Issuu

SATURDAY 5th OCTOBER, 2019

' No.105781

Relief for UG students

SEE STORY ON PAGE 03

...President Granger promises amnesty for current students in financial default

Policy to power 'green' development coming PAGE

– President tells BIT graduates

A section of the graduands of the Board of Industrial Training's National Training Project for Youth Empowerment at the National Cultural Centre on Friday (Carl Croker photo)

PNC proud of achievements in gov’t

SEE STORY ON PAGE 14

PAGE

‘Trini’ who faked kidnapping gets four years

H2H data for public scrutiny

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Policy to power 'green' development coming – President tells BIT graduates

GOVERNMENT will promulgate, in the near future, a National Industrial Policy (NIP) to ensure the development of a low carbon industrial base and the development of needed skills to power the nation’s development, President David Granger said. He made this disclosure during his feature address at the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) graduation ceremony for the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment, held on Friday at the National Cultural Centre. He said industrial complexes will explore and exploit more efficiently, Guyana’s natural resources and minerals. “We need trained personnel to build aerodromes in the hinterland, bridges, roads and stellings, and to improve access to three-quarters of our country, particularly to that area west of the Essequibo. Essequibo is 1000 kilometres long and we don’t have a single bridge… we need the infrastructure to link the coastland with the hinterland,” the President said. Further, the President said infrastructure must be built to develop the agro-processing sector, since government wants small businesses to generate employment and sustain growth.

“Guyana can produce every food commodity that the Eastern Caribbean requires, in the hotels, restaurants and the tourist resorts,” he said. The Head of State noted that young people must be empowered to drive micro industries so that the produce in the markets can be utilised. He said skilled persons are needed to satisfy the engineering demands of renewable energy that Guyana is pursuing. The President said industrial estates will be built in the various towns of the administrative regions as cheap energy is the fuel of

industrialisation. He said the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) will provide a clean and cost-effective source of energy to drive the creation of new industries, which will enhance economic transformation. The President explained that solar, wind and hydro power will reduce Guyana’s dependency on fossil fuel and eventually reduce such a bill. However, the President said the oil sector will aid in Guyana’s development. WISE USE “The oil is not a bonanza which we must waste, it is an

President David Granger

opportunity for the nation to become stronger and to build a resilient economy, your government is committed to managing the petroleum revenues for the benefit of all generations and we will

economy, strengthen non-oil sectors, build human capacity and generate employment. “In other words, Guyana’s economy must walk on two legs, the first leg is to develop the extractive indus-

becoming the ‘green’ state,” he said. The President explained that petroleum revenues will move Guyana closer to becoming a low-carbon economy and to becoming a ‘green’ state. “We have already, in anticipation of the petroleum sector, drafted the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) 2040, and this is a roadmap to the good life and a forward looking plan with a 20-year focus. The success of the plan will require training a core of young Guyanese who will drive the development of the nation, development won’t happen by itself,” Granger said. He said the ‘green’ development agenda requires

One of two groups that graduated from the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (Carl Croker photo)

manage those revenues prudently,” the President said. He said the government intends to use the revenues to expand and diversify the

tries such as petroleum, gold, diamond, bauxite; the second leg will be for the protection of the environment and this involves the transition in

the development of technical skills. Meanwhile, Deputy TURN TO PAGE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Relief for UG students ...President Granger promises amnesty for current students in financial default

By Lisa Hamilton SHOULD the government be re-elected, current students of the University of Guyana (UG) in financial default can expect amnesty with the ushering in of free education from nursery to university. President David Granger gave this assurance on Thursday in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle. However, he pointed out that it is unlikely that this move will cover for past students of UG, as government will be looking to the future. “Now that we have decided to enforce what I would say is free education from nursery to university, we will ensure that new entrants, once they’re qualified, will enjoy the benefits of free education,” the President said. “The question of compensation does not arise. We will examine – this is a matter for Cabinet – forgiveness or amnesty for persons who might be in default currently but the question of a wholesale amnesty is not being contemplated by Cabinet. I don’t want to prejudge what Cabinet will decide but we’re looking to the future and we’re looking forward.”

When the University of Guyana opened its doors on October 2, 1963, its annual tuition fee was $100 but this was later abolished. In 1976, under former President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, all schools of the government were made free from nursery to university and this was enshrined as a right within the 1980 Constitution. Article 27 of the Constitution states: “Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university as well as at non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.” Burnham reinforced the basis of universal primary and secondary education and moved tertiary education from being the privilege of an élite few to an entitlement for everyone. CORNERSTONE As Guyana’s first Prime Minister and Executive President and founder of the People’s National Congress (PNC), he believed that public education was the cornerstone of social justice. He had announced in a broadcast to the nation, “Education is the cornerstone of

announcement of plans to establish ‘A’ Grade secondary schools in each region, will further help to push improvement in education delivery.

President David Granger

equality and one of the chief instruments for the abolition of snobbery and the removal of discrimination.” However, in the 19941995 academic year under the presidency of Dr. Cheddi Jagan, the university introduced a cost recovery programme and free tertiary education ended. This meant that resident Guyanese students were now required to pay G$127,000 per annum while the fees were higher for non-resident Guyanese and foreign students. The payment of fees was higher for those pursuing studies in law, medicine, nursing and tourism, where the fees were $300,000, $500,000, $251,000 and $158,000 respectively.

In recent times, he has explained that from 2020-2029, Guyana will have its own “Decade of Development” which will prioritise education, among other factors, as a means to end the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Already, the incumbent government has been attempting to foster greater access to educational opportunities for citizens countrywide. “I’m comfortable with the fact that we’re doing the best that we could with our resources and I think the pace will quicken when revenues start to come from petroleum,” the President said. Meanwhile, efforts of the government over the years such as the creation of four regional towns and the

MISTAKE “It is always a mistake to separate children from parents; it even goes for educational purposes. In Guyana, it is a matter of necessity and I would like to do away with that by having children live and study in their region of residence,” the President said. Added to this, the Head of State also wants to see more qualified teachers who are able to speak Indigenous languages, work within Indigenous communities where English may not be easily understood. He stressed the point that children in the hinterland cannot be taught identical to children on the coastland as the two groups are exposed to different environment and experiences. This vision expressed, he also took note of the challenge that some 80 per cent of teachers are females and many have young children who themselves are going to school. “So, we have to build

Policy to power green ... Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Protection, Shelton Daniels, said training is an art and there is an art to training. He said more than 500 apprentices, in accordance with eight service providers, were exposed to the rigors of training for the effective world of work. Daniels said the collaboration with the Organisation of Persons with Disabilities; the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Youth Empowerment; and the Ministry of Natural Resources, among others, are geared towards equipping young people with skills as part of the process

for their empowerment. Daniels said the national programme for youth empowerment is the flagship programme of BIT, as it is competency-based, technical and vocational training for both public and private sectors. STRONG LEADERSHIP “I am of the view that prudent leadership at the national level, coupled with a proactive board, training will be intensified across the length and breadth of Guyana and all the trainees will benefit from the first-class education system, whereby every child will be educated

from nursery to university at the State’s expense as posited by his Excellency, President Granger,” he said. He said that graduations are about endings and beginnings, a celebration of achievement and a commencement of transition towards a different chapter in life in being productive adults. Some 206 trainees – 99 females included – graduated in several areas of discipline. Board member, Ganesh Singh said in 2016, training of persons with disabilities started through BIT and since then, significant strides have been made.

He said BIT trained 400 persons with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and persons who are deaf. These persons, he said, were trained in the area of cosmetology, computer repairs, information technology, craft, woodworking, food processing, mat making and web designing. Eventually, he said, robotics and STEM education will be offered. Singh said several individuals are currently employed and have established small businesses. “More persons now with disabilities are economically and financially independent. This relationship has enabled

persons with disabilities to become empowered and it’s all because of the work of the Government of Guyana and the Board of Industrial Training,” Singh said. Persons with disabilities now benefit from policies that improve their lives. BIT Chairman, Clinton Williams, said over the last six years, in excess of 500 persons were trained and the agency has been partnering with a number of public and private sector companies. He said that the programmes are designed to target vulnerable groups such as school dropouts and youths from depressed communities.

mechanisms to attract and retain teachers to work in the hinterland,” he said. Apart from this, he committed to the continued improvement of stipends for teachers in the hinterland and expressed the need for the construction of additional buildings. Regarding the latter, he said, “The whole idea of a child paddling to school in a … canoe, it looks pretty on the postcards but the child gets to school tired so we want to take education to the children.” President Granger, through a programme started in observance of his birthday a few years ago, crafted the Public Education Transport System, which is also known as the 5Bs Programme. The President asserted in September that, “Education is at the top of my list… education is the cornerstone of development. This is not a pipe dream; this is not an elections slogan. This comes from the supreme law of the land; this comes from the Constitution,”

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Williams said since 2005, the programme has grown tremendously with over 24,000 trained in numerous skills areas. He said from next Monday, an information technology and robotics training programme will commence in Region Seven with 60 beneficiaries. BIT will be closely collaborating with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council to boost competency-based and entrepreneurial training and ensure all participants receive a reputable certificate.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Trump-Ukraine: Text messages show diplomat’s alarm over plans (BBC) Texts show how US officials worked to prod the Ukrainian president into opening a public inquiry into President Trump’s leading opponent, Joe Biden. The messages, released by congressional Democrats, emerge as Mr Trump faces an impeachment inquiry over the matter. The exchanges show a senior diplomat saying it would

be “crazy” to withhold military aid to Ukraine for Mr Trump’s political gain in the 2020 election. US law bans soliciting foreign help for electoral purposes. But Mr Trump denies any wrongdoing and, on Friday, said there was “no quid pro quo” in the communications. His remarks came a day after he publicly called on Ukraine and China to investigate Mr Biden, a top Demo-

05 October, 2019 - 10:00hrs ~ 11:30hrs

cratic White House candidate, and his son, Hunter. The Republican president accuses his political opponents of a “witch hunt”. Impeachment in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives would trigger a trial in the Senate. Senators would have to vote to convict Mr Trump by a two-thirds majority to remove him from office. But that outcome is seen as unlikely given that the president’s fellow Republicans control the upper chamber. What do the texts say? The impeachment inquiry stems from a 25 July call in which Mr Trump asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his rival. The wide-ranging text message discussions are connected to allegations by the Democrats that Mr Trump dangled military aid as a way to press Ukraine to dig dirt on Mr Biden. Sent between July and September, they involve high-ranking officials: Kurt Volker, Mr Trump’s Ukraine envoy who resigned a week ago Gordon Sondland,

the US ambassador to the European Union, and a significant donor to Mr Trump Bill Taylor, a top US diplomat at the American embassy in Ukraine On 19 July, the three diplomats discussed arranging a phone call between Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump. Mr Volker told the other two he had had breakfast with Mr Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani that morning - and identified the main purpose of the upcoming phone call. “Most impt [important] is for Zelensky to say that he will help the investigation,” he told the others. But Bill Taylor, the senior US diplomat in Ukraine, warned that President Zelensky “is sensitive” about Ukraine being seen “as an instrument in Washington domestic, re-election politics”. Ahead of the call, Mr Volker texted that he had heard from the White House that Mr Zelensky would be offered a formal visit to Washington “assuming President Z convinces Trump he will investigate / ‘get to the bottom of what happened in 2016’”.

This is a reference to unfounded allegations that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 US presidential election and worked to help the Democrats. In the call, Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden. But text messages show US officials discussed what the Ukrainian president should say in a statement afterwards. By 13 August, Kurt Volker advised that Mr Zelensky’s statement should address interference in US politics, “especially with the alleged involvement of some Ukrainian politicians” - and Burisma, the company Joe Biden’s son was involved in. There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden. Then, on 29 August, the tone of discussions changed. Mr Zelenksy’s aide Andriy Yermak sent a curt message to Mr Volker, including a link to a Politico story headlined “Trump holds up Ukraine military aid meant to confront Russia”. Mr Taylor, the senior diplomat in Ukraine, seemed to voice his concerns about the motives for the delay. “I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign,” he said. That suggestion, however, was firmly pushed back by Ambassador Gordon Sondland,

who said Mr Taylor was misunderstanding the president’s intentions. What else is going on with the impeachment inquiry? On Friday, House Democrats requested Ukraine-related documents from Vice-President Mike Pence, giving him a deadline of 15 October. Mr Pence - who was reported this week to be frustrated by White House handling of the Ukraine affair - has not yet responded. Most Republicans are standing squarely behind Mr Trump, though two Republican senators have spoken out against the president. Mitt Romney of Utah on Friday labelled the president’s actions “appalling”. Ben Sasse on Nebraska told the Omaha World-Herald newspaper: “Americans don’t look to Chinese commies for the truth.” He added that if Hunter Biden “broke laws by selling his name to Beijing, that’s a matter for American courts, not communist tyrants running torture camps”. Ukraine’s prosecutor general announced on Friday that he would review the closed investigation into Burisma, adding that he was not aware of any evidence against Hunter Biden.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Remembering the Cubana Air Disaster FORTY-THREE years ago Sabrina Harrypaul, Eric Norton, Ann Nelson, Raymond Persaud, Margaret Bradshaw, Gordon M Sobha, Rawle Thomas, Rita Thomas, Violet Thomas, Jacqueline Williams and Seshnarine Kumar were among 73 who perished when Cubana flight CU-455 was bombed and crashed off the shore of Barbados. This incident occurred in the heightened period of the Cold War that saw efforts to influence alignment to and support for the Western or Eastern bloc. Guyana distinguished herself during this period by embracing the Non-Aligned Movement and policies, which allowed for the pursuing of national interest on the international stage independent of having to side with either bloc, though working with both in pursuit of our development agenda and making the world a better place. The non-aligned principles allowed Guyana to play a leading role in the fight against apartheid in Southern Africa, a system the Western powers gave support to because those

African governments supported that bloc. As the Fidel Castro government provided military support to fight against the apartheid system, Guyana made available its airport for planes to stop and refuel on their journey to and from Africa. While the West was distrustful of Cuba’s communist government,– which had come to power through a revolution that ousted the United States (U.S.) supported Fulgencio Batista government—isolated the country and repeatedly accused its government of violating human rights, they embraced Southern African governments that practised apartheid and denied the masses their fundamental rights and freedoms as a matter of law. Guyana over the years has shared close relations with Cuba which was informed by our nonaligned policy. This relationship, more than any other, has resulted in scholarships for Guyanese in the field of medicine, veterinary, engineering, pharmacology, agriculture and other technical areas. Such support contributed significantly to improving the intellectual capacity

of the nation’s human capital to pursue our national developmental goals. The bombing of Flight 455 was an act of terrorism not unlike attacks the U.S. suffered on the 11th September, 2001. The fact that a few exiled Cubans who despised the Castro government had the support of the Venezuela Secret Police to commit a cowardly act was designed to send a message. Undoubtedly the message to Cuba, Guyana and other Caribbean allies was a clear warning that there are forces prepared to destroy you rather than talk with you if they dislike your politics, influence and relations. In that era, the superpowers and their allies were jostling for world dominance. Cuba being in the West’s backyard, reaching into the Caribbean and on the African continent presented a geopolitical threat to one bloc and empowerment to the other. That threat seen through the lens of the superpower in either bloc led to acts of violating others, including invading countries, on the justification to crush or spread an ideology. In this environment newly

independent, small-state societies found it complex and problematic pursuing political, economic, social and cultural self-determination having to navigate a bipolar politics that placed greater importance on alignment. The support and protection offered to the terrorists by Venezuela, while the U.S. intelligence agency though possessing knowledge of the plan well in advance of the attack did not share the information with the Cuban Government, make the point of the nature of the politics at the time. During this period, U.S. and Cuba relations were hostile; the U.S. had severed diplomatic relations, imposed a trade embargo, and restricted its citizens from travelling to the country. In revisiting Venezuela’s role it would be recalled that in 1962, that country had made known to the United Nations that it no longer accepted the 1899 Tribunal Award that settled the Venezuela border dispute with Great Britain. Though Guyana is being seen as a nation not befitting its full sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the controversy remains a factor in relations

between the two countries, ours has always been the quest for peaceful resolution. Forty-three years hence, though the Cold War is considered over, acts of terrorism have grown more complex and continue to wreak havoc around the world. In reflecting on those who were never allowed to live out their dreams and gave of their contributions to the society’s development, it becomes more important to work harder to secure worldwide comity. October 6,1976, should be integrated into the education curriculum, serving not only as knowledge, but more so the importance to continue the quest for global justice and not cower in the face of adversity. Where the misplaced belief is held that someone has the right to determine for the other and there exists intolerance for the views and values of another, work remains to be done. Consequently, our 11 that perished must not be a marker in our history, but leading motivation to overcome.

Hamilton Green is correct in his observations Dear Editor ELDER statesman, former Prime Minister and Vice-president Hamilton Green, speaks volumes of truth in his captioned piece, “Letter writers need to do more research”, Guyana Chronicle, October 3, 2019. It is a position for which there is consensus ad idem, for I have always argued that letter writing should be avenues for sparking public debate, irrespective of political affiliation/ethnicity, in which honest, verifiable facts should be presented to support viewpoints. It can only lend, with the passage of time, to further engagement for a better understanding of the problems which confront a society as

politically polarized as ours. Unfortunately, we are daily being inundated with letters of a particular point of mission, written by mostly mischievous-minded persons, consistently distorting historical facts, using even both subtle and open racist views, as their base, in attempts to present a certain mental frame. These people are not about fair and objective debate through public correspondence; they are about a dangerous type of communication with portents of an incendiary type. In fact, to echo the grand man’s description they indeed “constitute a danger to society and in particular, the young generation who may be unaware of our

history and our place among the “Nations of the World.” Of course, there is all the truth in such a statement, especially given the fact of our deeply polarized society, where these poison pen letter writers responses to their political leaders, and their cohorts, betray a gullibility that is taken advantage of, by their political party, because of a mostly listening constituency. Facebook offers a rather frightening example of this status quo. But back to the major thrust. For these national miscreants, research is not done, for there will be no evidence found, which will support their lies and fraudulent arguments about the extant

situation in their country. The fact is that - genuine research challenges their blatant lies and falsifications. It is a light which their weak and dishonest pens, studiously avoid; for it would mean having to abandon contrived falsehoods which are their self- sustenance of mental security. Even the “new breed of experts in the Constitution, oil, gas and governance’’ debate, fall into the described category above, beginning with what have been frantic attempts to influence a particular deceptive and dishonest political end of distorting the CCJ’s decisions to make the government look bad. But these ‘experts’ have not enhanced themselves, or their

legal training in any positive manner; except in the public judgement of the vilest period of legal dishonesty in this country’s legal history, ever seen. The same goes for those, oh, ‘oil and gas experts’ – the overnight graduates who became sudden authorities in this discovered sector that promises so much, for a better Guyana. Rather than use their criticisms as a guide and advice for an administration now beginning to establish infrastructure for this industry, what the nation witnessed, and still do, have been bombardments designed to prove the government incompetent and incapable of managing such an industry.

Of course, they are all part of the political opposition’s band wagon. Even the signing of the early contract with Exxon, and the giving out of oil blocks by the Donald Ramotar regime, in its final days, at a time when such an action ought not to have occurred, have been the victims of clever obfuscations, through dishonest arguments via letters. But, Editor, one must take notice of the fact that these dishonest letter writers are also helped along, by the absence of fact checks. I fully support Mr Hamilton Green’s observation. Regards Earl Hamilton

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Georgetown, our Smart City Dear Editor THE year is 2077. The last traffic jam that occurred in Georgetown, Guyana, was recorded in September 2029. The last blackout recorded in June 2039. The last water disruption happened in August 2045. The streets are free of litter and robberies targeting pedestrians have not occurred in decades. The power to engineer this change resided with the many public servants who toiled diligently in control rooms throughout the country, endlessly capturing and processing data about our vehicular traffic activity, pedestrian walking preferences, residential dwelling patterns and yes, even criminal activities. Incrementally over the years, this data capture and processing allowed government ministries and the police force to become more efficient at their jobs all while reducing costs and increasing the employment of skilled University of Guyana graduates. Naturally there were skeptics in the beginning, and some occasional misunderstanding. Some folks were under the impression that any and all cameras positioned throughout the city were glorified security cameras with a police officer on the other end 24/7.

The reality though was that the cameras were capable of some level of security provision, but were in fact being put to much better use in the long term by being used as tools for data capture and analysis on a level that Guyana had never utilised before. Combined with the other components of the Guyana National Broadband Initiative, it was possible to prevent some types of crime from ever happening in the first place in addition to resolving traffic congestion, predicting power and water outages and reducing the time taken for response and repairs, offering much-needed layers of protection to vulnerable pedestrians such as school-aged children, the elderly and much more. To some readers, the preceding words may seem unrealistic, but to those who spend any amount of time on the internet to have a look at Smart Cities throughout the world it is clear that “Georgetown, the Smart City” could and should be the reality. Technology will never cease to improve, and in extension of this could never cease to make our lives better with each update. The Guyana National Broadband Project’s hardware and software are currently being put into place throughout Georgetown and Guyana, but that is only the easiest part. What will be the true challenge

is how fast and how well its operators, we the Guyanese people can use it to improve our lives. It is my hope that the public servants who are tasked with capturing, processing and finally generating policies and solutions to problems using data generated by the Smart City Initiative are responsible, perceptive and visionary. The tools being put into their hands are incredibly powerful ones indeed. I believe that utilising these tools correctly could put Guyana on a path of improvement that could be described as miraculous. Many Guyanese have travelled overseas for work, study or pleasure and those who might not have heard accounts of cities compared to Georgetown being more secure, more comfortable and a pleasure to reside in. It is certain that those countries utilise data gathered from their own respective National Broadband Initiatives to achieve that level of security and comfort. Much has been said about the Smart City Initiative so far, In my personal experience travelling outside of Guyana, camera systems were present throughout roadways, subways and any public place that sees a lot of foot traffic like bus terminals. Using the data that is gathered over the years, improvements are made to these public places that

result in ease of use, safety and cleanliness. The data is not only used to improve existing public spaces, but can also be used when constructing new public spaces. A beneficial domino effect happens here that I hope happens in Guyana also. With first-oil on the way, it is my hope that Guyana’s cities and towns reach a level of development that could be compared to first world countries, but I think that the complete adaptation of the National Broadband Initiative’s tools needs to happen sooner rather than later, so that the transition begins. Personally, I believe that a key operator of the tools being put into place by the National Broadband Initiative will be the Guyana Police Force. It is no secret that the police force in Guyana is in critical need of upgrades to their current technology. From simple flashlights to advanced body and vehicle cameras connected to powerful databases, we could one day see a routine traffic stop to enable a police officer to scan the motorist’s drivers licence and instantaneously know if this motorist has any outstanding tickets or warrants, if this motorist’s insurance and registration are in order etc. We could also see the use of technology incorporated into tracking via licence plate recognition

or real time video. It would make me sleep much more comfortably each night knowing that each errant bus driver that cut me off in traffic, or each reckless taxi driver that stopped suddenly in front of me would be penalised for their bad driving even if the eyes of a traffic police officer was upon them at the time of the incident. It is clear that traffic management in Guyana would be greatly improved by the use of this technology. For me, this would be a great improvement beyond the visual inspection of my driver’s licence, documents and vehicle receive when i am stopped by a traffic officer. With the adaptation of Smart City technology in countries throughout the world, crime management techniques have also taken on a new process, including deeper levels of analytics and use of statistics. Now it is our turn. I Congratulate Guyana for taking its initial steps towards the adaptation of Smart City technology and a brighter future. I look forward to one day living in a safe and secure Georgetown, enhanced by the technology of the smart city initiative, don’t you? Justin Gomes University of Guyana International Relations Student

The issue is not about Bisram’s allegations are false Is this how the free press payment, but Stabroek News political agenda should behave, I wonder! Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor, CONGRATULATIONS to the new Indian High Commissioner Dr Srinivasa and his staff for organising a very educational function in honour of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday last. I dropped in with my wife just as Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo was speaking. What he was saying was so refreshing that both of us stayed until the end of his remarks. The next day we put our hands on a copy of the newspapers which is the Guyana Times. I saw two articles about the function, and no mention was made of either the presence of the prime minister or of his speech. I find this to be strange. Is this how the free press should behave? I wonder! Regards, Jamal Yusuf

I FOUND a cartoon in Stabroek news (October 3, 2019) to be obscene, with its editor Anand Persaud holding up a placard saying, “Pay your bills.” This cartoon clearly is about the publishing of government advertisements for which this administration has doled out a whopping $768 million since 2015. Stabroek News raked in $ 196 million! The Department of Public Information (DPI) has explained, and Stabroek News admitted, that this newspaper refused to carry government ads. It also refused to carry releases from the Ministry of the Presidency! The DPI has called this a political blockade and I agree. It admitted that all media are owed from time to time, since the various government ministries and agencies need time to clear their payments. The issue therefore is not about payment, it is about Stabroek News political agenda to blame the coalition government and to expose Guyana to attacks from abroad. Regards Cheryl Campbell

I AM disappointed with Vishnu Bisram for his approach to the issue of placement of government ads. The “Dr” blamed the prime minister for what clearly was a deliberate act on the part of Stabroek News to stop publishing government ads. Stabroek News was obviously carrying out the opposition’s campaign to treat the government expenditures as illegal during this caretaker period, and it cannot blame the government for its own action of blocking government ads. There is no evidence that Stabroek News was “penalized.” From the $0 (Zero) ads during the Jagdeo-Ramotar regime, Stabroek News received close to $ 52 million under the APNU+AFC Coalition this year alone, up to last month. From the figures given by the Department of Public Information (DPI), Stabroek News received government ads in the amount of $ 196 million during

2015-2019 under the coalition. This amounts to 26% or more than one-quarter of all ads that are funded by taxpayers. The three privately owned newspapers and the only state newspaper received a huge $ 232 million in government advertisements. Stabroek News has no valid case for trying to shakedown and blackmail the coalition government in pursuit of its political agenda. I am of the opinion that Stabroek News wants our government to be sanctioned by international media organisations, but the record shows that Guyana under the coalition enjoys an open and free press, and a system of parliamentary democracy that is peaceful and stable. Dr Bisram’s allegations are false, but he can be assured that he continues to be free to peddle his false claims and partisan political propaganda (PPP). Sincerely, Terrence Jaigobin

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

$650M invested in Reg. One youths

--to train 1,378 under HEYS programme OVER the last three years, $650M has been invested in training 1,378 youths from Region One (Barima-Waini) through the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme. Thanks to the training those youths got, they were able to establish some 710 operational businesses, ranging from grocery shops, snackettes, poultry rearing, and a fuel depot among other ventures. This was revealed by Ministerial Adviser and Member of Parliament Mervyn Williams during a stimulus-grant distribution exercise in Moruca on Friday. During the course of the event, at which Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock, and Minister within the Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe were present, 274 young entrepreneurs received close to $14M in grants to boost their respective businesses. As Minister Allicock reminded those present at the function that the government’s ultimate goal is to remove the disparity between life in the hinterland and life on the coastland, and that one

way of successfully achieving it was to educate people. Noting that it was for this very reason that the ‘Coalition Government’ not only created the HEYS programme, targeting some 4,000 hinterland youths to be trained and certified, but also resuscitated the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship programme that had

there was no scope for training. HEYS, on the other hand, ensures that persons are trained and certified and make a meaningful contribution to their community and country as a whole. In the Moruca sub-region alone, some $203M was invested in 419 youths under HEYS, and to date,

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock handing over the grant to HEYS beneficiary, Michael Atkinson Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Valerie Garrido-Lowe

Ministerial Adviser Mervyn Williams handing over a certificate to one of the beneficiaries

been shelved by the previous administration. But unfortunately, while the programme at reference had recruited Indigenous persons to serve as Community Support Officers (CSO),

274 businesses are operational. At the event, some of the young people spoke about the impact of the programme on their lives. Seizing the opportunity to encourage them to develop a

positive attitude in whatever they aim to achieve in life, MP Williams said, “Once you develop a positive attitude, like the young lady who is living with a disability and is now an entrepreneur, you will rise. And like the sister with three children who is no longer a dependent housewife, you will rise.” And reminding them that the HEYS programme was initiated by President David Granger as part of his Tenpoint Plan for Hinterland Development, and that its objective is to provide educational, entrepreneurial, voca-

tional and technical training opportunities that will lead to empowerment, job creation, employment whilst improving livelihoods and ultimately poverty reduction, Williams said: “This is the approach of our government; We want to give you the opportunity to become businessmen and women, and earn and live a good life. You don’t have to depend on anyone; you are your own boss, and that is the aim of HEYS. We have seen many young people who are trying and need a little push, and that is why we are giving further support to those young people.” He encouraged the young entrepreneurs to diversify; to look at the needs of their communities and pursue oth-

er business ideas. Minister Garrido-Lowe added that the programme saw approximately $10M being invested in all of the villages targeted. This translates to $410,000 being expended on each beneficiary, and an additional sum into the facilitators which was recruited from the respective villages. “The APNU+AFC Government has invested in our youths because we believe in our Indigenous Peoples. We believe that if we give them a chance to develop, they will take that opportunity and run with it and rise and shine.” Over the last three years, the APNU+AFC Government invested total of more than $2B in the HEYS programme.

Scientists estimate Earth's total carbon store There are 1.85 billion, billion tonnes of carbon on Earth, with more than 99% of it resident beneath our feet. Scientists from the Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO) project have spent 10 years assessing the "reservoirs and fluxes" of the chemical element. In other words, they worked out where carbon is held and in what form, and how it moves through the Earth system. The findings will help understand the limits of life on our planet and in the forecasting of volcanic eruptions. "This work really came out of the realisation that much of the carbon that we are concerned about for climate change is only a tiny fraction of our planet's carbon. More than 90% of it is actually in the interior of the Earth - in the crust,

in the mantle and the core," said Prof Marie Edmonds from Cambridge University, UK. "Very little was known about its form, how much there was, and how mobile it is. And, obviously, this all has huge importance for both the climate of the Earth, but also the habitability of our surface envi-

ronment," the DCO collaborator told BBC News. The accounting was a painstaking process that included monitoring gas emissions from major volcanoes and examining the deep-sea muds that are drawn, or subducted, into the Earth's interior at tectonic plate boundaries. Through the use of lab

Carbon is all around us - in the trees and in the rocks (BBC photo)

Volcanoes and volcanic regions emit an estimated 280360 million tonnes of CO2 per year (BBC photo)

experiments and models, the team was then able to simulate the likely stores and flows of carbon. Just two-tenths of 1% of Earth's total carbon about 43,500 billion tonnes - is judged to be above

the planet's surface, in the oceans, on land, and in the atmosphere. Everything else is in the deep reservoir, with two-thirds of the total contained within the core. In a fascinating exercise, the DCO attempted to

describe how this inventory has changed through time. Working with the University of Sydney, it has reconstructed the history of plate tectonics - to in effect replay the movie TURN TO PAGE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

FAO redoubles efforts to help combat banana disease threat

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has launched an emergency project under its Technical Cooperation Programme to help countries in Latin America and the Caribbean fight the spread of Fusarium wilt, a fungal plant disease that can wipe out the banana crops upon which the livelihoods of millions of people depend. The disease - caused by the most recent strain (Tropical Race 4, TR4) of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense - affects the production of many varieties of plantains and bananas, including Cavendish, one of the globally most popular varieties in the market. TR4 damages the roots and stems of the plant and, while not harmful to human health, can lead to 100 percent yield losses, making it a major concern for countries and communities where banana production is a critical source of food, household income, and export revenues. TR4 was recently detected for the first time in Latin America and the Caribbean in Colombia, where 175 hectares of banana farms have now been put under quarantine by the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA). Nearby Ecuador is

the world's largest banana exporter, while Colombia, Costa Rica, and Guatemala

"This emergency project will assist countries in developing regional and na-

conducted, under the leadership of national governments, in a coordinated effort with

Learning how to identify the disease in Ecuador

are also major producers. If the disease spreads, it would have devastating impacts for farmers and their families across the region. "The role of bananas in providing food and household income in this region cannot be understated. In several countries, this crop has national economic importance, as it is a major export. Together, we can curb the spread of this devastating disease, and protect livelihoods," said FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Julio Berdegué.

tional action plans, increasing their capacities to prevent, diagnose, monitor and contain outbreaks, and raise awareness and disseminate information among farming communities," he added. "National governments, like those of Ecuador and Colombia, are providing active and intelligent leadership, and we are solidly behind them." In addition, the new TR4 wilt project for Latin America and Caribbean also aims to support greater collaboration and experience-sharing among the countries in the region. These activities will be

relevant phytosanitary institutions, including national and regional plant protection organisations (CAHFSA, CAN, COSAVE, OIRSA) as well as the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat. LIMITING THE DISEASE'S SPREAD TR4 is a pathogen that can be transmitted through movement of infested planting materials, contaminated soil, water or other physical means such as shoes, tools and tyres. Once established, the pathogen remains in the soil for decades; currently

Scientists estimate Earth's ...

FROM PAGE

of the Earth's inner workings. This revealed that the planet's carbon budget through much of the last billion years has been in a relatively steady state. Put another way, the carbon that has been drawn down into the Earth's interior is roughly equal to what has been outgassed to the atmosphere through the likes of volcanoes.

Every now and then, however, there have been major catastrophic perturbations in this cycle. These disturbances were the result of asteroid impacts or prolonged, large-scale volcanism that put substantial volumes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere - leading to warming, acidified oceans, and even mass extinctions. The suspicion, of course,

When space objects hit the Earth they can release the carbon held in rock very rapidly (BBC photo)

is that we are now in another of these great perturbations. Over the past 100 years, carbon emissions from human activities such as through the burning of fossil fuels have been 40 to 100 times greater than our planet's geologic carbon emissions. "It's really revealing that the amount of carbon dioxide we're emitting in a short time period is very close to the magnitude of those pervious catastrophic carbon events," said Dr Celina Suarez from the University of Arkansas "A lot of those ended in mass extinctions, so there are good reasons why there is discussion now that we might be in a sixth mass extinction." While this might sound depressing, there is some hopeful news in the new

study. In trying to gauge the amount of carbon emitted from volcanoes, the DCO scientists have discovered that eruptions are very often preceded by surges in gas discharge. "Putting very high-resolution sensors on crater rims allowed us to see very short time-scale changes in CO2 flux," explained Prof Edmonds. "The flux increased dramatically in the days and weeks before eruptions. We think this holds great promise for forecasting in the future, when used in tandem with things like volcano seismicity, and how the ground is moving." The DCO has published its findings in several papers in the journal Elements. (BBC)

there is no way to eradicate it completely. However, measures do exist that can be effective in limiting the spread of the disease, including: implementing appropriate preventive and phytosanitary measures, establishing the right regulatory environment, raising awareness, building multi-stakeholder collaborations, engaging with the private sector and smallholder farmers, supporting increased biodiversity, improving the effective use of genetic resources, developing disease management and recovery programmes, and improving monitoring and early action. "Countries must be vigilant in monitoring and containing any TR4 cases. Only strict observation of phytosanitary measures can prevent the disease from spreading. Concerted local and regional efforts, scientific support, early detection and international collaboration are crucial to combat TR4," said Hans Dreyer, Director of FAO's Plant Production and Protection Division. FAO'S RESPONSE Even prior to the launch of the new project in Latin America and the Caribbean, FAO has been providing technical assistance to affected countries to limit the spread of the disease. This includes policy and technical guidance to assist them in prevention and diagnostics, and in identifying risk path-

ways. At the international level, FAO is establishing a global network on TR4 under the World Banana Forum, the multi-stakeholder platform of the banana sector, which the Organization facilitates. The network will help coordinate actions and disseminate technical advice from specialized bodies, including the Forum's TR4 Task Force. Additionally, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), whose Secretariat is hosted by FAO, also recently convened a workshop in Colombia for agricultural experts from 16 Latin American countries on plant health including best practices to prevent the spread of Fusarium wilt. The Cavendish banana variety makes up around 47 percent of global production. Diversification, soil health and better use of available genetic resources are key to building resilience to the disease in the long term. Threats to the Cavendish may encourage farmers, and the private sector, to move away from monocropping towards more biodiverse plantation systems using some of the 1,000-plus other banana varieties.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

‘Digitised payment options for pensioners soon’ – Min. Hughes --to buy groceries, other items; cash, bank options will still be available

THE government is working on a plan to make it easier for pensioners to receive their cash through a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Public Telecommunications and Social Protection. Once completed, pensioners will be able to access their pensions, which will be loaded on a card and used at small shops and stores where they will need to uplift groceries and other items. “Everybody [pensioner] has a little card, and

on that card, you get your pension. And every single shop got a little card reader; so, you don’t even have to actually get the money in your hand,” said Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes while engaging the residents of several villages in the North Rupununi recently. “If you want to, you can get it like that, but with this card, every month your pension goes straight to the card, then you could take the card and you could go around to the shops or the stores, because each of them

will have one [card reader] and with just a swipe, that would be how you pay for your items,” she added. Minister Hughes went on to explain that the option at reference is practised in several countries across the globe, and will be specifically convenient for pensioners in the hinterland and far-flung communities. It is also an advanced option of transacting business, and one of the most effective and efficient ways of spending money. This option, which the government is seeking to

FAO Food Price Index holds steady Global food prices were steady in September, as lower sugar prices were offset by increased quotations for vegetable oils and meat. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 170 points in September, virtually unchanged from August and 3.3 per cent higher than in the same month in 2018. The FAO Cereal Price Index held steady on the month, as wheat prices rose while those of maize declined. International rice prices fell modestly amid slow import demand and uncertainties surrounding policies in the Philippines and Nigeria. The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index rose 1.4 per cent in September to its highest level in more than a year. The increase was driven by steady demand from India and China for palm oil imports and higher price quotations for rapeseed oil, linked to firm demand from the European Union’s biodiesel sector. Soy and sunflower oil prices both dropped. The FAO Sugar Price Index declined 3.9 per cent from August, driven by the expectations of ample stocks and supply trends as well as reduced demand in Brazil for sugarcane to use in the production of ethanol. The FAO Dairy Price Index declined 0.6 per cent, as higher quotations for milk powders were more than offset by falling cheese and butter prices, especially at the lower end of the price range. The FAO Meat Price In-

dex rose 0.8 per cent, driven by solid import demand from China. While pigmeat prices in China, the world’s largest market, remained at the high levels recorded in August, increased export supplies in Europe prodded pigmeat prices in international markets lower. UPDATED CEREAL FORECASTS

based on an improved outlook for barley production and better maize prospects in Brazil and the U.S. World cereal utilisation in the year ahead is now forecast at 2 714 million tonnes, slightly trimmed from last month’s estimates but still a record high. World cereal stocks are now expected to amount to 850 million tonnes

Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes

In the new Cereal Supply and Demand Brief also published today, FAO slightly lowered its forecast for global cereal production in 2019 to 2 706 million tonnes, which would amount to 2.0 per cent higher than in 2018. The reduction reflected a cut to Australia’s wheat harvest due to dry weather and trimmed projections for rice output in China, India, the Philippines and the United States of America. Meanwhile, FAO raised its estimates for worldwide coarse grains production

by the close of the 2020 seasons, down 2.0 per cent from their opening levels. Global wheat inventories are anticipated to expand by 1.6 per cent, while those of maize will likely register a significant decline, mostly due to expected sharp drawdowns in China. FAO left its forecast for world trade in cereals in 2019/20 unchanged at around 415 million tonnes. World wheat and rice exports are set to rebound, while those of coarse grains are expected to decline.

ing towards ensuring that the Indigenous Peoples are treated with the highest level of respect; and that there is a continued push for Guyanese, as a whole, to experience the ‘good life’. The announcement of the Public Telecommunications Minister comes on the heels of a similar disclosure made by Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, who had said that pensioners will be able to access their pensions at the bank of their choice, starting 2020. (DPI)

Gandhi's ashes stolen and photo defaced on 150th birthday Thieves stole some of Mahatma Gandhi's remains on what would have been his 150th birthday, police say. The ashes were taken from a memorial in central India, where they had been kept since 1948 - the year of Gandhi's assassination by a Hindu extremist. The thieves also scrawled

Mahatma Gandhi (BBC photo)

Global food prices were steady in September, as lower sugar prices were offset by increased quotations for vegetable oils and meat

introduce, is said to be more convenient, and will eliminate the need for senior citizens to be walking around with liquid cash upon receipt of their pension. “I know for many people,” she said, “the distance you have to travel to collect your pension means you have to spend money for the minibus. Because of that, you don’t go to collect your pensions for two to three months.” With specific reference to the senior citizens, Minister Hughes explained that the government is work-

"traitor" in green paint across photographs of the independence leader. Some Hindu hardliners view Gandhi as a traitor for his advocacy of Hindu-Muslim unity. This is despite Gandhi being a devout Hindu himself. Police in Rewa, in Madhya Pradesh state, confirmed to BBC Hindi's Shuriah Niazi that they were investigating the theft on the grounds of actions "prejudicial to national integration" and potential breach of the peace. Mangaldeep Tiwari, caretaker of the Bapu Bhawan memorial, where the ashes were being held, said the theft was "shameful". "I opened the gate of the Bhawan early in the morning because it was Gandhi's birth-

The thieves are believed to have also scrawled "traitor" across Gandhi's photograph (BBC photo)

day," he told Indian website The Wire. "When I returned at around 23:00 [17:30 GMT], I found the mortal remains of Gandhi missing and his poster was defaced." Police took action after Gurmeet Singh - leader of the local Congress political party - filed a complaint. "This madness must stop," Mr Singh told The Wire. "I urge Rewa police to check CCTV cameras installed inside Bapu Bhawan." Gandhi led a non-violent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India, inspiring people across the world. Most Indians still revere him as the "father of the nation". But Hindu hardliners in India accuse Gandhi of hav-

ing betrayed Hindus by being too pro-Muslim, and even for the division of India and the bloodshed that marked Partition, which saw India and Pakistan created after independence from Britain in 1947. He was assassinated by a Hindu extremist in January 1948. After his death, he was cremated, but his ashes were not scattered in a river, in accordance with Hindu belief. Because of his fame, some were held back and sent around the country to various memorials - including the one in the Bapu Bhawan. (BBC)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

H2H data for public scrutiny

ALL the data from for House-to-House Registration, upon completion of encoding and cross-matching, along with data from the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) will be available for the public to scrutinise before the end of the Claims and Objections (CLO) period in every district. This is according to government-appointed Commissioner Charles Corbin following another meeting at GECOM on Friday. “All of the data will be available 21 days before the processing period of the CLO. The house-to-house data will be displayed for public review,” Corbin said, and that the most recent names and updated information will be recognised. Corbin disclosed that the first batch of cross-matched fingerprints will be returned from overseas within the

next week, upon which the final batch will be sent. GECOM is currently conducting a 42-day period of Claims and Objections. Corbin said the meeting is aimed at clarifying GECOM’s work plan, and that things are moving smoothly onto the path of Election’s Day of March 2, 2020. He also said that as soon as the final list is available, the production of ID cards will continue until elections are held. Opposition-nominated Elections Commissioner Sase Gunraj said the use of the house-to-house data was discussed, and the aspects that are being proposed will have to be explored. Opposition-nominated Commissioner Bibi Shadick said the data from house-tohouse registration will be put up for public scrutiny. “What part of the data, all 370,000 or some part of it, is

during the claims and objections period, Shadick said, “But right now, they cannot disaggregate because they are still in the process of doing what they are doing, so the CEO is to provide us with some clarity on how they are disaggregating, and what aspects of it they are proposing to put up.” All the data received, she said, will have to be sent for cross-matching and duplications. Government-appointed Commissioner, Charles Corbin

going to be put up for public scrutiny, because it has to be scrutinised before you can decide what can be used or not, so that is where the decision is,” Shadick said. Noting that only the names of first-time registrants should be focused on

Stewart condemns attempts to politicise airport incident JAMAICAN political scientist, Alston Stewart, on Friday, condemned attempts to tarnish his reputation and distort the truth surrounding the recent gun-related issue at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago. On Thursday, September 26, 2019, Stewart was found with a firearm magazine in his carry-on bag at the Piarco International Airport, and while he has not refuted this fact, the politician is contending that the opposition, in Guyana, is using the media, in part, to distort the facts of the matter. He said the reports that suggest that he was “busted at the Piarco International Airport with ammunitions in my luggage,” are attempts to twist an unfortunate but innocent incident to give the impression that there was a sinister plot to smuggle ammunition to Guyana, even as he prepared for pre-arranged meetings as an “AFC elections Strategist”. “I am obligated to provide the facts in relation to an incident at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad on Thursday, September 26, 2019 en route to Guyana. These are the facts. I departed Kingston to Guyana en route through Trinidad on BW 483. During a routine check at the in-transit security point at the Pi-

Alston Stewart

arco International Airport, it was discovered that I had inadvertently omitted to clear my carry-on personal bag of a firearm magazine for my licensed firearm,” Stewart detailed. He noted that both of his carry-on bags were screened at the point of embarkation in Kingston, Jamaica and it remains a mystery as to the failure of the machine to detect its presence among his luggage. Stewart said he has since provided evidence to Trinidadian authorities to prove that he is a licensed firearm holder in Jamaica. According to him, he uses the same personal bag to carry his firearm and ammunition for protection, however, when travelling abroad, would remove all its elements. But this was not in this instance. “The discovery, therefore, at the Piarco International Airport was a total

surprise and embarrassment to me as it was never my intention to leave Jamaica with the items or to contravene the laws of Trinidad or any other jurisdiction,” he said. The Jamaican politician pointed out that the matter was referred to the magistrate’s court in Trinidad, where it was dismissed unconditionally and as such he was allowed to return to Jamaica. “Since then, however, it appears that forces aligned to the opposition have been peddling propaganda and twisting the incident in an effort to besmirch the reputation of the AFC and to invite a negative disposition in the relations between myself and the alliance.” “My relationship with the alliance has always been and will continue to be above board and in accordance with sound principles and in compliance with all laws. I, therefore, condemn in the strongest possible terms the attempts by opposition interests to extract political mileage from this incident, and also to bring to notice that this attempt to politicise the event only exposes their recklessness and irresponsibility as it is clear that they are prepared to use deceitful tactics to their advantage,” Stewart stated.

“You can only have a list that has a name once, and nobody must be left off,” she said, adding: “If a person’s name is on the list more than once, it becomes a duplicate; and we can’t have duplicates on the final list. And that is where we want to go. If that list says Bibi Shadick is registered to vote in Leguan, and I don’t go to Leguan, then I don’t vote; it’s as simple as that. I have to go where my name

is registered to vote; it is my responsibility to make sure that I take a transfer from wherever my name was registered to where I want to go, because it’s everybody’s responsibility.” She called on the populace to ensure that their name is on the list of PLE. All commissioners are encouraging persons to use this period to get their address and information updated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Taxi driver to spend 18 years in prison for raping teenager

“THE worst day of my life, the day I lost my pride and dignity” were the words of a brave 14-year-old girl as she gave her survivor

statement in court, as her 41-year-old rapist was being jailed. Morris Johnson, a taxi driver from Linden was

sentenced by High Court Judge, Justice Brassington on Friday, October 4, 2019, to serve 18 years in jail for raping the young woman two

years ago. Two months ago, Johnson was found guilty by a 12-member jury for engaging in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16, between August 12, 2017 and August 13, 2017, at Linden. Johnson was represented by attorney-at-law Keoma Griffith while the State was represented by prosecutors Abigail Gibbs and Seeta Bishundial. A probation officer, on Friday, read out a report she had prepared on Johnson, after conducting an investigation on his life. Johnson, has two children, ages 16 and 10, from his first relationship and is expecting another child soon, since his reputed wife is currently seven months’ pregnant. His family and community members described him as a caring, responsible, hardworking, humble and polite person. However, the probation officer explained that some of the taxi drivers, who operate in the same area as Johnson, said that it was a rumoured that he (Johnson) was involved in “such thing.” While speaking to the victim, the probation officer said that the child still had nightmares from that traumatic day and was teased at school by other students about the incident. The teen’s mother had told the probation officer that the incident affected her daughter's academic performance The victim, who is now 14 years old, on Friday, took to the witness stand and read her survivor statement. “The worst day of my life, the day I lost my pride and dignity. Life has not been the same since that day!” She said. She added that Johnson had caused her humiliation and left her feeling depressed which at one point she even tried committing suicide. However, the teen said she was met with support from family and persons around her even though she became distrustful of the opposite sex and saw males as the worst creatures on earth. “I wish that he suffers and feel the pain that I went through” the teen pleaded as she begged for justice to be served.

Morris Johnson

Johnson’s attorney, Keoma Griffith, in mitigation, told the court that until that incident his client had an unblemished record. He also asked the court to consider that Johnson had two young children and might not get to see his now unborn child, if he is behind bars. Nevertheless, Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs told the court that Johnson preyed on an innocent 12-year-old girl and took away her innocence- her virginity. “He dragged her out of his car like an item. After he had sex with her, he left her by the road side,” the prosecutor said. Additionally, she said, Johnson had caused the girl, at a young age, to develop distrust and hatred for the opposite sex. The prosecutor asked the court to consider the increase in sexual offences and to send a strong message to likely offenders that such behavior was unacceptable. Before sentencing, Justice Reynolds said that, based on the probation report he does not believe that Johnson is a "sicko that goes prowling in the night" but “something in him needs serious attention." However, the judge said Johnson preyed on the young girl and capitalised on her vulnerability thus deflowering and violating her body. Johnson was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after serving 15 years behind bars. According to reports, on the day in question, the child,

who attended an event with three of her friends, caught a taxi referred to as ‘$100 car’ or ‘short-drop car’ at Co-op Crescent, Mackenzie, around 22:00hrs in an effort to get to her home in Linden. However, upon reaching her home, the taxi driver passed the stop where the child and her friends were expected to get out. The three friends who were seated in the back seat reportedly forced their way out of the car, leaving behind the victim, who was sitting in the front passenger seat and was wearing the seat belt. After her friends had taken their leave, the child was then taken to a ‘back road’ area at Lower Kara Kara, Linden by the taxi driver, where she was forced out of the vehicle and sexually assaulted. When he was done, the suspect then dropped the victim off at the Kara Kara Bridge, Linden where she was left to walk home. The victim’s relatives, who were said to have been looking for her after the friends with whom she had shared the taxi alerted them as to what had happened, took her to the police station and subsequently to the Linden Hospital for a medical examination. The results of the medical examination proved that the victim had indeed been sexually assaulted and Johnson was later arrested and charged.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Court sets October 15 to hear challenge to non-residents on voters’ list THE Court of Appeal, on October 15, will hear government’s application for an early hearing of the partial challenge to the High Court’s decision that blocks GECOM from removing persons from the National Register of Registrants Database, and eliminates residency as a requirement to be on Official List of Electors. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, made the disclosure on Friday during a press conference held by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) at Congress Place, Sophia. The respondents in the case are Christopher Ram, the Chief Elections Officer, the Commissioner of National Registration and Guyana Elections Commission. The hearing of the application will take place even as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) intensifies preparations for the much-anticipated General and Regional Elections in March 2020. Such preparations include the merging of the data gathered from the recently-concluded houseto-house registration, with the National Register of Registrants Database. Initially, the Elections Secretariat had intended to generate a new register from the data gathered during the houseto-house registration but the High Court, while ruling that the national registration exercise was legitimate, said that it would be unconstitutional to remove persons from the National Register of Registrants unless deceased or disqualified pursuant to Article 159 (3) and (4). This resulted in the Elections Commission taking a decision to merge the data from the national registration exercise with the National Register of Registrants Database in its attempts to facilitate early elections. The attorney general, in appealing in part the decision of the High Court, has also asked for an interim stay of execution of part of the judgment handed down by the Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire on August 14, 2019 until the Fixed Date Application (FDA) is completely heard and a determination is made.

acted in accordance with Article 159 (2) (c) , 159 (5) and 162 of the Constitution of Guyana; the learned trial judge erred and was misconceived in law in when she breached the separation of powers doctrine by purporting to issue instructions to GECOM, a Constitutional independent actor, not to remove persons who are

Attorney General Basil Williams

“We applied for a stay. The stay would normally go to a single Judge in chambers and if it’s not successful you could then go to the full bench for a review of the decision of the judge in chambers. But, of course you know, when that case started the Court of Appeal had just gone into recess and so nothing could have happened until the court is now back on course,” Minister Williams told reporters. Should this prove unsuccessful for the government, it will pursue other legal options. “In these cases, as you know, since the first instance approach in the no-confidence motion, the courts haven’t been granting any stays. Instead, what they’re doing is trying to hear the matter expeditiously,” he explained. In his FDA filed in late August, Minister Williams laid out 16 grounds on which the Chief Justice (ag) erred in her ruling on the national registration process. In setting out the grounds for the appeal, he told the appellate court that the learned trial judge erred and was misconceived in law when she ruled that Article 159 (5) of the Constitution which addressed ‘the qualifying date’ is only applicable to persons 14 years or older for the purpose of registration as at October 31, and not all Guyanese citizens. According to him, the Chief Justice (ag) failed to apply any cannons of interpretation in arriving at her decision, adding that the matter was already fully ventilated and argued before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), and as such, was therefore Res Judicata. In her judgment, Justice George-Wiltshire also ruled that residency, in the case of Guyanese, was not a re-

quirement under the laws but the attorney general, in his application, contented that Chief Justice again erred. “The learned trial judge erred and was misconceived in law in finding that there is no law or laws in Guyana which set out additional requirements more particularly residence for purposes of Article 159 (2) (c) of the Constitution by failing to properly address her mind to section 6 of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 Laws of Guyana; the learned trial judge erred and was misconceived in law in failing to properly construe section 6 of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 Laws of Guyana in order to find that residency is a requirement of the Act for purposes of registration during the period of the ‘qualifying date,’” the attorney general contended. He, therefore, suggested to the appellate court that it would not be unconstitutional to remove persons from the list who had previously been on the list but was not registered during the houseto-house registration period because of non-residency in Guyana. Added to that, the attorney general alleged that the learned trial judge breached the separation of powers doctrine, contending that the Parliament clearly provided, in section 6 of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 Laws of Guyana, for residency during house-tohouse registration. “The learned trial judge erred and was misconceived in law where from the evidence nothing established that there was a breach of the provisions of the Constitution, the National Registration Act or any other law but the evidence was consistent with the fact that GECOM

presently registered from the current National Register of Registrants (NRR) but who are not registered under new house-to-house registration exercise from the current National Register of Registrants (NRR),” the attorney general submitted to the court. On those bases, Minister Williams further

submitted to the Court of Appeal that Chief Justice George-Wiltshire misdirected herself in law by failing to assess and address the importance and relevance of the provisions of the National Registration (Amendment) Act in the process of compiling a new National Register of Registrants.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Chief Justice to rule in case, filed by opposition, compelling Cabinet to resign COME October 16, 2019, at the High Court, Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, is expected to rule in the case filed by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall, for an order, compelling Cabinet, including the President, to resign. On that date also, the Chief Justice (ag) is set make her ruling in the Notice of Application (NOA) filed by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, who is asking for the Court to throw out the Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed by Nandlall. Nandlall had filed a FDA seeking an order compelling the Cabinet to resign. He had said that such ought to be the consequence of the no-confidence motion passed against the government last December, in accordance with Article 106 (6) of the Constitution. Nandlall is also seeking a Conservatory Order restraining the Cabinet, inclusive of the President, from meeting,

Ramkarran. Attorney-at-law Ramkarran said that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) did not give direction to the resignation of the cabinet and

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams

making decisions as, or performing the functions of the Cabinet. The Attorney General had moved to the court and filed a NOA and laid down more than 10 grounds why Nandlall’s FDA should be quashed, since it was an abuse of the court process. On Friday, October 04, 2019, hearing commenced in the two matters. Williams, was accompanied by Solicitor General Nigel Hawke and Deputy Solicitor General, Debra Kumar. Nandlall was accompanied by attorney-at-law Kamal

Attorney-at-law Kamal Ramkarran

Solicitor General Nigel Hawke

president, but omitted to grant such order. As such, he is asking the lower court (High Court) to grant what was omitted by the CCJ. However this did not sit well with the Chief Justice who replied “If the higher court chose not to make it, how can the lower court do so” Ramkarran however ar-

$1M resource centre for Mahdia Secondary

MAHDIA students are now better equipped following the establishment of a $1M Resource Centre at the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory. Called the 'Lynette Stephen Resource Centre', the facility was named after past headteacher and renown educator, Lynette Stephen who played a pivotal role in the development of Mahdia Secondary School. This move puts the students on a firmer footing and will ensure higher quality educational standards in the township. The project is the result of several public consultations. It was through engagement with residents of Mahdia, Campbeltown, Princeville, Tumatumari and other surrounding communities that the idea was birthed. Minister of State, Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams, who officially opened the facility, saluted the residents for working with the government and private sector to operationalise the project. "Your government will continue to support you in every way we can," Minister Hastings-Williams assured. She added that internet connectivity would soon be a reality for all the students of Mahdia; and advised then to take full advantage of all of the materials provided. The Department of Social Cohesion spearheaded the initiative and has equipped the centre with computers, textbooks, novels, technical drawing sets, geometry sets, chairs, tables, computers, printer and

Hawke argued that one of the proposals was for the President and the Cabinet to immediately resign and vacate office, but the CCJ refused to make such an order

ink, among other things. It was highlighted that the resource centre will improve the educational performance of the students who board at the dormitory since they will now have access to the additional tools. Regional Executive Officer, Mitzy Campbell remarked: "Education is the fuel we run on. Any developments in education are extremely significant." The opening of the centre marks a great day for Guyana's education, according to Regional Chairman, Bonaventure Fredericks. Meanwhile, His Worship the Mayor of Mahdia, David Adams, cited the momentous move as one which will bridge the educational disparities existing between the hinterland and coastal education delivery. His Excellency, President David Granger, in his bid for the development of Guyana through education, continues to push for equitable, inclusive education for all, a vision that is becoming a reality. The resource centre is yet another effort of the Government of Guyana to bridge the gaps between the hinterland and coastal areas. The move has paid off, as noticed following this year's National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), where Region 8 was adjudged the most improved region. (DPI)

gued that the lower court has jurisdiction over such matter, but the Chief Justice said “the CCJ’s decision was clear” Solicitor General Nigel Hawke said that the applicant (Nandlall) represented the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Appeal case Bharrat Jagdeo v. AG & Others and had actively participated in the proposals for consequential orders of that court – the country’s final appellate court. For that reason, Nandlall is fully aware of the orders the CCJ made in the ‘no-confidence appeals.’

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall

and clearly outlined that the Cabinet and President remain in office but on a different footing in the nature of a caretaker government, FDA, he said is an abuse of the court since the learned CJ dealt with that issue, it went to the CCJ. The CCJ rejected it clearly and said that the government remains in a different mode. Nandlall’s FDA has al-

ready been ventilated by the CCJ when it handed down several consequential orders. The CCJ, in arriving at its decision, had said that the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards in citing Hogg, the Canadian constitutional expert, was right to note that, “By convention, the government is expected to behave during this interim period as a caretaker and so restrain the exercise of its legal authority. “It is an attempt to turn what we understand as the hierarchy system (CCJ) in our judiciary upside down” Hawke said as he made reference to the FDA. He also stressed that if the applicant had found an error in the ruling of the CCJ, the applicant can go back for clarification since that cannot be dealt with at the lower court. The Chief Justice ordered that submissions be handed in by October 9, 2019 and set October 16, 2019 for decision in both matters.

‘Trini’ who faked kidnapping sentenced A 34-year-old Trinidadian national, Sawak Maraj, who was on trial before Senior Magistrate, Fabayo Azore, for faking his own kidnapping, two years ago, was, on Friday, October 04, 2019, sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment. Maraj appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Azore and was found him guilty of the charge. Particulars of the first charge stated that, on October 27, 2017, in Georgetown, Maraj knowingly gave false information to the police, stating that he had been kidnapped and that his abductors had demanded US$700,000 for his release. It was further alleged that, on the same day, while at the Madewini Resort on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, Maraj conspired with two other persons to obtain the ransom money. Magistrate Azore, after finding sufficient evidence against Maraj, sentenced him to four years for conspiracy to commit a felony and eighteen months for knowingly giving false information to the police, and ordered that the sentences run consecutively.

Sawak Maraj

Maraj, upon hearing his sentences, turned to his mother and gave her a hug as she fell to the ground with tears flowing down her face. According to the police, Maraj arrived in Guyana on October 27, 2017, claiming to have come for a job interview. He was picked up at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport by two other Trinidadians who had arrived in the country earlier that week. Later that same day, Maraj’s relatives in Trinidad, reportedly received a call from an unknown person, claiming to have kidnapped Maraj shortly after his arrival here and demanding that

a ransom be paid for his release. The man’s family was also sent a photograph showing him clad only in his underwear and socks, and one of his alleged abductors holding a cutlass to his neck. After being contacted by the man’s family in Trinidad, local police and agents from the Force’s Major Crimes Unit immediately sprang into action. The first thing they did was to review footage from the surveillance camera at the airport, which showed Maraj warmly embracing his two so-called abductors, who turned out to be the said two ‘Trinis’ who’d picked him up at the airport, before boarding a taxi without incident. Aided by the surveillance tapes, the investigators were able to track down the taxi driver who transported the men from the airport and traced the call that was made to demand the ransom. It was that call that gave away the location from where the call was made. Armed with such vital information, the agents then hurried to the location, and there they found Maraj, the supposedly kidnapped victim, in an apartment, relaxing and sipping on beverages.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

PPPC official allegedly thwarted in attempt to mislead GECOM AN alert APNU+AFC scrutineer foiled an attempt by a senior official of the PPP/C in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) to allegedly mislead GECOM about his official place of residence. Carol Smith-Joseph, Deputy Chief Scrutineer of the APNU/AFC Coalition, said that the incident, which took place on Thursday last, prompted her to write a letter to the Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Keith Lowenfield, about the behavior of the official who she identified as former PPP/C MP and current head of the PPP/C Regional Office in Region Five, Mr. Faizal Mohamound Jafarally. She disclosed that based on reports, on October 1, 2019, Mr. Jafarally presented himself to the GECOM office at Fort Wellington West Coast Berbice to initiate a transfer from Division 6114848 in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) to Division 523112H in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) giving

refused to sign because the address provided by Mr. Jafarally was not a residence, but an office. The APNU/AFC scrutineer, who is very familiar with the district, also knew from past observations that Mr. Jaffarally did not live at that address as he claimed. Indeed he had never lived

his home address as 155 Waterloo West Coast Berbice. On October 3, 2019, in keeping with the conventions of the claims and objections period, a GECOM official and two scrutineers, one from the PPP/C and another from the APNU/AFC visited the address given to carry out a verification. When they arrived at 155 Waterloo WCB, it was found to be the address of the PPP/C Regional Office in Region Five. Joseph said that the driver

of the vehicle in which the GECOM official and the scrutineers were being transported tooted the horn on his vehicle and Mr. Jafarally presented himself to the team. Joseph said that it was reported to her that he told the officials that he had been living at the PPP/C Regional Office in Region Five for the past three years. The GECOM official signed the verification and the PPP/C scrutineer signed as well but the APNU/AFC scrutineer

Course launched on psychological first aid skills after disaster THE Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), on Friday, launched the virtual course in psychological first aid in disaster management in the Caribbean. The course aims to equip volunteers, first responders and persons in the community with the skills to provide the initial response to people experiencing psychological distress after a crisis. “Caribbean people are threatened every year by major storms and disasters. This virtual course is made to provide everyone who wants to be active and help, with the necessary psychological skills to support people in the community and care for themselves as well,” said Dr. Maria Ziegler, CDB’s Operations Officer for Gender and Development. “After a disaster, it is not only about building back better. The Caribbean Development Bank is proud to be joining forces with the Pan American Health Organisation to build resilience so that people are better prepared and can better cope tomorrow.” The 10-hour, self-learning course is available free of cost on the Caribbean node of PAHO’s Virtual Campus for Public Health at www.cam-

pusvirtualsp.org. It covers understanding and providing psychological first aid, how to help responsibly, identifying people who need special attention, caring for self and colleagues, and practicing psychological skills. Psychological first aid is a humane, supportive response to a fellow human being who is in need of support that everyone trained can provide. Dr. Elisa Prieto, Adviser, Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, of the PAHO Caribbean Sub-regional Office, explained that this free virtual course is designed to help communities who go through these events with their long-term recovery. “We wanted to offer a proven tool to support volunteers, first responders and community leaders in helping affected persons to feel safe, connected, calm and hopeful, with access to social, physical and emotional support and to feel capable of help themselves and their communities in the aftermath,” she said. Upon finalisation of the training and final exam, participants receive a course completion certificate, issued by PAHO and CDB. Disseminating the principles of psychological first aid is at the core of the CDB/PAHO

campaign, “Stronger Together”, which will run until the end of November 2019. The campaign tackles the stigma associated with seeking mental health and psychosocial support and puts a special focus on vulnerable people, such as children and adolescents, women, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. In addition, the gender-sensitive campaign addresses issues related to the different roles that men and women have in the family and the community, a possible rise in gender-based violence following disasters, and gender differences when accessing health services. Campaign materials can be found at www.paho.org/ spc-crb/stronger-together and include an illustrated booklet; public service announcements for video and radio; video testimonials, and a radio jingle broadcast across the Caribbean Region. The campaign is part of a PAHO and CBD initiative to build capacity for mental health and psychosocial support in disaster management in the Caribbean. The project has also set up a roster of mental health professionals from which PAHO and CDB can mobilise resources for affected countries in an emergency.

there but was from Region Six and would normally stop at an address at Bath Settlement West Coast Berbice in Division No.5231128 whenever he visits Region Five. Joseph said that as a result of the report from the APNU AFC scrutineer, she had dispatched a letter to the Chief Elections Officer

yesterday, objecting to the transfer of Mr. Jafarally’s current address to a “residential address” that is, in reality, the PPP/C Headquarters in Region Five. The objection is carbon copied to the returning officer at Fort Wellington and to Ms. Amna Ally MP Chief Scrutineer.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Region to host Caribbean Congress on adolescents, youth, health YOUNG people have been identified as critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG Three – Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages. The SDGs’ agenda and the Global Strategy for the health of Women, Children and Adolescent (GSWCAH, 2016-2030) bring new commitments and mandates that directly affect the positioning of young people in the global and regional health and development agenda. According to 2015 estimates, there are 10.8 million young people (10-24 years) in the Caribbean, representing 25 per cent of the total population, and 7.2 million adolescents (10-19 years), representing 17 per cent of the total population. The region continues to recognise the disparities in the burden of poverty, underemployment and unemployment, secondary school enrolment and completion rates, as well as the financial and societal barriers young people face to access health information and quality health services that respond to their needs. Additionally, there are especially vulnerable youth who face additional levels of marginalisation, such as adolescents with disabilities, HIV positive youth, migrant and socially-displaced adolescents, and those who identify along the LGBTQI spectrum. It is against this backdrop that the region will host the first Caribbean Congress on Adolescent and Youth Health in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on October 15-17, 2019. The theme of the Congress is "Championing our wealth: promoting the health and well-being of adolescents and youth in the Caribbean." Her Excellency, Paula-Mae Weekes ORTT, President of Trinidad and Tobago, will be the feature speaker. Ms Kim Simplis-Barrow, First Lady of Belize and Chair, Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN); Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health, Trinidad and Tobago; Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, CARICOM Secretary-General and Dr Carissa F. Etienne, PAHO Director,

are expected to deliver remarks during the opening ceremony on October 14, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Port-of-Spain. The congress, which is organised by a consortium of regional partners, including youth leaders, is expected to increase awareness on issues that are negatively affecting the health and well-being of adolescent and youth in the Caribbean. It is anticipated that the congress will help to mobilise greater investment for the promotion and protection of the health and well-being of all adolescents and young people in the Caribbean. Approximately 200 participants are expected to attend including youth from around the Caribbean, CARICOM youth ambassadors, youth from within key populations, youth development leaders, public health leaders, social activists, and regional civil society representatives. The congress is structured to ensure that the voices and concerns of youth in the region are heard through their active participation as organisers of special sessions, moderators, and panellists. The congress will also encompass building the capacity of youths to advocate for issues related to adolescent and youth health at the regional and country-level through increased knowledge and awareness of current best practices, new tools and skillsets applicable to the Region. The congress is expected to result in regional commitment from participants on a vision and core principles to address the health needs of adolescents and youth ages 10-24 years in the Caribbean, as well as action plans based on current and emerging priorities for adolescent and youth health. The event will serve as an impetus for policymakers to begin the discussion on how to improve and sustain investments in the health and well-being of adolescents and youth in the Caribbean.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

PNC proud of achievements in gov’t

AS the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) celebrates 65 years since its founding, the party says it is proud of its record as being part of the coalition government. At a press conference on Friday, PNCR Executive Member and Attorney-General, Basil Williams, in a statement on behalf of the party, assured that the positive development recognised in recent years will continue. “The PNCR, as part of the APNU+AFC Coalition, has much to be proud of. Under the guidance of President David Granger, the coalition has been creating jobs, building and maintaining record amounts of infrastructure, cracking down on crime, improving the standards in our schools and hospitals and cleaning the streets of our capital towns and most importantly, bringing people together in socially-cohesive communities,” he stated. Other improvements, he noted, were the construction of the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education campuses; the construction of multilateral, primary, secondary and community high schools in rural and hinterland regions; and the inauguration of a comprehensive programme of scholarships and more.

Renewing its commitment to national development, the party said it will work to improve relations with trade unions; promote inclusionary democracy; return free education; develop a modern healthcare and delivery system; ensure better paying jobs; and ensure a robust transportation network. Added to this, Guyanese can also look forward to an increase in the number of paved roads even as the Linden to Lethem Highway is expected to begin this year. Williams stated that the minister of finance has already announced that all public servants can look forward to a salary increase this year. “Our goal is to build a well-paid, well-trained public service that will support our projected economic growth and development. This will be matched with the construction of modern, efficient and reliable infrastructure. Since entering office in 2015, we have invested over $43 billion on expanding roads and bridges, including our coastal highways along the East and West Coasts of Demerara and maintained more than 350km (217 miles) of roads in the hinterland. Everywhere you go in Guyana you can see signs of the progress

2 years’ imprisonment for breaking into a woman’s car

MAGISTRATE Faith McGusty on Friday, October 4, 2019, sentenced a 30-year-old man to serve two years’ imprisonment for breaking into a woman’s car. Albert DeFreitas of Leopold Street appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was found guilty after being on trial. Particulars of the charge stated that, on January 31, 2018, at Parade Street, Georgetown, he stole a handbag, cellphone, laptop, among other items totalling $550,000, the property of Shelly Haynes. Magistrate McGusty in handing down the sentence told the court that she found sufficient evidence

against DeFreitas. DeFreitas denied the charge when he made his first appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman. According to information, Haynes parked her motor car along Parade Street and went into a nearby school. Upon her return, she discovered that the right side door of her vehicle was tampered with and her items were missing. The matter was reported, an investigation was made and upon reviewing nearby Closed-Circuit Television Camera (CCTV), DeFreitas was seen breaking into Haynes’ car and removing the items.

that has been made in our country’s infrastructure,” he said. He noted that there will also be the construction of bridges across the Essequibo River; building improved land transport links to Bartica; the completion of the East Coast Demerara Highway Improvement Project; the construction of a new rail network to help move passengers and cargo throughout the country and

PNCR Executive Member and Attorney-General, Basil Williams

the expansion of aerodromes to help better connect hinterland communities. “In just four short years, great progress has been made. We are on the right path. The PNCR urge all our people, of whatever background, to support David Granger and the APNU+AFC Coalition, this will guarantee that all Guyanese move forward together,” the attorney-general stated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Trotman meets Indigenous leaders ahead of toshaos conference

MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, held engagements with the South Rupununi Development Council (SRDC) and the National Toshaos Council (NTC) on Thursday and Friday, to discuss matters and concerns of the people. The initial meeting with the SRDC sought to address the government’s policy on river mining and the protection of the key headwaters in the South Rupununi, status of the operation of the “Dragga” down the Kuyuwini River, and the status of the Marudi Mediation Agreement Process. The latter meeting with the NTC served to discuss the possibility for an extension of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’s (FCPF) REDD+ Project. This is an Inter-American Development Bank-funded project that aims at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, forest

Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman meeting with the South Rupununi District Council

carbon stock conservation, sustainable management of forests, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries. The project currently offers an immense amount of support to the council. In November 2018, the FCPF

REDD+ Project advanced the furnishing and equipping of the NTC secretariat. Subsequently, there has been continued support and partnership in helping the council to execute its mandate. The REDD+ Project also supports some support staff of

the NTC and rental of the building that houses the NTC Secretariat. The project is scheduled to come to an end in December 2019. Minister Trotman highlighted that the project has done ground-breaking work in regards to the sustainable management and development of the country’s forests with the inclusion of the Indigenous Peoples. He went on to note the in-

ternational recognition given regarding the country’s forest practices and the eventual release of funds from the Kingdom of Norway to Guyana. The minister said that as such, it would be in the government’s interest that the project continues. However, he said, if it does not, steps are being made to secure funding to continue aspects of the project, particularly in regards to

the continuation of financial and material support to the NTC. NTC chair, Nicholas Frederick, thanked the minister for the support and considerations going forward. Before the meetings culmination, he also inquired of how best the ministry could be incorporated into the upcoming National Toshaos Conference 2019, to better interactions with other toshaos who will be present. Minister Trotman noted that the ministry will have a booth set up to address concerns and provide information and updates as needed, and will seek possible sideline interventions to address these. The minister noted that he is pleased to have met and interacted with the members of the various councils and looks forward to more fruitful interactions at the conference, which runs from October 7-11, 2019, under the theme “Guyana’s First Peoples United in the Promotion of the Green Economy through Preservation of our Languages, Land and Right”.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

GUYOIL hosts cancer awareness seminar for staff THE Guyana Oil Company Limited (GUYOIL) on Thursday hosted a Cancer Awareness forum for employees as part of several internal cancer awareness activities planned for the month of October. The forum was held at GUYOIL’s Kitty Service Station boardroom. The speaker at the event was Cancer Specialist Dr. Mujahid Gazi from the Cancer Institute of Guyana. In addition to being a gold sponsor of GTT’s Pinktober 2019, GUYOIL thought it fit to bring it closer to home with internal awareness activities, the oil company said in a release. GUYOIL believes that cancer awareness efforts should extend beyond the popular organizations that are involved and the mantle should be taken up by everyone with a platform. Hence, they hope that all 426

employees will be reached and there will be a paradigm shift in their approach to their health. The employees were enlightened by Dr. Gazi about the different types of cancers, their causes, cures, preventative measures, and self-examination. Dr. Gazi also cautioned employees to take their health seriously. He noted that most cancers are curable once addressed at an early stage and that can only be done once there is early detection. Early detection can only be made once yearly examinations are done for both men and women. The employees in attendance expressed their appreciation for the initiative and their satisfaction with the presentation from Dr. Gazi. They have committed to being ambassadors and being more discipline as it relates to their health. GUYOIL’s Marketing and Sales Manager Mrs.

Single-mother gets help to send children to school

Madhuri Orilall receives a cheque from one of RIVAH representatives

THE Rafieya’s International Vision and Hope (RIVAH), a non- profit organisation, has stepped forward to help Madhuri Orilall, a Port Mourant, Berbice single mother of six, who lost her husband six months ago to suicide. After hearing about Orilall’s story, RIVAH Region Six team held a back-toschool drive and also donated $50,000 to the mother to assist her in purchasing school items to send her children to school. The items were presented last Sunday by RIVAH’s representatives, Sushmita Kalika Singh and Natasha Phagwah Khan. According to Singh, the mother can now focus on sending her children to school. Singh thanked the

generous donors for making the back-to-school drive a success. The donors included Little Rock Suites, Twins Manufacturing Chemist and Criterion systems from Guyana. There were also several US-based Guyanese donors. Rafieya’s International Vision and Hope (RIVAH) is an internationally recognised NGO founded by Miss World Guyana 2014, Rafieya Zara Husain. It seeks to create awareness and prevention in relation to domestic violence and suicide in Guyana. RIVAH launched its first outreach centre on the Essequibo Coast in 2014. This year, the NGO has registered a presence in five other regions in Guyana.

Jacqueline James in expressing appreciation to Dr. Gazi and the Cancer Institute of Guyana commended the specialist for the work they do and his concise presentation. “GUYOIL recognizes that its employees are the foundation of the company and are always committed to activities that will contribute to their well-being,” the company said. The

GUYOIL’s employee’s listen as Dr. Gazi of Cancer Institute of Guyana share about cancer and prevention methods

company’s CEO Ms. Renatha Exeter has been instrumental in their increased commitment to their Cor-

porate Social Responsibility Programme and Employees developmental initiative. Ms. Exeter highlighted

that an investment in your human resource is an investment in a progressive company.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

DeSinco Supports CDC flood relief efforts DeSinco Trading Limited, on Thursday, donated a number of food supplies to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) for distribution to the flood-affected areas and other residents in Region 8 (Potaro-Sipuruni) who are currently experiencing drought condition. Director-General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig explained that “Guyana is not only impacted by floods but droughts and prolonged dry seasons as well. So, these supplies will be distributed to several Indigenous communities in Region 8; in areas such as Kanapang and Kamana Village among others.” The Director-General commended the management of DeSinco

Trading Limited for the assistance and noted that the company has often partnered with the Commission to provide emergency supplies in times of need. De Sinco Limited’s Brand Manager, Aisha D’ Abreu, said as part of its corporate responsibility, the company “always reaches out to help the nation in its time of need, in any shape or form.” D’ Abreu also mentioned that the company recently supplied items for relief and care packages distributed by the CDC to residents affected by flood in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. (DPI)

De Sinco Limited’s Brand Manager, Aisha D’ Abreu handing over the relief items to Director-General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

American Racing Tips Keenland Race 1 Specially

South Africa beat Italy to keep World Cup hopes alive

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11:45 hrs Olympic Conqueror 12:20 hrs Roundhay Park

Italy’s hopes of a comeback were ended when Andrea Lovotti (left) was shown red early in the second half.

(BBC) - SOUTH Africa kept their World Cup hopes alive with a routine bonus-point win over Italy, who had prop Andrea Lovotti sent off for a tiptackle. Handre Pollard converted tries from Cheslin Kolbe and Mbongeni Mbonambi, and added a penalty to put the Springboks 17-3 up at the break. After Lovotti was dismissed, Kolbe crossed for his second score. Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, RG Snyman and Malcolm Marx also went over as South Africa went top of Pool B. The game was over as a contest once Lovotti was dismissed by referee Wayne Barnes early in the second half for his part in picking up Springboks number eight Duane Vermeulen and dropping him headfirst to the floor. It was the fourth red card already of this World Cup

- the joint most ever in a single World Cup alongside 1995 and 1999 - while there was only one in 2015. Two-time winners South Africa know victory in their final pool match against Canada on Tuesday (11:15 BST) is likely to be enough to secure a quarterfinal berth, with Italy facing holders New Zealand in their last game on Saturday, October 12. Having lost 23-13 to the All Blacks in their opening match of the tournament, South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus admitted the meeting with Italy was “door-die” for his side. But the Boks, who were one of the pre-tournament favourites, had any nerves settled by Kolbe’s early try when the winger beat two men to touch down in the right-hand corner. The contest was expected to be a battle between the forwards but Italy lost both their tight-head props,

Simone Ferrari and Marco Riccioni, to injury in the first half, leading to uncontested scrums for the final hour. Pollard missed three conversions but he set up Kolbe’s second try with a cross-kick and scored 14 points on the night to become the highest points-scorer for the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup, surpassing Percy Montgomery’s previous record. South Africa pushed home their advantage after Lovotti was sent off but will have concerns over the fitness of Kolbe, who picked up an ankle injury in a tackle in the closing stages. The Springboks will have bigger challenges to come but have kept themselves in the hunt in a bid to add to their triumphs in 1995 and 2007.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday October 03, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Shoaib Malik-81* (Sabina Park, 2014) (2) 3 (Chris Gayle/Rovman Powell/Chadwick Walton) Today’s Quiz: (1) What is the highest CPL score ever made by a Patriots player against TKR/Red Steel to date? (2) Who has been Nicholas Pooran’s first ‘stumping’ victim in CPL 2019? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Elgar leads South African fightback (REUTERS) - OPENER Dean Elgar led South Africa’s spectacular fightback with a gutsy unbeaten century to bring his team in sight of the follow-on mark on the third day of the opening Test at Visakhapatnam yesterday. Elgar remained unbeaten on 133 after completing his 12th hundred in Tests with Quinton de Kock 69 not out, as South Africa reached 292 for five at tea, still 210 runs behind the hosts’ first-innings score of 502 for seven declared. Left-handed Elgar, 32, added 115 for the fifth wicket with captain Faf du Plessis to launch South Africa’s rearguard action in the morning before going on to compile another substantial stand of 114 for the sixth wicket with de Kock to keep India at bay. After South Africa resumed on a precarious 393, India would have expected their spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to inflict quick damage, but their only success in the first session came from experienced fast bowler Ishant Sharma. Temba Bavuma was out leg-before for 18 to the lanky paceman who got the delivery to curl back in viciously and hit the batsman’s

Dean Elgar acknowledges the applause upon reaching 150. (BCCI)

pad, reducing the touring side to 63-4. Elgar, who was unbeaten on 27 overnight, displayed nimble footwork against the spinners and was not afraid to take the aerial route to score runs as he hit 14 fours and four sixes in his unfinished knock. He reached his century in style by hitting Ashwin over the midwicket boundary with a slog sweep and followed it up with an emotional celebration. The left-handed batsman had a lucky escape when wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, making a comeback to the Indian side after an injury-induced lengthy absence, failed to hold on to a catch on 74 off Jadeja. India also missed an opportunity to dismiss de Kock for seven when Rohit Sharma floored a sharp chance close-in off spinner Hanuma Vihari. The wicketkeeper-batsman made full use of the reprieve, producing the fireworks with a stroke-filled knock during which he hit 11 fours and a six. du Plessis looked fluent at the crease and used the sweep shot well to neutralise the spinners, hitting eight fours and a six in his innings of 55, before he was caught by Cheteshwar Pujara at leg slip off Ashwin.

Osaka into China Open semis (BBC) - NAOMI Osaka fought back from a set down to defeat Bianca Andreescu at the China Open yesterday - ending the US Open champion’s 17-match winning streak. Former world number one Osaka advanced to the semifinals with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory in just over two hours in Beijing. Japan’s Osaka, 21, will face defending champion Caroline Wozniacki in the last four. Top seed Ashleigh Barty will take on Kiki Bertens in the other semi-final. Teenager Andreescu charged into a 5-1 lead in the first set, but Osaka fought back to draw level on 5-5. The 19-year-old Canadian then broke Osaka’s serve to clinch the first set. World number six Andreescu went up 3-1 in the second set before Osaka won five consecutive games to level the match and the Australian Open champion proved too strong in the third set of what was the first

Osaka (left) and Andreescu are two of the most exciting, young tennis talents. meeting between the pair. “I forgot how it felt and honestly it sucks, I didn’t miss it,” Andreescu said after her first loss since the Miami Open in

March in a run that included her stunning victory over Serena Williams in the US Open final last month. Osaka became the fifth player

to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen, China after Barty, Karolina Pliskova, Wimbledon champion Simona Halep and Andreescu.

Australia’s world number one Barty also battled from a set down to beat Czech Republic’s seventh seed Petra Kvitova 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 yesterday to set up her meeting

with eighth seed Bertens, who upset third seed Elina Svitolina 7-6, (8-6), 6-2. Dane Wozniacki beat Russia’s Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 7-6, (7-5).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Gardiner wins men’s 400m gold (CMC) - STEVE Gardiner lifted the spirits of Bahamians with a convincing victory in the men’s 400 metres at the IAAF World Championships yesterday. It was one of two medals for the English-speaking Caribbean on the seventh day of competition at the Championships, following up a bronze for hurdler Rushell Clayton of Jamaica in the women’s 400 hurdles which was won in a world record time by American Dalilah Muhammad. Weeks after Hurricane Dorian devastated parts of his homeland, the 23-yearold Gardiner, whose last 400 defeat came when claiming silver at the 2017 World Championships, bided his time before unleashing a devastating burst of speed over the last 150 metres to blow away his rivals and set a national record of 43.48 seconds. Gardiner’s grandmother’s wooden house was flattened by Hurricane Dorian and his father’s home was also badly damaged, but those painful thoughts were quickly wiped away, as he gushed following his triumph. “I went through the rounds perfectly,” he said. “I can’t believe I am a world champion. I was born in the Caribbean and everyone did their best (in this race). It feels pretty good.” “It’s so big to win two

medals (the other being fellow quarter-miler Shaunae Miller-Uibo) for the Bahamas after the hurricane. We did it for our country.” Pan Am Games champion Anthony Jose Zambrano of Colombia lowered his personal best of 44.55 set in the heats to record a South American record of 44.15 for silver. Fred Kerley, who recorded a time of 43.64 to win the American title in July, had to settle for bronze in 44.17. Jamaica’s Demish Gaye trimmed 0.09 from his personal best to record 44.46 for fourth, 0.08 clear of Grenada’s former World 400 champion Kirani James, who will draw huge encouragement at his return to the big time. Kenya’s Emmanuel Korir earned a respectable sixth in 44.94 with Machel Cedenio of Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica’s Akeem Bloomfield clocking 45.30 and 45.36 respectively, completing the final order. The 26-year-old Clayton had to settle for third in the women’s 400 hurdles with a personal-best time of 53.74 secs, as American Dalilah Muhammad broke her own world record to win with a time of 52.16, edging out her compatriot Sydney McLaughlin in a gripping race. Clayton and other competitors were hardly a factor in the race, as Muhammad dominated, but finished only

The Bahamas’ Steve Gardiner (right) celebrates winning the men’s 400 metres at the IAAF World Championships yesterday in Doha, Qatar. Also pictured is fourth-placed finisher Demish Gaye of Jamaica.

slightly ahead of silver medallist McLaughlin. Muhammad had a narrow lead over the first 100 of the race before extending her advantage, as they came

through the second bend. The two Americans opened up a large gap on the rest of the field in the second half of the race and McLaughlin, aged 20, just failed to catch her compatriot, settling for second in 52.23. The 29-year-old Muhammad, the 2016 Olympic champion, crossed the finish line 0.04 faster than the previous world record she set at

the American trials in July in Iowa. In other results, Jamaica’s men crashed out of the 4x100 relays in the heats, but the women’s advanced to the final. The Jamaican men, comprising Oshane Bailey, Yohan Blake, Rasheed Dwyer and Tyquendo Tracey, clocked 38.15 and finished fifth in first heat and were

unable to book one of the two non-automatic spots. The Jamaican women, anchored by Natasha Morrison and comprising newly-minted World 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Natalliah Whyte and Jonielle Smith, finished in 42.11 to win in the second heat to automatically qualify.

Riley supports Haynes for Windies head coach Finalists to be decided tonight

(CMC) – OUTSPOKEN Barbados Cricket Association president Conde Riley has thrown his support behind batting legend Desmond Haynes to become the next West Indies men’s head coach. Haynes and former head coach Phil Simmons lead the race to be the next full-time head coach of the West Indies men’s team, with current interim coach Floyd Reifer also making the shortlist. Cricket West Indies (CWI) said on Tuesday that Haynes, Reifer and Simmons emerged from a list of six candidates that took part in the initial interview process which concluded last Monday – and there will now be a final round of interviews to be completed by October 11. “I think he understands batsmanship and that is an area that we have been failing in,” Riley said in an interview with Weekend Nation newspaper here. “Based on experience, he would be a good choice. I think Desmond has a lot to offer. All three of the candidates for the job are suitable. I wish them

well, but Haynes would be my pick.”

The 63-year-old Haynes is a former West Indies captain and one half of the most durable opening partnership in the history of the international game with Gordon Greenidge. He brings the wealth of a decorated playing career in which he scored 7 487 runs in 116 Tests and 8 648 runs in 238 One-day Internationals between 1978 and 1994. Haynes has worked briefly with the Windies men’s team previously in the post of batting consultant when Ottis Gibson was head coach and has had coaching stints with several Twenty20 franchise sides in recent times. He has also held coaching stints with Sussex in England and Western Province in South Africa.

in LIMACOL football tourney THE finalists in the 2019 edition of the LIMACOL Football tournament will be decided this evening. The event, which is sponsored mainly by New GPC with support from W.J. Enterprise, will be decided tonight following the conclusion of semifinal fixtures at the Ministry of Education (MoE) ground on CARIFESTA Avenue. The first match blows off at 19:00hrs and the scores of fans, who are anticipated to flock to venue, will see the tournament favourites Fruta Conquerors Under-20 pitted against Riddim Squad. Conquerors have been spearheaded by youngster Nicholas McArthur’s superb form

and they will be bankng on him to increase his tally of 10 goals to marshal them into the final. The feature match will be Santos Under-20 against Pele FC. Although Pele have not entered as a youth side into the tournament, their starting XI is mostly comprised of youth players inclusive of target-man Dorwin George, who has been exceptional in front of goal for the Georgetown-based club. The winners of this tournament will pocket $400 000, second $200 000, third $100 000 and the losers of the third-place playoff will walk away with $50 000.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Horse racing returns to Georgetown Turf Club on October 27 THE Region 114 Sports Community will be holding a grand one-day horseracing meeting on Sunday, October 27, at the Georgetown Turf Club, Mocha, East Bank Demerara. According to coordinator Compton Sancho, seven races are carded for the meet with the feature event being the J and K Class horses. The

winner will collect $180 000 second $90 000, third $45 000 and the fourth-placed will collect $22 500. Other events on the card are the I/Open, L-Non winners, the Unclassified, the L3, the 2-year-old Maidens and the first-time starters. Over $3M in cash prizes and trophies will be up for grabs. “So far work is ongoing at the venue so as to have

the venue ready for race day. The management will be assisting horses coming from Corentyne, Berbice, with their bridge crossing. Most of the country’s top 1 and K Class will be in action,” the committee said in a release. Meanwhile, horse owners are asked to register their horses with the name and correct class. No late entry will be allowed.

Red Regent Release, Heat Victoria, Lucky Lucky, First Prince, Byron Call, She’s Royal Up Front, Amazon Warrior, Up Top Boss, Up Rising, Red Jet, School Boy, Poor People Money, Quick Kiss, Early Bird and Unruly are some of the horses that are expected to be on show.

Coordinator Compton Sancho

Two junior chess competitions on this weekend THE Wendell Meusa Chess Foundation and School of the Nations Chess Club will host two junior chess competitions over the weekend in the capital city. For Nations, it will be its first chess scholastic competition as it aims to resuscitate its chess club. School of the Nations is one of the schools with a Chess for Education programme from nursery to secondary level. Nations’ students not only benefit from the Chess for Education programme but the chess club also runs as an extracurricular activity for students who are mostly trained by FIDE National Instructor CM Wendell Meusa. In the competition, which starts this morning at the school’s auditorium, players will battle through five rounds with 30 minutes per player. Nations’ students and National junior players such as Joshua Khan and Jacob McDonald, who represented Guyana in CARIFTA this year, are set to participate in the multiage group event, which will target players from as young as five years old all the way to upper high. Meanwhile, former National champion and FIDE Candidate Master

Some of the juniors who played the Gaico Construction seven-round competition late last month and should be in action this weekend.

Meusa will be hosting his fourth Junior Chess Championships on Sunday and next Saturday at the National Sport Resource and Racquet Centre. The Wendell Meusa Chess Foundation (WMCF) is the ‘Home of Chess Champions’ in Guyana as it continues to train many top national junior players. Operating since 2009 under its old name Royal Chess Academy, WMCF has produced national junior champions such as Cecil Cox, Ron Motilall and even FM Anthony Drayton found his talent there. With that said, WMCF 2019 Jr. Chess Championships will see Guyana’s current top national juniors such as the Lee brothers (Ethan and Ronan), Jaden Taylor, Jarrell

Troyer, Chelsea Juma, the Johnson sisters (Waveney and Nellisha), Angel Rahim and Samirah Gobin. The entire CARIFTA team should be participating and the event is being played as FIDE-rated, which will make it more competitive and entertaining. The competition will run for seven rounds with one-hour sudden-death time control per player. Games will start at 09:00hrs and all games will be played under the rules and laws of FIDE. Registration fee is $1 000 per child and all interested persons can contact Ms Clarke on 669-4731 (Nations Chess Club Director) or Wendell Meusa on 664-0124 for more information.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Deo confident of retaining Suriname Invitational golf title FORMER Guyana Open Champion Joaan Deo is confident of retaining her Suriname Invitational golf title this weekend at Golf Club Paramaribo. The 2018 winner, who tallied 82 points after she broke 80 for the first time in her career last year, said that she is looking forward to becoming the first backto-back Guyanese winner at the event. “I’m confident of retaining the title because my game has been solid throughout

the year.” The 29-year-old said that one of the positives over the last 12 months is the improvement in her driving from the tee box. Deo, who is a practising dentist, said that she has also been pushing herself in the gym as she prepares for the upcoming 2019 Guyana Open (October 26-27). In a practice round yesterday in Suriname, she finished with 79 in her 18 holes. Although there are several Surinamese golfers who

would attempt to keep the title home, one of Deo’s toughest challengers would be Shanella London. The former Guyana Open champion has had a string of good performances, which have resulted in her handicap cutting to 14. Deo, on the other hand, saw her handicap bump up by one to 15. Twenty-eighth handicapper Eureka Giddings is the third female representing Guyana. Meanwhile, arguably the best male golfer that Guyana has ever produced, Avinash

Gajnabi, Grimmond make donation to RHTYSC

THE Rose Hall Town Metro Female Cricket team, Guyana’s only female cricket team, was established in 2008 with the main objective of nurturing the talent of female players in Berbice and Guyana. The club produced Shemaine Campbelle and Erva Giddings for the West Indies and in September 2019, Sheneta Grimmond along with Shabika Gajnabi made their club proud by becoming the 3rd and 4th members of the team to play international cricket. Metro Office and Computer Supplies has been the official sponsor of the team since its formation and has pumped more than $1.5M over the years to develop female cricketing talents. Grimmond and Gajnabi both joined the RHTYSC, MS over eight years ago and have developed their skills under the watchful eyes of Campbelle, Giddings and the club’s cricket management group headed by veteran administrator Robby Kissoonlall. They both have represented Berbice and Guyana at the Under-19 and Senior levels. Gajnabi also successfully led Guyana to Under-19 Championship in Trinidad. The West Indies players expressed their gratitude to the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club last Thursday by donating a laptop computer. The $110 000 computer was handed over to RHTYSC Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu by Gajnabi at the Club’s Area ‘H’ Ground office. The promising all-rounder stated that she and Grimmond would forever be grateful for the vision of the RHTYSC in establishing a female team, which allow females to fulfil their personal dreams. She noted that she is now a West Indies player because of the RHTYSC’s and Metro’s visionary planning and financial investment respectively. Naidu, who received the donation on behalf of the RHTYSC Secretary/CEO

The donation of the laptop to the RHTYSC Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to the players. He stated that the laptop computer would assist him in his duties to keep record of club assets, players’ performance, updating the RHTYSC Facebook Account and the issuing of media releases. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that it is always pleasing to Management when players remember where they came from. He told both players that the club was very proud of them and wished them success in the future. Meanwhile, members of the Club’s NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour First Division team treated over 200 old age pensioners to breakfast as they waited to uplift their October pension. The players, led by Organising Secretary Robby Kissoonlall and Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu, provided the pensioners with a cup of hot tea, cold drinks, sandwiches, a variety of fruits, biscuits and a cup of NAMILCO’S Wheat Up porridge. The programme is the first of several personal development projects that the team would host under the Thunderbolt Flour brand. Other programmes would include a medical outreach programme, hampers for senior citizens, youth inspiration forum, anti-drugs posters, feeding the poor and distributing school bags to less fortunate students.

Persaud, would lead a formidable male squad. At his side would be younger brother, and one of the few players who can challenge him, Avinda Kishore. Also in the lineup are LGC president Aleem Hussain, Troy Cadogan, Rakesh Harry, Lakram Ramsundar (Panko), George Bulkan, Robert Bulkan and Philbert London.

Joaan Deo will attempt to become the first Guyanese to win back-to-back titles at the event.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

NSC launches ‘Chess in Schools’ - a Grassroots Initiative at Fort Wellington Secondary IN an effort to help promote the game of chess nationwide, National Sports Commission on Thursday launched ‘Chess in Schools’, a Grassroots Initiative at the Fort Wellington Secondary School. The event, which is being spearheaded by Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, will see FIDE National Instructor Wendell Meusa teach the sport to students and teachers. At the launch, Jones stated that the “NSC realises the additional value chess can add to Guyana’s school system and will continue to promote this initiative nationwide”. The Director of Sport added that “chess contributes to mental

development (mental education) such as critical thinking which has been proved to help students academically and ultimately in life”. Meusa, who played unbeaten to the title in the Gaico Construction-sponsored Guyana Chess Federation Fide-rated seven-round Swiss tournament last weekend, will look to teach the game in the Mahaica-Berbice area. The visit is a follow-up by the former national champion and FIDE Candidate Master, who taught the sport to schools in Region Five, including Berbice High School and New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary, last term.

From Monday to Friday, Meusa would be holding classes at Fort Wellington Secondary for students and teachers from the host school, Bygeval Secondary, Bush Lot Secondary and Mahaicony Secondary. The first four days will be for students and the fifth day for teachers before a competition is held on Saturday. According to information from the NSC, the top two teams will go on to play against Berbice High School in New Amsterdam, with the ultimate aim of representing Region Five at the proposed Guyana National InterSchool Chess Championships.

The aim of the NSC is to spread the sport to schools all across Guyana.

Seven matches set for this weekend; Grove Hi Tech in pole position SEVEN matches will be contested in the East Bank Football Association leg of the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 Intra Association League this weekend at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre, Providence, East Bank Demerara. Today, three matches would be contested from 12:00hrs when Hersteling Raiders face Samatta Point/Kaneville followed by a clash between Grove Hi Tech and Mocha Champs from 14:00hrs. In the final match today Diamond United will take on Swan Football Club of the

Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Tomorrow from 09:00hrs, Grove Hi Tech will be in action once again, this time against Timehri Panthers ‘B’. Friendship All Stars will then oppose Swan FC from 11:00hrs; Samatta Point/Kaneville come up against Mocha Champs from 13:00hrs with the final match of the day from 15:00hrs between Timehri Panthers ‘A’ and Agricola Red Triangle. Meanwhile, in latest play from last Sunday, Grove Hi Tech edged Agricola Red Triangle 3-2 in a humdinger of a clash. Rasheed Evans had given Grove the lead in the 30th minute but Brian Lambert netted twice for Agricola in the 37th and

Grove Hi Tech’s Samuel Garnett is in control against Agricola Red Triangle last Sunday. 58th minutes to draw them level and then take the lead.

But Grove fired back in like manner when Orwin Hunte

equalised in the 60th minute, before a well-placed shot from Samuel Garnett seven minutes later ensured that Grove Hi Tech walked away with full points. Timehri Panthers ‘B’ and Samatta Point/Kaneville battled to a 2-2 draw. Panthers ‘B’ got their goals from Alvin Heralall in the 28th minute and Joel Williams in the 55th. Samatta Point/Kaneville’s goals came off the boot of Dustin Ifill 18th and Denzel Garraway in the 40th minute. Diamond United were in ripping form in their clash against Soesdyke Falcons, winning 9-0, on account of a helmet-trick from Romeo

Bradford (7th, 19th. 34th, 46th), a hat-trick off the boot of Devil Gentle (24th, 55th, 70th) while there was one each for Daniel Da Costa (43) and Ronaldo Grant in the 57th minute. Mocha Champs and Hersteling Raiders took full points via walkover since their opponents, Swan, did not show up. On Saturday, Samatta Point/ Kaneville trounced Soesdyke Falcons 6-0, thanks to a brace each from Kareem Richmond (32nd, 51st) and Denzil Garraway (36th, 40th). Timehri Panthers ‘B’ won by walkover from Friendship All Stars.

COURTS Pee Wee

resumes this weekend

THE 2019 edition of the COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament will continue this weekend at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue. In the day’s opening game, St Ambrose will take on Plaisance Bosco on pitch one from 13:00hrs with Ann’s Grove and Redeemer clashing on pitch

two. At 13:50hrs St Agnes will oppose Timehri with Genesis and Craig battling on pitch two. Smith Memorial and Mae’s are also in action from 14:40hrs with F.E. Pollard playing St Margaret’s at that time as well. North Georgetown are also expected in the mix against Uitvlugt from 17:30hrs with

Tucville going toe-to-toe against J.E. Burnham. At 18:20hrs Marian Academy will play Soesdyke while St Stephen’s will oppose Mocha. The final set of matches for the evening will pit St Pius against Enterprise and West Ruimveldt versus South Ruimveldt.

Action resumes this weekend in the COURTS Pee Wee football competition.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Ten outa Ten! Amazon Warriors unbeaten in CPL group stage … To face Tridents in qualifier tomorrow

By Rajiv Bisnauth BOTH Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Tridents will aim to book their berth for Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final, when they face each other in the first qualifier playoff tomorrow at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. The Amazon Warriors will be the more confident side going into this game due to their outstanding performance throughout the preliminary round, winning all ten of their games - a perfect regular season record for the first time in CPL history. They also have the additional benefit of playing at their home ground and having beaten Tridents twice this season their confidence will be boost even more. Tomorrow’s clash between the two teams was set up by a seven-wicket win by Amazon Warriors over Trinbago Knight Riders last evening here in the season’s final preliminary

game. Prior to the game, Knight Riders had needed a win to claim second place and force an immediate rematch in the first qualifier playoff with the Warriors, but they now have to settle for the first elimination playoff against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots to be played tomorrow from 11:00hrs. Earlier, Knight Riders had managed to scramble to a score of 143-5 on a tricky surface. It was a trial against spin for the defending champions as 13 overs were bowled by the Warriors spinners. Left-arm spinner Chandrapaul Hemraj (3-15) led that department. Lendl Simmons started off in blazing manner but TKR kept losing wickets at the other end. The spinners strangled the scoring in the middle overs and at that point it seemed improbable to get a par score although skipper Kieron Pollard and James Neesham fashioned a 41-run unbroken sixth-wicket stand off 20 balls towards the

end. Asked to bat first, Simmons kick-started the TKR innings with back-to-back boundaries off Hemraj, before taking full advantage of an Imran Tahir’s no-ball freehit, slog-sweeping over deep mid-wicket for six. However, the experiment to open with Javon Searles didn't work, and Hemraj rebounded nicely to bowl both Searles (1) and Denesh Ramdin without scoring in his second over. Simmons then struck another four off Tahir and a six off Chris Green, but the promising recovery ended when he was bowled by Hemraj off an arm ball for 30, at 62-3 at the halfway stage. Darren Bravo (9) never looked comfortable in his stay and decided to hit his way out, lofting a flighted delivery from Shoaib Malik to Shimron Hetmyer at long-on. Pollard joined Colin Munro and the duo took their time to settle in and did their best to get the scoreboard moving. Munro, who was earlier dropped by Hetmyer, struck a pair of fours and sixes in his 43 before he lofted an off-cutter from Ben Laughlin towards long-on where Hetmyer took a well-judged catch. Pollard struck four fours and a six in his unbeaten 36 while Neesham hit two boundaries in his 12 not out.

A section of the grass mound

Warriors, in their reply, reached 144-3 in 18.4 overs with Nicholas Pooran muscling his way to an unbeaten 35-ball 54, inclusive of five fours and three sixes. Hemraj never really got going, hitting a six before he managed an attempted pull shot and was taken at deep

mid-wicket off Ali Khan for 12. His opening partner Brandon King managed seven boundaries in his 33 while Hetmyer orchestrated his own demise with a ‘brainless’ shot and was caught at short extra cover off Khary Pierre for nine. Play was halted due to a brief shower with the match

evenly balanced with the current DLS calculations having the teams tied. The resumption then saw Malik and Pooran expertly guiding their team home comfortably, as Malik held the innings together along with the explosive Pooran, to finish unbeaten on 28.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 5, 2019

Ten outa Ten!

PAGE

Amazon Warriors unbeaten in CPL group stage

To face Tridents in qualifier tomorrow

Nicholas Pooran played a measured knock. (Adrian Narine Photos)

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2019