TUESDAY 7th January, 2020
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‘WE’RE READY’
No.105872
…President assures nation APNU+AFC ready for Nomination Day
SEE PAGE 03
…says coalition will present balanced, inclusive list of candidates President David Granger Over 150 pupils now have a spanking new school to learn in as the new school term begins. Hinterland education continues to experience impressive growth with the commissioning of yet another school in Barima-Waini (Region 1). Expected to serve the more than 150 pupils, the Canal Bank Primary School is a promise kept by the Coalition Government. Canal Bank Primary serves as an annex to Port Kaituma Primary School. Previously, pupils had to travel miles along the Kaituma River to attend Port Kaituma Primary School. On Monday Minister of Education, Dr Nicolette Henry commissioned the new school and reiterated her ministry’s mandate to provide equitable education and learning-conducive spaces across Guyana. She was assisted by Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton
Rice exports rake in US$222.7M for 2019 11 PAGE
PPP top Region 9 official on sexual assault, corruption charges 09 PAGE
Mass voter education programme begins 03 next week PAGE
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PPP lacks vision
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 7, 2020
–Dr. Hinds says party has run out of ideas …resort to old issue such as Amaila Falls project a show of desperation
By Svetlana Marshall VISIONLESS was the word used by Political Scientist, Dr. David Hinds, to describe the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as he dissected that party’s plans for Guyana ahead of the much-anticipated General and Regional Elections billed for March 2, 2020. At the launch of PPP/C’s elections campaign on Sunday, in the capital city – Georgetown, its Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali, in the shadow of the Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo, repeated the promise of creating 50,000 jobs and resuscitating the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project, if elected to office. But Dr. Hinds, said the PPP/C shows a lack of vision for Guyana, at a time when the country’s production of oil and gas creates a window of opportunities, for it to experience vast development across sectors. Presented to the nation was a set of regurgitated ideas, the Political Scientist opined on Monday, during
his appearance on Guyana Chronicle’s online programme – Vantage Point. “I think the PPP has run out of ideas and when you run out of ideas, what you do, you go back to old ideas,” he posited. In total contrast to the PPP/C, Dr. Hinds said the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition, under the leadership of President David Granger, has presented Guyana with a plan of unprecedented economic growth, massive infrastructural development and equal access to education. The plan, dubbed ‘A Decade of Development,’ will see Guyana being transformed into a Green State, a Digital State, a Petroleum State and an Education Nation over the next 10 years – 2020 to 2029. Dr. Hinds, who is also an Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) – a partner within the APNU+AFC coalition, said, on one hand, the nation is presented with a developmental plan of action and
on the other, it is being given lip service as the PPP/C engages in cheap politics. “If you are a farmer somewhere on the Corentyne in the Black Bush Polder, how in the next five years your
President David Granger
Political Scientist, Dr. David Hinds
life will be transformed? If you are a single mother living in Albouystown, or in one of the villages along the coast, what the next 10 years will look like for you? Yes, people want to hear, I am going to promise you a job
PPP/C Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali
but they also want to hear, how my life is going to be transformed, and so I think that is the major difference between what the PPP is putting out there and what the APNU+AFC is putting,” the Political Scientist reasoned. He said while job creation is critical in any country, it cannot simply be “a campaign promise.” While Ali has promised to create 50,000 jobs, he has thus far failed to clearly outline how those jobs would be created. But that is just a tip of the iceberg, Dr. Hinds said, while noting that the PPP/C has left many questions unanswered. “What are you going to do about social inequality? What are you going to do about the gap between the rich, the not so rich, and the poor? What are you going to do about school drop out? What is your grand plan and I think the PPP has been
found wanting in that regard,” Dr. Hinds told the Guyana Chronicle. They don’t have ideas “They don’t have ideas. They lack ideas,” he further added. According to him, Guyanese are thirsting for development, and the PPP/C – with Bharrat Jagdeo, Irfaan Ali and retired Brigadier Mark Phillips at the helm – is clueless. “We have to speak to people’s reality and people’s emotion. If people are poor, they are emotional about their impoverished situation – they want to feel that the people they are putting in place feel their poverty and the proposals and corrections come from a position of feeling, and I don’t think you hear that from the PPP’s proposal,” Dr. Hinds told this newspaper. On Sunday, hours ahead of the PPP/C Elections Campaign launch, President Granger – the Presidential Candidate for the APNU+AFC) – made similar predictions. He said the plans proposed by the PPP/C are those already set in motion by his Government. “There’s nothing that the PPP can add that APNU has not yet embarked on,” the President said. “And we’ve corrected a lot of the errors in those very sectors which the PPP committed. They can’t promise to hold local government [elections], we’ve done that; they can’t promise
to empower young people, we’ve done that; they can’t promise to upgrade the education system, we’ve done that; they can’t promise to improve the economy, we’re doing that. So there’s nothing they can add,” the Head of State reasoned. Brushing the proposals of the PPP/C aside, Dr. Hinds told Guyana Chronicle that APNU+AFC’s Plan for a Decade of Development is simply “refreshing.” He explained that the plan will allow Guyana to capitalise on its petroleum resources for the development of other sectors such as the field of education while safeguarding its environment. “The world is now one place because of globalisation for good or for worse, but a globalized world means that one has to be able to communicate with the rest of the world at a click of a finger, and therefore, bringing Guyana into the digital age, in itself, is very revolutionary,” Dr. Hinds said as he underscored the importance of the country becoming a Digital State. Once re-elected to Office, President Granger said Guyanese can expect a higher quality of life over the next five years, higher economic growth, and significantly improved education and health sectors.
‘WE’RE READY’
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 7, 2020
President assures nation the APNU+AFC ready for Nomination Day …says coalition will present balanced, inclsuive list of candidates
By Lisa Hamilton PRESIDENT David Granger, who is also leader of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change’s (APNU+AFC’s) List of Candidates, has confirmed that the coalition is 100 per cent ready for Nomination Day and will present a balanced list of candidates inclusive of all groups of Guyanese. Only two more days stand between the 19 political parties contesting the 2020 elections and Nomination Day set for Friday, January 10, 2020 at the Umana Yana. It is the day that political parties will prove whether they can meet the criteria to contest by submitting their respective ‘List of Candidates’ to the Guy-
we will have a List which is ethnically- balanced, which is gender-balanced, which is geographically-balanced, occupationally-balanced and still provides the Guyanese people with the talent needed to go in to the National Assembly and to continue on the course that we’ve embarked on,” the President told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday. “We’re completely ready for Nomination Day which is coming up and all of my partners have been consulted and have submitted their nominations.” The Constitution mandates that among what is submitted is one National Top-Up List, at least six Geographical Constituencies’ Lists and the Regional Democratic Councils’ Lists that the
Oaths, notary public or other person authorised by law to administer an oath in the place where the declaration is made. The Constitution also stipulates that a person may be a signatory to a List of Candidates, notwithstanding that he/she is named therein as a candidate. Candidates’ names may be duplicated only in that contesting party’s Geographical Constituency Lists and on its National TopUp Lists; however, it must be noted that a Candidate’s name must appear on only one Geographical Constituency’s List. PARTY LAUNCH Meanwhile, asked to comment on the coalition’s successful launch last Friday at D’Urban Park, the Guy-
Scene from the APNU+AFC Campaign Launch (Adrian Narine photo)
ana Elections Commission’s (GECOM’s) Chief Elections Officer (CEO). “The APNU+AFC as a coalition is made up of six parties and we’ve received nominations after due consultations from our partners so we will be on time and
given Party may seek to contest on elections day. The various Lists of Candidates must be accompanied by Statutory Declarations by each person named therein as candidates, indicating their consent to be nominated before a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of
anese leader said that the recent response received by the APNU+AFC is testimony to the sentiments that Guyanese are ready to re-elect the government into office. The launch was attended by thousands of supporters countrywide.
President David Granger addresses the D’Urban Park crowd on Friday (Adrian Narine photo)
The President said: “The country could be assured that what they saw on Friday night at D’Urban Park is representative not only of the policies but also of the enthusiasm of the people and the support for a particular programme that we will embark on. It’s not about personalities, it’s not about Granger or Ramjattan, it’s about what policies the people of Guyana will embrace to take them forward in the next five years and beyond the next 10 years and we have given enough meat on the bones of our programme to convince and persuade the population that we’re the fittest party, we’re the fittest coalition to take Guyana forward.” President Granger stated too that what was witnessed last Friday was national unity in one of its truest forms and the spotlighting of persons who were not hand-picked but who rightfully came up
through processes within the parties. President Granger pointed out that what the coalition has achieved has “put the final nail in the coffin” of the winner takes all system of the past where only some in society are given a voice. While many are still awaiting the party’s manifesto, the Head of State said that it is in “an advance state” and has only been delayed to cater for the revision of the Cummingsburg Accord. The party’s four-stage process with regards to the Accord would have seen, first, the agreement on core principles followed by agreement on the content of the revised Cummingsburg Accord, followed by the release of the manifesto and then the party launch. However, second stage moving a bit slower than expected, the President explained that there was a shift in the process but the APNU+AFC’s manifesto
will be made available in “good time” for the public to preview before elections day. “On Friday, you saw the fourth taking place before the third but we are working on a manifesto. It was delayed a little bit because of the contents of the revision of the Cummingsburg Accord but now that that is settled, now that the core principles are settled, we will see the manifesto. The committee is actually working on it and we will have it in good time so that people can study it and understand that we are not a fake coalition. We have put a great deal of thought into it and we will ensure that the commitments we make in the manifesto are delivered during our next term in Office,” the President said.
Mass voter education programme begins next week IN the week after Nomination Day, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will commence its Civic and Voter Education programme, aimed at ensuring that electors are aware of the procedures of elections day. “We’ve been on the ground already in communities, but, in terms of our mass media dissemination of content, we will commence that next week, just after nomination day,” GECOM Public Relations
Officer, Yolanda Ward, said on Monday. The Commission will be utilising all forms of media to get its messages across. First-time voters, especially, will be targeted. Ahead of this, the GECOM, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Guyana (AmCham Guyana) will be teaming up to facilitate the training of media operatives for elections-related coverage.
GECOM will collaborate with the GPA for a Luncheon Lecture, today, to prepare journalists for reporting on Nominations Day, while a grant has been provided to AmCham by the United States (US) Embassy, for media training, for Election Day coverage. This training will take place later this month. Weighing in on the topic of elections back in 2019, US Ambassador to Guyana, Sara-Ann Lynch
underscored the importance of civic education and noted that Embassy remains open to discussions on same. “We would be happy to have such discussions with the government if they are interested,” Ambassador Lynch said while adding the US is involved in elections observation, civic education and even political debates on issues of national interest. Meanwhile, in December, the Guyana Council of Organisa-
tions for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) held a one-day conference to draft a voter education plan for the disability community. The Council has encouraged the Commission to consider conducting separate sensitization sessions for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) through their associated organisations to allow them a better chance at independent voting on elections day.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, January 07, 2020
Harvey Weinstein charged with sexual assault in Los Angeles
(BBC) Harvey Weinstein has been charged with sexual assault in Los Angeles on the same day he appeared in a New York court in a separate case. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said the charges related to the alleged sexual assault of two
women in 2013. If convicted, he could face up to 28 years in prison. The film producer earlier appeared in a New York court, where he faces separate charges of rape and sexual assault. Jury selection began on Monday, with the trial ex-
Weinstein’s lawyers say he requires a walking frame because of a back injury
TUESDAY JANUARY 07, 2020: 03:00HRS & 14:30HRS
Saturday January 04, 2020
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pected to begin properly in about two weeks. He has said all his relationships were consensual but admitted that he had “caused a lot of pain”. His lawyers have vowed to mount an aggressive defence against the allegations, which spurred the #MeToo and Times Up movements against sexual impropriety. “We believe the evidence
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will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them,” Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement. “I want to commend the victims who have come forward and bravely recounted what happened to them,” she added. “It is my hope that all
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victims of sexual violence find strength and healing as they move forward.” What are the latest charges? LA County prosecutors charged Mr Weinstein with allegedly raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in separate incidents over a two-day period in 2013. On 18 February 2013, Mr Weinstein went to a hotel and raped a woman after pushing his way inside her room, prosecutors said. A day later, prosecutors said, Mr Weinstein assaulted a woman at a hotel suite in Beverly Hills. The charges against Mr Weinstein include forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint. Prosecutors are recommending bail be set at $5m (£3.7m). What happened in New York on Monday? Jury selection - the first stage of the trial - started in at the court in Manhattan. Once one of Hollywood’s most decorated producers, Mr Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 80 women, but faces charges related to only two in New York.
The five charges include rape and sexual assault, and could see Mr Weinstein jailed for life if convicted. Using a walking frame and wearing a black suit, Mr Weinstein hobbled into the courthouse, where dozens of protesters holding signs with slogans such as “justice for survivors” had gathered. Inside the court, the pre-trial proceedings were marked by a number of sharp exchanges between the state prosecutors and the movie producer’s defence team. In particular, there were tensions over the defence’s treatment of witnesses. Judge James Burke ordered Mr Weinstein’s lawyer Donna Rotunno to refrain from talking about witnesses, after she was accused of humiliating and degrading them, which she denied. Outside the courthouse, some of his accusers, including actresses Rosanna Arquette and Rose McGowan, demanded that Mr Weinstein be held accountable. Addressing Mr Weinstein, Ms McGowan - who alleges she was raped by the movie producer - said: “You brought this upon yourself by hurting so many. You have only yourself to blame.”
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, January 07, 2020
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MP recorded trading Food Card for support: Glenda in shock over secret act (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) “It’s distasteful, immoral, I am in shock about that.” That’s the reaction Toco/ Sangre Grande MP Glenda Jennings-Smith had yesterday after a secret recording of her and one of her constituents, discussing the availability of a food card/ hamper, began circulating on social media. The MP said the conversation she had with the woman, identified as Claudia Moore, is said to have taken place one week after the December 2 local government election. She added, it is clear the woman does not know the difference between the Food Card, which is a social service provided by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services and a constituency hamper from the MP. In the two minute and 52 seconds recording, Moore is heard telling the MP that she went to the constituency office to access a food card but did not receive one since her name was not on the list. Moore explained, “I’m
Toco/Sangre Grande MP Glenda Jennings-Smith shocked over secret recording.
real in need eh, I ain’t have nothing, so I say lemme go up and see if I get a little food card at least.” Jennings-Smith responded, that food cards were given out based on recommendations and that was done by PNM party groups. When Moore said that she applied for a food card years ago, the MP was quick to point out. “Listen this is not Food Card you know. This is just a hamper for the Christmas.” When Moore explained that she was aware of that and since she walked with the party groups in the district she was in need of one.
During the conversation, the MP said she would assist the woman. But then the call takes a different turn when the MP question Moore’s political allegiance. When Moore said yes based on the assistance the MP and the PNM provided for funeral expenses of her grandchild, Jennings-Smith, then asks more questions. “Let me tell you this, the father and mother of that child, I went and give them money. They went and put on yellow jersey. As well the house with the child, ah doh know if its you ah talking to also supporting the UNC. And if all ya see your name eh coming down is because people have certain people down as UNC supporters and playing games. I not targeting people who vote for UNC. I going to look for new people. All ya with UNC, stay with UNC.” Asked yesterday if it was her on the recording, Jennings-Smith confirmed it. She said while she gives generously to constituents, even from her own salary, she also defended the decision
Principal murdered at pre-school (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) The first day of school began tragically for pupils of the Baby’s Pre-School who saw their principal being brutally stabbed in what police have described as an incident of domestic violence. At about 7.20 am Jezelle Philip was at pre-school located
at the corner of Independence Square and George Street, Portof-Spain when she was attacked
to give PNM supporters and members of the various party groups hampers. She said, “I also give hampers personally and that is done from a different level. The woman is really mixing up the both issues here. My background taught me to serve everybody. I’m a member of parliament, and I swear to serve everybody. But, I also belong to a political party and within my party group structure I also do things to provide for them.” Jennings-Smith added, she was even more perturbed by the secret recording since Moore was someone she knew well and was a senior member of society. “The lady is a very old lady. I just couldn’t believe that a person in society, an old lady, who we supposed to look up to, who supposed to have some kind of moral discipline would do this. It tells me what is happening in our society.” However, Moore who agreed to speak with Guardian Media yesterday, said she had “no regrets” over the recording and leaking of the
audio. She explained her side, saying she was not aware that the call was being recorded since she was using a relative’s phone. But after she learnt about the recording and listened to the call again she grew angry when the MP’s response which took on a harsh political tone. Moore added, that after Jennings-Smith found out the call was recorded she phoned her and “blast me up saying we were UNC.” “She call back again and start to tell me why you have to put me on record, I ain’t looking for you there.” Moore said: “I ain’t have no regrets, I could talk openly, I feel real bad when she tell me that. And I say ‘oh is so’ alright and I just kill it. Because I know they there to help everybody. Right. And if it come in a case so you could a just gimme the food card if it wasn’t nothing. I doh feel no how.” She added, “I decide to put she up anyway. I was going and put she on Facebook yuh know but they beg
by a man she knew. Philip was stabbed several times about the body. The man fled the scene but later surrendered to the police at the Besson Street
Police Station. Philip was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
for she, because ah find she shouldn’t curse me in that manner.” Moore also pointed out that former Chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation while demitting office called for both PNM and UNC to work together in the area to help residents and she believes Jennings-Smith should have heeded that call. Moore refused to say though if she was a PNM or UNC supporter, saying it did not matter. In the meantime, Jennings-Smith said while she does not know if political mischief is behind the recording, she has left the situation in the hands of God. “One thing I didn’t take any money, I didn’t take any bribe, it’s about myself doing things to help people. I have nothing to hide and I have nothing to fear,” she said.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, January 07, 2020
Democratic Elections The election season is here. In a matter of eight short weeks Guyanese would be going to the polls to elect a new government. This is the eleventh time since independence in 1966 and the fifteenth since self-government that Guyanese would be engaged in this very important exercise. It is perhaps the single most important national undertaking given the fact that almost every other significant area of national life is related to the outcome of elections. As the saying goes and as we have editorialised before, elections have consequences. In our case, given the winner-takesall majoritarian system, whichever party or parties wins an election controls
national decision making. Elections have consequences for democratic standing of a country and for democratic governance. As a functioning democracy, holding periodic elections is one of the standards by which the country’s standing would be measured by the international community and by local human rights groups. Indeed, one of the central aspects of democracy is the holding of regular competitive elections. In fact, one could argue that there is no democracy without elections. There is, of course, the view that democracy confined to elections is at best a flawed notion. But even this school of thought recognises the centrality of elections to a flourishing democracy.
But holding elections just to satisfy the minimum standards of democracy flies in the face of the spirt of democracy. Elections must meet both the democratic letter and spirit. It is for that reason that we must insist on free and fair elections that are free from fear. The electoral process begins with registration and the compilation of the voters’ list and ends with the actual casting of the ballot and the honest counting of the votes. It is why the attempts by one party to get GECOM to agree to a questionable list must be rebuffed at all cost. A credible voters list is critical to the holding of free and fair elections. Everything should be done to make sure that the elections are above board.
Parties should insist on this very high standard. It is tempting for contestants to try to get unfair advantage over their opponents. But in the end this diminishes the country as a whole and deflates confidence in the electoral process. A democratic election must also be free from fear. We have heard of instances where people from some communities are being ostrasised if it becomes known that they intend to vote for a party that is not the choice of the majority of the community. This is unacceptable. People must be free to associate with any party of their choice. If voters are being bullied to vote for a party for ethno-political reasons, it is a clear violation of the principle of
free and fair elections that are free from fear. Another aspect of democratic election is the right of citizens to receive accurate information so that they could make informed decisions. In this regard any party that engages in deliberate pedaling of false information aimed at influencing the way citizens vote is committing one of the cardinal democratic sins. Media houses in particular should pay attention to accurate and fair reporting. Information coming from a political party should be verified before publication. We have already witnessed instances where the main opposition political party has engaged in this behaviour. Finally, democratic elections are premised on
universal participation. The more citizens participate in elections the more democratic those elections are. We therefore warn against voter suppression ether directly or indirectly. We further call on citizens to exercise their right to vote. It is a scared right that was fought for in the long struggle for freedom. Dissatisfaction with parties is not enough reason to willingly forfeit the vote. Every voter who decides not to vote is in effect surrendering governance to those who are bent on hijacking the will of the majority.
The question of external indebtedness, economics and the economic history of Africa vs the rest of the world The Kaieteur News issue of Peeping Tom dated Jan 1st ostensibly on Oil and Debt, is yet another reaction by KN to a letter sent to the Editor which KN did not see it fit to publish. They have recruited others, including Mr Jagdeo and an anonymous writer ‘Peeping Tom’, to do their ‘dirty work’. In order to make their case about African states being in a state of penury in spite of being blessed with abundant resources, KN listed states that were neither petroleum producers nor producers of significance. KN through Peeping Tom is now claiming that, “A factual basis has long been established for the link between petroleum production and indebtedness…”and triumphantly asserts that, “Mr. Greenidge would do well to re-examine his position on oil and debt.” Unfortunately for KN, Peeping Tom seems to have
missed the plot because that link cannot be made by citing only African states and one led by an African leader. Even the subsequent sentence quoted by Peeping Tom makes this obvious, it reads, “the evidence exists of the undeniable link between oil and debt in Africa and elsewhere.” The words, ‘and elsewhere’, conveniently overlooked both by KN and Peeping Tom, vindicate my views, so there is actually no need for me to re-examine my position at all! My views are in keeping with the findings of the study. The problem is of KN’s making. It is one of perception and statistics. So much for Africans and indebtedness. Peeping Tom resurrects some more poor economics in the argument that Guyana has a debt to Exxon, arising from, “accumulated pre-contract costs of more than US$900M. That is close to 50% of Guyana’s
total external debt in 1989, which was the highest debt/ GDP ratio in the world at the time.” The debts being referred to here reflect two different types of obligations. The Debt/GDP ratios reflect sovereign debts which have to be met by the Treasury on behalf of Guyana. Outside of default they are therefore considered risk-free. On the other hand, under production-sharing agreements the exploration, extraction and development costs of Exxon are only payable if production materialises and sales are made. If Exxon finds no deposits or if they wrap up operations prematurely due to the collapse of the oil market for example, Guyana would owe the company nothing. The company bears the risks. The costs in question are not treated as sovereign debt! KN should stop trying to persuade readers that the situation is otherwise. Peeping
Tom, also turned to personal disparagement via innuendo – ‘he should know’. In that attempt to discredit another party and myself it is understandable that Barrat Jagdeo should join in. He cannot resist the opportunity to join in a war even someone else’s, especially if it involves blame the PNC for something. Those who care to read will know that the borrowing which led to Guyana’s indebtedness in the 1980s, took place over a period of over three decades and had been undertaken by Dr Jagan’s and LFS Burnham’s Governments prior to, and immediately after, independence. Its massive upsurge was due to a combination of the vagaries of LIBOR, against which the borrowing rate was set (and the manipulation of LIBOR which is well-documented in the literature) and the dramatic decline in bauxite exports after 1982 which undermined the
country’s ability to service the external debt. As a consequence of these two factors, the accumulation of arrears was so steep that interest payments due in 1986/9 far exceeded the sum borrowed (US$560mn) (US$1.6bn.) Guyana owed mainly bilateral states and multilateral development agencies such as the IBRD, IMF, CDB. In this plight, we were in the company of several other non-petroleum producers and non-African states. The problem of external indebtedness therefore is not only one faced by petroleum producers and caused by corruption of African leadership. Latin America’s Lost Decade resulted from the debt crisis of 1970-1980 and was associated with an increase of 1000% in the region’s debt! It was followed by an equally memorable 1997/9 Asian Debt Crisis. There were two others over the last century. There was therefore no
justification for the adverts to draw an exclusive parallel as regards debt with either African states or with petroleum let alone, as we have shown elsewhere with corruption. The ads appear to be an example of malicious analogy, perception bias and certainly a poor grasp of the economics and recent economic history. I call on the Editor therefore, to also withdraw this Peeping Tom article because it like the advert is erroneous. They should also stop trying to defame those who do not share their point of view. Regards Carl Greenidge Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, January 07, 2020
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PPP must explain its change of heart on ex-soldiers Dear Editor, Face with a massive turn out of thousands of supporters at the APNU+AFC election launch rally on Friday evening (03,01.2020) at the Jubilee Park in Georgetown, the opposition PPPC in desperation announced on the said evening their Prime ministerial Candidate. Former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Pillips was named as the running mate for Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali in the upcoming General and Regional Elections scheduled for March 02, 2020. What is the political significance of the decision to choose Mark Phillips? The
nation was told that the other contenders for the PM post were Juan Edghill and UG lecturer Hugh Todd. Since all the contenders are Africans it is clear that one of the objectives was to have an African running mate for Irfaan Ali. But to what end? Jagdeo and the PPPC know that in electoral terms Mark Pillips will bring no significant votes – African or otherwise. So their decision is not intended to influence the numbers in the sense of attracting none PPP voters to the party election bid. The real political reason for Brigadier (ret’d) on the ticket is to give psychological comfort to the party supporters that in the top leadership of the party is a military man to match Granger and the APNU+AFC. A demonstration
to the PPPC support base that they are not without military assets. Jagdeo is hoping that by making Phillips the prime ministerial candidate he can neutralise the growing alienation among party supporters and the Jaganite faction of the party who are concerned that he is leading them into defeat at the upcoming elections. By showing that he has military assets will force his detractors to give him the benefit of the doubt. A keen political observer would not have failed to recognise the absence of members of the Jaganiteis faction from a prominent role at the Kitty rally. It is timely to revisit Jagdeo and the PPPC propaganda in the 2011 General and Regional Elections.
They viciously attacked the APNU of taking the country down a Latin America path of military dictatorship because David Granger was the APNU Presidential Candidate. Throughout the country the party argued that Granger should not be involved in politics at that level given his military background. For them, ex-military officers entering politics was not a good development in the country’s political culture. This line of argument by the PPPC had intensified beyond reason in the 2015 elections campaign to the point where military officers who were involved in politics were presented as evil. It is not surprising, bearing in mind that Jagdeo and the PPPC politics is driven by
calculated opportunism, their newfound love for former military officers involvement in politics will now be baptised as a strategic move and be justified. Politically, a party is entitled to adjustments in its tactics and strategy, but given the demonization of Granger and the coalition for having ex-military officers in politics. The PPPC leadership owes the nation an explanation for its changed position. Too often politicians treat the nation with contempt on important national issues offering no self-criticism or reasons to justify their change in policy. At the Kitty Rally neither Jagdeo nor Irfaan Ali addressed this change of heart on ex-military officers involvement in politics. And
the Brigadier justified his decision to be involved as a desire to serve the nation. Is this not the same reason that was given by Granger and other ex-military offices that the PPPC rejected and deemed heinous? I end by saying that the nation will be well-advised not to take seriously promises made by Jagdeo and the PPPC in this election campaign since with Jagdeo at the helm of the party nothing is written in stone and honesty and principle mean nothing. Regards Tacuma Ogunseye
A storm in a teacup vs a gale force storm Dear Editor,
The PPP legal minds have finally arisen from their hibernating narcoleptic state. Apparently still in a state of stupor, from months of somnolence, they are now experiencing visual hallucinating. With jaundiced eyes they are seeing a peaceful protest as an assault, they are seeing the waving of APNU-AFC flags as intimidating, they are seeing a community rejecting PPP as a threat ect. Mind you the people being “assaulted” are standing outside of their cars, unbothered Granger-style. When they drove off, car windows are wound down to get fresh air and to have banter with those who Just “assaulted” them. One of the APNU-AFC supporters
jokingly said he is going to join PPP but first he should cover his face. And that is what he did. What about the big open truck with a quite a few in red at the back. They too were unbothered as they involved themselves in a dance-off, Gangnam Style, with the APNU-AFC supporters. That is what transpired. Any person that saw differently should urgently get some electroconvulsive therapy. Apparently Nandlall did. The list of persons and organisations he addressed PPP letter of complaint to is so long that it is easier to just highlight those that did not. Only one. God; apparently the Almighty would have no communication with him until he sorts the law books sins. Mr. Editor, Guyanese
should feel free to go to any public place in Guyana. That’s their right. PPP should be allowed to campaign anywhere. Having said that, the community has a right to reject their message if they so wish. The APNU-AFC supporters were a tad too enthusiastic in rejecting the message being delivered. These are a people who experienced the worse under PPP and that should be mitigated when examining their actions. Having said that, they should not have obstructed the vehicles. Now let’s examine the only organisation with the right to protest in Guyana. PPP legal team may not be aware of this since it occurred when they were in their narcoleptic hibernating state. As a result I will share it with them for their
unbiased legal opinion. The place was Pegasus Hotel. The terrorist leaders were Irfaan Ali, Charles Ramson jr and Juan Edghill. They split into teams of two. Juan Edghill inside with his gang of terrorists while the other two terrorists lurked outside with their team. Irfaan Ali in an effort to disguise himself, sported a cap pulled down to his face while the young Charles, caught up in the folly, left himself exposed. Not sure why Irfaan would have thought that limited disguise would be adequate to cover his identity. Let’s face it Irfaan, that level of obesity is so rare that it would have been easily picked up from mars. Anyway, most Government Ministers on seeing the terrorist commotion ahead of them, decided to take a
different route. The Minister of Foreign Affairs driver, a bit wet behind the ears, did not. Terrorist Irfaan and his henchmen proceeded to terrorise the Minister. They banged on the SUV. They shook it with force so violent that the poor minister started to prepare herself for Armageddon. And it did not stop there. Terrorist Irfaan attempted to turn turtle the vehicle but was stopped by the very tolerant police. The facial expressions of the terrorists were quite scary and menacing. While they were at it, Terrorist Juan Edghill and his henchmen, terrorised the President inside the hotel. My point is what those folks did in Sophia and Laing Avenue was completely wrong. What PPP and their band of terrorist did was illegal and
they were lucky not to be charged. Therefore, I humbly ask the PPP legal team that was in a narcoleptic hibernating state, whether they agree with me that what transpired in Sophia and Laing Avenue is essentially a storm in a teacup while what happened at Pegasus was a gale force storm. Just as I am about to conclude, please allow me to put the cat among the pigeons. It is my opinion and the opinion of many, that the folks in Sophia and Laing Avenue were just following Bharrat Jagdeo’s instructions to the “T” in “chasing them out.” Chickens have come home to roost. Regards Dr. Mark Devonish
Senior citizens must get tangible benefits from oil revenues Dear Editor, Recently, I have become aware that whenever and whatever oil money arrives, Senior Citizens will not benefit much from this new largesse, because Guyanese life expectancy is about 71.6 years for women and 65.4 for men. It should also be noted that only approximately 5.4 % of our population is over 65 years.
Now, this is patently unfair to the elderly. They are the ones who remained behind to weather the storms. They gave their youth to this country, and did not “cut and run”. They stayed behind to hold our country together, to experience the painful hard times, to ensure stability, to keep the productive machinery functioning – whether as managers, field workers, civil servants, scientists, teachers, private sector employees, and
all the other areas of service. I am suggesting that ways and methods be found to ensure that some tangible benefits reach our Senior Citizens. Such direct financial support could be in the form of an increase of their pension from $20,500.00 per month to whatever the Minimum Wage per person is at the relevant time. VAT could be removed from every purchaser provable
(by ID Card) to be over 65. That most iniquitous Property Tax could be expunged from the law as it relates to the elderly homeowners. Payments for crossing rivers via bridges and Airport Exit Taxes and Airport Security Service Charges (built into airline tickets) could also be removed for Senior Citizens. For the foreseeable future, it will be only 5% of the population which has served
this country well and, in some cases, beyond the call of duty, who will be receiving such benefits. I call on caring leaders /political parties/governments to advocate and implement serious actions to improve the standard of living of our seniors, whose current lives may not be receiving the great attention it deserves. Place your commitment, in this regard, in your respective Manifes-
tos. If that is already too late, then state your intentions publicly from your pre-elections platforms. One can define the level of civilization in a State by the way it treats its elderly. Regards Senior Citizen
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 7, 2020
‘Don’t forget the dark days under PPP’
…Vanessa Kissoon says prepared to ensure re-election of coalition By Vanessa Braithwaite "I AM here to give service and once called upon to serve, I will serve. As a leader, I don't see myself as a former Member of Parliament, I am a leader in the community, I am a teacher by profession and my motto is service, service to the people, so once called upon, you will see me there." This was the affirmation of former PNCR Member of Parliament, Vanessa Kissoon, as she prepares for aggressive campaigning in her home town Linden, and the wider Region Ten. Kissoon said that the picture is bigger than personality conflicts and past issues because for her, she is fighting for a better Guyana, under the leadership of President David Granger and the Coalition Government and she must also encourage others to do so. For her, the bigger issue is saying no to regression. As a champion of human rights and someone who played an integral role in fighting against oppression; one of those fights which led to the 2012 struggle in Linden and the deaths of three Linden martyrs, Kissoon is urging Lindeners and the wider electorate, to not forget the dark days under the PPP regime. "People who forget their past are bound to repeat it and we cannot forget the 23 years of darkness and suffering under the PPP regime. Our brothers and sisters in Linden Region Ten cannot forget the lives we lost in 2012, Shemroy Boyea, Allan Lewis and Ron Summerset; we have to remember what we went through and to the wider electorate, let us not forget when our sons, our brothers, our uncles and our nephews, when their blood was running on the streets like water, we cannot forget those dark years," she said. “It is not only about looking back, but ensuring that progress continues,” and Kis-
Former MP Vanessa Kissoon and former Region 10 Chairman, Sharma Solomon, at the APNU+AFC launch on Friday last
soon said she is ultimately pleased with the achievements of the Coalition, in the four short years. For her, as it relates to improvement in human development, the Coalition should be given five stars. She alluded to the increase in pension, giving pensioners a better standard of living as well as the significant increases to the minimum wage for sweeper cleaners, janitors and security guards, who once stood in picketing lines for same. She has been listening to how appreciative those are, for now having a tenure of security from those increases. The increase to the salaries of public servants, including tax-free bonuses, are equally appreciated. "We have never gotten this type of increase under the former regime and now persons can safely
say, if you ask teachers and public servants, they will tell you that they feel pleased for it," she said. Relative to infrastructure in Region Ten, Kissoon alluded to the provision of electricity for the communities of Andyville and Prosville; communities that loomed in darkness for over 15 years. The rehabilitation of the Kwakwani trail, Kissoon said is something very dear to her, as pregnant women and the elderly would have complained in times past, how uncomfortable and wearisome it was, travelling on a dilapidated road for hours, filled with huge craters. The lighting process on the Linden Soesdyke Highway has started and the former MP also described this as great progress, that
should not be forgotten. The construction of the Linden Synthetic Track, was also described as more than a surface development for Kissoon, who is also a youth leader as well as the empowering of the Linden Enterprise Network. "We see the process have started and this means let us continue the progress, let us not stop the progress; in order for us to be able to complete and continue, we have to be able to go out there and support the Coalition Government." Despite what happen in the past, Kissoon said that this cause is bigger than personality, it is about championing the cause for a better Guyana and she will be championing for everyone to not only vote like a boss like they did in 2015, but to vote like a champion. "I will be there campaigning, we have already started the process in meeting and encouraging the people, I am here and ready to go. We don’t deal with personalities, we deal with issues and Guyana is bigger than Miss Kissoon and at this time I am not dealing with personalities but let us deal with the bigger issue which is Guyana and Guyana is bigger than all of us, which is the future of our children. I have children, I have young children and I want them to enjoy what it has to offer, so we want them to see the bigger picture," she said. kissoon is urging all regional officials who may have been divided, which led to cliquism, to unite and to ensure that progress under the coalition continues. As for her, it matters not where she is seated but that her voice is heard and that she is always committed to the APNU-AFC Coalition.
GWI employee charged for killing ex’s new boyfriend A 22-year-old Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) employee was on Monday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a charge of murder. Nigel Thomas of James and Victoria streets, Albouystown appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge. It is alleged that on December 30, 2019, at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, he murdered Kyle Chase. Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson who represented Thomas told the court that his client has no knowledge of the death. He stated that his client also received injuries to his head and was ad-
mitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that Thomas and Chase were known to each other since they were at separate time involved with a certain young lady. Mansfield added that on the day in question around 23:00 hours Thomas and two other persons were at the time at the same young lady’s house and an argument erupted which led to a fight which later to Thomas sustaining injuries to his neck and other part of his body with a screwdriver. He was picked up and rushed to the Davis Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Nigel Thomas
T h e m a t t e r w a s r e p o r t-
arrested and later charged.
ney and the prosecutor re-
ed an investigation was
Magistrate McLennan af-
manded Thomas to prison
launched and Thomas was
ter listening to the attor-
until January 28, 2020.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 7, 2020
PPP top Region 9 official on sexual assault, corruption charges The People’s Progressive Party Civic top representative in Region Nine, Allister Charlie has been charged with sexual assault and perverting the course of justice. Charlie is a former Member of Parliament of the PPP and a Central Committee member. He was seen smiling and mingling with supporters of the party during its launch on Sunday at the Kitty Market Square. Charlie in a statement making wild allegations against others said he is maintaining his innocence of the charges. The Guyana Police Force had launched an investigation into an alleged case of attempted rape by Charlie back in August last year. It is alleged that the PPP member attempted to rape a 16-year-old boy in Lethem, Region Nine. The incident came to the fore through a Facebook post made by the mother of the boy. “I’m disturbed by the video that I saw this morning of my son being taken advantage,” the distraught mother had written on her social media page at the time and proceeded to name the accused. The incident reportedly occurred in Lethem. According to reports, the teenager, after attending a children’s party at Charlie’s resi-
PPP top Region Nine representative on sexual molestation, corruption charges
dence was allegedly lured to a nearby bar and was given alcohol laced with ecstasy. He was reportedly videoed with his pants and underwear down and genitals exposed. The accused reportedly had his genitals out at the time, not only in the presence of the minor, but other persons, who were seen laughing. A man, known to the family of the minor, was passing
the bar at the time, and reportedly intervened, and started recording the incident, after he was shunned by those present. The victim was subsequently taken to his grandmother’s residence. Guyana Chronicle had spoken to the mother of the victim but to safeguard the victim’s identity her name would not be disclosed. The woman, who resides in Georgetown, said she had learnt of the incident when she received a phone call from her mother, who lives in Lethem with her son. Her mother, the victim’s grandmother, was shown the video by the man who intervened when the incident was unfolding. That video was reportedly sent to the mother of the victim. The woman said from all indications, her son was unwell when he returned home. He vomited several times and opted to sleep in a hammock. In the statement he gave to the police, the victim reportedly said that while at the party, the PPP member made sexual offers to him. It is alleged that at the party, Charlie was sexually grooming the minor, and offered him oral sex, among other things.
Linden child rapist jailed for 20 years TWENTY-FIVE-YEAROLD Keon Lawson, called ‘Crash’, will be serving the next 20 years behind bars for two counts of raping a minor, after he was, on Monday January 6, 2020, sentenced by High Court Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall. In December 2019, Lawson of Linden was found guilty by a 12-member jury for the two charges which he was on trial for before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall, in the Sexual Offences Court. The first indictment stated that Lawson, between November 1, 2014, and November 30, 2014, in the County of Demerara, engaged in sexual activity, with a six-year-old girl. The second indictment stated that Lawson, on October 6, 2017, in the County of Demerara, engaged in sexual activity with the same victim, when she was nine-years-old. Lawson was represented by attorney-at-law George Thomas, while the state was represented by prosecutors Teriq Mohammed and Nefeeza Baig. During the sentencing hearing on Monday, Lawson’s attorney pleaded with the court for leniency, citing that his client can be rehabilitated. The victim, in her impact statement said that, since the incident, she only trusts her father and was distrustful of the opposite sex. Additionally, a probation officer told the court that, prior to the incident, the victim was joyful. Her grades have dropped and she has stopped socialising. In sentencing, the judge considered the prevalence of such offences, particularly in Linden. She also considered that Lawson abused his position of trust since he was close to the victim and her
underwear and raped her. In October 2017, when the child was sent over to Lawson’s home by her mother to collect chicken from a freezer, she was attacked by him.
Keon Lawson called ‘Crash’
family. She also considered that when the guilty verdict was announced, Lawson said that he was sorry, but in the probation report he maintained his innocence, thus showing no genuine remorse for his actions. Thus Lawson was sentenced to 18 years for the first count and 20 years on the second. The Judge ordered the sentences run concurrently which means that Lawson will only serve 20 years behind bars. Finally, the Judge also ordered that Lawson be subjected to counselling, quarterly, while imprisoned. The prosecution’s case was that Lawson was known to the victim’s family. During the month of November 2014, it was alleged that Lawson was at the victim’s home watching television. He reportedly gave the six-year-old girl his cellphone to play games. While the child was playing games, he covered her mouth with his hands to prevent her from screaming. It was alleged that Lawson pulled down the child’s
It was alleged that Lawson blocked the doorway, grabbed the victim and pinned her down into the chair. He then raped the child and sent her back home.
The child went to school and told her teacher. The victim’s mother was summoned to the school and the incident was reported to the police.
Ramjattan wants greater vetting of police recruits MINISTER of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, on Sunday, indicated that he was very surprised at the action of a member of the Guyana Police Force who was caught in the furtherance of a robbery at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. “It happens not only within the Guyana Police Force but elsewhere and the vetting process will have to be reviewed and strengthened and so too will the recruitment process; we have to strengthen these; but even so, the gates are never shut on the greedy,” Ramjattan explained during an invited comment. Friday last, a police constable attached to the Special Branch was among five robbers who invaded the business place of some Chinese nationals at the location mentioned above. A licenced firearm holder engaged the robbers, shooting one dead and injuring another while two others were nabbed at a police roadblock at Den Amstel as they were about to make their way back to Georgetown. The robbers including one female hailed from communities along the East Coast Demerara and Georgetown. “Well you know this has taken me by surprise, such an officer doing that and I think of course we will have to take a second look at some of these things. It does seem that there are come characters within the police force especially that we really need to weed out, but I have said this before,” stated the security minister.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Africans urged to demand in one voice “reparations now” ANOTHER step towards the realization of reparation for all Africans was made on Sunday when the Guyana Reparations Committee (GRC) presented a replica of the reparation baton to Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence. The presentation was made at the 32nd anniversary conference for African Civilization Day observance organized by the Pan African Movement in Guyana, and was held at the Pan African Garden on the Merriman’s Mall, under the theme “Towards the Decade of National Development”. Presenting the baton on behalf of the Guyana Reparations Committee (GRC) were Penda Guyan and lecturer of the University of Guyana Dr. Joycelynne Loncke. In her presentation Guyan explained that a duplicate of the original baton was presented, because the original baton had to be run in all 13 CARICOM countries, to bring awareness about the African reparation situation. Guyan said the baton which was designed by the CARICOM Reparations Council (CRC), was intended to be a symbol to stimulate awareness in African
young people and served as a generational transfer of responsibility. “Guyana is the first country the baton was run in. It was run in Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice and as a result a reparation youth movement was formed in Berbice,” she said. WHY THE BATON She further explained the purpose for the baton with seven points. Firstly, she said that the baton was a tangible object and that it was the sum total of all Africans’ thoughts made concrete. It was also the process leading from the realm of ideas, to the sphere of action. Secondly, she said the baton denoted a planned destination. She said that it was taken somewhere, but not by the whims and fancies of individualism, but by the planned decisions of the collective. Thirdly the baton indicated individual commitment and dedication, and individual responsibility and purpose. It was placed into the hands of an individual who was aware of what was to be done. The fourth reason for choosing the baton was that it indicated cooperativeness. The fifth reason she said
was that the baton was not static, but an actual or inferred dynamic symbol that was in constant movement and that movement was progress, organic and life and or living. The penultimate reason for the baton was that it spoke to the question “Why Reparations?” Guyan explained. The baton which was made of Mahogany wood, was seen as a symbol of protection, since the story behind the Mahogany trees, she explained, was that the trees were planted in the
islands of the West Indies (Caribbean) as windbreakers to protect especially agriculture communities, people and property. The baton says that Africans in the Diaspora were seeking compensation for labour rendered on the respective Plantations, between the periods of their enslavement and were demanding that, if the laws of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, for example, were sufficient to protect the economic and social interests of the Plantation operators, then those laws did, and must. pertain,
Penda Guyan explaining the baton to the audience
Penda Guyan presenting the baton to Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence, along with Dr. Joycelynne Loncke.
to the social and economic interests of Africans who, in terms of the intent and functioning of the Plantation System, were integrally related to that of the Plantation operators. The final reason for the baton she said, was because it was seen as a beacon for the African message and it drew attention to the African demand. Also in attendance were Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Karen Cummings, His Worship the Major of Georgetown Ubraj Narine and former Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green
Bosai wash plant still closed …as EPA inspects engineering strategies -95 percent of Kara Kara creek reportedly cleared OPERATIONS at the washplant at the Bosai Mineral Group Guyana (BMGG), remain closed, following a cease order by the Environmental Protect Agency (EPA). The issue stemmed from the EPA being notified that bauxite sedimentation from the company's tailings pond was being discharged into the Kara Kara creek, causing discolouration and a high turbidity level. The company was also fined $1, 066, 000 by the EPA. On Friday, a high level team from the EPA visited Linden to inspect what strides Bosai made in clearing the creek and putting mechanisms in place to ensure the pollution does not reoccur. Bosai's Senior Technical Service Coordinator, Wainewright Bethune, related that following Friday’s inspection, the EPA placed additional measures on Bosai and
The Kara Kara Creek has been polluted
also observed the engineering mechanisms being considered by the company, to tackle the issue. While the plan is still in the surveying stage, Bethune said the EPA gave them one week to submit the analysis of that survey as an avenue of moving forward. He related that Bosai has also implemented systems to clear the Kara Kara creek and 95 per cent of
same has been cleared. Executive Director Dr. Vincent Adams told the Guyana Chronicle, that while it is unfortunate that the creek has already been polluted, EPA is only interested in remedial action, to ensure it does not occur again. He said EPA is not only interested in what is placed on paper but on how effective the designs will be, in the actual fields, hence the visit on Fri-
day. Dr. Adams was unavailable for a follow up comment on Monday. Bosai is currently doing a survey to determine whether the dike where the operation is done, should be elevated. It is also being considered whether the discharge should be rechanneled so that it will have a longer route to travel to the pond, so that there can be more settlement of the particles. Bosai is also looking
at creating a network of dams or dikes, so that the flow of the sediment can be constricted. While the wash-plant remains down, Bethune said the workers were not affected, since they are serving in other ways at the company, as the general operations of the company has not been affected just yet. He is hoping that it will be completely resolved in about three weeks since the company is currently depending on stock-piled wash ore for its operation, which will only last about two weeks. Bethune explained that since the company installed the dust collectors to significantly reduce air pollution, with little or no dust being emitted into the air, the dust is now being pumped into the tailings pond and far from the company's expectation, it is not settling as quickly as expected. When the bauxite is washed in the company's plant, it is transported into the tailings pond, where it is expected to settle and only the clear water should be discharged into the creek and other water bodies. The finer
particles pumped into the pond needed some residence time to settle, but apparently this was not as effective as expected to be. Residents of Kara Kara have also expressed their disappointment in the way the creek has been subject to pollution in recent years. "The creek is our life here, it breathes life into this community, all the way up to Speightland, it is used for transportation, domestic purposes, people fish here every day and people coming here and do all sorts of things," resident George Lorrimor said. Bethune said that no resident however, has come forward stating he/ she was personally affected by the problem and needed to be compensated, but if it required the company would not shy away, since it has been contributing significantly to the environmental cause of Linden, by making generous contributions to the Linden Mayor and Town Council and other organisations.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Rice exports top US$222.7M for 2019 -Most rice exported to Venezuela
GUYANA’S rice industry has been growing over the years and that growth continued to be evident in 2019, when the sector raked in some US$222.7 million in exports, representing an increase of 20 per cent when compared to the US$186 million recorded in 2018. According to a press statement from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the country exported rice to more than 35 nations in 2019. The board said 526,617 tonnes of paddy, rice and rice by-products were exported in 2019 compared to 470,312 tonnes in 2018, an increase of 12 per cent. The largest amount of exports went to Latin American countries, with Venezuela being the biggest buyer of rice from Guyana for 2019. The country purchased 177,682 tonnes, some 34 per cent of all exports. This figure augurs well for Guyana, especially after the country had lost a major market in Venezuela when the Petrocaribe deal between the two countries ended. According to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Guyana had signed a rice compensation agreement with Venezuela in 2009 wherein Guyanese rice exports were accepted in partial payment for imports of Venezuelan oil. The IDB said the agreement ended in November 2015 and was not renewed for 2016. The scheme had provided stimulus to the Guyanese rice sector, resulting in higher levels of investments in improved inputs and machinery, an expansion in area cultivated, higher levels of outputs, higher levels of exports, and increased employment. The main incentive was the payment of a market premium, averaging 20 per cent greater than world price. Since then, Guyana has been able to capitalise on other markets. Figures from the GRDB showed that second to Venezuela in 2019, was Portugal, with a total of 61,873
tonnes of rice being exported to that country, representing 12 per cent of the total amount
Other than Venezuela, the main importing countries were Cuba, Columbia, Honduras
of rice exported. Meanwhile, some 69,956 tonnes of rice, valued at US $35 million, was exported to CARICOM countries in 2019. Of this figure, Jamaica and Trinidad were the largest CARICOM importers, importing 32,743 tonnes and 25,417 tonnes respectively. Guyana exported rice to ten CARICOM countries, namely; Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Suriname. Another bloc which took in a lot of Guyana’s rice was the European Union (EU). The country exported 214,190 tonnes of rice to the EU in 2019, compared to the 146,092 tonnes shipped in 2018. The 2019 figure represented an increase of 47 per cent. Main importing countries under the EU were Portugal, Italy, United Kingdom and Spain. Meanwhile, in total some 241,919 tonnes were exported to Latin American countries.
and Panama. As it relates to export by product, white rice was the largest export earner. White rice accounted for 51 per cent of the total amount of rice exported in 2019, earning US $128.1 million. Other products exported were parboiled rice, cargo rice, paddy and bran. It was reported on Sunday that Guyana produced more than one million tonnes of paddy for 2019, making it the second highest production year for rice in Guyana. With annual average yields increasing steadily and closing 2019 at 5.9 tonnes per hectare, production is expected to continue to increase in the coming years. According to a press statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, some 1,049,874 metric tonnes of paddy was produced in 2019, 8,254 tonnes short of the record 2015 production of 1,058,128 tonnes. The recorded productivity of the rice industry is contrary to what was said by sections
Tractor crushes Linden man in Region Eight A DRUNKEN quartet on a tractor heading to 72 Miles, along the Kaburee Main Access Trail in Region Eight, had the journey cut short after one of the men, sitting on the fuel tank at the back of the tractor, fell off and was crushed by the wheel. Dead is Rondell Jacobs of Linden. The incident occurred Sunday and the tractor was driven by a teenager of Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo. The driver and the two others are in Police custody, assisting with the investigation. Reports indicate that
around 14:30 hours on Sunday, the teenager and another tractor operator left 58 miles Potaro with the tractor heading to 72 miles. Along the journey, they were drinking alcohol, and, on their arrival at 72 miles about 17:00 hours, they met Jacobs and another man. Together, they went to a shop and began drinking. The driver claimed that, at about 22:00 hours, when they were all drunk, he drove the tractor with the others. He claimed that Jacobs was standing on the left side footboard of the tractor and the other two occu-
pants were sitting on the fuel tank at the back of the tractor. It is alleged that, upon arrival at a junction, the tractor driver turned right and, due to the unevenness of the road, the tractor tilted left and Jacobs fell off the tractor onto the roadway and he subsequently drove over him (Jacobs) and stopped some distance away. When Police found Jacobs, he had lacerations to the left side of the head and bruises to the left rib area; a banks beer bottle was also found near him.
of the media and prominent persons about the rice sector declining. “2019 stands as the second highest rice-producing year to date,” said the ministry, adding that Guyana managed to produce a record amount of rice despite the plethora of challenges the industry faced throughout the year. Among the challenges that the rice industry faced were “extremely unfavourable” weather conditions and some level of pest infestation. “These challenges were taken head on by the GRDB, which spared no effort in ensuring that the extension and support services meted out to their rice farmers were superior,” said the agriculture ministry. Not only was production in 2019 close to surpassing the 2015 national record, but production has increased 28 per cent since 2016. This is possible not only by the efforts extended by the GRDB, but also by the “hard work” of farmers. Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) remained the highest producing region, harvesting 454,476 metric tonnes of paddy; this is equivalent to some 295,4009 metric tonnes of rice. The region recorded a 99 per cent harvesting rate. The second top producing region was Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), which produced a total of 311,915 metric tonnes of paddy or 202,745 metric tonnes of rice equivalent. This production was the highest on record for Region Six, said the GRDB. According to the board, the region also produced some 4,910,444 bags of paddy, which was equated to a 25 per cent increase in paddy production for East Berbice-Corentyne. Nationally, some 16,526,024 bags of paddy or 682,418 metric tonnes of rice was produced. 178,628 hectares were sown, thereby equating to 93 bags of rice per hectare or 38 bags of rice per acre.
Probe ongoing into death of passenger at CJIA –– man had history of Asthma and Hypertension
A MALE passenger between the ages of 50 and 60 years, died after collapsing, while boarding an outgoing American Airlines flight, early Sunday morning, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). Reports reaching the Ministry of Public Health indicate that several attempts were made to resuscitate the passenger who was later pronounced dead at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. The ministry says that reports, received from the Port Health Officer, show that best efforts were made by the licenced health care provider on duty to save the passenger’s life. This refutes a letter to the editor, in Monday’s edition of the Kaieteur News, which stated that the airport had no defibrillator nor staff, appro-
priately trained, to assist in such an emergency. The ministry says that all necessary protocols were followed and executed in a manner with the hope of a better outcome. The on-duty Port Health Officer had reported the details surrounding the passenger’s death to the health ministry, as required. Reports indicated that the passenger complained to his wife about feeling unwell on his way to the boarding gate before deciding to utilise his self-care nebuliser since he was asthmatic. It was shortly after that he collapsed, and at 01:30 hours the Port Health Officer received a call from the airport duty office about the emergency. The officer was on the scene by 01:33 hours, equipped with an emergency bag.
It was reported that another passenger had already begun to perform CPR on the unresponsive passenger. The officer then took over and an Automated External Defibrillator was used in an attempt to resuscitate the passenger. He, however, remained unresponsive. The passenger was then transferred to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre for further evaluation and confirmation of unresponsiveness. He was examined by the doctor in charge and subsequently pronounced dead. In addition to being asthmatic, the patient’s medical history indicated that he was also hypertensive. The police have been informed, and an investigation is ongoing. (DPI)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Bartica Town Council constructing ‘Wall of Honour’ THE Mayor and Town Council of Bartica have embarked on a project to construct a Wall of Honour in the township, which is expected to be completed sometime next month. According to Mayor Gif-
ford Marshall, the wall is in recognition of outstanding academic and sports personalities from Bartica, Region Seven. It is being constructed in the Bartica Community Center, which is now being transformed into a sports
complex for the youths in the town. “This project, while honouring our people, is also aimed to be a motivational center piece for youths to strive for excellence in academics and sports. Further,
The Wall of Honour being constructed at the Community Center in Bartica
active mobility is a critical objective of our Green Agenda. It allows for the promotion of healthy lifestyles in our communities. As a result, investment in facilities to accommodate such is important to the municipality,” Marshall said. On completion, the wall will have the names of distinguished men and women who served the township of Bartica in their respective fields of expertise. This can also be a tourist attraction, or a way of bringing awareness to the eminent names in academics and sports that emerged from Bartica and Region Seven. Thus far, some of the names that are to be added are Neil Hernandez, Kevin Reddy, Brian Tracey, Terrence Archer, Vibert De Fre-
itas, Calmeth Younge, Christopher George, Mark Smith, and Dianne Ferrierer, all of whom are renowned footballers who hailed from Bartica. Hernandez’s name will be imprinted ‘in memory of’ since he would have lost his life back in 2007. Some other names, for example Brian Tracey, will also be imprinted ‘in memory of’. Other names to be added, Marshall disclosed, are Ivor Mendonca and Basil Singh. Mendonca was a cricketer and Singh, an umpire. The Mayor said that more names are to be added and more names will be added as the years go by, to continue encouraging the youths of the town to strive for excellence in everything that they do. To add to its beautification, the wall will be decked with dec-
orative lights, and will also be enhanced with a landscape and water fountain. Over the years, the Council would have embarked on several projects that aided to the development and beautification of the town. What was once a small rural community is now a well developing green town with many attractions. Since the appointment of the APNU+AFC government, and the reinstallation of the local governance, many areas in Guyana have seen significant improvements. Mayor Marshall would vaunt often about where Bartica used to be, to where it is today. He said that there are many more projects earmarked, as the decade of development has just begun.
Masked bandits rob birthday crew FIVE persons celebrating a birthday at a house in Triumph East Coast Demerara, (ECD) on Sunday, were robbed by three armed bandits The robbers allegedly robbed the persons of over $200,000 in cash, jewellry and cell phones. The five persons included an electrician, a businessman, two automotive body
workmen and a female of the same Triumph address. Reports indicate that the victims were home, celebrating the birth anniversary of Mohammed Wahab, when three robbers, with their face masked with rags, walked in and demanded money and valuables. The robbers entered the yard by making a hole in the fence. The victims were
all placed face down on the ground and, during the robbery, a confrontation occurred, causing one of the bandits to fire three shots in the air. In the aftermath, the robbers made good their escape. When contacted, the police confirmed that they were investigating the robbery.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, January 07, 2020
Mother of three killed on birthday ‘over monkey’ THE community of Plaisance was plunged into mourning when a well-known villager was stabbed to death by her neighbour, at Graham Street, on Monday, the day of her birthday. Dead is 53-year-old Sharon Burnett of 47 Graham Street, Plaisance. She operated a small grocery shop at the front of her house. The Guyana Chronicle was told that the woman was accused, by the suspect, of owning a monkey which had been stealing from him, and also taking the loot over to her home. Her brother, Warren Bur-
something was not right with his sister. He explained that the police
were contacted and they responded promptly and arrested the suspect. Warren said that he
Sharon Burnett
nett, on Monday morning, spoke with the Guyana Chronicle when reporters visited the scene. Warren said that he was sleeping when someone called and informed him that
The scene of the murder
believed the suspect set a fridge alight to force the woman to exit the shop as she had already gone into the structure and closed up. Sharon operated the small shop to the facade of her home on the government reserve and would sometimes sleep inside the shop to prevent it being broken into. “Friday night around 8 to 8:30 [the suspect] came lashing down the counter telling her that she has a monkey that she minding and that it does go into his house and thief things; thief he money and bring it over to our house. My sister don’t have no monkey that is a
strange monkey that does go at everybody house,” the brother told BIG Smith News Watch. Warren said while he was in the Plaisance Market on Saturday he saw the suspect behaving disorderly and even threatening to murder someone. That prompted Warren to tell his sister to approach the police and make a report. It was unclear if she ever did. The bereaved brother recalled that his sister and the suspect were very good friends and that the man would even take money to her at times for her to keep for him.
PPP says ready for Nomination Day
…Jagdeo to head party’s list THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has stated that its List of Candidates is prepared for Nomination
Day and the party itself for the March 2, 2020 elections. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, PPP/C
PPP Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali during the party’s campaign launch
Supporters of the PPP at their launch on Sunday EDITED NBH 06/01/20
Bodies at Aracari…
Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha stated: “We are prepared. As a whole political party we are prepared, we are ready. We have launched our
campaign yesterday and we are ready and prepared for elections, we are prepared for Nomination Day, all things are in place.”
He stated that much like those who were featured at the party’s campaign launch at the Kitty Market Square on Sunday, their Lists will feature both genders; persons form different ethnic backgrounds and persons of different ages. The Party will also be participating in the customary march of political parties from their main office to the Nomination Day venue but the PPP/C has not yet finalised its route. Meanwhile, although he was not the party’s presidential candidate, Opposition Leader and General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, will head the PPP/C’s list for the elections. Questioned on why the same was not changed, PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, said that, though the party had not discussed the matter,
he saw no issue as Jagdeo had “historically” led the party list. He brushed aside questions that that and other cases might pose doubt about his ability to lead a PPP/C government without the shadow of the Opposition Leader. “I am not worried at all about that,” Ali said. “I am very clear on my ability to lead, I’m very clear of the team approach and I want to say to you that that does not pose any threat.” At the 2015 elections, the PPP/C came up against the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition which beat the party by just one seat. Both major political parties hope to increase this gap in their favor in the coming elections based on their leadership track record.
Container with poison found in hotel room
…shocked relatives seek answers for couple’s demise By Tamica Garnett AS investigations continue into deaths of a couple whose bodies were discovered in a bathtub at the Aracari Resort, evidence continues to point to a likely case of suicide as a container with poisonous substance was found in the hotel room. It was also revealed that the young lady was married, by religious rites, to another individual. The bodies of twenty-sixyear-old Kevin Singh of Lot 18 Triumph, East coast Demerara, an employee of GuySuco LBI estate, and twenty-five year-old Subrina Nandram, a mother of two, from 49 Corentyne Village, were discovered, on Sunday evening, in a locked hotel room at the Resort, located in Versailles, West Bank Demerara. Regional Commander Simon McBean shared that there was nothing initially apparent to suggest the cause of death; however, he confirmed that the bodies did not bear any marks of violence; the door of the hotel room was locked from the inside. The couple
had checked into the hotel at 15:38hrs on Saturday, and were last heard from at 12:00hrs on Sunday when Singh spoke to hotel management. Respective family members for the couple, had last heard from them on Saturday. Neither family could think of any reason as to why the couple would travel all the way to the West Bank of Demerara. Notwithstanding the circumstances, family members of both the young man and the young lady say they were unaware of any reason why either of them would want to kill themselves. “I not too sure about his whereabouts and where he would go on a regular basis but I have no idea why he would end up ‘til at the Aracari Resort. I might have think that the couple committed double suicide, the police say there was poison in the hotel room so I am assuming that they would have drank the poison, both of them,” noted Singh’s brother, Ravin. According to Ravin, Singh had told his family that he was on his way to purchase a new vehicle when he left home on
Deceased: Kevin Singh & Sabrina Nandram
Saturday, departing in his brother’s vehicle which he borrowed. Ravin said his brother’s relationship with Nandram became known to him, indirectly, some six months ago, but he never met the young lady nor knew the exact details of the relationship. “I would see Whatsapp status with the two of them, that is how I got to know who the person is,” Ravin explained. Nandram’s mother-in-law, Prano Chinoolall, who lives in Mon Repos, said she last saw Nandram alive when she dropped off her two sons, aged eight and five, at their great grandmother’s residence also in Mon Repos. Though Nandram lives in Berbice, Chinolall explained that the two children
have been residing with her, in Mon Repos, for approximately three years now. They were left there when Nandram spent a stint overseas with her husband who lives in the United States of America. Nandram had collected the children over the Christmas holiday to spend time with her and were returning the children on Saturday so that they could attend school. Chinolall explained that she had heard rumours that her daughter-in-law was being unfaithful to her son with Singh, but when she questioned Nandram she got no substantial answers. “I was hearing it for a long time but I didn’t say anything because I am the motherin-law and I don’t want to make problem with people when I keep asking her, very simple, she nah give an answer,” Chinolall explained. However Chinolall noted that her suspicions were confirmed when her grandsons related to her that Nandram had introduced Singh to them as their stepfather, during the Christmas holiday. “This boy [Singh] left and went up Berbice to spend
Christmas, New Year’s with her up there. I ask her if he went up there, she not answering. She tell she son must call this boy daddy, that yuh stepfather. My grandson said no this is not me father and he come back and tell me everything, that his mommy tek somebody and live at Berbice,” Chinolall revealed. Chinolall, however noted that, to the best of her knowledge, her son and Nandram had never separated. “They not married legal but yes they married, they married about eight to seven years now, big wedding, me son and she nah left,” Chinolall explained. Nonetheless, Chinolall maintained that she did not believe her daughter-inlaw wanted to kill herself. “She didn’t kill herself that is what I saying. If she was to kill she self why go in a hotel and kill herself? Why is she go do them things and she know she got two kids, she like her children them. But I don’t know what the post mortem is going to say, they saying is poison because a whole set ah green thing deh she face and so, all in she hair,” Chinolall said. Singh’s family also did
not see reason for his suicide. Singh’s mother, Kuntie Tkchand, noted that she was still trying to make sense of the situation, breaking down in tears as she reflected on a picture of herself and her son. “I feel very, very frustrated and depressed. It was my son and he was so loving, I could not expect something like that, because we had no argument, nothing. All he tell me he going and look for a vehicle to buy Saturday morning. I said go safe and come back safe,” Tkchand said. She last spoke with Singh on Saturday “Usual when he go somewhere he does call me and say mommy I’m here I’m ok, but the day as the hours them passing by he not saying anything so I decided to call him, 8.30 – 9 in the night. He tell me he deh West Coast, I ask he when he coming home and then he cut off the phone. But [Sunday] I didn’t get no call,” she said. Commander McBean related that the post mortem is expected to be performed on the bodies by Wednesday for the cause of death to be definitively determined.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 7, 2020
$10M White Water Nursery opens
-Barima-Waini on the verge of great educational transformation- REdO SCORES of children from White Water, Region 1, began their first day of school in a newly-extended building with improved facilities, marking the first school day in the Decade of Development. White Water Nursery Annexe sits in a quiet Indigenous village in the Barima-Waini Region, 45 minutes away from central Mabaruma. Residents of the picturesque community were in high praise of the new school building and shared their hopes for the future of the education system in Region 1. Benedict Oselma said he was most grateful for the government’s gift to the village and wished to see engineers, doctors, and business owners emerge from the
hinterland community. Education Minister, Hon. Dr. Nicolette Henry, who was present at Monday’s opening, stressed the importance of proper educational facilities and infrastructure. She noted that the government was in the business of improving lives and as such had launched a Decade of Development in which education was accorded the highest priority. “The goal of this government is to close all geographic gaps and provide equal and equitable education for all Guyanese irrespective of their location,” she explained. While emphasising that education was the bedrock of any nation, she disclosed that her ministry was working to ensure that Guyana had a
first-class education system. Regional Education Officer (REdO), Nigel Richards, told those gathered that Barima-Waini was on the verge of great educational transformation. He cited the successful execution of modernised classrooms at several schools within the Region including Santa Rosa, Port Kaituma and North West Secondary Schools. Those schools are all equipped with smart classrooms. The REdO further noted that eight primary schools would soon benefit from smart initiatives and ICT access. “Every child [in Region 1] will have access to science education and ICT,” Richards added.(DPI)
The upgraded White Water Nursery School
St Joseph Mercy launches its own branded medications
The new St Joseph Mercy Hospital (SJMH) branded paracetamol and low-dose aspirin tablet medication
IN celebration of its 75th Anniversary, the St Joseph Mercy Hospital (SJMH) is now offering paracetamol and low-dose aspirin tablet medication under its own brand name. The news was shared by the hospital in a release on Monday which indicated that next on the list to be branded was a cough syrup while other drugs will be included in the future. It was Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Deborrah Ramsay, who engaged the hospital’s Pharmacy Manager/Chief Pharmacist, LeAndre Charles, to make the
idea a possibility as she envisioned that the decades-old health institution could raise its level of service by having its own branded drugs. Charles was in turn excited and Chirosyn Discovery, a Canadian pharmaceutical company, was selected to help prepare the first SJMH-branded paracetamol and aspirin tablets. “We checked Chirosyn Discovery’s background and capabilities and were happy and confident that they can produce these two drugs for us at the standard that we want,” Mr. Charles said. “It’s not only about the
launch of products with Mercy’s logo, but it’s also a launch of products that have the drug efficacy and the drug safety that we want our patients to receive. So every patient who will receive these drugs is assured that what is in the bottle and what is on the box is what they will be getting.” Charles explained that the SJMH-branded medications represent a significant step forward for the hospital in light of the global problem of counterfeit medications. “There is a large percentage of drugs on the global market that don’t meet the
required standards. Guyana is no exception. The volume of this trade is estimated to be US$10 billion. So when this happens, patients suffer; patients do not recover. Having formed an alliance with Chirosyn, we negated the opportunity of having falsified drugs as it relates to these two products. So we are extremely happy to launch the Chirosyn brand along with SJMH,” he said. The Pharmacy Manager assured that patients can expect the best medicinal care when they go to SJMH. Meanwhile, Chirosyn Discovery’s Managing Director, Talika Persaud, noted that SJMH was the first and only hospital that her company had trusted enough to put Chirosyn’s endorsement on the medication packaging. She said that the drugs bearing the Chirosyn and SJMH logo had been tested and met Canadian drug standards and described it as a proud moment for Chirosyn Discovery to be able to work with SJMH. At the same time, Ramsay said that the introduction of the Mercy-branded drugs was only the beginning of what the institution had planned for its 75th anniversary year.
12-year-old girl found unresponsive at Longsdale East Bank Berbice POLICE are investigating the death of 12-yearold Ashley Agard of Rotterdam, East Bank Berbice who was found unresponsive in a yard at Longsdale Village, a short distance from her home. According to Shunnamae Gaffar, she was alerted that something was amiss, after hearing the screams of her daughter. “I was upstairs. She [her daughter] and Ashley was playing. She screamed calling me, Mummy come see wha Ashley do.” She continued, “When I came downstairs I saw Ashley seated on the ground with a piece of the hammock material around her neck and froth flowing from her mouth. I removed the cloth from around her neck. I put her to lie on the ground. I called my neighbour Allana. She said Ashley was breathing, and that I should call Ashley's mother,” she said. According to the woman, when Ashley’s mother Samantha came, she started to scream, and while
doing so, picked up the unresponsive child and took her home. According to Ms Downer, her daughter, the second of four children, had not attended Vryman Erven’s Secondary School that day because she complained of a headache. It was revealed that after she returned home, she placed Ashley on the bed with the hope she would have revived. But, her older brother Ramalo was concerned that she was not waking up, and hurriedly ran to the nearby sawmill where his step father Sylvester was employed. After narrating his fears to the parent, together they rushed home before taking the preteen to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A post mortem examination is scheduled for Tuesday.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 7, 2020
School reopens
A father on his way to drop his daughter off to school on Monday Morning (Carl Croker Photo)
Pupils of the St. Angela’s Primary school on route to school on Monday morning (Carl Croker Photo)
Teachers and Pupils gathered at the Green Acres school group for general assembly to welcome the children to school (Carl Croker Photo)
Pupils purchasing snacks from a vendor before their morning assembly (Carl Croker Photo)
‘Corn Curls’ remanded for murder of Black Bush rice farmer BURTHRAM Ramnauth, better known as ‘Corn Curls’, was remanded to prison when he appeared at the Whim Magistrate’s Court, on Monday, on a charge of murder of Chanderpaul Dhuman, a rice farmer. Ramnauth, 33, of Lot 88 Johanna, South Black Bush Polder, was arraigned before Magistrate Renita Singh, clad in a white shirt and black pants to answer the charge of murder. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that, between December 30, 2019, and January 1, 2020, he murdered Dhuman, known as ‘Jack’, at Johanna, North Black Bush Polder. The matter was set for disclosures on January 21 despite the attorney for the defence requesting the 20th. The matter will be heard at the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court at the next
hearing. Speaking with the media following the hearing, family members of Dhuman were puzzled as to why only ‘Corn Curls’ appeared in court, while their loved one was beaten by another accused as well, following a complaint over cattle destroying his rice field. According to information, around 20:00 hours on December 30, in First Street Johanna, Dhuman, a father of four, while riding a bicycle, noticed the suspects who were identified as Ramnauth and another as Deoraj Narine, 44, called “Davo”, along with others, were drinking in a yard. The rice farmer stopped and informed the men that their goats were destroying his fields. Shortly after, Dhuman was confronted in the street and dealt several kicks about his body, had his bicycle thrown in a trench and struck
to the head with an iron bar. The suspects fled the scene but were arrested shortly after by police. The badly injured man managed to walk a short distance but collapsed on a bridge. His mother and other relatives were informed and quickly reached to the scene, where they found the man bleeding profusely from a wound to the head. He was rushed to the Mibicuri Hospital, but due to the extent of injuries to his head he was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital and then to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). He died while on life support in the intensive care unit at the GPHC, on Wednesday, January 1.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Canadian teen with Guyanese roots dies in alleged hit and run A 16-year-old Canadian citizen, Dianna Manan, who has Guyanese parents, has died after an alleged hit and run accident on Queen Street, Brampton. According to a report from Canada’s CP 24 news, a motorist, who was travelling east along Queen Street, just east of Cherry Crest Drive in Brampton, saw a young woman lying in a live lane of traffic around 00:30hrs, on Sunday morning. “The motorist stopped to see what was going on and realised the teen suffered some serious injuries…she was transported to a trauma
centre where she subsequently died as a result of her injuries,” said CP 24 news. Dianna’s father, Suhendra Manan, told the Guyana Chronicle his daughter went out with some friends on Saturday evening, but he was unaware of what happened after they went out. The family received news about the tragic incident on Sunday morning. Suhendra said investigators suspect that his daughter died as a result of a hit and run accident but investigations are still ongoing. He said the loss comes as a shock to the family
was a very loving person, she was always concerned about the family…she always had a smile on her face.” The family is now
16-year-old Dianna Manan
and in remembering her he said; “my daughter
Murder accused gets three years for armed robbery A 25-year-old man was, on Monday, sentenced to three years in prison for an armed robbery he committed on a woman 10 years ago, during which he also allegedly raped her. The sentence was handed down to Travis Evans, of ‘C’ Field, Sophia, Georgetown by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Georgetown High Court. Initially, Evans had confessed to the rape and the robbery charges which read that, on October 30, 2010, in the county of Demerara, while being armed with a knife, he robbed a woman of $650,500 and also engaged in sexual penetration with her. However, when the matter called on Monday for sentencing, it was related to the court that Evans had indicated that he felt pressured to plead guilty to the rape charge. Thus, the judge struck out the guilty plea for rape for Evans, which means that he will have to stand trial for the indictment at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes. The guilty plea for the robbery was maintained and he was sentenced to three years in prison. Evans is already on remand for two counts of murder and was one of three prisoners who escaped from the Lusignan Prison on October 15, 2018. He was recaptured
Travis Evans
days after. The particulars of the first charge stated that, between July 31 & August 2, 2018, at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, East Bank Demerara (EBD), he, while in the company of others, murdered Gregory Wayne Frank, during the course of a robbery. According to reports, Frank, 46, a legal clerk of Lot 686 Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, was found dead in a pool of blood in his house in August and it was suspected that he might have been killed during a burglary. An autopsy revealed that Frank died from asphyxiation due to a compression injury to the neck, compounded by blunt trauma to the head. The
police had said Frank’s body, “with a swollen forehead,” was discovered around 04:30 hours in the living room of his house. The statement had noted that the rear door to Frank’s house was found ajar and the entire house was ransacked. Valuables were also reported missing from the house. On August 20, 2018, Evans was also charged with the murder of his friend and he appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. It was alleged that Evans, on August 2, 2018, at ‘C’ Field, Sophia, shot and killed 21-year-old Ronsley Clarke of Fire Station Road, Timehri, during an argument.
hoping for justice and so far, speaking with CP 24 News, Constable Akhil Mooken of the Peel Region Police said, the authorities
are appealing for anyone who saw Dianna to call investigators and assist with the investigations.
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Boxers begin three-month training stint in Cuba …-Ninvalle optimistic that team would return fully equipped for Olympic Qualifiers
GUYANA’s four Olympic (boxing) hopefuls started the first leg of their journey to Tokyo 2020 yesterday in Cuba, in what is expected to be a demanding, but rewarding three-month training stint in the superior boxing nation. Cuba, which has won the second most boxing medals (73 medals, 37 gold) in the history of the Olympics, will get the Guyanese ring prepared for the March 26 to April 3 Olympic Qualifiers scheduled for Argentina with the hope that they will qualify for the Olympics in Japan from July 24 to August 9 this year. According to president of the Guyana Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle, the four boxers: Keevin Allicock (a two-time current Caribbean champion), Desmond Amster-
dam and Colin Lewis (former Caribbean champions) and Dennis Thomas (a Caribbean two-time silver medallist) reached the Spanish-speaking Caribbean island safely and were eager to put their best foot forward. The GBA head added that he is optimistic that the quartet would enhance their skills. “I think that the opportunities presented to them are excellent opportunities and they should grasp it with both hands. All that is needed is their commitment and discipline, I think they all have that; they just have to dig deep. There is no reason why all four of them should not qualify.” The GBA last qualified for the Olympics in 1996 via a then 25-year-old light heavyweight
boxer, John Douglas. This year, the association is confident that the four boxers selected will all make it to the highest amateur level. Ninvalle added that he is elated with the training stint, but it would not have been possible without support. He thanked the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the National Sports Commission for their assistances. The GOA contributed US$15000 (over $3.1M Guyanese dollars), while the NSC, through its Director of Sport Christopher Jones, handed over a cheque of G$1M with the intention of adding an additional $1.5M later this month or next month. Meanwhile, the GOA recently announced that it would
add $1M, which should send two boxers to Argentina. At the moment, national coach Terrence Poole (MS) is with the boxers. After one month, another national coach, Sebert Blake, will replace him. Ninvalle said that along with the boxers, he is also hoping that the coaches experience the advanced level of training and would be able to enhance their overall delivery once back home. Poole is the coach of the dominant Guyana Defence Force, while Blake is the head instructor of the outstanding Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) gym. All four boxers will return home on March 22, before they exit soon after for Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Trophy Stall to kick start EBFA 2020 Season with U-13 League sponsorship
08:30 hrs Captain Chorus
MANAGING Director of The Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, yesterday confirmed his company’s commitment towards sponsorship of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-13 League. At a simple presentation ceremony held at Trophy Stall’s Bourda Market location, Sunich made the presentation of trophies to EBFA president, Kevin Anthony, in the presence of executive members. Sunich, in remarks, said that he was happy to be approached by former EBFA president, Franklin Wilson, to sponsor the Under-13 League and based on a long-standing relationship, did not hesitate to support
09:40 hrs Lake Kinneret
the continued development of the sport through the youths. “I have been doing this for many years now on the East Bank and other areas and, therefore, when Frankie approached to renew and continue this partnership, I could not, not agree [sic]. As the immediate past president of the EBFA, Frankie has done a fantastic job leading and I was glad that he approached me to support as he would love to see the youths there continue to grow and develop to the highest possible level.” Sunich informed that the top four clubs would all receive attractive trophies while the top three would be presented with gold, silver and bronze medals.
He stated that new medals designed exclusively by Trophy Stall would be unveiled. Anthony, responding on behalf of the Association, expressed gratitude to Sunich and Trophy Stall for continuing to partner with the EBFA towards the development of young players. “Your commitment shows that you are truly committed to the development of young people in Guyana and whilst it is the EBFA that is enjoying this sponsorship, I am aware that other youths have been enjoying your support, not only in football but other sports also.” The Trophy Stall / EBFA U-13 League is scheduled to kick off early next month and would see nine (9) clubs
contesting, namely Agricola Red Triangle, Friendship All Stars, Grove Hi Tech, Swan FC, Timehri Panthers Sports Club, Soesdyke Falcons, Diamond United, Samatta Point/ Kaneville and Mocha Champs. The defending champions, Timehri Panthers, which won the previous league that was sponsored by Juicy Juice, will open the league when they come up against Agricola Red Triangle which they had gotten past by the lone goal of the virtual final to win the previous league. Timehri ended the league two points ahead of Agricola which closed out on 23 points.
Guyana Jaguars depart ahead of 6th straight quest for 4-Day title THE Guyana Jaguars squad departed from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport early yesterday morning for Antigua, where they begin their title defence on Thursday, when Round 1 of the 2020 Regional 4-Day
Tournament bowls off. It was an early 5:30am flight which saw the Leon Johnson-led Jaguars flying out with much confidence and form after two successful practice games at Providence. Guyana have won the title 5 years in a row and is seeking a record of 6 straight title wins with Johnson possibly being the only Guyanese to win the title 6 times. With just two new caps among the seniors in Niall Smith-- the young fast-bowler-- and dynamic all-rounder Kevin Sinclair, Guyana will want to continue their dominance which stretched more that five years in the Professional Cricket League Regional (PCL). Johnson, opener Chandrapaul Hemraj, wicket-keeper
Anthony Bramble, Sinclair, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Keon Joseph, and a returning Devendra Bishoo, were the main highlights following the practice games. The skipper, along with Hemraj, hit tons while Bramble, Chanderpaul, and Sinclair had fifties. Bishoo and Joseph had 5-wicket hauls, while Raymon Reifer and Chris Barnwell were equally good with runs and wickets in both departments. Johnson, in an interview with Chronicle Sport a few days ago, stressed on the importance of batting long after his side failed to make a solid score in the first practice match, despite a good showing from the senior bowlers. They, however, corrected their errors in the second
game as they all weighed in with runs and chalked up a 250-plus score against a creditable attack, gaining much confidence ahead of Thursday’s opening round. (Clifton Ross) Guyana Jaguars squad : Leon Johnson (Captain),Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Christopher Barnwell, Vishaul Singh, Devendra Bishoo, Tevin Imlach, Keon Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Nial Smith and Kevin Sinclair
Esuan Crandon - Coach Shivnarine Chanderpaul – Assistant Coach & Manager Neil Barry – Physiotherapist
09:05 hrs Vistula
10:20 hrs Wild Date 10:55 hrs Kapama
English Racing Tips Lingfield 08:45 hrs Northern Poet 09:15 hrs Orrisdale 09:45 hrs Seeanythingyoulike 10:15 hrs Easter Gold 11:15 hrs Potters Hedger 11:45 hrs Bennys Girl
Taunton 09:00 hrs Masters Legacy 09:30 hrs Buzz 10:00 hrs Escapability 10:30 hrs Snapdragon Fire 11:00 hrs Colonel Custard 11:30 hrs Captain Cattistock 12:00 hrs Minnie Escape
Southwell 12:15 hrs Cold Harbour 12:45 hrs Moonraker 13:15 hrs Mosakhar 13:45 hrs Fancy Footing 14:15 hrs Atwaar 14:45 hrs Sea Of Cool 15:15 hrs George Thomas
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, January 07, 2020
Lyon roars as Aussies crush New Zealand to sweep series
By Nick Mulvenney
SYDNEY (Reuters) Spinner Nathan Lyon took 10 wickets for the match as Australia underlined their absolute dominance of New Zealand with a crushing 279-run victory in the third Test at the
Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday to sweep the series 3-0.
The hosts were utterly ruthless with bat and ball throughout the series and dismissed New Zealand for 136 having declared on 217 for two after lunch to hand the Black Caps an unlikely victory target of 416. New Zealand had arrived
with some confidence they could repeat the singular feat of the triumphant 1985–86 tourists from across the Tasman Sea but will return well beaten after injury and illness ravaged the squad. With captain Kane Williamson and batsman Henry Nicholls missing because of a flu bug, New Zealand had no
answer to the fearsome pace of Australia’s quicks and the guile of Lyon’s spin. Lyon, aided by paceman Mitchell Starc’s 3-25, cleaned up the tail on a deteriorating pitch to finish with 5-50 to add to his 5-68 in the first innings. After New Zealand had slumped to 22-4, Colin de Grandhomme scored a gritty 52 and BJ Watling 19 off 108 balls and at one stage it looked like a fifth day might be needed for the first time in the series. But with Matt Henry unable to bat because of a broken thumb sustained earlier in the match Lyon ended the resistance under the SCG lights when he had Watling caught by Pat Cummins. “It’s a great summer for the Australian Test side and it’s very special to be part of it, to win tests at home and be very clinical in all wins, very impressive,” off-spinner Lyon said. “To take 10 on my home deck in front of friends and family is pretty special but every chance you get to put the Baggy Green on is for me a dream come true.” Ross Taylor scored 22 runs for the tourists to take his career tally to 7,174 and overhaul Stephen Fleming as New Zealand’s highest Test scorer. It was a rare glimmer of light for the visitors and five balls after passing that milestone Taylor had his off stump removed by a peach of a delivery from Cummins, the world’s top ranked test bowler. “We were outplayed in all departments,” said Williamson. “We were good with the ball in hand but with the bat we couldn’t be good for long enough ... Frustrating and disappointing coming here after playing some good cricket for a long period of time.” PROLIFIC BATTING Earlier, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne had produced more of the prolific batting that has helped carry Australia to five thumping victories in five tests against Pakistan and New Zealand in their home summer. Warner secured his 24th Test century with an exhibition of batting on his home ground for 111 not out as the hosts looked to quickly inflate the lead of 263 with which they started the day. The opener, born a few hundred metres from the SCG, hit 154 and 335 not out against Pakistan in the first two Tests of Australia’s home season but had failed to get past the half-century mark in five innings in the New Zealand se-
Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon returned match figures of 10-118.
SCOREBOARD
AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS
454
New Zealand 1st innngs
256
Australia 2nd innings o/n 40 for no wickwt David Warner Joe Burns
Not Out
111
lbw Todd Astle
40
Marnus Labuschagne c Tom Latham b Matt Henry Extras
3b 3lb 0nb 0pen 1w
Total ;
217-2 decl (52.0 overs)
59 7
Fall of Wickets : 1-107 Burns, 2-217 Labuschagne Did Not Bat : Smith, Wade, Head, Paine, Cummins, Pattinson, Starc, Lyon Bowling: Matt Henry 12 - 2 - 54 - 1 (1w), Colin de Grandhomme 13- 1 - 43 - 0, Neil Wagner 9 - 1 - 37 - 0, William Somerville 10 - 0 - 36 - 0, Todd Astle 8 - 1 --41 1 5.12 NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings Tom Latham
lbw Mitchell Starc
1
Tom Blundell
c Nathan Lyon b Mitchell Starc
2
Jeet Raval
c Tim Paine b Nathan Lyon
Ross Taylor
b Pat Cummins
Glenn Phillips
c Tim Paine b Nathan Lyon
BJ Watling
12 22 0
c Pat Cummins b Nathan Lyon
19
Colin de Grandhomme c Joe Burns b Nathan Lyon
52
Todd Astle
17
c James Pattinson b Nathan Lyon
William Somerville b Mitchell Starc
7
Extras
4
Total
3b 1lb 0nb 0pen 0w (47.5 overs)
136 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-3 Blundell, 2-4 Latham, 3-22 Raval, 4-22 Phillips, 5-38 Taylor, 6-107 de Grandhomme, 7-128 Astle, 8-136 Somerville, 9-136 Watling Did Not Bat : Wagner, Henry Bowling :
Mitchell Starc 9 - 3- 25 - 3, Pat Cummins 11 - 3 - 29 - 1,
James Pattinson
6 - 3 - 8 - 0, Nathan Lyon 16.5 - 4 - 50 - 5,
Marnus Labuschagne
5 - 0 - 20 - 0.
ries. The left-hander looked unlikely to repeat those failures on Monday after resuming on 23 with Australia 40 without loss and he reached the milestone with three runs through mid-wicket off 147 deliveries. Three balls later Labuschagne, who had joined Warner after Joe Burns was caught and bowled by Todd Astle for 40, passed the half-century mark for the seventh time in Australia’s five home tests this year. Australia captain Tim Paine declared after Labuschagne, who scored a maiden double century in the home side’s
first-innings 454, was caught at long for 59. Warner finishes Australia’s five home Tests with 786 runs at an average of 131, while Labuschagne’s glorious summer ended with a tally of 896 runs at 112 and both man of the match and man of the series honours. “I’m very lucky no doubt to be captaining this group, it’s a special team,” said Paine. “Batting has become very consistent with Marnus leading this year and Steve (Smith) and David back ... it’s pretty simple leading this side at times.”
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, January 07, 2020
25
Proteas mount rear-guard to save Test after Sibley, Stokes show By Nick Said CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Dom Sibley scored a maiden century to put England on top but South Africa have launched a rear-guard to keep the tourists’ victory charge at bay after going to the close of the fourth day of the second test on 126 for two on Monday. South Africa have been set 438 for victory at Newlands and will have to score a further 312 runs in 90 overs on the final day to achieve the highest run chase in test cricket history. It is much more likely, however, they will have to bat out the final three sessions to save the Test. The current highest successful run chase in Tests was 418 by West Indies against Australia in 2003. Debutant opener Pieter Malan is unbeaten on 63 and is at the crease with nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (2 not out) on a wicket that has flattened considerably for the seamers, but is offering turn to the slow bowlers. Dean Elgar (34) and Zubayr Hamza (18) are the two
Dom Sibley is the first England opener to score a century at Newlands since Jack Hobbs in 1910.
Pieter Malan is unbeaten on 63 off 193 balls
players out, the latter in the penultimate over of the day when he edged James Anderson to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. “We are going to have to work hard tomorrow,” S i b l e y t o l d r e p o r t e r s. “Hopefully that crack outside the off-stump (at the Kelvin Grove end) opens
up again. “Today and yesterday is the best the pitch has played, but hopefully it goes back to how it was on the first two days. “It’s always nice to contribute to a win, hopefully we can take the eight wickets we need tomorrow.” England set the stiff tar-
get after declaring their second innings on 391 for eight just after lunch, with opener Sibley unbeaten on a patient 133 to go with an explosive 72 from Ben Stokes. Sibley’s hundred was met by an almighty roar from the sizeable travelling English support, even if it took him 269 balls to get there. Stokes was providing plenty of entertainment at the other end as he took on the task of providing the quick runs England wanted to build a big enough lead and still have enough time to bowl South Africa out a second time. He smashed seven fours and three sixes in a 47-ball innings of 72, before being caught at mid-on by Rassie van der Dussen off spinner Keshav Maharaj. His blitz propelled England to 157 runs in 27 overs in the morning session and crucially sped up the game in their pursuit of victory. South Africa won the first Test of the four-match series by 107 runs in Pretoria.
SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings
269
South Africa 1st innings
223
England 2nd innings o/n 218 for 4 Zak Crawley
c Quinton de Kock b Kagiso Rabada
Dominic Sibley Not Out
25 133
Joe Denly
c Dwaine Pretorius b Anrich Nortje
31
Joe Root
c Faf du Plessis b Dwaine Pretorius
61
Dom Bess
c Quinton de Kock b Anrich Nortje
Ben Stokes
c Rassie van der Dussen b Keshav Maharaj
Ollie Pope
b Kagiso Rabada
Jos Buttler
c Quinton de Kock b Anrich Nortje
3
Sam Curran
c Zubayr Hamza b Keshav Maharaj
Stuart Broad
Not Out
Extras Total
0 72
23 13 8
18b 3lb 0nb 0pen 1w
22
(111.0 overs)
391-8
Fall of Wickets : 1-28 Crawley, 2-101 Denly, 3-217 Root, 4-218 Bess, 5-310 Stokes, 6-315 Pope, 7-356 Buttler, 8-375 Curran Did Not Bat : Anderson Bowling: - 24 - 0,
Kagiso Rabada
Anrich Nortje - 1,
20 - 3 - 69 - 2, Vernon Philander 14 - 7
18 - 2 - 61 - 3 (1w), Dwaine Pretorius 16 - 4 - 56
Keshav Maharaj
43 - 9 – 160- 2.
SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings Pieter Malan
Not Out
Dean Elgar
c Jos Buttler b Joe Denly
Zubayr Hamza
63 34
c Jos Buttler b James Anderson
18
Keshav Maharaj Not Out
2
Extras
9
Total
4b 1lb 3nb 0pen 1w (56.0 overs)
126-2
Fall of Wickets : 1-71 Elgar, 2-123 Hamza To Bat : du Plessis, van der Dussen, de Kock, Pretorius, Philander, Rabada, Nortje Bowling: James Anderson 9 - 4 - 18 - 1, Stuart Broad 20 - 0, Dom Bess 12 - 3 - 29 - 0,
9- 2-
Sam Curran 8 - 2 - 13 - 0 (1w 1nb), Joe Denly 8 - 0 - 26 - 1, Joe Root 3 - 0 - 7 - 0, Ben Stokes 7 - 3 - 8 - 0 (2nb)
Ronaldo scores second-half hat-trick as Juve thump Cagliari TURIN, Italy (Reuters) Cristiano Ronaldo scored a second-half hat-trick to lead Serie A champions Juventus to a 4-0 win at home to Cagliari on Monday, taking his tally to eight goals in his last five league games. The Portuguese pounced on a mistake in the Cagliari defence to break the deadlock four minutes after halftime before adding the second from a penalty as he scored for the fifth
league game in the row. After setting up Gonzalo Higuain for the third in the 81st minute, he completed the rout by finishing off a counter-attack one minute later. The win left Juventus top of Serie A with 45 points from 18 games, at least until Inter Milan, who are three points behind, visit Napoli in the evening match. Ronaldo, who completed the 36th league hat-trick of
his career, two more than Lionel Messi, took his tally this season to 15 goals, including 13 in Serie A. Sixth-placed Cagliari defended stubbornly in the first half, restricting Juventus to one real chance when defender Merih Demiral’s header thumped against the crossbar from a corner. But it began to unravel for the Sardinians when Ragnar Klavan’s pass across
the face of the Cagliari area was intercepted by Ronaldo who glided past goalkeeper Robin Olsen and scored into the empty net. Giovanni Simeone headed against the crossbar for Cagliari but they were undone by more careless defending when Marko Rog tripped Paulo Dybala as he weaved his way into the area and Ronaldo sent Olsen the wrong way from the spot. With nine minutes left,
Ronaldo sent substitute Higuain free down the left and the Argentine cut inside before scoring with a deflected shot. One minute later, Douglas Costa burst forward and slipped the ball to an unmarked Ronaldo who placed his shot between Olsen and the near post. Cagliari then hit the woodwork for a second time as Joao Pedro struck the post.
Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their fourth goal to complete his hat-trick REUTERS/Massimo Pinca
India will find Australia a different proposition next year - skipper Paine By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY (Reuters) Australia have developed a ruthless streak in their home series sweeps against Pakistan and New Zealand and will present much stiffer opposition when India tour next year, captain Tim Paine said on Monday. Paine’s side wrapped up a 3-0 series triumph over the Black Caps by romping to 279-run victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground to make it five
comprehensive wins out of five matches for the home summer. “I came into this summer expecting to win all five tests,” Paine told reporters. “I think now we’ve got a team together that is really consistent, we’ve got a number of match-winners with both bat and ball and our lesser players have improved a hell of a lot over the last 12 months. “We’ve probably become more ruthless which was something we wanted to
be ... We’ve got great quality throughout our side and it’s a very exciting team to be part of.” Next up for Australia in Test cricket is a tour of Bangladesh in June and July followed by what Paine described as a “mouthwatering” series at home to Virat Kohli’s India. India last visited in the 2018-19 season and, with Steve Smith and David Warner suspended after the ball-tampering scandal, earned their first series
triumph on Australia soil. “We’re certainly a different side than what they played against last year,” Paine added. “There’s (also) Test championship points at stake and I think both India and Australia are eyeing off that final so every point is going to be critical. “If we can continue our upward trend, you’re potentially talking about the top two teams in the world so it’s going to be an awesome series.”
The victory over New Zealand brought Australia (296) closer to India (360) at the top of the World Test Championship table with the two nations occupying the positions which will earn places in the final at Lord’s in 2021. Paine said the way Australia approached the key moments in matches had changed since India last toured, resulting in the clinical displays against Pakistan and New Zealand. “Every team wants to be
ruthless,” he said. “(But) I think there were probably periods in the Test series against India we should have capitalised on, but through wanting it too much, or trying too hard, or putting too much pressure on ourselves, we let it slip,” Paine added. “When those big moments come now, we just focus on executing our roles. (BBC Sport)
26
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, January 07, 2020
CWI should review how it manages young players like Hetmyer, Pooran-PM Mitchell
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell believes Cricket West Indies(CWI) should review how it manages young players like Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer, in order to get the most out of their talent. The veteran leader said he was worried that picking such players in all formats of the game – especially in Twenty20s – could result result in “spoiling a talent” that could be of benefit to West Indies, especially in the longer formats. Hetmyer, 23, currently plays all three formats while fellow left-hander Pooran, 24, is involved only in the white-ball formats. Stylish right-hander Shai Hope, along with 21-year-old all-rounder,
these guys on the 50-over and on the Test team, we’d be moulding these guys. But when a guy gets used to
Shimron Hetmyer
Keemo Paul, have also featured recently in all formats. “We have some talented players, the Poorans and Hetmyers and so on. I’m not sure that the right thing is to play these young people in all formats of the game at this point in time,” said Mitchell, a former chairman of CARICOM’s Prime Ministerial sub-committee on cricket. “You have talent in Pooran and Hetmyer –
Nicholas Pooran
sixes and sixes and hitting the ball in the air in the 20over game which they must do, I think the mindset if they’re not well-developed yet … you can be spoiling a talent that is there for the [longest] version of the
game and the 50-over game. “That’s my opinion; I might be wrong … but in watching it from the sidelines, I think it is something [CWI] and selectors must look at – do you need to play these young players in all versions of the game? I’m not sure that’s the right thing to do.” West Indies are coming off a mixed tour of the subcontinent where they whitewashed minnows Afghanistan in a three-match one-day series before losing the subsequent T20 series. In the first ever Test between the two sides, the Jason Holder-led Windies registered a crushing nine-wicket victory inside three days. The Caribbean side then suffered 2-1 defeats in to India in both the three-match T20s and one-day series,
despite showing flashes of brilliance throughout. Mitchell said while there was obvious development taking place in the shorter formats, the Test format still required attention. “We have three forms of the game in cricket and I’ve giving my own personal opinion as someone who has watched the game a lot and is interested,” he said. “I honestly believe the shorter version, I see us having made movement there. I’m not sure yet about our Test team – maybe there needs to be some movement and changes there too but I can’t say I feel that confident yet.” West Indies, ranked eighth in Tests, ninth in ODIs and 10th in T20s, face a difficult year ahead which includes the defence of their
T20 World Cup title in Australia. They also defend the Wisden Trophy in a threeTest series in England before playing hosts to New Zealand and South Africa. Mitchell said while he did not anticipate overwhelming success going forward, he expected a progressive improvement in results. “I don’t expect to see them winning every game or even beating some of the best teams but [I expect to see them] competing well, and I won’t be surprised if they’re able to beat those teams,” he stressed. “But I’m looking for the improvement and I’ve started seeing it already, so hopefully in Twenty20 we’ll see more successes.”
Turbo football resumes tomorrow evening THE annual Turbo Knockout football tournament will resume tomorrow evening at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue. In the last of the preliminary games, Santos U-20 will take on Black Pearl FC from
18:00hrs tomorrow evening. Following that, the quarter-finals will commence on Friday from 19:00hrs. Pouderoyen will play Buxton U-20 in the first of the double header with Buxton Stars going toe to toe with Fruta Conquerors U-20.
On Sunday, the third and fourth quarter-finals of the tournament will pit Riddim Squad against Northern Rangers. The final quarter-final match will see Georgetown Football Club playing the winner of the preliminary
game between Santos U-20 and Black Pear. The first prize for the tournament is $400,000 with second place bagging $200,000, third $100,000 and fourth, $50,000.
Turbo Football resumes tomorrow evening
Australian cricket great sells ‘baggy green’ cap’ for bushfire appeal AUSTRALIAN cricket great Shane Warne is set to raise more than 300,000 Australian dollars (£160,000) for the bushfire appeal by auctioning off his prized ‘baggy green’ Test cap. The 50-year-old wore the cap throughout his 145Test career, in which he took an Australian record 708 wickets. At least 24 people have died since the fires began in September. “Everyone is in this together and we continue to find ways to contribute and help on a daily basis,” said Warne. “This has led me to auction off my beloved baggy green cap that I wore throughout my Test career.
Shane Warne is Test cricket’s second-most successful bowler
“I hope my baggy green can raise some significant funds to help all those people that are in desperate need.” All money raised will go to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, with the highest bid at 07:00 GMT on Monday standing at
A$301,500. The auction is open until Friday. The fires are a natural part of the Australian weather cycle, but have been worsened this year by hotter-than-average temperatures and a persistent drought in many areas. Warne is Test cricket’s second-most successful
bowler, with only Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800) taking more wickets. The ‘baggy green’ is given to an Australian Test player when he makes his international debut and cricketers usually wear the same cap throughout their career. Legendary batsman Don Bradman’s ‘baggy green’ fetched A$425,000 (£225,000) in 2003 - the Australian, who died in 2001, has the highest Test average of 99.94 runs. Tennis stars also pledge financial support Novak Djokovic, the world number two in men’s tennis, has also pledged financial support to the relief fund, matching the A$25,000 donation given by five-time women’s Grand Slam cham-
pion Maria Sharapova. Sharapova, 32, asked Djokovic to support the cause after saying on Sunday she would donate, with Serbia’s 16-time major winner agreeing to help in a Twitter message to the Russian on
Monday. Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty has already said she will give all of her prize money from the Brisbane International to the relief fund. (BBC Sport)
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday January 07, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)
Bourda, 1930 (vs ENG)
(2)
Marius Fernandes Today’s Quiz:
(1)
When did the WI win an ODI for the first time?
(2)
Who was the WI captain? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, January 07, 2020
27
Holder, Roach targeted for load management by CWI Cricket West Indies (CWI) has instituted a mandatory rest period for Test captain Jason Holder in what seems to be a calculated bid to avoid overuse injuries or player burnout. Holder, who was a part of the team’s recent tour of India, will be rested for both the three-match ODI and Twenty20 series against Ireland. The player will also be
West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder
unavailable for his regional team Barbados in the upcoming four-day competition fixtures. “Jason will be rested during the Ireland series and will be unavailable for Barbados until the end of the series against Sri Lanka in February. He will then be assessed coming out of the SL series and a decision made and communicated on what
his regional workloads will be for the later rounds of the 4-day competition,” CWI Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams told Barbados Today. With a busy 2020 coming up, which will includes the team’s defense of the T20 World title, another player targeted for load management is fast bowler Kemar Roach. The bowler is not in the Barbados team for the open-
ing match against Windward Islands Volcanoes in St. Vincent following a request from Cricket West Indies (CWI) that he plays six of the maximum ten matches. “We see the need to manage Kemar and Jason’s workloads to get the best out of them for 2020,” Adams explained.
Ramdhani wins silver medal in Hawaii tournament GUYANA’S top ranked female badminton player, Priyanna Ramdhani, won a silver medal at the 2020 Honolulu Open A-Division tournament, which was held from Friday to Sunday in Hawaii (a USA state,
comprising 137 islands, spread over 1500 miles in the Pacific Ocean). The teenager, who is the current No.1 ranked under-19 CAREBACO International player (triple champion) departed Canada where she is
on a scholarship to participate in the senior competition, although she is still a junior. In the round robin format, the recently turned 18-yearold (January 2) got past Rachel Cheung 21-11 and 21-13, before a more compet-
itive win against Samantha Hsu 21-15, 21-17. In the final, she lost to the experienced Eyota Kwan, 2113, 21-10. Ramdhani, the 2019 Junior Sportswoman of the Year in Guyana, medalled
in almost a dozen tournaments last year, including three wins in the Alberta Series and three wins in Barbados at the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) U-19 tournament.
Priyanna Ramdhani started the new year with a bang.
Head coach upbeat about Windies pace attack for U19 World Cup campaign JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, (CMC) – Head coach Graeme West is backing his fast bowling group to deliver success for the Young West Indies during the ICC Under-19 World Cup starting here later this month. When the Caribbean side captured the title in Bangladesh four years ago, they boasted a strong pace attack comprising the likes of Alzarri Joseph, and West believes this year’s side has been blessed with a similar quality complement. “What we had back then was some really good fast bowling,” West pointed out. “We had an attack led by Alzarri Joseph and Chemar Holder and we also had Keemo Paul and Ryan John, with Shamar Springer as an allrounder who bowled very
Fast bowler Nyeem Young.
well. “Again, this year we have a solid group of fast bowlers – five really good pacers, so we expect them to do very well on the pitches in South Africa. We have with us Kenny Benjamin, the former West Indies fast bowler, as the bowling coach and he has
a wealth of knowledge and experience. “It also helps that he played in South Africa during his career, so that’s the kind of expertise we are happy to have in the camp.” West Indies have included seamers Nyeem Young, Jayden Seales, Ramon Sim-
monds, Matthew Forde and Joshua James, in their 15man squad led by batsman Kimani Melius. The squad kicked off a one-week camp here last weekend and are down to face Canada in Soweto next Monday in the first of two warm-up matches, before taking on Scotland in Pretoria a couple days later. West Indies failed to get past the preliminary round of the last World Cup in New Zealand two years ago but West said they were hoping to make up for that disappointment. “We believe we have, in this group, the players who will do very well and compete against any team we face,” the Englishman pointed out. “It’s a tournament, so therefore the aim is to win,
but we also want to see the players grow and develop as we move along. It’s a learning experience for these excellent young men, both on and off the field. “I have high hopes for them all … I believe they will make the West Indian people very proud.” With fielding coach Julien Fountain roped in for his expertise, West stressed that fielding would also be a key area of focus throughout the campaign. “In white ball cricket, actually in all forms of cricket, fielding is very, very important and we have worked hard to improve on this aspect of our game,” he said. “With Julien on board, we have seen improved levels of fielding as well as new energy and enthusiasm in the field. It’s an attitude … a
commitment and the boys are enjoying it.” West Indies have been drawn in Group B alongside powerhouses Australia and England, with minnows Nigeria the fourth team in the group. The Windies will play their tournament matches at the DeBeers Diamond Oval and Country Club Field in the town of Kimberley. SQUAD – Kimani Melius (captain), Kevlon Anderson, Daniel Beckford, Matthew Forde, Joshua James, Nyeem Young, Antonio Morris, Ashmead Nedd, Mbeki Joseph, Leonardo Julian, Avinash Mahabirsingh, Kirk McKenzie, Ramon Simmonds, Matthew Patrick, Jayden Seales.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, January 07, 2020
Boxers begin three-month training stint in Cuba
PAGE
23
National coach Terrence Poole at left with the four local boxers in Cuba .
Trophy Stall to kick start EBFA 2020 Season with U-13 League sponsorship PAGE
23
Trophy Stall Managing Director, Ramesh Sunich (3rd right) hands over the winner’s trophy to EBFA president, Kevin Anthony, at the Bourda Market location. Other executive members share the moment.
Guyana Jaguars depart ahead of 6th straight quest for 4-Day title PAGE
23
The defending Regional 4-Day champions, Guyana Jaguars and coaching staff, prior to winging out for Antigua yesterday morning.
Windies face Ireland in first ODI today at Kensington Oval BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – West Indies head coach Phil Simmons wants his side’s new “neversay-die” attitude to continue in the upcoming limited overs series against Ireland. Under the new leadership of Simmons and captain Kieron Pollard, West Indies gave a spirited showing against the highly-ranked India on the recent tour in December, and will be hoping to carry that momentum into the upcoming contests against the minnows. “I am expecting a little more of what I saw in India,” Simmons said here as the Windies prepared for today’s first
Simmons wants to see `never-say-die’ attitude continue
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph sends down a delivery duing training ahead of the opening ODI against Ireland.
One-Day International. Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph sends down a delivery duing training ahead of the opening ODI against Ireland. “The way we played the cricket, the attitude we had on the field and the never-say-die attitude even when India were
going well, are all things we need to continue doing well. “I think every series we need to be looking to get that one per cent better in everything we do, so that is what I expect to see from them in this Ireland series.” West Indies take on min-
nows Ireland in the three-match ODI series starting at Kensington Oval today, with the second match bowling off on Thursday. The final match of the series is set for next Sunday in Grenada, the venue for the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series. St Kitts will then host the final two T20 Internationals on January 18 and 19. Simmons said the team was upbeat heading into the upcoming series but were expecting stiff competition from the visitors. “Ireland are a good team. They are resilient and they will give you a very good run,” said
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Simmons, a former long term coach of Ireland. “They are capable of beating any team. We have to make sure we are at our best when we meet them. That is why we stress on the quality of our preparation and we want to make sure we have all systems in place before we take on Ireland.” He continued: “You always expect a fight and expect them to give everything. We have to play our game and concentrate on what we have to do. We know what we’re trying to achieve and how to go about it. “I’m looking forward to seeing our bowlers, they know
exactly how we want to play and I want to see what they are going to produce when given the opportunity.” Simmons also pointed to the positive impact Pollard had made ever since he was appointed ahead of the start of the trip to India last year. “The players understand the way he plays and the way he wants the team to play,” the Trinidadian explained.” “That is the first message we got – to back everybody and give everyone a chance. [It’s] up to the players to take their chances. He’s brought that level of comfort to everyone.” TUESDAY, JANUARY 07, 2020