Guyana Chronicle E-paper 10-03-2018

WEDNESDAY 3rd October, 2018

No.105416

Man dies in mining 14 pit accident PAGE

… Trotman orders enforcement operation

Essequibo child rapist gets life 20

Low conviction rate –– financial investigator bemoans time-wasting

–– says greater effort needed by SOCU to secure convictions 03 PAGE

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First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, on Monday participated in GTT's Pinktober tree-wrapping exercise held at the corners of Camp and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown, in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In this Ministry of the Presidency photo, the First Lady (left) is being assisted by GTT's Public Relations Specialist, Jasmin Harris.

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Serial robber nabbed in East La Penitence A 21-YEAR-OLD who was allegedly involved in numerous robberies and an attempted murder on the East Coast of Demerara, was on Monday night captured in Georgetown. Teron Douglas was caught after he reportedly attempted to rob a group of friends who were hanging out in a community shop in East La Penitence. Douglas, who was armed with a revolver and 16 matching rounds, was overpowered by his victims when he attempted to rob one of them of a gold chain valued more than $120,000. Police sources told the Guyana Chronicle, that the alleged serial robber who hails from Triumph, on the East Coast of Demerara, demanded that one of the gentlemen hand over the valuables he had in his possession, including his gold chain. The man hesitated, Douglas reached for the chain and a scuffle ensued and he (Doug-

Teron Douglas las) was overpowered and received a trashing. When the police arrived, he was handcuffed and taken into police custody. One spent shell was recovered from the scene. Meanwhile, some of the people allegedly robbed by Douglas are David Foster, 41, a refrigeration technician of Lot 196 Lamaha Springs in the Joint Service Scheme and Dwayne Vyphius, 37, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Teenagers rob MoTP accountant

TWO teenagers from the community of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) were arrested and placed into police custody on Monday evening after they carried out an assault and robbery on a Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) accountant. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the about 19:30hrs on Monday, Shaka Charles Jefford, 35, who resides at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was robbed of a shoulder bag, a note book, a purse and one Samsung mobile phone.

The total value of the items is $200,000, according to police sources. The incident happened on Second Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, and during the process of the robbery, the accountant was assaulted by the teenagers who dealt her several kicks and cuffs about her body. After the woman was robbed, she raised an alarm and residents of the area responded. They managed to capture the two bandits and handed them over to the police.

The teenage robbers reportedly rode up behind the victim, carried out the attack and then relieved the woman of the listed items. The items which the teens took from the woman were recovered on their person. The woman was subsequently taken for medical attention. It has been reported that young men from the Grove community, Samatta Point included, are in the habit of going over to Diamond and other communities where they would rob unsuspecting persons.

Six NOC escapees still on the lam SIX of the 13 teenage boys who escaped from the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) last week are still unaccounted for. Police sources say that the captured escapees gave no specific reason for their illicit act during interrogation. This publication was told that most of the escapees are repeat offenders, who had escaped from the facility in the past. The six were recaptured between Onderneeming and Adventure on the Essequibo Coast. By mid-morning on Thursday and the wee hours of Friday morning, 13 inmates of the NOC sneaked out of the facility. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that on Thursday, 10 inmates, ages 15 to 17, left the facility and by early Friday morning, another three inmates within the same age group were reported missing. The escapees were said to be from communities across Guyana. In normal circumstances, when inmates escaped from custody, the police would usually check with their parents, since they would return home.

Low conviction rate

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

–– financial investigator bemoans time-wasting

–– says greater effort needed by SOCU to secure convictions By Svetlana Marshall STATE investigators and prosecutors are undergoing another rigorous round of training to investigate money laundering and recover state assets, at a time when there is major concern over the lack of prosecutions and convictions. British Financial Investigations Adviser to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Dr. Sam Sittlington, bemoaned the low rate of convictions for financial crimes as he addressed the investigators and prosecutors at the Police Officers Training

British Financial Investigations Adviser to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Dr. Sam Sittlington Academy on Tuesday. “We see a lot of cases getting to court and failing in court. We see failings within the files that go to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). We don’t want files to come back to us for amendments for corrections,” Dr. Sittlington told the investigators and prosecutors present. “We want one file, one time going to the DPP or the police legal adviser,” he said while noting that

State investigators and prosecutors during the opening of the training programme at the Police Officers Training Academy the back and forth is time consuming. “There is a lot of time wasted and we don’t need that,” he said. The state investigators and prosecutors were drawn from SOCU, DPP’s Chambers, the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and according to the British financial investigations adviser, they will be equipped with additional skills and knowledge that would help them to better gather evidence and put together good investigative files that would lead to successful prosecutions and even convictions. British High Commissioner Greg Quinn, said this latest round of training for Guyanese law enforcement officers form part of a broader UK-funded Security Sector Reform initiative. He said the fundamental goal is to increase prosecutorial quality, thereby enhancing the quality of prosecutions pursued by the relevant authorities here; as such, the training programme covers

several critical areas. “The course is focused on asset recovery; it will look in detail at the issue of money laundering, how to gather evidence in such cases, how to seek successful prosecutions and the options for confiscating assets and cash seizure. It will look at case studies and scenarios to allow those involved to see how anti-money laundering cases are pursued and prosecuted in the real world,” he outlined. It was noted that the training programme is being conducted by experts from the Asset Recovery Agency linked to the Regional Security System based in Barbados. The British High Commissioner said it is important to bring money launderers to justice. NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES “Money laundering supports a variety of nefarious criminal activities that include crimes such as drug running, extortion, corruption and terrorism, but that is [sic]

only four examples of the crimes which money laundering can help to support. “It is therefore imperative that [the] state looks to prosecute money-laundering cases when they find them. Criminals have to know that there can be no impunity for such crimes; it is also relevant to know that cracking down on money laundering does not just mean successful prosecutions which put people in jail, it also involves hitting criminals where it hurts them most, in their pockets, hence, the importance of confiscating assets and seizing cash,” High Commissioner Quinn explained. He said the UK remains committed to supporting Guyana in a wide variety of areas relating to security sector reform. The training comes more than a month after the over $600M fraud charges against former Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford and her Personnel Manager, Margaret Cummings were dismissed by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Dr. Westford and Cummings were hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court in June, 2015 for allegedly stealing approximately $639.4M from the Government of Guyana between October 19, 2011 and April 28, 2015, while being employed at the then Public Service Ministry. But after a three-yearold trial, Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman dismissed the case on the grounds that it was “bad in law”. It also takes place at a time when Guyana pre-

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn pares for the 4th Round of Mutual Evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2022. During this round major emphasis is placed on Technical Compliance’ and ‘Effectiveness.’ Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, has long said that although Guyana has the requisite Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation in place, it has not recorded a single prosecution or conviction to date, noting that such a situation does not augur well for the country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Indonesia tsunami: Death toll rises to nearly 1,350 The number of people known to have died in Indonesia in Friday’s earthquake and tsunami has risen to 1,347, disaster response officials say. The death toll jumped on Tuesday from a previously confirmed figure of 844. The 7.5-magnitude quake struck just off the central island of Sulawesi, setting off a tsunami that engulfed the coastal city of Palu. Police are guarding shops against looters as people desperately search for food, fuel and water. Officers initially took a lenient approach to survivors seizing basic goods, deputy national police chief Ari Dono Sukmanto

said, but some people have since been arrested for stealing computers and cash. “After day two the food supply started to come in, it only needed to be distributed,” he said. “We are now re-enforcing the law.” Humanitarian relief convoys entering the city are being escorted by soldiers and police. And there are fears some survivors may still be trapped under the rubble of buildings. Everyone we meet in Palu is focused on trying to get basic goods for their families. All normal services in the town have broken down and there’s little running water, power, food or drinking

water. People are desperate. We saw one group of armed police guarding a shop, being pressed by local people to let them in. Suddenly the police shouted, warning everyone to back off, followed by volleys of shots fired in the air and tear gas. Some of the men threw stones at the police; for a moment it seemed it might escalate. Yet an hour later the police backed down and let the crowd in. The atmosphere was transformed, from anger to jubilation as people came running down the street clutching shopping bags. The police tried to stop people taking non-food items - some were made to empty the sacks bulging with commandeered produce, and hand over plastic toys and toiletries. One officer wearily told me it was his responsibility to protect the shop - but what

Survivors are growing desperate for food, fuel and water

could he do when people needed so much? Are there still hopes of finding survivors? Indonesian Red Cross officials have told the BBC that the bodies of 34 Indonesian students were found under a

Wednesday 3, October, 2018 12:30hrs. - 14:00hrs.

Saturday 29, September, 2018

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24, 17, 14, 20, 22

8, 8, 8

5, 3, 1

20, 18, 08, 21, 05

5, 2, 7

0, 6, 2

06, 05, 17, 09, 04

3, 3, 7

2, 3, 5

13, 20, 21, 09, 03

9, 0, 5

5, 3, 5

11, 15, 16, 18, 20

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9, 6, 2

10, 13, 17, 22, 26

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1, 1, 6

church buried by a mudslide. They were among a group of 86 students reported missing from a Bible camp in the Jonooge Church Training Centre. The whereabouts of the other 52 students are not known. “The mud conditions in that area are terrible, we have to walk about one and a half hours to reach [the mudslide area], that makes it very difficult,” Ridwan Sobri, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Red Cross told the BBC. Mr Sobri said the identities and ages of the students could not yet be confirmed. Rescuers are also still hunting for survivors in the ruins of a four-storey hotel in the city. An estimated 50 people were inside the Hotel Roa Roa when it collapsed.

Teams have so far recovered three survivors and nine bodies. Rescue team leader Agus Haryono said they were using acoustic detectors to try to locate more survivors. He said concrete and metal cutters were helping to clear the debris but added: “We have to be very careful so we don’t risk hurting any survivors.” President Joko Widodo has called for reinforcements, telling the national search-and-rescue agency to send more police officers and soldiers into affected districts. “There are some main priorities that we must tackle and the first is to evacuate, find and save victims who’ve not yet been found,” he said. (Reuters)

05, 11, 13, 15, 17 04, 08, 10, 11, 17 02, 06, 08, 10, 15 06, 07, 08, 09, 16 01, 05, 10, 11, 13

28, September, 2018

04 10 12 15 16

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Tensions rise as US threatens to ‘take out’ Russian missiles THE threat from a senior US diplomat to “take out” Russian missiles that Washington believes are in breach of an important Cold War arms control treaty looks set to cause additional tensions with Moscow, just ahead of a meeting of Nato defence ministers that opens in Brussels on Wednesday. The US ambassador to Nato, Kay Bailey Hutchison, was speaking ahead of that meeting and brought up once again Washington’s contention that Russia is in breach of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) agreement of 1987. This treaty banned a whole category of weapons: ground-launched medium-range missiles, capable of striking targets at distances between 500 and 5,500km (310-3,100 miles). Now, the Americans insist, despite Russian denials, that Moscow has a new medium-range missile in its inventory - the Novator 9M729 - known to Nato as the SSC-8. This would enable Russia to launch a nuclear strike at Nato countries at very short notice. Ambassador Hutchison said the US wants to find a diplomatic solution to this problem. But she appeared to indicate that the US might consider military action if Russia’s development of the system continued. “At that point we would be looking at the capability to take out a (Russian) missile that could hit any of our countries,” she said, adding counter-measures (by the US) would be to take out the missiles that are in development by Russia in violation of the treaty. “They are on notice.” At first sight, this seems to be a fairly blunt warning from President Donald Trump’s Nato ambassador. But it is not exactly clear what she is saying. Is she threatening a pre-emptive strike out of the blue? Surely not. Is she warning that if the Russian development of these weapons goes ahead then the US will find systems to target them in the event of a crisis? Indeed, other US experts have sometimes suggested that a more likely US response might be to throw over the INF treaty itself and deploy a similar category of weapon. That would be very bad news for arms control. Back in the Cold War, the US was alarmed at the then Soviet Union’s deployment of the SS-20 system. Some of Washington’s allies agreed to receive US Pershing and Cruise missiles in response. The move prompted widespread protests and huge political tensions. The resulting INF treaty swept this whole category of weapon away and significantly reduced tensions. But now, once again, the INF Treaty is back in the news. Russia has said little about its new missile other than to deny that it is in breach of the agreement. It has not answered any of the Nato countries’ concerns. Indeed, in his pre-ministerial press conference, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that “the most plausible assessment would be that Russia is in violation of the treaty”. “It is therefore urgent,” he went on, “that Russia addresses these concerns in a substantial and transparent manner.” (BBC)

Ask not what oil can do for you

but what you can do with the oil GUYANA is undoubtedly on the cusp of experiencing what can arguably be its biggest economic boom in decades. The Ministry of Finance projects that the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by 29.1% by 2020. All of the signs and economic writings are on the wall for this inevitability. When the likes of Nick Butler from the Financial Times declare,‘The hottest new prospect for the world’s oil industry in Guyana’, you must expect some attention of global finance. When you have the likes of China’s Foreign Minister, his Excellency Wang Yi visiting your capital and the likes of Narendra Darmodardas Modi expected to arrive, you know big things are happening. World leaders are being updated by advisers and policy makers about this South American Jaguar economy that has discovered black gold. Our comparatively and relatively rich Caribbean neighbours are racing to Georgetown to sign documents of understanding. All of this is occurring at a rapid pace at the macro level, but how are you positioning for this at the individual

level? The question is being asked in every crevice of Guyanese society: “What will this oil do for me?” Seek to readjust your mindset and ask yourself: “What can I do with the opportunities that will present themselves in an oil and gas economy?” On the macro level, it is too difficult, bordering on the impossible to start an oiland gas company, it is too expensive. The US 300 million revenues expected to be placed in the national treasury will certainly see its way into the national economy in some form. On the micro level, how are you positioning yourself to be in the money when this occurs? Go into the business of a filling station, go into the retailing of cooking gas, start an oil servicing company (Mobil, Shell, Agip, Chevron and Texaco, amongst others, rely on oil servicing companies such as Halliburton, Schlumberger and Transocean et al, for maintenance and servicing jobs), offer legal services in the oil and gas industry, start an oil spillage clean-up company, start an oil and gas TV programme, start blogging on oil and gas issues, start

an oil and gas publishing company. The point is being argued that too often, our conversations on oil and gas have been largely centred on the state and the dependence on same. Be cautious about this approach, we should seek to balance individual endeavour with state dependency, lest we fall into the social mindset of heavy reliance on the government to answer all of our prayers. I fully get it. The aforementioned insistence on individual effort has to be considered against the backdrop of the economic, political and social structures that have existed in Guyana before independence and beyond. This system favours the privileged and the big capitalists. We see this over and over in the construction business and more. The individual can strain every creative and industrious sinew in their bodies, without the bureaucratic support and enabling environment, it all comes to nothing. Be that as it may, you are better served with the individual responsibility mindset. Think more of what you can do with this oil, instead of what oil can do for you.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Rewarding Merit

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HE development of every society hinges on the quality of performance of its people. Where performance focuses on delivery of quality, efforts will be put in place not only to attract those who meet the criteria for doing the job, but also for ensuring that they are provided the requisite support to get it done. Over the years, Guyana has been shortchanged on meritocracy and by extension the development of the society and its people. The public sector, which is a country’s single largest workforce and provider of services and usually sets standards for other sectors in the economy, has not escaped the sacrifice of meritocracy. Stories of persons appointed to perform technical and managerial duties without the requisite skills and/or talents required for the job are known. These appointments, which are invariably made primarily on the basis of political affiliation or acquaintance with the person making the appointment, have been debilitating. Conversely, those who are able and qualified to perform the job have been sidelined in the actual workforce or denied opportunities to fill the position for various reasons. The oft referred to ‘square pegs in round holes’ has cost the nation in dollar value, suppression of required skills and talents, and in the flight of human capital.

There is no denying that when mediocrity becomes the acceptable form of securing and maintaining a job -- elected or appointed -- the society suffers. At the same time, none can truthfully deny when meritocracy is promoted as a matter of national policy and priority, it becomes easier to accomplish the tasks ahead of us. Persons feel assured and are invested in an environment where they know opportunities will be afforded them based on ability. In instances too, when these are denied and felt such are un-deserving should there be institutions--in law and establishment--to allow them to pursue justice, it incentivises meritocracy. Leaders -- elected and appointed -- taking the approach of rewarding meritocracy will not only attract competent persons, but will also transmit clear signals that anything less is unacceptable, and will not be supported. Looking around our society, skills and talents come from diverse sources; and should there be focus on meritocracy, there can be found competent individuals in every group, race, political association, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities etc. In this regard Guyanese -- home and abroad -- can identify with Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s entreaty, that “content of character” be the determinant in treating with people. Through change of political administrations, there

have been allegations of persons being removed from appointed public office based on their political association and/or race. In parlance, this suggests meritocracy is being sacrificed at the altar of mediocrity. Truth be told, some of these claims have not been without merit as seen with the gutting of professionalism in the foreign service, post-1992, and the court awarding judgments to career diplomats. They are also those who have not used the court system, but have suffered similar fates. The bleeding of skills and talents has been a setback to the society. Outside of appointed officials, there are elected officials who have not met the standard of performance befitting their office and responsibilities, and this has hurt policy conceptualisation, execution of the task at hand, and see wastage of resources, financial and otherwise. Honest and frank discourse will acknowledge mediocrity is present in every society, but when this is allowed to become the norm it does grave disservice. Similarly, it has been proven that societies which recognise the wisdom of promoting and supporting meritocracy as the norm, make better use of their resources, optimise and reward the performance of its people, and relatively have had better developmental indicators-- human, revenue, and otherwise.

Challenges in Public Service labour and industrial relations Dear Editor,

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N the Public Service and the expanded state sector and statutory bodies, industrial relations and collective bargaining are more regulated and restricted by legislation or practice than in the private sector. With the introduction of structural adjustment-type measures in some countries, including the reduction of public expenditure in the public sector, industrial relations drifted from the traditional system. Deviations and new practices by agencies of the state challenge the free collective bargaining model and autonomy of the negotiating parties through greater state direction, intervention, regulation, legislation and remuneration policies. These developments are understood against the emergence of the dominant, Public Service and growing state enterprises through nationalisation, or through the creation of national entities/agencies. In these situations, governments as employers of major sections of the work force, exercise significant influence in industrial relations under the notion of promoting the national interest in the wider community. In some countries, much to the disquiet of trade unions and workers, government as an employer promoted changes in the system without legislation within the context of an apparent voluntary framework in the collective bargaining process. In other cases, changes were introduced by legislation. In the state sector, greater control and regulation are imposed on collective bargaining and these affect wage-fixing and remuneration settlements in particular; governments are implementing unilateral wage policies through rigid wages guidelines.

As a consequence, both the trade unions and the managers of the state enterprises lost their autonomy in collective bargaining. On labour standards, CARICOM Declaration of Labour and Industrial Relations Principles, based on international labour standards and other international instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are the relevant labour standards. The CARICOM Declaration on Labour and IR is an important policy guide on labour matters and can contribute to the conduct of industrial relations, both in the public and private sectors. This Declaration is also consistent with CARICOM’s Charter of Civil Society, expanded on labour standards, and is intended to be used as the basis for development of national labour policies, and to inform the enactment of modern labour legislation in member states. For labour relations in the Public Service, the right to bargain collectively as defined in ILO Conventions Nos. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, and 151 on Labour Relations in the Public Service, ratified by CARICOM countries and Guyana are International treaties, raise several questions in connection with the approach by public authorities. For example, an administrative direction, whereby the conclusion of an agreement is subject to prior approval of a government authority, or modifying conditions agreed and written in collective labour agreements, or preventing negotiations of such conditions as may be considered desirable, constitute infringements of the right to bargain collectively. Restrictive measures that render it extremely difficult for wages to be settled freely through collective bargaining in the

public sector can be justified on the grounds of exceptional circumstances of a serious economic nature. However, this could be justified only for a limited period and kept to a minimum. Convention No. 151 with its Recommendation No. 159 provides for: protection of public employees’ right to organise; non-interference by public authorities; negotiation or participation in determining terms and conditions of employment; and machinery for settling disputes concerning terms and conditions of employment. This Convention 151 provides for public servants to have the same rights of representation and negotiations in industrial relations as outlined in Convention 87 and Convention 98, in keeping with good labour relations between public authorities and public service unions/ associations. Settlement of disputes in the Public Service: the settlement of disputes relating to the determination of terms and conditions of employment shall be sought through negotiations between the parties or through independent and impartial machineries, such as conciliation / mediation, and arbitration (Convention No. 151 - Article 8). In keeping with the provisions of this, Guyana ratified the Convention, the persons or bodies competent to negotiate on behalf of the public authority concerned and the procedure for giving effect to the agreed terms and conditions of employment, should be given a full mandate to finality. Regards Samuel J. Goolsarran

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Revelations during City Hall CoI just the tip of the iceberg Dear Editor,

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HE recent hubbub that has surfaced about the contentious leasing of a Sussex Street Wharf by the ‘King of the City’ to a shipping company whilst the municipality is not the bona fide owner of that property speaks to the exploitation, duplicity and bullyism that occur on a daily at City Hall and is the mere tip of the Iceberg of many such improprieties that exist within that institution. Remember the parking meter fiasco when the King handed over streets in the City, that did not belong to the municipality but rather to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to the parking meter company, had parking meter spaces marked out, meters planted and were illegally collecting fees from motorists until that scandalous initiative was halted? Remember they had parking spaces marked out less than fifteen feet from the corner

Do something about expired goods on the market Dear Editor,

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ORE than once I have written about local produce, mainly vegetables and fruits, being laced with toxic chemicals; and before the time frame for these chemicals to finish their process they are available on the markets. As a result, they are purchased and unfortunately for some people, they suffer from that deliberate act. Some get serious bouts of diarrhoea, vomiting or headache. Other people also pen their concerns about this dastardly act, but to date, no action has been taken to curb this careless behaviour. I am wondering if the current minister of agriculture will enact some sort of regulation to monitor the farmers and their methods of applying the chemicals to their produce, and allowing the time frame for the chemicals to properly get out of the produce. Editor, periodically we would hear about successful raids being carried out by joint agencies to address the various expired food items that are being imported by unscrupulous businessmen/ importers, whose only intention is to accumulate huge interest because, once the expiry date is close, the distributors/manufacturers would sell it cheaper to cut their losses. Now the local markets are being flooded with expired edibles, mainly confectionery. Apart from that, there are many bottled and canned products that are expired and are easily available countrywide and mainly targeted schools, because the children are not aware of the dangers from using expired products or conscious enough to check for expiry dates. In addition, there are products selling that do not have any manufactured date or expiration date, and also there are products without any English writing to tell you what you are eating or drinking, or what are the contents used. Over the weekend, I have personally inspected a popular soft drink and no date can be found anywhere on the bottle or cap. Editor, only recently I was communicating with one of the best reporters in this country and I was telling him about my concern with expiry dates being erased and new dates stamped, and he informed me that many big local companies are involved in that unscrupulous act; why they are not exposing them is another story. My assumption is that many are scared for their lives or jobs should they choose to expose these persons. With the promises arising from oil, we are seeing an influx of people showing an interest in Guyana and many venturing here with their families. Is it possible for those responsible to be more vigilant and properly do what they are being paid to do, that people could see we are not an embarrassing country that live on expired products; or will they wait until the profits from the oil start coming in before acting? Regards, Sahadeo Bates

and in other places where the traffic laws did not permit. But this waterfront area is not the only one that should be investigated, checks should be made on the area aback of the City Constabulary Training School (formerly the House Service Department) on Water Street, that the City Council did not officially approve being farmed out to anyone and the wharf that upper Robb Street runs into. The reserve lands that run alongside the Lamaha Canal behind the residences located on Jacaranda and Lama Avenues in Bel Air Park which belong to the Guyana Water Inc. and not the municipality is another classic example of illegal squatting facilitated by the Council who did not only give them permission to carry back their rear fences all the way to the canal taking in acres of land and making it part of their private estates, but the Council allowed them to put up buildings, put down swimming pools, tennis courts and other structures illegally. What a travesty?

One can only hope that with these revelations of land grabbing, of illegal seizure and distribution and misrepresentation of true ownership and control would cause an investigation to be launched into the tract of land that runs contiguous to Aubrey Barker Road and some places is to the south of Nelson Mandela Road which is a designated open space which has been farmed out by the Council unlawfully in many instances to friends and relatives of office holders of the Council. Attention should also be paid to the plot of reserve land located on the south eastern side of Francois and Sheriff Streets for which the owner of a party services company is being courted by a prominent member of Council for the illegitimate transfer of same. As dem boys would seh ‘If oil ah float, watah deh ah bottom’. Regards Shanta Singh

Many police facilities need urgent upgrading Dear Editor,

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N my recent visit to the Brickdam Police Station, where I was pursuing the enforcement of a warrant, I was very surprised to see the lack of infrastructural investment in the police’s facilities. Many of the buildings needed to be renovated and the facilities provided to the hard-working officers were not very encouraging. It is somewhat understandable why the police force is not currently at world-class level of performance; as the saying goes, “our surroundings become us.” We have seen many infrastructural developments occurring around the country, but the urgently needed investment in law and order is lagging. This is essential for the consistent attraction of foreign direct investment and the sustainability of gains in standard-of-living improvements. It is important that we remember that we will be also competing with safer countries for tourists; and even though the tourists may be nature lovers, they usually expect a dependable and secure environment that has a robust law-and-order infrastructure. The Chinese government has been very generous to the nation by providing many of the urgently needed equipment for the police. But it is now up to our government to improve the working conditions of the hard-working officers across the na-

tion. One of the best places to start is Brickdam. This will help set the tone for the level of excellence expected within the force and could be followed by investments across each division’s headquarters. Many of the facilities need to be renovated and this may be accomplished by simply replacing broken windows, rotting wood and the fixing of internal driving surfaces. Some of the entrances to stations and gates need to be fixed and the flag poles at various locations appear to be in need of supplies. While visiting Orealla, I decided to see a friend who had just been stationed there and was quite astonished at the entrance to the police station. When rain falls, it would flood and the building was rotting in a number of spots. This did not bode well in providing a positive impression that the country was strong against any potential threat from Suriname, whose patrols would visibly pass by the police station in speed boats quite often. It is my hope that as the reduction of the crime rate continues to be systematically attacked by the police force, they will be able to benefit from additional professional motivation by increased investment in their facilities, as infrastructural plans are implemented. Best regards, Mr. Changlee

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Death by abandonment –– a subject with which the LHC is all too familiar By Vanessa Braithwaite HAVING a nosocomial infection (NI) is another way of saying that someone is afflicted with any of a number of diseases he or she may have picked up while in hospital. It’s a malady that is peculiar to those who have been abandoned by their families, a situation to which the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) can relate, as it’s an issue with which it has been dealing for a number of years. For that matter, in the last few months it has had as many as eight such patients, many of whom eventually died. According to the experts, nosocomial infections (NIs), also called healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), are a range of hospital-acquired infections contracted because of toxins that exist in a certain location. What this means, in essence, in the case of the LHC, is that the eight patients at reference did not enter the institution with a nosocomial infection, but because they’d been left there for months by uncaring relatives, their already weakened bodies became susceptible to whatever germs that might be lurking around. Laurette Smith Gray, a social worker attached to the LHC, has been managing the welfare of such patients, and she noted that many of them, upon arrival at the hospital, would be very mobile and responsive. But after a few months, she said, they become bedridden and unresponsive. Many of them do not leave alive, she said, since the process of having them transferred to a social facility for the elderly is rather lengthy. In the circumstances, they automatically become residents of the hospital. THE CHALLENGES While the issues of abandonment and continuous care for such persons are grave concerns to the institution, their biggest challenge is preventing them from contracting a nosocomial infection, and it’s affecting the entire in-patient population, since they, too, can deteriorate in health and die. Even visitors and medical practitioners are at risk, she said, and this is why the management of the LHC is calling upon the residents of Linden and it’s environs to desist from abandoning their loved ones there. She, however, made the point that while in most cases, those who are left abandoned are elderly persons, there are instances where the middle-aged and minors are just as vulnerable, the latest being a disabled child. Noting the undue pressure it puts on the hospital to care for such persons, many of whom would have been long discharged, Gray said, “It therefore means they are no longer under medical management, but they fall as social patients. “The hospital does not have the capacity to hold persons who are not patients that are not in dire need of medical attention.” Due to the lack of space, she said, the

LHC Quality Assurance officer Nurse Colwyn Allen hospital is finding it difficult to attend to new admissions. “When we have patients as social cases,” she said, “it then puts the hospital in a situation where we are pressed for

Gray said, is when the time comes for them to be discharged, as by this time their relatives no longer want to have anything to do with them. They don’t answer their phones, and if hospital staff happen to go to their homes, they stay indoors and hide. “We are not responsible for keeping persons as long as they have not met the criteria for admission,” Gray said. “The relatives are expected to take their relatives home and provide for their continued management.” Colwyn Allen, Quality Assurance Officer at the LHC, who is also a registered nurse and founder of the Healthy Living and Wellness Health Club, noted that caring for NIs is very burdensome. He said, too, that in-patients that come into contact with these neglected patients are exposed to many other infections. “Maybe you come with your baby to see the paediatrician who has the common cold, and next day, after being exposed, your baby starts with the diarrhoea or vomiting,” Allen said. He said that bedridden and long-term

LHC Social Worker Laurette Smith Gray tions, gastroenteritis, meningitis and pneumonia, and are caused by mostly bacteria, some forms of funguses and viruses. Symptoms of NI may include: Discharge from a wound, fever, cough, shortness of breath and nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Ms. Gray related that those who believe that they are doing their relatives a good turn by leaving them in the hospital, are doing the exact opposite.

PREVENTION Allen is urging all medical practitioners to be extra cautious not only when dealing with neglected patients but all in-patients, especially when using intravenous devices and catheters. “We have been holding many programmes for nurses, doctors and healthcare workers, showing them ways in which they can minimise the transmission of such infections,” he said, adding: “We have been stressing on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); these are measures that protect the nurse from the patient, and the patient from the nurse.” According to Healthline.com, NIs are mainly spread through person-to-person conA diagram showing the need to wash hands thoroughly after dealing with tact. These include unclean hands, and medical patients instruments such as catheters, respiratory machines, and other hospital tools. Hospitals and healthcare staff should follow the recommendspace; where we may have to turn away some patients are the ones who mostly carry ed guidelines for sterilisation and disinfection. persons; where we may have to send persons the infections, since their immune system Taking steps to prevent Nis, the site says, away without fully assessing their condition tends to decline the longer they stay in can decrease one’s risk of contraction by 70 before they are fully discharged. “ hospital. per cent. Some general measures for infection So, what we would like is for family control include: Observing hand hygiene, which members to take up their responsibility HOW IT’S CAUSED involves washing hands before and after touchand to look into the care of their relatives.” According to Healthline.com, NIs are ing people in the hospital, cleaning surfaces contracted mostly in the intensive care unit properly, with recommended frequency and THE MANY RUSES (ICU), where doctors treat serious diseas- making sure rooms are well ventilated. A new development, she said is that es, and that one to 10 persons admitted to Visitors are advised to wash their hands residents have lately taken to using the a hospital will contract these infections. both before and after visiting relatives, as hospital’s ambulance service to get their Persons are at risk up to 48 hours after hand contact is one of the most prevalent relatives admitted to the hospital, knowing hospital admission, and as medical care ways of contraction. fully well they are not in need of medical becomes more complex and antibiotic reWhile the LHC will continue to strive attention. sistance increases, the cases of nosocomial to minimise the spread of NIs amongst the Some are even using taxis in furtherance infections will grow. inpatient population, sensitisation of the of their schemes. Some of the most common NI are urinary need for relatives to be cared for at home What complicates matters even further, tract infections (UTIs), surgical site infec- will also be done continuously.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

October criminal session opens

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…Otisha, Coen Jackson rape trials to come up

AS the June assizes concluded with 223 cases, the October session was welcomed with the traditional march past and salute at the High Court on Tuesday. Officers of various ranks, clad in their ceremonial uniforms, marched to the sound of the Police Force’s band, around the vicinity of the High Court as onlookers admired their uniformity. Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, who was flanked by other judges and lawyers, took the salute and inspected the guard-of-honour. Presiding over the October

assizes at the High Court are: Justices Sandil Kissoon, James Bovell-Drakes and Justice Jo-Ann Barlow for sexual offences. This session was kick-started on Tuesday with Justice Barlow imposing a life sentence to a child rapist. Some of the big cases to come up this session are: the anticipated trials for transgender Otis Pearson, who has been charged with rape; former Bishops High School teacher, Coen Jackson;and ‘Smallie’ from the Bartica Massacre, who is currently on death row, amongst others.

The Guyana Police Force Band performing on the parade yesterday

Officers of the Guyana Police Force, neatly aligned on the parade at the High Court

Officers in the parade salute Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire

Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire carrying out the inspection of the ranks on the parade

Children still falling through the ‘cracks’ to children then there is enough blame that could go all around, three times, so this is not a blame game when things happen. It’s a wakeup call for us to become more aware and look at the more programmes to stop children from falling through the cracks in the system,” Green explained A child being killed in an accident, placed in a foster home, engages in child labour, being a victim of abuse or rape, all contributes to the them falling through the cracks in the system which means society has failed them, Green contended. She said at the moment, the agency through the Ministry of Social Protection is working to have communities more involved in children’s welfare and upbringing. According to Green, every single

–– laments Ann Green By Leroy Smith CHILD Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) Director, Ann Green, believes there is need for more programmes to support children as too many still continue to fall through the “cracks” in the system. Green offered her views while speaking at a Child Protection Week event held recently. Child Protection Week was observed under the theme “Supporting Families to Prevent Child Abuse through Education and Community Involvement”. “It is not a case where we want a blame game, I tell people, if there is a blame game for what is happening

case that is reported to the agency which affects the life of one child is looked at carefully to see how best systems can be put in place to prevent other children from getting into similar situations. “We always have the challenges of engaging communities and in recent times, it became much harder and we need to get the community onboard because the things that are happening to our children are happening at the community level. We find that whatever we are we have to let the community become aware that there is a role to play in the protection of children” Green explained According to the Child Care and Protection Agency head, things which have happened to children over the past year, including deaths, could have been avoided had there been more community intervention.

Green told the Guyana Chronicle that the hurt children are exposed to, starts in the home with family and this includes hurts of a sexual and emotional nature. She went on to explain that members of the community have to move away from the whole notion of believing that once something is happening next door which affects a child, it is none of their concern. “People next door are aware of what is going on but still persons are saying that they are not minding anybody’s business. But when it comes to child protection, you have to mind the people business. In fact, it is not minding business per se, its being vigilant because you see the role as a child protector and because you see and hear that something is not looking right,” Green noted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Epilepsy still mischaracterised, misunderstood By Nafeeza Yahya

TOO often we hear the phrase, “Nah worry with he/she…them mad, them a ketch fits”, as people with epilepsy are stigmatised even in this information age. More frightening is the fact that some are of the view that someone “do them” (referring to witchcraft) or is possessed which is why they are experiencing seizures. Epilepsy commonly called ‘Fits’ in Guyana is a neurological disorder associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain that usually results in seizures that may also be accompanied by loss of consciousness or convulsions. According the World Health Organisation (WHO), Epilepsy is defined as having two or more unprovoked seizures which can vary from the briefest lapses of attention or muscle jerks to severe and prolonged convulsions. Seizures can also vary in frequency, from less than one per year to several per day. The WHO said there are some 50 million people worldwide who are affected by the condition at a global average of 4-10 per 1000, however for middle and lower income countries such as Guyana that figure is 7-14 persons per 1000. One would think that with so many people being affected, that there would be less stigma attached to what many consider as being among the top four most common Neurological disorder worldwide. In Guyana names like “Fitsy”, “Fitsman” and “Mady” are the most common names used to describe people suffering from the condition, the first 2 refer to the physical symptoms while the latter refers to a mental disorder. This stigma has resulted in many people being discriminated against. When this publication visited a known epileptic male in Bangladesh Port Mourant and asked for him by his legal name, no one knew who he was, but as soon as his condition was described everyone replied, “OH! You mean Fitsy.” Ahmad Rahaman now in his early 20s has been experiencing seizures since he was seven years old, as a result he was taken out of school after being diagnosed with the condition. “After the doctor tell abee he a get fits, we keep he home so we can keep an eye on he, cause we nah want he get fits and fall down and something happen to he”, his mother explained When quizzed on how she reacts whenever he experiences an episode, she replied “I use to throw water on he and push wan spoon in he mouth because them seh he can bite out he tongue and swallow it, he pocket always get spoon inside”. After years of taking care of her only son, and with the help from a sibling she was able to care for him and learn ways of comforting him during a seizure. Rahaman, being uneducated, works as a labourer doing odd jobs around the community. He explained that he gets no more than $1000 per day because everyone knows of his condition and won’t employ him fulltime, as such he is forced to accept whatever he is given, so he has a little income to purchase medication. His father passed away when he was just an infant. He has recently started taking medication and the frequency of his seizures has reduced from once or twice per week to whenever he does not have medication, but the stigma associated with his condition has done irreparable damage to his social life. He is the subject of public ridicule almost on a daily basis, bullying and being called all sorts of names.

There are many more families that are suffering like Ahmad, but are of the view that the condition is a curse and has no treatment or in some cases believe that the treatment does not work. The good news however according to Neurosurgeon Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi is that studies have shown that about 80 per cent of epileptic patients can lead relatively normal lives with medication. “The vast majority of people who have

a policeman who has been leading a relatively normal life despite having the condition for over five years. Mark explained that as recent as Sunday morning he suffered an episode which he knew was coming as his are usually triggered by stress, fortunately he has learnt how to manage in those situations even when he is alone. “I had to learn how to take control so when I get this frightening feeling in my body I know what is coming so I would lay down let it pass. The feeling is awful afterwards, sometimes I feel weak, sleepy, nauseous, drowsy and can’t even walk,” explained Mark. He is presently using medication that has helped him to cope but it was not smooth sailing for him, as he too has been victimised by

Ahmad Rahaman about one hour after a bout of seizure seizures which is a symptom of epilepsy, are more than capable of doing anything as a normal person but more times with certain restrictions. It has been proven that most persons respond to medical treatment, around 80 per cent and do very well as long as they follow their medical instructions, among other social conditions like no alcohol, controlled diet etc.” The Achilles heel of the condition however has been the adherence to the treatment, according to Physician Dr. Walter Singh, who has seen numerous cases of epilepsy at his clinic located at Belvedere. He explained to this publication that standard treatment usually takes a minimum of two years and requires constant follow up, but often times people after receiving the first round of treatment leave and never return. “You have a process where you place the patient on medication and monitor their condition. They still require treatment despite not suffering any seizure, most people take medication for a few weeks and then stop but if any seizure occurs during the period, the medication dosage has to be revised and start the two-year period again, then wean it down. But most people after not experiencing any seizures, don’t see the need to continue the medication after a few weeks or months and they discontinue and suffer an attack and have to start all over again, or most choose not to because they feel the medication is not working and accept the situation”. He further lamented that the lack of, or the limited availability of the medication needed for the treatment has played a major role in those needing treatment not getting it. However, Dr. Singh noted that in his experience he has found that awareness of the condition and what may trigger an episode can go a far way to avoid the attacks. “I have found that in some cases the attacks are triggered by stress, certain types of scent, alcohol, flashing/bright lights, a congested environment, among others. These can trigger off a spontaneous de-polarisation and cause a seizure, however there are cases with no explanation as to why it occurs”. He further explained that many times the person is aware that they are about to experience an attack but usually does not recall what happens during the period it occurs. The process is usually described as an aura. One such person is Mark (not real name)

Injuries sustained by Rahaman over the years after a seizure his colleagues and even relatives, that make it worse for him as that usually stresses him out more and he gets an attack. “Many times persons torment me, especially at work everybody know me as “Seizy” or “Fitsy”, even families call me names, sometime I feel like quitting, I feel ashamed of myself, I would do anything to get it to stop, it’s not something nice but when all is said and done I still have to earn, and I always wanted to be a police to protect and serve and that is what keeps me going. I keep praying to God that I don’t have it again, I hope one day God can bring healing to Guyana”, he said amidst tears. Mark may be among the 20 per cent of patients who do not respond positively to the treatment, however there is hope for him as there is the option of surgery, according to Dr. Dukhi. The procedure, he explained, is called Resective Surgery and involves removal of tissues from brain, usually from the temporal lobe of the brain as along as it is non-eloquent and won’t alter any other functions of that person. Even though Dr. Dukhi is capable of performing the surgery, it is not available in Guyana. The neurosurgeon explained before attempting such a surgery a lot of studies have to be done in order to identify the exact area that causes the seizure. “Some of the studies are not readily available currently in Guyana but hopefully in the future we can have brain mapping and intraoperative monitoring done”. The future for such surgeries in Guyana may be a lot sooner than later as the Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana recently acquired a electroencephalogram (EEG) machine that can monitor the electrical activities of the brain and readings are sent to a neurologist in

Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi the UK for diagnosis and based on the results surgery or treatment can be recommended, this is according to Dr. Thomas Singh the President of the Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana. The foundation which has been among the leaders in the fight of epilepsy in Guyana has support groups where members share from their personal stories in a bid to help empower others. They have been going into schools, workplaces etc to raise awareness and host workshops with medical practitioners as well as helping to source medication for patients. One of the medications that has a lot potential that was recently sourced is Keppra (levetiracetam) which is an anti-epileptic medication that they provide to patients. Dr. Singh who also suffered from Epilepsy for a number of years underscored the importance of following the full course of medication and called for more awareness of the medical condition so that it can help dispel some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding Epilepsy. He is living proof that with adherence to medication epileptics can lead a normal life. He has been seizure free for over 25 years since he started medication. Among the many misconception, according to Dr. Dukhi is that epilepsy is contagious and is usually associated with poor mental health, as well as violent behaviour all of which are untrue and feels the only way to truly make an impact is to increase awareness so that people recognise first, it’s a medical condition and that treatment is available to lead normal lives. The idea of placing a spoon in a patient mouth was also debunked as a myth, instead turn the person to the side and keep their airway clear. He urged caregivers to simply monitor and prevent the patient getting physically hurt in the process. “Awareness is very important and is done by education, medical education and educating the population such as definition, causes, symptoms, how can it be controlled. You have to take it upon yourself as health care workers and others to increase awareness on the condition and debunk all stereotypes and stigma through education and awareness we can help to clear up misconceptions.” Epilepsy has been around from around 4000 BC and has always been the subject of stigma, discrimination, misunderstanding and even fear. There have been several campaigns to raise awareness including the WHO ‘Out of the Shadows’ launched in 1997. In Guyana despite awareness campaigns the stigma and discrimination is still very prevalent especially in the rural areas. Anyone who has experienced more than one seizure is asked to contact the nearest medical institution or the Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana through their Facebook page to get help.

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Peer pressure

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

IT is important that a person be aware of who she/he is and should be capable of making their own decisions, based on their moral upbringing. With decisions come consequences, whether those consequences are good or bad. I say that to say, if we know who we are and what we want, then when it comes to outside influences such as friends/peers, we are strong and adequately aware to withstand it. ‘Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.’ It’s a popular quote that does not go without saying. The people we choose to make our friends can have a major influence on our lives, especially when it comes to making decisions. Peer pressure is defined as the influence from members of one’s peer group. As children, we make minor life-changing decisions. When we enter our teenage years moving onto our adult years, decisions become more significant: from deciding if to buy mango or golden apples from the school canteen, to what kind of alcohol to buy at a party. The word ‘no’

is very important as explained in one of my previous pieces. It is important that you strongly hold to your moral beliefs about what is right and wrong ; and use the word ‘no’ as your weapon, when someone tries to steer you the wrong way. Choosing your friends wisely is very important; choose people who have similar beliefs as you do. Samantha Stanwick wanted to share her thoughts on peer pressure and she had this to say: “I know peer pressure is a real thing and can influence a person’s behavior. However, I think that kids should be raised with a strong mindset and be confident in themselves; they should learn from a young age that doing what everyone else is doing in order to fit in is not necessarily the best thing. When it comes to choosing friends, I believe that it is up to the individual. With that having been said, the individual should be strong enough to not be influenced in the wrong way by their friends, but instead, guide that friend in the right direction. Just because you are friends with someone

doesn’t mean that you have to condone their every behaviour. You should be comfortable to open up and say what you do and do not agree with. Nevertheless, I know that some people are more easily influenced than others, and these are the people who need to be extremely careful when choosing who they spend their time with.” Self- confidence is the best way possible out of peer pressure. It is okay not to be a part of the larger group, especially if that group is on the side of bad influence. Standing for what’s right most of the time also means standing alone. If by chance, you see someone being forced by peer pressure, help them. Also, we can try to educate those who are the ‘pressurers’ to do and know better.

In high school I was a victim of peer pressure many times and I am also guilty of enforcing it onto others as well. As I got older, I realized the majority of those people only pressured me into doing wrong, because they wanted to see me go downhill in life. Today, the only type of peer pressure I advance into is the type that will help me become a better individual; the pressure that will help me succeed and excel in the things I say and do. Even adults come face-to-face with peer pressure. It all goes back to knowing ourselves, being aware of our friends and whether or not we will allow other people’s influence to define us. ‘Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it; right is right, even if no one is doing it.’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Low levels of mercury detected at buildings near GGMC THE United States Department of Health and Human Services of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reportedly detected very low levels of mercury within the compounds of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Ministry of Public Health and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT). “The team said that almost all of the readings taken throughout the GGMC, MOPH and GTT compounds were below the analytical limit of detection. They confirmed also that while a few areas had detectable results, no area exceeded the lowest applicable 8-hour time weighted average occupational exposure limit of 0.025 mg/m3. In other words, what is considered safe and acceptable,” the Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Gold Board said in a joint statement on Monday. The technical team from the US State Department’s Health and Human Services of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted testing in at the key locations

following a request by the Natural Resources Ministry to the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation Guyana Office for further technical support. The visit was facilitated through ongoing collaboration with the PAHO/WHO Guyana Country Office and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) following reports. The visit was conducted from September 11 to 14, 2018, and according to a release, issued by the Guyana Gold Board, a preliminary summary of the team’s findings and recommendations have been submitted to the Ministry. The team consisted of two engineers: Duane R. Hammond MS, PE and Kevin H. Dunn Sc. D., CIH from the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch, Division of Field Studies and Engineering. Dr. Dunn and Captain Hammond observed gold burning and smelting operations at the Guyana Gold Board’s temporary loca-

tion on Crown Street, and spoke with employees and managers, as well as the contractor. According to the state agencies, the team used a top-of-the-line and highly recognised reading instrument to evaluate mercury vapour concentrations “We collected 80 direct reading measurements for mercury [vapour] in the burning room during and after burns (six burns total) at the GGB. We found none of the reading measurements were above the NIOSH ceiling limit of 0.1 mg/m3 [NIOSH 2018],” the Ministry and GGB quoted the team as saying. The team of experts defined a ceiling limit in the report as, “a level that should never be exceeded at any time during a shift.” Very specifically, the report noted that, “Measurement results ranged from 0.000-00.41 mg/ m3,” which indicates that the area as safe and healthy. The team has advised that GGB installs an air velocity monitoring device; monitor mercury vapour concentrations in the burn

room and waiting areas during burning on a daily basis. It has also recommended that the Gold Board develop standard operating procedures to incorporate mercury monitoring as part of the daily systems evaluation; ensure adherence to procedures; and maintain the facilities following a strict regime of oversight. “The Guyana Gold Board already has some pieces of equipment (including the j405 device mentioned in the preliminary summary), procedures in place and training underway. Management will endeavour to ensure that we implement fully and early all the recommendations made,” the Gold Board said. During the visit the team met with Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence and Minister with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott as well as representatives from the Guyana Gold Board and local PAHO/WHO representatives.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Customhouse brokers in training for oil and gas

THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Tuesday commenced training for approximately 139 potential customhouse brokers. The six-week training programme will encompass doctrines on various aspects of customs and trade, among them are classification, rules of origin, warehousing, Excise Tax, prohibition and restriction, importation and exportation of toxic chemicals, labelling and standards. The GRA in a release said, that the regulations and policies of the Food and Drugs Government Analyst Department, CARICOM and international trade agreements including, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) are the other integral aspects of the programme. The potential customhouse brokers will also be engaged on the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA),

in particular, how to prepare the electronic Single Administrative Document (eSAD). ASYCUDA is an internet-based solution which facilitates paperless transactions. The 2018 curriculum will also include an introduction to Oil and Gas. Facilitators will be drawn from within the GRA’s Oil and Gas unit and include an external counterpart. The progamme will conclude on November 9, with an assessment to determine aptitude. Training is a mandatory part of becoming licenced to act on behalf of individuals and corporate taxpayers. Customs Regulation 202, subject to Regulation 203, specifies that a customshouse broker must be licenced by the Commissioner-General of GRA, in order to conduct brokerage activities with the Customs, Excise and Trade Operations. The training session is being held

A section of the gathering of potential customhouse brokers at the commencement of the training programme

Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Excise and Trade Operations, Patrick Hyman, speaking at the opening of the training session at the Guyana Police Force Training Centre, Eve Leary. Representatives from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Govern-

ment Analyst Food and Drug Department and the Pesticide and Toxic Chemicals Board (PCC) are among the visiting facilitators.

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Director of Juvenile Justice to be appointed

WITH the aim of eradicating criminality and focusing on rehabilitation and education among juveniles who break the law, a costing exercise is being done before the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act which will see the appointment of a Director of Juvenile Justice, according to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan. Ramjattan was at the time speaking at a Juvenile Justice sensitisation session that was held at the Marriott Hotel on Monday. The Bill was passed in Parliament in April 2018. The clause of the preliminary section of the Bill explicitly states, “The Act shall come into operation on the day the Minister may by order appoint.” The act

will repeal the 1931 Juvenile Offenders Act and the Training School Act. However, the Public Security Minister noted that there is a cost attached to the rehabilitation facilities, as well as, consultations on the necessary staffing and phased implementation that is required by the act. Adding that the Act requires the juvenile justice system to hold the child’s well-being as paramount whenever making decisions as well as, to provide means of rehabilitation, reintegration and education for juveniles, Ramjattan said that consultation has already been held with the Judiciary, Director of Public Prosecutions, Child Care Protection Agency, Probation Office and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The public security minister explained that too many young people are being passed through the court system for things that can be dealt with differently. “Too many have continued offending and when they reach adulthood that now costs a humongous amount of money to deal with, so it’s better for us to start with preventative measures,” Ramjattan said. He noted that most of the men currently in prison began their law breaking from an early age. “So if we start nipping it in the bud with prevention, then it is obviously going to be a cure.” He noted that now there is need for a partnership with the media to educate and inform the public on

the benefits of the Juvenile Justice Bill. President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) Nazima Raghubir, reminded her media colleagues about the service they provide to the public, and of the need to attend many sessions to educate themselves on the legislation and relevant information, in order to execute their respective functions properly. In her remarks at the event, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan said that two magistrates have been already received training in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States (US), to preside over the daily court sessions in Georgetown. She said that the courtroom in Georgetown has been made child-friendly with bright colours. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Guyana and Suriname, Sylvie Fouet, noted that the legislation makes provision for alternative sentencing which is referred to as diversion. The aim is to divert juveniles away from formal court procedures to informal procedures that include restorative measures to deal with a juvenile alleged to have committed an offence.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Trotman orders enforcement operation after mining death THE Ministry of Natural Resources is investigating the latest mining death which occurred on Monday at Issano backlands, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). Dead is 34-year-old Lennox Douglas of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden. He met his unfortunate demise while working in a mining pit. His mother told this newspaper that her son, while he had spent many years as a pork-knocker, had recently commenced his own small-scale mining operation. She said that she was told that he was doing some work when a rock fell on him and hit him to the chest. This newspaper understands that Douglas died from a punctured lung. She is still waiting for his body to be transported to the city. The grieving mother said that it is very Lennox Douglas unfortunate that her son, as well as other young men, have to meet their demise in such a way, as they are only trying to make an honest dollar to provide for their families. She is calling on the relevant authorities to investigate the mining tragedies, so that another mother would not have to mourn her son, as she is. Douglas leaves to mourn three children, along with his parents and siblings. He was described as a loving and outgoing person. Following Douglas’ death, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, ordered an immediate enforcement operation to address mining issues as mining-related deaths increase. A statement from the ministry said, “The Ministry of Natural Resources takes note of the most recent mining tragedy which occurred last evening at Issano Backdam, Region Seven. With this in mind the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has ordered an immediate enforcement operation; this will be conducted jointly by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the ministry’s Compliance Division Corps of Wardens, to address problems of this nature in the mining areas, where there has been an increase in legal and illegal mining activities and accidents.” The agencies are expected to provide a report upon completion of the operation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Battered and bruised, but yet not broken –talking survival with a down-on-her-luck teen

By Rawle Toney RAPED and abused by her uncle and his friends, and infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), life for 18-year-old Fareeza (not her real name) is only normal because of drugs such as Tenofovir disoproxil, Emtricitabine, Efavirenz and Cimetidine. In a sit-down with the Guyana Chronicle, Fareeza explained that growing up, she had lived a normal life, as hers was a nuclear family. However, things would take a tragic turn when she was left in the care of an aunt after her parents had to be away, her father for work and her mother on vacation. Just like her parents, her aunt was well-off, and as such Fareeza adapted well to the environment that she’s familiar with, having visited before. “It was Wednesday November 15, 2017. My aunt had left the house to attend a function; my uncle was in the living room watching Netflix, and I was in the guest room preparing to take a shower to go to bed because I had school the next day. Then the unexpected occurred,” Fareeza said as she relived the dreadful ordeal. “It was 09:29hrs. I entered the bath and I began to shower while singing my favourite song. A few minutes later, I heard the bedroom door open. I knew it was my uncle; he was just checking on me like he would normally do. I exited the bath, only to meet my uncle face-to-face! Naked! I was speechless! He grabbed me, threw me on the bed, and began choking me. And he raped me. “That was the most painful thing I had ever experienced in my lifetime. My skin was wet; I was crying and begging, but he had no mercy on me. I laid on the bed in pain. I was bleeding; my heart was racing. “I was traumatised, and I couldn’t believe what had just happened,” a distraught Fareeza recounted. She distinctly recalls her uncle saying after having raped her: “You got what you wanted. Don’t cry; big girls don’t cry; you are [a] big woman now. And if you think you will talk out, you will die.” From then on, Fareeza explained, it was a constant

battle between whether she should tell someone or deal with it alone. In her head, she said, she was screaming for help, but didn’t want people to look at her in disgust. EASE THE PAIN She decided the best thing to do was to not take life seriously. That’s how she started to smoke, drink, and even harm herself, thinking that it would help ease the pain. Or so she thought, as, from time to time, she would be forced to have sex with her uncle; sometimes unprotected, and even during her menstrual cycle. And just when she thought things could not get any worse, her uncle began to ‘sell’ her to his friends. “I became their slave,” she said. “I was depressed, and attempted suicide multiple times. “One Friday afternoon he came to pick me up from school and in the car he began touching me. He told me I am beautiful, and all I needed to do was relax. He then he gave me $66,700; he told me to buy whatever I wanted. I collected the money; we went home and we had sex. “Another time, during the Christmas season, his friend came over and he ask for sex. I ask him, ‘How much are you paying?’ He smiled and handed me $30,000, and I had sex with him. I began seeing myself as a prostitute.” And that’s exactly what she became, as men would pick her up from school, take her to either a hotel or their home, and have sex with her in exchange for money. Then, in late January, Fareeza found out she was pregnant, and finally she confided in her best friend, in detail, what led to her pregnancy. She aborted the baby, but would also become intimate with her best friend. “She really felt my pain, and understood what I was going through,” she said. Four months later when her parents returned, she moved back home. She would then open-up to her mother about what unfolded while she was in the care of her aunt. A report was made to the police and the Childcare and Protection Agency, and her uncle would be later charged and sentenced for rape.

TOOK ILL SUDDENLY Then in April, she unexplainably became ill. She was vomiting, losing weight rapidly, and had broken out in sores all over her body. With her mother in tow, she went to see the doctor, where, following some checks, she was diagnosed as being HIV-positive. It was at that point that

life as she knew it, would change for Fareeza, especially with having to adjust to the side-effects of the regimen of drugs she had to take. But by the time she was over that particular hurdle, she was back to her old tricks again. As she readily admitted: “I got in contact with some old male friends twice my age. “We became

intimate; I collected money and clothes, but I was sick; physically, mentally, and emotionally. Nothing made me happy; I would have sex for fun, but things went from bad to worse. “In June, I became pregnant again, and I had this one terminated too, because things kept getting worse. “I’d lost a lot of weight;

my hair began falling out slowly; my face and skin were covered in bumps. “It was difficult to look in the mirror; I wasn’t the same beautiful, flawless young woman anymore, so I began isolating myself, because when people saw me, they would have a lot to say and ask. So it was better to stay in.” TURN TO PAGE 18

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Second round of Filariasis MDA begins The second round for the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis began on Monday across schools and fixed points in Region Three. Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr. Naail Uthman, who is the regional coordinator for the MDA, visited some of the schools where the pills were being distributed. Coordinator of the

Neglected Infectious Disease Programme and the National Coordinator for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis Campaign, Dr. Fabu Moses shared the schedule for the rollout of the MDA. According to her, Region Three will be targeted in the first and second weeks of October; Region Four in the second and third weeks; Region Five: in the third and fourth weeks while Region Ten will

be targeted in the final week of October and first week of November. Though the MDA continues in the same four regions that it began in last year, Dr. Moses said: “We have added the other six regions of Guyana, however in a different capacity.” She explained, “What we’re doing simultaneously in the other regions of Guyana is a remapping survey.”

Students from the West Demerara Secondary School taking their pills

This remapping survey is a follow up to the 2001

survey that was done for the previous MDA the country had engaged in then. This 2001 survey had identified Regions Three, Four, Five and Ten as having the highest prevalence of Filariasis and as such, work began in those regions last year. The survey, according to her, will see trained personnel visiting schools to take blood samples from children ages 6-14 whose parents have given their consent. These samples will help to show the prevalence of the microfilariae which signals that the children may have filariasis. If an area has more than two percent prevalence, the MDA will be done there as well. For the MDA to be successful, generally, 65 per cent of the total at-risk population must be administered the pills. The pills, Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC) and Albendazole (ALB) must be taken once every year for five consecutive years for them to be effective in eliminating the disease. Three DEC pills are given, along with one ALB pill; these are responsible for eradicating the bacteria. The first round of the MDA was completed last year, it was reported that a

whopping 86 per cent coverage was recorded from the four regions targeted. This year, Dr. Moses said that she is confident that more persons will take the pills and safeguard against Filariasis since more people seem to be buying-into the MDA. “It’s encouraging to see people take their health so seriously, especially since it’s a hidden disease and people can easily shy away,” she said while adding: “It’s encouraging to see that they are bringing sort of a community spirit to get their health fixed for everybody.” Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) or ‘Filaria’, as it is more commonly called affects the body’s lymphatic system, which functions to remove unwanted fluids from the body and transports ‘lymph’- a fluid which contains white bloods cells that help to fight infections. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that this disease is caused by infection with parasitic worms called nematodes, classified as ‘filarial worms’. In Guyana, filariasis is caused by the wuchereria bancrofti worm and is transmitted from human to human by the culex mosquito.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Prison service needs refocusing …Samuels says past two years were tough

By Vishani Ragobeer ACTING Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, has said that major focus is currently being placed on improving the prison service here that has been beset by violence and routine smuggling of contraband into the system. He made the comments on Sunday as Guyana kickstarts the observance of Prison Service Week 2018. Addressing a thanksgiving ceremony held at the Cecil Kilkenny Prison Officers Training School at the Lusignan Prison, Samuels alluded to the theme of the celebrations: “Revitalising a Purpose-Driven Organisation,” noting that it is important as it speaks to the efforts being made to improve the system. According to him, “20172018 was an extremely tough year for all of us as we struggled to reconstruct our lives after the 2017 burning of the Camp Street Prison, the death of Prison Officer [Odinga] Wickham and injuries to so many others, as well as the aftermath of dealing with many emboldened and aggressive inmates, and a few rogue Prison Officers.” Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, also speaking at the event, noted: “since being the minister of public security, the prison has been somewhat problematic especially in the context of the two fires [in 2016 and then in 2017].” Despite the adversity faced, Samuels reminded the gathering of officers that they all persevered to the present today. But more than persevering, he told them too that change is necessary. “It is apt that our theme for this year stresses “revitalisation,” because that is just what we need to do – revitalise; re-energise; refocus,” he posited. The acting director also explained that the prison system must also be “purpose-driven” because it has a necessary function in society. Importantly, this also requires the workers within the system to also be purpose-driven. Samuels stressed, “This is the environment that the Officers of the Guyana Prison Service, junior and senior alike, need to foster if we are to truly be successful. Then, and only then, can we talk meaningfully about revitalisation.” BETTER MUST COME As he spoke extensively about this process of revitalising the system, he shared

that progress is already being made. This includes the reconstruction of the Camp Street facility and the expansion of the Mazaruni facility. Introducing technology is also a critical component of enhancing the system. He said that this year alone, $44M was approved for the upgrade of CCTV equipment at the Mazaruni and New Amsterdam Prisons. “In light of the constant breaches at points of entry, while we await the procurement of scanners, we have requested the inclusion of a programme to acquire and install additional cameras. We are also trying to duplicate the viewing points so as to stem the prevalence of collusion,” the rank highlighted. And not only will the infrastructure be revamped, but the conditions within too. He told the gathering that at the Mazaruni Prison, where there is a plethora of complaints about the quality of drinking water, a $39M contract has been signed that would see the drilling of wells and the establishment of a water treatment facility for that location. Minister Ramjattan said the local prisons are “almost Victorian age prisons” which lack modernity and with respect to infrastructure, they are “not the best.” REHABILITATION “Rehabilitation for reintegration is key on the agenda,” Samuels also said while noting that this is a purpose of the system. But to carry out this mandate while ensuring that the system is in keeping with international standards, he advanced that much more has to be done. The average prison population is 2245, out of which 2165 are men. When further analysed, Samuels disclosed that a further 1484 have been convicted, and 784 are between the ages of 18 and 36. This group of young offenders represents 52.8 per cent of the said population, and the Director postulated that many of these young offenders are fathers and were sole breadwinners. “Like it or not, many current and future offenders will return to society and be a part of our communities and even a part of our families,” he began explaining and continued, “If we fail to try to rehabilitate them, if we fail to give them a second chance, if we continue to fail to adequately address their training needs, we will then cause them to return to a life of crime. And then whom

will they be sent back to? They will be sent back to us.” PRISON OFFICERS “The biggest task is to ensure that our prison officers continue to be strong,” Ramjattan remarked and posited that the job prison officers are doing is “extremely difficult”. Having to work in these conditions would not only put a strain on the officers but on the family too,

he contended. And with the coming oil industry, he noted too that: “We must ensure that our prison officers and all the professionals in the service benefit from that bounty.” Samuels noted too that prisoners are not the only ones in need of help, but so are the prison officers. These officers contend with the danger of being surrounded by persons who pose a threat to them by their violent ten-

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

dencies or even their health. Further, their salaries could use improvement.

Acting Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels

TURN TO PAGE 18

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Drivers in Middle St. crash charged THE two drivers whose vehicles collided at the intersection of Carmichael and Middle Street on Sunday, thereby causing the death of an East Ruimveldt man, were on Monday arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Twenty-five-year-old Deon Jerrick who resides at 169 Alexander Village, appeared before City Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer and pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on September 30, 2018 at the

corner of Middle and Carmichael Streets, he drove motor vehicle PMM 528 while being under the influence of alcohol. Police prosecutor, Inspector Layne made no objection to bail but requested that the accused lodge his passport. He was released on $15,000 bail for that charge. Jerrick was also charged for having heavily tinted windscreens and was released on $20,000 bail. He is expected to make his next court appearance in relation to this charge on November

14, 2018. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Kieran Deodat who resides at Bath Settlement,West Coast Berbice, also appeared before Magistrate Mittelholzer and pleaded not guilty to the charge. It is alleged that on the same day, at corner of Middle and Carmichael Streets, he drove motor vehicle PRR 4249 while being under the influence of alcohol. The court was told that Deodat’s blood alcohol level was 42 micrograms and Jerick’s 40 micrograms,

while the legal limit is 35 micrograms. The sales representative, who is currently employed at DDL, was represented by attorney Bernard Da Silva. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Layne made no objection to bail but asked that the accused lodge his passport. Magistrate Mittelholzer released Deodat on $20,000 and adjourned the matter to November 14, 2018. However, Deodat was slapped with the causing death charge after he ap-

peared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore. The charge alleged that on the same day and at the same location he drove motor vehicle PRR 4249 causing the death of Jason Marques. He denied the charge. Attorney Da Silva made a bail application which was granted and Deodat was released on $350,000 bail. The matter was adjourned to October 11, 2018. According to reports, the accident which occurred around 01:50 hours was as a result of a collision between a Toyota pick-up PMM528 which was heading in an easterly direction on Middle Street, and motor car, PRR 4249. The motor car which was driven by Deodat was proceeding north along Carmichael Street, and on the

western carriageway. Both Marques and Fairbian were in the pick-up which was being driven at by Deon Jerrick. The reports further stated that the motor car failed to stop, and as a result of the collision, the pick-up toppled. Public-spirited citizens took the occupants out of the vehicles in an unconscious state and they were transported to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Marques died while receiving treatment for his injuries, while Fairbian was admitted and his condition is listed as critical. Breathalyser tests that were conducted on both drivers who escaped unhurt, found the level to be above the prescribed limit.

Battered and bruised... FROM PAGE 15

MORE BAD NEWS When in August she noticed she’d developed a few bumps on her genitals, she didn’t take it seriously, as she felt it all came with the turf. “At first I didn’t pay it much attention,” she said. “I thought I got it from the razor, so I switched. When I didn’t see any improvements, I visited the pharmacy and bought a vaginal cream. I applied it, and after one week still no improvements, the bumps grew larger. “I discussed what was going on with my mother, and she took me to GRPA (Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association). I was examined by the gynaecologist,

and, sadly, I was diagnosed with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).” From then on, Cimetidine would become her best friend. “These days,” Fareeza said, “I would still think about what happened; I would get nightmares, and sometimes sleepless nights. “I cry to know that I endured a lot of pain within 10 months, but I have a dream. And no matter what happens, I will achieve my goal. “My dream is to become a social worker. I will be successful; I know I have purpose, and I will succeed at anything I attempt. Success and nothing less!” FROM PAGE 17

Prison services... He remained thankful that they’re “purpose driven” officers who “stay the course” but also acknowledged: “There are some rogue elements in our midst who are like salt and pepper in a fresh wound.” But the service has begun rooting out these elements. He shared that in 2018 alone, 28 ranks were dismissed, with 11 of those for trafficking-related activities. Currently, there are 12 ranks interdicted from duty, with nine of who are charged either departmentally or criminally for trafficking-related activities. “The fact that we can introspect and say that ‘I should not have done that, or I should not have seen my colleague done that and not speak up’… I’ve said on sev-

eral occasions that silence is violence,” Minister Ramjattan said. Further he stressed, “If we shut our mouths to the wrongdoings it will occur, so we must speak out.” Even with all the developments that can take place, Minister Ramjattan added that unless there are professionals who are committed to their work and who show a great degree of integrity, all the work will go to waste. And to this end Samuels affirmed that the work is not done yet, and said: “I know – and I know that you know that I know - that being a Prison Officer is not an easy task. But what I want to implore upon all who are present here today is that we carry out our duties with purpose.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Who really owns the Sussex Street wharf? THE Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of City Hall was left with more questions than answers over who really owns the Lombard Street land, which was leased to shipping company, Quick Shipping Inc, when proprietor Paul Sandy testified on Tuesday. The CoI heard that though Sandy leased the location at Lot 1 Mudflat Lombard Street from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (MCC), in April of 2016, through a deal with Town Clerk Royston King, two other entities have since claimed ownership of the lot. It was revealed at the beginning of the CoI last month that the land was being claimed by the National

Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). H o w e v e r, S a n d y r e vealed that the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) is also claiming ownership of the 25,000 square- foot plot, commonly referred to as the Sussex Street wharf. Having already spent millions to develop the plot, Sandy is now seeking means to clarify the situation, having had meetings with both NICIL and GNIC, and continues to honour payments on the initial lease signed with MCC. Though he continues to use the wharf, Sandy has halted construction on the site. “I think the commission can appreciate Mr. Sandy’s dilemma: three different

Proprietor of Quick Shipping Inc, Paul Sandy, testifies before the Commission on Tuesday

owners to the same plot,” expressed Jerome Khan, Sandy’s lawyer. “He was in the stage of repairing when NICIL visited him.” It was after signing the lease, at the sum of $625,000

yearly, that Sandy was approached by officials from

NICIL in July 2016 and informed that the land belongs to that entity. Subsequent to that, he received a letter from the Guyana National industrial Corporation [GNIC] also claiming ownership of this land. In a letter, GNIC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Clinton Williams wrote to head of NICIL, Horace James, outlining that GNIC had both a lease and transport for the property. However, this further confused the commission on how the GNIC could have both a lease and transport. According to Khan, Sandy

has done everything in his power to regularise his occupation of the plot; however, without a rightful owner legally identified, he is left in a predicament. Sandy had made the decision to lease the land from the MCC, given that it was previously leased to International Fishing Investment Company Limited by the MCC. After being approached by NICIL, Sandy did notify the town clerk, who informed him that he would be writing to the Minister of State Joseph Harmon to determine the true owners.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Essequibo child rapist gets life DAVID Alexander, 34, was on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment for raping an eight-year-old girl who was left in his care back in 2015. The sentence was handed down by Justice JoAnn Barlow. Alexander pleaded guilty to the indictment read before the court by State Prosecutor Abbigail Gibbs, which stated that on February 24th 2015, in the county of Essequibo, the convict engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16. “Guilty with explanation…” the accused said, attempting to justify his actions, but was dismissed immediately by the judge. His attorney, Clyde Forde, shared that on the day in question, the accused was drinking most of the day and lacked understanding of what really occurred. “He was just 31 at that time”, Forde said, “living with his brother and has no previous convictions.” Forde went on to give his mitigating factors, adding that his client saved the court much judicial time and pleaded with the judge to consider the factors and exercise justice with mercy. Alexander told the court he is very sorry for what happened and shared that he has four children and has already served three years imprisonment. The judge, however, said that Alexander’s action is one the worst of its kind. The victim’s impact statement read by Childcare and Protection Officer, Ira

David Alexander, child rapist

Ali, stated that she felt hurt, sad and afraid. She wanted him to stop but was afraid that he would kill her, and that sometimes she still remembers what he did to her and would get so terrified According to Justice Barlow, “in this case there is no mitigating circumstance because of the damage done. She stated that when consuming alcohol, a man must remain in control of his faculties and that is no excuse for causing damage, especially to that of an eightyear-old. The injuries were so severe that hospitalisation and surgery were necessary. The judge then proceeded to sentence Alexander to the maximum sentence of life imprisonment, adding, that while in prison, the convict should be exposed to counselling sessions, classes for alcohol problems and use his time to reflect on what he had done.

Woman in court for ganja trafficking A 25-YEAR-OLD woman was on Tuesday remanded to prison after it was alleged that she trafficked over one pound of marijuana. Else Ingra Valiancy appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and denied the charge, which alleged that on September 29, 2018 at the Bartica Police Station in the Essequibo River, she had in her possession 489.9 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. The woman who resides at 67 Wismar Housing Scheme, Linden, was unrepresented. Police prosecutor

Simone Payne objected to bail due to the seriousness of the offence. According to the facts of the case, on the day in question at about 16:48 hrs, two police constables were on duty at the Bartica Stelling when they saw the defendant acting in a suspicious manner. They proceeded to conduct a search on her person during which the drugs were found wrapped in a black bag. Bail was refused by the chief magistrate and Valiancy was remanded to prison until October 17, 2018.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

NSC salutes National table tennis players’ exploits in Jamaica THE National Sports Commission (NSC), and, by extension, the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, in a release to the media said that they are “delighted with the performances of Guyana table tennis contingent who participated in the just concluded 60th edition of the Caribbean Table Tennis Federation (CTTF) Senior Championships in Jamaica”. The release continued;

“The Commission wishes to make special mention of the stellar efforts by Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill who captured individual gold in the male and female Under-21 categories. We recognise the significance of your achievements at the Caribbean level”. The spirited performances of Christopher Franklin, Trenace Lowe and Edghill in senior events were also well documented. “To the other delegation

members Nigel Bryan, Joel Alleyne, Natalie Cumming, and Priscilla Greaves, who also represented Guyana with high honour, we thank you for your service and be reminded that the National Sports Commission remains committed to the development of sports in Guyana”. In addition to Britton and Edghill’s gold medals, bronze was also captured by Franklin and Lowe in the Singles competition.

Police, Pouderoyen to contest Limacol final THE teams who will contest this year’s Limacol Football final are Police FC and Pouderoyen FC. Both were victorious in their respective semi-final encounters on Sunday evening at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue. In the first game of the night, it was Santos FC, who were favourites, against the West Demerara side in the centre of the park. But when the dust set-

tled, it was Pouderoyen who registered the win when it mattered. The game got off to a tense start and the tension grew as time moved on. At the end of the first half, there was nothing to separate the two teams which made the resumption of the second half even more anticipative. Amaniki Buntin’s 81st minute strike was enough to finally settle those tense nerves on one side of the field and send the other into a desperate drive to find the equaliser.

However, that was not to be, as the West Demerara side emerged victorious. The second game of the evening was almost a Carbon copy with Police going up against Riddim Squad but the result was 1-0 in favour of the Georgetown side. Both sides played through the first half of the game without scoring then Anthio Wallace scored ten minutes into the second half. Meanwhile, Friday’s third-place playoff will feature Santos FC and Riddim Squad from 19:00hrs

Regional Super50 ...

Continued from back page

But captain Shane Shillingford said Volcanoes possessed a strong squad with good, young players, and would not be intimidated by the likes of Red Force or Jaguars. “In general we’re just going to play cricket; we don’t play names. Everybody starting at one point to get to where they are, so we’re just going to play cricket and look out for good things to come,” the former West Indies off-spinner noted. “I think we have a very good all-round team, especially with the youngsters. It’s always good to see the youngsters performing and even out-performing the senior guys so that’s always a plus in our team. Once you win a tournament like that, it’s a good thing for your team.” Shillingford will look to young players like all-rounder Kavem Hodge and batsmen Alick Athanaze and Roland Cato, to repeat their performances from the last tournament, and will also have the experience of Devon Smith, Kirk Edwards and Kesrick Williams, all of whom have West Indies experience. Last season, Volcanoes were an unfancied side, especially after losing their first three matches of the competition. However, they astonishingly won their next five, brushed aside Jaguars in the semi-finals before clinching the final. Shillingford said as a result, Volcanoes would be under more pressure than usual this season to live up to expectations. “There is always additional pressure when you’ve always got to keep the reputation up after winning the championship so all that comes with the game,” he said. “When you go in expecting to win and when you win, you’re expected to match the level of confidence with the pressure.” In the other match of the double-header, Canada clash with West Indies B at the Brian Lara Stadium. Group B, which bowls off in Barbados tomorrow, features the likes of Barbados Pride vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Jamaica Scorpions vs Combined Campuses and Colleges. SQUADS: RED FORCE – Denesh Ramdin (captain), Evin Lewis, Kyle Hope, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Khary Pierre, Imran Khan, Ravi Rampaul, Jason Mohammed, Lendl Simmons, Rayad Emrit. VOLCANOES – Shane Shillingford (captain), Delorn Johnson, Devon Smith, Roland Cato, Tyrone Theophile, Kavem Hodge, Larry Edward, Obed McCoy, Alick Athanaze, Ryan John, Kyle Mayers, Kesrick Williams, Denis Smith, Kirk Edwards.

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West Indies Tests chance for India to fix opening woes By Sudipto Ganguly

MUMBAI. India (Reuters) - India have the perfect opportunity to find a solution to their top-order batting woes before their year-end series in Australia when the world’s top-ranked side host two Tests against lowly West Indies, starting tomorrow. Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan opened for India in the first match of the recent five-Test series in England but the duo were dropped following modest returns during the 4-1 defeat. Lokesh Rahul, the third opener in England, survived the axe after posting a 149 in the final Test at the Oval and will walk out to face the new ball against West Indies in the company of either Mayank Agarwal or Prithvi Shaw, who are both uncapped. Agarwal, 27, was rewarded for a 2017-18 season in which he scored heavily across formats while the 18-year-old Shaw has already been tipped to have a bright future in national colours. Agarwal and Shaw will be keen to make the most of their chances and book their place for India’s four-Test series in Australia, though Vijay has responded to being dropped by making a hundred and three half-centuries in his last five innings for Essex in the County Championship. The trip to Australia will be the last chance in 2018 for Virat Kohli’s men to show they can match their formidable home form with success abroad and show the world why they are the world’s top-ranked Test side. India, who last lost a Test series at home in late 2012 against England, started the year with a 2-1 loss to South Africa but then thrashed debutants Afghanistan at home in a one-off Test before flying to England. Despite losing all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pace bowler Ishant Sharma to injury, India have opted to rest pace duo Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the West Indies Tests. The visiting batsmen will still have to contend with India’s lethal spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja however, with left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav ready to chip in if pressed into action as the third slow-bowling option. West Indies arrive in India on the back of strong Test form at home. They won both Tests against Bangladesh and drew 1-1 against Sri Lanka in a three-Test series. However, previous form against India in the five-day format offers little optimism. West Indies’ last Test win against them was in May 2002 in Kingston, while they have not won in India since a 243-run triumph in 1994. Despite the task facing his side, West Indies captain Jason Holder was upbeat. “It’s been good. Our last two-Test series were very good,” Holder told reporters on the team’s arrival in India. “I don’t want to dwell too much in the past ... we have a big series ahead of us, a big winter to be precise. So the focus is on that and to play good cricket.” The Caribbean side also suffered a jolt in the buildup to the tour when Australian Stuart Law announced he would be stepping down as head coach following the tours of India and Bangladesh to take up a role at Middlesex in England.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Vikings capture T&DCA Super 9 title By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada - After enjoying a remarkable regular season, which saw them lose just one game to archrivals Centurions, Vikings ended their 2018 campaign in a blaze of glory by capturing the Super 9 championship when the Toronto & District Cricket Association (T&DCA) tournament ended on Sunday at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club ground, King City, Toronto. Led by former Guyana and West Indies player, Royston Crandon, Vikings inflicted a huge 116-run defeat on JB Masters to end a 21-year drought, although they were declared joint-champions in last year’s controversial final versus Centurions, a decision that did not go down well with executives and players of the club. Batting first in overcast and somewhat cold conditions, Vikings rattled up 298 for eight in their allotted 50 overs and with the addition of 12 penalty runs, the score soared to 310, a total which proved a winning one in the end. The champions were given a rousing start of 73 in 12 overs from openers Marvin Small and recently selected Canadian player Rodrigo Thomas (28). This set the pattern for the rest of the innings with Small smashing three

fours and three sixes in 49. Former Guyana Under-19 player Eugene Laf-

batting at number 10 and T. Castro (29), saw JB Masters bowled out for 194 in 39.1

Vikings players celebrate their Super 9 triumph. (Pictures by Frederick Halley)

leur, who batted at number four, then held the middle- and lower-order together with a workmanlike 53 which contained four fours while the consistent Kamil Pooran chipped in with 45 (3x4, 2x6) and wicketkeeper Rodney Lawrence a quickfire 36 (4x4, 1x6) towards the end. Former Guyana Youth player Dillon Heyliger, who also represents Canada, ended with three for 46 from seven overs while Nikhil Dutta took two for 43 from 10. JB Masters reply started

43rd Chess Olympia

Guyana men’s chess team go down 3-1 to Malta … Women defeat Mauritius 3-1 Guyana’s men team went down 3-1 in their most recent round of action at the 43rd Chess Olympiad. The only win came from CM Anthony Drayton who turned to the sharp Paulsen Variation of the Sicilian Defence. CM R Zerafa of Malta misplayed the opening and allowed Drayton to gain early control of the centre and active play which was more than enough for him to force a win. However, his fellow teammates were not so fortunate, as they all lost to Malta chess players who were rated over 2000 ELO. CM Taffin Khan lost with the White pieces in a very unorthodox Queen’s pawn (d4) opening to the highest-rated Malta player CM Colin Pace (2132). Loris Nathoo continued to have a rough tournament this time losing to J. Darmanin (2069) after misplaying the Ruy Lopez Closed variation while Glenford Corlette with the White pieces and went for the Exchange variation of the French Defence that his opponent CM C.Psaila (2002) choose to respond to e4. Corlette went for the Isolani d4 pawn position. However he never gained control of the crucial d5 square and at no time was able to lose the positional dynamics of the Isolani pawn.

disastrously, as they slipped to 12 for two in the second over, a position from which they

The women’s team took their second match win with 2 wins and 2 draws to secure a 3-1 points win against the lower-rated Mauritius. Surprisingly female national champion Maria Varona-Thomas had to settle for a draw against the lower-rated A. Beekhy who was surely winning the game. Same must be said for young Sasha Shariff who got a draw as well, against A. Dindoyal who was the exchange up in a clearly better position. However, WCM Sheriffa Ali and Nellisha Johnson secured wins to ensure the win. First WCM Ali demolished Uvika Essoo Scandinavian Defence with some fine tactics while Nellisha Johnson in a losing position won her opponent’s C Andhin Queen after a mistake when she played (25.f4). However, as the saying goes in chess the loser is always the player who made the last mistake which in this case was the Mauritius player. Both men’s and women’s teams have accumulated 7 points from 28 games. However, the women’s team is higher on their standings at position 116 from 151 teams while the men are at 160 from 185 teams. There are four more rounds remaining.

never fully recovered. Skipper Saad bin Zafar tried desperately to hold the innings together but once he departed lbw offering no stroke to left-arm spinner Raj Nannan for 37, JB Masters were in danger of falling below 150. However, wicketkeeper Ethon Bhal with a stubborn knock of 42, Atiba Allert (36),

overs. Bhal, who struck four fours, added 47 for the sixth-wicket with Castro and 61 for the ninth with Allert, whose 36 included six fours. Left-arm spinner Lafleur bagged three for 34 from 10 overs and Nannan two for 48 also from 10. Saturday’s semi-final, which was reduced to 25 overs

An elated Royston Crandon with the championship trophy

because of overnight and early morning rain, was dominated by a brilliant unbeaten 102 from Vikings’ Kamil Pooran and a robust 62 from Crandon

which saw the new champions reaching 230 for three in their allotted overs versus Victoria Park Cricket Club. Trinidadian Pooran featured in two huge stands, adding 118 for the second-wicket with Small (46) and 96 for the third with Crandon who smashed four fours and five towering sixes off 36 balls. Pooran, on the other hand, blasted 14 fours and two sixes off a mere 67 balls while Small’s innings contained four fours and two sixes. Victoria Park, who opted to bat last, were shut out for 106 in 19.1 overs, losing by the comprehensive margin of 124 runs, with Nannan capturing three for 36 and Lafleur two for 20. Vikings’ long-standing president Bhowan Persaud praised his charges for a fantastic display, not only in the final but also their outstanding performances throughout the entire 2018 season. Several prominent Vikings members, including Leonard Seecharran, Chris Sawh, Paltoo Taurus and Karan Rajkumar were also on hand to celebrate the occasion.

In-form Anthony snares Le Zo ‘Dash for Cash’

AS has been the trend over the last couple of months, the in-form Michael Anthony took top honours at the inaugural Le Zo Vacations ‘Dash for Cash’ 40-lap event which was held on Sunday at the National Park. In addition to the trophy, Anthony also snapped up eight of the 30 sprint prizes on offer. Meanwhile, reigning national road race champion, Curtis Dey had to settle for second, copping a whopping 15 sprint prizes, while Stephano Husbands placed third with seven primes. Jornel Yearwood and Alex Mendes came in fourth and fifth, respectively. Other winners of the day were Adelie Hodge (Juniors), Junior Niles (Veterans U-45), Quincy Punch (Mountain Bike), John Niles (BMX 9-12) and Jessica Mohabir (BMX 6-9). Meanwhile, Enzo Matthews, CEO of Le Zo Vacations, presented several uniforms to the cyclists following the event which was also sponsored by the People’s Progressive Party’s youth arm of Campbellville.

Michael Anthony copped the inaugural Le Zo ‘Dash for Cash’ to continue his fine run of form.

Transport U-17 team register 63-run win over Everest TRANSPORT Sports Club highlighted their bowling ability when they restricted the Everest Cricket Club for 81 runs in 22.3 overs on Sunday last at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) ground. Everest had bowled Transport out in the 37th over for 144 in the GCA Friends of Cricket 100 Overs’ U-17 Tournament and had 55 overs to win the game. They started with a bang after Ushardeva Balgobin smashed Trevon Charles for a six off the first ball. The openers managed 11 runs off the first over and looked like they would have cruised to victory, but Jeffrey Blair started his spell. In two overs, the rightarm fast bowler grabbed three quick wickets while

Charles improved on his line and length. By the mandatory 13:30hrs lunch break, Everest had lost their top four batsmen for 43 runs

within eight overs. After the break, Christopher Baljit (10 runs) and Aaron Beharry played a few shots and brought their team back

Three wicket-takers for Transport, from left, Riyad Latif, Trevon Charles and Alvin Mohabir.

into the game. Beharry, who led the attack with 29 runs, had punished Akeem Clarke in his lone over (he only bowled three balls) by belting three sixes, but off-spinner Alvin Mohabir took control by dismissing both batsmen, while he, Charles, and leg-spinner Riyad Latif quickly cleaned up the tail. Mohabir finished with 3-6 from five overs, while Blair finished with 3-8 from four; Latif seized 2-1 from 2.3 and Charles 2-33 from 5.3. Earlier Shemar Yearwood (35) and Charles (33) had led Transport with the bat, but quality bowling from 15-year-old left-arm spinner Raynaldo Mohamed (4-25 from 8.4 overs) and Beharry with 2-17 from nine overs had restricted the runs flow.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

BCB/Raffik Construction 100 Balls Tournament

BCB/Sueria Manufactuirng Magic Moments T20 Tournament

Rose Hall Town Bakewell and Albion Blairmont CC to meet Cotton Community Centre reach historic final Tree CC in West Berbice final THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) under the presidency of Hilbert Foster created history when it became the first cricket board in Guyana and the West Indies to host a ‘Hundred Balls’ Cricket Tournament. The tournament, which involved 14 six-ball overs and two eight-ball overs, has now reached the final stage, with archrivals Rose Hall Town Bakewell and Albion Community Centre Cricket Club reaching the final. They both easily won their semifinal matches with Albion Community Centre Cricket Club crushing Chesney Cricket Club by nine wickets while Rose Hall Town Bakewell breeze past Courtland Cricket Club by 110 runs. The Berbice cricketing public is accustomed to Albion and Rose Hall Town clashing in a BCB Final and with several promising talents on both teams, another exciting final is expected. Playing at the Chesney ground, Albion routed the home team for a meagre 48. Chesney CC lost the kingpin of their batting, Imran Khan,

in the third over when he was caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Mahendra Chaitnarine for 6 with the score on 7 for 1.

response, raced to 50 for 1 in 4.3 overs with Ritesh Umroa 30 not out and Jeetendra Outar 11 not out at the crease. Ramesh Kassinauth was the only batsman dismissed, bowled by Narine Deonarine for 8. Deonarine was the only successful bowler for Chesney, ending with one wicket for 11 runs.

Erva Giddings

They never recovered, as the Albion spinners never released the pressure which was backed up with brilliant fielding. Avinash Deonarine (11), S. Khan (13) and Imran Kamaladin with 10 were the only players to reach double figures as Chaitnarine with 3 for 9, Joshua Harrichand 3 for 12 and Kevin Umroa bowled well for Albion Community Centre. Meanwhile, Albion, in

Surendra Kissoonlall

At the Area ‘H’ Ground, Rose Hall Town Bakewell won the toss and batted first. They lost their in-form captain Kevin Sinclair off the first ball of the innings, caught and bowled by Leyland Edwards for nought.

National Under-19 player Junior Sinclair and the elegant Surendra Kissoonlall then added 101 for the second wicket before Sinclair was dismissed for a wellplayed 48 (4x4, 2x6). Kissoonlall went on to score a classy 63 while Berbice Under-19 player Keith Simpson supported with 27. J. Johnson took 2 for 31 for Courtland as Rose Hall Town Bakewell scored 179 for 5 from their allotted 100 balls. Courtland, in reply, were destroyed by West Indies leftarm female pacer Erva Giddings and National Under-15 off-spinner Jonathan Rampersaud. Giddings took 4 for 15 from 4 impressive overs while the talented 14-yearold Rampersaud took 3 for 6. The BCB will shortly announce the date and venue for the Final. BCB president Hilbert Foster stated that one of the policies of his administration is to play the final at non-traditional venues, in an effort to promote the game to residents across Berbice. Popular businessman and contractor Mohamed Raffik is the sponsor of the tournament.

Real Madrid suffer shock 1-0 defeat to CSKA Moscow By Vladimir Soldatkin

MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) - A depleted Real Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 Champions League defeat at CSKA Moscow yesterday, extending a poor run of form for the holders that has left them without a win or a goal in three games. A brilliant victory for the Russian side, however, was marred in the final stages of a highly charged encounter in the Luzhniki stadium, when CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev was sent off for a second yellow card seconds before the final whistle. CSKA got off to a brisk start and opened the scoring after two minutes when Croatian winger Nikola Vlasic, on loan from Premier League Everton, latched on to Toni Kroos’s poor backpass and slotted home. It was Vlasic’s second goal in as many games in this season’s Champions League. The result continued a

dismal streak for Madrid, who have won only two of their last five games in all competitions and coach Julen Lopetegui rued a string of missed opportunities. “Of course, (they) played at home and the quick goal helped them, but we didn’t take our chances,” he told reporters.

struggles in front of goal. Lopetegui decided to start with FIFA Player- of-the-Year Luka Modric on the bench, while other first-team regulars, such as Wales forward Gareth Bale and Spanish centre back Sergio Ramos, were also absent. Brazil fullback Marcelo and midfielder Isco were ruled

CSKA Moscow’s Igor Akinfeev protests to referee Ovidiu Hategan, after being shown a red card. (REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)

“We need to create scoring chances, I’m sure that sooner or later we will start scoring,” added Lopetegui when asked about their recent

out before the game. Real, who have won the last three Champions League titles, suffered another injury worry before

halftime when Dani Carvajal was replaced by Alvaro Odriozola. Real Madrid mounted wave upon wave of attacks, and wasted several chances in the first half. Casemiro could have levelled for the visitors midway the opening period, but his low shot from outside the penalty area bounced off the post, while Karim Benzema’s header hit the bar five minutes before the interval. Modric came on in the second half for Casemiro, but the 33-year-old Croatia midfielder could not turn the match in Real’s favour. CSKA manager Viktor Goncharenko heaped praise on a “magnificent” Vlasic and CSKA’s defence. At the same time he was apprehensive over a possible ban for Akinfeev following his red card. “He is a half of our whole team,” he said. CSKA top Group G on four points, one clear of AS Roma in second. and Real in third.

THE packed Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) 2018 cricket season continued last weekend with Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club and the Cotton Tree Cricket Club advancing to the finals of the West Berbice league of the BCB/Magic Moments 20/20 Tournament. Blairmont Community Centre (BCC) defeated No. 5 Cricket Club by 74 runs while Cotton Tree breezed past Bush Lot Rising Star by seven wickets at the Bush Lot ground. BCC, batting first, reached a healthy 172 for 8 as Kevin Jawahir (44), Seon Glasgow (35) and Marvin Prashad with 33 stood out. S. Johnson and G. Johnson were the best bowlers for No.5 Cricket Club. The visitors in response were bowled out for 108 as only Michael Persaud and Travis Moore (14) reached double figures. National Under-19 left-arm pacer Javed Karim took 4 for 20 while Jawahir returned with the ball to lead his team to an easy win. Meanwhile, BCC on Saturday, had defeated West Berbice Achievers by seven wickets, to advance to the semifinals. Achievers were restricted to 88 all out as Marvin Prashad took 3 wickets for 15 runs. Kevin Jawahir and Nigel Deodat supported with two wickets apiece. Jawahir continued his impressive form in 2018 by stroking an unbeaten 51 while Nigel Deodat supported with 18. Cotton Tree Cricket Club (CTCC) restricted Bush Lot Rising Star Cricket Club to 107 all out in 15.3 overs. Only R. Gousanil passed 20 with a polished 49. Left-arm spinner Wagar Hassan took 3 wickets for 10 runs while off-spinner Roshan Gafoor took 2 for 2. Cotton Tree, needing to score 108 from 20 overs to clinch a place in the final, raced to 110 for 3 from only 9.3 overs. Abdool Subhan slammed 43 while Wagar Hassan returned to complete a good all-round performance with 33 not out. Glenford Fraser took 2 for 28 from 3 overs in a losing cause for Bush Lot Rising Star. The BCB, in a release that shortly a date and venue for the finals will be announced. The BCB has already completed Championship finals for three zones (Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne and New Amsterdam/Canje). No.48 Challengers Cricket Club won the Upper Corentyne Zone, Rose Hall Town Bakewell are the Lower Corentyne champions while Young Warriors Cricket Club won the New Amsterdam/ Canje Championship. At the conclusion of the four zones championships, the four champions would be involved in a special tournament for the right to be called the overall Berbice Second Division 20/20 Champions. The tournament is being sponsored by Sueria Manufacturing Inc. under the Magic Moments Brand.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday October 3, 2018)

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

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: (1) Prior Jones-5/85 (Mumbai, 1948-49) (2) Commandur Rangachari-5/107 (Delhi, 1948-49) (1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: Which WI has scored most Test centuries against India to date? Which Indian has scored most Test centuries against the WI to date? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

SuperBet on board early for GMR&SC Ignite

SUPERBET is one of the first candidates to ink support for the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) Ignite race meet set for November 10 and 11. Ignite, which will also feature the final round of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) is expected to see a large turnout of drivers as it is also the final circuit racing event locally. A statement from the GMR&SC indicated that “we are happy to have SuperBet on board with the Ignite race meet. We feel that the company is seen as strong with sport and we were more than happy to see them join motorsport as well.” “We foresee this new partnership taking the sport to new levels and we want to thank the management of SuperBet for putting their faith in us,” the statement continued. Meanwhile the final leg of the Caribbean Championship is expected to see competition from Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, the United States and Canada as well as Europe. Apart from the regular groups 1 through 4 and Superstock championship, the first-ever Radical Caribbean Championship featuring the SR3s is expected to culminate here too. The event is expected to be launched shortly.

SuperBet’s Jean-Pierre Nathoo hands over sponsorship to GMR&SC’s Fleur Blanckaert.

Enhanced team chemistry a good sign for title defence, says pacer Selman PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Fast bowler Shakera Selman believes the enhanced team chemistry in the West Indies side will play a key role in their defence of the Twenty20 World Cup title in the Caribbean next month. The core of the squad had been together over the last several months in various training camps and Selman said this had resulted in strong camaraderie in the unit, which augured well for their campaign in the November 9-24 tournament. “The atmosphere (in the camp) is very good. We have become a lot like a family over the last few months,” said Selman. “We’ve been together, we’ve been living together so it has actually brought us a lot closer and I think we are prepared.” She added: “We are very confident. We’re going to put our best foot forward. We know it’s going to be

very challenging. Everyone will be coming to beat West Indies because we are very good, especially in the T20 format but we are very confident.

Fast bowler Shakera Selman believes Windies Women have built important team chemistry.

“We’re going to play our best cricket and we know if we do that we’re in with a big chance.”

West Indies will compete in Group A alongside powerful England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and are expected to be one of the two teams to reach the final four. Group B, meanwhile, will see powerhouse Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland clashing for a place in the semi-finals. In the last tournament in India two years ago, West Indies were forced to overcome a strong New Zealand side in their semi-final before downing the Aussies in the final, and Selman believes the hosts will have to be at their best again against these top tier sides. “In T20 – the shortest format of the game – it’s always a challenge so all of the teams will be coming hard,” she pointed out. “We’re looking at all the teams especially the ones in our group, but over the last few years we know England

and Australia have been our toughest competitors and we are really preparing for them.” Selman, who is expected to lead West Indies’ new-ball attack, said the tournament was extremely important to the team especially since West Indies were hosts. “It means a lot to me, it means a lot to the team as well,” she stressed. “It’s the first standalone T20 tournament for the women and it’s really an honour to have it here in the Caribbean especially being defending champions.” West Indies are currently preparing for the fourth Twenty20 International of a five-match series against South Africa, carded for the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba tomorrow. They lead the series 2-0 after winning the first two matches. The third fixture on Sunday was rained out.

14th Hand-in-Hand 11-Race Cycling Programme set for Saturday THE 14th annual Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire and Life Insurance 11-race cycling programme is set for Saturday (October 6) and is being organised by National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed. Cyclists will assemble in the National Park from 09.00hrs to compete for top honours and accolades across five categories. The five categories are the 12-14 years Three-lap race, Veterans’ U-50 5-Laps, Mountain Bikes 5-laps, Junior/Juveniles 10-laps and the feature 35-laps Schoolboys and Invitational race. Last year Jonathan Ramsuchit took the Boys’ and Girls’ 12-14 years event and will be looking to replicate that feat while Warren ‘40’ McKay is the defending Veterans’ U-50 champion. Shane Bourne won the Mountain Bikes 5-laps race and will be hard-pressed to defend that title; Nigel Duguid is the reigning Junior/Juvenile rider and the effervescent Geron Williams is the defending champion of the 35-laps feature event which he won last year in one hour 16 minutes 16 seconds. The Marketing Director at Hand-in-Hand, Shafeena Juman, along with other staff members will be there to witness the action and distribute prizes.

Business Development personnel at Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire and Life Insurance, Soma Bharrat, hands over the sponsorship package to organiser, Hassan Mohamed.

Pakistan-A hold on for a tense draw despite Holland’s fiver JON Holland’s heroic efforts (5-79) on the final day went in vain as Pakistan-A clung onto a tense draw in the practice game at the ICC Academy in Dubai yesterday. Having piled on the runs and misery, Australia declared overnight with a lead of 216. The task was straightforward for the Pakistan-A batsmen, leaving with 3 sessions and a minimum of 90 overs to survive.

Jon Holland

Opener Shan Masood took the aggressive route to put the Aussie new-ball bowlers under pressure, while his partner at the other end, Sami Aslam remained watchful in his stay at the crease, as they saw off the new ball without any hassle, putting on a 50-run opening stand. Australian captain Tim Paine turned to spin in search of a breakthrough and the move worked immediately. Holland snuffed

out Masood for 41 while Aslam perished in the very next over to Neser leaving Pakistan-A in a tricky position at 55-2. Then skipper Asad Shafiq and Abid Ali took centre-stage, showed good resistance and steered their team to safety at lunch. The doggedness continued in the second session from both batsmen as they reached their respective fifties before Lyon removed Abid Ali, thereby breaking the 84-run stand for the third wicket. Iftikhar Ahmed joined his skipper and eased through to tea. However, the Australian bowlers, led by Holland, went full-throttle in the final session to trigger a collapse, rattling the opposition by taking 4 wickets for 44 runs and outclassed Lyon, staking his claim for a place in the team for the first Test. With the pitch crumbling and the natural light fading, Mohammad Rizwan and Wahab Riaz played out the tense final moments to settle for a draw. Brief scores: Pakistan A 278 (Abid Ali 85; Nathon Lyon 8-103) and 261-7 (Asad Shafiq 69, Abid Ali 52; Jon Holland 5-79) drew with Australia A 494-4 (Mitchell Marsh 162, Shaun Marsh 94; Waqas Maqsood 2-66, Iftikhar Ahmed 2-149).

Former world champion Rocchigiani dies in Italy after being hit by car BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - Germany’s former world super-middleweight and light-heavyweight champion Graciano Rocchigiani has died aged 54, in southern Italy after being hit by a car while out walking, officials said yesterday. The boxer, who had an Italian father and German mother, had held both the IBF super-middleweight title from 1988 to 1989 as well as the WBC light-heavyweight in 1998 by defeating Michael Nunn. Rocchigiani, who fought all 48 of his professional fights in Germany, captivated the boxing world with his bouts against fellow German Henry Maske and Poland’s Dariusz Michalczewski in the 1990s. His last fight was in 2003 when he was defeated for the vacant WBC international light heavyweight title. “Berlin mourns one of its athletes, who in the 1980s and 1990s fascinated the crowds,” said Berlin mayor Michael Mueller in a statement. “Rocky, as he was known around the world, was, after Max Schmeling and Eckhard Dagge, the third German world champion in the professional sport. “He was also an original Berliner, who combined his mouth and his heart. Not everything worked out for him in life as it did in the ring. But Berliners loved him for his sometimes rough and edgy ways. We mourn a boxer with a big heart.” Rocchigiani, who had been imprisoned for assault and driving without a valid licence, had been the youngest German world boxing champion. He also worked as a boxing commentator.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Adequate exercise and discipline keep HIV+ football player going By Rawle Toney A HEALTHY lifestyle and discipline are cited by this former junior National football player, for allowing him to compete as a normal athlete living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since he was almost 18 years old. On October 2, 2017, Chronicle Sport told the story of a then 21-year-old player, named ‘John’ to protect his identity, who at the time, wanted to find a way to break the news to his teammates at a popular football club in the ‘city’, of his positive status, but had feared discrimination. Drugged and raped repeatedly as a 17-year-old after being invited by some friends to a party, John, who even represented Guyana twice at the Inter-Guiana Games, after finding out that he was infected with the dreadful virus,

slowly, but surely adjusted to his different life. “Nothing much has changed from then to now. There were times when I was weak, feeling down and not able to play the game as I used too, but I am disciplined. My mother, who has been my rock, ensured that I ate the right things, rest well, and have a prescribed amount of exercise outside of my regular play,” John said. He added, “My life has always been about school and football, nothing else. I didn’t grow up socialising much and that has changed. Football is still what I use to escape the noise. I’m human, and there are things that I want to do as a young man, but I am disciplined enough to tell myself that I can’t; that my life is not as normal, and that I need to take extra care of myself.” Decreased (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, increased good (HDL) cho-

lesterol as well as reduced stress are just some of the benefits of exercise.

“I think what we have now going on is a bunch of young people being infected, and most of them either living recklessly or just letting themselves go. I would like them to understand that exercise is important. It can’t stop HIV, but it helps in the side-effects of some of those drugs, especially tenofovir and lamivudine,” John noted. Meanwhile, John also said that he learnt the hard

way, about the risk of exercising while being HIV positive, telling Chronicle Sport that injuries will take longer to heal and weight loss could be rapid if you work out excessively. “I’ll admit that as much as I read a lot, sometimes, your body fools you because when the drugs kick in and you feel strong, you would push your body, but sometimes, my body would tell me to slow down. I’m aware that soon, I might even have to stop playing football, or look to play more street football, because I might feel strong, but physically I will not be able to play more than 45, or even 50 minutes,” John noted. When John’s story was first published, it was done on the back-drop of his wanting to come out to tell his teammates and more friends about his status, but back then, he stated that football, especially in Guyana, is unwelcoming

to people like him, especially if people got hold of how he was infected with the virus. A year later, John said that he was able to make some headway with his discloser, since “my coach knows. I had a talk with him, because soon, I will have limitations and he has to know what he could push me to do and not do. He’s a great person, he hugged me and told me he has my back. My mother was there with me and I must say I’m impressed with how he handled it. I think what should happen now is more coaches in sports, not just football, be educated on how to deal with people like me because if you look around, more and more young people are being infected. I see them at clinic and I’m shocked.” There has never been a player in Guyana who came out publicly or even hinted to his teammates that he’s HIV

positive, but, there have been cases of highly speculated instances of players who died as a result of contracting the virus. Reports are prevalent from outside of Guyana, where players lose their professional contract after being tested positive, as is the case of Cameroon international Samuel Nled who, just days after signing his contract, was released by his club after his HIV results returned positive. When John first spoke with Chronicle Sport, the University of Guyana student was adamant that “there’s no education for sportsmen and women in Guyana about a lot of things, and HIV happens to be one of them. I know, in football, locally, there are no medicals done on our players, clubs and the federation here doesn’t pay any interest in that part of the game.”

Koepka ‘heartbroken’ over fan blinded in one eye at Ryder Cup Johnson bowls Police to GCA first division final PARIS, France (Reuters) American Brooks Koepka is “heartbroken” to learn a tee shot of his that struck a spectator at last week’s Ryder Cup in France has reportedly left the woman blinded in one eye. Also yesterday, Ryder Cup organisers revealed they were helping Corine Remande, who said she was unable to see out of her right eye after being hit when Koepka’s drive veered wide of the fairway on the sixth hole on Friday, the opening day of the event between Europe and the United States. “Doctors told me I had lost the use of that eye,” Remande told French news agency AFP. Remande was treated at the course before being taken to hospital. U.S. Open champion Koepka stopped to see how she was. Koepka, who is in Scotland for this week’s European Tour event, issued a statement on Twitter yesterday expressing his concern at the incident. “I was deeply hurt and saddened by the tragic accident that occurred when a shot I hit off the 6th tee struck Ms Remande,” he wrote. “I spoke to her at the time on the golf course

and, after now learning her condition is worse than first thought, I have made contact with her/family to offer my sincere and heartfelt sympathy. “I am heartbroken by the incident. My thoughts remain with Ms Remande and I have asked to be kept informed of her condition.” Koepka’s tweet followed earlier comments by a Ryder Cup spokesperson.

possible under very difficult circumstances,” they said in a statement. “We have been in communication with the family involved, starting with the immediate on-course treatment and thereafter to provide support, helping with the logistics of repatriation, including providing a transfer for the family from Paris to Lyon. We will continue to offer support for as long as

The European Tour had initially stated that Ms Remande had not suffered serious injuries.

“It is distressing to hear that someone might suffer long-term consequences from a ball strike,” the spokesperson said. Organisers promised to do as much as possible to help. “We are hugely sympathetic and will do everything we can to support the spectator, insofar as that is

necessary.” Ball strikes in golf are an occasional hazard but serious injuries as a result are relatively rare. “We can confirm that ‘fore’ was shouted several times but also appreciate how hard it can be to know when and where every ball is struck if you are in the crowd,” organisers said.

Europe’s triumphant captain Thomas Bjorn said the incident was “upsetting”. “Golf will definitely have to look at anything they can do to protect the fans but I have to say it’s the first time I’ve heard of an incident like this in the time I’ve played,” the Dane told Sky Sports News. “It’s so unfortunate and all our thoughts from me and the team are with her at this moment.” Tony Finau, who was partnering Koepka when the incident happened at Le Golf National confirmed they had yelled “fore” to warn fans the ball was off course. “Every time you yell fore from that distance nobody is going to hear you,” he told Sky Sports News. “People close to the green, unfortunately they are in play sometimes.” The Royal & Ancient, custodians of golf’s laws and organisers of the British Open, state in the terms and conditions on the back of its Open tickets that spectators “assume all risk” of being struck by a golf ball. The PGA Tour does likewise at U.S. tournaments.

Raun Johnson

FAST bowler Raun Johnson claimed a second innings haul of 5-32, to bowl hosts Police to a 25-run come-from-behind win over Guyana National Industrial Cooperation (GNIC), and in the process booked a place in the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association/Star Party Rental/GISE/ Trophy Stall division-one, two-day cricket tournament. After taking first innings points, GNIC, set 144 for victory, were then bowled out for 119, batting a second time. Shawn DeSouza hit

five fours and a six in an attacking 38. David Dick (29) and Keston Hardcourt (29), provided some fight as GNIC lost their last eight wickets for 88 runs. Keston Hardcourt (220), supported Johnson. Resuming the final day on Sunday on 107-2, Police merely lasted the first session, adding 60 more runs to be all out for 167 off 44 overs. Scores: Police 94 & 167, GNIC 138 & 119. Police and DCC will now clash in the final at a date to be announced.

Regional Super50 tournament bowls off today

….Volcanoes open title defence unfazed by star-studded Red Force

FLASHBACK: Windward Islands Volcanoes defeated defending champions Barbados Pride by three wickets to claim their third Super50 title earlier this year at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Windward Islands Despite the low-keyed build-up, the October 3-28 chamVolcanoes will launch the defence of their Regional Super50 pionship holds special significance for players as they will be title when they clash with a star-studded Trinidad and Tobago bidding to impress ahead of next year’s ICC 50-overs World Cup Red Force, in the tournament curtain-raiser at Queen’s Park in England. Oval here today. As such, Red Force will boast the likes of Dwayne and Dar-

ren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Lendl Simmons, all of whom have been out of West Indies colours for extended periods and for varying reasons. Their return adds flavour and anticipation to the tournament and Red Force skipper Denesh Ramdin said their presence also made the 11-time champions formidable opponents. “Having the likes of the Bravos, Pollard, Narine, Simmons – a very well-experienced unit – it means less work for me in managing these guys. They know what they’re about and it’s about executing team plans,” the former Test captain explained. “I don’t have any pressure; it’s going to be easy for me having those quality players in my line-up. They know what they have to do. On and off the field they are professionals so it’s good to have them back in the line-up and they’re going to be exciting to work with throughout the tournament.” Red Force also boast attacking West Indies opener Evin Lewis in their ranks along with pinch-hitter Nicholas Pooran, Jason Mohammed, Rayad Emrit and veteran seamer Ravi Rampaul. As expected, the hosts stand out in Group A which also comprises Guyana Jaguars, West Indies B and Canada, and Ramdin agrees with Red Force being labelled favourites even though he made it clear they would not underestimate any team. “When you look at the calibre of players that we have … we’ll have to take that label (of favourites) and perform on the field and continue to work hard as a team,” he stressed. “It’s going to be exciting. We’re not going to take anyone lightly. We were disappointed last year we didn’t get past the group stages but hopefully this year we play each game as it comes, not get ahead of ourselves and play some proper, good cricket. “We first want to get to that stage where we can qualify and get to play the semis and then go on from there.” Ramdin also pointed out that playing their preliminary matches at home was also a huge boost for his side. “It’s always good to play your first few matches at home so you can get that momentum, as well as knowing the conditions and (having) your crowd come out and support.” Volcanoes, meanwhile, despite stunning Barbados Pride in last year’s final to win their fourth title, will understandably start today’s contest as underdogs.

Turn to page 26

NSC salutes National table tennis players’ exploits in Jamaica Shemar Britton won U-21 gold.

Chelsea Edghill also won U-21 gold in the female competition.

Police, Pouderoyen to contest Limacol final See Page 26

See Page 26

In this Samuel Maughn photo, a Police FC attacker (white) gets by the Riddim Squad defender.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2018