Issuu

THURSDAY 27th June, 2019

No.105681

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…commentators warn against re-submission of rejected persons for GECOM chair

…say process must be approached in good faith SEE STORY ON PAGE 03 ►

President meets Minister Broomes …refined work programme for youth affairs 05 PAGE

Guyana ready for DNA testing

…Forensic lab commissions gunshot residue, DNA machines

PAGE

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, David Granger, inspects a guard of honour at the Commissioning Parade held by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), on Wednesday, at D’Urban Park, Homestretch Avenue where 55 ensigns from the Standard Officer Course 50 (SOC 50) and the Reserve Officer Course 16, (ROC 16) were decorated with new badges of rank, as Second Lieutenant (Adrian Narine photo) (See story on page 02)

Gov’t appeals order for Jordan to pay US$2.2M to Dipcon

SEE STORY ON PAGE 09 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

Pomp and ceremony mark historic Commissioning Parade - the first officers to complete an Associate Degree in General Studies, entire Jungle Warfare Course, Airborne Training as value-added in restructured programme

AT a historic Commissioning Parade held by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), on Wednesday, at D’Urban Park, Homestretch Avenue, 55 ensigns from the Standard Officer Course 50 (SOC 50) and the Reserve Officer Course 16, (ROC 16) were decorated with new badges of rank, as Second Lieutenant (2 Lt.), by Commander–in-Chief, President David Granger, himself a retired army officer. The new officers com-

of Government; Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Patrick West; officers of the Belize and Jamaican army, former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, other officers of the GDF and relatives and friends of the ensigns, among others. The parade got underway with the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief who was greeted with loud cheers, especially from those watching from the stands. He was then accorded the Presidential Salute by the troops, after

Shevi Sparman of the GDF won Best Drill. For ROC 16, the Sword of Honour was awarded to 2Lt. Robert Skeete, along with awards for Best Fitness and Military Knowledge; Runner-up Best Student was 2Lt. Trevaughn Waldron; the Best Drill Award was won by 2Lt. Davin Washington; with the award for Best Shot going to 2Lt. Brian Jeffrey. President Granger, in a congratulatory greeting to the new officers of SOC50 and

tion of their respective nations with professionalism and honour the uniforms they wear. To the new reserve officers, he said “Welcome to the Officer Corps!” Adding, that he was aware that they were all professionals, each possessing needed skills that will augment the regular arm of the army. They too, were charged “to be good leaders who are not afraid to make decisions, and are men and women who will stand tall and inspire others.” Also, to be men and wom-

fence,” Initially, the duration was six months, but subsequent changes saw it being run over 12 months. In 2017 the curriculum and duration was further restructured and it is now designed for 24 months. The restructuring of the programme is in the context of Commander-in-Chief, President David Granger’s “Total National Defence” policy, which stipulates that all the instruments of national power be combined to protect Guyana’s territory. The policy also aims

of very visible warfare, in the form of harassment on our borders or the intrusion of gunboats into our waters is not yet over.” The restructured SOC extends the range of knowledge and skills training for potential officers to the extent that, in addition to receiving their Instruments of Commission, for the first time in the history of officer training in Guyana, the officers are also the first group to complete an entire Jungle Warfare Course as well as

The newly decorated officers on parade at D’Urban Park, Homestretch Avenue, during the GDF Commissioning Parade

prised 28 from SOC 50, of which three are members of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and one from the Guyana Prison Service (GPS); and 27 from ROC 16, with six being females. It was also a memorable

which Lt. Col, Harmon invited him to conduct the traditional inspection of the troops. President Granger took the salute from the troops, looking resplendent in ceremonial wear, with the crowd showing their cheering appreciation, as each

President David Granger is assisted by Brigadier Patrick West of the GDF, as he decorates Reserve Officer, 2Lt. Ivor Semple with his new badge of rank

occasion for 28 graduates from SOC 50, in that they created history by being the first to be graduates of the University of Guyana, with an Associate Degree in General Studies. The parade made up of the 55 ensigns, 20 officers and 374 ranks, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col) Sean Harmon, was watched by an impressive crowd that included Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; other ministers

contingent made its way onto the tarmac. Receiving the Sword of Honour for his feat as the Best Student of SOC 50 was 2 Lt. Jehu West of the GDF, who also copped awards for Military Knowledge and Best Shot; 2Lt. Mark Choc of the BDF won the Best Fitness and the Best International Student Awards, while 2Lt..Freddy Grijalva was awarded Best Academic Achievement. 2Lt.

the ROC 16, respectively, challenged them to uphold the motto of the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School - I serve Guyana, adding that their behavior must manifest the School’s maxim of Loyalty, Honesty, Worth, Courage, Discipline and Steadfastness. The Commander-in-Chief reminded too, that the commissions are “not merely certificates to mark the successful completion of a training course. They constitute the lawful license for you to exercise authority as officers of the Guyana Defence Force.” Officership in the GDF, entails “The obligation to obey the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana; to comply with the provisions of the Defence Act of the Laws of Guyana; and to practise the Values and Standards of the GDF,” he noted. Brigadier West congratulated the new officers of SOC 50 and then reminded of their new achievement as graduates of the University of Guyana. He charged them to be. exemplary leaders with a greater task-oriented perspective; to establish face-to-face, first line leadership; be concerned with the development of their subordinates; to be the embodiment of dedication; good managers of the resources that will be under their care and also, to uphold the Constitu-

President David Granger , is escorted by Lt.. Col. Sean Harmon, as he inspects the female contingent of the parade. Partly hidden behind Harmon is Brigadier Patrick West

2Lt. Robert Skeete of ROC 16, is presented with the `Sword of Honour’ as the Best Graduating Student

en of courage and compassion, who are confident and inspire confidence in others, and remember that Identity, Discipline, Duty, Integrity and Loyalty must continue to remain the core values. The SOC which was patterned after the British, was restructured with the aim of ensuring a more rounded and educated officer who is prepared to fulfill the role in promoting “Total National De-

to ensure that the Regular and Reserve Forces are provided with the resources they need to perform their missions over the next five years. In articulating the policy, President Granger said that the long-term objective is to ensure that Guyanese will be able to depend on the Defence Force, which will ensure the safety of the citizens and the security of the country. He emphasised that “...the age

Airborne Training as Cadets. They were also privileged, in the context of the restructured programme, to have completed extensive Battlefield Engineering Training as well as Equitation training after an almost 30-year hiatus. The officers have also earned an Associate Degree in General Studies from the University of Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

…commentators warn against re-submission of rejected persons for GECOM chair

…say process must be approached in good faith By Lisa Hamilton AS talks on the appointment of a new Guyana Elections (GECOM) Chair are expected soon, commentators have said that the Opposition Leader ought to approach President David Granger in good faith with recommendations of persons who are not tainted. They are also urging the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, to steer clear from re-submitting persons who were previously rejected as this could cause further polarisation and delay the process. The previous three lists, amounting to18 names submitted by Jagdeo, are

The first list submitted by Jagdeo in December 2016, included Business Executive, Ramesh Dookhoo; Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Consultant, Lawrence Latchmansingh; Major General (Rtd) Norman McLean; Attorney-at-law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram; Professor James Rose and Businesswoman and Indian rights Activist, Rhyaan Shah. The second list submitted in May 2017 included (ret’d) Justice of Appeal B.S. Roy; Justice William Ramlal (ret’d); Attorney-at-law and a Former Magistrate, Oneidge Walrond-Allicock; Attorney, Kashir Khan; Attorney, Nadia Sagar and Captain Gerald

Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud and has been a

known public critic of the current administration. Persaud is now widely

known for crossing the floor of the National Assembly on December 21, 2018 to

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo and Attorney Sanjeev Datadin leave the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in March 2017 in relation to the Pradoville 2 land scam. (Inews photo)

Political Analyst, Dr. David Hinds

believed to have included individuals with varying degrees of baggage. Notwithstanding the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ’s) decision that the process of the appointment of former GECOM Chair, (ret’d) James Patterson by President Granger was flawed, the commentators believe that all efforts should now go towards selecting legitimate individuals. “Persons selected for the list should not have any overt or known association with any of the political parties; this was one of the problems we saw with the previous lists that were provided by the Opposition Leader. There were a number of people on the list who were known to be associated with the PPP… or hostile to the present government,” Political Scientist, Dr. David Hinds stated. Most recently, Jagdeo has agreed to meet with the President “at any time” and “on a daily basis if needs be” for the selection, something the CCJ had urged should be finalised in mutual agreement.

Gouveia. The third list, submitted in August 2017, comprised retired Guyana Defence Force Major General, Joseph Singh; Former magistrate, Krisndat Persaud; attorneys Teni Housty and Sanjeev Datadin; pilot and biodiversity advocate Annette Arjoon-Martins and Adventist pastor and agriculturalist, Onesi La Fleur. Some of the names included on the lists for which questions were raised included Dookhoo who, during the period in which he was named, was fingered among those being probed by the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) for connection to the Pradoville Two land scam which took place under the PPP. Dookhoo acknowledged to reporters in March 2017 that while he was indeed the owner of a plot of land at Pradoville 2, he was eager to give it up to avoid further embarrassment. At the time he was represented by Attorney Sanjeev Datadin who, fast forward to 2019, is representing former

vote alongside the PPP in hopes of toppling the current government with his vote following the debate of the no-confidence motion against the government. Datadin also stood by the side of Jagdeo in March 2017 when Opposition Leader was held at the Headquarters of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in relation to the Pradoville Two land scam. Also on Jagdeo’s previous list was Ram, who was first among those who took up the case to challenge the government on the no-confidence vote. Ram almost daily has been critical of the government in matters of oil and gas; governance issues and other areas. Others like Dr Rose served as a PPP candidate in two consecutive elections while (ret’d) Justice Roy was one of the Appellate judges who upheld the High Court decision that would have al lowed Turn to page 11 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

Photo of drowned migrants triggers fight over Trump asylum clampdown

MATAMOROS, Mexico (Reuters) - A harrowing photo of a Salvadoran migrant and his young daughter who drowned in the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border became the focus on Wednesday of a U.S. political debate over President Donald Trump’s asylum policies. The picture of Oscar Alberto Martinez, 25, and his 24-month-old daughter Angie Valeria put a renewed focus on the plight of refugees and migrants who are mostly from Central America. The pair had traveled from El Salvador and were seeking asylum in the United States. U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders called the image “horrific” and said the president’s migration clampdown made deaths more likely. “Trump’s policy of making it harder and harder to seek asylum - and separating families who do - is cruel, inhumane and leads to tragedies like this,” he wrote on Twitter. In turn, Trump blamed the Democrats, whom he said were blocking his government’s attempts at closing “loopholes” in U.S. law that encourage migrants to apply for U.S. asylum. “If they fixed the laws

you wouldn’t have that. People are coming up, they’re running through the Rio Grande,” he said, referring to the river known as the Rio Bravo in Mexico that forms a large part of the border between the two countries. “They can change it very easily so people don’t come up, and people won’t get killed,” Trump told reporters. Record numbers of Central American migrants are reaching the United States this year despite a crackdown by Trump. Many flee their homes in Central America to escape poverty, drought and high levels of criminal violence, much of it carried out by street gangs.

heat. On Tuesday, U.S. Border Patrol agents near Eagle Pass, Texas recovered a man’s body from another stretch of the river. Several more have drowned this year. Border Patrol reported 283 migrant fatalities on the border in 2018. Activists say the number is higher as the remains of many migrants who die in rugged stretches of wilderness along the 1,950-mile (3,138km) long border are never found. To manage asylum flows, the United States has in recent years implemented a system known as “metering” which puts daily limits on the number of asylum seekers processed at ports of entry, leading to weeks-long waiting lists in dangerous border towns. The controls have contributed to growing numbers of migrants crossing the border illegally to hand themselves in to authorities and ask for asylum. Migrant rights activists say such limits on people’s access to asylum can put them in harm’s way, while driving migration underground and squeezing it into new routes. Enrique Maciel, director of the migrant agency of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, said the Martinez family had decided to cross the river after being told they needed to register for a waiting list to apply for asylum at the Matamoros-Brownsville port of entry. Martinez’ mother on

ADVERTISEMENT U.S. border patrol agents have apprehended 664,000 people along the southern border so far this year, a 144 percent increase from last year, said Brian Hastings, chief of law enforcement operations for the U.S. Border Patrol. “The system is overwhelmed,” he said. Deaths are not uncommon, with travelers exposed to violence from criminals as well as the treacherous waters of the Rio Grande and desert

Thursday, June 27, 2019 -

Wednesday told Reuters she had urged her son not to leave, fearing danger would meet him on the long journey north. The photo of Martinez and his toddler daughter — face down in the mud on the river bank, with her arm draped around his neck — has gone viral on social media around the world. The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, put the picture on its front page and Pope Francis expressed “immense sadness.” “The pope is profoundly saddened by their death, and is praying for them and for all migrants who have lost their lives while seeking to flee war and misery,” Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said. PREVIOUS PHOTO The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR compared the photograph to the picture of three-year-old Syrian refugee Aylan Kurdi who drowned in the Mediterranean and whose body washed up on a beach in Turkey in 2015. Kurdi was part of a Syrian refugee wave that caused panic in Europe, prompting Turkey to effectively shut down the migrant route through Greece at the European Union’s behest. As with the photograph of Kurdi, the image of the drowned father and daughter has triggered debate over the ethics

of publishing such shocking photographs, with some commentators arguing that Western media was less likely to publish similar images of European or U.S. citizens. Robin Reineke, co-founder and director of the Tucson, Arizona-based Colibri Center for Human Rights said the use of such pictures did little or nothing to halt the deaths occurring daily on the border. Others said the use of the picture of Martinez and his daughter was justified because it made people face up to migrant deaths on the U.S. southern border. “This is very sad, but it’s really necessary,” said Rafael Larraenza, founder and director of San Diego, California-based volunteer group Angeles del Desierto (The Desert Angels), which carries out search and rescue operations for missing migrants. “This happens every day along the border from California to Texas, at least one or two people a day,” Larraenza said. Many countries have erected barriers to migrants, and the European Union and the United States have pressured their neighbours to cut the numbers of people trying to make the journey. Trump threatened Mexico with trade tariffs until it agreed to help lower the number of mostly Central American migrants reaching

the United States, using increased enforcement along with and expanded program of asylum containment. With more immigrants reaching the U.S.-Mexican border than at any time in the past decade, authorities in both countries have struggled to provide adequate care in detention, with immigration lawyers citing children being held for weeks without adequate food or hygiene in U.S. border facilities. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said on Tuesday its acting commissioner was resigning. The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a $4.6 billion bill to address the migrant surge at the border with Mexico, setting up a negotiation with the House of Representatives and President Donald Trump over the funds and how they should be spent. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said Martinez and his daughter had lost their lives because they could not get the protection they were entitled to under international law. “The deaths of Oscar and Valeria represent a failure to address the violence and desperation pushing people to take journeys of danger for the prospect of a life in safety and dignity,” he said in the statement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

President meets Minister Broomes …refined work programme for youth affairs President David Granger, on Wednesday afternoon, met Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency, Mrs. Simona Broomes to refine her work programme for youth affairs. The Head of State and Minister Broomes will continue to work together to address the challenges of youth unemployment and training, a release from the Ministry of the Presidency stated. The Ministry of the Presidency also refuted any suggestion that Minister Broomes was being curtailed from executing her work plan as outlined by the President.

Minister Simona Broomes was reassigned by President David Granger back in May as Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency, responsible for youth affairs

Pomp and ceremony ... SOC 50 will go down in the annals of history as the course that commenced the new direction in the training of the ‘value-added’ Officer. In relation to the ROC, it was after a hiatus of nine years, that the GDF re-commenced training Reserve Officers to serve within the Guyana People’s Militia throughout the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana, as part of Government’s Total National Defence Policy. In 2015, as part of the Total National Defence Policy, an Executive Order directed

that the Militia be resuscitated. Since then, personnel strength has increased from fewer than 125 members in January 2015 to nearly 1,500 in January 2019. The “Total National Defence” Policy stipulates that all the elements and instruments of national power be combined to protect Guyana’s territory. Upon implementation, it will also give regular and reserve forces the resources they need to perform their mission over the next five years. Significantly, the President instructed, that nev-

President David Granger presents the `Sword of Honour’ to 2Lt. Jehu West, the Best Graduating Student of SOC 50

er again is the reserve force, to fall below the required 50 percent of the regular force strength. President David Granger said that each capital town and Administrative Region in Guyana will have a unit of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM), which will allow young people to benefit from skills training, to become equipped to provide support in the event of natural disasters, to become comfortable with the natural environment and to be in a state of readiness, always.

FROM PAGE 2 The group of 27 young professionals, who graduated include doctors, a pilot, agriculturalists, teachers and other members of the medical profession. The revitalisation of the ROC is geared toward enlarging its complement of professionals who live and work in all administrative regions, thus ensuring that Guyana has trained personnel who can and will respond and assist the GDF, not only in a complimentary manner to the GDF, but also in disaster management.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday June 27, 2019

Addressing sexual abuse THE issue of sex is still somewhat of a taboo subject in Guyana and rarely one would find parents discussing the “birds and the bees” with their children. As such, children and adolescent teenagers are left to figure out and explore on their own what sex is. It is not surprising, therefore, why we have numerous cases of unreported sexual abuse; most incidents occur in the family, so the abuse is either buried deep or parents/ guardians refuse to believe the victim. Many parents do not want their child labelled as a survivor of sexual abuse and make the decision to deal with it privately, rather

than involve law enforcement. When that decision is made, most often the abuser is emboldened to repeat the behaviour while he or she, unfortunately, remains anonymous. Earlier this year it was reported by this newspaper that Guyana recorded, at March, 400 cases of sexual abuse against children in just three months, a figure which Resident UNICEF Representative, Sylvie Fouet says was alarming. The number of cases last year was over 1000. The UNICEF representative signalled the need for more to be done in order to address the scourge which has been plaguing society for years.

She believes that building capacity will help Guyana to find solutions, which will result in the reduction of those numbers and even the prevention of such cases. As part of its contribution, UNICEF had assisted in the launching of several sexual offences courts locally. In this regard, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) and other agencies that play a role in the fight against sexual molestation have a huge challenge in reaching out to victims. We’ve all heard and read the horror stories of children being raped or touched inappropriately either by their fathers, close relatives or a

family friend and most of these victims are girls. In this regard, we believe that the task of addressing sexual abuse in a holistic manner should not rest solely on the shoulders of any one agency; it requires the collaborative effort of all stakeholders, including the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the religious community. An aggressive sensitisation campaign on sexual abuse is needed if the issue is to be tackled effectively; visits to various schools, especially in the hinterland areas, are a must. It should not be ignored that parents play an important role in this regard and

evidence shows that they are often the first to identify signs that something is seriously wrong with their child, but with the evolution of technology, mobile phones, social media and apps have become a major connection between children and abusers. The role of parents in safeguarding is much harder, because of the difficulties of controlling these media, which are used by sexual abusers to coerce, manipulate, threaten, control, flatter and entice children. As such, we believe that as a society, we should help parents and guardians understand their responsibility to teach their children how to protect

themselves from predators. Parents need to recognise that the responsibility to impart this critical information belongs only to them and no one else. Other appropriate adults can reinforce, remind, and be supportive of the parental process, but the responsibility rests with the parents. Our societies have a responsibility to help children thrive. The effects of childhood sexual abuse are long-lasting and often devastating. We believe that children everywhere deserve a positive future: the chance to grow and learn in safety – free from the threat of sexual abuse.

Kissoon’s analysis is flawed Dear Editor,

THIS letter is a response to Mr. Frederick Kissoon’s contention that if the AFC did not enter into an alliance with the APNU, it would have been able, in the 2015 General and Regional Elections, to increase significantly, its standing with the electorate to the point of winning the elections. In offering this comment I am breaking a self-imposed decision not to respond to anything written by Kissoon, since, more often than not, his replies have always been a “cuss out” in the course of which the value of the intended polemics, suffers. In his column of KN Friday, June 14, 2019, captioned “Dead meat selling next to my house tomorrow”, Kis-

soon wrote, “I honestly …… believe that if the AFC had remained as an alternative third force they would have won the plurality of the votes at the 2020 elections and form a minority government and displace both the PNC and PPP by 2025”. This bold declaration by Kissoon, in my opinion, is a gross overstatement of events from the popular columnist, social and political analyst. His position is not supported by a consideration of all the factors in the equation that the AFC was faced with going forward, beyond the 2011 elections. Here are my reasons for disagreeing with Kissoon: (1) the 2011 elections results demonstrated that the Guyanese electorate wanted a change in government. The AFC was empowered by vot-

ers to help in that endeavour. Objectively, its leadership had basically two options going forward: (a) to hold to their earlier position that they will never join with either the PNC or the PPP thereby allowing the PPP to remain in power indefinitely, or (b) Joining, as they subsequently did in 2015 with the APNU of which the PNC is the senior party. This coalition resulted in a change in government at those elections. Having tabled a no-confidence motion in the parliament in 2013 against the PPP government, the AFC, (given the combined APNU and AFC votes) facilitated putting on the political agenda the fall of the government. In so doing, the AFC’s leadership, consciously or unconsciously, placed the party in a political situation where it was

left with one credible course of action when the PPP prorogued the parliament. That was to act consistently with the logic of its own motion and the aspiration of the electorate who supported the party and wanted the defeat of the ruling PPP/C. Apparently, Mr. Kissoon feels that if the AFC had acted as he is now saying and faced the electorate in its own name in the 2015 general and regional elections there would have been no negative consequences for the party. I disagree. I submit here that if the AFC had demonstrated insensitivity to the expressed desire of those voters, who in 2011 supported the party, the backlash for that party would have been tremendous. I am convinced that given the Guyanese voters' behaviour, once the AFC had not joined

with the APNU in the 2015 elections the party would have suffered great losses. A large part of its base would have defected on the grounds that the AFC was not serious about defeating the PPP. It must be borne in mind that the AFC’s multi-racial support was not based on ideology or a long history of mass struggle that cemented the base – therein lies its fragility. We saw the early indications of this fragility being demonstrated when Raphael Trotman became the leader of the party. In the 2011 elections, the party lost significant votes in the Indian community relative to the 2006 elections when Ramjattan was the leader. However, it was able to retain or increase votes in its African community.

(2) We also have to factor into the political equation that the AFC’s rise to political prominence was aided in a large way, financially and otherwise, by external political forces. This support the party leadership could not depend on indefinitely. Conscious of this reality they made the best of this support before it evaporated. In concluding, it is obvious from Kissoon's article that none of the above was given any consideration in his analysis of what the AFC’s political fortunes would have been had it contested separately in the 2015 General and Regional elections.

Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday June 27, 2019

The causes of corruption are complex Dear Editor

In Guyana corruption is a good word to start a conversation with or even better to crank up an argument. Recent reports in the media alleged that whistle-blowers in the Guyana Police Force stationed at Berbice have surfaced with allegations of corrupt and unethical practices by senior and other members of the GPF. Let me be pellucid. I do not have any evidence that there are In fact whistle-blowers and if they exist, how credible they are. The Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating. I hold no brief for anyone. What I am about to posit are my private views. They do not represent the views of any group of persons or organisation I am associated with. I have an abiding interest in law enforcement. Hence, my regular letters to the editor. In this missive I will

briefly express some views on corruption and unethical behaviour as it relates to law enforcement. The key elements of corrupt behaviour are that the conduct is prohibited by law or rule, involves misuse of position and involves a reward or personal gain for the officer. According to Rothlein (2000), “Corruption is a corrosive element that will spread like rust if it is not contained and eliminated. Addressing unethical behaviour and corruption has become a top priority and major challenge for police administration. The causes of corruption are complex. Many factors can contribute to corruption, including greed; personal motivators such as ego, sex, or the exercise of power; tolerance of the behaviour of the community; socialisation from peers and/ or the organisation; inadequate supervision and monitoring of behaviour; lack of clear

accountability of employees' behaviour; and no real threat to discipline or sanctions.” Corruption takes on many forms. Something seemingly insignificant can put an officer on a slippery slope, leading to major crime. Research repeatedly confirms that most scandals starts with one employee doing relatively small unethical acts and grow to whatever level the leadership allows. Quite often we hear the argument that there are just a few rogue elements, a couple of bad cops or some rotten apples that must be gotten rid of and everything will be okay. Trautman (2000) contends, "The 'rotten apple' theory that some administrators propose as the cause for their demise is usually more than a self-serving, superficial facade, intended to draw intention away from their own failures." Swope (2001) believes, "It is the unethical breeding environment of the barrel that generates the major difficulties.

It is the barrel, the culture of the police organisation that can cause the root-shaking scandals that periodically face some police organisations. Swope also believes, "An officer's behaviour is influenced more directly by the actions or lack of actions in response to ethical shortcomings of his superiors, than by the stated directives or written ethical code of an organisation." Perry (2001) likewise suggests examining the barrel: "The ‘rotten apple’ theory won't work any longer. Corrupt police officers are not natural-born criminals.... The task of corruption control is to examine the barrel, not just the apples; the organisation, not just the individuals in it, because corrupt police are made, nor born." A good starting point for promoting ethical behaviour and integrity is to eliminate the code of silence. The code of silence encourages people not to speak up when they see another

officer doing something wrong. Fulton (2000) stresses: "police commanders must exemplify the honesty and integrity they seek in their subordinates." In addition, "Ethical mentoring and role modeling should be consistent, frequent and visible." McCarthy (2000) suggests seven steps that can help to prevent unethical behaviour: (1) Recruit with care. (2) Establish appropriate policies and put them in writing. (3) Adopt a good employer evaluation process. (4) Make sure your sergeants share management values and philosophies. (5) Develop operational controls. (6) Perform regular anti-corruption inspections and audits and (7) Implement ethics and integrity training into every training activity. Law enforcement organisations are similar to all other organisations. They constantly change. Some change occurs in a revolutionary man-

ner, but most often it is evolutionary. Change involves alteration of attitudes and work behaviour as individuals, as team members and as members of the department. The police should concentrate heavily on their group of members who have the ability to create an organisational culture based on integrity: the sergeants and corporals. They may not be able to change the department but can change their squads; the junior officers and inspectors. They may not be able to change the department but they can change the large number of men under their control. Fast forward! At some point these junior officers, inspectors, sergeants and corporals will become the divisional and branch commanders where they will be able to change the department. Regards Clinton Conway

What ‘battle for democracy’, Madame Teixeira? Dear Editor Honestly, senior PPP/C functionary, Gail Teixeira, should be regarded as among the few better educated/experienced politicians of her party. No one should deny her this accolade; also, that she is one of its better National Assembly representatives. However, her constant proclivity for deliberate misinformation, and twisting the facts, with the obvious intention to deceive, is a known characteristic that she has exhibited, blatantly since 2015 – the ascension to government of the coalition, A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). Editor, any Guyanese would know that the imminent national and regional elections are about oil. It is a nationally known fact. It is not a secret, especially in the continuous light of Jagdeo’s well-known grand political design to unseat this government by any and all means, with its treacherous centre piece being the perfidious no-confidence motion. His slew of daily lies, bordering on the ridiculous to the absurd, in addition to his predilection for ugly racist statements; filthy lies; tragic distortion of national issues; and attempts at reverse psychology that have fooled no one, except disrespecting his party support base, has added an entirely new dimension as to what and who is a leader of a political opposition. At best, Jagdeo and his political cohort of friends and cronies, all complicit in their pillaging of the criminal state,

institutionalised during the tenure of his PPP/C administration, have become even more outrageous as they frenetically seek to grab power from a government, by any and all means, even if it means fomenting the social peace. Never before, has there been what has been described as the shameless somersault, and disavowal of time-honoured principles of voices who once represented the pinnacle of national rectitude, when they had confronted and exposed the PPP/C for the crimes that they were committing against this country and its people. Since the new government, immediately after taking office, this once moral category has aligned itself openly with the racist PPP/C party, singing for their expected supper. Editor, this nation has undergone, as far as some sections are concerned, an incredible overnight 360-degree shift, once unthinkable, for the outspoken position they had taken against acts of well-known venalities. And this is not about democracy, as Teixeira would seek to deceive us. For this level of opposition extremes, is about its hypertension-level desperation to have control of the multi-billion-dollar industry, and its orchestration of lies and horrible political treacheries, against the coalition government, intended to aid such a goal. Of course, Dr. David Hinds was absolutely correct when he advocated the fact of oil as being the pivot and masthead for the coming elections, as to which party will, or will not be in government; and I will add, reasons of ethnicity, as are so

clear from Jagdeo’s pronouncements and those of his party followers via social media. This position is clearly in contrast to Gail Teixeira’s attempt to deceive by positing the, “battle for democracy” claim as being the issue of the forthcoming elections, as aired on the programme Globespan 24X7. This is communism at both its best, because it is an ideology that is versatile at “alternative facts’’, and at its worst, because its lies are always dangerous distortions of the truth. One wonders as to Teixeira’s claim about the elections being about democracy, when the period 2015 to current, has been characterised by not only democracy, but by the tenets which upholds its sanctity. Democracy has flowered and has taken root, since the government of the APNU+AFC coalition. The Rule of Law is being upheld, because citizens are accorded due process, and their human rights are upheld; there are no extra judicial killings; no one is detained beyond the statutory period of detention, without charges being laid; the press is free, because no reporter or media house is being threatened or sued; state institutions have since 2015, been allowed to manage its daily duties, without state interference; with even well-known PPP/C supporters being afforded the opportunity to perform professionally, and not be “moles”; and state boards and commissions are allowed to govern and make policy without state intrusion. Apart from these, the element of fear, and feeling

muzzled, are elements of a past experience, because citizens, inclusive of public servants can criticize the state, without the expectation of reprisals. Editor, these are just some of the democratic freedoms which this country have been enjoying, since 2015; and which, as are well- known, were absent during the former PPP/C administration in which Teixeira served, and which are recorded facts of the dark night of PPP/C rule. Teixeira is seeking to up-

hold the greatest tradition of man’s socio-political existence, which her party never believed in; never practised, or never upheld. It was a non-existent feature of its past structure of governance, and was again only recently illustrated in the manner of the selection of its presidential candidate, much against the wishes of party mainstream popular opinion. Ms. Teixeira therefore needs to look into the precincts of Freedom House, and question its democratic credentials. She

will find all the answers that are opposite to her latest lie. Moreover, her party leader has never been a known democrat, since he has always abused the media, a known brand of his character, which he still upholds; as well as having a marked aversion to being questioned by the media. One wonders what next will come from this propaganda czarina, and spin doctor. Regards Earl Hamilton

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday June 27, 2019

Harmony Village hosted in Corentyne A TOTAL of 65 booths were on display promoting religion, culture and business as the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Social Cohesion hosted its third annual Harmony Village, held at Scottsburg Community Centre Ground, Number 76 Village, East Berbice Corentyne on Wednesday. The one-day event saw a number of Berbicians from all walks of life witnessing the coming together of religion, culture, civil society and private sector organisations to celebrate their respective culture through beliefs, festivals, artifacts, folklore, clothing, cuisine, music, dance, local products and services. The event also attracted performances from number

DOSC, Natasha Singh-Lewis, highlighted that the event aims to promote unity and diversity. She related over the years, the Department of Social Cohesion has undertaken programmatic actions that individually and on the aggregate contribute to building trust, understanding, caring, sharing and support between and among individuals and communities. “We strengthen our efforts to build a unified Guyana. We strengthen our efforts bolstering the feelings of safety and security and promote and enhance cohesion in Guyana”, Singh-Lewis related. Delivering the feature address, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, posited that Harmony Village was conceptualised

A fusion of tassa kumfa drumming at the event

of young people from various schools on the Corentyne Coast, performing dramatic poetry, songs and dances. Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, and a number of Members of Parliament also graced the occasion. In addressing the gathering at the opening ceremony, Technical Officer at the

with the intention of “utilising one single space as was depicted at Scottsburg to not only portray what defines us as Guyanese, but also to showcase how unification of all these things makes us better individuals and broadens our perspectives.” He related that it is his hope that the event will inspire everyone to put their best foot forward and work on shattering all the barriers that divide this country and build bridges that will help all Guyanese. “Harmony village is a clear indication

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr.George Norton, greets a staff of the Department of Labour Region 6

Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, interacts with children who were paying keen attention to learning materials

that we do not need to be the same, look the same or believe in the same thing in order for us to live in love and harmony. We can be different but we can do so with love. Harmony village allows us to appreciate our differences and to embrace our diversity in all its glory. It emphasises the fact that varieties indeed are the spice of life,” Dr. Norton reasoned.

He continued: “The key to us embracing diversity and promoting tolerance is to first be comfortable with ourselves and be proud of all that we have been fed: our culture, tradition, ethnicity, religion and all the things that make us who we are as individuals.” Minister Norton told the gathering that Guyana belongs to “all of us and Har-

We are convinced of that and this is why we should only allow it to go forward and we ask you to make a general evaluation of where we are and where we came from and we do not want to go back we must continue to go forward.” Regional Executive Officer, Kim Williams-Stephens, said she is grateful for the event to be hosted in Berbice as it is evidence of the government’s commitment to inclusivity, empowering villages, communities, building towns, region and by extension, a unified Guyana. “This activity is to transform a mutual social cohesive space into a replica of a village to illustrate that we as Guyanese people can live in peace and harmony while embracing our diversity,

Students share a light moment at the ERC booth

mony Village shows each of us has an equal place here in building partnership and in promoting community and national cohesion.” The minister stated, “The growth of harmony village and the support we have received over the years tells us we are heading in the right direction and we want to assure you yes, this administration is heading in the right direction.

religion, politics and our geographical diversity. I urge you to appreciate and recognise our uniqueness. Our aim is to promote, peace, harmony, social and economic development in East Berbice Corentyne”. Harmony Village Three was held under the theme “Promoting Our Diversities: Building A United Guyana”.

Local restaurants add a new feature during Restaurant Week TWO local restaurants, the Herdmanston Lodge and the Duke, have extended the activities organised for the ongoing Guyana Restaurant Week (GRW) to the girls from the St. Ann’s Orphanage. “This is our way of giving back but I think, in a big way, it brings hope to the girls,” President of the Tourism and Hospitality Associatio of Guyana (THAG) and Representative of the Duke, Mitra Ramkumar said. And this was the first time that this has been done for the now popular ‘Restaurant Week’. TURN TO PAGE 10 ►

Caregiver of the St. Ann’s Orphanage, Sharon Munro (right) receives a voucher from a representative of the Herdmanston Lodge and President of the Tourism and Hospitality Associaon of Guyana (THAG), Mitra Ramkumar (left)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday June 27, 2019

Sophia Night School students register with Central Recruitment Agency SOME 42 students from the Sophia Night School have been registered with the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), and were encouraged to remember that there still exist opportunities for persons despite their not finishing secondary school. Such reassuring remarks were delivered by Minister of Labour, Keith Scott at a forum on “Horizon to a Brighter Future”. As he delivered the feature address at the forum, Minister Scott informed the students that being a secondary school drop out in no way impeded on anyone’s ability to go on and make a difference in one’s country or in the world. Scott cited Guyanese Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the father of trade unionism in the Caribbean, as an example of someone who went on to do something impactful despite deficiencies in his academic background. Held at the Department of Labour’s Boardroom on Brickdam, the forum was organized by the Ministry of Social Protection’s CRMA, which is collaborating with the Sophia Night School to have students registered with the Agency. “In an effort to improve the lives of youths to a brighter future, the CRMA was able to establish a relationship with the Sophia Night School, and Sophia Community Development Association, in addressing

issues affecting youths in relation to unemployment, due to the lack of the required education and skills,” explained Assistant Chief Recruitment and Manpower officer, Yolanda Grant. “Our aim is to empower youths to acquire the skills, knowledge and the drive to achieve, by supporting them to develop the skills, knowledge and vision needed to achieve employment and decent work, so that they can become productive citizens. This will enhance individual

Minister of Labour, Keith Scott (Elvin Croker photo)

piloted three CSEC night school projects across Guyana, aimed at providing persons with an opportunity to acquire CSEC qualifications. The Sophia Night School started out offering five CSEC Subjects, namely Mathematics, English A, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business and Office Administration. Over the years EDPM, Social Studies, Human Biology, Integrated Science and Agricultural Science were added. To date, over 250 individuals have been registered

A section of the attendees at the forum (Elvin Croker photo)

productive development and that of Guyana, as a whole.” The 42 students were between 17 and 35 years of age. “We expect that more youths will join in the programme, to seize this golden opportunity to achieve

success in their academic pursuit,” Grant noted. As the name suggests, the Sophia Night School offers night classes to secondary school drop outs and to other persons wishing to write the Caribbean Sec-

ondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) subjects. The programme started in 2016 after the Sophia Community Development Association (SOCDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of the Presidency, and Express Guyana

at the night school with the youngest being 14 and the oldest being 50. “At the night school, our policy is pretty uncomplicated; it is come as you are but with the intention to learn and to make your life better,”

noted Coordinator for the Night School, Orin Nelson “Some of our students come from backgrounds with little or no positive role models available. The atmosphere at the school is one that encourages a rewarding experience- personally, academically and professionally. For some the opportunity presented at the night school is a second or third chance to enhance their educational qualifications. It is also a place where the supervision and teaching rendered enable you to thrive.”The School is open to all and not just residents of Sophia. Over the years it has had students coming from other parts of Georgetown as well as from the East Coast, East Bank and West Bank Demerara. “The human rights article 26 speaks to everyone having the right to an education. Safe, cohesive and inclusive spaces in Guyana are very necessary in our country and the Sophia Community Development Association provides just that. The Night School provides educational, professional and technical training, youth work and sport opportunities, all with the intention of promoting shared values, fostering social integration and enhancing intercultural understanding.

Gov’t appeals order for Jordan to pay US$2.2M to Dipcon THE Attorney General Chambers has filed a notice of appeal challenging an order made by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for Winston Jordan, not in his capacity as Finance Minister, to pay an outstanding amount of US$2,228,400.67 to Trinidad construction company, Dipcon, by July 8, 2019, or go to jail. There were eight grounds listed in the notice of appeal which indicated where the Learned Trial Judge erred and misdirected herself in law, the AG chambers contended in the notice of appeal. Justice Sewnarine-Beharry made the order on June 24, 2019, in the High Court which stemmed from a contempt motion filed on behalf of the company by Attorney-at-law Timothy Jonas in May of this year. The award to the company was first handed down by Justice of Appeal, Rishi Persaud, on October 21, 2015, and, while the government has challenged the award, Jonas moved to the court with contempt proceedings against Jordan. “The ruling was erroneous and the judge committed a specific illegality when she made an order against the minister in his private capacity and not in his official capacity as Minister of Finance, thus robbing him of the protection he is entitled to under Section 14 of the State Liability and Proceedings Act Chapter 6:05 wherein no coercive order can be made against him,” Attorney General Basil Williams told the Guyana Chronicle following the order by the court. The first ground of appeal stated is that when the Learned Trial Judge exercised jurisdiction and proceeded to hear the application for contempt against Jordan in his private and per-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

sonal capacity for monies alleged to be owed by the State and Government of Guyana and when she improperly proceeded with the hearing of an application for contempt against Jordan when no action, cause, judgement, order or proceedings was made or issued in the personal name of Winston Jordan. Other grounds included when Justice Sewnarine-Beharry failed to appreciate that contempt proceedings were coercive in nature and that such an order could not be made against the officer of the State, but in particular against Jordan privately when no act was done by him in his private capacity for contempt to prevail against him. Grounds also stated that she omitted to set aside the entire proceedings as void abinitio because the application was bad

in law and misconceived and in clear breach of the provisions of Section 3, Section 3 (6) and Section 14 of the State Liability Proceedings Act Chapter 6:05 of the Laws of Guyana. The notice of appeal also indicated that she omitted to set aside in the previous manner the entire proceedings void abinitio for the same reasons and in breach of the same Act of the Law of Guyana as it bars the Respondent/Applicant from obtaining any coercive order against the Finance Minister in his private or official capacity compelling or coercing him to pay a judgement in civil proceedings against the State. Grounds stated, too, that she omitted to set aside the entire proceedings as void abinitio because the application was bad in law and misconceived Section 14 of the State Liability Proceedings Act Chapter 6:05 of the Laws of Guyana which states: “Wherever in any civil proceedings against the State judgement or order is given or made against the State, no execution shall issue thereon…” The remaining grounds stated that she refused to grant the stay of the order for contempt to permit the State and Government of Guyana to pursue in law the process of the Appeal and erred and misdirected herself in law and/or misdirected herself in the evidence as a whole. Meanwhile, the notice of appeal stated that additional and/ or amended grounds may be filed upon seeing the final written judgement of the Learned Trial Judge. “The Appellants respectfully pray that the judgement of the Learned Trial Judge be set aside, reversed and/or varied and the Respondent be ordered to pay the costs in this Court and the Court below,” the document stated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday June 27, 2019

Guyana ready for DNA testing …Forensic lab commissions gunshot residue, DNA machines

…plans in train to establish national DNA database By Rabindra Rooplall GUNSHOT residue and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing are now available at the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) with the commissioning of the US$465,000 equipment at the facility. At the commissioning ceremony at GFSL Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on Wednesday, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, said as technology advances, forensic scientists are able to analyse smaller biological samples to develop a DNA profile. Other than the DNA machine, he said the GFSL also has the SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) machine where tests are conducted through analysis of the residues which have been collected on sticky metal stubs and firearms. “The GFSL is now equipped with the capacity and skill set to conduct DNA analysis using the rapid human identification system to aid with the proof of identity and tracing family members,” Minister Ramjattan said. He said that the DNA machine sourced from Italy can run eight samples simultaneously and produce results within two hours, thus facilitating an improved investigation rate. The machines will officially start tests from Friday. The Minister said that there are four persons trained to operate the DNA machine. Previously it cost the government over $1M to secure DNA results, but now with the new machines, the cost will be $60,000 He said through the adaptation of technologies and scientific approaches the safety of citizens increases and not only will criminals be caught, but many persons who are innocent will also benefit.

Director of GFSL, Delon France and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan cut the ceremonial ribbon to commission the DNA machine.

IDB Chief of Operation, Lorena Solorzan cuts the ceremonial ribbon on the Scanning Electron Microscopy machine which tests gun residue, in the presence of Director of GFSL, Delon France and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

Meanwhile, Director of GFSL, Delon France, said the facility was commissioned five years ago with four departments; toxicology, documents, trace evidence and chemistry along with six non-analytical departments; security, quality systems, information systems, facilities operations, evidence and administration. He explained that now there are two new departments; the Forensic Video Evidence and the DNA testing. France said this was made possible with the collaboration of the Minister of Public Security, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP). “The laboratory is now a national pioneer for human identification using DNA testing and it enables us to conduct three main things; DNA testing for comparison or matching evidence to suspect; paternity testing

and thirdly family mapping or testing where their DNA can be used to identify a suspect,” he said. He explained that sample for the DNA procedures includes; swabbing of the mouth, semen and vaginal sampling, hair, blood and touch DNA. The GFSL Director said this will bring more criminal adjudication to cases as time progresses. “Proper evidence collection is equally important to the outcome of results from analysis conducted. The laboratory has been rolling out a number of training sessions with crime scene personnel from the Guyana Police Force to ensure quality sample collection,” France said. He said the main focus is now on quality forensic service and the GFSL is currently working towards international accreditation with the aim of making the service more marketable to make the organisation finan-

cially viable. With future expansion in mind, he said there are plans to establish a national DNA database that will require legal intervention and amendments to chapters of the laws of Guyana especially the Police Act chapter 16:01 section 35 which should include DNA records facilitate such a venture. IDB Chief of Operation, Lorena Solorzan, said the IDB continues to support the work of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP) in its mandate to increase nonviolent conflict resolution at the community level. She said this provides opportunities for rehabilitation on the reintegration of criminal offenders and strengthens criminal justice agencies to better serve in preventing and investigating crimes. The IDB official said that the strengthening of the criminal justice institutions are essential in safeguarding

the rule of law, improving public confidence in criminal justice outcomes and facilitating national development. “Once a crime is committed, in order for it to be solved in a timely manner, there needs to be a strong inter linkage between the investigative capacity of the police, the prosecutorial capacity of the prosecution and jurors,” she explained Ms. Solorzan said the use of forensic analysis helps to provide this link representing a strong scientific platform that facilitates the development of a common set of facts around criminal incidents, and an arrival at a fair sentencing. Adding that the IDB endorses such integration and champions the effort, the IDB Chief of Operations said such efforts boost public confidence in criminal justice institutions. She said that the investment by the Government of Guyana bolsters the ability of the police and other participant agencies to analyze and report on physical evidence, which contributes meaningfully to the resolu-

Local restaurants add a new feature... The President explained to the Guyana Chronicle that the idea to include the girls from the home in the usually well-received GRW came from the feedback received from people on social media. This feedback, he explained, encouraged the body to think about those persons who might not usually have the opportu-

nity to experience the best of Guyanese cuisine offered during this period. The Survival Supermarket also chipped in to provide a hamper for the orphanage too. For the next season of GRW, which will be held later this year, Ramkumar noted that he hopes it will be done “bigger” and in a “more organised manner” where more orphanages

tion of criminal cases. The IDB official explained that the diagnostic capabilities of the two pieces of equipment are truly impressive and present a good value for money. The scanning and electronic microscope is the first in the region and the rapid DNA analysis machine can produce results in less than three hours. Further, she said DNA evidence only places a person at the scene of a crime, but cannot establish intent of wrong doing, as such a strengthened parallel mechanism for generating good evidence is critical. Additionally, she said that the benefit of the machines can only be maximized when there is a comprehensive and robust data base available to facilitate the storage and retrieval of DNA evidence and a legislative framework that provides suitable checks and balance during the investigative process. FROM PAGE 8

and persons would be able to benefit. He also expressed his hope that more restaurants would come onboard this initiative. “We want to do it in a spread instead of just two restaurants… because we really believe that we must leave no one behind and that we must always think of the vulnerable in society,” he highlighted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

Jagdeo cannot dump six names on President

…AFC leader says CCJ judgement requires consensus in arriving at nominees THE Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, cannot dump six names on President David Granger and expect him to make a choice to elect a new Chairman for Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). They must meet and agree on all the names submitted. This is according to Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, who, on Wednesday, said that such was the order given by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Former Chair of GECOM, Justice (ret’d) James Patterson demitted office on Monday, June 24, one week after the CCJ ruled that the process by which he was appointed was “flawed.” “It appears that a lot of people have not read the CCJ judgment in relation to the elections chairman. The leader of the opposition and the President must meet and work out the six names, so it is not as if the opposition leader can just go and put six names into the hands of the President. They must meet and deliberate on six names that

are acceptable to the President,” Ramjattan said. He said the consensual approach in accordance with paragraph 10 of Justice Adrian Saunders decision states “they must meet and work out the six names together and then once it’s acceptable to the President, the President selects one of the six.” Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, said he will make himself available to meet with President David Granger “at any time” and “on a daily basis if needs be” with regards to the selection of a new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This was detailed in a letter dispatched to Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira. President Granger had invited Jagdeo to a meeting “to discuss the current political situation in Guyana resulting from the decisions of the CCJ made on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. The CCJ also expects the two political leaders and the legal offi-

CHOOSE ...

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Jagdeo to run for third term as President .SET CRITERIA In efforts to guide Jagdeo in a selection of a workable list, President Granger in March 2017 had laid out a set of criteria for selection which included no political affiliation and the general characteristics of honesty, integrity, faithfulness, and diligence. The President had also requested and reviewed the curricula vitae for the individuals nominated to fill the post of GECOM Chair. Eventually, being caused to reject the second list, the President stated: “We examined the qualifications very closely and in the end it was clear that the list, as a whole, did not conform to the criteria as laid down in the Constitution or the list of criteria, which was established… I expect that he [Jagdeo] would go back to the drawing board and produce a list, which conforms to those criteria. I’m quite serious. It’s an important appointment and I think it must be taken seriously.” PRELIMINARY MEETING In moving forward post CCJ-ruling, Dr. Hinds believes that there should be a preliminary meeting between the two leaders from which a large group of names will be selected and these will be narrowed down in subsequent meetings. “If you do that, you reduce the possibly of the process being stalled,” he reasoned.

Other criteria he listed which should be considered were competency; a track record of public service; integrity and impartiality. Speaking to the latter, he stated: “It is very difficult in our society, given our political and ethnic problems, to find someone who doesn’t have a political view one way or the other. But, I think there are people, who despite of their political views, can be neutral.” TRACK RECORD OF INTEGRITY Meanwhile, former GECOM Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally also told the newspaper on Wednesday that the selected Chairman should be a person with a “track record of integrity” and someone who will be “fair to all parties concerned”. At the same time, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, while steering clear of pronouncing on the perceived affiliation of those on the previous list, said that “polarisation” would be created if previous members of the lists were to be re-selected. “They [the previous 18] must not be re-submitted; it can cause polarisation and gridlock with the entire process,” Lewis cautioned. “Whatever the opinion of people about those 18 names –some may not be able to be proved and some may be just people’s impressions about the individuals--- put that aside… what should be done is to go

cials who represented them in the cases before the court, to meet to determine whether a compromise can be met prior to the next court session.

Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan

The two political leaders must not only decide on the appointment of a new chairman, but also on a timeframe for credible elections. However, in the letter dispatched to Harmon, Teixeira only

outside of those names and come with fresh names.” He believes that any perceived conflict of interest must be properly measured while there must be clear criteria for the determination of such. “If we are going to move this process beyond where it is, we ought not to do anything that can derail the trail or create

indicated the opposition leader’s interest in the appointment of a new GECOM Chair. She also stated that the decision to meet comes following the court’s ruling and the resignation of Patterson which was announced earlier on Tuesday to have taken effect the previous day. “With regards to the Caribbean Court of Justice ruling on June 18 [2019] CCJ 9 (AJ), and, following the announcement today that the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson has resigned, l wish, on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Bharrat Jagdeo, M.P., to inform you that Mr. Jagdeo is prepared to meet with the President at any time, and, on a daily basis if needs be, to address the appointment of a new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission consistent with the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice on June 18, 2019,” the letter stated. The government has outlined, in its proposal that the registration of persons for the purpose of ascertaining who is qualified to be an elector

gridlock in the system,” he said. The GTUC head believes that there are many in society who can be agreed upon by the two leaders. On Monday, the CCJ had urged the political leaders to maturely come to a consensus on matters relating to the holding of elections. Dr. Hinds also agreed that

is by ‘house-to- house visits’, as provided for under Section 3(1) of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act of 2000. “General and Regional Elections shall be held on the National Register of Registrants/Central Register under the National Registration Act, which Register is to be prepared by ‘house-to-house visits’ pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 of the National Registration Act as amended by the National Registration (Amendment) Act No. 31 of 2007,” the government asserted. On the issue of the chairman of the Elections Commission, the government has asserted that account must be taken of the de facto doctrine that all acts done by the chairman while he purported to perform the duties of chairman shall be declared valid. The President, since the court’s ruling, has expressed his respect for the decisions made and his openness to engage with the leader of the opposition as it relates to developments within the country.

for the Opposition Leader to re-submit the previous names would be to challenge the process further. “Since the President already said the first time around that he does not find any of these people acceptable, to put them on another list is to prejudice the process before it starts,” he said. He hopes that, moving

forward, the two leaders can put aside Party differences and act in the interest of the people and in good faith. He stated: “The responsibility of the nation is on their shoulders and to correct this problem calls for action that goes beyond partisan considerations.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

‘Crooked cops will be probed’ …Ramjattan says full investigation launched into allegations against crime chief

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

IN the aftermath of damning allegations against Crime Chief, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lyndon Alves, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said “We have everything in control, even he who is at the very highest when they misbehave; we are going to conduct investigations.” He said the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating the matter and upon completion, legal advice will be sought on the way forward. Ramjattan said Alves will remain suspended until the investigation is completed by the OPR. “Statements will be taken from the police who were aware of the allegations; they will be questioned and, thereafter, legal advice will be sought…we have everything in control and that even he who is at the very highest, when they misbehave, we are going to conduct investigation to find out whether it is the truth. A good administration gets to the truth, and

Crime Chief, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lyndon Alves

this is what you do all the time. We are not going to have a perfect Police Force, just like any Police Force in the world,” Ramjattan said on the sidelines of an event at the Forensic Lab at Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on Wednesday. The Crime Chief was suspended effective Monday, June 24, 2019, to facilitate a full investigation into allegations of corruption levelled against him. “And that is not anything untoward…if he is cleared he will come back there, if he is not, well fine. The President…will make certain decisions,” Ramjattan said. Expressing his confidence in the OPR investigative capacity and integrity given that Alves is a Deputy Commissioner, Ramjattan said, “I am very comfortable with the OPR, who you want us to put? That is always going to happen, people will have trouble with anybody, but we have to build institutions in Guyana to the extent of letting them get integrity

and reputation and unless we start doing that, nothing will grow in Guyana…” The security minister made it clear that hundreds of investigations done by the OPR have been respected. Over the last few weeks, police ranks have been engaging sections of the media detailing alleged corrupt practices by their colleagues who have been allegedly receiving protection from very senior police officers within the Guyana Police Force. Allegations also include the police protection of drug dealers and bribes to get court cases dismissed. Over the weekend, it was alleged that one drug dealer paid a rank over one million dollars, as an advance, to harm a colleague rank who was a witness in a court case. Berbicians, including representatives of the private sector and from the region, had appealed for the President to take action in what they said was a runaway situation.

Sand Hills resident charged with killing villager Twenty-eight-year-old Roy Gladstone of Sand Hills, Berbice River, was slapped with a murder charge following the unlawful killing of fellow villager, Elvis Benedict Francis, between June 18 and 19 last. Gladstone, unrepresented by counsel, was not required to plead to the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Peter Hugh at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on Monday afternoon. However, the case has been adjourned to Thursday, June 27, when it is expected that

Gladstone would be represented by counsel. According to reports, on Tuesday June 18 an altercation, which stemmed from an old grievance, ensued between the two men. Consequently, the now deceased armed himself with cutlasses went to the home of the suspect. It was observed that the exterior of Gladstone' s home was damaged with what is suspected to be cutlass markings. Gladstone’s wife, Doisha Stephen, told the Guyana Chronicle that her husband,

in an effort to protect her and their three children, had pelted the now deceased with a bat. However, a post mortem examination revealed there were deep lacerated wounds to the lower and center of Francis’ back, left hand, upper left jaw, along with scratches and bruises about the body. The cause of death was recorded as shock and hemorrhage along with multiple wounds.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday June 27, 2019

M&CC equipped to fight mosquito infestation By Telesha Ramnarine

AFTER waiting six months, the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) Public Health Department has finally been granted the tools and chemicals needed by the Vector Control Department to keep the City clean and rid it of mosquitoes. Last January, the M&CC held a press conference at which they reported that the intention was to conduct massive cleaning exercises and do additional works in an effort to keep dengue at bay. With the imminent dengue outbreak looming, the City Council had said it wanted to spray the City more often for mosquitoes. The chemicals and tools needed were however lacking. Last Monday, though, medical officer and head of the Public Health Department, Suzette Reynolds, told the Guyana Chronicle that the materials are finally with the Vector Control Department. “There is a schedule in which the staff is going out to spray larvacide to kill the mosquitoes. We have been in a neglected state from since 2018 to half of 2019. So finally, that widespread action is able

Currently, there are only three vector control staff members and hence the City Council does not have the manpower to effectively cover the entire City. Reynolds explained that lacking currently is a foreman, whose job would include looking over the field officers to ensure that they comply with their required

tasks. “The deputy chief environmental health officer would go out and be that person. I think that is demoting her role. If the actual chief is absent, or on vacation leave, it means that we wouldn’t have any control over who is doing what and if they’re doing it effectively. They will report that they are doing it, but we can’t ensure that they

are, because you know junior staff could be insubordinate at times,” the officer pointed out. However, the three officers, all ladies, who are on the job at the moment, are doing an acceptable job, although there is need for more workers to cover the length and breadth of Georgetown.

Horses to be tested for ‘Swamp Fever’ M&CC’s medical officer and head of the Public Health Department, Suzette Reynolds

Larvacide is being used by the M&CC staff to kill mosquitoes

to happen across all council buildings, market areas, and places that the public would congregate,” Reynolds informed. According to her, rat bates stations have been set up, along with the larvaciding of the external environment which includes the waterways or yards that are flooded. “We are also taking a census of the houses in Georgetown as to know how many persons live in the wards that we have. This, in the long run, would be useful for us.” Reynolds informed that there have been nu-

merous reports of increased mosquito activity, especially with the changing weather. “The mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in the water and the low lying areas would have a high rate of mosquitoes breeding happening,” Prior to the chemical treating exercise, the department had other modes of control where the staff would upturn mosquito reservoirs to prevent breathing. “Of course, we can’t upturn the drains and yards that are flooded, but the other action that was needed was the chemical action which is happening now.”

THE Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) will be taking blood samples from horses to test for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), which is popularly known as Swamp Fever. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in a post on Facebook, GLDA will be visiting various areas across the country to test for the disease. The disease is caused by a virus transmitted by bloodsucking insects. The horses, from which sam-

ples will be taken, will also be dewormed and given vitamins at no cost to the owner, as part of the exercise. The virus is endemic in the Americas, parts of Europe, the Middle and Far East, Russia, and South Africa. The virus is a lentivirus, like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Like HIV, EIA can be transmitted through blood, milk, and body secretions. Transmission is primarily through biting flies, such as the horse-fly and

deer-fly. The virus survives up to four hours in the vector. Contaminated surgical equipment and recycled needles and syringes, and bits can transmit the disease. Mares can transmit the disease to their foals via the placenta. The risk of transmitting the disease is greatest when an infected horse is ill, as the blood levels of the virus are then highest.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

India, Guyana celebrate 50 years of friendship -- Ambassador Mahalingam bids farewell to Guyana By Tajeram Mohabir PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has hailed the five decades of friendship between Guyana and India and praised the work of outgoing Indian High Commissioner, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, for strengthening those relations.

Speaking at a gala dinner at the Pegasus Hotel to celebrate 50 years of friendship between the two nations and to honour Mr Mahalingam, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said the diplomat has left a lasting impression on Guyana. “As you were reminded when you were recently re-

ceived by President Granger, your name is indelibly linked to the commissioning of the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra. This historic monument is a testimony to continuity in governance, as it was conceived under the former government as a public good, and was completed under the present government,” Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, his wife Sita Nagamootoo and Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams, share a toast with Ambassador Mahalingam at the gala dinner last evening (Adrian Narine photo)

Indian Culture Centre tabla teacher, Amjad Naizi, accompanied by other musicians, entertained the Pegasus gathering

Indian Culture Centre dance instructor, Pankhuri Srivastava perform before the Pegasus gathering

Mr Nagamootoo said. He added: "Your name will also be associated with the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology which was commissioned at the University of Guyana. Though this is a joint initiative between India and Guyana, we are grateful that India committed US$1 million towards a futuristic project which, according to President Granger ‘is a step on the path towards building the human resource capacity that drives the development of the digital state’.” Guyana, he told the Pegasus gathering, has also benefited from several bilateral agreements, which have positively impacted national development. Indian Nationals such as doctors, engineers and teachers continue to contribute to the socio-economic development of Guyana. Notably, a national award was conferred upon an Indian educator, for his role in promoting innovations in agriculture.

In addition, the prime minister pointed out that the close cultural bonds between the two nations continue to grow, through the Indian Culture Centre, established in 1972. Many Guyanese continue to benefit from yoga, traditional dance and music, culinary skills in Indian dishes, and promotion of sari among women. India has also aided Guyana in capacity-building through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and has promoted, over the years, invaluable training to young Guyanese in the fields of education, agriculture, science and technology. “Looking ahead, Guyana and India have signed memoranda in the field of energy, and our Government has placed collaboration in the area of renewable energy as a priority within the context of Guyana’s Green State Turn to page 17 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

LED lights among plans for Constituency 10 By Telesha Ramnarine THE revetment of the Sussex Street Canal, the installation of 50 LED lights, and the upgrading of the St. Stephen’s Ground, are some of the major plans being pursued in Constituency 10, which comprises the Albouystown and Charlestown communities. The two constituency councillors, Heston Bostwick and David Allicock, spoke with the Guyana Chronicle on the sidelines of the recently held statutory meeting at City Hall, regarding current works which they hope to be completed in the near future. From north to south, the boundaries of the constituency are from Princes Street to Independence Boulevard; in the east, St. Stephen’s Street and Callender Street, and in the west, the Demerara River. Currently, desilting (removal of materials such as sand and mud from the bed of a flowing canal) works are being undertaken in the communities with assistance from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). There are 54 bridges across the Sussex Street Canal, of which 18 are council’s responsibility. The 18 bridges are across the 18 streets that run north to south from Callender to Saffon Streets. “Our observation is that… because there is a build-up of silt under those bridges, we find the drains are overtopping,” Councillor Bostwick pointed out. He is hoping that the authorities will look into putting back the koker that once existed at the corner of Sussex and St. Stephen’s Streets. This, he observed, would significantly aid the receding of water when flooding occurs in Albouystown. DEVELOPMENTAL

Councillor Heston Bostwick

Sussex Street has a canal on each side with no road shoulders. This results in rapid deterioration of the road

Councillor David Allicock

The deplorable state of Sussex Street forces motorists and pedestrians to compete for the same space

WORKS Regarding the St. Stephen’s Ground that was mainly used by the youths in the constituency, Councillor Allicock informed that the intention is to be able to tap into the ‘renovation fund’ of the Department of Youth to facilitate the upgrading of that ground and also, for the construction of an administrative building there so that the facility can benefit from caretaking services. “It is the largest play area within constituency 10. We would like to have it reconstituted to the point where the

residents can make full use of it. It has not just play and exercise value, but aesthetic value,” Allicock expressed. He further informed that the constituency’s councillors have applied, and were given permission for the installation of 50 LED lights across the constituency where they are needed most. He is hoping that the project will be able to kick off by this year’s third quarter. All of the paperwork has been completed for this project, and contractors have already been identified to do the job. A final approval from

Councillor Bostwick is hoping that the koker which once existed here, at the corner of Sussex and St. Stephen’s Streets, will be reconstructed

the Ministry of Communities is all that is being awaited. SUSSEX STREET CANAL REVETMENT Councillor Bostwick said he feels the revetment of the Sussex and St. Stephen’s Streets canals are of utmost importance at this time. “This, I feel is priority. The roads have no shoulders and they pose a serious hazard. I would be very grateful for it to be done for the sake of the residents and for the health of the community,” Bostwick expressed. He explained how the

canal from the cemetery to the Sussex Street canal is just a few yards apart. “Now that you’re experiencing erosion to some parts, you might very well find that the water from the cemetery would be mixing, and that’s what we don’t want because that can lead to cholera and all sorts of things.” Councillor Allicock observed that while no funds have been allocated to this project, they did manage to enlist a promise from the subject minister that the work will be completed before the end of this calendar year.

“It is in very bad shape. The fact that the road has now merged with the canal and there are no shoulders as a result of that, has yielded a very dangerous effort for motorists and pedestrians because they are all competing for the same space, and it is only a matter of time before, god forbids, something happens. Very shortly, we will have to look at closing that road off until such repairs are initiated,” Allicock stated.

Prisoner beaten to death in prison brawl A MAN, who was on remand at the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay, died on Wednesday, one day after receiving injuries during an altercation with another inmate, Director of Prisons (ag), Gladwin Samuels, has confirmed. Dead is Samuel Little, 23, of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara. He was charged with break and enter and larceny

and was remanded to prison on June 19, 2019. The prison director said the incident occurred on June 25, 2019. Little was being treated at the prison infirmary but due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries while

receiving treatment. Samuels said the offence was reported to the police and is now an active murder investigation. The suspect is assisting with the investigation. The suspected murder weapon, a piece of wood, has been recovered.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

Cacique Toastmasters Club Installation

CACIQUE Toastmasters Club, District 81, Division F, Area 40, held its Installation and Award Ceremony Tuesday evening at the Georgetown Club in the Capital City. The installation and Award Ceremony was held to install new Club Officers for the period 2019 -2020 and to award persons who participated in the various categories: Speech Contest, Long –Standing Support, Most Improved Toastmaster, Most Promising Toastmaster and Best Orator, during the year 2018 -2019. Outgoing president of the Club, Toastmaster Lisa Agard, in her report to the gathering, recounted that she had an opportunity to work with amazing executives and leading such a dynamic team has been a great accomplishment for her as President. She added that there are

a number of lessons that she had learnt over the last twelve months. “The ability to breathe, relax and allow persons to flow” was one of them. Agard noted that leading persons who came from varying backgrounds, with sometimes conflicting ideas, has been an experience which has contributed to the Club’s development and has brought it to the level it is at today. Incoming president, Pamarysa Bobb, in her remarks, said that “I prefer to serve out of the limelight “. Bobb added that, as president, she is prepared to share the vision with others, thus forming linkages with schools and other organisations to spread the message of toastmasters work in Guyana. The incoming president pointed out that she is willing to work with the members of this distinguished club to

Cacique Toastmasters Club Installation Ceremony.

ensure that their dreams are rewarded and realised. Cacique Toastmasters Club was formed in 2004 with the objective of providing members of the Club with an environment to learn and grow and develop their skills in the areas of expression, articulation and confi-

dence in the ability to deliver oneself confidentially in front of an audience. Several Officers were installed including President Pamarysa Bobb; Vice-President Education, Sonya Forrester; Vice-President Membership, Delon Fraser; Vice

-President Public Relations, Deanna Walcott; Secretary Kenesha Collins-Phillips; Treasurer Ato Augustine and Sergeant of Arms, Benedict Yhap. Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that

teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, the organization's membership exceeds 357,000 in more than 16,600 clubs in 143 countries.

Become ‘Agripreneurs’

-Junior Agriculture Minister urges students of GSA AGRICULTURE remains one of the key drivers of the local economy and it is time for the younger generation to think seriously about the economic activity, said Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Valarie Patterson-Yearwood. Instead of becoming a generic entrepreneur, she believes that young people should consider being “agripreneurs.” “Time to think seriously about agriculture, its diversities and the possibility of becoming big in agripreneurship,” said Minister Patterson-Yearwood during

Minister within the ministry of Agriculture, Valerie PattersonYearwood

than working with the govern-

potential to make all this possible…I charge you to become agripreneurs,” said Patterson-Yearwood. Though agriculture is a profitable business, she believes that having a passion in this field is very important to becoming successful. As the saying goes, “success comes with hard work,” and the minister believes that students are fond of doing the “hard work” in agriculture, which means going into the fields with shovels, cutlasses and a spade. “Although that is the case, we need to recognise the diver-

Students and agency representatives in attendance at the seminar

her remarks at a Move On Guyana Inc. entrepreneurship seminar for students of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), on Wednesday. She urged students to think greater and be more proactive, as they plan their future in agriculture. Students were told that there is more to agriculture

ment. There are opportunities to become self-employed and even employers. “Guyana is full of resources, we have the best, unique raw materials but, it is up to us to utilise these in the most effective and efficient ways by taking different approaches…I believe our youths have

sity of agriculture and take full advantage of it…I recognised that for us to get more youths involved in agriculture we need to go full technology,” said Patterson-Yearwood. Technology is the only way to capture the interest of young people, since many Turn to page 17 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

‘Selfish and barbaric’ serial rapist gets 62 years' imprisonment "SELFISH AND BARBARIC" are two words which can be used to describe Leon Jordan of Anna Catherina, West Coast, Demerara (WCD), who was on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, sentenced to serve the next 62 years in prison for raping two underage girls and a woman. The sentence was handed down by Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court. A few weeks ago, Jordan had opted to plead guilty to the three charges saying, "Is better to talk the truth before you regret not talking the truth." Particulars of the first charge state that on February 2, 2012, in the county of Demerara, Jordan engaged in sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16. The child was seven years old, and Jordan was 15. Jordan is said to be known to the victim and her family. On the day in ques-

tion while on his bicycle, he rode up to the little girl while she was on her way home from school and said that her mother sent him to buy chicken and he would take her home when he is finished. He then grabbed the child and forced her onto his bicycle and whispered to her "If you scream I will juk you with a knife." He then pulled her into a bushy area and raped her, while placing the knife to her neck. Jordan left the child under a bus shed, and she made her way home and collapsed. The child was bleeding and told her mother that Jordan had raped her. The second charge states that on January 13, 2013, in the county of Demerara, Jordan engaged in sexual penetration of a child aged 14 years. He was 16 at that time. The third offence was committed on October 25, 2016; when Jordon, then 19 years old, engaged in sexual

penetration with a woman without consent. On the day in question Jordan accosted the woman, dragged her into a bushy area and forced himself on her. The woman put up a fight, and Jordon bit off one of her eyelids and then spat into onto the ground. With blood gushing from the woman’s eye, the defendant raped her and made good his escape. The victim was hospitalised for several days and had to had to undergo several rounds of corrective surgery to save her eyesight. In court, the victim giver her impact statement and faced Jordan saying, “I screamed that day for help and no one came to my rescue but God. I saw death as I felt myself walking into my death. As I said the Lord's Prayer I heard the defendant say to shut up.” “I’m not a formality and my voice will not be muzzled," the woman said as

India, Guyana celebrate ...

◄From page 14

Development Strategy (GSDS),” the prime minister said. Ambassador Mahalingam, in remarks, praised the warmth and hospitality bestowed on him during his five years in Guyana. He said India, among others, believes in economic cooperation and non-discrimination and lauded the excellent relations his country has enjoyed with Guyana over the past 50 years. Guyana and India, he said, share some notable similarities. Both Guyana and India have multi-racial populations and at one time were under British colonial rule. These, the diplomat said, have contributed to binding the two nations together, a

friendship which intensified over the past five years. More high-level delegations from Guyana visited India in the past five years compared to the number which visited in the past 30 years. Also, during the past five years, more than 600 Guyanese benefitted from training under the Indian Technical and Economic Corporation Programme and other schemes. Guyana and India, Mr Mahalingam said, also enjoyed healthy trade relations even though there is much room for improvement. The High Commission of India was established in Georgetown in May 1965. The Commission was made into a full-fledged High Com-

mission of India in 1968. The Indian Cultural Centre was set up in 1972. The relationship between India and Guyana ever since the independence of Guyana in May 1966 has been close and cordial with a high degree of understanding. The warmth in the relation remains unaffected with changes in governments, either in India or in Guyana. The late Shrimati Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, visited Guyana in 1968;the late Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, the then Vice President of India, visited Guyana in 1988; and Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the then Vice President of India, came on a state visit to Guyana in 2006.

Become ... youths are evading traditional agriculture. “It is important that we continue to pursue agriculture and be on the verge of developing new and improved technologies to better the sector,” said the minister. Representatives of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) and Guyana Office

for Investment (GO-Invest) further informed students about the technologies in agriculture and encouraged them to be entrepreneurs in the sector. Vice-Chairman of the Agricultural and Environmental Committee for Move on Guyana Inc, Dr. Randy Domer, said the whole idea or objective of the seminar was to stimulate and promote more entrepreneurship among youths in agriculture.

◄From page 16

“Agriculture is a big field with a lot of unchartered territory where they (students) can tap into,” said Dr. Domer. He believes that young people like the idea of business but do not know how to properly start a business in Guyana. As such, his organisation’s objective is to enlighten students on how to acquire land, how to access grants and loans, and even the requirements to start a business.

Leon Jordan

she looked at Jordan; while he sat expressionless in the prisoner docks. The victim explained that Jordon raped her six months after she was married and the ordeal has left her ‘numb’. Probation officer, Zola Cameron, told the court that the defendant’s mother describes him as a "good boy"

however, his only bad habit is associating with drug users. The probation officer explained that Jordan attends the psychiatric clinic and describes him as " selfish and barbaric." since he expressed no remorse for his actions. “I don't know if you have any feelings. You are less of a human being which you ought to be,” the Judge told Jordan. Justice Reynolds sentenced Jordon to 12 years for raping the 7-year-old girl; 15 years for raping the 14-year-old girl and 35 years for raping the woman, these sentences will run consecutively. He will have to spend 62 years behind bars, with the possibility of parole after serving 30 years.

Essequibo ranger in custody for 22 grams of cocaine Thirty- two-year-old Shiva Balroop, a worker attached to the Ministry of Agriculture as a ranger is presently in police custody assisting with investigations after he was allegedly nabbed with 27 grams of cocaine. According to information reaching Guyana Chronicle, a party of policemen conducted a cordon and search exercise between Lima and Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast on June 26 around 15:30 hours. They visited the ranger’s home at Lot 17 Walton Hall and found him standing in front of his house acting in a suspicious manner. A search was carried out on his person and a transparent plastic bag containing a quantity of hard rock-like substance was found by police. He was told of the offence and was subsequently arrested and taken to the Ann Regina Police Station where the substance was counted and amounted to 47 pieces. When weighed it amounted to 22 grams. He remains in custody.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

Intensified CSME implementation high on agenda -- at upcoming CARICOM Heads of Government meeting

IMPLEMENTATION of measures to enhance the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME) is expected to be high on the agenda at the 40th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Saint Lucia. The meeting will be held on July 3-5 at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Hotel.

According to a preview from CARICOM, Heads of Government are expected to build on the St. Ann’s Declaration, which was approved at the 18th Special Meeting on the CSME, in Trinidad and Tobago last December. The declaration, which confirmed the CSME as still the most viable platform to support the region’s growth and development agenda, put

forward several measures for determined action. Among the measures are a more formalised, structured mechanism for engagement with the region’s private sector and labour; expansion of the categories of skilled nationals entitled to move freely and work within the community, to include agricultural workers, beauty service practitioners, barbers

and security guards; ensuring Community-wide recognition of each member State-issued CARICOM Skills Certificate; reinforcing regional security mechanisms; and permitting the region’s citizens and companies to participate in public procurement processes across the community. According to CARICOM, December’s Special Meeting had appointed a broad-based 10-Member team, under Economist, Professor Avinash Persaud, to a restructured CARICOM Commission on the economy to advise member states on a growth agenda for the community. Heads of Government are expected to receive an update on its work. Several other major matters related to security, regional and foreign relations are also expected to be part of the deliberations. The meeting, at the San-

dals Grande St. Lucian Hotel, will be held under the chairmanship of Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet. An opening ceremony will be held on Wednesday, July 3, and will be addressed by Prime Minister Chastanet; the outgoing Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris of St. Kitts and Nevis; and CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque. In 2018, challenges in CSME and the Bruce Golding Commission report on Jamaica’s relations within CARICOM and the building of post-hurricane disaster resilience were among critical issues raised. These were discussed at the 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of CAIRCOM, in Jamaica. Then chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister

of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, had said the 39th Conference of the Heads of Government made good on its promise to the people of the region. “We promised our people free movement and this conference has recommitted to the free movement of skills and has agreed that all states, by December 31, 2018, would have put in place the necessary legislative framework to facilitate all 10 approved categories of skills. We promised that we would ensure family unification through the granting of important rights to spouses and the dependents [sic] of citizens that move across the region to work, provide their services and establish companies,” the chairman of CARICOM said with a sense of accomplishment.

Education official in Mabaruma flagged for corruption A FUNCTIONARY of the Education Department in Mabaruma, Barima Waini, Anthony Hazel, has been reportedly accused of forging the Regional Executive Officer’s (REO) signature to obtain a refrigerator from the Regional Stores. When the Guyana Chronicle contacted the REO, Randolph Storm, he explained that Hazel has gotten off on several occasions with his obstructive behaviour. Storm said that last week it was brought to his attention that a refrigerator was removed from the Regional Stores, and taken to the home of Hazel. He however, could not have recalled signing any requisition for the refrigerator. Upon investigating within their office, the prepared requisition was found, but the REO had not signed, and his signature is mandatory, before an item can be removed from the stores. Storm said that he immediately contacted the Regional Education Officer (REdO), who is the supervisor of the person in question. The REdO confirmed that Storm’s signature is in the requisition book, giving permission for the refrigerator. The signature is said to be forged, as the REO denied that it was he who signed.

The matter was subsequently taken to the Mabaruma Police Station, and the accused was arrested and was later granted station bail. The police retrieved the fridge from the home of Hazel, however, the issue of the forged signature is yet to be investigated. Commander of ‘F’ Division (Interior locations), Kevin Adonis, told this newspaper that the investigations on that aspect will be a process, as handwriting specialists will have to go in to conduct investigations to determine who forged the REO’s signature. Adonis also noted that the issue seems to be a departmental one, however, the forging will attract a criminal charge, should the malefactor be identified. Prior to this issue, Storm pointed out that on Republic Day, Hazel went into the region office compound and took a vehicle without permission. Hazel was reportedly drunk at the time, and crashed the said vehicle. According to Storm, “the vehicle is now a total writeoff”. REO said, “the police did nothing about the situation when the report was made… I just don’t want the police to drag their feet on this matter too.” Meanwhile the Govern-

ment of Guyana is working assiduously to stomp out corruption in public offices. Just a few months ago, the Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, along with a team of state counsel, held the public Anti-Corruption Sensitisation Seminar at Mabaruma, where several representatives of the public offices were present. The AG had told the gathering, “We have had serious corruption over the years, as have been revealed by many forensic audits, so we have been travelling across the country – region to region – because it is important that you are sensitised about corruption. It is very important that you understand what you can do, and what you ought not to do. The REO had also reinforced that corrupt acts rob people of so many benefits. “Don’t rob yourself of 'the good life,' do the right thing and we all will benefit… I know that we the citizens of Region One will make every effort based on what we learn today to root out all of the corrupt practices that take place in Barima-Waini,” Storm said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

Art can be used to foster reconciliation said. The lecture was part of the organised activities leading up to the grand biennial Guyana Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition (GVACE). This competition was launched in 2012 with the aim of giving recognition

Former Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine interacting with the audience at his lecture on Art in Guyana [Adrian Narine photo]

VISUAL arts, in its many forms, provides a medium for people’s differences to be celebrated and can be used to foster reconciliation in Guyana, according to art adept and former Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine. “I think that what art does not do is limit; what it does is that it expands, it opens up [and] it makes us more amenable to difference,” Dr. Roopnarine said while speaking at a Public Lecture on art in Guyana. According to Dr. Roopnarine, who is an art critic and has been involved in the creative field, the “struggle” of the artist is to create an experience of his/her community, and bring out something that reveals rather than conceals. In the local context, he explained that this means

assimilating lived experiences with the plural society that Guyana is. Sharing his own experiences, he noted that he frequented a space where artist Stanley Greaves and poet Martin Carter shared. And for him, those persons were embarked upon finding ways of expressing lived experiences in ways that celebrated the differences in Guyanese society. And these ways, he noted, were neither derogatory nor hostile. “That is why I believe that art is a zone of reconciliation,” the man said, elaborating: “What art does is that it reconciles opposites, it reconciles people, it reconciles ideas, it can hold conflicting ideas in a single work and to me, that is the mystery and magnificence of it.”

As part of his lecture, he identified three recurring themes in Guyanese art: Landscape, Identity and the Universe. These themes, he noted, have characterised some of the greatest visual works by Guyanese artists but perhaps more importantly, have illustrated the lived experiences of various ethnic groups in Guyana in ways that could be related across the ethnic spectrum and even have a more universal appeal. In fact, he spoke on the work of Stanley Greaves, and highlighted that this man’s work was “extraordinary”, and had been able to illustrate the theme of reconciliation. “I believe to my mind that this is the ultimate power of art. It can hold apparently irreconcilable elements,” he

Father, son remanded for robbery PRINCIPAL Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty, on Wednesday, June 26, 201, remanded a father and son to prison for robbing a woman of $4.7M worth in gold jewellery and cash at knife point. Richard Edwards, a 48-year-old landscaper of School Street, Albouystown, and his 20-year-old son, Imran Alli, a construction worker, were charged jointly and appeared at the Georgetown

Magistrates' Court. Particulars of the charge alleged that on June 11, 2019, at Republic Park, East Bank, Demerara, the duo, while being armed with a knife, robbed Tulesha Singh of a quantity of gold jewellery, local and foreign currency totalling $4.7M, property of Isaiah Kumash. Police Prosecutor Ceon Singh objected to bail being granted to the men and told the court that Edwards is employed by the victim and

plotted the robbery with his son. On the day in question, they held Singh at knife point and relieved her of the valuables. When Edwards was arrested by the police, he confessed to plotting the robbery. Magistrate Mc Gusty, after listening to the prosecutor, remanded the men to prison until July 17, 2019.

Remorseful ‘Bahhagee’ found guilty “I’M very sorry” were the words of a 59-year-old man when he was found guilty by a 12-member jury on Wednesday, June 26,2019, for raping a 25-year-old woman in 2017. Mahadeo Dasrat called 'Bahhagee' was on trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court for engaging in sexual penetration with a 25-year-old woman on April 11, 2017 in the county of Essequibo. Dasrat was represented by attorney, Rabindra Mohabir, while the State’s case was presented by Prosecutor Seeta Bishundial. The matter is adjourned until Thursday, June 27, 2019, for the victims’ impact statements before Justice Reynolds hands down sentencing.

Mahadeo Dasrat called 'Bahhagee'

and support to Guaynese in the visual arts arena. It also aims to stimulate visual imagination. Commenting more broadly on the presence of art in Guyana however, Dr. Roopnarine affirmed that for as long as there is a Guyana,

there is also going to be art. “There is great need for expressiveness,” he said, noting: “I have no doubt that it is alive and well and it is in fact exhibiting itself in communities and bottom houses.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

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Danns spectacular goal secures historic point for ‘Golden Jaguars’ - Guyana finish Gold Cup with heartbreaking 1 - 1 draw against T&T By Rawle Toney in Kansas City (Compliments of Let’s Bet Sports)

NEIL Danns scored what many thought would’ve been the winning goal for Guyana in the 54th minute, but Kevin Molino, with a bit of help, thanks to some goalkeeping blunder, equalised in the 80th minute for Trinidad and Tobago as the game ended 1 - 1 between the regional rivals. Coach Michael Johnson made some dramatic changes to the starting line-up from the team that went down 4 - 2 to Panama. Quillan Roberts, who plays for Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League, made his International debut as the starting goalkeeper, while Western Tigers’ Pernell Schultz, UK-based Kadell Daniel, Ronayne Marsh-Brown, Sheldon Holder and Anthony Jeffrey had their first start of the tournament. Keanu Marsh-Brown, Eliott Bonds, Sam Cox, Neil Danns and Terence Vancooten were the other players on the starting 11. The game started slow, with Guyana, for the most part, controlling the bulk of the possession, but the Golden Jaguars didn’t threaten the Soca Warriors’ goal. However, Trinidad began to press forward and had some threatening run on Guyana’s goal, forcing Roberts to pull off some crucial saves. The two sides went into the dressing room knowing that based on the first-half play the second-half was wide open. Johnson made some changes at the half way stage, replac-

ing Schultz with Brandon Beresford, Callum Harriott for Jeffrey while Holder would later be replaced by Emery Welshman. The move allowed for Danns to play more up front than he did in the first half, and the 36-year-old midfield ace found himself one-on-one with Aubrey David, a Guyanese playing for T&T, in the 18-yard box and showed the crowd at the Children’s Mercy Park why he lasted this long in English football, with a clinical finish. Danns’ right-footed volley was curled too far out of reach for Trinidad’s Adrian Foncette. The crowd erupted and Danns, with his teammates on his back, celebrated his 9th international goal in 11 outings for the Golden Jaguars. Meanwhile, on the opposite end, Trinidad and Tobago continued to make some run on goal, but Daniel and Ronayne Marsh-Brown, along with Vancooten, kept them at bay. But Molino snuck into the ’18’ and Roberts, with some ordinary goalkeeping, handed the Trinidadian the equalizer. It was Trinidad’s first goal since their 2 - 0 win over the United Arab Emirates in September of 2018. The two sides held on to share points at the end of 90 minutes, but it was Guyana who would finish third in the group, thanks to their superior goal difference than the ‘Trinis’. Though the two sides conceded the same amount of goals (nine), Guyana was able to score three goals, as compared to Trinidad’s one.

Government of Guyana roars with Golden Jaguars; GFF expresses profound gratitude

KANSAS, USA: The Government of Guyana (GoG) has made a timely monetary contribution towards the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Golden Jaguars’ inaugural sojourn at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA. This commitment was made even as Guyana wrapped up their participation at the premier tournament with their final match last night against Trinidad and Tobago in Kansas City. President Wayne Forde, who is in the USA and following the progress of the team, commented on the support given by the GoG and singled out the Hon. Dr. George Norton MP, Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport, for the role he played in making the investment possible: “The GFF wishes to express deep appreciation to the Government of Guyana and the Minister of Sport for this timely show of tangible support, which certainly empowers the programme and our desire to show the football world what Guyana

is capable of. I can assure you that your partnership has given the players and technical staff a major boost knowing that the government is fully behind them in their quest to represent the Golden Arrowhead with pride in this historic journey. “GFF president Forde correspondingly said that the momentum built at the CONCACAF Gold Cup would be strengthened going forward reminding that Guyana will, in September, be contesting the CONCACAF Nations League ‘B’ competition, Group ‘G’, which also has Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda and Aruba. Guyana’s first match would be away to Aruba on September 6. “We look forward to the continued strengthening of this partnership with the Government and Ministry of Social Cohesion, as we work to build a product that will fly the Golden Arrowhead with pride in both the male and female segments of our beautiful sport.”

Azam century helps Pakistan beat New Zealand to keep semi-final hopes alive BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Babar Azam’s patient unbeaten century guided Pakistan to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand yesterday and revived their hopes of reaching the Cricket World Cup semi-finals. New Zealand, unbeaten in their first six games of the tournament, remained second in the standings behind Australia and should still make the last four comfortably while Pakistan are now only one point behind hosts England. “Whenever we are in a corner we play our best, it was a great team effort,” Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said. “All the bowlers bowled well and there was some of the finest batting I have ever seen. Babar played one of the best innings I have ever seen. They handled the pressure so well.” The match was delayed by overnight rain and New Zealand collapsed to 46-4 after deciding to bat. Captain Kane Williamson steadied the ship with a gritty 41 before Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 132 which lifted the Black Caps to a respectable total. Neesham struck three sixes and five fours in his unbeaten 97 and de Grandhomme made 64. Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman fell cheaply to Trent Boult and Imam-ul-Haq was brilliantly caught by a diving Martin Guptill off Lockie Ferguson for 19 but Azam and Mohammad Hafeez steered Pakistan to 110-2. Hafeez departed for 32 but Haris Sohail joined Azam and the pair calmly added 126 to take their side to the brink of victory before Sohail was run-out by Guptill for 68. Azam held his nerve, however, and guided Pakistan to their target with five balls to spare. The 1992 world champions play Afghanistan and Bangladesh in their last two group games and will be confident of making the last four while England will be sweating as they prepare for difficult matches against India and New Zealand.

“We are not thinking about 1992, we are going match by match,” Sarfaraz said. Williamson was not too despondent after his team’s first loss of the tournament. “The surfaces in the last three games have been difficult and we were outplayed on a tough surface by a strong side,” he said. “We were right in it but their batsmen played beautifully well and took the game away from us. There are so many games in the round-robin you can’t win them all.”

SCORECARD

NEW ZEALAND innings M. Guptill b Mohammad Amir 5 C. Munro c Haris Sohail b Shaheen Shah Afridi 12 K. Williamson c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shadab Khan 41 R. Taylor c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shaheen Shah Afridi 3 T. Latham c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Shaheen Shah Afridi 1 J. Neesham not out 97 C. de Grandhomme run-out 64 M. Santner not out 5 Extras: (b-2, lb-3, w-4) 9 Total: (6 wickets, 50 overs) 237 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-24, 3-38, 4-46, 5-83, 6-215. Bowling: Mohammad Hafeez 7-0-22-0, Mohammad Amir 100-67-1, Shaheen Shah Afridi 10-3-28-3, Imad Wasim 3-0-17-0, Shadab Khan 10-0-43-1, Wahab Riaz 10-0-55-0. PAKISTAN innings (target: 238 runs from 50 overs) Imam-ul-Haq c Guptill b Ferguson 19 Fakhar Zaman c Guptill b Boult 9 Babar Azam not out 101 Mohammad Hafeez c Ferguson b Williamson 32 Haris Sohail run-out (Guptill) 68 Sarfaraz Ahmed (c) not out 5 Extras: (w-7) 7 Total: (4 wickets, 49.1 overs) 241 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-44, 3-110, 4-236. Bowling: T. Boult 10-0-48-1, M. Henry 7-0-25-0, J. Ferguson 8.1-050-1, C. de Grandhomme 2-0-12-0, M. Santner 10-0-38-0, J. Neesham 3-0-20-0, K. Williamson 8-0-39-1, C. Munro 1-0-9-0.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

Professional Regal Masters ready for ‘Big Apple’ title defence DEFENDING New York Softball Cricket League Masters champions, Regal Masters, have completed their preparations in Guyana ahead of the 2019 New York Independence Cup and are confident of bringing back the ‘eagle’. The Over-45 years old side had their final warm-up match last Sunday at Everest and after the match tour, captain Mohendra Arjune related to the media that his side have ticked all their boxes for a successful (defence) in the ‘Big Apple.’ “We had some rain (in Guyana) but overall we had some field work. We had a look at everybody but when we land in New York we will assemble again to fine-tune our tactics, Arjune reiterated. Regal Masters took the ‘Eagle’ in 2018 when they beat New York Better Hope in the final at Roy Wilkins Park and the skipper said that his side has players with international experience that will be

using their professionalism to set them apart from the competition. “On the field we are ready, all we have to do now is to polish off the tour by being professional in everything we do on and off the field. Every team wants to beat us but we are ready,” the right-handed all-rounder said. Other members of the championship winning side also expressed optimism of doing well including team owner Mahendra Hardyal, who said he is leaving no stones unturned as he looks for another major title. “The guys are ready so when we get to New York we will hit the ground running and continue from where we left off last year and once again take the title. However, we know it is cricket and anything can happen so we will take it one game at a time but still keep our eyes on the prize,” declared Hardyal. The multi-dimensional

Throy Kippins offered few words but had a strong message, “We are going to play hard cricket and to win. We

The Regal Masters also won the trophy that is in the shape of an Eagle in 2016 and were runners-up in 2015

The tournament comprises three categories; Open, Masters (Over-45) and Legends (Over-50). Fishermen

Regal Masters ready for ‘Big Apple’ title defence

(are) proud to be representing the Regal brand and Guyana. This title is ‘we own’.”

and 2017 and will start as favourites when the tournament begins tomorrow.

Masters is the other Guyanese team in the 3-day tournament and are also in the Masters

category. A total of 24 teams, eight per category are expected to be in action from Guyana, New York, Florida, Canada and other parts of the USA at the Roy Wilkins Park, Canarsie and Baisley Pond Park over the three days from June 28 to 30. Regal Masters got support from Industrial Supplies of Guyana (ISG), Star Party Rentals, Ink Plus, Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Regal Sport and Crown Mining for the trip. The full squad reads; Mahendra Hardyal, Mohendra Arjune, Eric Thomas, Throy Kippins, Eon Abel, Fazleem Mohamed, David Harper, Parsram Persaud, Ramesh Deonarine, Unnis Yusuf, Lloyd Ruplall, Mahendranauth Parsnauth, Rudolph Baker, Laurie Singh and Lynden Lyght. Clive Grimmond (coach), Divesh Ramjattan (manager) and John Ramsingh (Media liaison officer).

BCB, Region 6 RDC support Thorne and Ramnauth THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) joined hands with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Region Six, to honour West Indies Under-15 selectees, Isaiah Thorne and Rampersaud Ramnauth. The duo formed part of a 15-man squad, whio will tour the United Kingdom shortly. During the board’s annual award ceremony, [resident Hilbert Foster advised the youths to be disciplined at all times, humble and not to let fame get the better of them, since Berbice is known for its cricketing legends. Foster pledged the BCB’s assistance, and stated that under his leadership, every youth in Berbice would be given the opportunity to fulfil his/her full potential despite of race, creed or status. Regional Vice-Chairman Dennis Deroop stated that the RDC was pleased to work along with the BCB, as it was a perfect example of how a sports organisation should operate. Cricket, he stated is now one of the top financial earners for athletes and he urged Thorne and Ramnauth to grab their opportunities with both hands. Regional Chairman David Armogan also spoke of the importance of discipline. He also pledged the RDC support and continued investment in sports. Both players received a cricket bat valued at $30 000 each from the RDC. Ramnauth during the ceremony also won BCB Under-13 Player-of-the-Year award while Thorne took home the Most Promising Male Player award. Both Players expressed gratitude to the BCB and RDC for the bats. They also pledged to make Berbice very proud.

Regional Vice-Chairman Dennis Deroop presents bat to Isaiah Thorne

Regional Chairman David Armogan hands over bat to Rampersaud Ramnauth

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

England criticised for not making most of conditions against Australia (REUTERS) - England’s 64-run loss to Australia in the World Cup on Tuesday left their semi-final qualification hopes in the balance and British media outlets settled on a similar theme, focusing on the hosts’ lack of application as compared to their rivals. Australia (12 points) sealed the first semi-final spot with their sixth win while England - fourth with eight points and two games left - must now keep one eye on other results with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka breathing down their necks. England great Geoffrey Boycott called their batsmen “one-dimensional” and “flat-track bullies” and that was evident from some of their dismissals by bowlers Jason Behrendorff (5-44) and Mitchell Starc (4-43), who thrived in seam-friendly conditions. “England have simply been unable to deal with surfaces that have not allowed them to play their go-to explosive and aggressive game,” former cricketer Steve James wrote in The Times. “(Eoin) Morgan said afterwards that it would have been a ‘horrific’ decision to bat first... in these conditions, but from now on should he consider batting first? That is three losses chasing now.” Although England won the toss and elected to bowl

Eoin Morgan’s side have lost two successive matches at this World Cup tournament, and must now face India and New Zealand. (Photograph: Tim Goode/PA)

at an overcast Lord’s, Morgan was let down by his bowlers as Australia’s patient 123-run opening stand gave them a platform to set a competitive total. By contrast, England were stumbling at 26-3 with James Vince, Joe Root and Morgan back in the pavilion by the end of the sixth over. “England were guilty of bowling too short in seam-friendly conditions as Aaron Finch (100) and David Warner (53) made headway in an opening stand... their third ton-plus partnership of the tournament,” David Ruse wrote on Sky Sports. “Australia were 44 for no loss after their first 10 overs as they dealt with the short stuff,

England were reduced to 39-3 after their initial 10 as they floundered against the pitchedup deliveries.” Former English captain Michael Vaughan was particularly critical of Vince, whom he gave 1/10 in his player ratings in The Telegraph, after Jason Roy’s replacement failed for the third time and fell for a duck in the second ball of the innings. “England have a decision to make. No point continuing to play him (Vince) after three failures,” Vaughan wrote. “How is he going to suddenly turn it on against India in a game when if they lose they could be out (of) the World Cup when he has no

form behind him? “They will have to wheel out Jason Roy or, if not, promote Moeen Ali or Chris Woakes to open. Neither options are ideal but they can’t do any worse.” England’s final two matches are against the two remaining unbeaten sides in the tournament - India and New Zealand. They are two teams England have not beaten in seven attempts at the World Cup since 1992, prompting another former captain Mike Atherton to borrow a phrase made famous by former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson. “It is squeaky bum time now.”

Rishi Persaud cops UCCA Cricketer-of-the-Year at Awards ceremony OPENING batsman Rishi Persaud, who had a very prolific 2018 cricket season in the Upper Corentyne area, was named Cricketer-of-the-Year when the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) hosted its second Annual Awards Ceremony at the Port Mourant ground. The Awards Ceremony for the second successive year was totally sponsored by the 10 cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS. Persaud also carried home the Upper Corentyne Second Division and First Division Playerof-the-Year Awards. He carried

home trophies, medals and a bicycle. Sponsors Ramesh Sunich, Devendra Ramgoolan and Dennis D’Andrade were also specially honoured along with No.72 Cut and Load Club for their cooperation during the year. UCCA vice-president Sydney Jackman provided a comprehensive report for 2018 to the capacity audience that included Regional Chairman David Armogan, Vice-Chairman Dennis Deroop, former BCB president Malcolm Peters and the Mayors of Rose Hall Town and New Amsterdam.

Jackman, a former Guyana wicketkeeper-batsman stated that players in the Sub-Association benefited from cricket organised by the UCCA at the Under-19, Inter-Primary School, Inter-Secondary School, and Second Division levels while parent body, Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) organised numerous tournaments at different levels. He described BCB president Hilbert Foster as a passionate leader, who has worked beyond the call of duty to change the fortunes of Upper Corentyne cricket. Foster, who has visited the Upper Corentyne area 42 times

The awardees pose with officials.

since his elections 17 months ago, praised the UCCA as a pro-active body. Cricket in the Upper Corentyne area is now on the move with the BCB organising tournaments like the Ramnaresh Sarwan 40-Overs, RHTY&SC/ GNNL 20/20, and the Magic Moments 20/20 primarily for clubs in the area. Last Saturday, the Board hosted a Coaching Clinic for 36 youths at the Scottsburg ground while clubs continue to benefit from donations from the Board and RHTY&SC. The dynamic president urged the awardees and UCCA to uphold their high standards while striving for excellence. OTHER AWARDEES ARE: Under-15 Player-of-the-Year – Tomesh Hemraj Under-17 Player-of-the-Year – Aktar Nahar Under-19 Player-of-the-Year – Stephan Norah Secondary School-of-theYear – Skeldon Line Path Primary School-of-the-Year – Massiah Primary Most Improved Club – No.72 Cut and Load Junior Team-of-the-Year – No.73 Young Warriors Club-of-the-Year – No.72 All Stars.

Nigeria beat Guinea 1-0 to reach African Cup of Nations last 16

NIGERIA became the first team to qualify for the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations as they beat Guinea 1-0. Three-time winners Nigeria scored the only goal in the 73rd minute when Moses Simon’s right-wing corner was headed in at the near post by Kenneth Omeruo. They now have six points from their two games after a 1-0 win over Burundi in their first match on Saturday. The top two nations in each of the six groups advance, along with the four best third-placed countries. Nigeria dropped captain John Mikel Obi, who played for Middlesbrough in 2018-19, but their side did include Brighton defender Leon Balogun, Stoke midfielder Peter Etebo, Leicester midfielder Wilfried Ndidi and Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi. The Gunners man had one of the best chances when it was goalless with a curled effort from just outside the penalty area, but Guinea goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone produced a spectacular one-handed save to push it over the bar. Guinea’s side included Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, who was making his first start for club or country since May 1, when he picked up a groin injury in the Reds’ 3-0 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. However, Keita received some strong challenges and only lasted 71 minutes before he was substituted. He was replaced just before a Nigeria corner and Guinea, who now have one point from their two matches, went behind instantly thanks to Omeruo’s header. The other two nations in Group B, Madagascar and Burundi, play today (15:30hrs BST), before Burundi take on Guinea and Madagascar face Nigeria in the final round of group games on Sunday. (BBC Sport)

Federer seeded second at Wimbledon, Nadal drops to third LONDON, England (Reuters) - Eight-time champion Roger Federer was confirmed as the second seed for Wimbledon yesterday, bumping Rafael Nadal down to third despite being ranked below the Spaniard.

Roger Federer

Defending champion Novak Djokovic tops the draw while new world number one Ash Barty is top seed in the women’s singles. South African Kevin Anderson, runner-up to Djokovic last season, is fourth seed despite falling to eighth in the ATP rankings as Wimbledon used its special formula once again. Twice Wimbledon champion Nadal will be seeded three, meaning he is likely

to have to beat both Federer and Djokovic to claim his first title at the All England Club since 2010. The Spaniard was critical of the Wimbledon’s seedings formula this week, saying “it’s not a good thing” that the grasscourt event is the only one out of the four Grand Slams that does not stick rigidly to ATP rankings for seedings. Wimbledon uses form over the past 24 months on grass to tweak the positions of the top 32 players in the men’s draw. While the women’s seedings are in line with the WTA rankings, Wimbledon reserves the right to change the order to create “a balanced draw”. Anderson’s promotion is bad news for French Open runner-up and world number four Dominic Thiem, who drops to fifth seed and could play Djokovic, Federer or Nadal in the last eight. Former runner-up Marin Cilic moved up from a world ranking of 18 to the 13th seeded spot. Seven-time champion Serena Williams is seeded 11th as per her WTA ranking. Last year the American was bumped up to 25th seed, despite being ranked 183rd after returning to the Tour following the birth of her daughter.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

2019 NOBLE HOUSE GOALS GALORE INDOOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Branford notches 11 goals as Pepsi Hikers rack up huge victory TUESDAY evening’s matches of the 2019 Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey Championships presented the first showing of the mighty PEPSI Hikers, who amassed the highest total of goals for a single match with 21 to signal a real threat to their opposition. Apart from Hikers; GCC and Saints also had productive evenings in both male and female competitions being played at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The PEPSI Hikers, boasting a plethora of senior national players, seemed to be in cruise control as they crafted goal after goal against the junior YMCA OFHC Champs. With the Champs beginning on a 12-goal handicap, Hikers pulled within two by the half and then continued their dominance in the second half en route to a victory of 21 goals to 12. Prolific striker Aroydy Branford was the standout of the match in terms of goals as his total of 11 in a single game is unmatched for the

tournament so far. A fit and fast YMCA OFHC Top Form indeed seemed to be in top form, as they took on the seasoned Hikers Generals. With Top Form beginning on a 5-goal handicap to the Generals’ 9, they first needed to make up a four-goal deficit to draw even. Top Form earned in just the second minute of play a penalty corner, which was converted with much aplomb by marksman Omar Hopkinson in what seemed like the beginning of a long and difficult match for the Generals. The seasoned Generals, however, led by former national Devin Munroe, stemmed the tide and held Top Form scoreless for the rest of the half. The second half of play seemed a carbon copy of the first, as Hopkinson slammed home a second penalty corner goal two minutes after resumption but was unable to produce any further goals for the match. The final outcome saw Generals stroll off with a

9-7 victory. GCC Vintage chalked up their second win of the competition by defeating the YMCA OFHC Pacesetters by 15-13. While Vintage enjoyed

The much talked-about Alteeza, featuring a highly modified 2JZ engine wowed fans, especially its battle with Team Mohamed’s Nissan GTR Goliath. Driven by Rameez Mohamed, the car exhibited brute force as it rocket-

The much improved Transpacific Toyota Alteeza.

(GTRidez photo)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday June 27, 2019)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL- Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: (1) Oshane Thomas (WI) (2) East Africa (1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: How many World Cup matches Clive Lloyd played? Who is the only player to hit a century for the WI in World Cup 2011?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

intention to win. Skilful striker Gabriella Xavier added a second for Tigers four minutes later, moving the score to 2-5 still in favour of the defensive

with zero handicap faced Bingo Spartans with a five-goal handicap. From the opening whistle, the Tigers applied pressure on their junior opponents and Dacia Woodroffe’s opening penalty corner goal in the fifth minute signalled their

Spartans. A surprise overlapping run, however, from left back Makeda Harding saw her pounce on a rebound and score against the run of play for the Spartans. Macaela Harding, opponent and sister of Makeda, not to be outdone,

Aroydy Branford (#18) scores one of his many goals for the Hikers

a five-goal handicap, they still needed six goals just to draw even with Pacesetters who had a handicap of eleven goals. Veterans Dwayne Scott and Alan Fernandes led the charge for Vintage who made up the deficit before

Improved performance from Team Transpacific

TEAM Transpacific and their Toyota Alteeza produced one of the most talked-about performances last weekend at the second round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s Drag Championship.

the end of the first half and cruised to victory in the second. The ladies’ competition saw two close matches. The unbeaten GBTI GCC Spice

ed down the track oftentimes being pushed by its extra-large rear wheels. And that’s nothing short of what the owner, Krishna Ramsewack, is aiming for. In an interview after the meet, the Team boss confirmed that he was impressed by the performance of the car but still believes there is more to be extracted. “The idea when we started to build the car was that we wanted to have a very fast car on the strip. We built it when the strip was only 1 000ft and now that it has been extended, we know we’ve gotten faster.” “It has been my project car for about 2 to 2 ½ years and it’s nice to be seeing the benefits of it. Sunday was just a taste of what is to come.” The team principal added, the best moments were seeing how the crowd reacted to it and watching it bullet down the straightaway. “The nice thing about the car as well is that it is all locally built. It’s tuned by a guy named Mervin out of Tech Point Tuning but the rest of the car has been modified right here. “Moving forward, I know we will get the car faster and more stable before the next event. We have a goal and we are going to reach that.” The car was built by Balram Auto Mechanics.

nudged the GBTI ladies one step further with her field goal two minutes before lemon-time. The second half saw some good counterattacks from Spartans but Tigers dominated the scoresheet with three more goals - a Xavier double and a single from Woodroffe. The highly contested match between the two undefeated sides saw their unbeaten records remain intact as the final score read 6-6. The Saints ladies, with a five-goal handicap, took to the court for the first time in the other female matchup of the evening against the YMCA OFHC Bellatrix with a nine-goal handicap. Captain and national striker Tekeisha Deleon led from the front for Saints scoring a helmet-trick (four goals) for her side while young speedster Chrlia Webb added a single. The five unanswered goals, the last of which came in the final minute, saw Saints edge the Bellatrix by 10-9.

FIFA defends VAR ahead of Women’s World Cup quarter-finals By Rachel Joyner PARIS, France (Reuters) - FIFA yesterday defended its VAR review system, saying referees had reached a 98% accuracy rate in decision-making during the group stage of the Women’s World Cup in France. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system has made a controversy-filled debut in the women’s game at World Cup level, baffling players and coaches, and frustrating fans. Scotland and Nigeria exited the tournament after their opponents were awarded penalty retakes when VAR ruled their goalkeepers had stepped centimetres off their line. When France knocked out Brazil in the last 16, three goals were disallowed following reviews. Cameroon’s players were so indignant at the VAR interventions during their match against England that they appeared to stop playing on several occasions. A competitive Japan side went out in the last 16 after a controversial penalty decision. A French sports newspaper described VAR’s interventions as “incomprehensible”. “VAR cannot be blind, cannot ignore,” said Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee. “If you have a tool that

offers you the possibility to check, you have to check.” Although it has no power of adjudication, VAR’s viewing ability enables minor infractions - sometimes imperceptible to the human eye, Collina admitted - to impact a game.

Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee FIFA says that without VAR the group-stage accuracy rate would be a less impressive 92.51 percent and officials have expressed surprise at the anger directed at the system. “We can never be perfect. No one player, no one coach is perfect,” Massimo Busacca, head of FIFA’s

Refereeing Department, said yesterday. “We are not perfect. What’s the problem?” At a similar point in last year’s men’s World Cup - the first time the video replay system was used in the global showpiece event - FIFA celebrated a major controversy-free tournament, thanks in large part to VAR. FIFA said 99.3 percent of match-changing plays - those leading to goals, penalties, red cards or instances of mistaken identity - were called correctly in Russia, a number that would have been 95 percent without the observational power of VAR. But it has been a different story at the women’s tournament and questions have been raised over the lack of exposure women players have had to the system and the training women referees received before the tournament. No women’s leagues have implemented VAR, and referees attended only four FIFA-organised seminars. Still, Collina refuted the idea world soccer’s ruling body was still testing the technology. “We are not experimenting,” said the Italian who refereed the 2002 men’s World Cup final. “We are simply implementing the laws of the game.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 27, 2019

Windies urged to seize crucial moments against unbeaten India today MANCHESTER, England (CMC) – Captain Jason Holder yesterday said West Indies were still to produce the “complete game” and urged his charges to capitalise on the “crucial moments”, as they looked to halt their losing slump and revive their flagging World Cup campaign against unbeaten powerhouse India here today. The Caribbean side started their World Cup quest with much promise when they crushed Pakistan in their opener at Nottingham but things have gone horribly wrong since, losing four of their last five games to find themselves eighth in the 10-team standings on three points. They have, however, found themselves in positions of strength but failed to cash in. Against Australia, they reduced the reigning World champions to 38 for four after opting to bowl in Nottingham but let them off the hook. Left with 288 to chase, the Windies were 190 for four in the 35th over but suffered a late-order collapse. There were similar indiscretions against Bangladesh and New Zealand which served to derail their campaign and Holder said there was need to correct these if they were to finish the World

Cup strongly. Seasoned opener Chris Gayle awaits his turn to bat in the nets in preparation for today’s game against India. “I think at the start of this tournament we all match up every single team and most captains say that

often than not, and it has hurt us in games before. “So tomorrow is another opportunity for us to bring it all together and play a perfect game.” He continued: “We’ve had some close games in our World Cup campaign

Seasoned opener Chris Gayle awaits his turn to bat in the nets in preparation for today’s game against India.

it’s a competition where if you play good cricket on any given day, anyone can beat anyone,” Holder told media here. “And it’s just a matter of putting together a complete game. We’ve shown glimpses here and there what we can produce and as a side we just haven’t brought it together collectively more

so far and it just shows … playing a few more scenarios a bit better, who knows what the result could have been. We look back on the games that we’ve played and we definitely didn’t seize crucial moments in certain games. “If you put it into perspective of the teams that are doing well, they’re doing

Russell undergoes successful knee surgery

MANCHESTER, England – West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell successfully underwent surgery to address the injury to his left

Before the laparoscopy or keyhole surgery, Russell expressed that the surgery was necessary to remedy what has been a long-standing

Andre Russell giving the thumbs up from his hospital bed in Manchester following successful knee surgery yesterday.

knee, which earlier this week ruled him out of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The 31-year-old had the procedure at a local facility and will return to Jamaica to continue his rehabilitation.

cloud over his prolific career as a T20 cricketer, rated as perhaps the best in the world. “The knees have been giving me problems for years now; when I get back I’ll be a better cricketer in terms of my fitness level,”

he told the Jamaica Observer after announcing his recent withdrawal from the West Indies team. Sunil Ambris has replaced Russell, who played four games for the West Indies during the ongoing ICC World Cup campaign. Yesterday, he posted a picture from his hospital room on Instagram, under which he stated that the surgery was a success. Russell played four of West Indies’ six matches in the World Cup before being replaced by Sunil Ambris, who joined the team on Tuesday. Russell had a major impact in the West Indies win over Pakistan, where he took two wickets for four runs in a hostile three-over spell at Trent Bridge. Overall he ended with just five wickets from 19 overs. He scored 36 runs from three innings.

those good things and seizing crucial moments within the game. That’s what’s required in the tournament such as this one. “I think with the exception of the game where we were outplayed by England, I think all the other games we’ve been in them with a chance to win them, but we didn’t seize crucial moments in those games.” West Indies’ last two outings would have been especially heart-breaking. Against Bangladesh in Taunton, they left the Asian side with a record run chase and they easily completed it with 51 balls to spare. And against New Zealand, they fought back from 164 for seven in pursuit of 292 at Old Trafford only to lose with six runs needed from seven balls. Holder said it was important West Indies did not allow the manner of the defeats to impact them negatively. “It’s been two crushing

defeats and we felt them drastically over the past couple of days,” Holder acknowledged. “But it’s a situation where learning must take place. I think it’s significant for everybody just to draw on their own resources and look at themselves in the mirror and try to make sure that learning takes place. “ A n d i t ’s a m a t t e r for us just to keep going. There’s no point to drop our heads. We’ve got three games left in this campaign and we’ve got to just win all three games.” India present a monumental challenge for West Indies. Not only have the Virat Kohli side won four of their five matches so far but they have lost only twice to West Indies in their last 10 ODIs inside the last three years. However, Holder said there would be no retreat from his side, as India matches were always fixtures they relished.

“I think everybody’s upbeat for the occasion. Playing India is always a big game for West Indies, and we’re looking forward to it,” he stressed. “First we need to finish the campaign as best as we can and our objective is to win all three games.” SQUADS: INDIA – Virat Kohli (captain), Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, Rohit Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav. WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas.

Gayle delays retirement to play home series against India By Amlan Chakraborty MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - West Indies opener Chris Gayle wants to play the home series against India in August-September reversing his earlier decision to quit international cricket after the ongoing World Cup, the batsman said yesterday. The 39-year-old had earlier this year announced his plans to retire after the World Cup to make way for younger players after two decades in international cricket. Asked about his post-retirement plans, Gayle sprang a surprise saying he wanted to play the series against India. “ A f t e r t h e Wo r l d Cup, maybe a Test match against India and then I’ll play, definitely play, the ODIs against India,” the Jamaican said ahead of today’s match against the Asian side. “I won’t play the T20s. That’s my plan after World

Cup.” India will play three Twenty20 internationals, as many one-dayers and two Tests in West Indies, the last in Jamaica which could be Gayle’s farewell at home. The decision of the selfstyled ‘Universal Boss’ caught even his captain by surprise. “I was just updated ...,” Jason Holder, who addressed a news conference soon after Gayle’s media interaction, told reporters. “He didn’t really say anything in the dressing room. But, yeah, it’s great and it’s great for cricket. “It’s good to have Chris around, as I said before. He’s got a lot to offer still, I believe. And hopefully his body can hold up. Hopefully he can be on the field a bit longer for West Indies.” Gayle is the only batsman to hit a Test triple-century, a one-day double-century, and a Twenty20 hundred. The left-hander has more than 19 000 runs

in international cricket, including two Test triple centuries. However, with just one win from six games, the two-time champions face an uphill battle to make the semi-finals as they take on an India team, who have remained unbeaten in the tournament. West Indies then face Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in their last two group matches and Gayle hopes to give the team some cheer with the bat. “In these three games, I’d love to get a hundred as well. But if it doesn’t happen, I can’t actually complain or be too hard on myself,” he said. “I’ve actually achieved a lot. But what I really wanted was actually to be in that playoff. What I really wanted was to be in that final four and then anything could have actually happened and then to be able to get my hands on the World Cup. “We’ll see what happens.”

Danns spectacular goal secures historic point for

‘Golden Jaguars’

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- Guyana finish Gold Cup with heartbreaking 1 - 1 draw against T&T

THE GOAL! Neil Danns, caught by Chronicle Sport Samuel Maughn just as he was about to unleash his ‘beauty’ in the 54th minute to give Guyana a 1 - 0 advantage over Trinidad and Tobago

Azam century helps Pakistan beat New Zealand to keep semi-final hopes alive

PICTURE PERFECT! Neil Danns swarmed by his Golden Jaguars teammates (Sam Cox, Sheldon Holder and Terence Vancooten) after scoring a beautiful goal to give Guyana a 1 - 0 lead over T&T in the CONCACAF Gold Cup (Samuel Maughn photo)

Government of Guyana roars with Golden Jaguars; GFF expresses profound gratitude Page

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Babar Azam celebrates his 10th ODI century at Edgbaston. (Getty Images)

Saying thanks! Guyana’s senior head coach Michael Johnson (left) with the 23-man team joins in saying thanks to the Government of Guyana for its tangible support.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2019