Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_02_27_2020

THURSDAY 27th February, 2020

' No.105923

'Don’t let us go back to the dark days'

-President Granger urges Region One residents to reelect coalition SEE PAGE 02

…says PPP-controlled RDC stymied development in region

President David Granger being greeted by young supporters on arrival at the Mabaruma Settlement Ground on Wednesday

Stabroek News distances self from fake exit polls on Joint Services vote …GPA, editors urge greater scrutiny of news sources

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‘If we have to fetch people on our backs we will do so’

‘Coalition Gov’t has my ‘X’ 08

…Jagdeo vows to press on despite reduction in private residences as polling stations 14

---G.H.K. Lall warns against “craven opportunist pretending to be born-again reformist”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 27, 2020

‘Don’t let us go back to the dark days’

-President Granger urges Region One residents to reelect coalition

…says PPP-controlled RDC stymied development in region By Alva Solomon PRESIDENT DAVID GRANGER, on Wednesday, urged thousands of supporters of the APNU+AFC coalition at Mabaruma to ensure the “dark days” under the previous administration are not repeated, as he urged them to go out and vote next Monday to re-elect his government. The President, who was accompanied by First Lady Sandra Granger, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Karen Cummings and other candidates of the coalition, was welcomed by the old and the young as they converged at the Mabaruma Settlement Ground on Wednesday afternoon at the multi-party’s last Hinterland rally before the final rallies in

the city this weekend. The President told the crowd ever since the 2015 regional and general elections when the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) won the chairmanship of the Barima-Waini region, development has been at a standstill. He said the PPP has been casting the blame on his government for holding back development in the region but President Granger noted that the Barima/Waini region cannot progress with the PPP administrators at its helm. “In 2015, the PPP got almost double the votes, 6228 and the APNU+AFC 2788 votes, a difference of over 3000 votes,” President Granger said. He said this year, the coalition cannot afford to lose. He said within 10 months of being elected President, he ensured Local Government Elections (LGE) were held after more than two decades. He said it was a move aimed at development of the main populated areas in the country,

President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger being greeted by supporters on arrival at the Mabaruma Settlement Ground on Wednesday.

including Mabaruma. But the Guyanese leader noted that the coalition was disappointed at the support it received at the LGE in 2018.”Monday do not break the President’s heart, go out in your numbers and take control of the Regional Democratic Council,” he told the crowd of people clad in of green and yellow, noting

that supporters should ensure that there is a 90% turnout in favour of the APNU+AFC. The President said that, in 2015 when the Regional Chairmen were sworn in, he announced a Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD)

Jubilant supporters at the rally on Wednesday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 27, 2020

Coalition shines light on voting at private residences …questionable patterns observed in PPP strongholds BRINGING forward statistics from the 2015 General and Regional Elections, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has put forward that questionable voting consistencies are evident at several private residences previously used as polling stations where the opposition is now objecting to a reduction. In a press statement on Wednesday, the APNU+AFC pointed out that the overall turnout at polling stations located at private residences in known People’s Progressive Party (PPP) areas have been “substantially and consistently higher” than the average turnout at polling stations located in public buildings. The party has called into question the “massive fight” of the PPP regarding the reduction taken up by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) noting such acts are “red flags” to what may have occurred in the past. The statement comes as Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, has requested of GECOM that the number of polling places in areas like Mon Repos and Foulis on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and Kildonan and

Chesney in Berbice, Corentyne be increased. The request came after the commission made the decision to remove the number of private residences being used as polling stations due to several past and current concerns such as non-partisanship. Immediately after, the opposition took alarm, claiming that the reductions were being done in their traditional support areas, and would cause congestion on E-Day due to the number of polling stations moved to specific polling places. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) also took it upon itself, in a press statement, to contest the reduction stating that voters may be disenfranchised as a result. Meeting with the opposition party on Tuesday, the commission agreed to address the complaints of congestion and possibly find other public places or neutral venues. Jagdeo had threatened to resort to protest action if the request was not granted and, although the commission has opted to make a compromise, the APNU+AFC called on the public to look deeper into the likely non-coincidental acts of the PPP.

LOOK FOR YOURSELVES The 2015 Elections data put forward by the coalition party highlighted polling stations located at private residences such as Vidawattie Residence (two stations), Seodat Residence (two stations) and Omawattie Residence (two stations) in the Paradise/Foulis area, ECD. The respective voter turnout at these private residence polling places stood at 85.6 per cent, 83.8 per cent, 85.2 per cent, 83.5 per cent, 80 per cent and 83 per cent. Needless to say, theses polling places were won by the PPP. However, it was noted that the voter turnout in the rest of the Paradise/Foulis area won by APNU+AFC was in the 60-70 per cent range. “… the unusually high numbers for PPP at the private residences polling stations versus public building polling stations. These are red flags. How is it that polling stations located at private residences in PPP areas consistently pull larger than usual numbers than polling stations at public buildings in the same areas? How is it that the PPP is able to consistently get more votes

‘Don’t let us go back...

FROM PAGE 2

but noted that, in each region , including Region One, where the PPP won the chairmanship, that party has been in a “fight” with the APNU+AFC. ”But we cannot develop this country unless the RDC cooperates with the Central Government and the municipalities,” President Granger said, noting that the RDC at Mabaruma has been boycotting the plan of action. Big Changes Notwithstanding the boycott by the Opposition regional chairmen, President Granger said the coalition has been undertaking its mandate. “We have made big changes because the APNU+AFC cares about you,” President Granger said. He said that he is concerned about youth employment and youth empowerment. He spoke of the Youth Corps which was resuscitated by his government, noting that former President Bharrat Jagdeo had shut down the Guyana National Service, a move which affected many youths. “They bruk it

up I fix it back,” he said of the National Service. He said that 10,000 trained youths will be coming out of the unit within the next 10 years. ”Real leaders build, fake leaders take away opportunities from young people,” he said. He also mentioned the Sustainable Livelihood Entrepreneurship Development (SLED) in which 2500 were able to benefit from the programme. President Granger told supporters that the coalition is not a “flash in the pan” government but one focused on development of the people. He mentioned the 5’B’s programme also called the Public Education Transportation programme which has benefitted school children who are travelling to and from school free of cost. He said too that the school feeding programme undertaken by the government makes provisions for children to have hot meals at school. No Fat Cats The Guyanese leader said the monies from the

President David Granger interacts with supporters

at private residences polling stations but cannot command same at polling stations located at public buildings?” the APNU+AFC release questioned. Additional evidence provided that two polling stations located at Tulsidai Shivprashad Residence in Enmore, EDC showed that the votes cast for APNU+AFC and PPP for both polling stations are identical. In other words, the statistics for polling station 805: PPP - 174, APNU+AFC - 7 (voter turnout 81 per cent) and polling station 806: PPP - 174, APNU+AFC – 7 (voter turnout 81.5 per cent) The party stated: “This is bizarre. What are the chances of identical results in two polling stations located side-by-side in the same private residence polling place in a highly-concentrated PPP area?” The party sited several other polling stations at different private residences noting the similarities along the way. It urged the public: “Think on these things, peruse the numbers for yourself and form your own conclusions. And then ponder on why there is this

massive fight by one political entity to force GECOM to return to polling stations at private residences, particularly on the East Coast of Demerara.” MISLEADING STATEMENTS Apart from this, the party also chastised the PSC and leaders of the PPP for what they deemed as misleading statements made in the public regarding the reduction of the use of private residences by GECOM. While the media has highlighted that the Carter Center had recommended, following the 2015 elections, that GECOM make special effort to reduce the use of private places as polling stations, the PSC casted doubt on the same. “The PSC has checked and is informed that the Carter Center in its final report, following the 2015, elections made no such recommendation and we call upon the Carter Center to immediately, publicly make the centre’s position clear on this matter,” the PSC stated on Monday. Jagdeo too claimed on Tuesday, that the Carter Center had said nothing of the sort. However, the APNU+AFC excerpts from pages 77 and 94 of the Carter Center 2015 report on the

oil sector will not go to “fat cats” but rather, the people, noting that the monies will go to families as cash grants. President Granger said that two to three years ago he has been speaking of his plans and projects, as he noted that it is not an election gimmick, one which is usually practised only at elections time. President Granger told residents that he is in love with the region noting that he still believes that Region One should be the number one administrative region in the country. Venezuelan migrants and security The President said over the past few years, many migrants have been coming from Venezuela to settle in the North West District region mainly in search of food and shelter, a move which has been noted is accommodated by the government on humanitarian grounds. He said while many have good intentions, there are the bad ones within the migrants called the ‘Sindicatos.’ “I have a duty to protect the citizens of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” he said noting that a border village plan was created to beef –up security in the border areas of the country. He said a special division within the Guyana Police Force was created

A section of the crowd at the rally.

General and Regional Elections in Guyana showed otherwise. “The APNU+AFC Campaign calls attention to the many misleading statements by leaders of the PPP and the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission regarding the use of private residences as places of polls for the upcoming general and regional elections in Guyana,” the release stated. Speaking on the matter of private building and residences, the centre’s report had stated, “the Carter Center recommends that GECOM take steps in future elections to ensure that citizens can cast their ballots in a neutral environment free from intimidation”. Much worse than “intimidation” has taken place in the past as following the close of polls at the 2015 Elections. Civil unrest flared in ‘C’ Field, Sophia with the burning of vehicles outside the home of Pastor, Narine Khublall. Residents at the time were convinced that Khublall – a staunch PPP/C supporter – was storing ballot boxes on his premises. The Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Fire Service (FS) were called to the scene to calm the high emotions of electors who felt that their democratic right was being violated.

for each region under a regional action plan for public security, noting that the government will provide the Police Commander in the Barima/ Waini with all the resources he needs to protect the residents. ”We welcome the Venezuelan migrants,” he said but noted that the Guyanese populace must be safe. As he reminded residents of the importance of next Monday’s elections, President Granger told the residents of the region that they “deserve better” leadership as he noted that the PPP has failed to provide stewardship in the region while failing to build partnerships with the population there. He said on Monday, residents have a choice to make as he urged them to support his government. ”All my certificates got the correct stamp,” he said as he took a swipe ad PPP’s Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali who has come under intense public pressure in recent months to provide evidence that his academic qualifications are authentic. “We are going to win in 2020,” he told the mammoth crowd, as he noted that the future of the region lies in the hands of residents. ”The PPP is beatable, this region is winnable,” he told the coalition’s screaming supporters.

A section of the crowd at the rally

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GUYANACHRONICLE CHRONICLEThursday, Thursday,February February27, 27,2020 2020 GUYANA GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

A mob out for blood:

NEW DELHI DELHI (Reuters) (Reuters) NEW Mohammad Zubair on Mohammad Zubair Zubair was was on Mohammad his his way way home home from local home from from aa local mosque mosque in northeast New New in northeast Delhi Delhi when when he came across across Delhi when he came aa large large crowd. crowd. He He turned turned toward an underpass to toward an underpass to toward an underpass to avoid avoid the commotion; it avoid the commotion; the commotion; it proved to be proved to be a mistake. it to be a mistake. aproved mistake. Within seconds, he was Withinonseconds, he surwas cowering the ground coweringbyon onmore cowering the ground ground surrounded than a dozrounded bymen, morethan thanabegan adozen dozen young who rounded by more beating him with wooden en young men, who began young men, who began beatsticks andwith metal rods. Blood beating him with wooden ing him wooden sticks flowed from hisBlood head,flowed spatsticks and metal rods. Blood and metal rods. tering hisfrom clothes. The blows flowed hisspattering head, spatfrom his head, his intensified. He thought he tering his clothes. The blows clothes. The blows intensified. would die. intensified. He thought he He thought would die. Zubair he provided his ver-

would die. Zubair provided his ver-

provided version sionZubair of events events at aahis relative’s sion of at relative’s of events at a relative’s home home in another another part of of the home in part the capital, his head in in another ofwrapped the capital, capital, hispart head wrapped in bandages. The his head wrapped in bandages. bandages. The mid-afternoon mid-afternoon attack on captured attack on Monday, Monday,attack captured The mid-afternoon on in Reuters photoin aa dramatic dramatic Reuters photoMonday, captured in a dramatgraph, came against aa backgraph, came against backic Reuters photograph, came drop of tension and violence. drop of tension and violence. against a backdrop of tension Near the area of the IndiNear the areaitofoccurred, the Indiandcapital violence. an where an capital occurred, Nearand thewhere area ofit protesters the Indian Muslim Hindu Muslim andfighting Hindu protesters capital where it occurred, Mushad been pitched hadand been fighting pitched battles for hours across lim Hindu protesters hada concrete andpitched metalbattles barrier battles for hours across been fighting fora that divided the main thorconcrete metal barrier hours acrossand a concrete and metoughfare, throwing rocks and that divided the main thoral barrier that divided the main primitive bombs. But oughfare, petrol throwing rocks and thoroughfare, throwing rocks the sight ofpetrol apetrol mobbombs. screaming primitive But and primitive bombs. But pro-Hindu slogans suddenly the sight sightonof ofan aa mob screaming the mob screaming turning unarmed indi-

India’s protests protests pit pit India’s Hindus against against Muslims Muslims Hindus

pro-Hindu slogans suddenly vidual, apparently apparently because vidual, because turning unarmed individhe was wasonaaanMuslim, Muslim, was aa he was sign that ual, becausetensions he was a signapparently that growing growing tensions between members of India’s Muslim, a sign that betweenwas members ofgrowing India’s two religions may two dominant dominant religions may tensions between members of be to be hard hardtwo to contain. contain. India’s dominant religions Unrest across India beUnrest across India bemay be hard to contain. gan in December with the gan in December with the Unrest across India began in passing of a law that makes passing ofwith a law that makes December the passing of non-Muslims from some non-Muslims fromeligible some aneighboring law that makes non-Muslims nations neighboring nations eligible from some neighboring nationsfor fast-tracked citizenship fast-tracked citizenship aformove many Muslims sayeligible for fast-tracked citizenis discriminatory and marks a move manymany Muslims say ship - a move Muslims aisbreak from India’s discriminatory and marks say is discriminatory andsecular marks Persecuted reliabreak breakfrom from India’s secular atraditions. India’s secular tragious minorities including traditions. Persecuted reliditions. Persecuted religious mifrom Hindu, Sikh, or Hindu, Chrisgious minorities including norities including from tian communities are eligible fromcitizenship, Sikh, or ChrisSikh, orHindu, Christian communities for but those tianeligible communities eligible are but from Islamfor docitizenship, notare enjoy all for citizenship, but those fromadvantages. Islam do not those enjoy the same from Islam do not Narendra enjoy all all the same advantages. Prime Minister the Prime sameHindu advantages. Modi’s nationalist Minister Narendra Prime Minister Narendra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharasays theHindu new (BJP) citizenship Modi’s nationalist tiya Janata Party says the law is necessary protect Bharatiya Janata (BJP) new citizenship lawParty istonecessary persecuted minorities from says the new citizenship to protect persecuted minorities Pakistan, Bangladesh and law is necessary to protect from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and deniesfrom any persecuted minorities Afghanistan, and denies any bias againstBangladesh India’s Muslims. Pakistan, and bias against Muslims. “They saw IIndia’s was alone, they Afghanistan, and denies any saw my cap, beard, shalwar

pro-Hindu slogans suddenly turning on an unarmed indi-

bias against India’s Muslims. “They saw I was alone, they saw my cap, beard, shalwar

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 - 05:00hrs ~06:30hrs

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 - 05:00hrs ~06:30hrs

paramilitary forces in order to will be be fine,” fine,” he added. added. Delhi will he Delhi bring thewere situation control. police were notunder immediately police not immediately available on the “I believe for within 24 hours available for comment comment onevthe attack Zubair. erything will be fine,” he added. attack on on Zubair. back Since cruising back to to DelhiSince policecruising were not immedipower in Modi power in May, May, Modi has has ately available for comment on pursued aa Hindu-first agenpursued Hindu-first agenthe attack on Zubair. da that has emboldened his da that has emboldened his Since cruising back to powfollowers, who account for followers, who account for er in May, Modi has pursued a about 80 percent of the popabout 80and percent of the Hindu-first agenda has popemulation, left that India’s 180 ulation, his and left India’s boldened followers, who 180 acmillion Muslims reeling. million Muslims reeling. Now opponents and count for about 80 percent ofsupthe porters ofand theleft law, largely Now opponents and suppopulation, India’s 180 divided between portersMuslims of the reeling. law,Muslims largely million Now and Hindus, are facing off divided between Muslims opponents and supporters of the against each other. Some and largely Hindus, are facing off law, divided between say the and polarization evokes against each other. Some Muslims Hindus, areIndia’s facing asay dark chapter in the polarization evokes off against each other. Some say past. “The violence is now a dark chapter in pockets India’s the polarization a dark happening in evokes tiny past. “The violence is now chapter in India’s past. “The viof Delhi and reminds you happening in tiny pockets olence now happening in1984 tiny of the isbeginning of the of Delhi and reminds you anti-Sikh riots,” Yopockets of Delhi andsaid reminds of the beginning the 1984 gendra Yadav, you of the beginningaof ofpolitical the 1984 scientist who leads a small anti-Sikh riots,” said Yoanti-Sikh riots,” said Yogendra political party scientist opposed to gendraa political Yadav, a political Yadav, who the BJP. He was referring scientist who leads a small leads a small political party opto mob attacks on the Sikh political party opposed to posed to theafter BJP. He was referminority members of the BJP. He was referring ring to mob attacks on the Sikh the community assassinated to mob attacks on theIndira minority after members ofSikh the then-Prime Minister minority after members of community assassinated thenGandhi. Thousands of Sikhs the community assassinated order to bring the situation Prime were killed in Indira cities includMinister Gandhi. then-Prime Minister Indira under control. “I believe Thousands ing Delhiofin what Sikhs wereIndian killed Gandhi. Thousands ofinorgaSikhs within 24 hours everything in investigators said was cities including Delhi what nized were violence. killed in citiessaid includIndian investigators was ing Delhi in what Indian organized violence. APPEAL FOR investigators said CALM was orgaModi appealed for calm nized violence. APPEAL FOR CALM on Wednesday after at least Modi for calm 20APPEAL peopleappealed were killed and FOR on Wednesday afterinjured atCALM least 20 more than 200 in Modi appealed for more calm some of the worst and sectarian people were killed on Wednesday after at least violence in Newin Delhi in than 200 injured some of 20 worst people were killed law and decades. The citizenship the sectarian violence in moreDelhi than 200 injured in behind theinunrest is The onecitof New decades. some of the worst sectarian several steps taken by Modi’s izenship law behind the unrest itsDelhi re-elecviolence insince New in isgovernment onethat of several steps taken by tion have appealed to law the decades. The citizenship Modi’s government since Hindu Inis August, behind majority. the unrest oneits of re-election that have appealed to itseveral stripped Kashmir, India’s steps taken by Modi’s the Hindu majority. Inits August, it only Muslim-majority state, government since re-elecstripped Kashmir, India’s only of its special status, a move tion thatModi have defended appealed to the which Muslim-majority state, ofasitsa Hindu majority. In way of status, integrating theAugust, region special a move which it stripped India’s with the restKashmir, of country. Modi defended as the a way of inonly Muslim-majority state, In November, thewith Supreme tegrating the region the rest of its special agroups move Court handedInstatus, Hindu of the country. November, thea which Modi defended as control of a contested site Supreme Court handed Hindu in theofcity of Ayodhya that way integrating the region groups control ofofafor contested site paves therest way temple with the theacountry. in city of Ayodhya that paves to be built on athesite where Inthe November, Supreme the wayhanded for aonce temple to be built aCourt mosque stood. That Hindu groups was a central election on a site where a mosquepromonce control of a contested site ise made by the BJP. election stood. That wasof a central in the city Ayodhya that Modi’s position as chief promise made by the paves the way forBJP. a temple minister of Gujarat state Modi’s position as chief to be built onofa site where during some the during worst minister of Gujarat state a mosque onceindependent stood. That riots in India’s some the worst riots in India’s was of a central election promhistory that took place there independent history that took in has stoked ise 2002 made by thelong BJP. place there in 2002 has long mistrust among some MusModi’s position as chief

“They saw(clothes) I was alone,and they saw saw kameez (clothes) and saw kameez my kameez mecap, as aabeard, shalwar Muslim,” Zubair Zubair told me as Muslim,” told Reuters. “They just (clothes) saw me as started astarted MusReuters.and “They just attacking, slogans. lim,” Zubair shouting told Reuters. “They attacking, shouting slogans. What kind of is What kindattacking, of humanity humanity is just started shouting this?” this?” What kind of humanity slogans. is this?” “EVERYTHING “EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE” WILL BE FINE” “EVERYTHING BJP spokesman Tajinder BJP spokesman WILL BE FINE” Pal Singh Bagga saidTajinder his parPaldid Singh Bagga said hiskind parBJP spokesman Tajinder ty not support any ty did notBagga support kind of violence, including the Pal Singh said any his party attack on Zubair. He blamed of not violence, including did support any kind of the virival for the stoking the attackparties on Zubair. Heattack blamed olence, including on chaos during rival parties forU.S. stoking the Zubair. He blamed rival Presiparties dent Donald visit chaos during U.S. during Presifor stoking theTrump’s chaos in order to damage India’s dent Donald Trump’s visit U.S. President Donald Trump’s image. “This was 100 perin order to damage India’s visit in order to damage India’s cent pre-planned,” he said image. “Thiswas was perimage. 100100 percent of the “This violence, adding that centparty pre-planned,” pre-planned,” saidhe of said the his or itshepolicies had of the violence, adding that violence, adding that hischaos. party nothing to do with the hisitsparty or no its policies Reuters has or policies hadindependent nothinghad to nothing to that do with the chaos. evidence the protests do with the chaos. Reuters has were planned inevidence advance.that Reuters has no independent no independent Bagga the fedevidence that the protests the protestssaid werethat planned in eral government, which conwere planned in advance. advance. trolsBagga Delhi said police, moved to that the fedBagga said that the federal deploy paramilitary forces in eral government, which congovernment, which controls order to bring the situation trols Delhi police, to Delhi police, moved tobelieve deploy under control. “Imoved deploy 24 paramilitary forces in within hours everything

minister of Gujarat state during some of the worst riots in India’s independent history that took place there in 2002 has long stoked mistrust among some Mus-

WEDNESDAY Wednesday, February 26, 2020 February 26, 2020

stoked mistrust amongpeople, some lims. Up Up to 2,500 2,500 people, lims. to Muslims. Up to 2,500 people, mostly Muslims, Muslims, were killed mostly were killed during riots 59 mostly wereafter killed duringMuslims, riots sparked sparked after 59 Hindu pilgrims were burned during sparked 59 Hinduriots pilgrims wereafter burned to when their train to death death when their train Hindu pilgrims were burned to was alight suspected was set set alight by suspected death when theirby train was set Muslims. In subsequent Muslims. In the the subsequent alight by suspected Muslims. investigation, Modi was abinvestigation, Modi waseven abIn the subsequent investigation, solved of wrongdoing, solved of wrongdoing, even Modi was absolved of wrongas dozens of people on both as dozens ofdozens people both doing, even as ofon people sides of the riots were consides the ofriots conon bothofsides the were riots were victed. victed. convicted. “REMEMBERING MY ALLAH” “REMEMBERING “REMEMBERING Before week’s clashMYthis ALLAH” MY ALLAH” es in Newthis Delhi, 25 people Before this week’s clashBefore week’s clashes in had been killed in25 running es in New Delhi, people New Delhi, 25 people had been battles between protesters had police been killed inthe running killed in running battles between and across counbattles protesters and police protesters across the try. Thatbetween number has now and police across the country. numberafter hascounnow nearly That doubled two try. That number has beatnow nearly after two days days ofdoubled arson, lootings, nearly doubled after two ings andlootings, shootings in parts of arson, beatings and days of arson, beatof northeastern New Delshootings in partslootings, of northeastern hi that forces have ings andpolice shootings inforces parts New Delhi that police struggled to to contain. of northeastern NewDelhi Delhave struggled contain. Delhi police said in aforces statement hi that police have police said in a statement late on late on Tuesday that Delhi they struggled contain. Tuesday thatto they were making were making every effort police said in clashes a statement every effort tothe contain the clashto contain and late on Tuesday they es and urged people tothat maintain urged people to maintain the were making every effort the peace. Witnessessaid said police police peace. Witnesses to paramilitary contain theforces clashes and and paramilitary forces and werewere paurged people maintain the patrolling thetostreets in far trolling the streets in far greater peace. Witnesses said police greater numbers on Wednesnumbers on Wednesday. Parts of day. Partsareas of thewere riot-hit areas andriot-hit paramilitary forces were the deserted. were deserted. patrolling streets inand far Several ofthe those killed Several of those killed greater numbers onaccording Wednesinjured had been shot, and injured hadriot-hit been shot, day. of the areas to twoParts medics the Guru Teg according toat two medics were deserted. Bahadur Hospital, where many at the Guru Teg Bahadur of those killed of theSeveral victims were taken.of ReHospital, where many the and injured had been shot, victims were Reuters uters could not taken. determine who according to two medics could not who had had fired ondetermine them. at Among the Teg Yatinder Bahadur fired on Guru them. them, Hospital, where many of the Among them, Yatinder Vikal, a 33-year-old Hindu, victims were taken. Reuters Vikal, a 33-year-old Hindu, was brought in with a gunshot was in with a guncouldbrought not determine who had wound to his knee. His shot wound toright his right knee. fired on them. brother said Yatinder was drivHis Among brother said Yatinder them, Yatinder ing a driving scooter when a bullet hit was a scooter when Vikal, a 33-year-old Hindu, him. awas bullet hit him. broughtwitnesses in with a at gunReuters Reuters witnesses at aa shot wound to his right knee. local hospital hospitalspoke spoketo to both both local His brother said Yatinder Hindu and Muslim Muslim victims Hindu and victims was were driving a scooter who were injured inwhen the who in the vioa bullet hitinjured him.unconscious violence. An lence. An unconscious Zubair Reuters at a Zubair waswitnesses eventually was dragged to localeventually hospital spoke both dragged to safety byto fellow safety by fellow Muslims who Muslims who camevictims to his Hindu and Muslim came towere histhrowing aidinjured after throwing aid stones to whoafter in the stones to disperse his attackdisperse his The violence. Anattackers. unconscious ers. The 37-year-old, whoa 37-year-old, makes Zubair waswho eventually living odd jobs, was makes adoing living doing oddfellow jobs, dragged to safety by rushed to hospital where was rushed to hospital where Muslims who came to his he wastreated treated wounds he forfor wounds aidwas after throwing stonestoto to his head and released his head and lateThe on disperse hisreleased attackers. late on “IMonday. “I ‘I’m was Monday. was thinking 37-year-old, who makes thinking ‘I’m not going toa not going to survive this’,” he living doing odd was survive this’,” he jobs, recalled. recalled. remembering “I was “I remembering my rushed towas hospital where my Allah.” he Allah.” was treated for wounds

to his head and released late on Monday. “I was thinking ‘I’m not going to survive this’,” he recalled. “I was remembering my Allah.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

Stabroek News distances self from fake exit polls on joint services vote …GPA, editors urge greater scrutiny of news sources

By Tamica Garnett EDITOR-IN-CHIEF of the Stabroek News, Newsroom and Guyana Chronicle have made reports to Facebook, and are urging citizens to be careful of what they share on social media, following a proliferation of fake social media profiles being created in the names of the news agencies’ names and spreading fake political stories. Over the weekend several stories have emerged, spreading fake news against the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) party and President David Granger. The party has alleged the action as a desperate fake news campaign by the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to spread their propaganda through fake articles. It said this is a clear indication of the extreme desperation by the PPP/C as its “weak and fanciful campaign promises” fail to resonate with the Guyanese populace. According to the APNU+AFC, the PPP/C has resorted to lies, propaganda and fake news as a last resort with less than one week to Elections Day. The media houses note the situation as one that is difficult to monitor, and even harder to prevent or handle. Editor-in-Chief of Stabroek News, Anand Persaud, said that media house has made a report to Facebook and denied any connection with a news story that was spread by a website “stabroek.news.blog” that claimed an “exit poll” advantage for the PPPC in early voting done by members of the

The fake story purporting to come from the Stabroek News media house

joint services last Friday. “That is a fake page, it’s very clear to anybody who viewed it on Facebook. They would know right away that’s not something from Stabroek News. There’s nothing that media houses can do about it to monitor all of these pages on a daily basis,” Persaud conveyed when contacted on Wednesday. In the past fake news stories were being spread mainly by fake news sites; however scammers are upping the ante in trying to imitate authentic media houses. Online media house, Newsroom, had an entire fake Facebook page created against it. The page went to great efforts to mimic the media house’s authentic page, uploading the profile and

GPA nudges GECOM to provide timely news updates THE Guyana Press Association (GPA) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the lack of timely information from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), and the slow response to matters of national interest in relation to the imminent General and Regional Elections. As a result, it has appealed to the highest level of GECOM for the concerns to be addressed. The GPA says it remains hopeful that corrective measures would be effected so as to facilitate easier access to information and timely response, according to a statement. Noted among the concerns are, the failure to respond to key and critical questions by Ms. Yolanda Ward, the designated spokesperson for GECOM. Additionally, even answers to questions as it relation to planning and administrative processes are not forthcoming, the GPA said,

adding that the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield and Chairman, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh are, for the most part, inaccessible. It is against this background, the GPA said it has come to the conclusion that GECOM is complicit in and must be held responsible for imbalanced coverage, especially in instances where there are serious accusations and claims being made by the election commissioners, political parties and other stakeholders. The GPA is therefore calling on all Election Observation Missions, to take note of the disservice being meted out to the populace by GECOM, by allowing claims, accusations and rumours to fester. If not addressed with a sense of urgency and professionalism, GECOM must regard itself as a willing participant in any unfortunate reaction, the statement added.

A fake news story shared on Facebook

cover photos from the official page, and sharing several of the media houses authentic stories.

However, among the stories shared was a fake story about President David Grang-

er. The page was up for approximately three days. Editor-in-Chief of Newsroom, Fareeza Haniff, said that media house has also made reports to Facebook; however, they have not received a response thus far. “There is nothing that we can do per se. At the end of the day we have to guard against what goes out there and how the information reaches the people but it’s for the people themselves to also do simple fact-checking on how to spot fake news. Newsroom did its part by putting out a statement saying that the page is fake and we are in no way associated with it and that’s the most that we can do,” explained Haniff, who is also an executive of the Guyana Press Association (GPA). Misinformation The situation comes at a time when the GPA has been working along with the media fraternity and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to curtail practices that would result in misinformation going out to the public. The GPA last December facilitated the training of media operatives ahead of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. GPA President, Nazima Raghubir, noted that the GPA has not discussed the issue, but in her capacity as a journalist herself she has warned persons to fact-check news stories being shared on social media. “If it is being shared by a politician think twice about sharing it. Look at whether or not this is an official news, check to see if it is an authentic report or check to see if other media houses are reporting something like this,”

Raghubir warned. Raghubir suggested that the situation is being created in political quarters, saying that “I don’t want to point fingers but the media has nothing to gain from misinformation like this so clearly we are not the ones behind it. We only see this around an election period, and we know who the benefactors in an elections are and they have something to gain out of something like this.” Raghubir said that it creates an added burden on the authentic media houses. “It creates a challenge in this whole world of gullibility. Because people are going to share the misinformation and still expect us to authenticate what they’re saying. They’re going to expect us to report it and if we’re not they’re going to say we’re not reporting the news, so it is a challenge,” she said. She highlighted that it comes at a time when media houses have been putting in the extra effort: “The media houses have been dealing with putting information out there and have been practising some amount of restrain, trying to ensure they verify things before they put it out there. It is a challenge that media houses will also have to add to the plethora of things that they are already trying to verify.” She too acknowledged that there is little that can be done to counter or prevent the situation. “I don’t know how we can deal with that challenge. It is for the bodies involved in elections to be very vigilant to say this is not coming from us and kill the misinformation from onset”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

Those prejudicial comments by Christopher Ram

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OT for the first time this election season we are forced to call out a prominent citizen for unbecoming public comments. This time the culprit is well known Chartered Accountant and political commentator, Mr. Christopher Ram. In a recent letter published in sections of the media, he sought to explain why he would not vote for the APNU+AFC coalition at the coming elections. This publication supports Mr. Ram’s right to determine his electoral choice and to express such support in the public arena. But as we have editorialised before, prominent citizens should take care that they exercise those rights in ways that do not amount to unwarranted abuse of their fellow citizens and a muddying of the political environment. Mr. Ram has for some time been a fierce critic of the coalition, which by his own testimony he enthusiastically supported at the 2015 elections. What caused his drastic change of heart is anybody’s guess. He was one of the most relentless attackers of the government in the wake of the no-confidence motion of December 2018. In fact, he was one of those critics who had moved to the courts to frustrate the government’s attempt to exercise its right to Judicial Review. He has also been part of a small group of public commentators who have ceaselessly and maliciously been berating the government for its handling of the oil contract with Exxon Mobil. We cite the above to make the point that Mr. Ram has developed a track record of wild hatred for the government which some have speculated may have been exacerbated by the rejection of his candidacy for chairmanship of GECOM. We do not know the accuracy of that charge. But the fact that he has made the appointment of the chairman of that institution one of the centrepieces of the missive in question

only gives credence to such speculation. It is one thing to objectively criticise governments and national leaders, but to be driven along that path by personal grudges often results in prejudicial rants and public abuse. Others have already taken Mr. Ram to task for his latest tirade. But this publication wishes to draw the public’s attention to two aspects of his letter which we think border on the unkindest cut. Mr. Ram charges President Granger and the government with racial discrimination against Indian Guyanese. He cites the now discredited narrative of the government’s discrimination against sugar workers and what he refers to as the Africanisation of the Public Service. We shall give him a pass for now on the latter charge, largely because it is laughable for a man of his calibre to engage in ridiculous political gossip. But his charges of racism against sugar workers must be engaged. Mr. Ram knows full well that in our fragile ethnic environment such baseless charges could incense race-hate. He himself a few years ago had cause to initiate private charges against the now opposition leader for expressing similarly reckless sentiments. Clearly, one has a right to comment on racial issues, but in a tense election period, one needs to exercise caution in doing so. It is our considered view that Mr. Ram has failed to so do in this instance. To put it bluntly, his charges of racial discrimination are part of an invented narrative that has the potential to incite ethnic aggression against the coalition. His letter ignored the context in which the closure of the sugar estates were carried out and the great extent to which the government has gone to ensure that affected workers are duly compensated and diversified into other sections of the industry or other sectors of the economy. He deliberately

Why in this day and age we continue to use private buildings as polling places? Dear Editor,

of state establishments in some areas, 166 (7%) of these stations were located in private buildings and residences. While POLLING place is where voters cast their vote. the establishment of polling stations on private property did Such a place is supposed to have an adequate not seem to influence public confidence in the electoral pronumber of polling stations, security, accredited cess, The Carter Center recommends that GECOM take steps monitoring and observation personnel and polling day in future elections to ensure that citizens can cast their ballots officials. Moreover, polling places are not supposed to be in a neutral environment, free from intimidation.” places associated with representatives, supporters and I am alarmed but not surprised that known PPP campaigncampaigners of political parties. ers, social media trolls and operatives pretending to be private Sadly in Guyana, this has been the case for decades. It is sector and civil society representatives have now resorted to no secret that these locations are insecure on a number of lev- accusing GECOM, the Carter Centre and the various groups els and more often than not, are prone to electoral fraud. Any- of international observers monitoring our elections. one who tells you otherwise, either is desirous of such fraud, Readers, like many of you, I have always questioned does not understand the history of electoral fraud that took the rationale of using private buildings as polling places; place at private residences in Guyana and/or is simply naïve especially houses belonging to and associated with persons and deliberately unaware. who openly or secretively campaign for political parties. In fact, the 2015 Final Report compiled by the Carter Cen- Why in this day and age, do we continue to use private tre with inputs from international observer missions among buildings including bottom houses as we refer to them, as others, stated, polling places? “On May 11, 2015, elections were conducted in 2, 229 polling stations across the country, with a maximum of 400 Sincerely, voters per polling station. Because of the lack of establishment Andrew Small

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ignored the fact that only recently President Granger announced a bold plan to make lands available to those affected workers should he be returned to power. Here is the president in his own words: “We are going to set up a State Land Resettlement Commission so that sugar workers would be able to go onto those lands and those who want to farm, will be able to farm, and those who want housing, will get land for housing. This is what a caring government does.” Mr. Ram also paints the president as a dictator who has no respect for the constitution. Here again he is clearly driven by a deep subjectivity that is obviously not grounded in fact or fair comment. Mr. Ram is confusing the president’s right as chief executive to challenge interpretations of the constitution with which he disagrees on the one hand and disobeying the constitution on the other hand. No fair commentator could cite any instance in which President Granger flouted the constitution or the rulings of the court. No doubt, Mr. Ram, who has appointed himself as the sole determinant of what is constitutional, has invented a charge and then finds the president guilty. He completely ignores the fact that many of his fellow commentators, including some who have been critical of the president, have contended that President Granger’s record on human rights is supremely impeccable. There is no doubt that Mr. Ram’s letter is part of his campaign for his new-found friends on the other side of the political divide. His freedom of association is guaranteed and should be protected, but in exercising that right he should take care not to descend into the political gutter, which is where he has found himself. It may be too much to ask him to apologise to the president, but surely, he should hang his head in eternal shame for his unfortunate journey to the bottom of the silly heap.

Put aside bad habits A Dear Sir,

T Mass last Sunday, as the pastor delivered the sermon, cellphone users--old and young alike--whipped out their instruments and stuck their collective noses into them. G Carter Woodson, the African-American intellectual had said: “ Tell them it’s the IN thing, and see how quickly they will gravitate to it, with a preponderance of reasons as to why it’s necessary.” Gibran had said: “ It comes as a guest, then eventually turns into a host and finally a boss.” The question then is: is there any place that is free of, and safe from this annoying and ubiquitous cell- phone culture? The sermon was “let your light shine, put aside bad habits.” Regards Milton Bruce

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

Protecting our sovereignty is paramount to the economic development of Guyana Dear Editor,

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UYANA, still only a budding nation, became Independent on 26th May, 1966 and continued, by severing all ties from the United Kingdom on 23rd February, 1970, as we became a republic. However, we have been plagued by an idea that the Essequibo belongs to Venezuela, since the Latin American Wars of Independence, where they claimed more than half of the British colony; but was settled by arbitration in 1899, both territories accepting the judgement that the land belongs to British Guiana, which later became Guyana. One of the major guideposts of the decision was that Venezuela would not hinder the economic development of British Guiana as they were assured of unearthing several resources in the area. In 1962, Venezuela declared that it would no longer follow the arbitral guidelines which ceded part of the Orinoco basin to the British, an area that has immense mineral wealth. Guayana Ezequiba or “Zona en Reclamacion” is referred to as the area that is disputed by the Venezuelans; the status of the area as per Geneva Convention was signed by the United Kingdom, Venezuela and British Guyana in February 1966, stipulating that all should find a peaceful, practical and satisfactory outcome to the dispute. However, this was not the case, as Venezuela used diplomatic and military actions to ensure we were intimidated, even threatening us with economic sanctions, the very thing they agreed not to do, in the 1899 decision. Later, in October 1966, five months after independence, Venezuelan troops invaded Ankoko Island constructing a military base and even an airstrip in the area. It was Burnham’s decisive leadership as Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs that protested, asking

Lent has commenced Dear Editor

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LLOW me to express an important aspect of the Christian calendar. On Wednesday we began the Season of Lent. It is one of the important seasons for many Christian denominations. Lent means ‘spring’; it is a springtime where we are renewed and refreshed through Lenten observances. We are washed clean so that we enter into paschal mysteries of Christ’s death and resurrection. The Latin-based language used the word “Quaresma” for Lent, which simply means 40 days. After the baptism, Jesus was tempted and tried in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights whilst he was in prayer and fasting. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. On this day, the faithful is imposed with ashes on their foreheads as a reminder of the repentance and fragility of humankind. The four pillars of Lent, prayer, penance, alms-giving and fasting help not only the people in need, but also makes us empathise with the poor and needy people. The Season of Lent ends when the Holy Week begins on Maundy Thursday leading up to the Easter Celebrations. Christians tend to fast on certain days in Lent, or at least forgo something such as meat, chocolate, sweets and help the people who cannot afford such food. This is to benefit one’s spiritual and philanthropic growth. A crucial aspect of Lent is reconciliation and peace. Our world needs to be reconciled between nations and peoples. Here is an opportunity to embrace each other with paternal love. Regards Jerri Dias

Venezuela to exit the sovereign territory forthwith; this protest was met with a forceful response of “…until today Anacoco Island is Venezuelan and from that moment operates a Venezuelan airport and military base there.” – Raul Leoni, President of Venezuela 1966 As the Mixed Commission under the Geneva Agreement, Presidents, Forbes Burnham and Rafael Caldera signed the Port of Spain Protocol, an arbitration-style commission that was agreed upon by both parties to help hammer out various differences that arose during the talks, finally signing a 12-year moratorium to promote cooperation and keep the peace throughout the period. In 1983 the Protocol expired, as Venezuela refused an extension and resumed its claim to the territory. Fast forward to modern times, according to the Guyana Chronicle dated October 24, 2015, “FORMER President Bharrat Jagdeo, now opposition leader, on Friday said the idea of negotiating a settlement with Venezuela that would see that country being given “a channel out to the sea” was discussed while he was in power.” He went on to say, “… Negotiated settlement which did not see any land concession that the 1899 award would remain intact, but there was one view that you could probably on the maritime area, give Venezuela a channel out to the sea.” To hear our President utter these words was like a slap in the face; leaders before him, said not one carass, and now this. Our sovereignty was threatened and our President wanted to give up areas that were later found to be oil-rich. I wanted a President who would fight to maintain what was ours -- always. As the new era of economic wealth dawned in 2015, as the President David Granger-led administration took over, my President stood resolutely in his approach to Venezuela, as he said in an article, “…this ongoing issue is like

a “fishbone in our throats.” He posited that the objective is to have all threats by Caracas smothered by a longterm judicial settlement of the issue. As His Excellency laid out his government’s plan to deal with the situation, again the People’s Progressive Party boycotted the issue. His Excellency purported that Venezuela’s actions were a flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention and that Caracas has no grounds under international law to stop the work by Exxon Mobil in the Stabroek Block. The President continued his firm stand, saying to both the Guyanese and Venezuelans that the Treaty of 1899 stands, and that any international panel would rule in favour of Guyana. The right to self-determination led our founding father Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham to lead the struggle for independence, to finally have a Guyana governed by its own people. As we celebrate 54 years of independence and 50 years as a republic, we have seen Guyana metamorphosise from a territory to a proposed virtual economic powerhouse. As a result, we must not let one inch of territory go. “Not one Carass!” With His Excellency David Arthur Granger at the helm, we have just started to see that little economic giant rise out of the ashes, as we are slated to be one of the fastest rising economies in the world; on March 2, 2020, we must stand resolutely against proposed international lawlessness as posited by the previous administration. We must not let the reins of power return to those who once wanted to let our sovereignty go. Moving Forward Together, Don’t Stop the Progress. Regards Douglas Charles Gittens

GAWU celebrates 44 years as recognised bargaining agent of sugar workers Dear Editor

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N February 27, the GAWU will observe forty-four (44) years since it became the recognised union on behalf of the thousands of workers who toil in the fields and factories of the sugar industry. The appending of the formal agreement between the union and the then Sugar Producers Association (SPA), the forerunner to GuySuCo, marked the culmination of thirty (30) years of struggle by the workers and the GAWU to be accorded bargaining-agent status. The struggle can be traced back to 1946 with the establishment of the Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU). Over the three decades of struggle workers took part in several battles as they championed their call for the GAWU to be their representative union. It was a struggle that was intense at times, and saw the plantocracy with the implicit and, at times, explicit support of the state, seeking to crush the workers’ resolve and desire. Indeed, the sugar workers and the union faced difficult times as intimidation, outright threats and even incarceration on flimsy excuses were used to daunt the workers and diminish their spirits. The struggle also bore martyrs as well as workers and others felt the full, unbridled wrath of the plantation owners and their proxies. Despite what were clearly obstacles after assault perpetrated against the workers, they remained committed and dedicated to their task and struggle and ultimately won the right to choose a union of their choice – the GAWU. In the now nearly four and a half decades since the union became the workers’ bargaining agent, we remain proud of our accomplishments and victories. Over the years, with the support of the workers, the union has been able to improve the workers’ lot and advance their gains and enhance their conditions of work. We have stood with the workers in difficult times and ensured that their rights were respected and their gains defended. We believe the workers have recognised our efforts and continue to stand with us as we seek improvement for their well- being. Since 2015, the workers and the union have been engaged in an

ongoing battle to safeguard their gains, protect their advancement and maintain their way of life. In that period, the coalition government has sought to perpetrate several assaults against the sugar workers and the industry. The government which preached, prior to its ascension to office, about the importance of the industry and committed to safeguarding workers jobs has in the short, but eventful, period closed four sugar estates and put some 7,000 workers out into the breadline. Apart from that, long-standing workers’ benefits are being disregarded and the wage increases have been withheld until recently. While it has been a difficult period, the contemporary workers, like the generations before them, have demonstrated their militancy. They have not allowed the powers that be to cower or compel them into submission. They have stood up proudly and staunchly as they defended their livelihoods and protected what is so near and dear to them. They have caused others to stand up and take note and to speak up in their defence. While it has not been an easy road, over the last few years, the workers remain committed to their justified and principled struggle. Our union, as in the past, will continue to stand by them and to provide guidance and leadership. As the GAWU observes this milestone we recall the inspiring chapters of workers’ struggle. We also recall the contribution of our leaders especially Dr Cheddi Jagan, who as Honorary President of the GAWU, provided leadership, guidance and advice during those difficult days and nights. We remember those comrades in arms who stood with the GAWU and defended the workers against the machinations they faced and eventually overcame. Today, our union has a proud and rich history which now spans now over seventy (70) years in defence of workers and advancement of their rights and conditions. Regards Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

‘Coalition Gov’t has my ‘X’ ─G.H.K. Lall warns against “craven opportunist pretending to be born-again reformist”

AS Guyanese prepare to head to the polls on March 2, 2020, notable figures such as General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board, Gabriel Lall have come out in support of the coalition government as the best option for Guyana. In a recent Letter to the Editor, Lall said of all the parties contesting General and Regional Elections, he has reserved his ‘X’ for the David Granger-led Administration as it has “in its leader, what is required” to keep Guyana on the right track. On the other hand, Lall said that the leadership ranks of coalition’s largest adversary, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), “has zero credibility” and are being led by a “craven opportunist pretending at being a bornagain reformist”. Lall held back little as he made the public statement which he said is meant for all whether or not they share his views. He made it clear that his choice has nothing to do with oil; the manifestos of political parties; the influence of ‘race voting’; which political party has won the verbal debate or which has the most

‘experts’ on its side. He said that his decision was made based on thorough consideration of who he ought to trust and in whom he has enough confidence to cast his vote. “When these are sifted and sorted through, these are the objectives of my thinking: which leader holds the keys to the way forward? A peaceable, positive, upbuilding way that is suffused with an inclusive, diverse future? Which one of them surges ahead and why?” Lall reasoned. The General Manager said that he had his eyes set on a leadership which has what it takes “deeply and genuinely within” to be more and do more for what is good and needed in the country. “It is about which group, through its leader, is of the contemplations and visions that are of citizen and country, all of them and all of it respectively. And here is the crux: and intends (repeat: intends) to fulfill. It is less of the group and more of the man at the head. The one with the caliber and calling to view citizens and country not only as votes for self-empowering and self-enriching; but to see

both as a sacred trust to be handled and cared for in the best traditions of prudence and an all-encompassing wisdom,” Lall said, adding:

ment or political skills”, if truth and character is missing, “all the grand plans wither and die on the vine, because they hold only

General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board, Gabriel Lall

“I do not think, I am unable to perceive, that the opposition possesses any such leadership elements. I am of the view that the sitting government—warts and all, weaknesses and all, and woes and all—does have in its leader, what is required.” Lall who is a Guyanese author, columnist and former Financial Analyst on Wall Street also analysed the make-up of the PPP/C and why he would not cast his vote for the party. He said that while one might want to argue that the leadership of the Opposition has “better manage-

tainted, poisoned promise.” PPP/C Presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali is currently facing the courts for 19 fraud charges for allegedly defrauding the State of over $174M. Added to this, he is now being pressured by the public to make public his qualifications ahead of E-Day as his documents show that he was not a holder of a first degree prior to undertaking this master’s in 2002. Ali, along with PPP/C Leader and General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, have remained tight-lipped on the matter brushing it aside on several occasions.

Yet, in January, 2019, when Ali was selected as PPP/C’s Presidential Candidate, grassroots supporters called for him to step down contending that his ‘baggage’ will ‘sink’ the party’s chances of winning the upcoming elections. Many in the public are of the opinion that Ali is merely a means through which Jagdeo, former twoterm president of Guyana, can gain a ‘foot in the door’. Though the General Secretary has denied same, it is easily observed that the former president takes the lead by hosting weekly press conferences from which Ali is excluded; by being the highlight on campaign posters and at political rallies and by taking the lead in party’s responses to the media on all occasions. “The last thing that this country needs now is a craven opportunist pretending at being a born-again reformist, though remaining an incorrigible recidivist,” Lall stated. “Pardon me, but I do not believe anything that seeks to portray honesty and integrity, as such originates from the Opposition; its leadership ranks have zero

credibility.” He reiterated in his letter that his position on same has nothing to do with “political savvy and glorious manifestoes” and what he sees as good leadership, for him, remains non-negotiable. “I believe that the coalition intends to deliver on some — some — of the promises made by its leader. If I am wrong about the man, then this society is doomed. I take this stand for the man (hence my “X”) because I sense that the man himself stands for something different, comrades notwithstanding, lack of flair and fury and fullness of self notwithstanding. I detect that he stands for God and family and country; and if a man does not have those things, then for what does he exist? Unlike opponents, and rather ironically, the man from the PNC does not have the dark ambitions, the incomparable viciousness and vindictiveness present elsewhere,” Lall said. “At the end of it all, matters condense to this: who do I believe? Who do I think could deliver in the heats of things to come? I say Mr. Granger.”

Region 10 must deliver larger voter turnout for APNU+AFC

Dear Editor,

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he Upper-Demerara-Upper Berbice region will once again have to play a pivotal role in deciding which political party will lead our country into this new era and decade of development on March 2. Region 10, particularly its capital town Linden, is one of the most envied voting blocs in Guyana and while it has historically remained an apple LFS Burnham founded and now David Granger-led People’s National Congress, it remains a scorn of the People’s Progressive Party even in this day and age of modernisation and inclusive governance. The PPP’s angst for Linden dates back to the era of the famous political separation between Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Burnham -- as the former infused race into the political sphere in order to solidify his support base-- while the latter made concerted efforts to change this course by aligning himself with various ethnicities. All other PNC leaders that followed Burnham made resolute efforts to bridge the divide, while the PPP leaders who succeeded Dr. Jagan imbued race into every election to energise their base which reportedly was the majority. After years of conflict which saw Indo-Guyanese supporting the PPP and Afro-Guyanese supporting the PNC, Dr. Jagan joined in the quest to bridge the racial divide during

the latter part of his presidency, but this was short-lived with his passing. Region 10 which had largely supported the PNC was always out of favour with the PPP. In fact, the events of the 60s were intentionally distorted by the PPP for decades as a means of justifying the stigmatisation of the people of Linden. However, during recent elections the PPP attempted to hoodwink Lindeners into believing they cared for them just to win their votes by mouthing rhetoric of the 60s and spouting love and grandeur. 2011 is a perfect example; despite years of economic deprivation and marginalisation, several Lindeners were coerced into believing that the PPP cared as their loyalty had a price. What followed after the PPP was unable to significantly infiltrate Linden, was a massive thrust to cripple the region by its vengeful attempt to add more hardship on the people through the raising of electricity rates among other stifling measures. The resolve of the people stood strong in defence and several lost their lives as the PPP’s bid to increase rates failed like their expensive water cannon. The overconfident PPP then continued their assault on the people through budgetary constraints and faced rejection through the polls in 2015. Five years later, the same PPP which mistreated the people of Linden and by extension Region 10, returns with tricks and promises. Their presidential candidate who boldly argued against the region’s budgetary allocations put forward by the coalition government, has changed his tune

and is now declaring that he cares for Linden. To add further insult to the people of Linden, the PPP selected a prime ministerial candidate who showed no care or concern when the region was under siege by his dreaded party and who failed to help Lindeners when he was in a position to help. How does the PPP expect any true Lindener or resident of Region 10 to believe their empty promises, when the region has seen significant improvements under the APNU+AFC government? How do they expect to erase memories of their dismantling of the region’s health and education sectors which were second to none? What excuse or justification could they offer with regard to the steam power station which the PPP took over in 1992 and later dismantled, despite the fact that it was better for more effective power generation? What would suffice to replace the years of economic deprivation and marginalisation suffered by residents, and, what promise could replace the lives of those who were exercising their democratic right at the Linden Bridge? Since history has shown the true nature of the PPP, it is now a foregone conclusion that Region 10 cannot sustain another round of adversity from the PPP and needs to produce over 85 percent voter turnout for the coalition. Regards Carwyn Holland, former Mayor Of Linden

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

Public Service Credit Union AGM scheduled for August

HEAD of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) overseeing operations of the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union (GPSCCU), Trevor Benn, said the body’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for August 2020, even as more ways to serve the members are being deliberated. It is at the AGM that the election for office bearers for a new official executive for the GPSCCU will be held and where the payment of dividends to the credit union’s approximately 25, 000 members will be approved. “All things being equal, before the end of August we should have the AGM. That’s the plan and it has been budgeted for this year. We’re aiming and working towards that,” Benn told Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday. Benn further explained that the AGM was pushed back somewhat because “We are in a national elections year and we felt that it was not the right time to have this sort of elections around the national elections, so we decided to have some space between the two.” Delay of the AGM is also due to the union currently wrapping up audits for the 2017 – 2018 period which would need to be completed and approved to clear the way for the calculations and paying of dividends for the

members. In the meantime, Benn noted the IMC is continuing to look at ways to improve conditions

GPSCCU IMC Head, Trevor Benn

for the staff and services for the members of the union. “We’ve done a lot in the last 18 months for both staff and members. We are looking at ways in which we can broaden our services to the members. We are looking at getting involved in housing and we find that lots of our members come to get the down payment to go to the bank for car loans, so we feel that rather than giving the down payments, they could take the entire loan from the union,” Benn noted.

FIVE LUCKY MEMBERS In December last year, the IMC carried out a promotion that saw five lucky members, with at least five years membership, and whose salaries are less than $100,000, winning $500,000 each, in an inaugural promotion. The IMC has been running the operations of the credit union since it was installed in May 2018 by the Ministry of Social Protection, due to the “unsatisfactory” performance of the previous management team, headed by GPSU President, Patrick Yarde. At the time, there were allegations about mismanagement of the union by the previous management committee. That management committee has since called for evidence to be produced to show the alleged mismanagement. Yarde has also questioned decisions and actions taken by the IMC since installation. Benn has since defended the decisions and actions, noting that it was to the benefit of the staff working for the union and to the members. Upon taking over operations at the union, the IMC paid out over $100M in interim dividends to its members, by November 2018; prior to that, no dividends had been paid to the members since 2010.

The IMC has also rectified several staffing issues at the credit union where there was previously no pension plan, and only a few of the staff were receiving what was required in gratuity payment. “As we begun to look at the gamut of our work, we were horrified to know that staff was working under less than humane conditions. The salary was pitiful, the conditions in the building were pitiful and the morale was very low,” Benn related. The GPSCCU Hadfield Street building was also rehabilitated. “We could not continue to serve our customers and members under the conditions our staff was made to work. We wanted to ensure our building was a modern one so we rehabilitated it. The building is old but the inside has been modernised to ensure working conditions reached certain standards,” Benn explained. The IMC has also since instituted a pension plan, medical scheme and paternity leave for staff when, on Wednesday, a new Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) was signed with the employees’ union, the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU).

Labourer dies after falling off bench

Dead: Arvin Toolsie Mayhilall

THE communities of Zorg and Johanna Cecila, Essequibo Coast, Region Two, were plunged into deep mourning, on Wednesday evening, when the tragic news spread that a villager died after falling off a bench at Zorg. Dead is Arvin Toolsie Mayhilall, 35, of Johanna Cecilia. According to his mother, Jaiwantie Mayhilall, she received the tragic news around 18:00 hours. The mother related that she was told that her son fell down from a bench in a friend’s yard. A woman, who lives in the yard where Arvin died, claimed she was asleep when the incident occurred. “When I got the call, I immediately went to the location and I saw my son lying flat, no one renders assistance. They just left he like that, he was dead when I reach. It appeared that he bruk he neck,” the saddened mother said. Mayhilall was never married and was the only son of Jaiwantie. The mother related that she usually takes care of him since his father passed away years ago. When this newspaper visited the scene, police were already there gathering information. The deceased was described as a “very loving son” but was in the habit of consuming alcohol. The body is at the Suddie Mortuary awaiting post-mortem.

Gov’t hailed for making 'agri' lands available to ex-sugar workers THE David Granger Administration is being hailed for its decision to make agricultural lands available to ex-sugar workers, who, to date, are reaping the benefits. Through the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL), farming lands in Wales, Region Three, are being leased to former sugar workers, small businesses and investors, with the former given high priority. According to the Site Supervisor of the former Wales Estate, Haribhajan Persaud, there is a “mad rush” for lands with strong interest being shown by the ex-sugar workers, prominent largescale businessmen and foreign investors. It was noted that unlike other closed factories, Wales took a different approach owing to the fact that it no longer has a factory. According to a statement issued by NICIL on Wednesday, lands are being leased for agricultural purposes with ex-sugar workers and small-scale farmers reaping the benefits. “Several of the former sugar workers who have secured lands here are into cash crops where they plant mainly passion fruits and citrus, while some are doing cattle rearing as they seek to continue creating employment for themselves,” Persaud said. Cash crops are being planted on arable lands,

which are fertile, while those into cattle rearing are doing this on marginal lands. Among some of the ex-sugar workers who have secured lands for agricultural purposes are Jaipaul Thakur, Owen Phillips, Mohamed Rasheed, and Lindon Phoe-

Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for in excess of 15 years. Samaroo, an ex-sugar worker, in applauding government’s move to make lands available, said he is financially empowered to live comfortably despite no longer being employed by

“When many thought that it was the end for us because we all lost our jobs, I recognised that I can get into mixed-crops production and after the lands became available, I took full opportunity of it and, today, I am doing so well with my farming and

Jaipaul Thakur

Lindon Phoenix

Mohamed Rasheed

rearing to garner an income for himself and family, and, as such, he applied for marginal lands. “I opted to get into cattle rearing, as I found that it is what has the money that I can secure to take care of myself and family. After finding out that the lands were available, I decided to make the best use of it by getting into cattle rearing. I am deeply thankful for the

Dhanpaul Samaroo

James Munroe

Harry Ketwaroo

nix, all of whom engage in cattle rearing. Former sugar workers like Harry Ketwaroo and Dhanpaul Samaroo are farming cash crops. These ex-sugar workers had all worked with the

GuySuCo. Another farmer, Harry Ketwaroo, said having worked with GuySuCo for most of his life, he was excited to have secured a plot of land to plant mixed crops.

Site Supervisor Haribhajan Persaud

earning enough to take care of myself and family,” Ketwaroo said. Mohamed Rasheed said when the estate closed, he thought it best to engage in

land as it has afforded me an opportunity to continue earning,” he said. The Estate Supervisor explained that while farming is being done, distribution of lands has not been completed due to the fact that applications are still being processed. Currently, the demands outweigh the available lands.

It was disclosed that of the 7,943 acres of land that the estate owns, NICIL set aside 1,000 acres for its own cultivation of rice. Persaud explained that originally, it was NICIL’s idea to focus on seed paddy in an effort to assist the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB); however, it has ventured into rice production. Since 2017, it has cultivated five crops. In January, President David Granger announced that a State Land Resettlement Commission will be established, should the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition be re-elected to office. Such a commission, he explained, will address the needs of former sugar workers, who were displaced as a result of government’s decision to “right size” the sugar industry in its quest to make it viable. The establishment of the State Land Resettlement Commission, he said, will provide another avenue for income generation for those affected. “We are going to establish a State Land Resettlement Commission so that people who have been put out of work because they had been in the sugar plantations will be given access to land so that they can start all over again,” he further assured.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

Health sector receives 39 new community health workers By Naomi Parris

AS they strut proudly across the stage to receive their certificates, 39 Community Health Workers (CWH) from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10, on Wednesday, graduated from a training programme geared at boosting the country’s health sector. The simple but significant graduation ceremony was held at the Regency Hotel where Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence, urged the young health workers to exercise patience and hospitality as they enter the world of healthcare. Minister Lawrence noted

health enthusiasts or persons wishing to have a career in the health sector are well equipped with the knowledge and skills to boost the

pate in this event and specially leave little words of encouragement with you the new batch of CHWs who will provide the [tremen-

Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples’ Communities, Micheal Gouveia

Valedictorian, Shavanie Harrichand, receiving one of her many awards at the graduation ceremony

that following the launch of the programme in 2019, the then trainees were equipped with the knowledge to increase their ability to tend to persons or patients in matters related to health. Adding that the ministry’s main aim is to ensure

country’s health system, the minister gushed about seeing young passionate health personnels like the graduates opt to pursue a career in one of the most demanding and critical, yet rewarding professions. “I am elated to partici-

dous] service to the populace of Guyana,” she stated. However, underscoring the importance of patience and hospitality, Minister Lawrence urged the new health workers to exercise patience and kindness towards patients and persons

who may seek their assistance as she has had several complaints in the past of healthcare workers and their intolerable attitudes towards

couragement with the graduates, Minister Lawrence urged the health workers to not only limit their medical education to the CHW

Public Health Minister, Volda Lawerence

push themselves to one day become nurses and doctors. Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples’ Communities, Micheal Gouveia, also urged the students to use the CHW programme as a stepping stone to higher achievements. Best graduating student, Shavanie Harrichand, in her valedictorian remarks, said while the programme was not easy, she and her colleagues were able to complete the programme with outstanding grades and are now equipped with the skills and knowledge to serve the people of Guyana. In thanking her teachers, lectures, colleagues

Tiffany Collins, another graduate of the Community Health Workers programme being honoured for her outstanding performance

patients. The minister said she has faith in the newest batch of healthcare workers to exercise patience, tolerance, kindness and hospitality as they return to various regions and communities. Leaving words of en-

programmer, but to pursue higher careers in the field of health, stating that, the “only limit is what you put on yourselves”. The minister stressed that the graduates should not just settle for a certificate from the training programme but

and others for their continuous support throughout the programme, Harrichand expressed immense gratitude towards them and encouraged her fellow graduates to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities.

43 Joint Services ranks at Eteringbang to vote on E-day

…after missing out at last Friday’s poll MEMBERS of the Disciplined Services, based at Eteringbang in Upper Mazaruni, were unable to vote last Friday, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) disclosed, after being pressed for answers. More than 8,000 members of the Joint Services went to the polls last Friday, ahead of the March 2 General and Regional Elections, and it was expected that those ranks in Eteringbang would have voted as well but they were unable to do so. GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, on Wednesday, explained that the plane, which was transporting the electoral officials to Eteringbang, was unable to land. “The pilot advised that he could not land there and returned to GT. Thirty-five (35) police officers and eight soldiers did not vote,” Ward told media operatives. The plane’s inability to land meant that the electoral

officials could not have facilitated elections in the area, and as such, voting did not take place in Eteringbang.

date the party agents, on the day the Joint Services casted their votes, because of excess weight. The People’s Pro-

GECOM PRO Yolanda Ward

In an effort to remedy the situation, GECOM, Ward further disclosed, will provide transportation to the 43 affected members of the Joint Services. “GECOM would be transporting those persons from that location to their respective polling stations to vote on E-day,” she posited. It was the same aircraft that was unable to accommo-

gressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had complained bitterly that its agent was left behind but GECOM explained that a decision was taken that no party agent would be on the flight. “The decision was taken after the pilot of the aircraft notified the team of officials from GECOM that all the scheduled passengers would not be able to make the flight

since the weight was already above the 600lbs payload,” GECOM had explained. It was noted that the passengers who were scheduled to be on the flight included the GECOM’s balloting officers, Commissioner Vincent Alexander, a police officer and three agents representing the APNU+AFC, PPP/C and URP respectively. “The pilot advised that two persons would not be able go on the flight. As such, it was decided that rather than taking one agent and leaving two, no agent was on the flight,” GECOM said. Noting that it was appalled by the claims made in reports that the PPP’s agent was ejected from the flight, GECOM said Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield, held a meeting with the elections agents of all political parties on February 15, 2020 to provide details pertaining to the operational activities for the conduct of Disciplined Services balloting and

polling day for General and Regional Elections. Notwithstanding the challenges encountered, there was a high voters’ turnout. According to GECOM, of the 10,226 eligible voters from the Disciplined Services, a total of 8,369 persons or 81.8 per cent voted. Statistics recorded by GECOM’s Secretariat indicate that from the Guyana Police Force, 5,400 or 80.6 per cent of eligible voters casted their ballots while 2,539 or 83.6 per cent of eligible voters within the Guyana Defence Force, voted. Four hundred and thirty (430) or 88.1 per cent of the officers attached to the Guyana Prison Service casted their ballots on Friday. A total of 86 polling stations were made available by GECOM at various locations across the country for members of the Disciplined Services. Chairperson of the GECOM, Justice (Ret’d)

Claudette Singh, and several of her commissioners expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the Joint Services voting on Friday. Notably, the less than 2,000 members of the Disciplinary Services who were unable to vote on Friday, February 21, 2020 would be given the opportunity to cast their ballots on Monday next, when the masses will go to the polls. In total, there are 11 political parties contesting the General and Regional Elections. Those parties include the ruling party – A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic – the main opposition political party, A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Change Guyana, The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), The New Movement (TNM) and Liberty and Justice Party (LJP).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

Guyana begins search for company to market its crude GUYANA has commenced a search for a company to market its crude entitlement and those interested must have at least five years’ experience in the field; show their annual turnover and tax clearance for the last five years; give indication of any pending litigation and more, to meet the strict criteria for shortlisting. On Wednesday, the Department of Energy (DE) published the ‘Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) - Provision of Marketing Services for the Cooperative Republic of Guyana’s Oil Entitlement from the Lisa Destiny FPSO Vessel’. The five-page document stated that the duration of services for such an Oil Marketing / Trading Company will last 12 months, between 2020 and 2021 and EOIs are to be submitted by March 12, 2020, to the Chairman of National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). In providing a background to the project, the DE stated that Guyana’s coastal waters contain one of the largest oil discoveries in recent years, placing Guyana in the top 40 reserve holders in the world. However, it noted that while most oil-producing countries possess a National Oil Company (NOC) with a responsibility to sell the country’s oil, Guyana does not possess the same and, therefore, this responsibility must be managed by the DE to sell the oil to international markets in keeping with the Petroleum Sharing Agree-

ment dated June 27, 2016. To market Guyana’s crude successfully, the government aims for a minimum production rate of five lifts per annum of Liza Blend Crude Oil at a cargo size each of 1,000,000 bbls at 60F. The selected company will also be required to provide support to DE in all operating and back- office responsibilities of managing these crude sales and each individual lift and support the DE in the first year of introduction of the grade in multiple geographies and refinery systems. Added to this, the Oil Marketing / Trading Company must work closely with the DE in understanding the behaviour and yields of the Liza Blend and how these affect pricing differentials and advocating for any operational considerations that may affect the pricing of the crude. It will also be required to conduct training sessions for DE personnel in matters relating to crude oil supply and trading fundamentals, especially those relevant to the Liza grade pricing and to use all reasonable efforts to provide relevant information, documentation and/or training in a timely manner for DE personnel. However, this is providing that the company meets the criteria set out in the EOI, which they must submit by the aforementioned deadline. Some of the expected criteria include the company’s Certificate of Incorporation; details of previous experience in introducing a new Grade in the market; certified true

The Liza Destiny FPSO

copies of Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company and/or similar statutory documents; company profile showing company’s capabilities; statement of Business Integrity Code of Conduct and contact details of the company. Other requirements instruct that the company possess at least 5 years’ experience in crude oil marketing and trading, within the last 5 years and show details of the bidder’s volume of crude oil trading and marketing volumes by geography over the last 5 years. Apart from showing its Company Tax Clearance Certificate and HSE Policy and

records over the last 5 years, the company must also put forward its annual turnover either through an Audited Balance Sheet with Profit and Loss Accounts or a Certificate issued by a practising Chartered /Cost Accountant certifying the same. On the legal end, the bidding company must open up to proving a written statement giving details of any pending litigation the bidder may or may not have and must provide another written statement confirming that it does not have any Director who has been convicted in any country for a criminal offence relating to fraud or

any financial impropriety or criminal misrepresentation or falsification of facts relating to any matter. The document states that the bidder shall make provisions to allow DE to verify all claims made in submission and that the bidder’s organisation is not in receivership, nor the subject of any form of insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings or the subject of any form of winding up petition or proceedings. The firms will be selected to form the Shortlist of Companies, who will exclusively and at the same time, receive the Request for Proposal (RFP). Only shortlisted companies

will be invited to submit Full Technical and Commercial Proposals. “Failure to provide any of the listed documents or information with requisite proof(s) may result in the EOI not being considered for the shortlist or pre-qualification. Notwithstanding the submission of these documentation, the Department of Energy is neither committed nor obliged to include any party in the tender list or award any form of contract to any applicant,” the document notified.

Parika backlands drug ‘bust’…

Mechanic, boat captain arraigned and remanded AFTER a recent drug ‘bust’ in which more than 60 pounds of suspected cocaine along with a US$1M go-fast boat was seized by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), two men were on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, remanded to prison for the offence. Latchman Sankar called ‘Jack,’ a 35-year-old mechanic, along with Muneshwar Dusraj called ‘Bonny’ a 49-year-old boat captain, appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Wales Magistrate’s Court.

Particulars of the charge allege that the men on February 22, 2020 at the Parika backlands, East Bank Es-

sequibo, had 27.866 kilogrammes of cocaine in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.

CANU prosecutor Konyo Sandiford objected to bail for the duo, since the evidence is substantial and the men’s

attorney failed to raise sufficient grounds for bail. According to reports, Sankar was the alleged mastermind behind the crime while Dusraj was the captain of the boat which was carrying the narcotic. CANU, after over a twoweek period, was successfully able to arrest the duo whilst they were on board the go-fast boat at Parika backlands. The narcotic, which was found in the bow of the boat along with a go-fast boat with two 250 horsepower engines,

was seized. The magistrate remanded the two men to prison until March 11, 2020. The matter has been transferred to Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court. The anti-narcotics body has issued a wanted bulletin for known character Ryan Pemberton, called ‘Sancho,’ of Alberttown, Georgetown. Pemberton had threatened to kill the CANU ranks and also shoot up CANU headquarters during the alleged interception.

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PAHO calls for stepped up preparedness for Coronavirus …as Brazil announces first imported case in Latin America

DIRECTOR of the Pan American Health Organisation, Carissa F. Etienne, on Wednesday recommended that countries intensify their plans to prepare and respond to COVID-19, given the appearance of cases of the new coronavirus disease in the Region of the Americas. The Ministry of Health of Brazil confirmed the country’s first case of COVID-19 on February 26. The patient is a 61-year-old man who recently returned from Italy, where an outbreak of the virus has been ongoing since last week. So far, COVID-19 has already affected 81,109 people in 38 countries of the world, 78,191 of them in China, according to the World Health Organisation. “For several weeks, countries in the Americas have been preparing for the possible importation of cases of COVID-19. There are measures in place for detecting, diagnosing and caring for patients with the disease,” Dr. Etienne said. “A strong emphasis on stopping transmission continues to be an important objective, while recognising that the situation may vary from country to country and will require tailored responses,” she said, adding: “A multisectoral response to ensure strengthened surveillance, health service readiness, preventing spread, and maintaining essential services are key interventions to slow transmission and save lives.” She said countries of the Americas have already been working on these areas since 2009 as part of their pandemic influenza plans, and it stands ready to support countries in rolling out these plans. COVID-19 is transmitted from person-to-person through droplets, and in contact with contaminated surfaces. The disease is spread primarily by people who already show symptoms. Cur-

rent information suggests that a single infected person can infect between one to four close contacts. In the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean, the impact on health services may be significant, with the possibility that health services may become overwhelmed, including a high demand for specialised hospital services such as intensive care. FIRST LATAM CASE The Ministry of Health of Brazil has confirmed that the patient with COVID-19 infection had recently returned from Italy. Brazilian authorities are taking measures to prevent the further spread of the disease, including a careful investigation of all relevant information, and following up with anyone who may have come in contact with the infected patient. The first imported case of COVID-19 in the Region of the Americas was identified on January 21 in the United States, and a few days later, on January 25, Canada reported its first confirmed case. Since then, there have been 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in North America. WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO Meanwhile, there are simple precautions that everyone can take to prevent respiratory illness, including COVID-19: • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based sanitising gel. • When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with your flexed elbow, or with a tissue; dispose of the tissue immediately and wash your hands. • Avoid close contact with anyone who has coughing and fever.

Desmond Trotman, Gerry Gouveia settle differences before ERC WITH the assistance of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Captain Gerald Gouveia and Commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Desmond Trotman, have come to an amicable resolution on a previous dispute. In a letter to the media on Wednesday, the ERC hailed the arrival at a peaceful settlement as proof that the Commission “has the mechanisms and capability of working for the restoring of harmony and peace where discord and disagreem e n t formerly existed”.

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) member, Desmond Trotman

T h e disagreement stemmed from complaints by Gouveia to the ERC in regards to a letter written by Trotman to Gouveia in his capacity as PSC Chair wherein Gouveia was compared to having the traits associated with the plantocracy. Initially, in a letter in July 2019, Gouveia had called on GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, to “immediately suspend” the ongoing house-to-house registration exercise” deeming it as “unlawful”. Some days later, Trotman had responded stating that Gouveia’s position on the current political situation was laced with “inaccuracies” and an “obsession” with ousting the current Administration. It was therein that he made the said comments which offended Gouveia. Following Gouveia’s complaint to the Commission, a special Sub-Committee was appointed on November 8, 2019, to investigate the said complaints and this was spearheaded by Retired Justice Stanley Moore, as Chair-

man of the Sub-Committee. On Wednesday, in a public statement, Trotman withdrew his attributions to Gouveia noting that they were mistaken and that he hadn’t knowledge, at the time of the writing, that Lowenfield had already responded to Gouveia. “Unfortunately, in my response, I erred in identifying Gouveia’s ancestry as that of the Plantocracy and the slave owning-class and therefore mistakenly attributed their traits to him,” Trotman stated. “In these unhappy circumstances, I accept that in view of Mr. Lowenfield’s re-

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Captain Gerald Gouveia

sponse to Mr. Gouveia, of which I was unaware at the time, there was no need for a response from me, inclusive of the mistakenly attributed references to him and his forebears, which references offended him, as if they were the Massa and all that is attributable to the Massas. I therefore unreservedly withdraw all such attributions.” In response, Gouveia accepted the withdrawal and expressed that he is confident that the two will be able to put the matter behind them. He assured the public that he personally holds Lowenfield in the highest regard, that the views presented in his original letter were shared by “several members of the PSC” and that Lowenfield’s response to him was “adequate”. “I feel confident that both Mr. Trotman and I will now put this episode behind us and continue to play our respective roles in advancing the future development of our beloved Guyana in an atmosphere of ethnic harmony and cohesion,” he said in a public statement.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

MoPT, GGMC collaborate to stage first 2020 hackathon THE Ministry of Public Telecommunications (MoPT), in collaboration with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), o n We d n e s d a y a n nounced its first collaborative hackathon. The hackathon, which will be held from March 15-18, 2020, comes as a way to advance the use of technology in the mining sector. Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, said that technology holds the solution to many issues in society, including the mining sector. The hackathon, she added, will be used to devise ways to implement solutions to issues the sector faces. Further, Minister Hughes said that one of the major aims of the MoPT is that Guyanese be not only users of the technology, but be the developers also. “Our mining industry is a key sector and the thing about the hackathon too is that any of the problems faced we know exists in a range of different sectors; so we’re going into a new and exciting time in our mining sector and we know that we can find technological solutions to some of the challenges that they have. We want to ensure that we continue to make sure that this sector is managed in a sustainable way that ensures that our mineral resources and our environment are protected for generations to come.” She explained that by the year 2025, it is estimated that every job would rely heavily on technology to create and apply solutions to issues. Further, Minister Hughes stated that the hackathon like the previous ones hosted by the ministry will address a specific

issue and will seek to offer solutions to that issue. She stated that the previous hackathons which focused on the agricultural sector is still currently being tested by farmers and purchasers before the application is market-ready. She stated that the MoPT is excited to have collaboration with the GGMC to bring technology that would advance the mining sector. Commissioner of the GGMC, Newell Dennison, stated that he sees the collaboration and the solutions that would be derived from the hackathon as a tool that the GGMC can use to not just better the way it conducts operations, but also how it deals with issues that may arise. “We see this activity as an opportunity to bring a blend of advancing our own interest with developmental of youth and what they have to bring to the table, to see how we can solve and bring solutions to our own issues without restrictions,” said Dennison. Further, he said that there is still a lot of room for the GGMC to develop a mode of work to deal with information management. Embracing the ICT sector, he said, would enable the mining industry to function much more effectively and efficiently. The MoPT stated that for this hackathon the rules of entry have been adjusted: each team is now required to have at least one female member and one member who is a current university student. Teams that wish to participate in the hackathon can complete their application forms at: https://mopt. gov.gy/

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

Drilling at Orinduik Block could be pushed to 2021

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---as companies seek to further understand geological make-up of area THE need to better understand the geology of the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana could push the drilling program by Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. and its Joint Venture (JV) partners from 2020 to 2021. In its unaudited results for the period ended 31 December 2019, and its corporate and operational update published on Wednesday, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Atlantic, Gil Holzman disclosed the same. “While it is Eco's intention, and there remains the potential to conduct a drilling programme later this year, the need to integrate the new data learned from recent discoveries in the region into our understanding of the Block's geology may result in further drilling and appraisal activity taking place in H1 2021,” Holzman said. The possible delay comes as the block Operator, Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) has proposed a further fine-tuning analysis of the upper cretaceous reservoirs and plans to incorporate the Carapa well data into Orinduik's existing geological models and technical analysis over the coming period. On January 2, 2020, Tullow announced an oil discovery in the Kanuku Block offshore Guyana at the Carapa-1 Well but the find was below the company’s

The Upper and lower cretaceous and tertiary of the Orinduik block and partially Stabroek block

pre-drill estimates. The Carapa prospect was initially estimated as a 200-million-barrel cretaceous target but the well drilled encountered approximately four metres of “good quality oil”. The partners also plan to integrate the discoveries at the Jethro and Joe wells with the Carapa discovery. The initial analysis of the oil discovered in the Jethro-1 well and the Joe-1 well in the Orinduik block has shown that the finds are heavy crudes with high sulphur content. According to the Operators, the oil tested to date is similar to the commercial heavy crudes currently in production in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico,

the Campos Basin in Brazil, Venezuela and Angola. The Company has now engaged a third-party consultant with heavy oil development and economics expertise for preliminary evaluations related to production schemes and commercialisation. “Technical and commercial evaluation work is ongoing and the Company is considering alternatives for further drilling and testing and a number of development scenarios and production alternatives. The Company remains optimistic in considering the development scenarios and, as the project progresses, will provide further information on plans and

D’Urban St man killed during fight over raw gold

POLICE are investigating the murder of Compton Benjamin, age 48 years, a porknocker of D'urban Street, Georgetown, allegedly by a co-worker who is presently being sought. The incident occurred at Lime Tree Road, Black Water Backdam, on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at around 06:30hrs. Enquiries disclosed that the suspect and victim had an altercation over a quantity of stolen raw gold which he (suspect) had earlier secured in a cupboard they both shared. Their argument reportedly escalated to the point where they began to fight and, during the process, the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim in the region of his chest. He was rushed to the Bartica Regional Hospital where he succumbed to his injury whilst receiving medical attention. The body is presently at the hospital's mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Atlantic, Gil Holzman

timing,” the report stated. The data will be incorporated into a reprocessing of the 3D seismic already shot on Orinduik with the intent of

providing further definition to the Cretaceous interpretation and target selection for drilling. Meanwhile, geological modelling, prospects maturation and target selection on the block are ongoing, and the JV Partners are working closely to agree on the best work programme to further explore the prospectivity of the licence. Multiple prospects are being reviewed with high-graded candidates under consideration for the next drilling programme. The report stated: “Eco is fully funded and is pushing to drill a minimum of at least one upper Cretaceous target as soon as practically possible for its partners. Consideration

is being given to prioritise a stacked multi-target well.” As recent as February 3, 2020, the Company announced the filing of a National Instrument 51-101 compliant resource report on the Orinduik Block. This saw the raising of oil estimates in the Orinduik block from 3.9 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE) to over 5.1 MMBOE, representing a 29 per cent increase in Gross Prospective Resources. Meanwhile, 22 prospects were identified in the block including 11 leads in the Upper Cretaceous horizon. Leads in the Tertiary aged section are estimated to contain 1.2 MMBOE and Leads in the Cretaceous section are estimated to contain approximately 3.9 MMBOE. It was reported that the majority of the project leads have over a 30 per cent or better chance of success, enhanced by the recent discovery of “light oil” in the Carapa 1 well on the Kanuku block to the south of Orinduik. The Orinduik JV partners are Eco Atlantic with 15 per cent working interest; Tullow Guyana B.V. (Operator) with 60 per cent working interest and Total E&P Guyana B.V. with 25 per cent working interest.

Prison Officer further remanded

ON Wednesday, February 26, 2020, prison officer, George Selman, was further remanded to prison for two weeks by Magistrate Faith McGusty, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The prison officer, George Selman of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, was remanded to prison by Magistrate McGusty last Wednesday, February 19, 2020, for threatening language and breech of protection order. The first charge alleged that, on Sunday, February 2, 2020, in

Georgetown, Selman allegedly made use of threatening language to a female. The second charge alleged that, on the same day, in the same location, he breeched a protection order which was made against him by the female. When he made his second court appearance on Wednesday morning, while in the process of being escorted to court room 5, before Magistrate McGusty, he happened to incriminate himself with a statement which related to

the two charges that were made against him. The orderly who had ‘witnessed’ the act provided the court with the defendant’s self-incriminating statement, “If magistrate give me bail, she (the victim) will have to get real protection because I will burn she up.” Upon hearing this, Magistrate Faith McGusty acted in accordance to prevent the manifestation of the act and further remanded Selman to prison until Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

‘If we have to fetch people on our backs we will do so’

…Jagdeo vows to press on despite reduction in private residences as polling stations DAYS before Guyanese go to the polls in general and regional elections, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, is raging over the decision made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to reduce the use of private residence as polling stations. During a public meeting at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, Jagdeo told supporters gathered at the meeting that the decisions was an alleged attempt by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) + Alliance for Change (AFC) and GECOM to rig the elections since he believes that many of the polling stations that were reduced were in PPP/C strongholds. “They [GECOM] gave us a list of polling places that the commission approved and then last week when we heard that there was a new list, when we saw this list in many PPP/C strongholds they had reduced the number of polling places and we have been waging a battle. I have made it clear that if this is not addressed on Wednesday you will see five thousand people in front of GECOM [protesting],” Jagdeo stated.

The People’s Progressive Party General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo addressing supporters at a public meeting held at Enmore on Monday night

A section of the gathering at Enmore during a public meeting on Monday night

However, GECOM’S chairman, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, had told this publication that the decision to reduce the number of private residences as polling station is in keeping with recommendations from the Carter Center, shutting down allegations of voter suppression by the opposition. Justice Singh further added that, while the number of private

residences has been reduced, the use of the public buildings has increased. However, in reassuring the party’s supporters, Jagdeo further noted that if the decision is not corrected, the PPP/C will ensure that its supporters-- young, old and disabled-- get to the polling stations on March 02. “Even if we [don’t] get it fixed we will move every

single person, if we have to hire 50 minibuses and fetch people on our backs we will do so; so that the PPP/C is elected…they don’t scare us, they don’t intimidate us, they don’t frighten us; we will stand up for the people of Guyana in this fight,” he stated. The Party with a Plan Outlining the party’s plan if they should be returned to government, Jagdeo noted that the first action of the PPP/C will be to generate employment. “The first act is to create jobs, put people back to work now. How do we [do] that? We are going to reopen the sugar estates, comrades, right across the country, with the exceptions of wales; we have to do that to put those sugar workers especially in Berbice, they

have to go back to work,” he stated. Jagdeo further stated that the PPP/C will remove taxes from machinery equipment, from fertilizers, from pesticides and give back the concessions to industries so that rice farmers and sugar workers. The PPP/C, he added, will also invest in better drainage and irrigation systems for farm lands and improve the farm to market roads so farmers can work under improved conditions. “If you reverse taxes, money will remain in peoples pocket to spend back on their families, in the markets and everywhere else; people complain that everything is slow and it is slow because the government is sucking out too many taxes from people’s pockets,” he stated.

Jagdeo further related to supporters gathered at the meeting that the party will reduce the cost of living by reducing the taxes on electricity and water bills. Promising supporters that the PPP/C will double the old age pension to $40,000 a month and increase the school children cash grant to $50,000, Jagdeo noted that revenues for the said plans will come from the country’s oil and gas sector. He added that, with the monies earned from the oil and gas sector, the PPP/C will pour such back into the health sector to ensure that Guyanese across the country are receiving the best health care. Additionally the PPP/C will also do same with the education sector to provide free education from nursery to the tertiary level as well as provide scholarships for the youths of Guyana.

Banks to close at midday on Monday if E-Day is not a holiday THE Guyana Association of Bankers Inc. (GABI) has confirmed that some seven banks and other banking institutions will be closed for business on Elections Day from noon to allow employees the right to vote at the polls. These members of GABI are: Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited; Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited; Demerara Bank Limited; Citizens Bank Guyana Inc.; Bank of Baroda; Bank of Nova Scotia Guyana; Trust Company; New

Building Society; Guyana Americas Merchant Bank and Hand-in-Hand Trust Guyana. GABI stated that these banks will close at

12:00hrs unless elections day is declared a national holiday, which would see the banks being closed altogether. TURN TO PAGE

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$109.7M seed-cleaning facility established at Mahaica-Berbice THE Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has invested $109.7M in the establishment of a stateof-the-art seed-cleaning facility at the Burma Rice Research Station, in Region Five. The seed-cleaning equipment cost $99.3M, while renovation to the existing

building was completed at a cost of $10.4M. On Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, commissioned the ‘Superbrix’ 10-tonne seed cleaner. He noted that the modernised facility will continue to provide good quality seeds and better-quality seed increases yield by 10-15 per cent.

“The previous two-tonne seed cleaner required that operations be done on a 24hour basis when seeds were being cleaned. This was procured and installed over 10 years ago,” Minister Holder reminded. With this new high-quality system, the minister said the Burma Rice Research

The $109.7M seed-cleaning facility at GRDB Burma Rice Research Station, in Region Five

Station will now be able to clean seed that it produces at a faster rate, thus reducing extended working hours. He added that there is a cost attached for private seed growers who wish to utilise the services offered by the GRDB. The rice research station has, over the years, made remarkable strides. Nineteen rice varieties along with the production packages were developed which contributed to the boom in the productivity of farm levels. The national average has moved to 5.9 hectares compared to about four hectares 10 years ago. Also present at the formal event was the GRDB’s General

Guyana Rice Development Board commissions $109.7M seed-cleaning facility at Burma Rice Research Station, in Region Five

Manager, Nizam Hassan; Deputy General Man ager Allison Peters and

Banks to close at midday on ...

“This arrangement is imperative as it would provide the employees of the member institutions with ample time to exercise their franchise at the polls,” the association stated. Chapter 1:03 of the Representation of the People Act states: “Every employer shall permit every elector in his employ, other than any elector on whose behalf another elector has been appointed to vote

Chief Technical Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, George Jervis. (DPI)

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as a proxy, to be absent from his work on election day for a reasonable time, in addition to the normal midday meal hour, for the purpose of voting at the election; and no employer shall make any deduction from pay or other remuneration of any such elector or impose on him or exact from him any penalty by reason of his absence during such period.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

$7.3M school bus for Burma students

A $7.3M 30-seater school bus was on Wednesday handed over to the community of Burma in the Mahaica-Berbice region. The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS) and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure jointly donated the vehicle following a request from residents. The bus will serve students from communities along the Burma Road, including Augsburg, Catherina and Champagne. According to Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, the new service will save time and money for farming families, and reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson remarked that while the communities have several needs, the provision of the school bus was one of the ‘low-hanging fruits’ for the government. Pointing to a brighter future for Guyana’s children, Minister Patterson said that the education sector

Minister Holder handing over tractor and implements to a member of the Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL)

A pupil of the Augsburg Primary School assisted Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson with the cutting of the ribbons to officially commission the $7.3M MARDS school bus

is poised for greatness in the ‘Decade of Development’ announced by President David Granger on January 1. “Do not only drop these children to school, but also use the bus to expand the

student’s horizon,” Minister Patterson further urged. Meanwhile, also on Wednesday afternoon, Minister Holder handed over a tractor and implements valued at $15.5M to the Hope

Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL). The implements include a four-disk plough, a 20-disk harrow and a ditcher. “This will strengthen the capacity of Hope Estate to provide land preparation ser-

vices to the small cash-crop farmers, and maintain 77km of access dams in the Estate. Two hundred-and-sixty cash-crop farmers with approximately 952 acres of land under cultivation will directly benefit from this donation,” Minister Holder stated. Mahadeo Mohabir, one of the beneficiaries, said he had to plough his land

manually before the tractor was donated. “We glad we get this tractor now; it is a big help. Thanks to the minister and all who donated it,” Mr Mohabir said. With the donation, Boodhnarine Ramdas, another farmer, said he no longer has to pay workers to take days to cultivate his farm. “This can be done in two hours the most.” (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

Driver in Nismes fatal crash Businessman accused of assault and threatening granted $400,000 bail

THE driver of the Route 31 minibus which was involved in an accident resulting in the demise of four persons at Nismes on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), on Wednesday appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

ley of Patentia Housing Scheme; 12-year old Maria Bisnauth of 125 Sideline Dam in Sister’s Village; 52-year old Rawle Glen of Canal Number One and 22-year-old Zavira Jona of Patentia, all of West Bank Demerara. Bharrat was granted

2981, crashed into motor car PTT 691, a Toyota Premio, at around 19:00hrs as the car was exiting the D&L Gas Station. Persons on the scene reported that the mini-bus was heading north on the western carriageway when the car exited the D&L Gas

language granted bail

A 41-year-old businessman of Duncan Street Campbellville, Vishnu Budhan, was, on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, brought before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, on two charges. The first charge alleged that, on Friday, December 27,

2019, at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, Budhan unlawfully assaulted Ron Persaud. The second charge alleged that, on the same day, at the same location, Budhan made use of threatening language to Ron Persaud, thereby causing a breach of peace. Vishnu Budhan denied

both charges. Magistrate McGusty granted $10,000 bail to Budhan for each offence. The bail was granted under the conditions that Budhan makes no contact with the virtual complainant, Ron Persaud. The matter was transferred to court 11 before Magistrate Annette Singh.

Sri Lankans fined for illegal entry Compton Bharrat, 35, of La Retraite, WBD, appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Wales Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to the four charges. Particulars of the charge allege that Bharrat on November 30, 2019, at Nismes,WBD, drove minibus BYY 2981 in a dangerous manner, which resulted in the death of four persons. The deceased are 29-year-old Ayesha Sea-

$400,000 bail and will return to court on March 13, 2020. On December 13, 2019, Bharrat was charged before Magistrate Zamilla Ally at the Wales Magistrate’s Court for the breach of his insurance, failing to render assistance and failing to report the accident. He was released on a total of $120,000 bail. According to reports, on November 30, 2019, the Route 31 minibus BYY

Station and ended up in the path of the minibus as he attempted to turn south into the eastern carriageway. The mini-bus was said to have been speeding. Four persons died while several others received injuries. The accident sent shockwaves throughout the country as it had added to a series of road fatalities during that period.

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Wednesday February 26, 2020, fined four Sri Lankans $40,000 each, or, in default, eight weeks in prison for entering Guyana illegally. Anthony Jeyaraj, thambirasa Nira Jan, Siriran Jans Senthusaan and Sebamlall Dias appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and, through an interpreter, pleaded guilty to the charge. The charge alleged that, between January 18, 2020 and February 22, 2020, at Springlands, they entered

Guyana by sea and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer. The Police Prosecutor told the court that, on February 27, 2020, the defendants were in a route 94 minibus heading to Lethem. The bus was stopped at Mabura police outpost. It was then that it was discovered that the defendants had no entry stamps in their passports. They were arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters. The defendants were in-

terviewed and they claimed that they came to Guyana on a boat from Suriname as tourists and wanted to see the country, but didn’t know they had to present themselves to an immigration officer. Attorney-at-law, Paul Fung-a-fat, who represented the men, told the court that the defendants were prepared to pay the fines and purchase their tickets back to Sri Lanka. Magistrate McLennan then fined them $40,000 each, or, in default, eight weeks in prison.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

GPSCCU staffers get paternity leave, pension and medical schemes -- in new Collective Labour Agreement

By Tamica Garnett PATERNITY leave and the introduction of pension and medical schemes are some of the new arrangements that staff of the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union (GPSCCU) will benefit from following the signing of a new Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) between the organisation’s management and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU). The new CLA, which will run for a period of two years, was signed on Wednesday in the boardroom of the Department of Labour (DoL), on Brickdam, Georgetown. The new agreement replaces an aged CLA that was last signed in 1978,

and came about following much deliberation between CCWU and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) that was installed 18 months ago to oversee administration at the GPSCCU. The GPSCCU will now be one of only two organisations in the country that offers paternity leave, something that was last year recommended in a report by the Women and Gender Equality Commission. Head of the IMC, Trevor Benn explained that the paternity leave will be granted for one month, and be paid for by the company, pending certain criteria. “For me, the icing on the cake is the introduction of the paternity leave,” Benn said. “We’ve made it clear that the paternity leave is

meant for those persons in a stable relationship with one partner, and has taken responsibility for the offspring,” he added. The staff will also be required to give prior notice of their partner expecting, and subsequently produce copies of the child’s birth certificate, showing that they are recorded as the infant’s father. Equivalent to maternity leave, which is given to mothers on the birth of a child, paternity leave is leave granted to the father of an infant. In Guyana, maternity leave, which lasts for 91 days, is catered for by law, with payments made by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). However, there are stipulations for paternity leave. Of the 32 staff members

Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle (right), and CCWU General President Sherwood Clarke display a copy of the new CLA, while being flanked by, from left, CCWU Branch Representative, Paul Clarke; Senior Vice-President Kim Halley; CCWU Credit Union Chairman Donna Todd; and GPSCCU IMC Head, Trevor Benn (Samuel Maughn photo)

at the GPSCCU, approximately eight are men. Benn said it was something that the staff members lobbied for after seeing it was implemented in other countries. Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle described the agreement as “a very comprehensive” one. “Very few are so comprehensive,” he said, adding: “What is good to note is that the Department of Labour did not have to intervene, which augured well for the Union and management.” CCWU General President, Sherwood Clarke, noted his approval of the CLA. COLLABORATIVE EFFORT “We had a collaborative effort making this a reality, and I think the staff will be satisfied,” Clarke said. “I want to continue the great relationship between the CCWU and management,”

he added. Aside from Clarke signing the agreement on behalf of CCWU were Senior Vice-President Kim Halley, and Branch Representative Paul Clarke (no relation to Sherwood). Clarke applauded the cooperation between the CCWU and management, and commended the continuous effort made by the IMC to deal with staff issues since its appointment, including dealing with gratuity and working conditions at the GPSCCU building. Benn related that when the IMC took over, there were several unsatisfactory conditions under which the staff was suffering. “As we began to look at the gamut of our work,” he said, “we were horrified to know that our staff was working under less than humane conditions. The salary was pitiful; the conditions in the building were pitiful,

and the morale was very low. Immediately we looked at ensuring that there were across-the-board increases in gratuity.” And back then, only a few persons were benefitting from gratuity,” Benn explained. The gratuity will now be disbanded with the introduction of the pension scheme at the organisation. “Staff were going off and didn’t know what they were entitled to. With this new CLA with pension, staff will now know with certainty what they can expect at the end of their work life,” Benn noted. Aside from gratuity, Benn noted the IMC also immediately sought to improve the physical working conditions of the building. He noted that this benefits not only the staff but members of the Union as well. “The building is old, but inside has been modernised TURN TO PAGE

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Teen convicted for raping seven-year-old lad

A 19-year-old young man was on Wednesday found guilty by a 12-member jury of raping a seven-year-old boy in 2015. The teen was on trial before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in the Sexual Offences Court at the Demerara High Court. The teen was remanded to prison where he is to re-

main until his next court date on March 12, 2020, for a probation report and sentencing. He was found guilty of engaging in sexual penetration with a child who is under the age of consent, between December 1, 2015, and December 24, 2015. The accused was 14 years old when he committed the

offence. According to reports, the defendant is known to the victim and during the period in question, he asked the child to suck his penis. The victim refused, but the accused forced the child’s mouth open and inserted his penis.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 27, 2020

Sonia Noel Foundation fetes senior citizens, PWDs

OVER 25 elderly persons, as well as persons living with disabilities, were treated at the Sonia Noel Foundation’s Senior Citizens Luncheon on February 19 2020 at the Hotel Tower. In addition to the luncheon, the invitees were treated to ‘goodie’ bags filled with a variety of food items. The event was part of the Foundation’s Love Revolution’s signature Golden Jubilee campaign to instil compassion, empathy and benevolence. Chairperson of the Foundation, Sonia Noel said that charity is extremely important to her, and thus she makes the special effort to give back, and to give back to the persons who would have paved the way for the future, the elderly persons in Guyana. She further related that charity is also a way to show not only appreciation, but to show love and support for persons from all walks of life, saying, “We have to be intentional every day about sharing the law of love.” The will to touch persons lives and be able to be a

blessing in the lives of many is what drives her foundation, Noel said, explaining that the organisation is not one that has millions of dollars at its disposal. However, she has faith that the positive will be accomplished by the event, would draw close the

Philanthropist Sonia Noel distributing some of the meals at her Foundation’s Luncheon

A section of the gathering at the Sonia Noel Foundation Luncheon for the Elderly and Persons Living with Disabilities (Delano Williams photos)

right persons or organisations to help her in achieving her goal of giving back. In closing, she added that this event is not the first charitable event her organisation has looked

to host, and related that it will not be the last, adding that she will always have the drive to make persons feel loved, appreciated and valued.

33-year-old West La Penitence resident fined and granted bail A 33-year-old West La Penitence resident, Shevion Rodrigues, was brought before Magistrate Faith McGusty on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on three charges. The first charge alleged that, on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at Light Street, Georgetown, Rodrigues unlawfully assaulted a female. The second charge alleged that, on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at Light Street, Georgetown, Rodrigues made use of threatening language to a female, thus causing a breach of the

peace. The third charge alleged that, on the same day, at the same location, Rodrigues made use of abusive language to a female. Rodrigues denied the first and second charges, thereby pleading not guilty. However, he admitted to the third charge, pleading guilty with explanation. Rodrigues explained to the court that he went to the female victim’s home inquiring about some missing material. The female victim was adamant about answering his question, at the same time causing an injury to Rodrigues’ left leg. His

mother had cautioned him to go to the hospital and file a complaint. Rodrigues said specifically, “The material din loss. I ask about it and me and she had an altercation.” Upon hearing the explanation, Magistrate McGusty granted Rodrigues $20,000 bail for the first and second charges to which he pleaded not guilty and fined him $10,000 for the offence he pleaded guilty to. He was also placed under bond of peace until matter is completed. The matter was transferred to court 11.

GPSCCU staffers get paternity ... to ensure that the working conditions for the staff have reached certain standards to improve the conditions to receive our customers and members. We have arranged services to ensure our members don’t have to

spend a lot of time in the building,” he said. Benn noted that while the IMC has done a lot over the past 18 months for both the staff and members, there remains a lot more that the IMC is looking to get done

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in the coming months. The IMC was installed in May 2018, at a time when allegations arose about mismanagement of the Union by the previous management committee.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 27, 2020

Fernando, Mendis crush... FROM BACKPAGE Fernando, meanwhile, brought up his fifty off 56 balls in the 20th over and followed his partner to his second hundred in the 38th over, off 109 deliveries. The partnership was broken in the 41st over with the charge on, Mendis skying Cottrell for wicketkeeper Hope to take the catch running up to the stumps. Thisara Perera then struck 36 from 25 balls to gather late runs for Sri Lanka as Cottrell and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph (3-57) sliced through the lower order. Facing a required run rate of seven runs per over, there were hardly any fireworks as Hope and Sunil Ambris (17) put on 64 for the first wicket and with pressure building steadily, Ambris perished via run-out in a bad mix-up with Hope in the 13th over. Hope, dropped in the seventh over on 31, hit five classy fours in a 65-ball knock but was too a victim of pressure, caught mid-on in the 18th over trying to clear the infield with medium pacer Angelo Mathews. Hasaranga and Sandakan, bowling in tandem, then weaved their magic, spinning a web around the Windies middle order to engineer

its collapse. Left-hander Darren Bravo (16) mis-read a Hasaranga googly, played against the turn, and was brilliantly taken at slip by Dhananjaya de Silva moving to his right in the 2st over. Pooran and Roston Chase (20) resisted in a fourth-wicket stand of 31 but the partnership required 47 balls and contained just two boundaries and by the time Chase was flummoxed by Sandakan in the 28th over and comprehensively bowled, West Indies were 130 for four and facing an asking rate of nearly 10 runs an over. Two balls later in the next over, Pollard played down the wrong line to another Hasaranga googly and was bowled first ball and with six runs added at 137 for six, Holder suffered the identical fate at the hands of Hasaranga and was bowled for three. Pooran, who struck three fours in a 41ball knock, tried to counter-attack but holed out in the 36th over with the game already gone, top-edging a slog-sweep at Sandakan to be brilliantly caught by Mathews running around to mid-wicket.

Lady Jags to battle Mexico .... FROM BACKPAGE

2-1 victory over Puerto Rico 2 in their second game. The Mexicans, on the other hand, edged Puerto Rico 2-1 in their first game and then returned in their second match of the tournament to whip Nicaragua 4-0, to sit atop the group with a superior goal difference (+2) and set-up a mouth-watering final group-stage game against Guyana. “Mexico are the ‘class’ of the tournament; Mexico, USA, Canada, they’ve proved to be in the finals time-and-time again. Probably the most skilled players on this team, they can serve great balls, they’re good with the air, they’re good one-v-one; we’ll have our work cut out for us,” head coach Dr Ivan Joseph told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview from the exotic Spanish-speaking Island. Mexico came into this year’s championship with a point to prove, and will want to show that their 4-2 penalty kicks win over CONCACAF rivals the USA in the final of the 2018 championship in Trinidad and Tobago was no fluke. The USA had stopped Mexico in the finals of 2010 and 2014, while the Central

Americans had finished third in 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2015. A win for Guyana today will see them play Grenada on Sunday, while a defeat will land them against the winners of Group H which comprises Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, the Cayman Islands and St Kitts & Nevis. “We’re both playing for first in our bracket, so the games are going to have meaning,” Dr Joseph added, while noting that “we’re playing to secure first, while also balancing our players so that they’re well-rested for that

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first round sudden-death playoff (on Sunday February 29). We don’t want to win first with the expense of injuries or depleting the resources of our team, so we’re thinking about that as we prepare.” The last time the two countries met in a women’s football match, Mexico walked away 7-2 winners in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, which was hosted in Cancun, Mexico. Guyana’s goals came from Mariam El-Masri, and current U-20 Assistant coach, Kayla De Souza English Racing Tips Ludlow 09:40 hrs Jaunty Viking 10:15 hrs Red Risk 10:50 hrs Nautical Star 11:25 hrs Another Venture 12:00 hrs Kilconny Bridge 12:30 hrs Monbeg Gold 13:00 hrs Demopolis Newcastle 10:30 hrs Papa Power 11:05 hrs Persian Sun 11:40 hrs Carnwennan 12:15 hrs Millicent Fawcett 12:45 hrs Inhale Chelmsford 14:00 hrs Carvelas 14:30 hrs Key Look 15:00 hrs Kath’s Lustre 15:30 hrs Griggy 16:00 hrs Tebay Irish Racing Tips Clonmel 10:00 hrs Marajman 10:35 hrs Epson Du Houx 11:10 hrs Quarry Lil 11:45 hrs Fourina 12:20 hrs The West Awaits 12:50 hrs Aherlow 13:20 hrs Deilginis

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Five-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova ‘says goodbye’ to tennis at 32 By Frank Pingue (REUTERS) - Maria Sharapova’s fellow players described her as inspirational and praised her fighting spirit, following the Russian’s announcement of her retirement from tennis at the age of 32 yesterday. The injury-plagued Sharapova, renowned for her neversay-die approach to the sport despite regularly being hampered by shoulder problems, won five Grand Slam titles. World number one Novak Djokovic heard about Sharapova’s retirement after he reached the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships quarter-finals and asked the crowd to applaud her for everything she has accom-

plished. “She’s great fighter. As dedicated as someone can really be in our sport,” said Djokovic. “The willpower and the willingness to kind of overcome all the obstacles she had, especially ... with injuries and surgeries and trying to fight back, come back to the court and play on her desired level. “It’s truly inspirational to see what mind of a champion she has. I’m sorry that it had to end with an injury obviously but at the same time she had a fantastic career and she can be proud of herself.” It was Sharapova’s victory over two-time defending champion Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final that

propelled the-then little-known 17-year-old to superstardom and riches. She went on to win almost $40M in prize money, becoming one of the highest paid sportswomen in the world and one of the most recognisable athletes on the planet. Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who knows the challenges of returning to competition since her career was stalled after a knife attack, commended Sharapova for always demanding more of her body than it would allow. “She’s been an amazing competitor, she never gives up,” said Kvitova. “Even if she didn’t play well she was still believing in her game and still

Maria Sharapova is the third-youngest woman to win the Wimbledon singles title after Lottie Dod and Martina Hingis.

being aggressive and believing in her shots, which I’m really admiring.” Tennis great Billie Jean King said on Twitter that ever since Sharapova, who has also established a confectionary company called Sugarpova, won her maiden Grand Slam title she has been a “great champion”. “A 5x major champion and a former World No.1, her business success is just as impressive as her tennis achievements,” wrote King. “Maria, the best is yet to come for you!”

A winner of 36 WTA titles who completed her career Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2012 and spent 21 weeks atop the world rankings, Sharapova was at times the biggest attraction in her sport. “She will be greatly missed by her millions of fans around the world, but I know this will also mark an exciting new beginning for Maria,” said WTA chairman Steve Simon. “I look forward to following her successes in the years to come as she steps away as a true champion of our sport.”

CAS confirms Manchester City appeal against European ban ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) confirmed yesterday that English Premier League champions Manchester City have appealed against a two-year ban from European football. CAS, sport’s highest court, said it had “registered an appeal” by City against the decision taken by the club’s financial control board of European soccer’s governing body UEFA. City were banned by UEFA on February 14 and fined 30 million euros ($32.60M) for “serious breaches” of its break-even regulations known as Financial Fair Play (FFP). The ruling, if upheld, would mean City would not be able to compete in the 2020-21 Champions League should they again qualify for Europe’s top club competition. They would also be banned from European competition in the 2021-22 season. UEFA said the club had overstated its sponsorship

Manchester City players

revenue in its accounts submitted between 2012 and 2016 and had failed to cooperate with its investigation. The club has denied wrongdoing and criticised the decision. The Abu Dhabi United Group, the investment vehicle owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is the majority owner of the City Football Group, with a stake of around 77%. CAS said that “it is not possible to indicate at this time when a final award in this matter will be issued.” It said it would first invite written submissions from the two parties while a panel of arbitrators was convened. That would be followed by the hearing, which is held in private unless the parties agree to a public one. The FFP regulations were introduced in 2011 to stop clubs running up big losses buying players and to ensure sponsorships are genuine commercial deals based on real market value and not ways for owners to pump cash into clubs to get around the rules.

Australian McGrath backs day-night Tests to revive popularity By Sudipto Ganguly MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - Fiveday cricket remains the ultimate format for Australia fast-bowling great Glenn McGrath, who believes day-night Tests are the way forward for the format to survive in the age of the shorter Twenty20 version. The future of the longest format has been the subject of debate since the rise of popular T20 leagues

Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath

over the last decade coincided with dwindling crowds at Test matches outside cricket hotbeds Australia and England. Officials view day-night Tests as having the potential to reverse the trend. “I am a big fan of Test cricket, to me Test cricket is still the ultimate and we’ve got to keep the game fresh, people enjoying it,” McGrath told reporters after

a Tourism Australia event to attract more Indian visitors. “T20 has taken the world by storm: it is bringing a lot more people to cricket and that is brilliant. Hopefully that will filter into Test cricket.” The International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s world governing body, is also set to discuss the idea of reducing Test matches by a day to free up a crowded international calendar.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 27, 2020

GCB/RUBiS U-17 Inter-County Tournament

FIFA to launch Demerara, Berbice global review of enter second round match calendar with momentum … Essequibo, Select U-15 desperate for wins ROUND two of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/RUBiS Under-17 Inter-County Tournament bowls off today; with the clash between frontrunners Demerara and Berbice being the main event of the day. Essequibo and the Select X1 will have a battle of two teams who are fresh off respective losses in round one at the GCC ground, Bourda. At the Everest Cricket Club (ECC) ground, powerhouse Demerara will lock horns with arch rivals Berbice, in what should be Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp

By Simon Evans MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - FIFA is to launch a major “once and for all” review of the international match calendar, which governs the dates of major competitions and tournaments, world soccer’s governing body said yesterday. There have been a number of complaints from coaches, such as Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, about the scheduling of games and concerns about the increasing number of commitments. “The international match calendar plays a central role in the sustainable growth of football in all regions of the world and at all levels,” FIFA said in a new document ‘The Vision 2020-2023: Making Football Truly Global’. “For this reason, the current system should, once and for all, be discussed thoroughly with all stakeholders, and reviewed according to their needs in a collective effort to guarantee a truly global approach,” FIFA added. The review is part of a list of ‘11 goals’ which FIFA president Gianni Infantino has outlined for the next three years. Those goals include their ongoing attempt to reform the transfer system and expanding the use of technology, including the video assistant referee (VAR) system. “The successful implementation of VAR in FIFA’s competitions provides a foundation for the continuous enhancement of VAR technology, which should focus particularly on improving communication around VAR incidents and making the technology accessible for all member associations, regardless of their size and/or financial resources,” said FIFA.

the feature bout. The National Select X1 suffered a horrific 4-wicket loss to the Demerara U-17 side in the opener, but will need to rebound quickly especially against Essequibo who will also keen on chalking up a win. U-15 stars Nityanand Mathura, Mathew Pottaya and Sanjay Algoo were the standout batsmen while Pottaya and Josh Alves will be a handful with the ball on a surface they are quite familiar with. Essequibo, on the other hand, had a very shabby match in both departments, losing by a whopping

U-17 Inter-county action continues today. 136 runs at the hands of Berbice. Should they regain momentum, Aryan Persaud and Quincy Sampson will need more support from the other batsmen. Jared Alicock, Ryan Atkinson and Persaud all returned wickets in the last match which could be a bonus in the event their batting crashes again. The big clash between Berbice and Demerara should be a high-scoring encounter, given the form of Berbice skipper Rampertab

Ramnauth, half-centurion in the last match. Zeynul Ramsammy and others will want to offer much with the bat. Christopher Deroop and Isai Thorne stood out mainly as the best bowlers and could come into play again. Demerara showed aggression from the start with the likes of Zachory Jodah, Romel Datterdeen, MVP from match one, Shamar Yearwood and others, who all look deadly with either bat or ball. Action bowls off at 09:00hrs.

Knight hits century as England crush Thailand

CAPTAIN Heather Knight hit her first Twenty20 international century as England crushed Thailand by 98 runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup at Canberra. Knight’s unbeaten 108 from 66 balls and Natalie Sciver’s 59 not out helped England recover from a dreadful start that saw them fall to 7-2. Knight and Sciver’s unbroken 169-run stand - the highest partnership in T20 World Cup history - helped England motor to 176-2 from their 20 overs. Thailand collapsed to 78-7 in their 20 overs as they suffered consecutive losses in their global tournament debut. This was a good win for England after they lost their opening

Heather Knight

Group B match to South Africa. It will also help boost their net run-rate, which could be crucial as the tournament develops. England, now top of their group, play Pakistan tomorrow, while Thailand face South Africa on Sunday. Knight is now the only female player - and the first England player - to hit a century in Test, one-day and T20 cricket. It was a real captain’s innings, leading from the front when her side tripped up after being asked to bat first. Amy Jones fell to the second ball of the innings, stumped as she came forward to Nattaya Boochatham, before Danni Wyatt hoicked her first delivery to the cover fielder.

But Knight and Sciver, so often England’s key players, were composed at the crease. Sciver counter-attacked first, driving beautifully, before Knight hit out. She hit 13 fours and four sixes - the highlight a thunderous sweep over fine leg - and she and Sciver rotated the strike well to keep the run-rate accelerating. Knight brought up her century with three balls remaining, raising her arms to the ground in celebration, before slapping the next delivery over long-on for yet another six. For Sciver, it was a third half-century in four innings. For Knight, it was a statement of intent about what she expects from herself during this World Cup. (BBC Sport)

South Africa rest Du Plessis for Australia ODI series CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Faf du Plessis has again been left out of South Africa’s One-Day International squad for the three-match series against Australia starting on Saturday, but coach Mark Boucher said on Wedenesday that the veteran batsman remains in the team’s future plans. Former captain Du Plessis missed the 1-1 series draw with world champions England earlier this month, but was recalled for the three Twenty20 International matches against Australia that conclude in Cape Town on Wednesday. “With the completion of the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the next one being three years away from now, we always saw the series against England and

Australia as an opportunity to play some fresh talent,” Boucher said in a media release from Cricket South Africa. “If we feel that we need to rest players, we will, as we have done in the recent past. “Faf has been fantastic for us in white ball cricket and remains very much in our ODI plans and we will manage his workload for the near future diligently. “I would like to strengthen our depth pool right now and see what players we have out there. I feel that this is the time and opportunity to do so.” That means a recall for spinner Keshav Maharaj, who won the last of his four ODI caps against Sri Lanka in 2018, while seamer Lutho Sipamla, hard-hitting open-

ing batsman Janneman Malan and back-up wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne are selected. Batsman Rassie van der Dussen and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius are also rested along with Du Plessis. The side will be captained by Quinton de Kock. The series starts in Paarl on Saturday, before matches in Bloemfontein next Wednesday and Potchefstroom on Mar. 7. Squad: Quinton de Kock (captain), Temba Bavuma, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Jon-Jon Smuts, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Verreynne

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 27, 2020

Windies hand Pakistan victory with ordinary effort CANBERRA, Australia (CMC) – Sloppy West Indies lost to Pakistan for only the second time in Twenty20 Internationals when they slumped to an eight-wicket defeat here yesterday, in their second match of the Women’s T20 World Cup. In a Group B contest at Manuka Oval, the Caribbean side could muster only 124 for seven off their 20 overs in a lack-lustre effort, and Pakistan chased down the target with 10 balls to spare, to make a winning start to their campaign. Captain Bismah Maroof stroked an unbeaten 38 off 37 balls while Player-of-theMatch Javeria Khan struck

35 from 28 deliveries and fellow opener Muneeba Ali, a breezy 25 from 26 balls. West Indies did themselves no favours, however, bowling loosely early on, conceding precious runs and missing a run-out with untidy ground fielding before Chedean Nation put down Nida Dar (18 not out) late in the encounter off seamer Shakera Selman. The result left the top four teams in Group B all on two points with minnows Thailand bottom after going winless in their two outings. Sent in earlier, West Indies needed joint top scores of 43 from captain Stafanie Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle to

get up to their eventual total. They were tottering on 28 for three in the seventh over but the pair stitched up the innings in a 63-run fourth-wicket stand to repair the damage. Hayley Matthews was adjudged lbw to the first ball of the game from seamer Diana Baig (2-19), with subsequent replays showing the delivery missing leg stump. Her opening partner LeeAnn Kirby clobbered three fours in an 11-ball 16 before slicing Baig to point in the fifth over and Deandra Dottin spent 10 balls over one before holing out to long-on off veteran off-spinner Nida Dar (2-30). Both Campbelle and

Taylor struck a couple of fours and sixes as they consolidated for West Indies but after only reaching 44 for three at the half-way stage of the innings, the pressure eventually told. Campbelle perished lbw in the 17th over, missing a reverse sweep at left-arm spinner Anam Amin, and being given out on referral, while Taylor followed in the penultimate over, holing out on the mid-wicket ropes off Nida Dar. In reply, Pakistan started strongly with Javeria Khan and Muneeba Ali posting 58 from 44 deliveries for the first wicket, capitalising on ordinary bowling to rack

Captain Stafanie Taylor gathers runs through the offside during her joint top score of 43.

up 48 runs in the first power-play. Javeria struck six fours before she was hit in front to Taylor’s off-spin in the eighth over and left-hander Muneeba followed in the 12th after counting three fours, chipping a simple catch to cover off leg-spinner Afy Fletcher. But any hopes of a come-

back were dashed as Bismah and Nida Dar added a crucial 50 in an unbroken third-wicket stand to see off the Windies challenge. Bismah carried the fight with in a measured knock and drilled Taylor to the cover boundary for the last of her four fours to bring up victory for Pakistan.

De Bruyne leads remarkable Man City comeback win in Madrid By Richard Martin

MADRID (Reuters) - Manchester City finally produced a Champions League performance worthy of their status as one of European football’s elite clubs by beating Real Madrid 2-1 away in Wednesday’s last-16 first leg after pulling off a stunning late fightback. Kevin De Bruyne kept his cool to beat Belgium team mate Thibaut Courtois from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute to give City the lead after Gabriel Jesus had headed home a cross from De Bruyne to pull the visitors level in the 78th minute. Isco had given Real the lead on the hour mark following a sweeping counterattack but the 13-times European champions’ night soon unravelled, culminating in captain Sergio Ramos being sent off for hauling down Jesus in a bid to prevent a third City goal. City coach Pep Guardiola, who has not gone past the quarter-final in his three previous seasons with the club, was delighted with how his side turned the match around but also said the tie was still wide open. “Winning in the Bernabeu gives us great satis-

faction, it’s incredible for us and not something this club is used to. I’m very pleased with the result and the performance, we showed great personality,” he said before sounding a note of caution. “If there is one club who was capable of turning a tie around it is Real Madrid, they have the history and experience in this competition to do it.” Ramos will be suspended for the second leg at the Etihad Stadium on March 17 while City’s influential defender Aymeric Laporte was forced off injured in the first half, another setback in a season marked by fitness troubles. City went into the match with a two-year ban from European competition hanging around their necks for defying UEFA’s rules on financial fair play although the club submitted an appeal against the sanction earlier this week.

GLEEFUL CITY FANS The visiting supporters chanted against Europe’s organising body throughout the game and after they had completed their comeback the sanction had become a badge of pride for the gleeful fans. Guardiola opted to leave his top scorers Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero out of the

starting lineup despite them getting a combined 40 goals in all competitions this season. Yet he turned to Sterling in the second half and the England forward earned the penalty from which De Bruyne snatched the winner, drawing a foul from Real’s Dani Carvajal. Brazil striker Jesus led City’s line from the start and had their two best chances in the first half, first drawing a save from Madrid keeper Courtois then seeing a shot hurriedly scuffed off the line by three Real players right before halftime. Real’s best chance of the first half came when Karim Benzema had a header saved by Ederson and the ball fell to Vinicius Jr. but the teenager fell over just as he was shaping to shoot into the unguarded net. The Brazilian was not fazed by the miss, though, and played a crucial part in breaking the deadlock by chasing down Fernandinho and laying on the pass for Isco to score. Real’s fans felt they were on the familiar path to victory in their favourite competition and began to sing ‘We are the Kings of Europe’, but it was City, whose only European trophy came in the 1970 Cup Winners’ Cup, who had the last laugh. “There’s no explanation for what happened,

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring their second goal with Riyad Mahrez and Benjamin Mendy REUTERS/Sergio Perez we had 75 spectacular minutes and in the last 15 minutes we didn’t do what we needed to do, we lacked intensity and control and they had two attacks and scored twice,” said Real’s Casemiro. “But the tie is not over, if there is a team that is capable of a comeback it is Real Madrid.”

Sluggish Juventus slump to surprise defeat at Lyon LYON, France (Reuters) - Juventus’s hopes of reaching the Champions League last eight suffered a blow when the two-times European Cup winners slumped to a 1-0 defeat in their last-16 first leg at Olympique Lyonnais on Wednesday. Midfielder Lucas Tousart scored the only goal in the opening half to give Lyon, who are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, a deserved win. It was Lyon’s first victory over Juventus, who suffered their first defeat in the competition this season. Serie A leaders Juventus lacked quality, with Cristiano Ronaldo rarely getting into scoring positions, and they will need to improve in the return leg on March 17 if they are to progress. About 2,700 Juventus fans travelled from Piedmont, a region neighbouring the coronavirus-hit Lombardy, as the game went ahead as planned despite concern over the virus. On the pitch, Lyon were at their best, with Houssem Aouar and new signing Bruno Guimaraes inspiring their team. “We were not the favourites and rightfully so, but we believed that we could unsettle Juventus,” said midfielder Aouar. “But let’s not get carried away, there’s one full game left.” Juventus have only won four of their last eight competitive matches

Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo in action with Olympique Lyonnais’ Lucas Tousart REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

and captain Leonardo Bonucci pointed out that the team had improved. “We messed up our first half, sometimes it happens,” he said. “We gifted one half and they scored at a moment when they were good at hurting us.” After a cagey start, Lyon made a clear chance when Karl Toko-Ekambi’s header at the near post from Houssem Aouar’s corner hit the crossbar. Aouar then burst into the area and delivered a cutback that Tousart placed into the top corner from close range to put the French side ahead after 31 minutes. Juve were at the time down to 10 men as Mathias De Ligt was getting treatment for blood on his head after being accidentally stamped on by team mate Alex Sandro. The visitors threatened through Ronaldo but the Portuguese shot just wide at the end of a counter-attack as Juve looked short on confidence. The Italian side increased the pressure after the interval as Lyon tried to sit back and hope to hurt Maurizio Sarri’s team on the break. Paulo Dybala went close for Juve with a volley, substitute Gonzalo Higuain wasted a couple of chances and Dybala had a goal ruled out for offside as Lyon held firm.

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GRFU names Adonis, Henry and Grant-Stuart as National coaches

THE Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), under new president Ryan Dey, yesterday announced the names of the elected National coaches that will be leading the ‘Green Machine’ at every participatory regional and international level for the next two years. According to a release from the union, following an executive meeting held February 25 where nominations were opened for head and assistant coaches for the Under-19, Senior Men’s 15s,

Laurence Adonis

Theodore Henry

Senior Men’s 7s and the Women teams, it was decided, following a vote, that Laurence Adonis will serve as head coach of the U-19s and U-15s sides, while former National player Theodore Henry will return as the National Sevens team coach. Kenneth Grant-Stuart was named as the women’s National coach and will have former player and referee Sabola Gray as his assistant. Oslen Ollivierre will serve as Adonis’ assistant for both the

U-19 and U-15 sides, while Australia-based Kevin McKenzie will be Henry’s assistant on the Sevens side. The election of the coaches was done ahead of the Rugby America North (RAN) 15s competition, where the Green Machine will first be taking on rivals Trinidad and Tobago in Guyana, on a date yet to be named. Guyana will then go headto-head with the winner of a match between Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Windies facing `must-wins’ against England, South Africa: Henry CANBERRA, Australia (CMC) – Fast bowler Chinelle Henry has described West Indies’ last two games as “must-win” fixtures in the wake of yesterday’s surprise defeat to Pakistan, and says the struggling side need to pull themselves together in order to hit their best stride. West Indies went down by eight wickets to Pakistan at Manuka Oval to suffer their first defeat of the tournament, after beating Thailand by seven wickets in their opener last Saturday. Sitting third in Group B, West Indies face powerhouses England on Sunday and South Africa on Tuesday, requiring victories in order to climb into the semi-final spots.

“I just think that up top (in our batting), just for the opening two games, (we have) struggled a bit,” Henry told reporters. “But we have two more games to go, and we as individuals know that these two games to go are must-win games. “So I’m pretty sure everybody is just going to go back to the drawing board now, and in the coming two days I’m pretty sure everybody is just going to turn up and do what she have to do.” West Indies were lack-lustre with both bat and ball against Pakistan. Opting to bat first, only captain Stafanie Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle, with a joint top score of

43, passed 20 as the innings drifted to 124 for seven off their 20 overs. Defending a modest total, the Windies’ bowlers were undisciplined, the fielding was ragged and the intensity was lacking, allowing the Pakistanis to coast to their target with 10 balls to spare. Henry, playing in her second T20 World Cup, conceded that both the batting and bowling effort had been short of the standard expected. “First off, batting first, obviously we didn’t start well, (opener Hayley Matthews going) for a first-ball duck, and then we had a partnership between Staf and Shemaine which got us to a pretty decent total to defend,”

A despondent West Indies celebrate a rare success against Pakistan yesterday..

she said. “But then again, going out on the field as a bowling unit, we just didn’t execute as we would want to tonight. “(Regarding) the fielding performance tonight, everybody was disappointed because we know we can do much better as a fielding unit. So basically it was just again, we just didn’t

turn up tonight; and that’s something we definitely have to go back to the drawing board to figure out.” West Indies won the 2016 edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup staged in India but bowed out at the semi-final stage when the Caribbean played hosts to the tournament two years ago.

Permaul, Bishoo to serve as senior captain and vice-captain of Albion Cricket Club

WEST Indies spinner Veerasammy Permaul was re-appointed as captain of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club’s first division team, while fellow regional spinner Devendra

Bishoo would serve as his deputy. The newly elected executives of the club under the presidency of Vemen Walter met recently and named the club’s various

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sub-committees, captains and vice-captains for 2020. In the event that both Permaul and Bishoo are unavailable, Gudakesh Motie or Anthony Bramble would lead the team. Sharaz Ramcharran was selected to captain the club’s second division team with Adrian Sukhwa as his deputy. Berbice U-15 wicketkeeper/batsman Rayaad Karim would captain the club’s U-21 team with National U-19 left-arm spinner Kelvin Umroa set to serve as vice-captain. Karim and National Under-17 batsman Sarwan Chaitnarine are the captain and vice-captain respectively of the U-19 team while Tameshwar Mahadeo would captain the U-17 team with Damien Cecil set to serve as vice-captain. Cecil is the club’s U-15 captain with Kumar De-

Veerasammy Permaul

opersaud as the vice-captain while Devin Lalbehari and Ritesh Natoor are the captain and vice-captain respectively of the club’s U-13 team. Outar will manage the teams with Prem Khanai and David Brijbhokan providing assistance. Meanwhile, the Club’s Selection Committee will be chaired by Walter and will

Devendra Bishoo

include vice-president and former Guyana U-19 and Berbice Senior Inter-County off-spinner Orvin Mangru and Roger McDonald, along with the manager and captain of the team in question. Walter and Outar will represent the club at the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) level while Outar and Mangru will be the club’s two representatives on the Albion Community

Centre Council. Imtiaz Baccus, the club’s assistant secretary/ treasurer, heads the Disciplinary Committee, with schoolteacher Prem Khanai and Albion Estate’s Production Manager Karamchand Harripersaud selected as the other members. Mangru would chair the Cricket Development Committee, with Khanai and West Indies leg-spinner Bishoo making up the reminder of the committee. Treasurer David Brijbhokan, also a schoolteacher, is the chairman of the Fund-raising Committee which also comprises Baccus, Mangru, Khanai and Harripersaud. This committee will be allowed to incorporate other members. Meanwhile, Brijbhokan was also re-appointed as the Club’s Public Relations Officer (PRO).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 27, 2020

Australia demolish Proteas to win T20I series

Ramdhani siblings earn selection for 2020 CCAA championships

Four T20I series in a row for Australia. (Getty Images)

AUSTRALIA’S push to win their first-ever T20 World Cup remains firmly on track, a 97-run thumping of South Africa in Cape Town handing the Australians four consecutive T20 series wins for the very first time. In their first match at Newlands since the ball-tampering scandal two years ago, Australia’s crushing victory was built on a rollicking start with the bat and another accomplished performance by their impressive bowling attack. A 120-run opening stand between David Warner (57 from 37 balls) and Aaron Finch (55 from 37) provided the foundation for Australia’s total of 5-193, the highest-ever in a T20I at Newlands. And when Mitchell Starc removed Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis inside the opening three overs of the run chase, the former cleanbowled in identical fashion to his dismissal in the first match of the series, the Proteas were firmly on the back foot. After Starc’s opening burst, it was leg-spinner Adam Zampa who impressed in the run chase, taking two excellent outfield catches and finishing with 2-10 from three overs as South Africa were bowled out for just 96 in the 16th over. It is South Africa’s second-worst T20 loss to Australia, eclipsed only by the 107-run thrashing they suffered at the Wanderers five days ago.

… Guyanese duo to represent Alberta for Canadian tourney

In the past 12 months, Australia have now won T20 series in India and South Africa as well as home campaigns against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, losing just once in 11 matches. Question marks remain over the make-up of their middle-order – the search for a late-innings finisher continues for coach Justin Langer and his fellow selectors – but the Australians have arguably never been as well placed to win the world 20-over title for the first time. In contrast, Wednesday night’s defeat means South Africa are now winless in seven consecutive series across all formats, a run stretching back to March last year. As was the case in the series-opener at the Wanderers, Australia wrestled the momentum in the early stages of the match, thanks to a blistering start with the bat. Finch and Warner powered their way to 75 in the six-over Powerplay and brought up a hundred-partnership inside nine overs, highlighted by five consecutive boundaries either side of the four-over mark. But the innings stalled when both men were dismissed in quick succession, with Matthew Wade (10 off nine balls) and Mitchell Marsh (19 off 16) moved up the order but unable to produce the kind of innings they need as they look to secure a World Cup spot.

It was left to the unlikeliest of finishers, Steve Smith, to steer Australia close to the 200 mark, which looked to be the minimum they would have expected after Finch and Warner’s opening burst. Dropped down the order to No. 5, Smith finished unbeaten on 30 from 15 balls and clubbed 20 runs from the final over of the innings, including a jaw-dropping drive over the cover boundary that had the fans crammed onto the Newlands’ grass bank ducking for cover. After Starc uprooted de Kock’s middle stump in the opening over, as he’d done at the Wanderers last Friday, he had Zampa to thank for the wicket of du Plessis in his next over. The former Proteas skipper slashed at a ball so wide it would have been called had he missed it, squirting a top edge down to third man. Zampa sprinted forward to take the catch but the ball swerved viciously to the fielder’s left as he approached, the South Australian reacting expertly to take the catch as it threatened to whistle past him. The leg-spinner then bowled Heinrich Klaasen and Pite van Biljon as he and Australia’s bowlers once again turned the screws in what the Australians hope is yet another preview of what’s to come at the World Cup this year.

Twenty-three teams register for Essequibo T20 Big Bash League By Elroy Stephney HISTORY was created on Tuesday when 23 teams comprising the three area committees on the Essequibo Coast registered to compete in a round-robin T20 competition. The Big Bash League also saw for the first time on-line drawing of the fixtures which was held at the Imam Bacchus ground in Affiance. The teams are placed in four zones and comprise some of the best teams in the Region including Bacchus Bulls, Affiance Number 1, Cotton Field Strikers and Reliance Hustlers from Central Essequibo. From South Essequibo, among the teams are Aurora Knight Riders, Rising Stars, United Warriors

and NOC while in North there are WD Gunners, Walton Hall, Devonshire Castle and Lima United. The league will have two teams from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals. Among the host venues are Imam Bacchus, Affiance, Lima, Charity, Pomona and Walton Hall grounds. The competition begins on Sunday, March 1 and keen rivalry is anticipated. The winners are expected to receive $100 000 and trophy while there will be other monetary prizes for outstanding performances. Among the donors are Balgobin Electrical and Daramdeo Lall. Senior national umpire Shannon Crawford will spear-

Captains of the various teams at the drawing held at the Imam Bacchus ground. head the umpiring panel which also includes Deva Dass, Wazeer Dhanraj, Dasroy Balgobin,

Parmeshwar Persaud, Ounkaar Persaud, Ramdar Persaud and James Chattergoon.

Guyanese Badminton stars Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani were selected for the 2020 CCAA.

NATIONAL Badminton aces, the Ramdhani siblings Narayan and Priyanna, were selected to represent the Province of Alberta, at the upcoming 2020 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championships. Set to spike off from March 3 until 8 in Canada, the battleground for the badminton tourney will be the University of Toronto in Mississauga, where the pair of Guyanese, who continued to excel overseas, will represent Kings University (Narayan) and Olds College (Priyanna) during the weeklong competition. The brother/sister duo of badminton stalwarts, earned their spots after continuing their respective top performances. Narayan won the silver medal in the Men’s Singles while Priyanna copped silver in Women’s Singles & bronze in Women’s Doubles, of the ACACA Individual and Round Robin Championships, played on Sunday, February 23, in Edmonton Alberta Canada. Both players will now set their sights on continuing their representation of Guyana and now Canada, when the competition gets underway next week. 2020 ACACA Results: Narayan Ramdhani - Men’s Singles (seeded No.2) QUARTER-FINALS Defeated Beau Stephenson of Olds: 21-5, 21-7 ROUND ROBIN FOR THE TOP FOUR: Defeated Tyson Tsen of Concordia: 21-9, 21-8 Defeated Troy Morgan of Olds: 21-5, 21-8 Lost to No. 1 seed Raymond Kim of Nait: 21-10, 21-17 Priyanna Ramdhani – Women’s Singles (seeded No.2) QUARTER-FINALS: Defeated Kaitlyn Gee of Nait: 21-4, 21-6 ROUND ROBIN FOR THE TOP FOUR: Defeated Kassidy Turcotte of Concordia: 21-6, 21-6 Defeated Kaylee Morris of Concordia: 21-12, 21-7 Lost to No.1 seed Takeisha Wang of Concordia: 21-10, 21-9

Fernando, Mendis crush Windies to clinch ODI series win PAGE

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HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka (CMC) – Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis belted hundreds as an uninspired West Indies suffered their heaviest-ever defeat to Sri Lanka in yesterday’s second One-Day International, to concede the three-match series and extend their disappointing record of never having won a series on Sri Lankan soil. Asked to complete their highest-ever successful chase in pursuit of 346 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, West Indies crumbled for 184 in the 40th over, to surrender by 161 runs and fall 2-0 behind in series. In-form opener Shai Hope top-scored with 51 and lefthander Nicholas Pooran chipped in with 31 but West Indies collapsed from 131 for three in the 29th over to lose their last seven wickets for just 53 runs in quick time. They were taken apart by enterprising leg-spinner Wanindu Hararanga who snatched three for 30 from his 10 overs, and cunning left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan who finished with three for 57. Man-of-the-Match Fernando, with 127 off 123 balls with 10 fours, and Mendis with a run-a-ball 119 and 12 fours, had earlier pummelled West Indies to propel the home side to 345 for eight off their 50 overs. When left-arm speedster Sheldon Cottrell (4-67) struck

Kusal Mendis (127) and Avishka Fernando (119) paired in rollicking, record 239-run, third-wicket stand. (Getty Images)

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D’s top spot in U-20 Women’s championship Guyana’s Kiana Khedoo (#10) battles Puerto Rico’s Zoemi Cobián during the Lady Jags’ 2–1 win in the CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Photo compliments: Mexport/CONCACAF)

GUYANA will play Mexico for the first time since 2010 in female football, when the two square off today in their final group match in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic from 15:00hrs. At stakes in today’s game is Group D’s pole position, since

Burnham Memorial table tennis

in successive deliveries in the third over to reduce Sri Lanka to nine for two, the Caribbean side looked to be establishing an early grip on the contest. But Fernando and Mendis paired in a rollicking, record 239-run, third-wicket stand to all but dash West Indies’ hopes of staying in the series, following their opening defeat last Saturday. The loss was the Windies’ 10th to Sri Lanka in their last 12 meetings and put them on course for another series whitewash at the hands of the Asian side, following a similar result five years ago here. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne (1) slapped Cottrell into Fabian Allen’s lap at point and Kusal Perera nicked the very next ball behind, to leave Windies with a dream start after they opted to bowl. And in the next over, pacer Jason Holder found Mendis’s edge only for captain Kieron Pollard to floor the sitter at first slip, to let off the right-hander after he had managed only two. West Indies paid dearly for the miss as Mendis raced to his half-century off 55 balls in the 21st over before storming to his second ODI hundred off 102 balls in the 37th over.

Lady Jags to battle Mexico today for Group

By Rawle Toney

Hickerson wins Open Singles title at Forbes

both countries have already booked their place in the tournament’s knockout stage which starts on Sunday, February 29. The Lady Jags, hunting for a place in 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, opened their campaign in Santo Domingo with a 3-1 win over Nicaragua followed by an impressive See page 26

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Orin Hickerson (right) collects the champion trophy from chairman of Forbes Burnham Foundation, Vincent Alexander.

ORIN Hickerson was crowned champion of the Open Singles division on the final night of the Forbes Burnham Memorial Table Tennis Championships, played on Tuesday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Hickerson, who stopped former Senior National champion Nigel Bryan by a score of 4-1 (11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9) in their semi-final clash on Monday night, was able to get past Elishaba Johnson in the final. Johnson, who had defeated Johnathan Van Lange in both U-21 and ‘B’ division finals, got past the 13-year-old for a third time on Tuesday night. He had reached the semi-finals after defeating Isaiah Layne 4-1 (11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 18-16). Van Lange had gotten the better of Paul Meusa 4-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-6, 12-10) in their quarterfinal clash. The teenager though could not prevail against Johnson in the semis, although he was leading 2-1 early in their best in five clash (12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 5-11, 6-11). Johnson, who turned 21 this month, opened the final with a victory, but the more experienced Hickerson was able to rally back with aggressive backhands and long serves to win four straight games (6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8). Bryan and Van Lange were crowned joint thirdplace finishers. Members of the Forbes Burnham Foundation later presented the winners with their trophies. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020