence counsel Mark Waldron, the doctor

said the wound was not life-threatening but the patient needed medical intervention. Skeete is being represented by Nigel Hughes while Gobin is represented by Mark Waldron in association with Keoma Griffith. Leading the State’s case is Narissa Leander in association with Tiffini Lyken and Abigail Gibbs. During her opening address, state prosecutor Narissa Leander told the court that on July 14, 2015, the deceased Ryan Clementson was shot and he was taken to GPHC where he succumbed to

his injuries. She stated that there was a police investigation and the two accused were charged for the offence. It is alleged that Clementson of Mocha, East Bank Demerara was on the bridge at Turning Point, when a man rode up on a motor cycle and discharged several rounds in his direction and escaped. Clementson was shot to his right leg while Adoyele Solomon, 32, of Tucville, who was in the vicinity, was hit to his right shoulder. Clementson subsequently died.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

TVET Council implements career path programme countrywide THE Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has been working assiduously for two years creating the “Career Path Guide” for students. In late 2017, when the country was accredited to issue the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) certificate, this guide became more important, as it played a vital role in helping students to better understand the importance of technical and vocational education and the opportunities that are available. In an exclusive interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Technical Chief Education Officer, Patrick Chinedu Onwuzirike explained that the career path programme is being implemented throughout Guyana, to ensure students are given the opportunities from Grade Nine (Form 3) to plan their future and determine how they can play a vital role in Guyana’s development. The programme is a step-by-step guide, for students involved in vocational-technical subjects such as Home Economics, Woodwork, and Auto Repairs. It steers them through the steps to be taken in order to acquire their Level One certificate, by the end of Fifth Form, and better position themselves for a post-secondary institution. “It is easier because they would have started some of what is done at post-secondary institutions,” Onwuzirike said. Last year, following Guyana’s accreditation, then Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine described the event as a historic one in the delivery of education in the Caribbean, particularly in technical and vocational education. The CVQ is a competency-based qualification programme and students have to demonstrate aptitude in reaching CARICOM Approved Occupational Standards developed by practitioners and employers. The candidate will gain a full CVQ Award after having mastered all the units specified in the qualification structure. There are five levels of the CVQ – Level One (Form Five), entry level, semi-skilled, apprentice, supervised beginning worker (secondary school leaver); Level Two (Form Six), skilled worker, technical specialised independent worker (licensed, etc.) (College level); Level Three (supervisor/ technician/instructor) UTT/UWI associate degree; Level Four (manager/entrepreneur) UTT/UWI bachelor degree; and Level Five (executive professional) UTT/UWI. He explained that in Guyana, vocational/technical careers must be emphasised, in order for the workforce to grow. Citing the recent large oil find, and the influx of overseas-based companies into the country, the CEO said Guyanese must become acquainted with the necessary skills so as to take advantage of the job opportunities that will be made available. Onwuzirike noted that while CTVET in Guyana has been well positioned since the establishment of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act in 2004, work still needs to be done to ensure persons understand the value of vocational/technical skills and the extent to which efficient manpower can enhance industries.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Gov’t ready to assist private sector absorb former sugar workers MINISTER within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott has said that the Government is ready to support the private sector in their effort to absorb the retrenched sugar workers. Over the past few days members of the private sector have mobilised teams and visited communities where persons are directly affected by the downsizing of the sugar industry. Earlier this year, cash-strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) had to lay off some 4,000 workers in order to keep the sugar industry viable, but government had forged ahead with training for those former employees, with support from the Small Business Bureau and other stakeholders. “It has been admirable that they can begin to show that they are cooperative entities and that they think about the population,” said Scott, adding that he lauds the efforts of the private sector to ensure that those workers do not remain unemployed for long. The minister urged Minister with responsithe private sector to keep bility for Labour, Keith up their effort because Scott the more workers they take off would result in the alleviation of the existing conditions. “If at any point they feel the government’s input in training or any respect is needed then we stand ready to do that,” he said. Only recently, ex-sugar workers of the Wales Sugar Estate, West Bank Demerara (WBD) were sensitised about the hundreds of employment opportunities in the private sector at a job fair at the Patentia Market Square (WBD). The fair was organised by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and received support from various ministries, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and over 20 local companies. The event saw close to 800 residents of Patentia and surrounding areas being hired on-the-spot by various private and public companies. PSC Chairman Edward Boyer had said the fair is part of the commission’s effort to ensure the retrenched sugar workers find work. The PSC also took the fair to the Enmore ground where former workers of the East Demerara Estate were told that the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) alone has 200 companies which are members of the chamber. Speaking at the job fair, Managing Director of Gaico Construction and Services, Komal Singh had also challenged retrenched sugar workers to prepare for change and explore the opportunities set before them.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Broad, Lombard sts squatters to be moved by October

FOR over a year the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has been searching for a proper location for the Lombard and Broad Streets squatters and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CH&PA, Lelon Saul believes that they will find a solution by October this year. Efforts to relocate the squatters to Mocha Arcadia last year were met by resistance from the residents of the village and Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) of the community. The NDC had contended that they were not consulted about the CH&PA’s decision and the land which was allocated to the squatters

– likely to take up residence in Cummings Lodge, says Saul

into ancestral lands. “The president had asked that we put the relocation of the squatters on hold, pending the outcome of the COI,” said Saul in an invited comment on Tuesday. Subsequent to the contentious period, CH&PA had explored the possibility of relocating the squatters

CEO of CH&PA, Lelon Saul (Photo by Delano Williams) was ancestral land. President David Granger has since launched a Commission of Inquiry (COI)

Businessman shoots teen found in coconut tree AN East Coast Demerara businessman was up to late last evening assisting the police with their investigations into the shooting earlier in the day of a teenager he found allegedly trespassing on one of his properties. Injured is 17-year-old Afzel Fazal of Strathspey, East Coast Demerara, who was reportedly shot once in the upper chest by the businessman, Surendra Persaud, a licensed firearm holder. The incident reportedly occurred sometime during the day, when Persaud arrived at the premises and found the lad in his coconut tree, picking the nuts and throwing them down to a friend. When confronted, Afzel, who was armed with a cutlass, allegedly threatened to do Persaud harm if he dared touch him. Persaud told detectives that he had no time to fire a warning shot, as the youngster was not only armed, but allegedly asked if he wanted to die, and threw the cutlass at him. Afzel, after being shot, reportedly refused to dismount the tree for fear Persaud might have shot him again. It took the intervention of the police, and the use of a scaffold to get him down, and taken to the hospital, where he was immediately taken into surgery. When the Guyana Chronicle arrived at the scene later in the day, a “crocus bag” laden with coconuts was still on the ground beneath the tree, as were some freshly-cut coconut branches. Meanwhile, the donkey the two lads had used to take them to spot stood patiently in the broiling sun, waiting to make the return journey. Persaud, who operates an auto mart at another location, said he was at work when he received a call saying that there were two persons trespassing on his property. Also at the scene were Afzel’s relatives, who expressed alarm that he was shot “fuh just stealing li’l coconuts.” The police have since taken possession of the businessman’s firearm, while Afzel’s friend has been taken into custody.

to Barnwell on the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE) but Saul said the area was deemed inappropriate because of the poor soil condition. He said the ministry still intends on providing proper accommodation for the squatters since $43 million was allocated by the CH&-

PA last year to have 72 houses erected for the people of Broad and Lombard Streets. The project was a collaborative effort between the Government, Food for the Poor Guyana and private citizens. “We are still working to find a suitable location for the residents and as soon

as we identify it the project will be implemented,” said Saul, adding that they believe it would most likely be Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown. The squatters are being forced to move as a result of court action filed by the rightful owners of the property.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Parents protest poor conditions at Rama Krishna Primary

SEVERAL parents of children who attend the Rama Krishna Primary School picketed the head teachers and staff over the deplorable condition of the Middleton Street, Campbellville institution. The parents are protesting a number of grievances, which they say are all connected to poor management by the head teacher. The parents are calling for the relevant authorities to take immediate action, or they will escalate their protest. One parent, David Thornhill, told the Guyana Chronicle that on several occasions his child was forced to wait for an extended period before entering the classroom and upon entering, the room was smelly. “Couple mornings when I bring her to school, the door is closed most of the times…till after 9 or 9:30am the door opens. I don’t think it’s fair that these children should sit down outside waiting,” Thornhill commented. Speaking about the condition of the room, he went on to state: “They have some kind of stuff going on inside the class like…somebody go in the classroom and throwing stuff inside, like some kind of voodoo stuff, oil and feathers and powders and stuff.” Thornhill said this has occurred on more than one occasion and added: “The headmistress would have the keys and nobody don’t know how the stuff taking place…I just wish if somebody in authority could just deal with this matter because I’m a Muslim and I don’t really appreciate those kind of things.” Corroborating his account was Alexis Lespoir, whose child is presently in Grade Two at the institution. “Every morning he comes to school, the desk and bench full of oil and fire extinguisher spray up all over the classroom,” Lespoir,”

Parent, David Thornhill, speaking to the media on the state of the classrooms (Photo by Samuel Maughn) said questioning: “Who is doing these things?” “The HM needs to be removed from the school because it’s a lot of injustice to us parents and students, because the HM only gives good things to those who she favours,” said another parent, Marcia Velloza, who raised a different issue. Velloza continued: “This picketing here, if nothing is being done, some of us, our children might be victimised because the HM, that’s what she does. As long as you’re against her, she victimises your children.” The parent went on to allege that she was asked to leave the school’s compound during a market sale which she openly did not support on the account of being attired in a short pants, much like several other parents who were not asked to leave. “I did not support the market sale, because there wasn’t a PTA body and at the end of each fund-raising activity, you still have to pay for exam papers. So I said I prefer to pay for the exam paper instead of supporting a market sale,” the woman related. Expounding on the school’s absence of a Parent-Teacher Association, (PTA), City Council member Khame Sharma told the media that he was fed up with the occurrences at the school. “The concerned teachers and parents met together and decided that they must protest this…I was a PTA representative, formerly, and I know what happens in this school,” Sharma said, adding: “There’s no effective teachers representation on the PTA, otherwise we would not have been out here. There is no proper school management. The HM is the authority…and nobody touches her.” In addition, he called for Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, to be more active in the concerns of her city. When the Guyana Chronicle attempted to solicit a response from the head teacher, she refused, suggesting that we contact the Ministry of Education. Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, could not be reached for a comment.

Parents of students of the Rama Krishna Primary School staged a protest exercise outside the institution on Middleton Street, Campbellville (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Over 400 lots available at ‘Remigrants Scheme’

GUYANESE in the diaspora and local young professionals were urged to cash in on the remaining house lots at the “Remigrants Scheme” at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The scheme was established five years ago by the past administration to provide a North American style of living for Guy-

CH&PA’s Director of Operations, Denise King-Tudor

anese but persons were unsure how to access the lands. “We have recommenced allocation of the house lots there so if Guyanese living overseas and young professionals are desirous of owning their own home they can apply to us for a house lot,” said Lelon Saul, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority

(CH&PA) during an interview with members of the media on Tuesday. The Authority’s Director of Operations, Denise King-Tudor at the same time explained that there are four categories of lots within the area and the cost of those lots are $4 million, $4.5 million, $5 million and $7 million. She said in addition to those there are a few big-

ger lots with each category that will be sold at a higher cost which would be calculated based on its dimensions. Tudor believes that

many persons could cash in on the deals once they apply early. She noted that there were 538 lots but 127 were already allocated.

Girl rescues brother from burning house A 12-YEAR-OLD girl is nursing a broken ankle after she heroically rescued her seven-year-old brother from a burning building. According to information, at approximately 21:30hrs on Monday evening, Kisson and Kyle Henry, aged 12 and seven were home alone at their Glasgow, New Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice residence when a fire started in the upper flat of the building. The young girl on seeing the smoke, quickly alerted her brother, safely covered him in a sheet, made a sling and gradually let him out through a window.

The house Kisson Henry rescues her brother Kyle, seven, after it caught fire on Monday Realising her little brother was safe, Kisson called out for help before jumping from the same window to the ground, injuring herself in the process. After hearing cries for help, neighbours rushed to the scene and alerted the Guyana Fire Service which arrived promptly and was able to partially save the building. Residents explained that the children would be left alone unattended on numerous occasions because their mother would be gone for long hours in the nights. The fire is alleged to have started from a burning candle in the upper-flat of the building. That section of the house was destroyed. Meantime, both of the children were taken to safety by the members of the Guyana police Force and the Guyana Fire Service. The seven-year-old is currently a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital. According to a source, the whereabouts of the mother who was identified as Timela Henry was up to late Tuesday afternoon still unknown.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

‘Multi’ off to Barbados Relay Fair By Joe Chapman COACH Moses Pantlitz, along with athletes from his Christianburg Wismar/ Secondary School (CWSS) Track Club, departed Guyana yesterday via the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, bound for participation in this year’s Barbados Relays, set for Saturday in the Land of the Flying Fish. The CWSS Track Club will be participating in the female Under-17 category and the Under-20 category for males at the event which is usually attended by some of the Caribbean’s top schools and a few from the Diaspora. Deshanna Skeete, Xanya Melville, Leoni James, Shaka Tyrrell, Cristal Hutson, Mary-Ann King, Annalisa Barclay and Deon Richards (females) while Murphy Nash, Russell Payton, Seon Johnson, Benjamin, Akeem Caesar and Taquan Wilson will make up the male team. Pantlitz’ team will compete in the 4x100m, 4x400m and the distance

medley relay. Looking back at their last outing there in 2013 Pantlitz said, “I took this same CWSS team there in 2013 and we participated in the Under-17 category, but we had about three 11-year-olds along with a 12-year-old and 13-yearold. Then, I had walked with eight females where we were having four over the age of running in the Under-15 and four under the age of 11.” The successful youth coach remarked: “So I had to mix it and everybody up to one age group and we did reasonably well we returned with three bronze medals.” “It’s a one-day event and we are going to get acclimatised with a couple days to train and do the fine-tuning, which we have not gotten in as yet, and that will be on the said ground where the games are taking place. By Saturday we should be up and ready and raring to go,” Pantlitz said. The Barbados Relay Fair is a highly competitive meet for all regional athletes, strategically timed to serve as an instrumental competition in the peak preparation of athletes, targeting their local inter-school championships, the CARIFTA Games, World Junior Games and beyond. The event provides for all divisions from the primary school-age child competing in U-13, through secondary/high school categories – U-13, U-15, U-17, U-20 to tertiary institutions/ clubs as well as the Masters. Relay distances cater to the athletes of all distances. These include the distance medley, Swedish medley 4x200, 4x800 relays in addition to the popular 4x100m and showcase 4x400m.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Appiah Memorial 20 overs competition set for Saturday ALL roads will lead to the Kendall’s Union Cricket ground, located in No. 19 Village on the Lower East Coast of Corentyne, for the 2018 Ramnarine Appiah (Brother Appiah) Memorial 20 overs cricket competition. The event on Saturday will be contested by four teams namely, Kendall’s Union, Kendall’s Union Sports Stars, Seawell and Brother Appiah United, named in honour of the late Brother Appiah. The semi-finals will be followed by the final. The teams will contest for attractive incentives. The tournament is sponsored by Mukesh Appiah and family members to honour the

the crowd with his one-man band.

Flashback: Winning captain of Young Warriors Cricket Club, Hubern Evans, collects the trophy from Mukesh Appiah, son of the late Ramnarine Appiah.

late Ramnarine Appiah, a highly respected and loved village leader in the No.19 straight road villages.

There will be a wellstocked bar and musical entertainment.. National Chutney King Bunty Singh will entertain

Uitvlugt win Hamilton Green’s 9-A-Side Inter-ward tournament UITVLUGT were crowned the Hamilton Green 83rd Birth Anniversary 9-a-side Inter-ward football champions, defeating Crane via penalty kicks last Sunday. Locked 1-1 at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground, Uitvlugt prevailed from the penalty mark, compliment of a 2-1 scoreline. In the previous semifinal round, Uitvlugt bettered Pouderoyen 2-1 on sudden-death penalty kicks, after normal time ended 1-1. On the other hand, Crane needled Tiger Bay 1-0. In the earlier quarterfinal, Uitvlugt and Crane edged Sara Lodge and Soesdyke via 1-0 scorelines. Pouderoyen defeated Plaisance 1-0, while Tiger Bay beat Crane Rovers 2-1 on sudden-death penalty kicks, after regulation time ended scoreless.

With the result, Uitvlugt walked away with $70 000 and a trophy, while the losers collected $30 000 and a trophy. Ricks and Sari food hampers will also be presented to the

Former Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green

champions along with blankets from Food for the Poor Guyana Incorporated. On the individual side,

Esan Nelson of Crane copped the Highest Goalscorer award with six conversions and will receive a table set compliments of China Trading. On the other hand, Trayon Bobb of Uitvlugt was the second highest scorer in the event with two goals and will receive a ‘lazy boy chair’ from A.H. & L. Kissoon. All trophies were donated by Trophy Stall. Meanwhile in the earlier Brian Tiwari Exhibition tournament, Zeelugt edged Den Amstel 1-0 on sudden-death penalty kicks in the final, after normal time ended 1-1. Due to the outcome, Zeelugt walked away with $20 000. In the earlier semi-final matches in the section, Zeelugt got the better of Wales 1-0, while Den Amstel downed Bagotville 1-0 on sudden-death penalty kicks.

Persaud steers Bush Lot into T20 final in Essequibo

A BELLIGERENT half-century from Nathan Persaud proved decisive in securing Bush Lot Trend Setters a place in the final of the Reliance Sports Club-sponsored T20 competition. In one of two deciding matches played on Sunday at the Reliance SC ground, Bush Lot Trend Setters upset the hosts in another epic battle between the two rival teams. Reliance Hustlers were asked to bat first after losing the toss. They were off to a rapid start and by midway of their overs, they were scoring at a brisk rate of 10 runs per over. Openers Narendra Mandolall and Shanil Persaud added 95 in 9 overs to take the attack to the bowlers. Former Essequibo inter-county all-rounder Narendra Mandolall was the first to depart for an impressive 66, studded with six fours and three sixes. With his departure the scoring rate immediately declined as the probing bowlers found their length.

All the while, though, Shanil Persaud was there but was suffering from muscle pains in his legs. He battled on and produced a well-crafted 59 including seven fours and one six. It took an entertaining knock of 32 (3x6, 2x4) from skipper Trevis Simon to propel his side to a formidable 182-2 from the allotted 20 overs.

Nathan Persaud

In response Bush Lot Trend Setters set the tone early with Nathan Persaud leading the way. He executed brilliantly and kept his side in the game for the most part. His expansive cover drives and square cuts were quite pleasing to the eye as he produced a savage knock of 72 laced with 11 fours and two sixes.

He received support from Seon Fraser 30 (2x6, 2x4) as they chased the target and ended on 183-5 in the 17th over to win by 5 wickets and a place in the final. Earlier, Cotton Field got the better of Reliance Masters to also book a place in the final. Batting first, Reliance Masters were restricted to 97-2 from the reduced 17 overs. Former Essequibo inter-county captain Elroy Stephney scored 42 (5x4, 1x6). In reply an unbeaten 42 (6x4, 3x4) from Kevin Persaud and Rajiv Kissoon 25 (4x4) ensured that their side easily claimed victory as they reached 97-2 in 9 overs. Meanwhile, the final of the competition will be played on Sunday, February 11 at the Reliance ground, between Bush Lot Trend Setters and Cotton Field SC while in the 3rd place playoff Reliance Hustlers will face Reliance Masters. Trophies and other incentives will be at stake in what is anticipated to be another exciting day of T20 cricket.

The inaugural tournament was won by Young War-

riors Cricket Club of Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Hampshire go on a roll with second Super50 win HAMPSHIRE followed up their low-scoring win over the Jamaica Scorpions on Sunday with another one, this time against the Combined Campuses and Colleges and Marooners on Monday as action in the Cricket West Indies Regional Super50 Festival continued at Kensington Oval in Barbados. Choosing to bat, Hampshire could manage only 152 but put in a good bowling performance to squeeze out a five-run victory. Hampshire suffered a cataclysmic collapse, as Calvin Dickinson, 4, James Adams, 0, Joe Weatherley, 0, Sean Ervine, 0, and Lewis McManus, 0, left them reeling at 15-5. Opener Thomas Alsop was forced to watch the demise of his teammates while amassing 31 from 39 deliveries. Fortunately, Bradley Taylor provided some rearguard action, scoring a patient 69 from 108 deliveries to help give the Hampshire side a total they could defend. Despite Taylor’s efforts,

Hampshire were bowled out in 42.3 overs, with Asher Hart scoring 18 and Bradley Wheal ending with 18 not out. The poor batting came against an all-round bowling performance from the Marooners. Kheshan Ottley was the best of the Marooners’ bowlers, grabbing 3-33, while Jermaine Levy and Vikash Mohan had 2-23 each. There were also wickets for Keron Cottoy, 1-37, and Jameel Stuart 1-13. When the Marooners replied, they were also undone by an all-round bowling performance as Heal ended with figures of 3-29. In support of Heal, Fidel Edwards ended with 2-36, while Hart had 2-34. There was a wicket apiece for Gareth Berg, 1-26, and Weatherley, 1-5. Against that bowling, only Mohan 40, and Cottoy 30 not out made serious marks, as Weatherley trapped Levy for two with the last ball of the 46th over to complete a very close victory.

SCOREBOARD HAMPSHIRE innings C. Dickinson c & b Levy 4 T. Alsop stp. Maynard b Y Ottley 31 J. Adams c Cottoy b Levy 0 J. Weatherley run-out 0 S. Ervine b Mohan 0 L. McManus b Mohan 0 B. Taylor c & b Y Ottley 69 G. Berg c wkp. Maynard b Ottley 0 A. Hart c Pennyfeather b Stuart 18 F. Edwards b Cottoy 2 B. Wheal not out 18 Extras: (lb-1, w-9) 10 Total: (all out, 42.3 overs) 152 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-10, 3-11, 4-15, 5-15, 6-53, 7-53, 8-93, 9-101. Bowling: Levy 4-0-23-2, Y. Ottley 9.3-2-33-3, Mohan 10-3-23-2, Daley 5-0-22-0, Cottoy 10-0-37-1, Stuart 4-1-13-1. MAROONERS innings O. Williams lbw b Wheal 12 K. Ottley c Alsop b Wheal 0 K. Corbin c Weatherley b Edwards 9 Y. Ottley b Wheal 9 V. Mohan c Adams b Hart 40 J. Stuart c wkp. McManus b Hart 15 C. Maynard b Berg 12 K. Pennyfeather run-out 5 K. Cottoy not out 30 A. Daley b Edwards 0 J. Levy lbw b Weatherley 2 Extras: (b-2, lb-3, w-8, nb-1) 14 Total: (all out, 46 overs) 148 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-18, 3-22, 4-49, 5-77, 6-101, 7-108, 8-115, 9-120. Bowling: Edwards 10-2-36-2, Wheal 10-2-29-3, Taylor 2-0-13-0, Berg 10-2-26-1, Hart 8-0-34-2, Weatherley 6-2-5-1. Man-of-the-Match: Brad Taylor. 12:50 hrs Head Turner American Racing Tips Gulfstream Park Race 1 Promete Race 2 Put Em Up Race 3 Private Bellamy Race 4 Caloric Race 5 Miss Aliphant Race 6 Carbon Dating Race 7 Parol Race 8 Let Me Flatter You South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:50 hrs Yaas 09:25 hrs Graduate 10:10 hrs Lady Li Lay 10:40 hrs Border Control Irish Racing Tips Fairyhouse 09:45 hrs Park Paddocks 10:15 hrs Lareena 10:45 hrs Apparition 11:20 hrs Bebefit Of Magic 11:50 hrs Call It Magic 12:20 hrs Jennys Melody

English Racing Tips Ludlow 09:40 hrs Solomon Grey 10:10 hrs Copain De Classe 10:40 hrs Brillare Momento 11:15 hrs Creep Desbois 11:45 hrs Espirit De Somoza 12:15 hrs Dabinett Moon 12:45 hrs Gowiththeflow Chemsford City 10:25 hrs Mossy’s Lodge 11:00 hrs Roy’s Legacy 11:30 hrs Volturnus 12:00 hrs Cap[tain Lars 12:30 hrs Touch The Clouds Wolverhampton 12:55 hrs Temeraire 13:25 hrs Willyegolassiego 13:55 hrs Madame Jo Jo 14:25 hrs The Great Wall 14:55 hrs Lord Murphy 15:25 hrs Critical Thinking 15:55 Nonios 16:25 hrs Run Wuth Pride

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

R&R Mashramani cycling meets set for this weekend … DeNobrega, Eastman to defend respective titles

IN continuing its annual trend, R&R International Limited will sponsor two cycling meets over the coming weekend as the cycling season begins to heat up. The hardware company has over the years continually sponsored a pair of cycling meets in honour of Mashramani. On Saturday,, National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed will organise and supervise the R&R-sponsored 11-race programme at the inner circuit of the National Park. This is expected to be a highly competitive meet especially in the feature 35-lap Schoolboys Invitational race. Last year’s winner was

Paul DeNobrega and he will surely be out to sternly defend his title. So far DeNobrega has had a solid start to his 2018 season and will be looking to renew his rivalry

with Jamual John who’ll also be looking for his first win of the year. However youngsters Curtis ‘Chappy’ Dey and Romello Crawford will also be right up

Jamual John returns to familiar hunting grounds on Sunday when he looks for top honours in the 27th Annual R&R Road Race on the West Demerara.

GFF/Pele Alumni Frank Watson U-15 League – EBFA

Lambert bangs five past Diamond United as Agricola take over lead

there in contention for podium finishes along with Hamzah Eastman and Alonzo Ambrose. Following Saturday’s meet in the National Park, the cyclists will turn their attention to the roadways of the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara for the 27th annual R&R road race. Jamual John who ended last year undefeated on the West Side will be looking to continue his superb record on the roadways. He did not compete in last year’s edition but his fellow Team Coco’s cyclist Hamzah Eastman took top honours in that race. The 2017 cyclist-of-theyear will be hoping to go one better after finishing second two weekends ago in the

Paul DeNobrega will be aiming to retain his R&R title in the National Park on Saturday.

Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) first ‘Points’ race of 2018. He had to ride with a flat back tyre during the late stages in that race. However, come Sunday, John will be hunting for the top podium spot on the West Demerara.

Drayton wins National Senior Chess Qualifier THE seven-round National Senior Chess Qualifier concluded at the weekend with the top seven players being confirmed to compete for the title of National Senior Chess champion later this year.

by the Guyana Chess Federation at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal. Candidate Master Drayton, with a FIDE rating of 1,945, accumulated 6.5 points, inclusive of six victories and a draw, against

This Agricola Red Triangle player is caught heading the ball away in their clash with Diamond United on Sunday.

AGRICOLA Red Triangle have Agricola’s Brian Lambert of the league after suffering two maintained their unblemished was the man on fire on the day as defeats. Mario Richards handed record when they posted their he hit in five of Agricola’s goals Diamond Upsetters the lead on third win in as many matches, a in the 3rd, 8th, 36th, 52nd and 14 minutes but Damien Persaud 7-0 whipping of Diamond Unit- 56th minutes. He has now taken responded in like manner for ed last Sunday in Day 5 action his tally in the league to 7. Floyd Herstelling in the 39th minute for of the East Bank Football Asso- Boyce supported with a goal an even first half. ciation (EBFA) leg of the GFF/ in the 16th minute while Jamal But with the game 43 minPele Alumni Frank Watson Fiffe tucked in the other in the utes old, Upsetters regained the U-15 Intra Association League. 30th minute. lead through Abdullah Amin’s Playing at the Grove PlayGrove Hi Tech, coming off a goal which turned out to be the field, Agricola subjected Diamond draw on Saturday with Samatta winning strike. Hamid was one United to their second loss in as Point/Kaneville were hoping to of Upsetters’ leading players many matches. Grove Hi Tech nail full points against Mocha in the just concluded Ralph were held to a 2-2 draw by Mocha Champs but the Mocha lads Green-sponsored Under-11 Champs, the second draw in as fought back admirably twice to League. many days for the Grove boys, earn an equal share of the points. Samatta Point/Kaneville, who were overtaken by their Grove captain Devon Pad- riding high from their 1-1 draw rivals Agricola who have played more scored both their goals with Grove on Saturday, built one match less. in the 17th and 27th minutes. on that high with a 1-0 win over Sunday’s matches saw two Mocha got their goals off the Soesdyke Falcons; it was the upsets with newcomers Samatta boot of Jermaine Harry in the latter’s third loss in as many Point/Kaneville needling Soes- 16th minute and Shemel Allen games. dyke, while Diamond Upsetters in the 20th. Netting the golden goal was edged Herstelling Raiders 2-1. Diamond Upsetters were in Matthew Austin in the 22nd The latter were without the no mood to give Herstelling Raid- minute. tournament’s leading marks- ers a smooth day at the office; Matches will continue this man Shoran James. they recorded their first points weekend at the same venue. Latest Points Standings TEAM

POINTS

Agricola

+10

Grove

Samatta Point/KV

Herstelling

+12

Mocha

Timehri

Friendship

-1

Swan FC

-1

Kuru Kururu

-3

Diamond Upsetters

-3

Soesdyke

-5

Diamond United

-19

The race will pedal off from Schoonord, WBD at 08:30hrs, head to Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo and then return to the Demerara Harbour Bridge, West Bank Demerara for the finish. (Michelangelo Jacobus)

The various participants of the National Senior Chess Qualifier

Anthony Drayton, the top-ranked FIDE player in the Qualifier, will lead the group into the tournament proper, having played unbeaten in the event, which was hosted

former national champion Taffin Khan. Khan, with a FIDE rating of 1,928, finished second overall, with five points, but suffered a huge loss to

Ronuel Greenidge, who has a rating of 1,688. The lone female, Maria Varona-Thomas, also ended with five points. The other four qualifying players were all locked on 4.5 points, enough to secure their passage to the main championship. They are Greenidge, Saeed Anwar Ali, Glenford Corlette and Loris Nathoo. Those who narrowly missed out on qualification were former national champion Kriskal Persaud, Roberto Neto, David Khan, Calvin Giddings and Errol Tiwari. They all finished on four points. President of the Guyana Chess Federation, James Bond, was on hand to congratulate the seven players on their qualification to the National Championship later this year. He wished them well, noting that he expects a highly competitive tournament, judging from what he witnessed in the Qualifier.

Afghanistan seal T20 series win over Zimbabwe MOHAMMAD Nabi and Rashid Khan starred as Afghanistan won the T20 series with Zimbabwe. Afghanistan sealed victory in their Twenty20 series with Zimbabwe with a 17-run win in Sharjah on Tuesday. Having prevailed by five wickets in the first game of the two-match series, Afghanistan wrapped things up thanks in part to a 26-ball 45 from Mohammad Nabi. Nabi – who scored 40 in the first match – struck four sixes and his efforts,

along with those of captain Asghar Stanikzai (27 off 14) and Najibullah Zadran (24 off 18) helped them to

Mohammad Nabi

158-9. Zimbabwe lost Solomon Mire (2) in the third over of their reply and were unable to match Afghanistan’s run rate of 7.9. Sikandar Raza struck 40 off 26 and Ryan Burl added 30 from as many deliveries, but they were both removed by teenage spinner Rashid Khan (2-23) as Zimbabwe’s chase lost momentum. Afghanistan will now look to maintain their form in a five-match one-day series, which starts on Friday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

More exciting clashes anticipated tonight in Guinness Greatest of the Streets football THE Pouderoyen tarmac will see more street football action tonight with several door-die group matches when the Guinness Greatest of the Streets West Demerara/East Bank Demerara zone football continues. In the first game of the night at 19:00hrs, Patentia Money Team will take on Nismes Ballers, while Bagotville All-Stars tackle Up-Like-7 from 19:30hrs. The third clash will pit Frontline Ballers against Police-B at 20:00hrs, while ESPN battle Dream Team from 20:30hrs. In the fifth matchup, Veterans face off with Facebook Ballers at 21:00hrs, whilst Zeelugt FC come up against Harmony Ballers at 21:30hrs and Mocha-B engage Hustlers from 22:00hrs. Brothers United will then face Gas Team at 22:30hrs, while Parfaite Hardball clash with Police-A from 23:00hrs and Showstoppers oppose Zeelugt Warriors at 23:30hrs. The final two games will see Goal-Getters go against

Harmony Warriors at 00:00hrs and Admiral United against Rising Stars from 00:30hrs. After tonight’s matches, the tournament will continue

The third-place finishers will receive $150 000 and a trophy, while the fourthplace unit will walk away wit $100 000 and a trophy.

Ballers - 21:00hrs Zeelugt FC vs Harmony Ballers - 21:30hrs Mocha-B vs Hustlers 22:00hrs

Guinness Greatest of the Streets action returns to the Pouderoyen tarmac tonight.

on Friday at the same venue with the round-of-16 fixtures. The Pouderoyen tarmac will serve as the venue for the duration of the championship. Winners of the tournament will claim $400 000 and the championship trophy while the runners-up will receive $200 000 and the corresponding accolade.

COMPLETE FIXTURES BELOW: Patentia Money Team vs Nismes - 19:00hrs Bagotville All-Stars vs Up-Like-7 - 19:30hrs Frontline Ballers vs Police-B - 20:00hrs ESPN vs Dream Team - 20:30hrs Veterans vs Facebook

Gas Team vs Brothers United - 22:30hrs Parfaite Hardball vs Police-A - 23:00hrs Showstoppers vs Zeelugt Warriors - 23:30hrs Goal-Getters vs Harmony Warriors 00:00hrs Admiral United vs Rising Stars - 00:30hrs.

… Essequibo also triumph by five wickets

DEMERERA collapsed to off-spinner Jonathon Rampersaud as defending champions Berbice comfortably beat the hosts by five wickets in round two of the Guyana Cricket Board-sponsored Dave West Indian Imports Under-15 Inter-county oneday tournament yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club ground. The comprehensive win ensured Berbice a place in Saturday’s final. The 13-year-old took 5-12 as the hosts collapsed to 50 all out in 20.3 overs after they were asked to bat first. He received support from left-arm spinner Jeremey Saudia (3-13) and medium pacer Budram Lakeram (22). Chandrapaul Ramraj top-scored with 11 in an innings where no other batsman got double figures. In reply, Berbice reached 51-5 in 30.2 overs. Zeynul Ramsammy top-scored with 12 runs and was the only double-figure aggregate for his side while the other batsmen contributed little to the total. Chandrapaul Ramraj, Vishal Persaud and Krishna Singh collected a wicket each. The hosts’ batsmen

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Leeward Islands Hurricanes suffered a second straight defeat in the Regional Super50 when they went down to English County Kent by nine wickets in their Group B encounter here yesterday.

Fast bowler Ivan Thomas claimed three wickets in Kent’s win.

Rampersaud (5-12) sinks Demerara to five-wicket defeat By Rajiv Bisnauth

Hurricanes go down to Kent by nine wickets

paid the price for being over-ambitious. Their desire to clear the in-field with almost every ball caused their downfall.

Leslie Solomon praised his team for the discipline shown so far, adding that he felt happy to see genuine talent.

out. Bowling for Essequibo, Gladwin Henry picked up 4-19. Essequibo in reply, comfortably reached their

Hurricanes, without the mainstay of their batting, Rahkeem Cornwall, who has been called up to West Indies A duty, suffered a collapse and could muster only 183 all out in the 50th over. Terrance Ward, batting at number five, top-scored with 71 but no other Hurricanes batsman managed to make it past 20. Fast bowlers Will Gidman (3-31) and Ivan Thomas (3-45) finished with three wickets apiece while fellow seamer Calum Haggett picked up two for 37. Kent coasted in reply, reaching their target in the 45th over, with 20-year-old opener Zak Crawley narrowly missing out on three figures with an unbeaten 99. The right-hander faced 140

deliveries and struck eight fours, staging two key stands to wipe out any hope Hurricanes may have entertained of a come-frombehind win. He added 81 for the first wicket with Daniel Bell-Drummond whose 39 came from 66 deliveries and included four fours. When Bell-Drummond perished in the 21st over via run-out, Crawley put on a further 106 in an unbroken second-wicket stand with Sean Dickson who was unbeaten on 44 off 61 deliveries at the end. Hurricanes had earlier failed to make the most of a recovery from suffering a dodgy start, after being asked to bat first at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. They lost the in-form Montcin Hodge in the fourth over for two with six on the board but West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels (18) and opener Keacy Carty (17) added 36 for the second wicket to steady the innings. However, both fell in the space of 14 deliveries with two runs added to leave Hurricanes on 44 for three in the 13th over. Warde started the recovery when he posted 35 for the fourth wicket with Devon Thomas (17) and that revival continued in a 37run fifth-wicket stand with Akeal Hosein (15). All told, he faced 91 balls and struck five fours and a pair of sixes. Hosein’s departure in the 32nd over triggered the final collapse as the last six wickets went down for just 67 runs.

SCOREBOARD HURRICANES innings M. Hodge c Bell b Thomas 2 K. Carty c wkp. Rouse b Haggett 17 M. Samuels b Claydon 18 D. Thomas b Haggett 17 T. Warde run-out 71 A. Hosein c Tredwell b Gidman 15 J. Clarke c Denly b Gidman 2 J. Athanaze c wkp. Rouse b Gidman 7 M. Mathew c Bell-Drummond b Thomas 16 N. Henry b Thomas 6 S. Berridge not out 0 Extras: (w-11, nb-1) 12 Total: (all out, 49.1 overs) 183 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-42, 3-44, 4-79, 5-116, 6-128, 7-151, 8-161, 9-178. Bowling: Claydon 6-2-10-1, Thomas 9.1-1-45-3, Denly 10-0-36-0, Haggett 9-0-37-2, Tredwell 6-1-24-0, Gidman 9-1-31-3. KENT innings D. Bell-Drummond run-out 39 Z. Crawley not out 99 S. Dickson not out 44 Extras: (lb-1, w-4) 5 Total: (1 wkt, 44.3 overs) 187 Fall of wicket: 1-81. Bowling: Mathew 4-0-19-0, Berridge 7.3-1-32-0, Hosein 10-0-31-0, Athanaze 8-0-38-0, Henry 7-0-25-0, Warde 8-0-41-0.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday February 07, 2018)

(From left) Jeremey Saudia, Jonathon Rampersaud and Budram Lakeram - the three Berbicians who combined to dismantle Demerara yesterday at the Everest ground.

However, the Demerara coach deplored the poor batting display by his side and lamented the poor shot selection and lack of patience by his batsmen which may have been the reasons for such a huge defeat. On the other hand, coach of the winning team

Meanwhile, in the other second round game between Essequibo and the GCB President’s X1 at Tuschen. Essequibo won by five wickets. The GCB President X1 made 81-8 in their allotted 32 overs. Hemendra Gurdayalal scored 16 runs, while Saffei Shazad contributed 24 not

target with Ranaldo Scouten top scoring with 40. The third and final round is billed for tomorrow. Demerara will oppose the President’s X1 at Lusignan ground, while Berbice and Essequibo clash at Everest. The final is scheduled for February 10 at GCC.

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 4 times (2) Mohammed Kaif, Virat Kohli, Unmukt Chand, Pathriv Shaw Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs for India in the recent ICC Under 19 World Cup? (2) Which Indian player took most wickets? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Surinamese confirmed for King of the Strip Drag race meet By Stephan Sookram

THE Surinamese have confirmed their interest in the first instalment of Guyana’s King of the Strip Drag-race event 2018, at the South Dakota Circuit this weekend. Chronicle Sport has been able to confirm that at least four competitors will make the trip for the one-day event at Timehri. GMR&SC president Rameez Mohamed contends that the eastern South American country, through its local body Motosur, has acknowledged the invitation. “We sent out emails to Motosur ahead of our King of the Strip Drag-racing event and the response we got off the bat was favourable.” “They are always very supportive of our events. I must say that. They are always

itching to either host us or compete in our events here.” “We have so far confirmed four competitors for the event and we are working on getting a few more to add to the spice of the local events.” The one-day event will see an unofficial practice on Saturday, February 10, that will precede the official qualification and knockout on Sunday. The sponsors are Tropical Shipping, STAG, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Rent A Tent, Perms Electrical, Paul Jiwanram, White Boy Auto Spares, BM Soat, Palm Court, Samaroo Investments, Windjammer, Nexus, E-Networks, JR Burgers, Toucan Industries, Trans Pacific, Ramchand’s Auto Body Shop, Special Auto, A and R Jiwanram Printery Inc,, Infinity Imports and JAPARTS.

Thomas leads Jamaica fightback with century KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Wicketkeeper/ batsman Aldaine Thomas punished England Lions with an attractive hundred, as a Jamaica XI provided stout resistance on the penultimate day of their the three-day tour game here Tuesday.

Aldaine Thomas Resuming in trouble on 36 for four in their first innings, the hosts fought their way to 236 all out, just 27 runs behind Lions’ 263 on Monday’s opening day at Sabina Park. The 23-year-old Thomas was at the heart of the Jamaica XI’s enterprise, hitting 10 fours and two sixes in an innings spanning just over five hours

and requiring 185 deliveries. Gordon Bryan, batting at number 10, was the only other player to pass 20 as he chipped in with a handy 29 which included six fours. Seamers Jamie Porter (3-24) and Toby Roland-Jones (3-37) were Lions’ best bowlers with three wickets apiece. In their second turn at the crease, Lions were 80 for three, heading into Wednesday’s final day. Earlier, Thomas found a partner in captain Paul Palmer (16) to add 38 for the fifth wicket an deny Lions an early success. When Palmer was bowled by left-arm seamer George Garton, the hosts lost three wickets for 18 runs, to slide to 92 for seven. Thomas, though, ensured the tail wagged, posting 40 for the eighth wicket with Damion Jacobs (13) before partnering with Bryan to frustrate the English in a ninth wicket stand of 80.

Flashback! Team Mohamed’s Enterprise Nizmo gets the jump on Goliath during one of the 2017 drag race meets.

See page 39

Surinamese confirmed for King of the Strip Drag race meet

Minister Norton wants swift resolution to cricket issues … in process of naming a new Cricket Ombudsman

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has not had a proper constituted or what many observers have labelled “free and fair” elections for the past ten years, and as a result the manner in which cricket is administered in Guyana has been the topic for much discussion. However, Minister of Social Cohesion with the responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr George Norton, said while the current administration remains firm to bring a swift resolution to the current situation, staging of the GCB elections was faced with a major setback with the resignation of Guyana’s first-ever Cricket Ombudsman Dr Winston

2018 Hero CPL draft set for London, March 1

McGowan. Dr McGowan was appointed in 2005 by then Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony and his appointment was subsequently approved by the-then Cabinet.

He was previously charged with overseeing the elections of the various county boards and the GCB, in accordance with the Cricket Administration Act which was successfully passed in the National As-

Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport ,Dr George Norton

Chief Executive Officer of CPL Damien O’Donohoe THE draft for the 2018 Hero world investing in the Hero Caribbean Premier League CPL and the Caribbean as will take place in London on a whole, having the draft in March 1. During the draft London helps from a logistics teams will select their lineups point of view and helps sell the for the sixth edition of the region to a global audience. tournament which will take “Our draft is such an place between August 8 and important date in the Hero September 16, 2018. CPL calendar. It is when we As always, the Hero CPL get to find out who will be is expecting to have the best coming to join the Biggest cricketers take part in the Party in Sport. We know that tournament, from around the the quality of players that we world as well as from across have coming to this year’s the Caribbean. tournament will generate a The window for this huge amount of excitement,” year’s event means that there said Damien O’Donohoe, are no West Indies fixtures CEO of Hero CPL. that clash with the Hero CPL “While the Hero CPL is so the very best West Indian about bringing the carnival players will be available for atmosphere to cricket, the selection. quality of the sport on disThe decision to have the play is just as important. The draft in London is a reflec- world-class cricketers who tion of the global nature of will be selected on March 1 the tournament. With owners are who make the cricket at and sponsors from around the Hero CPL so special.”

sembly by the previous government in May 2014, and assented to by then President Donald Ramotar in August of that year. However, Dr Norton during an exclusive interview pointed out that he is in the process of appointing a new Cricket Ombudsman who will eventually pave the way for the long overdue GCB

Former Cricket Ombudsman Dr Winston McGowan

elections. “I have informed Cricket West Indies (CWI) of my intention. That is Mr Dave Cameron (president of Cricket West Indies), who acknowledged my letter, because I am trying to communicate with all the stakeholders, and I thought that CWI is an important stakeholder. The same thing was done to the president of the GCB. A letter was sent to him, and of course local stakeholders since I just want the cricket issues to be settled in the most appropriate way,” Minister Norton revealed. This latest development by Dr Norton can be seen as a significant step towards regularising the administration of the sport. The GCB has not held

elections since 2009 owing to the numerous court injunctions. However, Elections at the GCB level were made possible after the injunction against the Cricket Administration Act by the Guyana Cricket Board was quashed sometime in July last year. That decision by the court had led a group of cricket stakeholders to mount a peaceful protest in front of the Attorney General’s Chambers last July 26, calling for government’s intervention in bringing some semblance of normalcy to the manner in which the game is managed in Guyana. The group had unanimously called for free and fair elections to be held at the Guyana Cricket Board.

‘Multi’ off to Barbados Relay Fair See page 34

The CWSS Track Club pictured here before departure yesterday

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018