Issuu

MONDAY 25th JUNE, 2018

Coalition formidable No.105316

–– PM points to shake-up in political demographics in Amerindian communities

–– WPA Hinds calls for more meetings of parties

PAGE

Golden Grove Secondary equipped with elevator 02 PAGE

‘Peacemaker’ kills Venezuelan 17 PAGE

Region One 16 schools accepting Venezuelan children PAGE

Kippins wins! The winner of Miss Earth Guyana 2018 Xamiera Kippins (second left) with first runner-up Luann Pellew (left); second runner-up Akisha Payne (second right) and the third runner-up Anita Baker at the conclusion of the pageant at the Pegasus Hotel on Saturday (Delano Williams photo)

Fishermen families remember loved ones –– ahead of National Day of Mourning

PAGE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Golden Grove Secondary equipped with elevator

THE newly reconstructed Golden Grove Secondary School has been equipped with an elevator, making it the first school in the Region Four Education District to benefit from such facility. Among those to benefit significantly from such a facility would be the physically challenged students attending the school. According to the Regional Education Officer (REDO) Tiffany Favourite-Harvey, the Golden Grove Secondary School is the second school in the country to have an elevator which she said would

be used by all, but caters primarily for those with disabilities. “Disabilities should not be a reason for persons not being able to access and benefit from similar educational opportunities and, we at the region recognise this. As such, this elevator will help those with physical disabilities to equal opportunities, as they would have the facilities that will enhance their learning,” she noted. Bishop’s High (Georgetown Education District) was the first school to have been equipped with an elevator but the REDO foresees a

future where more schools will be equipped with such facility. “I can say that with our present REO [who] is a firm believer of equal opportunities for everyone, that this wouldn’t be the only school in Region Four that would have an elevator as more schools that are being constructed may be fitted with similar features,” she said. The REDO stressed that the elevator is very simple to operate, and all safety requirements and precautions have been put in place so as to ensure that those persons using it are safe every time.

Taking the first ride: Headteacher Dolores Benjamin, REO Pauline Lucas and REDO Tiffany Favourite-Harvey are excited as contractor Ivor Allen in the back demonstrates how the elevator works “[For] the students and those using this elevator safety is our primary concern, thus we ensured that the right systems were put in place,” she declared. REDO Favourite-Harvey stressed that parents and guardians whose children have physical disabilities can be assured that their child will certainly benefit from the new facility, adding that it is geared towards ensuring that all students have equal opportunities. “Some parents in the past have expressed concerns over the facilities that their children with disability had

to be using, however, with this elevator and enhanced facilities I am confident that these parents would be happy to know that their children can learn in an equal environment,” she argued. Headteacher of Golden Grove Secondary School, Dolores Benjamin, said she is overjoyed to know that even to those with physical disabilities can learn at the institution without challenges, as the construction of the school catered for them. “We are happy as we are an all-inclusive school. We have catered for those

with physical disabilities as we believe that education should be an equal opportunity, and I trust that those students who have physical disabilities would seek to maximise the opportunities that this new elevator will provide,” she said. The school which was constructed to the tune of $170, 203,347.00 with funding from the Government of Guyana was handed over on Friday. Contractor Ivor Allen officially handed over the keys to the Regional Executive Officer (REO) Pauline Lucas, in the presence of REDO Favourite-Harvey and the headmistress of the school. He disclosed that the elevator can take a maximum weight of 800lbs or on average six persons at any given time, noting that it is very simple to operate.

Coalition formidable

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

–– PM points to shake-up in political demographics in Amerindian communities –– WPA Hinds calls for more meetings of parties

THE A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) coalition government remains “a very cohesive and formidable political force”, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said Sunday. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, the prime minister said despite the projections of naysayers, the coalition has proved that after three years in office, the six parties of which it is comprised have been able to work together. “The coalition has shown that it has quality leadership, a clear idea as to the importance of inclusive governance as well as a vision on the strategy for the comprehensive development of the country,” said Nagamootoo. Asked to comment on the strength of the coalition ahead of both Local Government Elections slated later this year and the 2020 General and Regional Elections, Nagamootoo said inclusivity is critical. He explained that the coalition which comprises six political parties — the Guyana Action Party (GAP), the Justice For All Party (JFA), the National Front Alliance (NFA), the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), continues to work towards broadening the base of grassroot democracy by working both at the political and civic society levels. By so doing, the coa-

WPA Executive, Dr David Hinds lition is better able to be assessed based on merit, thereby ensuring that there is a shared governance structure at the local government level. “Already as we can see, the political demographics are being altered as in the Amerindian Council Elections, where larger numbers of people have chosen, even in traditional PPP areas, not to be associated with their parties,” said the prime minister. As a result, Nagamootoo, who is a member of the AFC, has repeatedly stated that the coalition government has established and enhanced the landscape for inclusivity and accountability in the governance process, made it clear that “the winning formula seems to be greater inclusion of civil society”. On Saturday, his party announced that it has begun its campaign for the LGE and has also started identifying candidates in each municipality and Neighbourhood Dem-

ocratic Council (NCD) to participate in the said elections. “The party, having already commenced its Local Government Elections campaign, has started with the identification of candidates in each municipality and Neighbourhood Democratic Council. “The negotiations with coalition partner A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with regard to contesting the LGE on a joint platform will continue,” the party said in a statement to the media. Earlier in the year, the AFC agreed to contest the much anticipated elections with its coalition partner, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The top brass of the parties are expected to meet to discuss matters relating to the elections. “It shows that at the local government level, the winning formula seems to be greater inclusion of civil society and at the national level while it may be too soon to talk about those elections I am confident that the credibility of the coalition government has placed it as a superior force in any contest in 2020,” Nagamootoo said. However, executive member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and political activist, Dr David Hinds on Sunday told the Guyana Chronicle that while the coalition government is intact, he does not believe it is as cohesive as it should be. MORE MEETINGS He believes that there is lack of full cohesive-

ness, which is due as a result of limited meetings among the organs of the APNU. “I think that has a tremendous impact on the cohesiveness of the coalition. It works well at the level of the Cabinet, there is no doubt about that,” he said. Dr Hinds, who has been critical of the administration, said the meeting of the organs of the APNU is “very important” so as to have discussions on political strategies, tactics and the merits of policies. “A lot more could be done to make the coalition cohesive. I think there have not been structured meetings outside of Cabinet between the APNU and AFC; I think they have only been meeting when there is a problem. Take for example; the LGE is upon us where they are trying to work out whether they should go together,” stated Dr Hinds. “I am arguing that they need to meet structurally and statutorily. You are dealing with parties of different political orientations, different history and ideologies… and so for the coalition to work, you need to be constantly talking and hearing ideas,” he added as he called for the broadening of decision making process outside of Cabinet. If this is not done, he is of the opinion that campaigning for the upcoming LGE would be affected. The political activist explained that LGE represents a complex undertaking as it speaks

specifically to communities, each of which has their own peculiar and particular problems and issues. “So therefore I think if the perception among people is that the coalition is cohesive, then I think it will mobilise people more,” he said, noting that the government won the 2015 elections because of the perception of togetherness. “As we go to LGE, which takes more mobilising than normal… you have to find something to bring them out to the polls and I am arguing that a sense of cohesiveness and togetherness will serve as a mobilising tool,” Dr Hinds told Guyana Chronicle. Notwithstanding his criticism, Dr Hinds was quick to point out that Guyana’s future lies in coalition politics, especially with the coming of an oil economy. He said it would be ideal to have a government of national unity which includes the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), but that would be a long-term goal. In the short term, however, “we need the coalition to be in place,” he said. “When facing the might of foreign companies… it

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is better to have a coalition of parties; it brings a diversity of perspective. Even as I am critical of the way in which the coalition has performed in terms of cohesiveness, it still represents the future of this country. We should do everything in our power, at the level of political parties, supporters of parties, to push the parties to ensure the coalition becomes stronger rather than being weakened,” declared Dr Hinds. Democracy, he said, thrives on checks and balances and stressed that the strength of the coalition is the diversity of ideas and perspectives placed on the table.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Trump calls for deportations without judicial process (BBC) US President Donald Trump has called for speedy deportations that bypass any judicial process in a tweet on Sunday. “When somebody comes in, we must immediately, with no Judges or Court Cases, bring them back from where they came,” Mr Trump wrote. His comments come days after Mr Trump reversed a policy to separate migrant children from their parents following fierce backlash at home and abroad.

More than 2,300 children were separated from their parents in May and June. As of May, all migrants who cross the US border illegally face criminal prosecution under the “zero tolerance” policy. The president did not make the distinction between economic migrants and those seeking asylum. Mr Trump has faced criticism, including from his own Republican Party, for his choice of language on Twitter.

When he earlier said immigrants threatened “to pour into and infest our Country”, Republican congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen tweeted back at him saying his “baseless rhetoric” was “repugnant” and dehumanised those looking for a better life. On 20 June, Mr Trump backed down from his support for the policy and signed an executive order ending the practice of separating families. He said at the time: “I did not like the sight or feeling

of families being separated.” Mr Trump’s directive allows for long-term detention of immigrant children (albeit with their parents), which violates federal law that limits child detention to 20 days. Tougher language after softened policy A public outcry over migrant children being separated from their parents, forced Donald Trump to soften his immigration policy. But since then, in a series of speeches, he has called for tougher laws - and claimed

America’s current legislation is laughed at by the rest of the world. His latest comments on Twitter go even further. He says that everyone found illegally trying to cross the border should be returned to their own country immediately - without involving judges or holding court cases. Political opponents will be furious that that’s even been suggested but President Trump clearly believes his supporters back his hardline stance.

Following Mr Trump’s election in 2016, the numbers of migrants held or detained entry while crossing the border had dropped significantly. However, since February 2018, the number of migrants crossing the border illegally is up, with arrests last month more than double those in May 2017. While illegal crossings cannot be accurately counted, border arrests are used as a measure of illegal border crossings.

‘I can’t believe I’m driving in Saudi Arabia’ (BBC) As Saudi Arabia lifts its ban on women drivers, Roa Altaweli, a midwife in Jeddah, makes her first drive to work. Here is her story. I woke up earlier than usual today. I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep. Today I’m driving to work, and for the first time I’m not taking a backseat. I’m behind the wheel. I still can’t believe I’m going to be driving in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia has today finally lifted its ban on women drivers. I was up

until after midnight scrolling through social media for photos and videos of women hitting the roads in the moments after the ban was lifted. Day one is a quiet one on the roads - a school summer holiday. Not a bad thing for anxious first-time drivers. Accompanied by my dad, for a few tips and some moral support, I set out for work. On the way I pass the police, but I’m not scared of being pulled over. I have a licence and I’m driving

DATE: Saturday, June 23, 2018

8 15 22 25 26

legally in Saudi Arabia. I stop to get coffee from a drive-through, and I’m the first female driver the barista has ever served.

used to drive when I was on holiday in Dubai, Portugal and the US. Converting my Bahraini driving licence was straight-

Roa Altaweli on her first drive to work in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

I used to drive when I was studying for a diploma in midwifery in Bahrain and I have had a driving license since 2005. I also had an international licence that I

Saturday, June 23, 2018 1

forward, but getting an appointment for a driving test wasn’t so easy. Demand was so high everything before July was booked. Fortunately, my sister and

Saturday, June 23, 2018

I found openings a couple of weeks ago and passed on our first go. My father and brother encouraged me and my younger sister to get the licence so we could drive as soon as the ban was lifted. I am a midwife and I have obtained my PhD in midwifery in the UK. In Europe and developed countries, it is vital for a midwife to drive, in case they need to drive a mother to hospital instead of waiting for an ambulance. Having a driving licence is often required to do the job. When home birth is allowed in Saudi Arabia, hopefully in the near future, driving will give mothers the option to give birth

at home with the help of a midwife. Driving will also help female healthcare practitioners and physicians on late-night shifts get to hospitals safely rather than taking taxis. I am now approaching the hospital in the eastern part of Jeddah where I work, entering the main gate. No one bothered me or stared at me on the way, and I feel like I have been driving here for a long time. There is still a way to go, but it feels empowering to switch off the engine and walk into the hospital. Today is a historic day, and it feels full of the promise of more historic days for women in Saudi Arabia.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Saturday, June 23, 2018 5

10 13

18 21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Britons Charlie and Gayle Anderson murdered in Jamaica (BBC) Two British grandparents found dead at their home in Jamaica are thought to have been murdered, police have said. Charlie Anderson, 75, and his wife Gayle, 71, from Manchester, had recently retired to the Caribbean island. They were found dead by neighbours in their home in Mount Pleasant on Friday afternoon. Their sons said in a statement they were “completely devastated” by the deaths of the “hugely popular” couple. The couple, who were also known as Halford and Florence, lived in a rural community in Hope Bay, Portland, on the north-east of the island. High murder rate It has been reported locally they had recently called in police to investigate money they said had been fraudulently taken from a credit card.

Jamaican police confirmed they were involved in another ongoing investigation but said they had not yet established a motive for the killing.

The couple’s deaths come as Jamaican authorities seek to tackle a crime wave which has resulted in more than 1,600 murders in 2017.

(Trinidad Guardian) The country is a long way from hard times being over, but there will not be any mass retrenchment in the public service and we will not have to go knocking on the doors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has said. Rowley made the statements during the fourth instalment of the Conversations with the Prime Minister held at the Mt Hope/Mt Lambert Community Centre on Friday night. The theme of the event was “Working together toward prosperity”. “We are a long way from hard times being over because last year and even this year we have had a big gap between our revenues and our expenditure commitments, so therefore we were borrowing to close that gap. Even as the Finance Minister says that our revenues have grown a bit there is still a gap between revenue and expenditure, so that is a long way from hard times being over, we

still have to borrow to maintain some stability and potential for growth,” Rowley said. Despite the situation though, Rowley said “not a single gazetted public servant was retrenched in Trinidad and Tobago” and there are no plans for any to be retrenched in the future. “This Government with the collapse of the country’s revenue took the position to maintain the job levels in the public service, even contracted workers some of whom contracts would have come to an end, we’ve had instances of contracts not being renewed depending on the usage but we have not engaged in mass retrenchments in the public service,” Rowley said. “As long as we keep going in the direction we are going now, retrenchment in the public service is not in the near future and does not form part of the government plan.” Rowley was asked whether the country would consider following Barbados in approaching the IMF. Rowley said the IMF is the

President off to environment summit in Vietnam President David Granger departed Guyana Sunday evening for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to attend the Sixth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), where he will be delivering a special

A limited state of emergency has been put in place in two high crime areas in an effort to cut the murder rate. In a statement, the cou-

ple’s sons said: “Our parents Charlie and Gayle enjoyed a long and happy marriage of 55 years and leave behind their four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. “They were hardworking people, building a business with integrity and making sure we were always provided for. “Charlie and Gayle were pillars of the community in Manchester and Jamaica, and were hugely popular and loved by many. “They were just beginning the next chapter of their lives, retiring to Jamaica before this terrible tragedy. “We would like to thank our friends, family and community for their prayers and support. “We are completely devastated and ask for privacy at this extremely difficult time.”

“lender of last resort” and under

this Government, approaching

the IMF seems unlikely. “Because as leader of this Government upon taking responsibility of this country’s administration and knowing the nature of our resource base and what resources that are available to us and what we can do as a people I give this country the assurance that we will not be considering the IMF as a part of the solution to our problems,” he said. Rowley said that promise came with the “caveat” however that we as a country do what is necessary to avoid being put in that situation, even if the actions

So far this year more than 600 people have been killed, including seven people who had returned to the island after living abroad. ‘Terrible tragedy’

Gayle and Charlie Anderson were described as pillars of the community

President David Granger

address. The head of state is being accompanied by his Political Assistant William Cox and Aide-de-Camp, Major Mark St. Clair. The assembly and associated meetings will be held at the Furama International Conference Centre in Da Nang, Vietnam. The GEF Assembly is the governing body of the GEF and is made up of 183 countries. It meets every four years to review policies, review and evaluate its operations, review membership of the facility and consider for approval, amendments to the Instrument for the Establishment of the Restructured Global Environment Facility.

No job cuts to come in Public Service – PM Rowley

Rowley made the statements during the fourth instalment of the Conversations with the Prime Minister held at the Mt Hope/Mt Lambert Community Centre on Friday night.

Monday, June 25, 2018

03:00 hrs

14:30 hrs

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

03:30 hrs

14:30 hrs

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

04:30 hrs

Thursday, June 28, 2018

14:30 hrs

05:00 hrs

are unpopular. He said in this dry season the Government expected to build a road from Cumuto to Manzanilla but unfortunately minority views have tied that up in the court. Minister in the Finance Ministry Allyson West gave an update on the property tax saying additional assessors have been engaged and valuations have begun. Rowley said early in the next Parliamentary term, legislation to bring local government reform is expected to be enacted.

Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Guyana’s success in combating TIP TRAFFICKING in Persons (TIP) only became a distinct criminal offence in the Laws of Guyana since Independence. In 2005, the Combating in Trafficking Act came into the statute books. This Act was inspired by the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime. Most Western nations now treat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) as a criminal offence and the United States has included it among the human rights violations. The promotion of human rights worldwide has become part of American foreign policy. Guyanese have an instinctive empathy with TIP victims, since the ancestors of the vast majority of Guyanese were TIP victims when they were brought to Guyana as chattel slaves or indentured servants. Though the term TIP was unknown in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries when slavery and indentureship flourished, the slaves and indentured servants suffered the worst form of TIP. In today’s world, over 21 million persons have been enslaved by TIP and the main reasons for such enslavement

is for sexual exploitation and labour exploitation. This number does not include the steadily growing numbers of illegal immigrants from Afghanistan and Bangladesh; and more particularly, those from sub-Saharan Africa who are trying to make their way to Europe. Guyana came off the watchlist for TIP back in 2016, that is, moving from Tier Two on the Watch List to Tier Two. The new status was revealed in the US State Department Trafficking in Guyana Report. Guyana has since mounted numerous efforts to improve its rating in this area. The 2016 Report noted that the Government of Guyana does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The report attributed this improvement in status to the country being able to convict a trafficker, on whom a three-year prison sentence was imposed. The convicted trafficker was also required to pay the victim restitution—the first time restitution has been ordered for a trafficking victim in Guyana. The 2005 Combating

Trafficking In Persons Act was effectuated in 2007 when a Task Force was established under the Act. The Task Force was charged with effectuating action plans and working in partnerships with groups, especially Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). It also co-ordinates its efforts with all stakeholder agencies, such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Ministry of Social Protection and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Such co-ordination prevents duplication of efforts. The traffickers who profit from TIP make large sums of money and it is often difficult to find or arrest them and sometimes the victims are charged. Most of the labour-trafficking is done with local people and it is believed that the largest number of persons trafficked for labour come from indigenous communities. The other group of persons trafficked locally come from the coastal villages and these consist of very young persons, sometimes even children. Such children and young persons are innocent of the ways of the world

and are enticed by promises of a better life which would never materialise. The persons from the coastal villages are taken to the interior, in particular the mining areas, where the young women are forced into prostitution. Minister Broomes, in her capacity as a miner, was able to confront the TIP problem and received recognition for her work from the United States Government. The exploitation of young women from the indigenous communities occurs in both the interior and on the coast. Most of the foreign TIP victims are Latin American women who are entrapped in prostitution-related activities such as night club hostesses, strip-tease dancers and of course being in the mining areas. Many of the women come from The Dominican Republic and Venezuela with a sprinkling of Cubans. From time to time such persons have been brought before the courts, fined as illegal immigrants and deported. Some traffickers have also been charged. The Task Force is under the Ministry of Public Security and its coordinator is Mr Oliver Profitt. The Task Force

has been training groups on how to deal with TIP; for example, on 19th and 20th June, they mounted a two-day programme for officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. Such training is very relevant as a great deal of the foreign as well as local trafficking occur in the mining areas. The Task Force operates on two-year action programmes and it has been fairly successful in coordinating all stakeholder agencies. Its action plans are based on four areas of activities: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership - which is abbreviated as “The four P’s”. One of the main problems which the Task Force faces is

that once they initiate a prosecution, the foreign victim is unable to remain in Guyana for the whole time of the trial and as such, the prosecution is aborted. To solve this problem, they are endeavouring to bring up pieces of evidence which are weightier, and more importantly, to have the courts accept evidence from the victims given electronically by Skype or video. TIP is one of the most vicious forms of slavery and if allowed to remain unchecked in any society, it could be as destructive as plantation slavery had been to Caribbean society. Guyana has been able to control it and with continuing efforts, will eradicate it.

Jagdeo is a great concocter Dear Editor, BHARRAT Jagdeo has a self-anointed perception of himself as that of a political media star; and how much he loves the limelight, as he tries desperately to sanitise and re-invent himself and his party’s fortunes, via a daily deluge of political deception, lies, and misleading information, and the usual resort to race, as a means of ensuring constituent support. Such will continue to be his political offence mechanism, as he prepares his party for the 2020 national and regional elections. To say the least, the nation has not benefited from such egregious behaviour, since it has not added any intellectual content in terms of finding solutions to the many national challenges, chief of all, the issue of race. And this is because Jagdeo is all about the reclamation of power at all costs and through any conceivable means. For him, any means would justify his selfish ends. Challenging the President to a debate on race in Guyana and comparing the 28 years of

PNC government to that of the 23 years of PPP/C governance, and the current three years of coalition government rule, in terms of economic opportunities for African Guyanese, is a ploy to continue Jagdeo’s deceptive and pointless narrative. Is this not some sick joke, deceptive too, and designed to create the appearance of Jagdeo being genuinely interested in removing the race thorn that he has been continuously sticking in the nation’s side, opening the racial wounds deeper? And if he is seeking to elevate the GECOM issue as a basis for his case, then it is a non-starter, because of the constitutional body’s management structure that had served his party and government for several elections which they had won, without the then opposition complaining – and which the latter subsequently inherited as government. Overwhelmingly, most of those African Guyanese who would have made advancements in their business endeavours, would have done so with their own money. Many, especially those who have invested in the hotel and ban-

queting hall businesses, were overseas-based, who would have brought home their hardearned money. And even if they had received concessions from the PPP/C regime, such would not have been any different to those granted by that government for Guyanese wishing to invest in legitimate businesses. Those hundreds of smallsized African business persons, such as stall holders, poultry rearers, and some farmers would have accessed loans from the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), Scotia Bank, and the traditional box hand, to start up and re-stock their specific business concerns. These are the African Guyanese, whose stories would be revealing, should they go public about their attempts to access loans from some known commercial banks. Jagdeo does not have to be reminded as to where the opportunity was for making a dollar. It was in the procurement, and contracts for state projects that were not accessible to African Guyanese. Granted, that there were a pal-

try number of African contractors who got some money. But the latter were mere crumbs, in comparison to the billions that went the way of PPP/C supporters, friends, and cronies. Many Indo-Guyanese became overnight contractors because of their ethnicity and party affiliation; and they made hundreds of millions, for doing shoddy and incomplete work! It was a dice loaded in their favour, since many of them were subsequently able to gradually build capacity that eventually made them eligible in accordance with procurement terms. It is an imbalance that on to now, still militates against many African Guyanese contractors, who bid for contracts. There is no magic wand that could create the much-needed socio-economic balance in just three years, as Jagdeo would want Guyanese, especially the African segment, to believe. It is a dishonest narrative that comes from his book of jumbie economics. Besides, the current government, from its socio-economic programme, is about creating an enabling environment for all Guyanese to prosper. There are

mechanisms already fashioned to accommodate the different levels of entrepreneurship, thus giving every class of Guyanese a choice of economic participation. The Jagdeo administration, by a deliberate and well planned policy, ensured the enrichment of Indo-Guyanese, by a variety of means, the legitimate pathways of which were inaccessible to Afro-Guyanese. Since 2015, it has been gradually revealed as to the conditions that existed for theft of, and transferal of state assets, to friends and cronies, and even to overseas climes, which evidence, according to SARA has been received. Of course, there were socio-economic problems that existed during the Burnham regime; but he would have never tolerated the profligacy, unbridled ostentation, and shameful corrupt practices, much less to have death squads operating on behalf of the government, as what had occurred during the Jagdeo government. It is well-known that many high state functionaries were prosecuted, found guilty and jailed during his era. In fact,

the corrupt practices of that phase, paled in comparison to that of the 23 years. Finally, the Burnham policy for socio-economic development was that of cooperative socialism, conceptualised to engender individual self-sufficiency; and not about the looting of state resources. In fact, this was the socialist ideology of that time, and one shared by the then PPP opposition leader, Dr. Cheddi Jagan. I stand to be corrected when I state that Dr. Jagan did not like big business; was always suspicious of their capitalist ideology, given his known Marxist-Leninist outlook, and even though he had won the presidency, there were concerns about his policy towards the private sector. One should note the complete disavowal of all that Jagan had stood for after he died. It became a free- for- all with the state’s resources. How many times the grand man of the PPP must not have turned in his grave! Regards, Earl Hamilton

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Fishermen families remember loved ones -- ahead of National Day of Mourning

NEARLY three months ago the vessel captained by Ramesh “Ravo” Sancharra was gruesomely attacked in one of the worst acts of piracy in Guyana’s history. Sanchara is one of 11 men whose body was not recovered and are presumed dead. Sunday, at Sancharra’s Good Hope, East Coast Demerara residence, family and friends gathered to say farewell with solemn Hindu rites for the dead. S a n c h a r r a ’s w i f e , Kawalpatty Mangru, tearfully recalled her husband who had been a fisherman for more than 30 years. “He like fishing. He does work, he doesn’t do nothing else. Meh miss him!” Mangru said. Sancharra’s vessel was one of four boats carrying some 20 persons off the coast of Suriname when it was attacked on April 27. His son, Rajendra Sancharra, said he was about to

have breakfast when he received the devastating news the morning after the attack. “Three from my father boat they chop and tie with battery they had two other survivors,” Rajendra told the Department of Public Information. “It’s a very, very sad situation,” he added.

ermen’s memory with a National Day of Mourning. The President made the proclamation on Friday. “Well, that is a good thing that he has done. And maybe he could do it like every year,” Rajendra said of the President’s decision. On Monday, June 25, all

fly the national flag at halfstaff as a demonstration of solidarity with the families of the men killed in the gruesome and grisly acts, and to accord due homage, respect and reverence to the memory of the victims. Meanwhile, families

of Danesh Persaud, called “Vicky” and Mahese Sarjoo were headed to Suriname to commemorate the loss of their loved ones. The Guyana Embassy in Paramaribo is hosting a prayer service in honour of the men on Monday.

The Sancharra family said they would like to see justice for their father and the other men who lost their lives. Tarmattie Ibrahim called Kavita, the wife of Danesh Persaud said, “We need justice.” (DPI)

Sancharra’s eldest son performing the Hindu rites (DPI photo)

Sancharra’s memorial comes the day before the country honours the fish-

authorities, boards, commissions, corporations, public agencies, and citizens will

Danash Persaud’s family at the Moleson Creek crossing (DPI photo)

Major men’s conference on Wednesday

THE First Assembly of God, Wortmanville, will be hosting its annual Men’s Conference under the theme “The Purpose Driven Man” from Wednesday. Commencing at 18:00hrs nightly at First Assembly of God, Wortmanville, L&P Durban Street, Georgetown, the conference is expected to attract men from across

the country. In a press statement, the church said on the final night, participants will assemble at the corners of Durban Street and Louisa Row for the signature event – Man Talk -- where various critical issues affecting men will be discussed. “Over the past five years, God has spoken profoundly

to men at this conference through His servant Reverend, Dr. Murtland Raphael Massiah, CCH. Reverend Massiah is senior pastor of First Assembly of God, Wortmanville, and he is the assistant general bishop of the Assemblies of God in Guyana,” it was explained. Reverend Massiah also serves as chairman of the

Guyana Post Office Corporation and the Fallen Heroes Foundation. He is a man of the soil and has dedicated his life over the years to serving the people of this nation and consistently seeks the empowerment of men and young people. Men desirous of attending the conference are asked

to register at the church. The fee is $1,000. The church office can be contacted on 225-9015. ‘The Man Talk’ event is free and men are encouraged to make every effort to attend the first two nights. “An invitation is extended to all men to be part of one of the nation’s

most anticipated events where men of all creeds and denomination assemble to engage each other and be strengthened in matters relating to manhood. Come out and let us reason together on what it means to be a ‘Purpose Driven Man’,” the church urged.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

PM assails Jagdeo for ‘no peace’ threats –– warns against gorilla warfare over imaginary electoral rigging

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has slammed Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for his threats of mayhem on imaginary claims of future electoral rigging. Writing in his weekly Sunday column ‘My Turn’, Nagamootoo said Guyana has built its civilisation on peaceful coexistence and this will not be uprooted by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) attempt to wage “civil war.” Jagdeo, in reference to the David Granger-led coalition, had said at a recent news conference: “There will be consequences if they think that they can rig the elections and have the kind of peace that we have now, they’re wrong; very, very wrong.” He added: “I am making it clear about that and it’s not coded language, because then the nature of the struggle

will be different. We will be struggling against an illegal, illegitimate government that is not in power through the ballot and it will be a different form of struggle, totally different.” Nagamootoo, in his column, likened some of the past and present actions of the PPP to a “Gorilla Regime”, one which attempts to utilise extra-parliamentary methods to overthrow an existing government. He highlighted the period of 1968 to 1985 as “a difficult period of rigged elections” through which the PPP utilised parliamentary, non-parliamentary, legal and illegal measures to accomplish their goals. However, Nagamootoo said that following the 1992 elections, which was both free from fear and free and fair, Guyana was able to remove itself from “the prec-

ipice of violent confrontation.” “Since then, seldom were there calls for extra-parliamentary struggle, or new forms of struggle, though there were sporadic boycotts, walkouts and disruptions of sittings in the National Assembly. The opposition routinely resorted to the courts, but never advocated extra-judicial or non-parliamentary struggles. “That was the status quo even when the post-Jagan PPP was in government, although there were plenty reasons for a switch to non-conventional politics against entrenchment of corrupt practices and the decent one-man, authoritarian methods of rule,” he said. BLATANT NEPOTISM But, between the period of 2011 to 2014, the prime

minister noted a number of “blatant nepotism and cronyism” practices by the PPP, whereby state assets, lands, tax concessions and broadcast licences were grossly misused. These include the improper use of state funds for the private, luxurious housing development of Pradoville 2 for the political elite; the non-payment of public monies to the Consolidated Fund; 500 per cent increases in the president’s salary, along with a hefty pension package. He also pointed out questionable transactions, such as the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) investment in the Berbice Bridge Company; the sale of land to Ed Ahmad; the Marriott Hotel project; the Amaila Road contract to ‘Fip’ Motilall; and the use of the Geology and Mines Commission

funds on interior roads with no accountability. Nagamootoo stated that the political elite and friends the PPP also benefited from the reign of the “gorilla regime” through lavish travel and medical expenses which amounted to $140M expended on the president. However, despite this list of criminal conduct, he said that the opposition, at the time, resorted not to threats of “new forms of struggle,” but to legitimate measures for positive change. “There have been credible reasons for resort during 2011-2015 to non-conventional methods of struggle against a regime that had lost its legitimacy. But the Alliance For Change (AFC) instead continued its call for transparency in government by demanding the establishment of a Public Procurement Commission.

“The five-party opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), was calling for local government elections, last held in 1994. David Granger, a retired army leader, was hoisting not a gun, but a placard on the picket line,” he said. Contrary to the opposition leader’s previous remarks, the prime minister said: “The ballots, not bullets, had triumphed. So, I find rather interesting the loose talk by the opposition leader of different forms of struggle… on the figment of a colourful imagination that the next elections would be rigged.” He said, too, that the recent breaking away of Amerindian communities from party alignment speaks volumes about the growing number of Guyanese who are becoming independent-minded.

Police allegedly fracture leg of Queenstown resident QUEENSTOWN resident Emanuel Courtman is suffering a fractured leg after he was allegedly beaten by three Essequibo policemen Wednesday night. He is currently a patient

at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and is expected to undergo surgery to his leg in the coming days. According to Courtman, he was socialising with some friends at a wash bay

in the Queenstown drinking “Cherry Brandy” when three policemen, including a female, approached them. He said the policemen searched them and found nothing illegal and then ordered that they go home.

He said they all decided to go home; however, he forgot his mobile phone on a bench and went to collect it. When he reached the wash bay, the cops were still there and they asked him why he was still there.

He told them the reason and then one of them started to push him and told him why he returned when they had sent him and his friends home. An argument ensued, he said and the police started

to hit him with a wooden baton and a gun. Courtman alleged that he was dealt a crushing blow, fracturing his right leg. The young man said he could identify the policemen if asked to do so.

M&CC mulls stiffer penalties –– for vendors of expired goods By Telesha Ramnarine WHEN the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) officers swooped down on vendors of the Stabroek Market Bazaar recently, more than 60 cases of juices and other beverages were seized. Chief Meat and Food Inspector Onica Alleyne-Blackman told this publication in an interview at City Hall recently that apart from the beverages, chocolates and wafers were among the expired goods. At the moment, the laws governing the M&CC do not allow for persons to be charged for deliberately selling expired goods. But Blackman noted that instituting a stiffer penalty has already been discussed by

authorities. “Currently, we don’t have any penalties stipulated and in place. So our way of dealing with it is to recoup all the expired stuff. They would’ve paid for them so in doing that, if they would’ve expended large sums of money and we moved such large portions, it would serve as a lesson for the time being,” Blackman explained. She added: “We’re trying to work out something else to serve as a deterrent. We’re looking to see if we can collaborate with the clerk of markets so that once they are found with the expired goods, through the market we can institute some kind of penalty on them. It was discussed some time ago as a way forward.” In previous raids, Blackman said the officers have

found that persons have been re-labelling items to feature a new expiry date, while others have been wiping out the dates from the product. But Blackman believes that the vendors are continuing with the practice because they are receiving support from customers. “I think some citizens are fully aware that some of these items are expired, but because of the price range, they willingly take the risk of buying these items. If they are not encouraging, persons would pay attention to the dates,” she opined. LOOK AT THE DATES She is encouraging the public to pay more attention to the dates on their products.

Chief Meat and Food Inspector Onica Alleyne-Blackman “Ensure that you pay attention to the dates. Looking at the cheapness of the item and not your health is not the ideal thing. Many times, children have to consume these items and they are a vulnerable group. So the onus is on the adults to protect their children.”

Blackman said the notion that a product is good months after its expiry date is more of a myth. “The ideal thing is once the item would’ve come to its expiry date, it is not supposed to be on the shelf. I can’t validate that the product is still good after its expiry date, but what I know is that the date is your guide as to whether or not it should be on the shelf. After that date, it has no place being on the shelf.” The seizing exercise by M&CC recently saw food inspectors moving from stall to stall, checking and confiscating what was found to be expired. While some vendors complied with the food inspectors, others were left counting their losses. “It’s an exercise to rid the bazaar of expired products and to ensure what is being sold in the bazaar is healthy and is wholesome for con-

sumers to purchase,” Assistant Meat and Food Inspector Abiola Baker had said. “We’re only seizing products which are expired… we seize and destroy. Every food business within the City of Geoegetown we visit and carry out this exercise,” she added. Food products which were expired since 2017 were seized and some had rat bites, mould and even roaches crawling on the packages. One of the vendors complained, “It is just a date… wham with y’all,” as she sat watching the inspectors raid her stall. Shoppers and passers-by welcomed the action of the Mayor and City Council as they explained that what was being sold on the market was not healthy for consumers and vendors are just looking to make a dollar.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

PNCR executives meet Linden residents

IN what was described as a candid discussion, residents of the community of Linden bravely voiced their concerns and issues with People’s National Congress Reform Chairman Basil Williams and other party executives. The other executives were Minister of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valarie Yearwood; CDC Chairman Mortimer Mingo and Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira. Mayor

of Linden Waneka Arindell, along with municipal and regional councillors, was also present. Williams in his bid to meet the grassroot residents, were told of issues ranging from the aesthetics of the Upper Demerara Hospital, the lack of business and deplorable state of the Wismar Municipal Market, the administrational aspect of the Regional Democratic Council, among other issues at the meeting held at Harmony Secondary

School. Williams described the meeting as a fruitful one where solutions were brought to the fore and regional representatives were also reminded of their role to bring solutions to the very issues being raised. Williams, however, promised to take some of the concerns to the Cabinet level as well as with the central executive members of the PNCR where the need arises. Residents of Linden expressed the need for urgent interven-

PNC Chairman Basil Williams with other party executives meeting with Linden residents on Sunday tion in dealing with the issues raised, especially those pertaining to their lack of trust with regional and local officials to carry out the roles they were elected to do. Residents voiced their concerns on the budgetary allocation

not in any way being trickled down to the grass root level. Other issues that were raised include the drainage and irrigation community project and the issues facing workers, late and underpayment by security

guards, shortage of drugs at the Linden Hospital and late payments of contractors at the Regional Democratic Council. Linden residents left the meeting optimistic that the issues raised will be addressed.

Guyana’s justice system a model for –– UNICEF country neighbouring countries representative By Svetlana Marshall

GUYANA’S justice system, particularly in the area of Sexual Offences, is being viewed as a model by neighbouring countries. This is according to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative, Sylvie Fouet, who said the country has

preme Court of Judicature launched the Sexual Offences Court, and according to Fouet, UNICEF offered its support to ensure that settings of the court are conducive for children to have their stories recorded without having to face the issue of ‘second victimisation’. Between November 2017 and April 2018, the

and Justice Brassington Reynolds, whose functions are rotated. Witnesses also have a special room to give their testimony, while a panel of support staff is being overseen by the chief justice. With the Sexual Offences Court successfully set up, the UNICEF country representative said she has

UNICEF Communication Specialist, Frank Robinson; UNICEF Country Representative, Sylvie Fouet; and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Michael Gillis (Delano Williams photo) much to be proud of. During a recent press café hosted at UNICEF Guyana Head Office, Fouet said while the country continues to face challenges in several areas, the significant progress made in the justice system cannot be understated. ““Guyana should be very proud of its way of handling the sexual offences court and the Sexual Offences Act,” she told reporters. Last November, the Su-

Sexual Offences Court heard a total of 14 cases with some nine persons being found guilty. The Sexual Offences Court is intended to enhance the efficiency in prosecution and adjudication of cases of sexual offences, and more importantly to respond to the needs of victims. The court has a panel of eminent judges, including Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall, Justice Joanne Barlow, Justice Navindra Singh, Justice James Bovell-Drakes

been engaging Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire on the establishment of a Youth Court. Stating that the Youth Court is likely to be established soon, Fouet said such a court is necessary to accelerate the rate at which cases involving minors are heard. Such was the case of 19-year-old Eon Henry, who for almost seven years was

in state detention on remand after being charged with murder back in 2011. Henry was freed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) earlier this year due to the lack of substantial evidence. During his incarceration, the young man who hails from Baramita, Region One, said he endured “horrible experiences” because he could not afford legal representation. In April, 2018, the National Assembly passed the landmark Juvenile Justice Bill, which, when in force, will revolutionalise juvenile justice here, while decriminalising a number of offences such as wandering,

truancy and vagrancy and setting a new age of criminal liability at 14. The passage of the bill repealed the archaic 1931 Juvenile Offenders Act and will now allow Guyana to conform to the several international conventions to which it is a signatory. The act is aimed at providing a framework where professionals are in the forefront, supporting juveniles rather than the police and prison wardens. The legislation makes provision for alternative sentencing, which is referred to as diversion. The aim is to

divert juveniles away from formal court procedures to informal procedures that include restorative measures to deal with a juvenile alleged to have committed an offence. Meanwhile, Fouet said UNICEF is supporting the Social Worker Network, noting that it is an area that is quite weak outside Georgetown. Communication Specialist, Frank Robinson and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Michael Gillis had accompanied the UNICEF country representative during the Press Café held on Thursday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Fake news can harm our children

THERE was a sensational headline (among others) on the front page of last Tuesday’s edition of the ‘Guyana Times Newspaper, which read ‘Child molested by Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) Officer’. The story that accompanied the caption, though it did concern the CPA, was totally unrelated to the eye catching headline. This is an example of what has commonly become known as ‘Fake News’. (Deliberate misinformation). While this type of propaganda seems to ignite and fuel the Western World, it is not for Guyana. Lies of this magnitude, work against the integrity of all that we are striving to achieve as a nation. The implication that an officer whose job it is to protect children would molest a child is most damaging. Yet this is the headline that appeared on the front of a newspaper, perhaps for no other reason, than to stir the public’s curiosity and ultimately to sell more newspapers. The mere fact that this action was consciously or unconsciously orchestrated at the expense of the hard-working staff of the Childcare and Protection Agency is another misde-

meanour that is unacceptable. As Guyanese we all must recognise the responsibility we have to help the children of this nation and in this endeavour the media plays a crucial role. The media can partner with the CPA to help build public awareness about child abuse. Whenever journalists receive any type of child-related report on abuse or reports concerning the agency’s handling of a case, they have the choice and opportunity to follow up the story with the CPA for clarity and balance. The CPA has an open door policy, where members of the press can get relevant information when needed. While there will always be some amount of confidentiality involved in cases concerning children, getting the facts straight when disseminating information to the public is crucial because newspapers create history, and in years to come the inaccuracy (or fake news) will still exist. When you are working to safeguard children, the least you can do is get your facts right by asking salient questions in the relevant quarters. Giving a ‘layman’s account’ of a situation from the ‘layman’s

prospective is not ‘real’ news and can be classified as ‘hearsay’. Working alongside the CPA and getting a clear picture of what is going on, before printing the relevant facts, might not sound as exciting as selling newspapers through sensationalism, but doing the wrong thing has a domino effect and in the long run it is always the children who suffer. Part of the work carried out by the CPA officers, the part that the public rarely see, is very harrowing and can be disturbing to the faint-hearted. The officers are the first responders and regularly have to be the ones listening to and witnessing the traumatic experiences that children have suffered. This actually makes them secondary victims. They too need to live through and off-load the events that have occurred. This line of work, though rewarding when they are successful in helping children, comes with its own type of pressure: and the last thing an officer needs, when dealing with a client, is to be (thought of or) asked whether he or she is the person who ‘molested’ the child, as stated in the headline.

And still the children suffer, why? Because no one needs added stress: officers are people too and no one can blame any officer who quits because he/she does not wish to be associated with an agency which is constantly portrayed by the media in a negative light? The CPA need partners, people who genuinely care and who want to promote change, in the negative attitude, that some people have toward children. The agency is not an up and coming organisation that is designed to take a ‘knock’ or two from the press and bounce back. No, the CPA is a professional agency that works to fulfil a mandate: with staff who take their job and efforts to help children, seriously. The work that is carried out by CPA officers should not be undermined or whimsically tainted for fun or for malicious purposes. If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the Childcare and Protection Hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection

GPSCCU management wants accounts restored By Svetlana Marshall CHIEF Co-operative Development Officer Perlina Gifth and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) have been ordered to cease control of the Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union (GPSCCU). On May 25, 2018, the chief co-op development officer had terminated the service of the GPSCCU management team, which at the time was headed by Patricia Went, over allegations of poor performance. Days later, Justice (Ret’d) Prem Persaud was appointed officer-in-charge of the credit union, and an Interim Management Committee

–– after Gifth, IMC ordered to cease control of credit union (IMC) set up. In response, the embattled management team moved to the High Court, filing several applications. Trevor Benn was among applicants and filed an application for an injunction to restrain and/or prohibit the chief co-op development officer and her agents from assuming control of the affairs of GPSCCU. On Thursday, June 21, 2018, Justice Gino Persaud issued an interim order, staying the decision of the chief co-operative development officer or any person appointed by her from assuming control of the affairs of

GPSCCU until July 3, 2018. July 6, 2018 has also been set for the hearing of the Fixed Date Application. Shortly after Justice Persaud issued the order, Benn wrote managing-director of Scotia Bank, Georgetown, asking that the credit unions’ two accounts be restored. The chief co-op development officer had frozen the accounts after taking control of the credit union. In the Fixed Date Application, embattled GPSCCU Chairman Patricia Went, asked the High Court to declare that the decision by Chief Co-operative Development Officer Perlina

Gifth to assume control of the affairs of the Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union pursuant to Regulation 56 of the Cooperative Societies Act Cap. 88:01 is unlawful and of no legal effect. Went, through her Attorneys-at-Law Roysdale Forde and Olayne Joseph, is arguing that the decision of the chief co-operative development officer is in breach of the Co-operative Societies Act Cap. 88:01 and a denial of the principles of Natural Justice. Went is also asking the High Court to declare that the appointments of Justice

Prem Persaud, Patsy Russel, Trevor Benn, Rajdai Jagarnauth, Gillian Pollard, Oneidge Walrond- Allicock, Patrick Mentore and George Vaughn by the chief co-operative development officer to manage the affairs of the credit union is unlawful. Among other things, Went is also hoping to have the decision by the chief co-operative development officer to instruct Republic Bank Limited and Bank of Nova Scotia to freeze the bank account of the credit union revoked. Went is of the belief that the decision to terminate the services, the old manage-

ment committee was rooted in the demand by the Department of Co-operatives for “an undue payment of the Audit and Supervision Fund for the years 2002-2013 of an alleged balance of forty-nine million, six hundred and ninety one thousand, six hundred and eighty-two dollars (449,691,682.00).” “The credit union contends that the Department of Cooperatives claim to outstanding payments towards the Audit and Supervision Fund could not be justified, given that the already audited Accounts of the credit union for the years 2002 to 2010 reflected no such balance, as was claimed,” Went had explained.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Sub-committee examining new parking meter by-laws -- to provide recommendation to Cabinet

By Telesha Ramnarine A COURT decision in the

New Building Society’s (NBS) matter challenging the legality of the parking

meter contract is imminent, and should the ruling be against the City Council, the

Government is not prepared to show any further consideration to the controversial

project. Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan made the disclosure during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle recently.

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan

Cabinet has so far discussed the request by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to peruse the new set of bylaws that was forwarded to the ministry for Minister Bulkan’s signature. According to the minister, Cabinet subsequently made a decision to establish a sub-committee comprising the Ministries of Communities, Finance, Public Infrastructure, Business, and Legal Affairs to look at the by-laws. The committee is tasked with discussing the concerns raised by central government, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI) and other agencies, and then to bring a recommendation back to Cabinet. No timeframe for coming up with a recommendation was fixed. Meanwhile, Town Clerk Royston King a few days ago told this publication, that the M&CC is “very optimistic and hoping for the best” regarding the way forward with the parking meter project. “It is a project that is clearly needed on our streets,” he said, as he noted that the M&CC is not even entertaining the thought that the new set of by-laws will be rejected. “We’re not thinking that; we remain very optimistic.” King maintained that the new rate, being $150 per hour VAT inclusive is reasonable, and noted that the figures cannot be set too low so that nothing will change regarding the traffic congestion on the streets. The significant drop in the fee from $500 per hour was among agreements reached with Smart City Solutions – the foreign company given the concession to install parking meters in Georgetown – based on recommendations proposed by a special committee and approved by the Council.

In the final report submitted by the Parking Meter Renegotiation Committee (PMRC) and chaired by now Deputy Mayor Akeem Peter, it was explained that following the abrupt end of the project which was initiated in May 2016 by way of a contractual agreement, a special committee convened by the council made four recommendations but only one group of recommendations was approved. That committee was led by Councillor Malcolm Ferreira. While that special committee recommended that the metered parking system with Smart City Solutions be continued, it did not make any recommendation for the continuance of the contract in its original form. The PMRC was then formed and tasked with renegotiating the contract based on the single group of recommendations. According to the final report, the renegotiation committee held 15 meetings of which three were exclusive negotiations. Based on those negotiations, the committee and Smart City Solutions agreed to modify 13 aspects of the contract, including the reduction of the parking fee and the introduction of an oversight body. “The new fee structure is $150.00 per hour VAT inclusive and $800.00 for eight hours VAT inclusive,” the committee stated in its report. It was also agreed that drivers pay for time instead of space, thus allowing them to move from location to location until the time paid for is exhausted. This will allow for transferability of time from meter to meter. It was also agreed that at the recommencement of the project, there will be no immediate booting for the first three months, however, once that period has elapsed failure to pay parking fees for up to three violations will result in booting, towing, and if necessary the sale of the vehicle after 60 days of storage. Additionally, the parties have agreed to have vehicles registered under the Central and Local Governments included in the exempt vehicles. In the case of residents, passes will be issued. “It was agreed that a Residential PASS will be issued for parking from 5pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday and Saturday will be free all day. However, a nominal fee will apply and the Residential PASS is restricted to the vicinity in which the resident resides,” the committee explained.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Flooding in Lethem not threatening --situation being monitored, says former mayor

PARTS of Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) have been flooded due to persistent rainfall over the past few days, but former Mayor of Lethem Carlton Beckles said the situation is not too serious, because the water is not rising rapidly. Although the water has risen to unusual heights for the normal ‘May-June’ rainy season, it is not comparable to last year when the Rio Branco overflowed due to torrential downpours, said Beckles in an invited comment on Sunday.

ing that the approach from St. Ignatius has also been flooded, but the majority of Lethem is still dry, because of its geographical location. Water had also reached the backdoors and yards of some residents of the area, so the situation is being monitored. Beckles believes that the accumulation of water is due to overtopping in the southern part of the Rupununi and the mountainous areas. “The water running down from that side, but we are also having more

that rain fell all night on Saturday. Although it has been raining persistently, the former mayor observed that the water is rising slowly, which is a good sign. Last year when the Rio Branco overtopped, the floods displaced a number of persons in Lethem and its environs and affected farms in all five sub-districts in the region. The increase in the water level of the river was preventing the Takutu, Ireng, Rupununi and other rivers in the region from draining,

The central area in Lethem was not really affected by the persistent showers (Lawrence Avery photo)

“Water has risen to a considerable distance, it covered the road near the market area,” he noted, add-

hours of rain during the day than we are accustomed to during the normal rainy season,” he said, noting

resulting in flooding in the township of Lethem and other areas. Roads and bridges were

also negatively impacted by the floods, resulting in the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force using their boats to shuttle commuters between Lethem and St. Ignatius. The main access trail to Lethem was also affected by flooding, resulting in some areas being cut off and vehicles becoming stuck. A few days ago, it was reported that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) will be visiting and assessing flood-affected areas in South Rupununi. Director of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, said the commission and the Regional Democratic Council are monitoring the Takutu and Ireng Rivers and the roadways. Craig told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the main aim of the visit is to locate deficiencies in the region’s preparedness and response capability and to work towards enhancing them. “We’ll be looking at the shelter capacity, or the status of the location identified for shelter, supplies for relief, health facilities to see if there are adequate drugs in the [event] of an outbreak and we will also look at the response coordination system in the region, to see how we can strengthen and give them support,” Craig

Some of the more vegetated areas in Lethem accumulated water faster (Lawrence Avery photo)

explained. The CDC director encouraged residents to stock up on food supplies and water, medical supplies and other household items, since most of the roadway is cut off. For the past four days, heavy rains have caused flooding in deep South, which resulted in the Wardpao Bridge across

the Rupununi River being inaccessible to residents and vehicles. The road between communities of Katoonarib to Karaudarnauwa has been identified as the alternative route, but it needs some work so that residents and vehicles can safely travel to their destinations.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Region One schools accepting Venezuelan children – UNICEF country representative

UNICEF Guyana and Suriname Country Programme Representative Sylvie Fouet said 11 of the 74 schools in Region One are accepting children from neighbouring Venezuela. The Spanish-speaking children are between ages 10 and 20. Fouet, during a recent meeting with reporters, said UNICEF has been on the ground and assessed the situation. “We have been receiving information, we have been

visiting schools and we have seen children being included in schools,” the UNICEF Country Representative said. She, however, at the time was unable to disclose the number of Spanish-speaking children in those 11 schools. The language barrier is among challenges facing the Venezuelan children, and as such, UNICEF will be offering support in the form of interpreters. The UNICEF country representative said too that the Country Office will be

offering needed support to the Social Worker Network. “Most of the communities we have visited were actually absorbing not only children but families, mainly in the Amerindian area,” she said. Focus too is being placed on water and sanitation. The Ministry of Citizenship along with relevant immigration agencies are reportedly putting systems in place to aid destitute Venezuelans affected by severe economic hardships in their country and seeking

refuge here. In April, Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix had said Guyana is no exception, as Venezuelans continue to come here almost on a daily basis, some legally and others illegally. Felix indicated that Guyana is seeking to take a more accommodating approach to the situation. Border communities with Venezuela had reported to local authorities that scores of Venezuelans were crossing into Guyana seeking food, medical attention and even trading opportunities. Village leaders in those communities had requested from the Guyana Govern-

ment, additional supplies to accommodate the influx of Venezuelans, as regular materials being delivered could no longer sustain them and their foreign neighbours. Some Venezuelans have been coming in the country legally and reporting to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees’ (UNHCR) extended office here for refugee status. The socio-economic crisis in Venezuela has seen a massive exodus out of the Bolivarian state. The International Organisation for Migration has reported that an estimated 1.6 million Venezuelans left the country

in 2017, up from 700,000 in 2015, with an estimated 1.3 million seeking refuge in the Americas, including the Caribbean. Both Colombia and Brazil have tightened their borders, owing to the influx of “hundreds of thousands of desperate migrants” seeking healthcare, food and mainly jobs to send money back to their families. Trinidad and Tobago has become more vocal about the influx of Venezuelans in the twin-island nation, while other Caribbean countries, among them St. Lucia, have expressed concern over the Venezuelan migration.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

President joins St. John’s Day celebration

President David Granger is flanked by members and affiliates of the St. John’s Association of Guyana (MOTP photo) PRESIDENT David Granger joined the members of the St. John’s Association of Guyana to observe St. John’s Day at State House on Sunday. The President held a Thanksgiving Service which was facilitated by Father Malcolm Rodrigues of the association and members celebrated the occasion by reading scriptures from the Bible and melodiously singing hymns. The association has trained thousands of persons, including joint services ranks in the areas of first aid, home-nursing, patient care, ambulance training and disaster preparedness. President Granger in his message on St. John’s Day has applauded the association for serving the people of Guyana selflessly for 85 years. “The association’s sustained work in providing ambulatory, disaster response, emergency, firstaid medical care and public

health education, training and services has been commendable,” said the president. He said Guyana is a country of 10 administrative regions and he believes that it is the association’s mission to ensure that every region in the country – both on the coastland and hinterland – has the capacity to provide emergency healthcare services. “I call on all citizens, communities, corporations and local democratic organs to support the association’s invaluable work. Every household, business place, community and neighbourhood should have persons trained in emergency medical care, so as to ensure a timely and effective response to health emergencies,” the president said. St John’s is the patron saint of the St. John’s Association – the international organisation known for its charitable, humanitarian and civic work.

‘Peacemaker’ kills Venezuelan A VENEZUELAN man was allegedly stabbed to death by a gold miner at a bar, early on Sunday morning. According to a reliable source from the Guyana Police Force, Rafael Prieto who is originally from Caicara, Venezuela, but lives in Black Water Backdam, Cuyuni, was reportedly murdered by a miner, identified as Francisco De Matos, around 2:00am following a heated argument. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the suspect, who hails from Grove, East Bank Demerara (ECD), intervened in an argument between Prieto and his reputed girlfriend after the dead man was seen physically abusing the woman. De Matos, in an attempt to be a peacemaker, is said to have ended up wounding Prieto to his mouth, arm and abdomen, said the police source. Prieto reportedly died on the spot and De Matos has since been detained by the police and is assisting with the investigation.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Colombia dazzles us again, England overwhelms in Big World Cup wins - Senegal, Japan play to exciting draw

GOALS from Yerry Mina, Radamel Falcao and Juan Cuadrado gave Colombia a convincing 3-0 win on Sunday against Poland, who were eliminated from contention at the World Cup before their last Group H match. Japan and Senegal, who both picked up wins in their first games, drew 2-2 earlier on Sunday and are in a battle with Colombia to qualify for the knockout stage. Mina headed home from close range in the 40th minute when midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero caught the Poland defence off guard from a short corner, with a smart clipped pass to James Rodriguez who whipped it in first time with his left foot. Quintero’s de-

American Racing Tips Delware Park Race 1 Return Video Race 2 Connemara Coast Race 3 Gemodixie Race 4 Fleet Cruiser Race 5 Die Hard Di Race 6 We Were Kings Race 7 Galaxy Express Race 8 Big Ben AA Windsor 13:10 hrs Spot Lite 13:40 hrs Swiper 14:10 hrs Edge Of The World 14:40 hrs Buffer Zone 15:10 hrs Candidate 15:40 hrs Contrive 16:10 hrs Kaanoon English Racing Tips Chepstow 09:00 hrs Camporta 09:30 hrs Cosmic Love 10:00 hrs Essaka 10:30 hrs Madame Jo Jo 11:00 hrs Jaalboot 11:30 hrs Jahaafel 12:00 hrs Climb Aboard

Colombia's Radamel Falcao’s celebrates scoring his country's opening goal (REUTERS/Carlos Barria) fence-splitting pass then gave captain Falcao, who missed the 2014 tournament

South Africa Racing Tips Flamingo Park 08:40 hrs Speed Monitor 09:10 hrs Class Protector 09:40 hrs Chief Sioux 10:10 hrs Doctors Answer 10:40 hrs Kings Creek Southwell 09:15 hrs Lotus Pond 09:45 hrs The Wicket Chicken 10:15 hrs Dr Dunraven 10:45 hrs Artful Artist 11:15 hrs Stepover 11:45 hrs Simply Lucky 12:15 hrs Ilewindelilah 12:45 hrs Mr Mafia Irish Racing Tips Kilbeggan 13:00 hrs Katoptris 13:30 hrs Ravenhill 14:00 hrs Getaway Rose 14:30 hrs Bargy Lady 15:00 hrs Robin Des Foret 15:30 hrs William Du Berlais 16:00 hrs Jonnigraig

due to injury, his first World Cup goal in the 70th, while Rodriguez got his second assist five minutes later when he set up Cuadrado to make it 3-0. SENEGAL 2 – JAPAN 2 Keisuke Honda’s late goal earned Japan a deserved 2-2 draw against Senegal in Yekaterinburg on Sunday to keep alive both teams’ hopes of last-16 qualification from Group H. A lucky deflection off Sadio Mane put Senegal into an early lead, with Takashi Inui levelling. Against the run of play, teenager Moussa Wague put the Africans back in front only for Honda to fire into an open net and snatch a point. The stalemate leaves both sides on four points. Pointless Poland and Colombia meet later Sunday in Kazan with the last-16 spots determined next Thursday. ENGLAND 6 – PANAMA 1

Harry Kane struck a hat-trick as England’s young and free-flowing team banished the ghost of past failures with a record 6-1 thrashing of feeble Panama on Sunday that eased them into the last 16. England’s biggest-ever World Cup win, featuring two penalties by Kane then a fortuitous deflection off his heel, also guaranteed Belgium’s berth in the next round. Playing from the off with an ease and trickery that contrasted with the stressed-looking England flops of recent international tournaments, Gareth Southgate’s team romped into a remarkable 5-0 lead at halftime. Defender John Stones headed England in front in the eighth minute from a corner, losing his marker to angle home, before captain Kane made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute with a penalty after Jesse Lingard was pushed in the box by Fidel Escobar. Lingard made it 3-0 in the 36th minute with a beautiful strike from just outside the area before Stones nodded in his second and England’s fourth from a cleverly worked free kick routine. Kane scored another penalty just before halftime. The Tottenham striker bagged his third after a 61st minute shot by Ruben Loftus-Cheek hit his foot and bounced in. Kane, substituted to an ovation from the nearly 2,500 England fans, was the third England player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup following Geoff Hurst in the 1966 final and Gary Lineker against Poland in the 1986 tournament.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Wiggins, Rose impress in Guyana’s ‘blow-out’ win over Grenada - … to play St Vincent and the Grenadines today THE back-court duo of Kevon Wiggins and Stanton Rose proved to be lethal for Guyana, as they guided the ‘Land of Many Waters’ to an impressive 29 points blowout (93 – 64) win over Grenada in their first game of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships in Paramaribo, Suriname last evening. Wiggins finished with a game-high 18 points, shooting 5 – 9 from ‘deep’, and also had four rebounds and four steals. For Rose, the 18-year-old

point guard from Kwakwani, he dictated and controlled the pace of the game when he was on the floor, and made the game easy for the team he captained. The player, who became the youngest to ever captain a senior national team at the CBC Championships, recorded 11 points, six rebounds and two steals. From jump-ball, the Junior Hercules-coached Guyanese team took the game to the Grenadians who they outmatched with pace and skills. Guyana raced to a 23 – 13 lead at end of the quarter,

Andrew Wiggins

with Wiggins the driving force. In the second quarter, Grenada played with more

Stanton Rose

purpose, and with Guyana’s primary scorer Antony Moe struggling offensively, the

men from the ‘Spice Isle’ scored 19 points in the period, but the Guyanese responded with 21 of their own to close the half up 44 – 32. The third period was Guyana’s best scoring stanza, as Hercules utilised his bench to outscore Grenada 26 – 17, heading into the fourth quarter with 70 – 49 advantage. The Grenadians had no answer for Guyana, as Hercules men then pilled on 23 points and limited Grenada to 15 and held on to an important win. Jonathan Williams and Jehu La Feuillee were the

only two Grenadian players in double digits, scoring 13 points apiece. Moe, the usual scorer, only had five points from the night, connecting on just two of his 13 field goal attempts, but the 6’9 big man made up on the defensive side, grabbing 13 rebounds and two steals. Shaine Webster also had 16 points and Travis Burnett and Ray Victor chipped in with eight points each in the team’s effort. Up next for Guyana is a clash against St Vincent and the Grenadines, today at 18:00 hours.

FYF dominates second round Caribbean Championships preparation tournament By Michel DaSilva THE Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) Boxing Gym dominated the second round of the Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) Mike Parris Under-16 Boxing tournament which continued on Saturday last at the Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis Boxing Gym, winning eight of nine fights that were contested on the day’s card. The FYF gym won all six of the Schoolboys contest and the only two junior fights. It should be noted that on June 9 when the five-programme preparatory tournament began, the Harpy Eagles (HE) Gym came out on top, winning two of fights in the Schoolboys category and three in the Juniors’ segment. However, on Saturday last, the FYF turned things around and dominatied both the Schoolboys and Juniors’ competition. Things started rolling from the first fight on the day’s card when Vickasy Graham secured a walk over victory from Vergenoegen Boxing Gym’s (VBG) Hazel Adams in an all-female encounter.

This was followed by a Technical Knock-Out (TKO) win for Moses Crawford (FYF) over Kellon Pierre (HE). Michael Mangal (FYF) then followed up with a unanimous points’ decision victory over HE’s Joel Mamers. Alex Adams (VBG) then scored a unanimous points decision win against HE’s Collin Williams, before FYF’s Seon Graham forced the referee to stop his contest against HE’s Dextroy Brimmo, at one minute 24 seconds of the third round. Malachi Jones (FYF), then secured a unanimous points decision win against Joel Anthony (HE) and this was followed by Jones’s clubmate Stephon McDonald’s win against HE’s Enoch Munroe, with the referee stopping the contest at one minute five seconds of the third round. Richard Howard (FYF) continued FYF’s dominance of last Saturday’s tournament by registering a unanimous points decision win against VBG’s Doron Williams, and his teammate Fitz Heywood closed FYF’s winning ways with a unanimous points win against fellow teammate,

Part of the action in the GAB Mike Parris Under-16 Boxing tournament (Adrian Naraine photo)

Patrick Harvey. There were two exhibition bouts that showcased uncapped talent as Alesha Jackman and her sibling Abiola, put on a thrilling three-round exhibition, as did Joshua Hinds and Shaquancy Wright. When the five-day tourna-

ment began on June 9, Pierre had defeated Hazel Adams in a schoolboys 55-59 weight contest. Moses Crawford lost to Colin Williams in a 60-64 KG contest, Michael Mangal lost to Alex Adams in a 70-74Kg weight category and Stephon McDonald beat

Joel Anthony in a 95-99KG contest. In the Juniors’ category, Richard Howard had beaten Shaquancy Wright in a 100105 KG contest and Devon Williams lost to Leon Moore in a 105-110KG battle. Meanwhile, St. Lucia,

Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Suriname and French Guiana have all indicated that will be represented at the Caribbean Schoolboys and Junior Championships which will be held here in Guyana from August 17 to 19.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25 , 2018

‘Superb’ Phillips captures female sprint double, Archibald new 100m champion By Michelangelo Jacobus KENISHA Phillips shook off an early 2018 season injury woes to complete a superb double in the women’s 100 and 200 metres at the Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) National Senior Championships over the weekend, while Emmanuel Archibald clocked the fastest time by a Guyanese athlete for the year, thus far, in the men’s 100 metre to take the crown. At the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara, a small but vocal crowd witnessed the 17-year-old Phillips become the youngest female athlete to win at the championships, clocking 11.87 seconds when crossing the line ahead of Ruth Sanmoogan (12.26 seconds) and Cassie Small (12.28 seconds). On Saturday, Phillips completed the sprint double in emphatic fashion powering down the homestretch in the 200 metres (24.59 seconds), to hold off Alita Moore (24.85 seconds) who had to settle for second while Sanmoogan (25.55 seconds) finished third for the bronze. Meanwhile, on Friday evening Archibald clocked a blistering 10.22 seconds

Kenisha Phillips eases across the finish line ahead of Alita Moore (right) to capture the Women’s 200m and the sprint double at the AAG’s National Senior Championships (Adrian Narine photo)

on his way to the men’s 100 metres gold ahead of Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Akeem Stewart (10.31s) and Davin Fraser (10.49). Archibald had the perfect start which meant there was no catching him despite Stewart’s impressive effort. However, later on Saturday, Stewart continued his good form to go one better and capture gold in the men’s 200m. He crossed the finish line in 21.26s ahead of Owen Adonis (21.44s) and Loneil Marks (21.81s). In the 400m events, Brian Roman (49.08s) held off

Super Upcoming Runners’ clubmates, Laurindo Prince (49.24s) and Stayon Wilson (49.57s), to prevail and land gold in the men’s race. On the distaff side, Alita Moore was triumphant in her race clocking 57.92s with her closest challenger Jevina Sampson (one minute 0.24s) some distance behind, while Denita Jackson closed out the top three in one minute 10.26s. Devaun “Scooby” Barrington made a welcome return in the Men’s 800m winning gold ahead of Tyshon Bentick

GDF’s Akeem Stewart captured the Men’s 200m in emphatic fashion ahead of Owen Adonis (right) to crown an impressive overall performance. (Adrian Narine photo)

and Anfernee Headecker. Barrington who recorded below par times in 2017, clocked 1:52.61s to up the bar this time around, while Bentick and Headecker crossed the finish line in times of 1:53.99s and 1:54.01s respectively. Meanwhile, Joanna Archer continued her reign as the Women’s 800m champion with a winning time of 2:17.37s with Kezra Murray (2:19.52s) and Maria Urquhart (2:22.73s) coming in second and third respectively. Other notable performances came from Natricia Hooper who bested

Chantoba Bright in the Women’s Long and Triple jumps. Hooper recorded a best long jump of 6.08m to cop Gold while Bright landed her best effort at 5.94m for second, with Ruth Sanmoogan finishing third at 5.79m. In the Triple Jump event Hooper once again took Gold with the tape at 13.10m, while Bright’s best jump of 12.51m was only good enough for the silver medal. In the Men’s 1500m Anfernee Headecker finally bested Winston Missigher to claim gold with a blistering

time of four minutes 2.69 seconds while the latter settled for silver in four minutes 8.71s. Tyshon Bentick closed out the top three in four minutes 9.06s. Missigher later redeemed himself in the 5000m event copping gold in 15 minutes 59.50s ahead of Cleveland Thomas (16 minutes 4.40s) and Odwin Toudor (16 minutes 34.40s). The next major event for the athletics fraternity is the Aliann Pompey Invitational meet set for Saturday (June 30), with athletes from at least 25 countries expected to participate.

McKay, Fraser-Green shine at National Cycling Road Races WARREN ‘40’ McKay made a welcome return to supremacy at the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) National Championships yesterday winning the highly competitive Road Race in the Veterans category while Claire Fraser-Green retained her female’s title with ease. Despite heavy showers and unsavory conditions for cyclists, McKay gritted his teeth to complete an impressive effort in three hours 51 minutes and four seconds. His victory was largely due to sensible and tactical riding in which he never lost sight of the peloton,

conserving enough energy to win the final sprint to cop first place and the National title. Nigel London and Mark Spencer finished behind McKay in that order to claim the other two podium spots. Clair Fraser-Green eased to victory in two hours 46 minutes 14 seconds to tighten her stranglehold on the National Ladies’ title, which she has now won for four consecutive years. Shenika Texeira followed Fraser-Green for second place while Abigail Jeffrey settled for third. United We Stand Cycling Club’s Briton John continued his rich vein of form in the Junior category, beating PSL

Warren McKay celebrates as he crosses the finish line to cop the National Veteran’s title yesterday

Trojan’s Ajay Gopilall to the National title in three hours 51 minutes four seconds while Donovan Fraser came in third. Meanwhile, David Hicks won the Juveniles category in two hours 29 minutes 10 seconds, resigning Jonathan Ramsuchit to second and Steve Bhimsen to third place. In the Over-50 category, Andrew Spencer held off some stiff competition from Shameer Baksh to win in two hours 26 minutes and seven seconds. The Masters and Juniors race which began at the National Sports Commission (NSC) on Homestretch Avenue, proceeded to Timehri, returned to the

Soesdyke Junction and then headed up to Long Creek along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway before returning to the point of origin for the finish. The Ladies and Juveniles took the same route with the exception of the Long Creek detour. The final race of the GCF National Championships will be the Senior Men’s Road Race on Sunday (July 1). The top senior cyclists pedaled off from the NSC on Homestretch Avenue, proceed along the same route as the Masters and Juniors’ but with an added distance to Moblissa along the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, before returning to the point of origin.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25, 2018

Truelove ‘loves’ the pack at CMRC Round 2 - solid performance from Mark Vieira

Focused! Matt Truelove tucks in behind the fly screen down the Frankie Boodhram International Raceway

By Stephan Sookram in Trinidad compliments of Mohamed’s Enterprise, E-Networks, Buy Me Auto Sales and A&R Jiwanram Printery THERE was an air of triumph in Trinidad last evening as Team Mohamed’s Enterprise and their rider, Matt Truelove, swept the Seaboard Marine’s Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) Superstock class. Truelove continued his fine form from Saturday into yesterday with two more wins in the class and under strong opposition from the Trinidad riders. He picked up three wins on a day, in

different conditions, over the weekend, to register a solid 75 points to his CMRC title bid and move up the provisional individual standings. Meanwhile, unofficial reports suggest that his 39.983 time on his second feat, was the fastest Superstock time ever recorded at the Frankie Boodhram International Raceway where round two is hosted. Meanwhile Mark Vieira picked up two wins and one second place from three races, to be crowned Group 4 champion driver. Details in tomorrow’s edition.

Mark Vieira displays one of his two chequered flags in Trinidad

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 25 , 2018

CONCACAF chief hails ...

Wiggins, Rose impress in Guyana’s ‘blow-out’ win over Grenada

Truelove ‘loves’ the 23 pack at CMRC Round 2 PAGE

- solid performance from Mark Vieira

PAGE

‘Superb’ Phillips captures female sprint 22 double, Archibald new 100m champion PAGE

Kenisha Phillips

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

MONDAY, JUNE 25, 2018