Issuu

MONDAY 9th July, 2018

No.105330

Corentyne bridge still on the cards – but not a priority now, says President Granger

Ready for the challenge!

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The 2018 STEM Guyana Team that will be representing Guyana at the First Global Robotics competition slated for Mexico in August (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

‘Ganja in footwear’

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smuggler bolts from police

Pedestrian in pain after hit-and-run accident

EYEWITNESSES have recovered a mirror which they noted broke off from a speeding car which col-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Miner drowns in Partang River

lided with a man along the railway line embankment on the East Coast of Demerara on Saturday

The mirror bearing registration PSS 4172 which broke off the speeding car.

The injured man at the scene of the incident night. An eyewitness related that about 21:15hrs on Saturday, a blue Nissan Bluebird motor car was speeding along the roadway, heading east and while in the vicinity of Cheers Bar, the driver hit a pedestrian who was walking in the same direction. The driver drove away from the scene. A broken mirror with the registration PSS 4172 engraved on it was found

close to where the accident occurred. Eyewitnesses reported that the car maybe one which is operated by a taxi driver at Beterverwagting and La Bonne Intention (LBI) on the East Coast of Demerara. The victim’s name was provided as Nicholas Bisram, 19, of 49 Success, East Coast Demerara who sustained a fractured left leg with other injuries to his body.

The scene at the Partang River where ‘Kenneth’ drowned A MINER was swept away by strong river currents while attempting to cross the Partang River in the Cuyuni/ Mazaruni on Sunday afternoon. Reports are that around 17:00hrs , the man, who is known only as “Kenneth”, was attempting to cross the riv-

er on a “wood skin” when he went down. Reports indicate that several persons looked on helplessly as the man tried to stay afloat. Persons in the area reported that the miner was on his way to his worksite at the Koreng River when the incident occurred.

Mechanic succumbs to injuries A 35-year-old Lethem mechanic, who sustained third degree burns to his body while discharging fuel from a fuel tank along the Linden-Lethem trail two weeks ago, has succumbed to his injuries. Dead is Shawhinshaw Ally, called “Imty” of Tabatinga Drive, Lethem, Rupununi. Reports are that around June 23, the man left the coastland for the Rupununi and while travelling, the fuel truck which he was operating careened on its side on the slushy roadway. Reports are that Ally decided to discharge the fuel from the truck to another truck and while

Shawhinshaw Ally doing so using a generator to power the process, fuel spilled on him and he caught afire. He was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex but was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Reports from the GPHC suggest that the man sustained burns to most of his upper body. He passed away Friday last at the GPHC.

GUYANA CHRONICLE,Monday July 9, 2018

Corentyne bridge still on the cards – but not a priority now, says President Granger

By Svetlana Marshall PRESIDENT David Granger has said that the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River that would link Guyana to Suriname is still on the cards, but for now the two countries are focused on addressing short to medium term matters of mutual interest. President Granger made the comment shortly after concluding bilateral talks with President of Suriname Desi Bouterse, on Friday at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica. “No we did not speak about that today. It is on the cards but it has not been dealt with as a matter of urgency,” he told the Guyana Chronicle when approached on the matter.

Both Guyana and Suriname have expressed an interest in the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River. To date, feasibility studies and a design of the bridge have been completed. While the bridging of the Corentyne River remains on the to do list, President Granger said that there are other important matters engaging the attention of the two countries such as the issue of piracy. “We are looking to deal with issues which can be resolved in the short and middle term to ensure that there is no lawlessness, as occurred in April,” the President said. In late April and early May, this year, there were two separate attacks on five Suriname-registered fish-

‘Ganja in footwear’ smuggler bolts from police

The items which prison officials seized on Sunday afternoon

THE authorities at the Lusignan Prison have seized various quantities of marijuana among other items following separate incidents on Sunday. Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels related that around 14:30hrs on Sunday, a man arrived at the prison checkpoint to deliver clothes and footwear for a prisoner to attend court on Monday. He said during a routine process to book the person delivering the items, the footwear appeared unusual. He said the man, after realising something was amiss, took-off after grabbing his national identification card. The officer on duty noted the man’s description which would be passed onto the police. Some 108 grams of suspected marijuana and four packets of cigarettes were seized. In an earlier incident, prison officials while conducting checks outside the prison, observed a black bag

in a drain around 09:30hrs on Sunday morning. A quantity of marijuana, lighters and other items were found inside the bag. In recent weeks, despite regular searches, prison wardens kept unearthing various forms of contraband, including cellular phones, marijuana and local wine, along with other illegalities at the prison. Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has noted that technologies, raising of salaries and professionalising the Guyana Prison Service will have to be reviewed as ways to combat what he deemed incessant and rampant corruption occurring within the prisons and which he noted is fuelling serious security breaches.

Another set of items which were found on Sunday by the prison security

ing vessels with 25 fishermen, most of whom were Guyanese. Nine of the men survived the grisly attack while at least 12 have been confirmed as missing and presumed dead. The alleged mastermind, Primnauth Persaud, 43, called “Sinbad” of Cromarty Village, and his co-accused Nakool Manohar, popularly known as “Fyah” of Number 43 Village, were later charged with two counts of murder, for allegedly killing Mahesh Sarjoo and Tillacknauth Mohabir, both fishermen, during a piracy attack in Suriname. That matter is still being investigated and local police have formally requested to be allowed to interrogate the suspects who were arrested and remain in custody in Suriname. In Guyana, June 25,

2018 was observed as a National Day of Mourning in memory of the murdered fishermen. President Granger said his meeting with President Bouterse was an agenda setting one. “Unfortunately, because of various reasons I have been travelling a lot and we have not been able to have our regular meetings, so we are just reviewing the changing situation in the Caribbean and also on the continent of South America, and in a sense we are setting the agenda for future meetings,” the President explained. Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge and Ambassador Audrey Waddell formed part of the Guyanese delegation. The meeting between

President David Granger and President of Suriname Desi Bouterse at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica

the Guyanese and Surinamese Presidents was held on the margins of the 39th Regular Meeting

of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Region One teachers benefit from leadership programme SEVENTY-ONE teachers from various communities across Region One (Barima-Waini) were taught to be fun, interactive and even efficient with limited resource. Teachers were tutored during a recent four-day training programme which was held in Mabaruma and facilitated by members of the Limited Resource Teacher Training (LRTT. The local teachers had the opportunity to interact with and be trained by the group members, which included 23 teachers from the United States of America (USA). Founded in 2012, LRTT is a social enterprise that improves the skills of teachers and rejuvenates teaching communities around the world. In 2012, the group conducted a teacher training for 26 Ugandan teachers and realised that they were doing something no one else was doing. As a result, the group developed a partnership model for teacher development and began working in Tanzania, Nepal, India, Guyana and other countries. By 2015 LRTT had trained over 3,000 teachers across nine countries around the world and were beginning to see the im-

Members of LRTT in discussion with teachers from the North West District, Region One, during the four-day training programme (LRTT photo)

pact of their programme. “Today, Fellows from around the world join our team and become educational mentors to teachers in limited resource contexts,” said LRTT on its website. One of leaders of the delegation that came to Guyana, Lexa Hernandez, said this is the group’s fourth trip to Guyana but that the batch comprised a fresh delegation of teachers who have never visited Guyana. The teachers had to operate outside of their comfort zone in order to change the mindset of the local teachers.

“We had to change it to think how we would support the teachers… it takes just mind, knowledge and strategies to teach the teachers in a fun and engaging way without resources,” said one member of the LRTT. The group observed that some of the struggles faced in the local education sector are similar to those faced in the USA, hence the group was able to relate with the Guyanese teachers. Director of Nations Incorporated, Dr. Brian O’Toole said that the group is unique and could indeed support the

local teachers. He said that Nations has partnered with LRTT to teach the Certificate in Education Leadership- a Cambridge University programme which the local institution offers. “Instead of coming once they will come twice a year to be part of the training and so forth; part of the workshop in Mabaruma actually focused on the educational leadership programme,” said O’Toole. LRTT has not only received support from Nations, but has also collaborated with the Ministry of Education to train teachers.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Thai schoolboys cave rescue ... Four saved, operations to resume today

CHIANG RAI, Thailand (Reuters) - Four of 12 Thai schoolboys were rescued from a flooded cave on Sunday, in a daring and dangerous operation to save the children and their soccer coach who have been trapped underground for more than two weeks. The operation to rescue the remaining eight boys - some as young as 11 and weak swimmers - and the coach was called off at nightfall until Monday ( today) to give the divers time to replenish oxygen supplies and ensure all preparations were complete. Thirteen foreign divers and five members of Thailand’s elite navy SEAL unit guided the boys to safety through narrow, submerged passageways that claimed the life of a former Thai navy diver on Friday.

“Today was the best day, the best situation in terms of the weather, the health of the boys, our water management for our rescue effort,” the head of the rescue operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn, told a news conference. “Today we managed to rescue and send back four children to Chiang Rai Prachanukrua Hospital safely.” The rescuers needed at least 10 hours to prepare for their next operation, involving about 90 divers in total, 50 of them from foreign countries, he said. A helicopter flew the four boys to the nearby city of Chiang Rai, where they were taken by ambulance to the hospital. Their ordeal has drawn huge media attention in Thailand and abroad, and getting the boys out safely could be a boost for Thai-

land’s junta ahead of a general election next year. “ To d a y i s D - D a y, ” Narongsak had earlier told reporters. Bursts of heavy monsoon rain soaked the Tham Luang Cave area in northern Chiang Rai province on Sunday and storms were expected in coming weeks, increasing the risks in what has been called a “war with water and time” to save the team. The boys, aged between 11 and 16, went missing with their 25-year-old coach after soccer practice on June 23, and setting out on an adventure to explore the cave complex near the border with Myanmar and celebrate a boy’s birthday. The rescue teams had rehearsed the plan for several days, Narongsak said, and had managed to drain the cave water level considerably, but needed to move fast. An Australian doctor checked the health of the boys on Saturday night and gave the all-clear for the operation to proceed.

Monday, July 09, 2018

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Tuesday, July 10, 2018

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Wednesday, July 11, 2018 Thursday, July 12, 2018

DATE: Saturday, July 07, 2018

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The boys were discovered by British divers Richard Stanton and John Volanthen on Monday. Of the 13-strong foreign dive team - mainly from Europe - three escorted the children, while the remainder were positioned along the dangerous first kilometre stretch, where the boys had to navigate through submerged passageways in some places no more than two feet (0.6 metre) wide The area outside the Chiang Rai hospital was cordoned off by police. Down the street, vendors were told by loud speaker to “keep off the road” and to “not obstruct the transfer mission”. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, leader of the military junta that seized power in 2014, planned to visit the cave site today, a government spokesman said. His visit with relatives and rescue officials last week was criticised by some Thais as opportunistic, as his government faced pro-democracy protests in the capital Bangkok in recent months.

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LONDON (Reuters) - A 44-year-old British woman died on Sunday after being exposed to the Novichok nerve agent in western England, just a few miles from where Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were struck down by the same agent four months ago. Police said they were continuing to investigate how Dawn Sturgess and a 45-year-old man, named by media as Charlie Rowley, came across an item contaminated with Novichok, which was developed by the Soviet military during the Cold War. The March attack on the Skripals prompted the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the Cold War, as allies sided with Britain’s view that Moscow was either responsible or had lost control of the nerve agent. Moscow hit back by expelling Western diplomats. The death of Sturgess was being investigated as a murder, police said in a

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Saturday, July 07, 2018

British woman dies after Novichok poisoning

Saturday, July 07, 2018

statement. Prime Minister Theresa May said she was appalled and shocked by the death. The poisoning of the Skripals with Novichok was the first known offensive use of such a chemical weapon on European soil since World War Two. Russia, which is currently hosting the soccer World Cup, has denied any involvement in the March incident and suggested the British security services had carried out the attack to stoke anti-Moscow hysteria. The two Britons had taken ill on June 30 in Amesbury, a town in southwest England, 11 km (7 miles) from Salisbury, where Skripal and his daughter Yulia were attacked in March. Police said the 45-yearold man remained critically ill in hospital. Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the head of UK Counter Terrorism policing, said Sturgess’ death was “shocking and tragic news”. The two Britons were initially thought to have taken an overdose of heroin or crack cocaine. But tests by the Porton Down military research centre showed they had been exposed to Novichok. Britain has notified the global chemical weapons watchdog, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Saturday, July 07, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Appeals Court judge reiterates order to release Lula SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Appeals Court Judge Rogerio Favreto ordered for a third time on Sunday that former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva be freed from prison. But it was unclear whether authorities would effectively carry out the ruling to release the popular former

president, as Favreto’s decision may spark a conflict of jurisdiction. Earlier in the day, Brazilian Judge Sergio Moro stymied the judge’s effort to release the jailed former president, highlighting the legal battle around the country’s most popular politician ahead of this year’s presidential election.

Moro, who sent Lula to prison in April for a bribery conviction, said the appeals court judge lacked authority to issue an order freeing him for campaigning in the run-up to the October vote. Polls suggest the leftist icon could win a third term, but Brazilian electoral law forbids politicians from running for office within eight years of

being found guilty of a crime. Still, an electoral court may not issue a final ruling barring Lula from the presidential race until next month. Sunday’s legal back-and-forth may encourage supporters holding out hope that he can still return to unite Brazil’s left. Judge Favreto, who served in the Justice Ministry under

Lula and was appointed by his handpicked successor, said in his original order that for now the former president should have the same conditions to campaign as other candidates. However, Moro said the chief justice on the appeals court instructed him not to free Lula immediately. Soon thereafter, another appellate judge responsible for the for-

mer president’s case issued a decision that he should not be released. The former president is serving time for taking bribes from an engineering firm in return for help landing contracts with a state firm. He faces another six trials for other corruption allegations. Lula has denied all wrongdoing.

Civil unrest in Haiti enters third day despite fuel hike reversal PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Mostly young protesters in Haiti blocked streets on Sunday while many damaged or looted stores remained closed for a third day, following anger over steep fuel price increases in the Caribbean nation.

Protesters used felled trees to block roadways, as well as piles of tires set on fire, many of which continued to smolder on Sunday, sending thick clouds of black smoke high into the air. Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant announced

the temporary suspension of double-digit government hikes to prices for gasoline, diesel and kerosene on Saturday afternoon - just a day after they were announced - but the unrest has continued. Across the capital, few cars and motorcycles were

Mostly young protesters blocked streets on Sunday while many damaged or looted stores remained closed for a third day. (Reuters)

moving on Sunday, while broken windows or otherwise damaged buildings were a more common sight. At a shopping centre in Petion-Ville, police attempted to secure shops that had been attacked, which were littered with broken glass and merchandise strewn on the floors. The decision to raise prices was part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which requires the impoverished country to enact

a range of austerity measures aimed at boosting government revenue and strengthening the country’s economy. Demonstrators erected flaming roadblocks on Saturday, while others attacked some businesses. “Due to continuing demonstrations, roadblocks, and violence across Portau-Prince, as well as short staffing at the airports, embassy personnel have been instructed to re-book any flights originally scheduled

for Sunday,” the U.S. embassy said in a statement. A spokesman for U.S. carrier American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O) said it had l three out of seven round trip flights scheduled to stop in Port-au-Prince on Sunday. The carrier’s Sunday route to Haiti’s Cap-Haitien airport had not been canceled. JetBlue Airways Corp (JBLU.O) also cancelled its flights to Haiti on Sunday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Resettlement programmes GUYANESE can be found all over the world selling their skills or plying their trades. Many are successful and are making significant impacts in the societies where they live. Successive governments have been calling on this demographic to return home and play a role in the nation’s growth and development. This call is yet to be met with significant success, even as more are leaving, notably among which are 80-plus percent of our tertiary-educated graduates. Human capital is important to a country’s advancement. While other countries, given their standards of living and incentives are strong pull factors, looking at our re-migrant push may require taking a hard and honest look at disincentives that serve as hindrances to achieving this. This should be done with

the aim of taking corrective action through policies, laws and programmes. A leading push factor is better and higher education. On completion, having found lucrative employment or economic opportunities to improve one’s standard of living, persons are likely to make the country their adopted home. Other factors are opportunities to improve one’s economic well-being and being the beneficiaries of family-resettlement programmes. In each instance, roots have been established that afford opportunities or the possibilities of same. For instance, home ownership can be pursued through a system that is void of undue hassle, corruption, and within one’s means to finance a mortgage. There is the availability of job opportunities where extra, available time can be used to improve one’s earnings.

The education system allows opportunities regardless of age, facilitating academic improvement and creation of new careers. Opportunities such as these help the individual/family to set goals and work towards them with less hassle and in relative comfort. Social services -including public transportation -- while not universal in quality, are seen as relatively better than what are offered in Guyana. It is unusual to hear a re-migrant -- particularly one working in the public sector-- complain about overt political intrusion into the organisation and its decision-making. There is the perception that having to be mindful of not offending the political directorate denudes the professionalism and independence public service requires. Some have returned to their adopted country rather

than facilitate it. The potential re-migrant, having lived in societies where several options are available to pursue their social, cultural and economic interests and having gotten accustomed to these, would want some options here. One issue that stands out is the acquisition of motor vehicles. Instead of having a fixed policy to qualify to import a vehicle that would attract duty-free concessions, options can be presented. One such is buying a motor vehicle here without being denied duty-free concessions. The extended benefit of this is revenue to the country and local car dealers. Apart from promoting Guyana as home in which to invest, there must be specifics and hassle-free experiences that can lure persons to return. The bureaucracy in the re-migrant scheme

should be revisited. Persons coming from societies where expectations are held that once the requirements specified to enjoy a benefit are met, such should be hassle-free on the providing business or institution. Having to go back and forth and being told a different story every time is construed as roadblocks and wanting people to beg or bribe their way for what they are entitled to. In the wanting to establish business and unleash entrepreneurial skills, aware that in the adopted country such is facilitated in an enabling environment, expectations will be that persons will be advised how they can pursue such path, rather than be told what cannot be done. What has to be taken cognisance of is that re-migrants having lived in different societies, particularly in the metropolitan countries that are forward-thinking,

pro-active and always on the go, it requires factoring in such culture in serving this demographic. This does not mean Guyanese have to abandon our unique identity, but what is required is recognition that we can learn the systems management of other countries in order to improve ours. It should be said that it is that level of open-mindedness that has influenced other countries migration programmes which continue to attract our human capital for their growth and development. Making re-migration attractive requires holistic approaches. Where weaknesses in society will be addressed to meet expectations, whereby though living in Guyana is not exactly what the re-migrant may have experienced in their adopted homes, the sense of comfort and opportunities can be assured.

Rev. Gideon sermonises Creighton on Guyana Prize for Literature Dear Editor,

I WISH to respond to Mr. Al Creighton’s Letter captioned: ‘’Al Creighton responds to Guyana Prize Critics’’ published in the Guyana Chronicle on July 5th, 2018 and the other newspapers simultaneously. In my letter published in the Guyana Chronicle and Kaieteur News pertaining to the Guyana Prize I dealt with some issues, the first I quote below from my letter dated May 18, 2018. ‘’The deadline for submission to the Guyana Prize was March 31, 2017, with the awards ceremony slated to be held in July, 2017.We are now into May 2018, about 10 months past the awards ceremony due date and writers are still waiting to be informed by Mr. Al Creighton, secretary and administrator of the prize shortlist and awards ceremony date in blind hopes.’’ May I now say we are in July 2018, one year now and Mr Al Creighton has failed to address why this incompetent Prize for Literature is now a year after submission deadline and ‘’No Award Ceremony ‘’ is held and he has the temerity to compare this flawed prize to the standard

of international prizes. I also addressed the issues where I gave a thesis on judges becoming entrants and entrants becoming judges. Mr Creighton makes a defence in his reply to me as follows: ‘’Rev. Cecil misquotes the rules from the international IMPAC Dublin Prize for Fiction to support his claim. It is basic commonsense, in fact, it is a sine qua non in any literary prize that no one can be a judge and a contestant at the same time; no one can be a member of the prize committee and enter his work in the same competition. That is standard practice: those rules do apply in the Guyana Prize and have never been violated.’’ Al Creighton Guyana Chronicle July 5th, 2018. I did not misquote the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and its rules state: “A book shall not be eligible for entry for the award if the author or translator thereof is any of the following: (1) A member of the Board of Management; (2) A member of the staff of the Dublin City Council; (3) An officer or employee of IMPAC Ltd; (4) A member of the judging panel; (5) A parent, spouse or child of any of the foregoing.” (The rules and

regulations should be integrated into The Guyana Prize for Literature brochure.) Mr. Creighton is saying to the Guyana literati and writers who submitted entries that it is okay to be an entrant one year and a judge the next year, winning the award all the time in a monotonous revolution. ‘’Here are persons who have been winners of the Guyana Prize and who have also served as judges at different times – never at the same time. This is standard practice in the large international literary prizes, and we have made this correction before in the press.’’ My concern was, it is the same judges who were entrants who were winning the prize all the time up to four or five times. No award in the world will ever allow such an unscrupulous act but ‘’The Guyana Prize for Literature’’ Mr. Creighton accepts that the Guyana Prize brochure has no such regulations to bar former judges to enter for the award. I believe such regulations should be integrated into the award brochure. In some major literary awards abroad a winner who is a well-established literary scholar

can be called to be a judge for the award, but not an entrant again and again as judge then entrant, winning it all the time. Once an entrant wins a major literary award and moved on to be a judge he/she will be barred to enter for that award again abroad. It seems to me that Mr. Creighton is trying to deceive the Guyanese public by using exquisite Latin phrases like ‘ultra vires’. Some entrants who have won a prize at an international award will sometimes be asked to submit another entry only after five years have elapsed. Why these greedy literary bureaucrats cannot live and let others live by giving them a chance, since they are already very rich? A former judge of any literary award knows the literary criteria by which an award is judged. Doesn’t the fact remain that they were fully aware of the literary criteria by which the contest was being judged and this helped them to write books to suit the judges’ criteria and thus emerge as winners? Doesn’t the fact remain that they are known to the other judges not give them an advantage over other entrants? Only a few Guyanese writers living and

working in Guyana have won the prize. The awards are going to Guyanese who have been living over 30-40 years overseas. Has the Guyana Prize for Literature helped emerging writers living and writing in Guyana? The answer is no. Writers living and writing in Guyana don’t have a publishing house here to help them get their works published. That is the reason the overseas-based Guyanese writers are winning the prize all the time; because their books are properly edited and published by international publishers, and they have already won several international literary awards abroad. So how can our local writers compete with these fully established and recognised writers? Writers who won the Guyana Prize here are not even 0.3 per cent; that is very sad. One of my major concerns is the quality of writing that has won the Guyana Prize. I have read all these books with a great deal of interest. Some of them like Essequibo; Martin Carter’s Selected Poems are great poetry that deserved the prize. Then I read some really vulgar and immoral works that are loaded with ‘cuss words,’ sexual

overtures and hardcore material that’s mind-boggling to the real academic. My question is this: how can we teach such books as literature to our young students in schools and university? What literary criteria were used to give these immoral books a prize? One of Mr. Creighton’s four-time Guyana Prize winner Harold Bascom wrote the following: ‘’Dear Minister Norton, there is a way for you to go down as the most effective Minister of Culture Guyana has ever had; and it will redeem you from being regarded as having been a mere political appointee with the least interest in culture—a square peg in a round hole.’’ July 1, 2018 Kaieteur News. That is a very disgusting and derogatory statement to the Hon Minister of Culture, Dr. George Norton, so the minister and our current administration must do the honourable thing and scrap the Guyana Prize for Literature until further notice and demote the prize secretary and the incompetent Guyana Prize board with immediate effect. Regards, Rev. Gideon Cecil

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

MO-MEN-TUM aims to uplift men By Stephan Sookram

WITH liberalisation of the local telecommunications sector and more and more channels coming on stream, one local broadcaster is looking to bring a new spark to an old flame. Wendell Badrie, host of the Mid-morning Delight has embarked on an ambitious new programme to empower men through uplifting and positive messages. During the launch and first airing last Tuesday, Badrie contended that he got the idea looking at the everyday stories of men. “Our vision of momentum is that it will not only be a radio programme, we want to take momentum to the streets, we want to take it to every community where we believe we can reach out to men and we can help to inspire, motivate and uplift men,” he added,

The programme will cater for men in the workplace, at home, in schools

and a host of other scenarios for men between ages 18-50.

Violence, abuse, employment, dating, sports, family and health, among

other issues are some of the topics the programme aims to address. It will be aired

Wendell Badrie in action during MO-MEN-TUM

Ex-soldier needs heart surgery By Leroy Smith DWAYNE Crawford, 37, a father of four young girls, all below age 12, is appealing to the public for assistance to raise $4.8million to cover the costs for a heart surgery to save his life.

ing he awoke to find that he could not move his limbs on the right side of his body. He said that he called out for his mother who rushed him to the hospital where he was hospitalised for a prolonged period. At the time, his wife who was a nurse in training, had

Dwayne Crawford

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday at his mother’s Lot 37 Prince Williams Street, Plaisance home, the young man spoke of his health challenges over the years, between 2012 to date. Crawford said one morn-

to miss her final examinations due his sudden health complication and opted to stick by his side until he got on the road to recovery. It would be until the next year that she managed to write the examination and was successful. The young man said that

he retired from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) because, according him, the salary was too meager for him to take care of his family. He moved on to working with a heavy duty equipment company and later a hotel where he performed security duties. It was a little shift from what he actually did at the GDF in his final days there, working in the communications department. Prior to him having a stroke, Crawford was diagnosed with a heart condition. He was told by a doctor that he has an enlarged heart which was so large that it puts a strain on the muscles, thus making it hard for the muscles to function effectively. At the beginning, he was required to use more than two dozen medications per day but today that number has been reduced to somewhere around 14 pills. Crawford was informed that he would need to have an implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator. A letter issued by the Caribbean Heart Institute (GHI), and seen by this publication stated that the young

man would need $3.8 million to secure and have the device installed to address his heart condition. On the July 21 at Bent and Hardina Streets, friends

on Tuesdays on 98.1 Hot FM from 20:00-22:00hrs. “We believe that we can help, we can reach out and help men to prosper and to flourish, this is Guyana and we are one people, one nation, one destiny and I believe we have what it takes to uplift, to build and to encourage each other,” Badrie said. He added that young men need to understand their roles in society and feels that the programme can help many males who are misguided and are without avenues to ask questions pertaining to their situations. The show is being powered by Five92 Tees/Roc (Courtyard Mall), Caribbean Beat Restaurant and Bar (Pike St. & Stone Ave. C/Ville), D. Boodhan & Daughter Off Licence General Store and Game Express. (ssookram@guyanachronicle.com)

-- appeals to the public for help

of Dwayne will be hosting a Bar B-Que and hang to raise funds to go towards Crawford’s medical expenses. Persons who are desirous of making a direct

contribution to the Crawford’s medical expenses can make contact with him via (+592) 682 7382, 222 4366 or Demerara Bank Account Number 2030435.

GUYANA CHRONICLE,Monday July 9, 2018

No need to replace me

– PNC chairman tells Region Five group CHAIRMAN of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Basil Williams on Sunday extoled his track record of service to the party before groups of supporters in Region Five, contending that there is no need to replace him. With the scheduled date of the PNC Congress fast approaching, Williams is seeking to retain the chairmanship of the party for a third term. During his interaction with party members, Williams spoke at length about his contributions to the struggle which led to the coalition

being voted into Government in May 2015. This, he said, qualified him for a third term as chairman. “If I was good enough to help take us into Government in May 2015 then you ought to know that you don’t change a winning team,” he said. Williams is being challenged for the post of PNC chairman by Minister of State and party executive Joseph Harmon and the party’s First Vice-Chairperson Volda Lawrence. Harmon announced his

candidacy on May 21 via a press release and a short video. Lawrence declared her candidacy the last weekend in June. During Congress scheduled to be held from August 17 to 19, party groups will choose their top leaders from a list provided by the party’s secretariat. In the electoral process, persons are placed on the list after nomination and acceptance of such. On the day of Congress, all party members in good financial standing will cast their vote for the

PNC Chairman Basil Williams addressing Region Five party members

candidate of their choice. The meeting on Sunday was held at the PNC/R office in D’Edward Village and was chaired by PNC Region Five stalwart Carol Smith Joseph and with Member of Parliament for Region Five Jennifer Wade sharing the head-table. During the meeting, Williams also listened to complaints from group members of the party. The issues ranged from problems with

A section of the audience at the Region Five meeting

the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), housing, community issues such as lack of recreational facilities and more significantly, the problems being experienced by many in relation to their rights to ancestral lands in some of the villages on the West Coast Berbice. Williams noted the comments and complaints and promised prompt follow-up actions to resolve them.

Linden Co-op Society celebrates 60th anniversary

AS Guyana celebrates National Cooperative Week 2018 under the theme: “Co-operatives: Sustainable Production and Consumption of Goods and Services”, the Linden Utility Services Co-op Society Limited (LUSCSL) is on a mission to expand its membership and services in the mining town. This was highlighted at a simple ceremony last Thursday, which saw a delegation from the Ministry of Social Protection Co-operatives Department and the Co-operative Movement in Guyana, journeying to Linden to be part of Co-op Week activities. LUSCSL was established in 1960 with 25 members and the primary aim then was to provide electricity to them. Today, it is the largest Co-op society in Guyana and one of the largest in the Caribbean with a membership of over 5,000 residents. Today, the entire western shore of Linden benefits from electricity from the

Co-op and membership is opened to all. Secretary of the Co-op George Joaquin, in a short reflection said the journey to where the society is now has not been easy, but surely was worth it. “We are approaching close to 60 years and we have had troubles coming along, it wasn’t easy but those that were there before, they would have lent the way for us to do what we are doing today,” he said. Congratulating the Coop for its rapid progression was Dana Nestor, Manager of the Guyana Credit Union League. She said the members began to think outside of the box on how to better serve the community and to provide service for a widecross section of the society. Now, 60 residents of Linden are employed at LUSCSL and it has also established an electricity supply store and document centre. LUSCSL was commended for contributing to the educational and economic development

in Linden, since electricity is needed for the pursuit of both. General Manager of LUSCSL Lyndon Younge spoke of the challenges the society faced, and now is spending millions of dollars on a metering system that will allow for a more efficient electricity service to Wismar residents. This is an approximately $56M venture, and while LUSCSL is currently facing a monthly 35-30 per cent loss, the project must see fruition. When all the requirements are fulfilled, Younge is asking for the Co-op to be granted duty-free concessions in its quest to import equipment and appliances, in addition to more support from the relevant governmental authorities. Mayor of Linden Waneka Arindell charged the executive members of LUSCSL to embark on a sensitisation campaign utilising mass media, which will allow Lindeners, especially youths, to

understand the importance of Co-op societies and how they can get involve. She also urged Lindeners to become smart and conservative consumers of electricity as a means of allowing Linden to become a sustainable town.

“The co-op society is run by the people of Wismar… I do believe that we need to let the people of Wismar understand that, and understand the importance of how we utilise the electricity given to us, every time you use a

certain amount of kilowatt, this is the amount of oil we are utilising,” she posited. National Co-operative Week will continue with other activities nationwide until Saturday.

Region 10 authorities, members and staff of LUSCSL and representatives of the Ministry of Social Protection Co-op Department

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Robotics exhibition pushes ‘embrace of technology’

COGNISANT of the irrevocable role of technology in the local and global economies, STEM Guyana hosted its second annual Robotics exhibition, with the aim of helping Guyana to embrace technology. Speaking at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday, where the exhibition was held, First Lady Sandra Granger stressed, “You must embrace technology because technology has already embraced us even though some of us don’t think about it,” and added, “Our lives are attuned to technology.” She explained that em-

by women will become obsolete,” the First Lady said. In keeping with this, STEM clubs from across the country had their robot creations on display at the exhibition. Each robot illustrated the very same sentiments that the First Lady advanced, that robotic solutions are the wave of the future. The Belladrum Stem club for example, which was awarded at the exhibition for being the most outstanding club, had designed their robot to separate recyclable and non-recyclable waste materials. The Kuru Kururu STEM club had a bot

playing field.. The robot was designed to address the issue of depleting clean water reserves. With the youth taking the fore of addressing solutions through the use of technology, the First Lady highlighted the role communities have to play in ensuring that children can become involved in technology. Here, the First Lady singled out the Belladrum community as one where she has seen a communal spirit to foster the children’s development in STEM. Adding to the First Lady’s sentiments was founder

First Lady Sandra Granger visited each of the clubs that had their robots on display bracing technology will enable persons to become “relevant” in the 21st century and thus knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is crucial. “In a few years, 60 per cent of our jobs will be done by computers, 70 per cent will require knowledge of computer science and 90 per cent of the jobs being done

modeled after an oil rig. And, even the Tuschen Deaf Academy showed that they were not to be left out of the wave of technology consuming Guyana with their snake-lit robot. The 2017 Team that represented Guyana at the First Global International Youth Robotics Competition also had on display their ‘Megathurium’ robot and

of STEM Guyana, Karen Abrams, who pointedly said, “We’re here because we’re trying to expose our young people in Guyana to technology. We want them to be able to get a job in the next 25 years; we want our young people to be prepared for those jobs.” Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, Abrams noted that since 2016 when the ro-

Brexit Secretary David Davis resigns

BREXIT Secretary David Davis has resigned from the UK government. His resignation comes days after Theresa May secured the Cabinet’s backing for her Brexit plan despite claims from critics that it was “soft”. Mr Davis was appointed to the post in 2016 and was responsible for negotiating the UK’s EU withdrawal. Junior minister Steven Baker quit shortly after Mr Davis - as Mrs May prepares to face MPs and peers on Monday. In his resignation letter, Mr Davis told Mrs May “the current trend of policy and tactics” was making it “look less and less likely” that the UK would leave the customs union and single market. He said he was “unpersuaded” that the government’s negotiating approach “will not just lead to further demands for concessions” from Brussels.

Mr Davis said: “The general direction of policy will leave us in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one.” In her reply, Mrs May said: “I do not agree with your characterisation of the policy we agreed at Cabinet on Friday.” She said she was “sorry” he was leaving but would “like to thank you warmly for everything you have done... to shape our departure from the EU”. Brexiteer Conservative MP Peter Bone hailed the resignation as a “principled and brave decision”, adding: “The PM’s proposals for a Brexit in name only are not acceptable.” Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said: “This is absolute chaos and Theresa May has no authority left.” Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mrs May was “incapable of delivering Brexit”. (BBC News)

botics camps were first introduced, Guyanese have been more attuned to technology. “I feel like STEM Guyana inspired a movement in Guyana and it’s a movement that I am proud of,” she said, highlighting that the technology industry was greatly developed and stakeholders like the private sector, dias-

pora and government have been eager to develop it. Recently, 18 teams from various communities developed STEM clubs and participated in the National Robotics and Coding League, showing that this technology has been spreading across Guyana. Abrams disclosed, “We want to have

100 teams, and it’s not impossible because we’ve had enquires from almost 100 teams.” But she noted that the process of streamlining has taken some time because the organisation has to work to “iron out the kinks” to better accommodate the teams.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Don’t take out your pain on children

WHEN parents decide to go their separate ways, only they know the emotional turmoil, bitterness, resentment, heartache, pain and suffering that may or may not have been involved in their decision to part. There are so many emotional scenarios that exist between men and women, that no lay person can get involved, take sides or give meaningful advice: that is, unless the couple seek that kind of help, professionally. During these trying times children should get first consideration. Every decision parents make should be for ‘their’ sense of well-being and in ‘their’ best interests. However, children are usually left on the back burner while adults do the type of things that adults do, when they think their world is falling apart or they are in the throes of emotional trauma. There is no denying that some ‘break-ups’ can be traumatic, unexpected and even lead some people into states of temporary depression, because there is no quick-fix to the situation and hardly any light at the end of the tunnel. But how one copes with these circumstances, can be the decisive factor as to the type

of impact the ‘break-up’ will have on the children in the family and in the long-term, on how they are likely to cope in their adult relationships. Children are in jeopardy when parents part; it is not just the adults who might feel pain or loss, the loss can be equally as distressing for a child. But while grown-ups may find various ways to deal with their feelings (because they should have some form of coping skills), children tend to internalise what they are going through. Their coping skills, along with their emotional and other skills, are still developing. Parents are busy sorting out their lives, just before, during and even after a ‘break-up’, but in the midst of their drama, they need to make some special time to talk to their children. Explaining things to them and finding out how they feel about the changes and new arrangements that are being made to their lives. Parents can learn a lot from their children’s opinions, should they care to enquire. Children in the midst of a ‘break-up’ need to be reassured constantly that the separation is not their fault and that they are still loved by their parents. When children are hurt by childhood trauma, they sometimes

manifest delinquent behaviour as a way of ‘acting out’ their distraught, pentup emotions. They may feel angry and vexed with the world, but unable to explain the reason why. After a ‘break-up’, parents should work together as a team, to continue to raise their children in an amicable and healthy environment. Even if there is still some resentment, hostility or ‘bad feelings’ lurking between parents, this should not be visited on the child and the child should never bear witness to any ‘outbursts,’ bad words or cursing that takes place between parents. It is important for children to see their parents, though separated, as a united front, making decisions together about their future. Children can ‘pick up’ on the contention that sometimes exists between separated parents and in time, they learn to use the lack of communication and disharmony to their advantage. This usually results in the child ‘playing’ one parent against the other and becoming wayward, while manipulating the situation to suit his/her own advantage. But whether parents are together or separated, and whether the mother or father is a ‘dead beat’

parent or not, a child will always want to know his/ her parents and no one has the right to prevent a child knowing his/her parent, unless the parent is a paedophile or some other type of dangerous perpetrator. Some of the saddest custody (or access) cases are those where parents (mother or father) are deliberately being kept apart from their children. This usually happens when the custodial parent is holding on to some type of pain and feels justified in hurting others as a way of attempting to ease ‘their’ pain. But as usual, it’s the child who ends up suffering the most. Not only by being denied access to his/her estranged parent, but eventually it could affect the adult relationships, that the child will eventually have with others. If you identify with any of the negative scenarios on this page, you can make the decision today to move on with your life, ‘wise up’ and put the children first. If you are concerned about the welfare of a child you can ring the CPA hotline 227 0979 or email chilcaregy@gmail. com A Message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection

Gaskin gives audience to minibus operators –– looks at mandatory training for players in the sector

THE Ministry of Business is analysing the operational costs for minibus operators in the country and will be looking into the introduction of mandatory training in the sector. The ministry in a release, said it met with the United Minibus Union (UMU) on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, to discuss the proposal put forward which called for an increase in fares, among other requests. “It was agreed that the Ministry of Business will undertake an analysis of the cost of operating minibuses along the various licensed routes for the purpose of assessing the proposal for a fare increase. “To this end, the United Minibus Union provided data on various aspects of the sector and agreed to provide additional data where necessary upon request,” the statement said. UMU President Eon Andrews, said the matter of training was brought up by the union as it firmly believes that both bus drivers and conductors ought to be trained in the field of hospitality. Andrews told the Guyana Chronicle that he advised that there be an attendance record kept for the trainings and an awarded certificate upon completion which will ensure that operators meet a higher standard. The release also stated that discussions were had on the development of strategies to better enforce existing laws and regulations. “The police can’t see six people in seat and just go around the corner. Somebody ought to monitor [these activities] and if there are rogue elements there must be something in place to monitor these kinds of occurrences,” Andrews said. Overall, Andrews said the meeting was an extremely cordial one and he believes that Business Minister Dominic Gaskin has the best interest of minibus operators at heart. “It was extremely cordial. I think he is a very respectful and understanding minister and he understands what minibus persons go through. It was a very good meeting, he seems to be on the ball,” Andrews added. The UMU and the Business Ministry are set to meet again in the next month and the ministry has agreed to examine the matters put forward, making recommendations at Cabinet and to the union where necessary.

GUYANA CHRONICLE,Monday July 9, 2018

CARICOM firmly behind Guyana in border case

By Svetlana Marshall HEADS of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reiterated their firm and unswerving support for the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana as the Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy engages the attention of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The heads of government of the regional bloc renewed their support for Guyana during their just concluded 39th Meeting of Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The regional summit was attended by President David Granger, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, and Ambassador Audrey Waddell. Upon being updated on the most recent developments between Guyana

and Venezuela, the regional leaders took note of the fact that Guyana had filed its application with the ICJ on March 29, 2018, in accordance with the decision of the United Nations Secretary General, which was issued on January 30, 2018 to choose the international court as the means that is now to be used for the settlement of the controversy between the two countries. “Heads of Government further noted that Venezuela had indicated its decision not to participate in the case and that in such a case, the rules of the court provide for a full hearing of the case and a final judgement that is legally binding on both the participating and non-participating countries,” the CARICOM Secretariat said in a statement. In offering its renewed support to Guyana, the heads

of government also expressed support for the judicial process which is intended to bring a peaceful and definitive end to the long-standing matter. The country’s boundary with Venezuela was established by international law since 1899. Meanwhile, the heads of government were also briefed on the most recent developments between Belize and Guatemala. “Heads of government expressed concern that the undertaking by both countries and the Organisation of American States (OAS) to engage in the design and development of a mechanism of co-operation for the Sarstoon River remains outstanding and urged both countries and the OAS to reinvigorate their efforts to this end,” the CARICOM Secretariat said. The regional leaders,

however, noted with satisfaction that in accordance with the Special Agreement to submit Guatemala’s Claim to the International Court of Justice, Guatemala successfully held its referendum on April 15, 2018, to submit its claim on Belize to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a final resolution. Belize is currently engaged in a nationwide public education campaign to prepare Belizeans to make an informed decision for its own referendum, scheduled to be held April 10, 2019. “Heads of government expressed support for the crucial role of the OAS in the process aimed at resolving the dispute, arising from Guatemala’s claims on Belize and further called on the international community to continue supporting the OAS office in the adjacency zone,” the secretariat further stated.

CARICOM leaders have reiterated their unwavering support for preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana as the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy engages the attention of the ICJ

As in the case of Guyana,

support for the sovereignty,

the heads of government un-

territorial integrity and secu-

derscored their unwavering

rity of Belize.

STEM Guyana 2018 team raring to go

AFTER placing 10th out of 165 countries at their first international robotics competition, STEM Guyana is looking to dominate once again at the 2018 edition of the First Global robotics competition in Mexico this August. The Guyana Chronicle was also able to exclusively garner information on the team that will be representing Guyana at the First Global Challenge this year, during August 16 to 18 at the Arena Ciudad de México. The team members this year are: last year’s team captain Ryan Benschop; Arianna Mahase, Jahi Omari Ghansham, Sahief Poese and team extra, Ghwan Lynch. First lady Sandra Granger, who spoke at the second annual robotics exhibition held on Saturday, said, “I think we are in for great things. Our team had 10 months of experience in robotics and placed 10th out of 165 countries …So I expect much greater results [this year].” Last year, though the team had about only 10 months of experience in the field, they were able to place

first at the end of the first day of the competition. On the second day however, the team was brought down after being placed in alliances with less capable robots. Founder of the STEM Guyana and pioneer of robotics in Guyana, Karen Abrams, reflecting on last year’s performance, said: “The competition is 80 percent skill and 20 luck, or maybe a 70/30 and I believe that we’re going to have an excellent robot, so I feel like the 70 percent is under control, but who the teams get paired up with is out of the team’s control.” However, the team is hoping to perform just as well with their Panthera Onca (scientific name for Jaguar) robot. The challenge this year will be structured around “Energy Impact” and tackling energy-efficiency problems that participants have to use their robots to solve. Team manager Farnaz Baksh, explained to the Guyana Chronicle that the playing field this year is much larger and there are many more ways to score points. The teams will once

First Lady Sandra Granger at the second Annual Robotics Exhibition on Saturday

again be playing in alliances and will use replicas of four power generators -- solar, wind, shared reaction and combustion-- on the “field”

(the playing arena). The robots will be tasked with working to generate power for the villages. This year’s competition

is expected to bring together more than 1,300 youth, ages 14-18, from over 180 countries. The competitors will be tasked with solving

energy-efficiency problems with the robots they have built and through alliances with other countries.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Young Pioneers hosts first blood drive

A LOCAL non-governmental organisation (NGO) Young Pioneers hosted its first blood drive at the blood bank on Saturday morning. The group conducted the activity to address the long-standing need for blood at the blood bank. Members of the group, particularly its West Coast Demerara (WCD) branch, said giving blood is a life-saving gesture for the person or persons in need of blood. The absence or presence of blood at the crucial moment means life or death for a patient. The group was able to secure 17 units of blood for the bank. Blood is used for elective surgeries (hysterectomies, mastectomy, etc.) as well as emergency surgeries, (especially in motor vehicular accidents and for victims of crime). It is required for treating patients suffering from cancer, bleeding disorders, chronic anaemia associated with cancer, sickle cell anaemia,

and other hereditary blood abnormalities. Blood is also life-saving in the maternal and child health department for complicated deliveries. “Remember that when you decide to roll up your sleeves and sit down in that chair to give blood, know with certainty that you are making a major difference in your life and most importantly in the life of a patient,” said leader of the WCD division of the group, Sasha Rawof. Young Pioneers, founded by Shivanie Rampersaud, is a charitable organisation that focuses on youth development and community work. The organisation was founded in 2013, aims to expose youth to capacity building opportunities while reminding them of their duties towards society through engaging in charitable projects. It has conducted numerous online awareness campaigns in areas of suicide prevention, body shaming,

– secures 17 units of blood

A donor is flanked by members of the WCD branch of the Young Pioneers (Adrian Narine photo) importance of the Sustainable Development Goals, gender equality, hosted food, clothing and books distributions, training ses-

sions and workshops, visits to elderly homes and orphanages, fundraisers for patients in need of medical care and surgeries, among

others. The group is divided into various districts to expand its reach and currently groups are in three

locations, West Bank-West Coast Demerara, East Coast Demerara-Georgetown and Berbice with approximately 22 members.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Windies opener into top 20 test batsmen

CMC – OPENER Kraigg Brathwaite and Kemar Roach have surged into the top 20 of the ICC players rankings following outstanding performances in the just concluded opening Test against Bangladesh. In the latest Test rankings released Saturday, Brathwaite had moved up five spots to be 16th in the batting charts while Roach jumped four places to 20th in the bowling category. The 25-year-old Brathwaite struck 121 in the Windies first innings of 406 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, to record his seventh Test hundred in 48 matches. Stroke-maker Shai Hope, who scored 67, moved six places to 32nd while stylish lefthander Kieran Powell leaped five spots to 61st. Captain Jason Holder, meanwhile, has moved two places to 52nd. Australian star Steve Smith, currently serving a ban from international cricket, heads an unchanged top 10. Roach, meanwhile, is now the second West Indies player in the top 20 in the bowling rankings, after becoming only the third player in history to claim five scalps in the space of 12 deliveries in Tests when he routed Bangladesh for a record low 43 in their first innings last Wednesday. The 30-year-old posted magnificent figures of 5-18-5 inside the first hour of

Kemar Roach on the opening day of the first Test between West Indies and Bangladesh on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. © CWI Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography

the contest, leading to him being adjudged Man-ofthe-Match. Seamer, Jason Holder moved to a career-best 23rd position after jumping two places while Miguel Cummins, who struggled in the previous series against Sri Lanka, has gained 12 spots to be up to 55th following his five-wicket match haul. Speedster, Shannon Gabriel has been installed at 11th, after picking up a five-wicket haul in the second innings. Exciting South African pacer, Kagiso Rabada, sits on top of an unchanged top 10.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday July 09, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & Cummings Electrical Company Ltd. 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Shannon Gabriel - 8/62 (St. Lucia) (2) Lahiru Kumara - 4/48 (Barbados) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who had the best bowling figures in a match for the WI in the recent Test series against SL? (2) Who had the best bowling figures in a match for SL in the recent Test series against the WI? Answer in tomorrow's issue

South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:20 hrs Kazuri 08:55 hrs Grape Vine 09:35 hrs Mangrove 10:10 hrs Scribo 10:45 hrs Cowgirlinthesand Ayr 09:00 hrs Baronial Pride 09:30 hrs Your Pal Tal 10:35 hrs Marnie James 11:05 hrs Parys Mountain 11:40 hrs Luv U Whatever 12:10 hrs Jaalboot 12:45 hrs Robben Rainbow American Racing Tips Delware Park Race 1 Sleepin N Cheatin Race 2 Three Phase Race 3 Strongbaksteeltoes Race 4 Geebop Race 5 Double Cross Race 6 Gator Girl Race 7 Rockin Cowboy Race 8 Bioterp Race 9 Big Ben AA

Irish Racing Tips Roscommon 12:50 hrs Christmas 13:20 hrs Ice Storm 13:50 hrs Alfirak 14:20 hrs Bongiorno 14:50 hrs Check Your Pockets 15:20 hrs Mustajeer Wolverhampton 09:10 hrs Bee Machine 09:40 hrs Navarra Princess 10:15 hrs Maldonado 10:45 hrs Nikita 11:15 hrsPitch High 11:50 hrs My Fantasea 12:20 hrs Esspeegee 12:55 hrs Enmeshing English Racing Tips Worcester 08:50 hrs Cruising Bye 09:20 hrs Newtown Geronimo 09:50 hrs Lord Condi 10:25 hrs Holryale 10:55 hrs Beach Break 11:25 hrs Weightfordave 12:00 hrs Howlongisafoot 12:30 hrs Aardwolf

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Vettel wins in Britain (REUTERS) - SEBASTIAN Vettel won a thrilling British Grand Prix for Ferrari on Sunday to deny Lewis Hamilton a fifth successive home victory and move eight points clear at the top of the Formula One standings. In a race with two late safety car periods, reigning champion Hamilton went from pole position to the rear of the field before finishing second for Mercedes in a superb fightback. The Briton appeared drained by the effort, and

deeply unimpressed by a firstlap collision with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen that sent him spinning to the back. Raikkonen ended up a close third, after incurring a 10-second penalty. The win was Vettel’s fourth of the season, 51st of his career, and once-dominant champions Mercedes’ first defeat at Silverstone since 2012 before the V6 turbo hybrid era started. “You’re a lion,” the elated team told him over the radio at the chequered flag as they celebrated Ferrari’s first win

in Britain since 2011. “I was a bit concerned going into the race but I was fine, probably a bit of adrenaline,” said the German, who had struggled with a neck strain on Saturday. “The neck held up and that was a race I enjoyed a lot and I think the people enjoyed it a lot.” Hamilton was on a charge from the first lap, back up to seventh after nine laps but still 26 seconds behind his fellow four-times world champion. The appearance of the

safety car on the 33rd of 52 laps, after Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson crashed at Abbey, was greeted with a huge cheer from the 140,500 crowd who had already cheered Hamilton’s every overtake. Vettel and Raikkonen pitted but Mercedes kept their drivers out, assuring Hamilton that he was “the fastest guy by miles” with everything to play for on tyres that would last the distance. Hamilton’s team mate Valtteri Bottas led and might have won but for a second

safety car, after Renault’s Carlos Sainz and Haas’s Romain Grosjean collided, that kept the front four nose to tail and only fractions apart. Vettel passed Bottas at Brooklands five laps from the end, with the Finn’s tyres fading, and Hamilton was also through a lap later and the chase was on to the finish with the German winning by 2.2 seconds. “This is the greatest race of the year and the greatest crowd, I am sorry I could not bring it home for you today,” Hamilton told the crowd. “I will not give up, believe me, I will not give up.

Race winner Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Ferrari celebrates on the podium during the Formula One Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on July 8, 2018 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Federer, Nadal and Williams in action today (BBC) - ROGER Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams will all be in action on ‘Manic Monday’ at Wimbledon. With all of the men’s and women’s last 16 singles ties taking place, it is one of the most exciting days in the tennis calendar. Defending champion Federer faces French 22nd seed Adrian Mannarino while twotime champion Nadal plays Jiri

Vesely. Seven-time winner Williams, the favourite for the women’s title, plays Russian qualifier Evgeniya Rodina. Three-time champion Novak Djokovic will play Karen Khachanov while Gael Monfils meets eighth seed Kevin Anderson. Karolina Pliskova, the only remaining women’s top 10 seed, plays world number 20 Kiki Bertens.

Federer made serene progress through the first three rounds, extending his run of consecutive sets won at Wimbledon to 29 as he bids for a record-extending ninth men’s title. The Swiss swept aside big-hitting Jan-Lennard Struff in one hour and 34 minutes in round three but said he is pleased at the variety of opponents he has played so far.

“It’s good that I faced different types of opponents I think in this first week, and was able to find a way to get through,” Federer said. “I think it’s always helpful. He is a hard hitter. In the next round it will be a lefty. It will be much more of a strategic match, I believe.” Nadal, another player who is yet to drop a set, plays another left-hander in Czech Vesely, the world number 93.

The women’s singles event has seen a record number of shocks this year with only seven of the 32 seeds making it to the second week. The pre-tournament debate surrounded whether Williams, now the world number 181, should have been seeded for this year’s Championships as she continues her return following the birth of her daughter. The American was seeded

at 25 and is now favourite to win an eighth title but she insists she has “nothing to lose” going into the latter stages. “I have absolutely nothing to prove. Everything is a bonus,” she said. “Every time I step out there, I know what I’m capable of. I know every Grand Slam, I’ve won them, I’m capable of just going out there and enjoying it.

Sagan wins Tour de France stage two (BBC) - WORLD champion Peter Sagan won stage two of the Tour de France to take the overall race lead. The Slovak surged past French hope Arnaud Demare on the slight incline to the finish and held off the fast-finishing Italian, Sonny Colbrelli. Sagan took the yellow jersey from stage-one winner, Fernando Gaviria, who was unable to contest the sprint after being held up by a late crash. Defending champion Chris Froome avoided the pile-up to finish in the peloton. After his crash on stage one, Froome will be happy to get through stage two unscathed and his Team Sky teammates worked hard in the closing kilometres to keep him up near the front of the race and out of danger. His teammate Geraint Thomas is the highest-placed British rider, in seventh, 15 seconds adrift of Sagan. Thomas, who says he is being given a freer role by Team Sky in the opening week, could find himself in the yellow jersey after Monday’s third stage, which is a 35.5km team time trial. He said: “We’re communicating well and riding well; the guys are doing well for me and Froome. “We’ll try to get the stage win first in the team time trial

and then if we do end up in yellow that would be a nice bonus.” Four-time winner Froome is one minute seven seconds down on Sagan, as are rivals Richie Porte and Adam Yates, who crashed again on stage two but was able to recover quickly. They remain 51 seconds down on the other main contenders Romain Bardet, Tom Dumoulin, Mikel Landa, Vincenzo Nibali and Rigoberto Uran. British sprinter Mark Cavendish was caught behind the late crash, ensuring the Dimension Data rider was again unable to contest the finale. Bora-Hansgrohe rider Sagan provided yet another reminder of his supreme allround talents in securing his ninth Tour de France stage victory after a 182.5km race to La Roche-sur-Yon in the Vendee. The 2018 Paris-Roubaix winner showed great positional sense and bike-handling to ensure he was not caught up in the crash on a right-hand bend inside the final two kilometres before kicking clear of his rivals on the uphill drag to the finish. He also claimed 17 points for second place at the intermediate sprint, behind solo breakaway rider Sylvain Chavanel, to establish a 26-point lead over Gaviria in the green jersey

points classification. With Sagan also able to contest stages over hilly terrain, it is already looking very difficult for any rider to deny

him a record-equalling sixth green jersey, tying the mark of former German sprinter Erik Zabel. “I have to say a big thanks

to all my team-mates because they were at the front for the last 30km - in the end I expected something easier but it was really tough,” said Sagan.

However, he added that he would be in yellow “just for one day” as he expects to lose the race lead in Monday’s team time trial.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Pace and power in Tuesday’s France-Belgium semi (REUTERS) - A compelling cast of players, two attacking teams propelled by great pace and a clash between neighbours to boot. There seems very little to stop Belgium and France producing a World Cup classic in Tuesday’s semi-final. Both teams boast a rich assembly of match-winning players – Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard for Belgium and Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe for the French – but have also shown a strength of character that adds to their tournament-winning credentials. Belgium’s come-frombehind win in the last 25 minutes of their second round tie against Japan would have made Roy of the Rovers envious while France produced a venomous sting in their tale to sweep past Argentina, after also finding themselves trailing in the second half. Both have built off a slow start at the tournament in Russia, seemingly set to peak just at the right time. The predominant weapon

Kylian Mbappe (10) and Antoine Griezmann (7) during 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Quarter Final match between Uruguay and France at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on July 6, 2018 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. (Photo by Mehdi Taamallah/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

for both teams is their speed going forward, catapulting players with instinctive talent into positions from where their genius can prove lethal. Both sides will be cautious about being sucked forward and leaving space behind their defence for the opposition to launch quick

counters, until someone takes the lead. Instead, the contest is likely to be about passing and probing and waiting for some magic to prise open the defence. The midfield battle promises intrigue too, none more so than Paul Pogba muscling

Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium celebrates with Romulu Lukaku (9) after scoring his team’s second during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Quarter Final match between Brazil and Belgium at Kazan Arena on July 6, 2018 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Image

it out with Manchester United teammate Marouane Fellaini. Belgium reinforced for the quarter-final win against Brazil and France will have Blaise Matudi back from suspension for Tuesday’s game at the Saint Petersburg Stadium. It means Corentin Tolisso will lose his place

Team Russia overwhelmed by fan support memories. They’ve given us belief that we are a genuine footballing country.” The crowd kept on chanting ‘thank you’ and ‘well done’ the entire time the squad and coaching staff were on stage at the Fan Fest. When captain Igor Akinfeev and talisman Artem Dzyuba were handed the microphone to address the fans, all of Vorobyovy Gory was drowned out in applause. Even Fedor Smolov, who missed his effort from the penalty spot yesterday, was greeted as a hero, his nickname ‘Fedya’ roared into the afternoon sky. The national team has never been greeted so warmly, not even after their stunning performance The Russian Football Team receive hearty cheers just one day after at UEFA EURO 2008, when they being knocked out of the FIFA world cup 2018 reached the semi-final. The recep(FIFA) - THE day after their managed to defy all the pre-tour- tion culminated in a joint rendition hard-fought defeat at the hands nament predictions, not only qual- by squad and fans of the national of Croatia in the quarter-finals ifying from the group but even anthem of the Russian Federation. “It’d be fantastic if the Sborof the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, beating the 2010 world champions naya organised a tour of Russian Russia visited the FIFA Fan Fest Spain in the Round of 16. in Moscow to personally thank “As soon as I found out there cities and met the fans all over the fans for their unbelievable was going to be a reception with the country,” said Anton Vorosupport throughout the tourna- the Sbornaya, I dropped everything nin from Krasnodar, who was at ment. and drove with my husband to the historic match against Spain In turn, thousands of ecstatic Moscow,” said Anastasiya, a fan at the Luzhniki Stadium in the fans showed up on Vorobyovy from Tver who travelled for over Round of 16. “How could you Gory on Sunday to thank their three hours to reach the capital. “I not be proud of these lads. My heroes for an amazing World Cup. really wanted to see in the flesh the mum and sister watched every The quarter-final result still stings men who gave us such a fairy-tale one of their World Cup games at for Stanislav Cherchesov’s side, celebration. Huge ‘thanks’ to the my place, passionately supportbut it was overshadowed by a guys for their performances, the ing them, and they have never sense of pride for the team, who emotions and the unforgettable watched football in their lives!”

in what is likely the only change from the France team that beat Uruguay 2-0 in the quarter-final on Friday. Against Japan, Belgium were harried and corralled by their opponent’s pressing and made clever changes for the next game against Brazil, where Fellaini and

Nacer Chadli came in. Chadli played higher up the middle with Romelu Lukaku switched to the right and De Bruyne employed as a decoy centre forward, the so-called ‘false nine’. There will be further adjustments from coach Roberto Martinez following the suspension of Thomas Meunier, who would have been entrusted to keep Mbappe quite. Martinez will either bring back Yannick Carrasco or shift Jan Vertongen across. Standing in the way of the rich selection of potential match winning performers on either side are two outstanding goalkeepers. Hugo Lloris made arguably the save of the tournament to keep intact France’s half-time lead over Uruguay on Friday and Thibault Courtois’ tip-over save from Neymar near the end of Belgium’s 2-1 triumph over Brazil later the same day drew a ‘Hand of God’ headline in the Belgian press the next morning.

Gayle deals West Indies B first loss in Global T20 CMC – SUPERSTAR Chris Gayle fired for the first time, smashing a half-century to help Vancouver Knights deal West Indies B their first defeat of the Global T20 Canada league here Sunday. Sent in at the Maple Leaf NorthWest Ground, Knights piled up 175 for four off their 20 overs, with the left-handed Gayle stroking 63. West Indies B’s run chase never took flight and they were bowled out for 140 in the final over, to suffer a 35-run defeat. They remain top of the standings on eight points but are now just one clear of the second placed Knights on seven points. Windies B were in early trouble when they slumped to 59 for six in the eighth over but Kavem Hodge, who top-scored with 43, put on a valuable 71 for the seventh wicket with Fabian Allen (29) to revive the innings. Hodge struck three fours and a pair of sixes in a 39-ball knock while Allen belted three sixes in his 25-ball stay at the crease. Both perished in successive overs with Allen bowled by a full length delivery from West Indies star Andre Russell and Hodge missing a swing at another Windies speedster Sheldon Cottrell and going bowled leg stump. The innings folded quickly as the last five wickets tumbled for 10 runs. Gayle, who had mustered just 21

runs from his previous three innings, had earlier blasted five fours and four sixes off 55 balls as he and Evin Lewis (22) put on 50 for the opening stand after Knights were sent in. Lewis and Chadwick Walton (0) fell in the space of three balls in the sixth over but Gayle added a further 71 for the third wicket with Rassie van der Dussen (30) to ensure a recovery. Russell loosened his shoulders late on, smashing a four and four sixes in an 18-ball cameo. Just 24 hours later, all-rounder Justin Greaves proved his worth for the second game running, as he led West Indies B to a convincing eight-wicket win over Toronto Nationals. Chasing a paltry 129 for victory at Maple Leaf North-West Ground, the Caribbean side notched their fourth straight victory, overhauling their target in the 15th over. Greaves hit 45 from 33 balls as he put on 64 off just 34 balls for the first wicket with Sherfane Rutherford whose 37 came from only 18 balls and included two fours and four sixes. Earlier, Greaves had used his pace to good effect to finish with two for 20 from his four overs, as Nationals were restricted to 128 for five, despite former Australia captain Steve Smith’s unbeaten 55.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Sharma ton secures England series for India (BBC) - ROHIT Sharma made a stunning 100 not out to help India beat England by seven wickets in the third Twenty20 and secure a 2-1 series victory. England, batting first, could manage only 87 runs from the final 10 overs to post 198-8 in Bristol, despite Jason Roy’s 67 from 31 balls. Rohit shared an 89-run stand with Virat Kohli and accelerated in the final overs to put India in control. He and Hardik Pandya closed out the match with eight balls to spare. It was the highest successful run chase by any team against England in an international T20. Three terrific catches one from Jake Ball and two by Chris Jordan - interrupted India’s chase. However, Pandya took 20 runs from the 18th over bowled by Ball - to put India ahead of the run-rate and turn the match firmly in their favour. A lofted drive from Pan-

dya, who made an unbeaten 33 from 14 balls, secured an impressive victory from India in front of a packed crowd. A three-match one-day series starts on Thursday at Trent Bridge, before the first of five Tests gets under way

on 1 August. England’s leading Test wicket-taker James Anderson remarked that it was “not a day to be a bowler” as both sides made hay on a good pitch with short boundaries. The bowlers had their

moments, certainly. Seven wickets went down in the final 10 overs of England’s innings and Ben Stokes returning to the side after a hamstring injury in place of Joe Root - bowled smartly to restrict India at the start of

their reply. Some terrific displays of athleticism in the field, such as Jordan’s stunning run and catch to dismiss KL Rahul, momentarily tipped things back in the favour of the fielding side too. But on a pitch where anything that was too short or full could be flayed to the boundary, it rarely felt as though it was an even contest between bat and ball. India rarely looked troubled in their run-chase, despite losing Shikhar Dhawan early to a superb, low catch from Ball at short fine leg. Any hopes England had of applying pressure were snuffed out by Rahul, who arrived at the crease and drove his first delivery to the boundary. Only moments of brilliance from England kept India in check. Rahul pounced on Ball, striking him for a straight six, but when he tried to repeat the shot, Jordan sprinted to his right at long-

on to take a diving catch that left the batsman shaking his head. But India’s strength in depth meant the runs just kept coming. Kohli and Rohit’s partnership mixed patience and aggression, the two seeing off sole spinner Adil Rashid before hitting the pace bowlers to all sides of the ground. Kohli was left in disbelief when he drove a delivery straight back to Jordan, who took a catch at waist height, but Pandya picked up where the captain had left off. England captain Eoin Morgan shuffled his bowlers but saw David Willey hoisted over long-off for six by Rohit, before Pandya angled the same bowler for back-to-back fours in the 18th over. A dab to backward point brought Rohit his third T20 century, before Pandya hammered a Jordan delivery back over his head to close out the win in emphatic style.

Zaman smashes Aussies Half centuries for du Plessis, to win Tri-Series trophy Amla and Bavuma in warm-up

Fakhar Zaman scoops a ball over square leg, Australia v Pakistan, Zimbabwe tri-series final, Harare, July 8, 2018 ©Associated Press

(REUTERS) - OPENER Fakhar Zaman smashed a career-best 91 from 46 balls as Pakistan defeated Australia by six wickets in a record run chase to lift the tri-series trophy at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe on Sunday. Australia won the toss and elected to bat on a flat track in the final, posting 183 for eight in their 20 overs with the innings anchored by opener D’Arcy Short’s stylish 76 from 53 balls. Pakistan were in trouble early on in their reply as they lost their first two wickets with just two runs on the

scoreboard. But Zaman launched a ferocious counter-attack with an innings that included 12 fours and three sixes, bringing up his half-century in 30 balls. Pakistan, who top the global rankings in Twenty20 cricket, won the game with four balls to spare to secure victory in the final of the series that also involved hosts Zimbabwe. It is Pakistan’s highest successful run chase in Twenty20 International cricket and their ninth successive series win in the shortest format of the game. “It was a great team effort.

Credit to the bowlers and then Fakhar Zaman and (Shoaib) Malik (43 not out) finished it for us,” Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said at the post-match presentation. “There were some dropped catches in the field but we took the momentum in the second innings. Credit to the boys and management.” Australia skipper Aaron Finch (47), who shared a run-a-ball opening stand of 95 with Short, felt his side should have posted closer to 200 on what was a good batting wicket. “I thought we should have got around 200 and we just kept losing wickets, which stalled the momentum,” he said. “Pakistan played well. I thought we started well with the ball but Fakhar Zaman played one hell of a knock. A 90-odd in a T20 game is hard to beat.” Pakistan handed a debut to opener Sahibzada Farhan, who was out for a duck without facing a legal delivery. Seamer Glenn Maxwell’s ball to him slid down the legside and was called a wide, but the batsman fell over in the crease and was stumped by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

(ESPNCRICINFO) FAF du Plessis, Hashim Amla and Temba Bavuma all made half-centuries on the second day of South Africa’s practice match in Colombo, with Dean Elgar also getting a decent batting workout, hitting 43 off 48 balls. As had been the case with the Sri Lanka Board XI on day one, however, the second half of the South Africa’s innings folded, the team tumbling from 223 for 3 to 338 all out. The match was then called off. Not among the runs on a fairly placid P Sara track, was opener Aiden Markram, who was bowled for a duck by Lahiru Gamage on the first evening, as well as Quinton de Kock and Theunis dy Bruyn, who are likely to make up the lower-middle order in the Tests. The spinners wrought most of the damage for the hosts. Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who has played limited-overs cricket for Sri Lanka, took 3 for 72. Dhananjaya de Silva, who will probably be in Sri Lanka’s Test XI,

Temba Bavuma punches through the covers, Sri Lanka Board XI v South Africans, P Sara Oval, 2nd day, July 8, 2018

struck twice with his parttime offspin, removing de Bruyn and Dale Steyn. Of the three half-centurions, du Plessis and Amla were the most convincing against spin, confident on their feet, and each capable in bullying spinners into mistakes. Du Plessis in particular took to lifting spinners over the infield, prospering especially on the legside, as he hit 13

fours and a six in his 85ball 79. Earlier, Amla had struck 11 boundaries of his own, before retiring out on 78. Amla added 77 with Bavuma, the joint-highest partnership in the innings. Bavuma hit six fours and a six in his 58 off 103 balls. The most dramatic period of play on day two was the over in which de Kock and Vernon Philander were dismissed, after both misread the direction of Hasaranga’s turn. Though of the Board XI’s bowlers only Dhananjaya is in the Test squad, Sri Lanka may be encouraged by a wristspinner’s effectiveness against the South Africa middle order. With Sri Lanka’s selectors in attendance on Sunday, this information is sure to be relayed to coach Chandika Hathurusingha. The Sri Lanka squad contains Akila Dananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan - two bowlers whose variations can also be difficult to discern. South Africa will travel to Galle on Monday, with the first Test scheduled to begin on Thursday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Imposing T20 cap on players, a good idea says Russell By Rajiv Bisnauth WITH the increasing number of T20 leagues around the world, the game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), is reportedly looking to enforce a threeleague cap on players. The majority of Full Members have given an in-principle nod to capping player participation to no more than three T20 leagues per year. Both the chief executive committee (CEC) and the ICC Board have discussed the issue at the annual conference in Dublin over the weekend and a broad consensus has emerged that

if players are allowed to participate in any number of leagues, it will start affecting international bilateral cricket. To this end, Chief Operations Officer of the CPL, Pete Russell feels it will be a good idea, since in his opinion, there is too much leagues creeping up. “First, I think it’s a good idea. I think there is too many leagues creeping up, and I think some of these Associate Members who are allowed to host league like Canada league...in my opinion they don’t own the rights to host those leagues because what you want is for the full member countries; obviously the West Indies been a major

Chief Operations Officer of the CPL, Pete Russell

part of that, they should be hosting the best league in the world,” Russell said. Apart from the IPL and Big Bash League, the current cricket calendar consists of PSL, Caribbean Premier League, England’s T20 blast

Mike Parris schoolboys and juniors boxing tournament…

FYF dominate GBA’s tournament lead-up THE Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) dominated the Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) Mike Parris Schoolboys and Juniors preparatory tournament on Saturday FYF won eight of the ten contests’ held at the Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis Gym. Two weeks prior to last Saturday’s tournament, the FYF Gym also won eight of the ten contests’ with their junior boxers displaying excellent boxing skills. These performances have landed them in pole position for selections to represent Guyana at the third edition of the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors tournament that is slated for the National Gymnasium from August 17-19. Unfortunately, boxing gyms from Berbice, Linden and Essequibo were unable to participate due to lack of finance by the various gyms to travel to Georgetown and to provide meals for their boxers. This was revealed by tournament organizer, Seibert Blake. However, one hinterland gym that was recently established, Mabaruma Boxing Gym (MBG), was able to be represented by a four-member team that was coached by Orlando `Pocket Rocket’ Rogers. Rogers was recently appointed as a national coach by the Ministry of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sports

and one of his charges, Adriano Wong, won his contest. The other gyms in the contest were Young Achievers (YA) and Harpy Eagles (HE). In other results from last Saturday’s tournament, Moses Crawford (FYF) knocked out Trevor Sealey of Young Achievers (YA), Malachai Sealey (YA) won by points over Michael Mancell (FYF) and Wayne Castello (FYF) defeated Dextroy Brimo (HE) on points. Also in the winner’s circle was Sean Graham (FYF) who secured a points-decision win against Lionel Mahabir (MBG), while Dwayne Baptiste (FYF) had the same result against his gym mate, Malachi Jones, while Stephon McDonald (FYF) won against David Pompet (YA). Travis Inverany (FYF) defeated Joshua Hinds (HE) on points. Marl Crawford (FYF) also won on points over Alvin Harripersaud (MBG) and Fitz Howard defeated Alex Aimdea (MBG) on points also. Meanwhile, registration of boxers for the Caribbean tournament closed on Saturday and according to reports, Cayman Islands, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago have confirmed their participation in the championship. They join Grenada which was the first country to register their four boxers and two officials.

and Bangladesh Premier League, apart from a new league kicking off later in South Africa. Apart from these main tournaments, there are leagues coming up in Dubai and Norway as well, to add to the ongoing

Global T20 Canada. However, Russell feels that CPL has built a brand over its five- year period, adding that the league remains a well-established and strong brand. “For us, we build a brand for over five years and the testimony to that is we have over 200 million people following this tournament around the world; it’s a huge number...bigger actually than the Big Bash, so this league resonates around the world, not just in the Caribbean. It is a very strong brand already, so for us it’s just about doing more [of] the same, and I think more [of] the same is to make sure we get the best players around

the world. Again, you got Chris Lynn, Brandon Mc Cullum, Martin Guptill and David Warner. You got some great players coming down again this year, so we’ll continue to attract the best players, not only because it’s a good tournament but you wouldn’t want come to the Caribbean for six weeks,” Russell opined. The move is likely to hit West Indian cricketers the most as they are the most popular presence among the many global leagues. The ICC is also reportedly considering making the process of obtaining necessary permissions for hosting T20 leagues in Associate Nations tougher.

Bartica host Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ this weekend -Providence Stadium for national play-offs final

Part of the action in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition.

Bartica’s representatives in the prestigious national play-offs of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition will be known this weekend when the final zone of the competition is played in Region 7 Word emanating out of the community suggests that defending champion, River View, will be hard-pressed to retain their crown won last year at the inaugural competition. In that final, River View squeezed past Police and the lawmen have already vowed revenge in this year’s edition which also has at stake a place in the national play-offs slated for later this month. The national play-offs are set to be staged on July 27 and August 3, at the Pouderoyen Tarmac and Haslington Market Square respectively, while the fi-

nal will be played at the National Stadium, Providence. According to Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, they have been searching for ways to improve the tournament all-round and he thinks that the move to have the final played at the National Stadium for the first time is the right one and he expects a large turnout of fans as usual. “It is always our intention to have improvements every year and with the projected addition of stands to accommodate seated patrons, I think we will witness a wider cross section of fans support,” he said. The games will be played on the tarmac at the National Stadium and entry is free. The tournament is widely regarded as the most popular street format where the attendance is usually massive,

accompanied by the benefits of cohesion and friendship among competing communities, which is the primary objectives of the organisers. It must be noted also that Banks DIH, under its Guinness brand, has offered to give back to the respective communities where the winners of the zones originate from. Sixteen teams will participate in the national play-offs. Meanwhile, the qualifiers for the national play-offs are seen below: Georgetown: Gold is Money --champions Sparta Boss Leopold Street Bent Street East Coast Demerara Uprising --Champion Paradise Melanie ‘B’ Buxton Diamond West Demerara Showstoppers-- Champion ESPN West Side Ballers Linden Silver Bullets-- Champion Dave and Celina’s All- Stars--national champion Swag Entertainment Berbice Trafalgar-- champion

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 9, 2018

Holder cites clinical first test performance CMC – CAPTAIN Jason Holder has praised his side’s “clinical” all-round performance which earned them an emphatic innings and 219-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening Test here Friday. The West Indies fast bowlers blew away the tourists for a historic-low 43 in their first innings inside the first session on the opening day at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground and then their batsmen piled up 406 in reply. The hosts then dismissed the Bangladeshis for 144 in their second innings, about 15 minutes before lunch on the third day to complete a comprehensive victory. “I’m happy overall with the performance. I felt we bowled and batted well in this Test match [and] we also supported [our] bowlers in the field,” Holder told the media afterwards. In Jamaica, I expect the Bangladeshis to come back

firing and come at us pretty hard. It’s just a matter of us being consistent and maintaining the pressure we set on them.” Seamer, Kemar Roach produced a superb Manof-the-Match performance in the opening hour of the Test, snatching five wickets for eight runs to cripple Bangladesh. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite’s seventh Test hundred then formed the foundation of the Windies first innings, as they effectively batted Bangladesh out of the contest. “I think the opening burst by Kemar and also Shannon (Gabriel) really set the tone for us. I was able to come in and get a few wickets at the end and obviously Miguel Cummins got three wickets in the first innings as well,” Holder pointed out. “Again, it was a clinical performance in the first hour of play and obviously we set it up quite nicely with

(From left to right) Substitute Keemo Paul, Miguel Cummins and Kieran Powell celebrate West Indies’ victory in the opening Test against Bangladesh. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

the bat, led by Kraigg with a wonderful hundred … and well supported by everyone else who chipped in.” He added: “I think it was a good opportunity for

everybody to get a chance in the middle. We wanted to give them as much time to spend some time in the middle. Unfortunately, really only one of our batsmen

missed out and that’s Roston (Chase) but hopefully in Jamaica he can come to the party.” T h e Wi n d i e s p a c e r s dominated the match, tak-

ing all 20 wickets, with leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo going wicket-less in his five overs in the entire game. A similar situation obtained in the last Test against Sri Lanka two weeks ago when Bishoo bowled just two overs, as the seamers grabbed the bulk of the wickets. Despite this, Holder said Bishoo was still an important member of the bowling attack. “I think we’ve got a really good balance. I know Devendra Bishoo hasn’t come to the fore as much as expected but I still think he has a part to play. It’s just a matter of seeing how the conditions are in Jamaica and then making a final decision.” The second Test bowls off at Sabina Park in Jamaica next Thursday. “I think it was a clinical performance and looking ahead to the next Test match

‘Keep Your Five Alive’ now set Sky Sports to for Thursday restart broadcast CPL to England and Ireland

FORCED to reschedule opening night action last Saturday, Organiser of the sixth Annual ‘Keep Your Five Alive’ Indoor Competition, Kevin Adonis, has now set this Thursday for kick-off in this year’s event at the National Gymnasium. According to Adonis, the forced rescheduling was due mainly to his adherence to a mandate from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) that cautioned the appearance of players participating in the current Elite League. Adonis said he received a letter from the GFF which, among other regulations governing the tournament, barred all players who are participating for clubs in the Elite League from appearing for their community teams in the indoor competition. “This recent development ordered by the GFF ultimately forced me to reschedule the opening night from last Saturday to this Thursday to ensure that teams have the opportunity to discuss the directive set by the Federation in order to avoid any consequence (s) of their decisions,” Adonis said. He added that it was unfortunate that the order was not part of an earlier notification he received from the GFF which would have allowed him sufficient time to have discussions with the teams con-

Part of the action in last year’s ‘keep your five alive’ football tournament

firmed to participate in the event so as to avoid the unfortunate cancellation of the previously announced opening night’s action. He, however, disclosed that he intends to meet with the governing body shortly to address all issues related to the requirements stipulated by the GFF so that further delays or mis-communication will not occur. Teams have been drawn from Georgetown, Linden, Berbice, West and East Demerara and the East Coast of Demerara and prize money in excess of $1million will be up for grabs.

He added that thirty-two of the best teams in the country have been assembled, including defending champions, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ and beaten finalist, Future Stars. Among the other teams making the shortlist are: Sparta Boss, Bent Street, Leopold Street and most of the zone champions of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition. In opening night action, Rhythm Stars (Mocha) tackles recently-crowned Berbice Guinness champions, Trafalgar, and this encounter will be followed by the

clash between Agricola and Broad Street. Kingston will then square off against Swag Entertainment out of Linden, before another mining community team, NK Ballers, take on Sophia. In the final game of the night, Leopold Street play host to east coast’s Melanie Damishana. The fixtures for the next two playing days are seen below. On Thursday, July 12, Buxton Diamond engage West Demerara Showstoppers, while the young Uprising team from the east coast go up against Linden’s Silver Bullets. ESPN then collide with east coast’s BV, before Ann’s Grove and North East La Penitence take to the court. The rejuvenated Tiger Bay unit then faces California Square, before Sparta Boss and Tucville bring the curtain down for the evening. On Saturday, July 14, Albouystown and Upsetters get things going, before Future Stars and Alpha Warriors square off. Back Circle then tackles Kitty Hustlers, before Linden’s Dave & Celena All Stars go up against Bent Street. The reigning champs, West Front Road then close the night with a clash against Alexander Village.

THE 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will be broadcast to England and Ireland by Sky Sports who will show all 34 matches live. This year’s tournament will run from August 8 to September 16 and will see some of the best cricketers in the world take part in the Biggest Party in Sport. With Caribbean cricketers such as Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard joining global superstars Chris Lynn, David Warner, Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and more, this year’s tournament is set to be the biggest yet. Broadcasting Hero CPL further cements Sky Sports’ commitment to bringing the best action from around the world on their dedicated cricket channel. Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of the Hero CPL, is delighted with the news that Sky will be a broadcast partner in 2018. “Sky Sports has an unrivalled heritage and portfolio of sports in the UK and Ireland. As the number one sports broadcaster in the region, they are the perfect home for cricket fans to enjoy the Biggest Party in Sport this year,” he said.

Bat on Kraiggy! Windies opener into top 20 test batsmen

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A pillar of focus! In this Samuel Maughn photo, a young lady displays her kata stance.

GKF hosts successful 2018 Junior Championships THE Guyana Karate Federation yesterday successfully hosted its 2018 National junior championships where over 70 students participated. The event, held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, saw athletes from ages 8-18 competing in

both kata and Kumite events. The day featured in excess of nineteen events that showcased the competitive side of the youths. Chronicle sport will provide an update on the championships in a subsequent edition.

West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite on the opening day of the first Test between West Indies and Bangladesh on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. ÂŠ CWI Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography

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MONDAY, JULY 9, 2018