25th AUGUST, 2019
No.105740
Gov’t appeals CJ ruling
on registration Big dent in narco
…AG lays down 16 grounds in partial appeal SEE STORY ON PAGE 03 ►
trade, serious crimes
…Min. Felix attributes success to improved resources, political will
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EPA ‘gearing up’ oil and gas unit 02 PAGE
---to begin hiring staff soon
Baracara health centre to be upgraded to polyclinic
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Region 10 appeals for aid after freak storm …several houses, other buildings damaged Several homes were damaged when a freak storm ripped through some parts of Linden early Saturday morning
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
EPA ‘gearing up’ oil and gas unit
–– to begin hiring staff soon THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the responsibility to take the necessary measures to manage, conserve, protect and improve the environment, and that includes offshore Guyana. More interest is expected to be placed on the marine environment when Guyana’s oil and gas sector kicks-off next year. With American oil giant, ExxonMobil set to produce approximately 120,000 barrels of oil per day and gradually increase that amount to 750,000 per day by 2025, the EPA has to ensure that it monitors the operations to guard against pollution and other environmental impacts. The EPA, during its preparation, has to also consider the fact that Tullow Guyana B.V – a subsidiary of UK-based oil company Tullow Oil plc. has found oil offshore Guyana at its Jethro-1 well in the Orinduik Block. That find is projected to be more than 100 million barrels of recoverable resources.
“We are aware of what is going on and we are gearing up the oil and gas unit…we are going to start looking at how we staff it, but it is going to be a challenge to get the unit in place before first oil,” said Executive Director of the EPA, Dr. Vincent Adams, during a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle. Though the task ahead is challenging, Dr. Adams said the agency is going to move aggressively towards the establishment of the unit. He believes the hardest part of setting up the unit will be finding staff locally. The agency’s plan, however, is to recruit persons from wherever they can. According to the executive director, the proposal right now is to have 36 people for the oil and gas unit. Those 36 persons will include highly skilled petroleum engineers, petroleum managers and other technical staff. “As for local staff, we are partnering with developers, Exxon and the rest of
them, who have been helpful in providing training, sponsoring training, taking employees out on the vessel or in the facilities for them to get first-hand practical training,” said Dr. Adams. The EPA has also received assistance from the World Bank, which has helped in providing experts to develop the oil and gas unit. Developing the unit is only one part of the EPA’s mandate, said Dr. Adams, adding that the EPA’s role in the management of the oil and gas sector is important. The role starts from the time a company signals interest in Guyana, since that company would have to apply for a permit before they can operate. Included in the permit are conditions which the company has to follow. The EPA, back in November last year, approved the final Environmental Impact Assessment Report for ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’s (EEPGL) Liza Phase Two Develop-
Executive Director of the EPA, Dr. Vincent Adams
ment Project. The EIA covered development of production facilities in the Stabroek Licence Area located approximately 183 kilometers (114 miles) northeast of the coastline of Georgetown. The EPA said its decision was based on the agency being satisfied that the EIA conforms to the relevant local and international guidelines and policies to ensure sound environmental management for this specific project. The agency also considered and found the proposed measures in the EIA and Environmental Management Plan reasonable to protect human health
and environment. “Our job is to go out there and monitor and ensure they are complying… we can take legal action if they do not comply with the law…we take legal action in terms of shutting down operations,” said Dr. Adam. He said shutting down operations is, however, something which he is not expecting since the oil and gas companies are very responsible and reputable. “They do not want us to shut down their operations…they are reputable companies, who I believe are going to follow the law…based on their track record they
are not going to spoil their brand,” said the executive director. Since the oil companies came to Guyana they have been negotiating in good faith with the EPA, he said, adding that he is not concerned that those companies will try to violate the law. Despite him not being too concerned that the companies will try to violate the laws, Dr. Adams said the EPA will be doing everything in its power to protect the environment. The EPA’s power was, however, limited in the past, especially because of its budget but, with the intent of augmenting operations, Dr. Adams said the agency will be submitting a proposal for a higher budget. The EPA was legally established by the Environmental Protection Act in 1996. The agency was tasked with the mandate of taking actions to prevent and control pollution; assess the impact of economic development on the environment; and ensure the sustainable use of Guyana’s natural resources.
Region 10 appeals for aid after freak storm …several houses, other buildings damaged
A FREAK storm ripped through some parts of the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice Region early Saturday morning leaving in its wake severe damage to the homes of residents and other properties. In a statement, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Region 10 is appealing to the general public for urgent assistance in securing a number of items for several residents whose houses were damaged in the early morning storm. According to the statement, Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, who is on his annual vacation, was forced to cancel same in order to respond to the emergency of several residents stating that he has aborted the vacation so as to address immediate and urgent concerns of residents. “I was on my annual vacation leave but with the urgent need of residents owing to the disruption caused by
the storm, I made a decision to abort the vacation leave so that I can respond to residents’ queries, concerns and pleas for help,” Morian was quoted in the release as saying. It was disclosed that a number of residents from Moblissa to Blue Berry Hill and other areas were affected by the freak storm which ripped through several persons’ roofs and walls. While the Regional Chairman noted that a team is currently assessing the extent of damage done, he estimated it will amount to millions. “This was a big storm and it has left many residents with damaged homes; we are therefore seeking assistance as the RDC so that we can render needed assistance and help to several families,” he said. He pointed out that they are in urgent need of some 100 16 feet zinc sheets, 100 food hampers and any amount of cleaning deter-
This business centre in Mackenzie was severely affected by the flooding
gents. “The damage done is severe and I figure that it will be in the vicinity of millions, we are seeking assistance to help some 100 families who would have been severely affected by the storm. Therefore, as the Regional Chairman, I am humbly appealing to the general public to come
forward and lend whatever assistance that they can give to assist those severely affected at this time,” he appealed passionately. Morian said that an emergency meeting by the council is being organised so that a concentrated and properly coordinated approach can
Regional Chairman, Renis Morian (left) visited residents affected by the freak storm
be taken in addressing the matter. He said that residents will be kept abreast with the details and decisions that the council would have taken during the emergency meeting. He, however, noted that he has, all day, been going house to house assessing the
situation, while speaking to residents to hear their views and concerns. “At the moment, while a team is doing an assessment I am meeting with residents house to house seeking their views and addressing their concerns,” he said.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
Gov’t appeals CJ ruling on registration …AG lays down 16 grounds in partial appeal
ARGUING that Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire erred when she ruled that it would be unconstitutional to remove persons from the National Register of Registrants if they fail to register during this cycle of House-to-House Registration, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, laid out 16 grounds as he appealed, in part, the August 14 judgement on House-to-House Registration. In a Notice of Appeal filed with the Court of Appeal, the Attorney-General, in the case brought against Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, the Chief Elections Officer and Commissioner of National Registration, Keith Lowenfield; and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), said he was partially dissatisfied with the judgement of the High Court. In setting out the grounds for the appeal, the Attorney-General told the appellate court that the learned Trial Judge erred and was misconceived in law when she ruled that Article 159 (5) of the Constitution which addressed ‘the qualifying date’ is only applicable to persons 14 years or older for the purpose of registration as at October 31, and not all Guyanese citizens. According to him, the Chief Justice (ag) failed to apply any cannons of interpretation in arriving at her decision, adding that the matter was already fully ventilated and argued before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), and as such, was, therefore, Res Judicata. The acting Chief Justice, while validating the ongoing House-to-House Registration exercise embarked upon by the Elections Commission, ruled that it would be unlawful or unconstitutional to remove the names of persons who are already on the List of Registrants and who were not, or have not been, or are not registered in the current exercise with a consequence of non-inclusion in the list of electors. George-Wiltshire had explained that persons could only be removed from the list if they are deceased or disqualified pursuant to Article 159. In her judgement, Justice George-Wiltshire also ruled that residency, in the case of Guyanese, was not a
requirement under the laws but the Attorney-General, in
istration. “The learned Trial Judge erred and was miscon-
Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams
his application, contended that the Chief Justice again erred. “The learned Trial Judge erred and was misconceived in law in finding that there is no law or laws in Guyana which set out additional requirements, more particularly, residence for purposes of Article 159 (2) ( c ) of the Constitution by failing to properly address her mind to sections 6 of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 Laws of Guyana, The learned Trial Judge erred and was misconceived in law in failing to properly construe section 6 of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 Laws of Guyana in order to find that residency is a requirement of the Act for purposes of Registration during the period of the ‘ qualifying date,’” the Attorney-General contended. He, therefore, suggested to the appellate court that it would not be unconstitutional to remove persons from the list who had previously been on the list but was not registered during the Houseto-House Registration period because of non-residency in Guyana. Further to that, the Attorney-General alleged that the learned Trial Judge breached the separation of powers doctrine, contending that the Parliament clearly provided in section 6 of the National Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 Laws of Guyana for residency during House-to-House Reg-
ceived in law where, from the evidence, nothing established that there was a breach of the provisions of the Constitution, the National Registration Act or any other law but the evidence was consistent with the fact that GECOM acted in accordance with Article 159 (2) ( c ) 159 ( 5) and 162 of the Constitution of Guyana; the learned Trial Judge erred and was misconceived in law when she breached the separation of powers doctrine by purporting to issue instructions to GECOM, a Constitutional independent actor to not remove persons who are presently registered from the current National Register of Registrants (NRR) but who are not registered under new House-to-House Registration from the current National Register of Registrants (NRR),” the Attorney-General submitted to the Court. On those bases, Minister Williams further submitted to the Court of Appeal that Chief Justice George-Wiltshire misdirected herself in law by failing to assess and address the importance and relevance of the provisions of the National Registration (Amendment) Act in the process of compiling a new National Register of Registrants. It is his belief that contrary to the ruling of the High Court, the provisions of the National Registration Act (NRA) and the Elections Laws (Amendment) Act ought not to be read together in the creation
of a new National Register of Registrants. According to him, the Elections Laws Amendment Act applies to an existing Register and not the creation of a new National Register of Registrants under the National Registration Act Chapter 19:08. “The learned Trial
Judge erred and misdirected herself in law when it was not proper for her to rule on the issue of persons being removed from the list because it was not an order specifically claimed or sought by the Applicant; and the learned Trial Judge erred in law and/or
misdirected herself on the evidence as a whole,” the Attorney-General said as he summed up his arguments in the notice of appeal. He is, therefore, asking the court to set aside or reverse the judgement of the Learned Trial Judge based on the grounds laid out.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
Nasa said to be investigating first allegation of a crime in space (BBC) Nasa is reported to be investigating a claim that an astronaut accessed the bank account of her estranged spouse from the International Space Station, in what may be the first allegation of a crime committed in space. Anne McClain acknowledges accessing the account from the ISS but denies any wrongdoing, the New York Times reports. Her estranged spouse, Summer Worden, reportedly filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Ms McClain has since returned to Earth. The astronaut told the New York Times through a lawyer that she was merely making sure that the family's finances were in order and there was enough money to pay bills and care for Ms Worden's son - who they had been raising together prior to the split. "She strenuously denies that she did anything improper," said her lawyer, Rusty Hardin, adding that Ms McClain was "totally co-operating". Ms McClain and Ms
Anne McClain is helped from a space capsule after returning from the ISS in June
Worden, who is an Air Force intelligence officer, married in 2014 and Ms Worden filed for divorce in 2018. Investigators from Nasa's Office of Inspector General have contacted both over the allegation, the New York Times reported. Ms McClain graduated
from the prestigious West Point military academy and flew more than 800 combat hours over Iraq as an Army pilot. She went on to qualify as a test pilot and was chosen to fly for Nasa in 2013. She spent six months aboard the ISS and had been
due to feature in the first all-female spacewalk, but her role was cancelled at the last minute over what Nasa said was a problem with availability of correct suit sizes. How does the law work in space? There are five national or
international space agencies involved in the ISS - from the US, Canada, Japan, Russia and several European countries - and a legal framework sets out that national law applies to any people and possessions in space. So if a Canadian national were to commit a crime in space, they would be subject to Canadian law, and a Russian citizen to Russian law. Space law also sets out provisions for extradition back on Earth, should a nation decide it wishes to prosecute a citizen of another nation for misconduct in space. As space tourism becomes a reality, so might the need to prosecute space crime, but for now the legal framework remains untested. Nasa officials told the New York Times that they were not aware of any crimes committed on the space station.
25 August, 2019 - 13:00hrs ~ 14:30hrs
Saturday August 24, 2019
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
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Amazon fires: Fines for environmental crimes drop under Bolsonaro (BBC) The record number of fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has coincided with a sharp drop in fines for environmental violations, BBC analysis has found. Official data from Brazil's environment agency shows fines from January to 23 August dropped almost a third compared with the same period last year. At the same time, the number of fires burning in Brazil has increased by 84%. It is not known how many of these fires have been set deliberately, but critics have accused President Jair Bolsonaro's administration of "green lighting" the destruction of the
rainforest through a culture of impunity. Mr Bolsonaro has sent in the military to help put out the fires after coming under pressure from the international community, saying he wanted to "help protect" the Amazon. The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming. It is known as the "lungs of the world" and is home to about three million species of plants and animals, and one million indigenous people. What does the data show? Analysis by BBC Brasil shows the number of fines handed out by the Brazilian
Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) for environmental violations has dropped significantly since Mr Bolsonaro took office on 1 January. This year saw the lowest number of fines handed out by the agency in a decade (in the period between January and August) Between 1 January and 23 August 2019, the total number of fines handed out was 6,895 Ibama handed out 9,771 fines during the same period in 2018: a drop of 29.4% The total number of fines relating to "flora" - which includes deforestation and burning - dropped from 4,138 to
2,535 over the same period And in the nine states that make up the Brazilian Amazon, the drop in fines relating to flora dropped from 2,817 to 1,627 Why has there been a drop? Neither Ibama nor the ministry of the environment answered the BBC's queries about the figures. MariangĂŠlica de Almeida, a professor of environmental law who has defended clients over unfair fines, suggested to BBC Brasil that the figures for previous years could have reflected a culture of over-fining, in order to meet goals. However, others have pointed the finger directly at Mr Bolsonaro, who has scorned
environmental activists and declared his support for clearing areas of the Amazon for agriculture and mining. Elisabeth Uema, who retired from Ibema last year, said it was clear even before Mr Bolsonaro was elected that he did not like Ibema. During his campaign, he pledged to limit fines for damaging the rainforest and to weaken the influence of the environmental agency. The message was further underlined in April when Mr Bolsonaro ordered an investigation into officials who burned tractors and trucks belonging to loggers who were allegedly involved in illegal activities in the Jamari National Forest. This
was a long-held policy seen as a deterrent against illegal loggers. The agency's work, she said, had also been hampered by the fact that just eight of its 27 offices across the country now had a permanent head. "The usual inspections, which had been planned since 2018, are happening. But little beyond that," Ms Uema, now the executive secretary of Ascema Nacional, the body representing Ibama employees, told BBC Brasil. Critics of the Bolsonaro administration insist the drop in fines does not mean fewer crimes against the environment are being committed.
T&T Local elections in 3 months Kazim to councillors: You can't be wrong and strong (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) Local Government elections are expected to be held within the next three months— between late November and early December of this year. The proposed date was given by Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein in a telephone interview with Guardian Media on Wednesday. "I think the time for local elections should be around the end of November, early December. Well, I don't know the date but it should be around November, December..." Hosein said. Hosein gave the suggested date five days after appearing before a Joint Select Committee on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Local Government Reform) Bill where he described productivity levels at the country's 14 corporations "as the worst." The bill, which was laid in the Lower House, seeks to amend the existing municipal corporation's act and several pieces of its current legislation.
It also serves to make delivery of goods and services effective and efficient. Insisting that staff at the corporations have poor work ethics, Hosein did not hold back his tongue, as he blamed "management issues" on the part of CEOs for the ongoing problem. "No matter how much local government reform we want... if people can't do what they are asked to do the reform would not work. Once the reform comes in everybody would fall in. Somebody has to be the driving force between the ministry and corporations," he had said. "I didn't come to look for no friends in there. I came to do a job. When my time is up I have to go my way. While I am there I will talk and get the job done in the right way. I will get opposition but I am focused on what I have to do." Hosein who served as San Fernando mayor for three years said on Wednesday that it was the norm to visit a corporation and see workers scrolling through Facebook, engaged on their cellphone or in talk
sessions with their co-workers rather than working. Other employees, he said, would either leave work early or not show up at all and still collect a full day's pay. This, he said, puts the corporations in a bad light. The corporations have 14,000 employees. Since before Independence, Hosein said local government reform has been on the country's political agenda. "Local government reform will give corporations the power to manage their own affairs. So they will choose local contractors within their corporation and collect their own residential taxes. As of now, contractors could come from Sangre Grande and work in Penal/ Debe. When the reform comes that cannot happen. The council will have the say of what projects they want...they would prioritise which one they want over which one." Hosein said the biggest stumbling block Government would face with the reform would be implementation.
Once the bill goes into effect, Hosein said there would be changes with the way corporations operate and do business. Questioned about corporations operating with little or no funding to undertake projects, Hosein said this has always been an issue with local government. "Not today, not the last three years, not six years... Funding is not available like how it used to be." In the 2018/2019 Budget, Hosein's ministry was allocated $1.52 billion. While some corporations called on Hosein to explain why monies have not been forthcoming, he said his ministry just acts as a conduit between the corporations and Finance Ministry. "So when requests for funding comes to the ministry we send it to Finance and Finance would send the cheques back to us and we would filter it down to the 14 corporations." In the last five weeks, Hosein said he had read with interest in the Sunday Guardian newspaper complaints of burgesses in Chaguanas, San-
gre Grande, Princes Town and Arima corporations about lack of representation by some councillors. Equally disturbing, Hosein said, many burgesses could not identify their councillors which showed they were not connecting with people on the ground. Hosein said it was disappointing for a burgess not to know their councillor. At all times, Hosein said, chairmen, councillors and mayors should be easily accessible to the public. "When a man complains
about a drain you don't have to get it done one time. But you need to talk and listen. Patrick Manning used to tell me, God gave every human being two ears and a mouth for one reason. It is not what you say but how you say it." Hosein said it was improper and unprofessional for councillors to quarrel with burgesses when they raise an issue affecting them. "You can't do that (quarrel). You have to talk to the people and explain to them the situation. You can't be wrong and strong."
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
The restoration of civil liberties and reduction of political fear W
HEN the current government took office in May 2015, Guyana was in a state of lawlessness. From the criminalisation of the State and the institutionalisation of phantom squads to the barefaced transfer of state assets to private hands and naked corruption in high and low places, Guyana had become a dysfunctional country. Harassment, marginalisation and assassination of political opponents had become the norm. The murders of Ronald Waddell, Courtney Crum Ewing and the three men at Linden-- Shemroy Bouyea, Ron Somerset and Allen Lewis-- were still fresh on the minds of Guyanese. African Guyanese groups and activists have counted over 400 mostly young Black men who were slaughtered by the phantom squads and the police. Indeed, the disrespect for Civil Rights and Liberties was at the very heart of the discontent that led to the eventual ousting of the PPP from office. The Police State that took root, negatively, affected even PPP supporters, some of whom bolted from that
party. Fear gripped the country in a manner reminiscent of the colonial era. Many citizens and groups were deliberately victimised. One remembers the wanton attack on the person of columnist, Freddie Kissoon, or the use of pellets on peaceful anti-government protestors in the days following the 2011 elections. In a mere four years, order has been restored on that front. This government has respected the right of association and assembly and has upheld the right to free speech. The political opposition and other critics of the government have not been harassed by the police as they engaged in public demonstrations across the country. The Opposition leader and other members of his party have trafficked in provocative rhetoric, but none has been arrested or charged. The phantom squads, which menaced the society, have disappeared. Although members of these squads have fingered some people in high places, the government has not deployed the security forces to go after them. Similarly, the relationship between these squads and the
state security forces have been severed. One only has to ask the residents of Buxton-Friendship who lived in fear for almost a decade what this change has meant for them and their community. From all indications, the violence that was unleashed on that community has left lasting scars on its collective psyche. Unlike what had become a staple under the previous government, no treason charges have been brought against any citizen. One remembers the experiences of Mark Benschop and Bruce and Carol-Ann Munroe who languished in jail for many years on trumped-up treason charges. This government has not abused the law in the quest to settle scores with opponents. Consequently, citizens have felt freer to participate in public protest against the government. Significantly, there have been no assassinations under the watch of this government. That is a laudable achievement in a country which has not been spotless when it comes to management of political dissent. As political activist and commentator, David Hinds, is reported in this
publication to have told a public meeting in Linden: “This is the first government in the history of Guyana that has not gunned down and assassinated political opponents…this is the first government that its hand doesn’t have the blood of opponents and that, for me, is one of the biggest accomplishments…in fact, it is its signal accomplishment, the fact that this government has not locked up opponents, have not charged people for treason and gunned down opponents, that is a qualitative change.” In the process of respecting the Civil Rights and Liberties of its citizens, the government has contributed in no small way to the restoration of confidence in that institution. Government is no longer seen as an oppressive entity waiting to pounce on citizens deemed to be critics. Despite much vile criticisms of the government, the PPP has mounted several demonstrations in the city and beyond and not a single demonstrator has been locked up or charged. In the final analysis, fear has been considerably reduced under the Coalition government.
Citizens have testified about not being afraid of losing their jobs if they criticize the government. This development should not be underestimated. While this is an intangible achievement, it has tangible consequences. The absence of fear contributes to an atmosphere of stability which in turn encourages economic confidence. Investors generally are more likely to invest in a country where fear is at a minimum. Similarly, when citizens are not fearful of government, they are more likely to respond to patriotic calls and initiatives. Further, the promotion of respect for civil liberties and the attendant removal of fear contribute to the democratic standing of the country. David Hinds is again on target in identifying the relationship between removal of fear and the manifestation of freedom: “ … actions such as these prove that the APNU-AFC made a noticeable effort in transforming the society and changing the status quo by removing political fear from citizens, thus making the society freer.”
It was Jagdeo who damaged and demoralised the GDF Dear Editor, IT was with great concern that I listened to the statements of former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, on the subject of the welfare of soldiers in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) sometime in June this year. Mr. Jagdeo was at the time speaking to the media at one of his weekly press conferences. It is appalling for the former President to accuse President David Granger, a retired Brigadier, of “operational interference”. Lest Mr. Jagdeo forget, it was under his administration that there was political and operational interference in both the GDF and the Guyana Police Force. Mr. Jagdeo ought to remember deliberately restricting the force’s resources and developmental opportunities. Funding was provided for projects of interest to him and his administration. Officers and ranks were seldom given the opportunity to attend training courses and seminars overseas.
The stymieing of the officers and ranks of the forces led to their demoralisation. It was back in August 2007 that Colonels Frank Bispham, Lawrence Paul, Linden Ross and Gordon Benn were interviewed by Mr. Jagdeo and then Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Roger Luncheon, and informed that they were being seconded from the Defence Force to varying parts of the public service. Colonel Bruce Lovell was interviewed the same day, August 22, 2007 and was promoted and appointed the first Resident Military Attaché to Brazil. Mr. Jagdeo ought not to forget that Gary Best and Mark Phillips colluded with him to have those four colonels removed from the force. The Stabroek News report of November 4, 2017 captioned “Col Pompey in Cambodia completing UN contract” speaks to the actions taken by Mr. Jagdeo during his tenure as president. The article said that after a little more than a month
after Colonel Andrew Pompey was appointed Deputy Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, he was off the job. “Pompey is one of four lieutenant colonels who were elevated to the rank of full colonel to fill the top posts in the army made vacant by President Bharrat Jagdeo’s decision to side-step three officers who were their seniors.” Colonel Pompey was called away from his appointment in Cambodia to be interviewed by Jagdeo. “Jagdeo in a move that angered some in the army, promoted Commander Gary Best to Commodore, and Pompey, Bruce Lovell and Mark Phillips to substantive colonels. Pompey replaced Paul as the Deputy Chief-of-Staff; Bruce Lovell moved to Colonel, General Staff and Mark Phillips now heads the force’s administration. The promotion of the officers meant that Paul was overlooked to replace Collins, while Colonels Linden Ross, Frank Bishpam and Gordon Benn were superseded.
The four men were offered secondments to the public service but so far only Ross has taken up the offer at the Carifesta Secretariat. At present Paul, Bishpam and Benn are on leave, and according to reports the men are unlikely to take up the offers,” the Stabroek News reported. According to that very news article, the former President defended his decision and said he acted in accordance with the Defence Act which gave him the power to appoint the Chief-of-Staff. For the former President to accuse President Granger, a former brigadier, a man of integrity and principle who understands the needs of the GDF, of political interference is ludicrous and hypocritical when it was Mr. Jagdeo who damaged and demoralised the force during his reign as President. Mr. Jagdeo and his bandwagonists are quick to speak of the onemonth bonus but I agree Turn to PAGE 7
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
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What is your legacy Freddie? Dear Editor,
I
pen this letter to give additional attention to arguably one of the most known columnists in the Kaieteur newspaper, considering the fact that Stabroek newspapers does not publish my letters, I guess that's their prerogative but I'm most grateful for the now properly-run Guyana Chronicle that provides me a space to share my views. Like most persons in the early 2000s and as a student of the University of Guyana during those early periods, I used to frequently read Freddie's column. I recall my UG comrades who used to laugh after the goodly gentleman pass us on the ‘catwalk’ referring to him as a "rebel without a cause". The cause is now known, despite the weak attempts to camouflage what is very pellucid. I will address Freddie Kissoon’s attempt to deliberately mislead the public by pointing out the misinformation raised in his column August 18, 2019 which are:-the loss of jobs in the sugar industry; the President’s few press conferences, raise of pay for government ministers and Durban Park. Losing a job can be a painful experience, and while I do sympathise with Freddie because his contract with the University of Guyana was not renewed, I can also empathise with the University of Guyana’s Board for not renewing his contract many years ago. The gross inaccuracies that Kissoon peddles in his articles might be a reflection of his teaching material. His article dated August 18, 2019 lacks depth, critical analysis, empirical data and more importantly any evidence that he did even an iota of research which is usually a constant feature for most of his articles. Freddie Kissoon’s writing style and his daily piece can be compared to that of a gossip columnist, very informal, erratic, satire, a mere opinion piece, sprinkled with sensationalism, bitterness and a vendetta inspired by the loss of his job almost six years ago, (by the PPP/C, but get over it) coupled with an entitlement mentality for something that he in his mind believes should have been given to him for "all" he did but wasn't. His writing is accusatory and defamatory in nature as he spreads innuendos and constantly nitpicks at any government official he wants to target. I need to know has this man served Guyana outside of his job? Has he ever put himself up to serve via the polls? What can he attribute to what he has done to positively impact Guyanese and this country of which he is so critical? He criticises those who serve but he has never served Guyana in any political capacity? He appears to be a confused individual, a ‘wanna-be’ rebel with a cause, even his disheveled outward appearance reflects his inward confusion. As a university student he studied the theoretical aspects of politics, and however, since knowledge is evolving, his knowledge today seems outdated like some of the political thinkers he frequently references from centuries ago. Freddie, like Irfaan Ali, who cannot produce his alleged qualifications, cannot point his followers to any research or articles published by him in a single academic journal. Freddie Kissoon is not an authority in the academic arena on modern-day politics. Mr. Editor it would be remiss of me not to use this opportunity to provide those who took time to read Freddie's piece that was riddled with gross inaccuracies and a very poor analysis with real facts and evidence. The former PPP Administration was instructed by the European Union that Guyana would no longer receive preferential prices for Sugar since 2005, Jagdeo paid no heed but foolishly squandered the nation’s money, tax payers’ money by GYD$40 billion to open a new sugar factory in Skeldon Berbice in 2009. The cuts by the EU amounted to 36 per cent drop in prices and G$7B in losses for Guyana, each year. Over the years, the sugar factory’s losses are as follows: G$17.5B in 2014, G$18.1B in 2015 and G$12.1B in 2016. The sugar industry simultaneously incurred massive debts to the GRA, NIS along with regional and international banks and funding agencies, the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund Committee (SILWFC), to amounts totalling G$58B. The company also owed another US$112M/G$22.4B that was loaned to the Guyana Government for the New Skeldon Sugar Factory by the World Bank,
China EXIM Bank and Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Guysuco was given money to ‘bail out’ the industry’s in 2012: GYD$4B; GYD$5.4B in 2013; GYD$6B in 2014; GYD$12B in 2015 and GYD$11B in 2016, GYD$18.6B was the projected loss for 2017 for the industry’s survival. The question is: Why does Freddie and others with like thinking, wanted the government to continue funding an industry that was financially ruining the entire country? Clearly this industry was PPP/C's political tool, a vote purchasing machine and an embezzler’s playing field, a plantation ripe for corruption. The Sugar Association of the Caribbean issued a statement through the Caribbean Media Corporation (Barbadoes Newspaper) which was carried by the Kaeiteur newspapers on August 20, 2019 which outlines that the sugar market in the entire Caribbean has been volatile since the preferential EU price cuts. Therefore, the entire sugar industry in the Caribbean has been negatively affected, not just Guyana. Freddie stated in his article that, “[the] Prime minister or the President must talk to the nation through the media as often as possible.” Why should the President keep press conference after press conference? To please Freddie! Isn’t this done by the government's spokesman, the Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, the ministers, Members of Parliament and other government officials? Weekly press conferences are for Bharrat Jagdeo who has no portfolio, and is not task with the mandate of running a country. The University of Guyana law students whose subsidy was withdrawn from them by the former PPP administration does not want to hear another speech by his Excellency. They want assistance with their fees to attend Hugh Wooding Law School which the President has made possible, and now they are being offered full scholarships. The public servants who received salary increases and bonuses every year since APNU/AFC came to office in 2015 are happy as they have more spending power, more monies. They do not want to hear another speech. Empty Barrels make the most noise! The President has left unnecessary talking to Bharrat Jagdeo and his missing in action candidate. The President and the APNU/AFC Government have spoken loud by its many actions and has facilitated freedom of speech so that Freddie can babble and make a living, without feeling threatened or have feces thrown in his face and mouth as was done to him in the PPPC era. The APNU/AFC government has a developmental agenda, it has facilitated road repairs all over this country, built bridges, built new roads, renovated schools and other public buildings which is clear for all to see – does the President still need to speak? The APNU/AFC government has raised the minimum wage from GYD$39,570.00 in 2015 to GYD$64,200.00 in 2018; pension was GYD$13,125.00 in 2015, in 2019 its GYD$20,500.00 -- Does the President still need to speak Freddie? People want action, not speeches and the President being the strategist that He is, is well apprised of this. It is now difficult for persons to traffic in cocaine and commit crimes without being caught, or sent to jail for possession. In 2018 Guyana ranked 93 out of 180 countries on the corruption Perception Index whereas in 2015 our rank was 119 out of 180 countries on the CPI. The President’s actions are speaking loudly but you chose not to listen. In four years, this government has spent GYD$10-$15 billion more on education than the previous government with 2019 being the highest amount so far GYD$52.2B. The CXC pass rate for 2019 is 77 per cent and Guyana performed best for the Caribbean – Does he still expect the President to give a speech for the sake of giving a speech? President Granger has allowed agencies to function independently, the CEO’s of those agencies hold numerous press conferences….Does he expect the President to speak on behalf of GPL, GWI, the Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Public Infrastructure and so on? It seems obvious that Kissoon is not au fait with current management practices. With regards to the ministers receiving a raise of salary, again he seems to despise research or is he using his column to deliberately mislead people with his penchant for duplicity? There was no 50 per cent across the board increase. Stop using
the PPP/C propaganda. You are an academic who should know better. Mr. Editor, some Ministers received 50 per cent, some five per cent and some received less than five per cent. When the Granger-led administration came into office some ministers were earning around GYD$579,000 per month. The prime minister was earning GYD$1,549,389 and the Attorney General was earning $1,630,935 per month TAX FREE – Anil Nandlall was having a ball!. There was a review of the salary structure because there were anomalies. The anomalies of which he spoke were the difference in pay between the Attorney General and the other ministers, and the fact that there were now vice-presidents who would have to be paid more than the other ministers. The fact is that there had to be a salary structure between junior ministers, cabinet ministers and the vice-presidents. Please note Mr. Editor at that time, the head of the Guyana Power and Light (in 2015) was paid over GYD$3M per month and his deputy, more than GYD$2M per month, some Guysuco managers way more. The increase in salaries for each minister of the GoG was therefore reasonable as current. Ministers of the current government work 16 hours many days and are on call seven days a week. The raise in the ministers’ salaries was eloquently explained by Charles Griffith in the Kaieteur newspapers October 18, 2015 – Does Kissoon read the other articles in Kaeiteur newspaper or does he just write his gossip column without reading anything else? Another detailed explanation was given on the same day – October 18, 2015 in the same Kaeiteur newspapers titled “A simple explanation of the ministers’ salary increase”. As a former lecturer, doesn’t Kissoon have any appetite for learning? He could have read these two articles and probed further. Imagine the assault on our children’s education with Freddie “No Research” Kissoon being a lecturer. Freddie claimed that “the D’Urban Park project was a total waste of money…which has no bearing on developmental programmes”. Freddie has not only limited himself to the outdated theoretical aspect of politics, but he has no appreciation for Guyana’s history and the restoration of historical sights. Where was Freddie Kissoon when D’Urban Park, was a famous race track? Does he know that in 1992 money was set aside for the clearing of D’urban Park but it never materialised simply because the PPP/C did not receive much votes from that area. Where was Freddie when Durban Park was a 10 feet high dump which was a breeding ground and habitat for snakes, rats, mosquitoes, flies and other pests? It was Doctor Luncheon who described D’Urban Park as "a pristine jungle in the heart of the city." This health hazard and haven for pests which affected the people of Lodge, Georgetown, was located just a few yards away from the Office of the Presidency, Ministry of Health, the historical Cuffy Monument. The rebuilding of D’Urban Park was most needed and it was welcomed by the residents of Lodge and South Georgetown who utilise the park for exercise classes, religious, national and cultural activities. It is a breath of fresh air to the residents of Georgetown, especially residents of Lodge, who no longer have to chase pests, and for the children who now enjoy a clean ‘green’ space to play cricket and football to name a few. Between December 2018 and August 2019, Freddie claimed that Granger demonstrated no leadership, yet still we are being praised by reputable organisations around the Region and globe for our progress as a country under the leadership of President David Granger. The Caribbean Development Bank posited that Guyana is the fastest growing economy in the Caribbean and every industry is running smoothly in the country despite Jagdeo’s failed efforts to create instability. What is your legacy Freddie, could you host a press conference and inform the nation. Regards Jermaine Figueira Member of Parliament Region 10
It was Jagdeo who damaged and demoralised...
wholeheartedly with Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, who said the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) paid those bonus salaries to the members of the Disciplined Services to bribe them into taking action against those who opposed that regime. The ranks and officers of the GDF have received increases in their salaries that total way more than a one-month bonus could. The very membership of the force has benefitted from
better facilities, equipment, local and overseas training programmes. Can a one-month bonus salary compensate for all of these benefits? The Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces since taking office in 2015 has not acted outside of his powers outlined in the Defence Act, Chapter 15:01 of the Laws of Guyana. He has sought to strengthen the Defence Force through continuous training exercises. The President
along with the Defence Board has been working tirelessly to improve the force’s efficiency. It is clear for all to see that the force’s operations and training were neglected by the PPP. Under President Granger’s leadership, the National Cadet Corps and the Guyana People’s Militia, and the reserve arm of the force, have been re-established. That aside, the force has received a large quantity of
From PAGE 6
equipment from the Chinese, they received aircraft and other items to enhance its operational capacity. Regards, Gordon Daniels (Retired Army Officer)
8
Kicks and kisses
YESTERDAY, I had a pleasant conversation with Dr. Cheddi (Joey) Jagan, the only son of two Presidents of Guyana. He wanted me to know that he supports David Granger as President for a second term. It was not the first time that he has given me this assurance. We both recognise that the formation of the APNU+AFC Coalition was a bold step in the right direction. He would remind me how he had insisted that David Granger and I should, together, have a photo op, and how he joined our hands when we both turned up for a pre-2015 meeting in New Jersey. I share his interest in a broad-based government of national unity that his late father, President Cheddi Jagan, had embraced. ETHNO-PARTISAN POLITICS I told him that there is always a place for the PPP, and that the Cummingsburg Accord expressly provided for its inclusion in a government of national unity. But under its present leadership, the PPP would not go there. The self-styled “maximum leader” is too wrapped up in ethno-partisan politics, and in converting Jagan’s party into a corporate entity to protect the narrow interests of his rich cronies. I reminded Joey about my own, unwavering commitment to a government of National Unity, and the price that I had paid in the PPP’s leadership for this. I recount-
ed how, on December 21, 2018, shortly before the motion of no- confidence was debated in the National Assembly, I had urged Bharrat Jagdeo to change course; that he should instead engage the government in talks. I had told Jagdeo that whatever the outcome of the no-confidence motion, after the debate, it would be difficult to talk with the Coalition about national unity. He listened, giggled and, knowing that he had clinched a deal, he sarcastically inquired: “Are you going back to live in Sophia?” Jagdeo’s focus was never on the bigger picture.
BIGGER PICTURE I have never lost that bigger picture even as I walked away from the PPP in 2004, saying “ah done wid you all”; and again, and definitively, in 2010. On the latter occasion, I recall Dr. Roger Luncheon castigating me, rhetorically asking as I approached him, “when has Nagamootoo become the (expletive) conscience of Cheddi Jagan?” Those were the words that prompted me to write in “Fragments from Memory”, the following: “When Cheddi died, our whole life changed. Perhaps, he had set that in motion with his unexpected announcement in November 1996 in Lethem that I could succeed him as presidential candidate for the 1997 elections. After a kangaroo trial, I was fired by Janet as Local Government Minister. That eclipsed my soul, which was with the
grassroots among ordinary working folks in the villages and Amerindian communities. Nothing was the same after Cheddi died. Corruption - at first by stealth then overtly – began to eat into the sinews of the party and government. The new leaders quickly grabbed lands for themselves, their families and friends, and many were building high-priced mansions in an awful display of ostentatious living. Cadillac-style living in a donkey-cart economy, one critic called it. Nepotism and cronyism was the new yardstick for rapid enrichment for a few who bought out state enterprises or were awarded juicy contracts. The new elite cultivated by the Moscow-trained Jagdeo were given lands at basement prices. They grabbed forestry concessions and were given as virtual gifts precious national resources that constituted the radio, television, cable and telecommunication spectrum. The new rulers undermined accountability and acted in breach of the law. Public monies were spent without parliamentary approval and in violation of the
constitution. More and more the line was blurred between democracy and dictatorship. The last straw was a threat to withdraw recognition of the sugar workers’ union-GAWU; and the manipulation of the process to select the presidential candidate for the 2011 elections. The Stalinist bunch staged a virtual coup by which they grabbed the presidency. I decided that I’d had enough, and I walked. Sita walked with me.” GOAL OF NATIONAL UNITY In walking, I also recommitted to the goal of national unity. I ended the book with these words: “For me, in this last leg of a long journey, I am still confident that my strivings for national unity through a genuine multi-party democratic and honest Guyanese Government will at long last be achieved. It will not, however, come without struggle and without further sacrifices. I am ready. I am ready to start the struggle all over again.” A handful of persons picketed me as I walked into the Blairmont Primary School. I later noted that although I have left the PPP, it appeared that the PPP has
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
not left me! PPP supporters still know that had I not been chased out from the party, they would have been “inside the school”, as part of government; and not outside, picketing on the streets! They should now direct their kicks at the Stalinist Gang for betraying the expectations of Cheddi Jagan for a government of national unity. For me, I repeat what I have been saying ever since I left the PPP, “In my father’s house, there is room for all”. More and more people are worried that, in an oil and gas economy where Guyana is placed among the richest countries of the world, those who follow the PPP’s boycott and confrontational strategy could be locked out from any meaningful role in our “Petro-state”. During a private meeting, a staunch pro-PPP, anti-coalition critic misdirected at me the question: “Aren’t PPP supporters seeing this?” Some PPP supporters may refuse to see the real politics why they are not in government, but most of them accept the reality that Guyana is moving forward. The evidence is right inside their communities in new streets, better drainage, road
lamps, etc. PRETTY GOOD JOB They know that the Coalition could not, in just four years, do miracles; but it is doing a pretty good job. It would not surprise anyone that as elections draw closer, there would be an avalanche of cross-over from the PPP towards the Coalition. The “newness” we see in almost every village and in hinterland communities is the work of the entire Coalition Government and dedicated public servants in the regions, municipalities, neighbourhoods and Amerindian communities. Our women ministers have led the way in bringing this newness in how government ought to do its work in the education, health, transport, telecommunications and housing sectors, and in promoting hinterland integration through entrepreneurship. The Bs – buses, boats, bicycles, books and breakfast – remain the most popular innovation of this government. Hats off to Minister Amna Ally for being the engine that drives the “David G” programme. Kisses are in order for all of them.
THE NEXT ELECTIONS: THE CHARACTER OF THE NATION WILL RECEIVE A FINAL DEFINITION THE definition of who we are as a people will be laid bare by the next elections results. Are we a nation that can resent tribal inclinations and vote on issues and the content of the candidates’ character or are we a people who cannot escape blind tribal loyalty and are forever doomed to this diabolical phenomenon? It is useful to firstly elucidate some historical context. Since the split of the PPP in 1955 which created a Jaganite PPP and a Burnhamnite PPP, race and tribalism made their entry onto the Guyana political stage. This development was fully consolidated when Guyanese politics emerged as Indo-Guyanese, in mostly rural areas, in full support
of the PPP and Afro-Guyanese, in urban areas, supporting the PNC. From this point on, the nation has been held hostage by this divide which has been amplified and mythologized to benefit the major political parties. For decades, the narrative has been about the ethnic numbers and ethnic votes. Free and fair elections were almost foregone conclusions; the PPP has always boasted ‘we have the ethnic number’. As a consequence, this has led to a crystallised view of Guyanese politics. Some see it as an ethnic census. Some are adamant that the PPP will always will elections due to racial voting patterns. Other have taken a more optimistic stance,
arguing there is a large swathe of Guyanese who are prepared to vote for political parties based on their policies and content of the character of their leaders. The two schools of thought have had their watershed vindication in the modern era of Guyanese politics. The school of thought that says Guyana is doomed to race would use the example of Desmond Hoyte’s failure to be elected by arguably the best elections team ever comprised in 1997. This team was led by great PNC leader once dubbed ‘Desmond Persaud’ because of his commitment to social cohesion, there was diversity with the likes of Guyanese giants such as Stanley Ming, Cammie Ramsaroop and a
plethora of Guyanese intellectuals. Elections were held on December 15, 1997, and despite their best ever, the Guyanese A-Team brought together by Desmond Hoyte lost by 7 seats. The hopeful view which suggests Guyanese are capable of breaking the curse of ethnic politics would point to the election of David Arthur Granger as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in 2015. They can say, with this example, we resent the notion that this country and its people cannot slay the tribal beast. In conclusion, the fact remains the jury is still out on who we are as a nation. This will be settled by the results of the next elections. It has never been more
stark chance to answer this critical question: you have an inept candidate who is clearly being prepared for a puppet Presidency and, on the other hand, you have an impeccable incorruptible leader heading a coalition government based on national unity that brought unprecedented benefits to Guyana and its people. In consideration of this, the results of the next elections present the perfect opportunity to put the debate to rest; it will provide a final definition of who we are as a nation.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
Coalition best for Guyana …AFC says accord an effective mechanism to enhance electoral outcomes …formulating policy proposals for inclusion in revised Cummingsburg Accord
THE Alliance For Change in iterating its commitment to the coalition says that it is in the process of formulating a number of policy proposals for inclusion in the amended Cummingsburg Accord and will share these with the public in the near future. These proposals, the party said, represent tangible measures for achieving the goals and objectives of the party as announced at the time of its formation in 2005, noting that the proposals will be required for the party to enter into any pre-election agreement, and the AFC will accept responsibility for their delivery within specified timelines. In its Sunday column in the Kaieteur News, the AFC said the question most relevant to it at this point is: how will an amended/renewed accord benefit the Guyanese people? Acknowledging that it is not a mass-based party and does not benefit from guaranteed support, the AFC said it must, at every election, present its case to the Guyanese public in order to obtain its share of votes cast. “Given its experience
in government over the past four-and-a-half years, and its desire to contest the upcoming elections as a coalition with the APNU, the AFC will present to the public, its commitments which will form the basis of its participation in a coalition to govern Guyana.” According to the AFC, it is confident that the Guyanese people still see coalition politics as the best option for Guyana, and is committed to demonstrating, not just the value of a coalition government, but that of the AFC within such a government. “The Cummingsburg Accord has successfully held its signatories together for almost five years and, with the necessary inclusions, can become the blueprint for the future of coalition politics in Guyana and a device for ensuring specific achievements within a government’s term in office,” the AFC said. According to the party the attractiveness of a pre-election coalition lies in the ability of the public to distinguish between its members and assess their individual priorities. “The AFC believes that the Guyanese public has that ability. The AFC must therefore identify and define
pre-election coalition. “While a candid assessment of the APNU+AFC’s performance during its tenure in office may not reveal all the benefits that coalition politics can bring to Guyana, it certainly demonstrates the viability, utility and potential of coalition governments. The AFC accepts that there is room for improvement and that the model is a work in progress.”
its priorities in order to bring votes to the coalition.” PRESERVING THE COALITION The party said it is committed to the preservation of the coalition as a functional governing body through the complete election cycle, noting that this has largely been achieved, notwithstanding the December 21, 2019 no-confidence motion. The AFC said Guyana’s post-independence experiences have provided ample evidence that predominantly race-based political affiliation, in a winner-takes-all dispensation, does very little to foment an inclusive and participatory approach
to national development, and everything to encourage complacency and mediocrity within the upper strata of government. “There is now a growing consensus that coalition politics, in some form or another, presents a viable alternative to single party rule and can break the cycle of ethnically-oriented political domination and its adverse impact on the quality of democracy and governance, and the pace of socio-economic development,” the AFC said in the column. According to the party, the Cummingsburg Accord represented a bold move for a third party and a victory for a new political dispensation in the form of a
FAVOURING PLURALITY Noting that Guyana’s Constitution is unhelpful at best, favouring a plurality over a combined majority, thereby forcing pre-election mergers of parties seeking to leverage joint support to win the executive, the AFC said this is a deviation from what obtains in most parliamentary democracies, where the executive derives its authority to govern by virtue of holding or controlling a majority of seats in the parliament. “This anomaly therefore requires the parties to any coalition agreement to negotiate without quantitatively demonstrating their electoral strengths and, by extension, the level of the electorate’s support for their individual
policy proposals. An even bigger blind spot surrounds the question of whether the total number of votes that the two parties would receive as a coalition, is likely to exceed the sum of those which they might receive as individual contestants. This ‘what if’ scenario creates a much different negotiation setting than the more common post-election one in which the parties come to the table with secured parliamentary seats.” The Cummingsburg Accord was the product of a negotiation held without the benefit of the electorate’s input. It prioritised office-holding over policy positions, and received the critical support needed to put the coalition in office. Given the prevailing trend, the accord proved to be an effective mechanism for enhancing Guyana’s stagnating electoral outcomes. The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are expected to commence a review on the Cummingsburg Accord soon according to APNU General Secretary, Joseph Harmon.
Orealla- Moleson Creek link among key road projects this year …Public Infrastructure Ministry/GGMC to carry out works
A roadway linking the Corentyne village of Orealla with Moleson Creek, are among several ambitious projects which the authorities plan to undertake in the months ahead. In addition, several other new roadways, including a road linking Orealla inland with the community of Kwakwani and a road linking the Essequibo River community of Buckhall with the coastal community of Suddie are also carded for construction in the months ahead. According to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MOPI), the agency along with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) will undertake the projects within the Hinterland. A number of roads in other parts of the Hinterland are expected to undergo rehabil-
itation between the remainder of 2019 and 2020.The the authorities also plan to construct new infrastructure including bridges, culverts and drains in several identified areas across the Hinterland. At Orealla, a two lane, all-weather road is currently under construction and that roadway will link the community with nearby Siparuta, a link which residents have lauded the authorities for, the Department of Public Information reported recently. For months users of the Linden/Lethem trail have complained about the state of the roadway although wet-weather conditions have been attributed to the main cause of the state of sections of the roadway. Several sections of the roadway are expected to undergo rehabilitation in the months ahead.
A section of the Bartica-Potaro Road. (DPI photo)
According to the MOPI, the roadway linking the Kurupukari Crossing with Mabura as well as the section of the thoroughfare which links Annai with Lethem are set for rehabilitation. Roads within
the town of Lethem as well as the roadway linking the Deep South Rupununi with Parabara are also carded for rehabilitation. In Region Eight, the roadway between the town of
Mahdia and Mango Landing on the Essequibo River will be upgraded while the Eagle Mountain Road and the Mahdia Airstrip access road will also be rehabilitated. Between the two regions works will be undertaken on the Karasabai-Kato Road, the ministry said, while the roadway between Sherima on the Essequibo River and Rockstone will also be rehabilitated. In Region Seven, several bridges and culverts will be built or rehabilitated at Bartica while the Itabali-Puruni road will be rehabilitated. Several roads within the North West District will also undergo rehabilitation between 2019 and 2020. They include the roadway linking the town of Mabaruma with the Barima River community of Morawhanna as well as the
roadway between the remote community of Yarakita and Wanaina Hill. Roads at Santa Rosa in Moruca as well as several in the community of Port Kaituma are carded for upgrades. In addition the agencies will carry out signage along the Port Kaituma-Matthew’s Ridge road. Since assuming office, the government has been focusing on developing the Hinterland by creating easy access for communities, including remote areas. In the 2019 national budget, the government had noted that $2Billion will be invested in the hinterland on the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of a number of roads, dams and trails in 2019.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
Understanding Energy
New Discovery
THE news, last week, that UKbased Tullow Oil discovered oil in the offshore Orinduik Block confirms what many international analysts had long suspected and what many Guyanese had hoped for: that Guyana is truly an emerging oil power. Tullow is the operator of the Orinduik Block and owns 60 per cent of it. Canadian company Eco-Atlantic and France’s Total hold minority stakes, although Qatar Petroleum recently announced a deal to potentially acquire part of Total’s share. The Jethro-1 well is Tullow’s first successful find on the block and the first one in Guyanese waters outside the Stabroek Block. The company is expected to start drilling on a second exploration well, Joe-1, later this month. Tullow has already announced that it will be shifting regional operations from Trinidad to a new
shore base in Guyana over the next two years as a result of the find, a show of confidence in the reserve potential which could bring a surge of new jobs and opportunities for local companies in construction and services. A new base would play a key role in supporting offshore drilling and production vessels. An exact site for the facility has not yet been announced. This oil discovery, estimated at more than 100 million barrels, also signals to international investors and oil companies that there is much more to be found beyond the Stabroek Block—where Exxon and its partners have found more than 6 billion barrels so far in 13 separate discoveries. The Orinduik lies to the west of the Stabroek in shallower waters that make drilling slightly easier than in the deeper Stabroek. Tullow found oil-bearing sandstone in a layer of Upper Tertiary sediment
more than 4400 metres below the ocean surface. That find increases the chance of success and reduces the risk for the Joe-1 prospect, which will be drilled in a similar layer by the same drillship-- the Stena Forth. The find is likely to help draw a new wave of interest in Guyana and its offshore blocks, giving the government a good opportunity to negotiate for more favourable fiscal terms in new leases without spooking investors by threatening the sanctity of existing contracts. This is a common practice for countries—once a region has been “derisked” by initial exploration, the terms for future contracts in nearby areas don’t need to be as generous to attract investment. A wave of new investment could mean even more opportunities for local companies and workers, not to mention the increase in revenue, which is already predicted to
be in the billions of US dollars by the mid-2020s. Those previous estimates only include the Stabroek discoveries that have been made and don’t include any additional revenue from new production areas. Guyana will receive half the profits from the Stabroek wells and an extra 2 per cent royalty out of pre-cost revenues, per the terms of the production-sharing agreement with Exxon and its partners. Tullow also owns a stake in the Carapa-1 prospect on the Kanuku Block. Spanish oil company, Repsol, is the operator and majority owner of that block with Tullow and Total as minority owners. Kanuku is another promising new region for Guyana, closer to the coast in shallow waters. Shallow water regions commonly have much lower costs and are considered less risky than deepwater areas. Discoveries in these blocks
could create a domino effect that would bring more international attention, leading to more investment in other blocks which haven’t been leased as yet. When a new region like Guyana is still considered frontier, meaning it has no history of production, oil blocks may be large to allow for exploration over a wide area and increase the likelihood of a successful find. As a region becomes a more established prospect and producer and companies see less risk in investing there, oil blocks often shrink in size so the government can auction off more of them. Tullow is currently evaluating the find to more precisely estimate recoverable reserves and plan for production. Analysts predict that first oil from a potential project won’t be until the early 2020s, depending on how other discoveries on the block unfold.
40 graduate in basic skills training in Reg. 5 –– skilled in joinery and floral decorations FORTY secondary school students in Region Five, Mahaica-Berbice, have graduated with skills in which they can now use to earn income. The joinery and floral decoration training programmes were organised by the School’s Welfare Section of the Department of Education in Region Five and ran from August 7-21.
The graduation ceremony was held in the compound of the Regional Administration at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, where Chief Education Officer-Technical Assistant in the Ministry of Education, Patrick Chinedu Onwuzirike, in his feature address, emphatically told the graduates: “Skills are wealth!” He urged the graduates to give Technical
and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) a try and by these means ensure that they acquire a good life in the changing economy of the country. “Guyana is changing. Soon you may have two or three degrees but still not get jobs in the new economy because your qualifications are academic rather than skill-based,” Chinedu said; [At right] Patrick Chinedu Onwuzirike with senior education officials of the Department in Region 5 with some female graduates
Some products from the joinery class
pointing out that of the estimated 160,000 new jobs that will be created in Guyana in the new year, 80 per cent will be skill-based. He also decried the notion that technical education was the fall back for students who were not academically inclined. Antony Gordon of Belladrum Secondary School was identified as an outstanding graduate in the joinery classes, while Tricia James and Okela McAlmont of Bush Lot Secondary were among the outstanding stu-
dents in the floral decoration programme. Resource persons for the programme were Dillon Edwards and Avery Alfred of the Practical Instruction Centre at Hopetown Village West Coast Berbice for joinery and Cenica Grant for floral arrangements. Coordinator of the programme, Senior Welfare Officer of the Department of Education, Gloria DavidsonJames disclosed that it is the second such initiative to be held by the Regional Welfare
Department and the event is an annual feature. Member of Parliament, Hon. Jennifer Wade; Regional Education Officer (REdO), Deon Lewis; and Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Sherwin Wellington, were the other speakers who congratulated the students and urged them to further hone their news skills and put them to good use. All the graduates received certificates for completing the training. (DPI)
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
TRPI to present prediction on elections by Monday -poll will attempt to predict outcome of upcoming elections TURKEYEN Research and Polling Institute (TRPI) has started a political polling survey on Friday, to obtain the public’s view on the upcoming General and Regional elections. Trinidadian Political Analyst, Dr. Kirk Meighoo, told the media at a Press briefing on Friday, that TRPI is of the belief that there is a political crisis in Guyana. As such, they have made the decision to intervene, to ensure that the views of the people of the country are taken into account by the leaders. “There is a political crisis in the country stemming from the no-confidence motion, and the government has not dissolved parliament and called elections. So the government has been making its decisions and the opposition has been making its decisions, and as far as I’m aware, there hasn’t been a proper measure of popular opinion on this. Who agrees, who doesn’t, who is satisfied with what is going on, who isn’t satisfied, and the levels to which they are satisfied or not,” Meighoo said. He noted that this will be a national poll, since surveyors will be spreading across the 10 administrative regions. The surveyors, he said, will ensure that the various groups are represented well. “We are trying to use a purposeful sampling frame to get person’s rating on the performance of the government, and if elections should be held by September 18, 2019 and so on. It is important in a democracy that the people’s views are taken into account. This is to ensure that popular opinion can be taken into account by decision makers, so they have some gauge to know that whether what they’re doing is of national acceptance. We don’t yet really know what the country as a whole thinks, and this is the only way we can find out. So it really is for better democratic governance,” Meighoo explained. He said that after the research is complete, a meeting will be held with the government and opposition to give a report on their findings. However, a preliminary report will be presented by Monday. Sharing brief history on TRPI, Meighoo said that they are a non-partisan, non-political organisation with no relationship with any political outfit. It comprises of academics, journalists, teachers, and professionals, and was founded in 1990 by Professor Dr. Baytoram Ramharack, a Guyanese-born American-trained political scientist and educator who teaches in New York. “The polling organisation conducted its first opinion poll in Guyana in 1991 and several
annual surveys thereafter, all of which were published in the mass media. Findings of its polls and a description of the experience in conducting polls in Guyana were also published in academic journals and books. Polling is a science. It is a methodology used in the social sciences (political science and sociology in particular) to study complex political and social attitudes of a society and the beliefs that people hold on varied subjects including about their political leaders and parties. Such a tool has been increasingly accepted by all democratic nations, though not very widespread used in Guyana,” he shared with the media. Opinion polls, he further noted, provide a very good database for research purposes. They also inform parties of the views of their supporters or the nation, and they serve as a guide for political parties to choose the best candidates to enhance their prospects at an election. Outlining specifically what the findings will reflect on Monday, Meighoo said “This opinion poll will also attempt to predict the outcome of the upcoming election and test the support for Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo, and Irfaan Alli to their respective outfits and whether other potential candidates are greater assets to their parties than chosen ones. The questions in this survey will focus on popular support of varied political figures (potential or prospective presidential and prime ministerial candidates) and parties and on issues impacting on the nation.” This research will also determine popular support for Presidential contenders and parties. “The survey will also look at popular support for potential Presidential candidates: Irfaan Alli, Anil Nandlall, Frank Anthony, Vindya Persaud, Gail Texeira, Ralph Ramkarran, Lenox Shuman, among others, matched up against President David Granger. It is somewhat similar to how polls test support for match up against Donald Trump in the US for the 2020 elections. The Guyana poll examines which political figure has the best shot at unseating the incumbent and which forces have a better prospect at government formation. It also looks at whether the country should have a coalition government,” Meighoo said. The survey will be conducted face-to-face with the people across the regions and will be done by Guyanese surveyors, supervised by Meighoo.
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Honey got money
By Tajeram Mohabir THE buzzing of bees often sends many scurrying for safety, but not all are scared. Others have found ingenious ways of harnessing these sometimes deadly creatures to create viable businesses while at the same time ensuring a green and flourishing environment for agriculture. As chiefly pollinators, bees are more helpful than harmful to humans, unless if disturbed. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), three out of four crops for human consumption are dependent on pollinators and enhancing their density and diversity is vital to improvement in crop yield. Underscoring their importance to the environment, the United Nations body noted that bees and other pollinators have been in existence for millions of years and have ensured food security, maintenance of biodiversity and vibrant ecosystems for plants and humans. Here in Guyana, a largely agriculture producing nation, their presence, except for a few deadly encounters with humans, have been no different. In fact, some Guyanese have become versed in the art of trapping bees for honey and have turned this trade into a thriving business. Beekeeping is, therefore, no fly-by-night business in Guyana. Guyanese have been rearing these small, hairy and at times menacing creatures for years. The earliest known umbrella organisation, the Guyana Beekeepers Association, was established in 1932 but waned several decades after before finally going out of existence in the 1970s, said Linden Stuart, a full-time beekeeper for over 40 years. With a resurgence in interest after many years of dormancy, the organisation was revived in 2010 but was renamed the Guyana Apiculture Society (GAS) with a focus on providing vital support and extension services to all registered players
in the industry. Since coming into existence nine years ago, GAS has brought under its wings three large beekeeping enterprises and has an overall membership of about 30 individuals. However, treasurer of the organisation, Aubrey Roberts, told Guyana Chronicle that the persons and organisations registered with GAS do not comprise all the players in the industry. TRAINING He estimates that around 120 beekeepers are yet to be registered under the umbrella body and efforts are being made to bring them onboard. In a bid to keep existing members and encourage new members into beekeeping, GAS has been hosting workshops on the essentials of the business. The workshops devote a significant amount of time putting bees in a positive light, highlighting their importance to the environment and benefits of honey to human health. Stuart, who is vice-chairman of GAS, said the organization, since coming into existence, has created a small buzz of economic activities, pointing out, for example, that beekeeping equipment is made by tinsmiths; their protective garments are made by local professionals and when workshops are held, catering services spring into action. Today, he said, the negative perception of bees is gradually changing and more young people are entering the beekeeping business. The local industry, including honey, value-added of honey and other associated areas of production, Stuart estimates, is worth around $ 430 million. Common local value-added products of honey include hair food, candles, soaps, lip balm, shoe polish, wine and honey-roasted products. With Guyana set to become an oil-producing nation next year, Stuart said farmers must not move away from agriculture and agro-processing,
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
-- many now turning to bees to support, supplement their livelihood
Beekeepers busy at work Curtly Critchlow
particularly apiculture. “It is a growing industry,” the veteran beekeeper told Guyana Chronicle while pointing out that though bee-keeping involves diligent work, it is a profitable business once managed well. The life of a worker bee is six weeks while a drone (male bee) lives for two months if it does not mate with the queen. Drones die shortly after mating with the queen. A queen bee has a life span of two to three years, Stuart told this newspaper. A hive, with bees, costs around $30,000 and takes about four to six months to produce honey. On average, one hive produces two gallons of honey. On the local market, the average wholesale price for a gallon of honey is $10,000. When retailed, the typical price for a one-litre bottle of honey is $2500. DEMAND Roberts said while GAS does not have data on local production, his information on the ground suggests that current supply cannot fulfil local demand. And he is right. Data from the Ministry of Finance indicates that Guyana imports around $14 million worth in honey every year. “We are aiming to fully meet local demands and also look at export markets. We produce 20 different flavours of honey and our honey is the best in the Caribbean,” he claimed. Stuart, supporting
GAS Vice-Chair, Linden Stuart
this claim by Roberts, pointed out that in 2013, Guyana participated in the regional honey contest in Grenada and emerged champions, but due to lack of funding, it was unable to participate in the international competition that year. “Quite ironically, Grenada, which lost to Guyana in the regional competition, participated and won the international competition. This time around, we are trying to raise enough funds to participate in the world which will be held in Montreal, Canada on September 8-13,” he said as he expressed optimism that Guyana will do well. Industry newcomer, Ghansham Persaud, 39, an electrician from Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, told this newspaper that he is excited at the prospect of Guyana matching-up its honey with all the best in the world and sees a bright future for the industry. “You don’t have to guard bees from thieves and that is one of the reasons I got into apiculture,” noted Persaud, who said he always love bees. Persaud is also trained to remove bees and has a small to medium size apiary on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, which he intends to grow into a largescale commercial enterprise. Curtly Critchlow, 26, of Covent Garden, a data and
Ghansham Persaud removing Bees from a house at Mon Repos
system analyst at the Ministry of Finance, who started a small apiary some seven months ago, around the same time Persaud started, told this publication that he also intends to grow his hive for commercial purposes. NEW LIFE Both Persaud and Critchlow are products of GAS, which, since coming into being, has provided much steam to the industry. The growing interest in beekeeping was evident when Guyana hosted the ninth Caribbean Beekeeping Congress last November. Stuart noted that of the 126 attendees, 108 were locals and a recommendation was made to make beekeeping a part of the curriculum of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA). The conference, he said, also breathed new life into the apiculture industry, pointing out that from then to now, more than 100 persons have been trained in workshops sponsored by the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) and the Ministry of the Presidency. The Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) has also chipped in to help interested persons with financing to get
into the enterprise. Roberts, interjecting in the interview, said that now that the industry is growing, there is need for extension service as well as a queen-rearing service to improve the stock, performance and quality of bees. “We need the science and research support,” he said. The Guyana Apiculture Society is also looking for land to establish a pasture for breeding of bees; vending and displaying of bee-related products; and conducting of school tours, among other activities. Unlike what many believe, he said, bees do not go around stinging people unless they are provoked and when they do get aggressive, they do so in defence of their hive(s). “They (bees) play an important role in maintaining food security, flourishing agriculture and a green environment,” said Roberts as he related that GAS, in the next five years, will be seeking to build capacity among beekeepers, help reduce youth unemployment and provide sustenance for all players in the industry.
Baracara health centre to be upgraded to polyclinic --residents urged to envision self-sufficiency as project unravels
THE Ministry of Public Health will upgrade the Baracara Health Centre to a polyclinic, allowing for more health services to be provided to residents in Canje Creek. With this development, there will be several services available which the community can tap into. A polyclinic provides both general and specialised outpatient health services including consultations, examinations and treatment for a variety of diseases and injuries. With this upgrade, only emergencies will be sent to the New Amsterdam Hospital which is 45 minutes away and only accessible by the river. This upgrade
will also see Maternal and Child Health Services expanded with deliveries, laboratory tests, dental examinations, Ear Nose and Throat services being done, among many others. Addressing the Baracara residents at an engagement, Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence said initially doctors, medexes and other health staff will be sent to man the polyclinic. This, she noted, is an opportunity for villagers to earn income by providing accommodation for the medical staff. She added that Guyanese must be proactive and seek out and create opportunities Turn to PAGE 13
Community Health Worker, Kevon Joseph (extreme left), gives Ministry of Public Health team a tour of the health centre which is to be upgraded to a polyclinic
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
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Newly-constructed ‘Gurukula’ opens today THOUSANDS of youths are expected to benefit from the opening of a newly -constructed building which will house the Maharishi Dayananda Gurukula (Guyana Chapter) at Ocean View, Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD). Recently-accredited High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, is expected to attend the formal opening today where the rich cultural heritage of the institute will be on display. Pandit and spiritual head of the movement in Guyana, Dr. Satish Prakash, explained that the word Gurukula means the family of the guru. He said since ancient times, many legitimate, qualified teachers have opened up their Gurukula family-schools to teach students the knowledge of Vedas and other ancient Sanskrit writings. These students, who are all male, he said, lived with the guru who had an excellent opportunity to study
their character and offer them individualised attention while teaching them. He noted that students graduated and later started their family lives or become travelling missionaries. Gurukulas, he said, have been India’s teaching institutions for thousands of years until modern schooling started. Even today, young people in India are still schooled in Gurukula institutions. “Quite a number of people find the Gurukula to be an appropriate place where they can leave their foreparents books which are rich in cultural heritage. I also have 5,000 titles that I will donate and some of the rarest books that publishers will love to have. These books will be left at the Gurukula where the future generation will benefit,” the 66-year-old humanitarian said. He explained that a balance of eastern and western education systems will be used to teach students who will be between ages 17 to
22.
“We plan to have a CXC component of four subjects-English, Mathematics, Information Technology and Social Studies-- and this will sharpen the minds of our students who we expect to be missionaries and teachers,” he explained. He said the concept does not surround a religion but, instead, a philosophy and yoga of mind and body. “So, when that student graduates from here, we expect that student to have a balanced Vedic education… it will be an all-male Gurukula,” he said. He explained that the complex does not cater for females to live in, but only to visit for classes and different forms of education that will be offered during the day. Dr. Prakash said all students will be taught Hindi, Sanskrit, music and yoga. Teachers will be recruited from both Guyana and India. He noted that contact was made with the Ministry
Tropical storm Dorian forms in the Atlantic
ON Saturday, a newly-formed tropical depression has strengthened and it could develop into a hurricane by Tuesday. According to the Associated Press, it is the fourth tropical storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. The U.S. National Hurricane Centre in Miami says Tropical Storm Dorian is moving west and around 17:00hrs on Saturday , the storm’s centre was located at about 725 miles east-southeast of Barbados and was moving west at 12 mph (19 kph); maximum sustained
A graphic of Tropical Storm Dorian’s path
winds were clocked at 40 mph (64 kph). According to AP, Dennis Feltgen of the hurricane
centre said that it is too early to tell exactly what path the storm will take.
Baracara Health Centre 12 to be upgraded... From PAGE
for themselves. She also urged the youth in the community to take advantage of the training opportunities that are being made available through the Ministry of Public Health. “Let us not have to keep dispatching medical personnel here; the employment must come from this community. Persons will have to leave to undergo training, but they will return to serve… Once we have those people trained, the services this village needs will come… we are not going to bring the services to the community with qualified
staff to carry them out.” After these persons have been trained, specialists will continue to be deployed to the village, adding to economic activity while ensuring equal access to specialised health services on the coast. At the moment, the ministry offers training in various areas ranging from Laboratory Technicians to Patient Care Assistants, Community Health Workers, among other primary healthcare professions. The polyclinic upgrade is expected to commence this year and conclude in 2020.
The Maharishi Dayananda Gurukula (Guyana Chapter)
of Education to assist with books that will aid in the development of the institute’s curriculum. Meanwhile, he said the institute will eventually be offering a hot meal, one time a day for persons who are desirous of having a breakfast. He explained that fresh,
raw food supplies will be sourced directly from Parika to assist with the weekly feeding programme. Further, he said that left-over food supplies such as sugar, flour, chowmein and other items will be given away weekly to pensioners and aged persons
Pandit, Dr. Satish Prakash
visiting the institute for Sunday’s service that will be held.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
Lethem disaster management centre takes shape CONSTRUCTION of the country’s first Regional Disaster Management Centre in Lethem in the Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo is moving apace as foundation works have been completed at the site. The facility, which is being built at a cost of $96M, will provide shelter for both men and women and will include a warehouse, training facility, conference room and
office space. At the moment, the contractor, R. Kissoon Contracting Services, is working on the columns for the facility which is being built in the Commercial area of Lethem. The sum allocated for the project is cited as the largest direct disaster response capacity investment by the government in the history of Guyana. Funding for the project was included in the
2019 national budget. Early last month, Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams, Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon and Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, turned the sod for the construction of the steel structure. At the forum, Minister Hastings-Williams said sim-
Works ongoing on the Regional Disaster Management Centre at Lethem. (Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig photo)
ilar centres will be opened in the Barima-Waini region, the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region and in the Potaro-Siparuni. The mandate of the facility, when completed , would be to strengthen regional capacities for disaster preparedness and response; to reduce disasters and their impact through enhanced regional capacity and coop-
eration, and to boost disaster management capability for sustainable regional development. Harmon said that since assuming office , President David Granger has made disaster preparedness a priority as he noted that the government has been able to increase the capacity of the CDC.
The Director-General noted that the facility was meant to be funded by an international agency, but after months of back and forth, the government took a decision to budget for it to lessen the adverse impact upon persons affected by emergencies.
GEA talks up biogas use by households
BIOGAS can be used as an alternative energy source instead of firewood and fossil fuels since it is a gas produced by the breakdown or decomposition of organic waste in the absence of oxygen and comprises a mixture of gases, mainly carbon dioxide and methane. According to the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), there are many raw materials (organic materials) from which biogas can be extracted, for example, animal manure, leaves, twigs, grasses and garbage, among others. Public Communications Officer, Taiwo Williams, said biogas production from animal waste provides a unique opportunity to mitigate the effects of waste produced on farms while providing a cheap and sustainable source of energy. To facilitate the production of biogas, a structure referred to as a bio-digester unit (BDU) is used, she said. A bio-digester aids in the
decomposition of organic materials, such as those listed above, to produce methane gas (biogas) that can be used for cooking, heating, lighting (using gas lamps), electricity generation, operation of farm machinery and other energy needs. The GEO official noted that a bio-digester unit is a clean, healthy and an economic alternative since it not only provides fuel for domestic use but provides liquid and solid fertilisers that can be used in farming. She said this in turn aids in reducing the amount of chemical contaminants (in organic fertiliser) that affects human health and the environment. The GEA has been monitoring and supporting the installation of bio-digesters. GEA encourages livestock farmers rearing cattle and pig to take advantage of this technology and cash in on potential savings. The production of methane gas will help to conserve
on imported energy sources (fossil fuels), thereby allowing for savings on energy bills and a positive contribution to the environment. The cost to set up a bio-digester, including parts and labour, should be approximately $120,000 and would replace the need for at least one 20-lb LPG gas cylinder per month. The simple payback for the installation based on an average cost $3,600 per 20lb LPG gas, is just under three years; after year three, except for basic maintenance and labour, all gas produced will be free. Scientific advances have significantly enhanced biogas yield production, leading to the development of commercial or large/medium scale biogas plants in recent years. In terms of both consumption and production of biogas, Europe leads the other nations mainly due to increased government regulation for renewable energy initiatives.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
Huge demand for housing solutions -25,000 applications in the system, CH&PA working to make house lots available
THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has recorded a huge increase in the demand for housing solutions, at a time when there are over 25,000 active applications in the system. “We are experiencing a huge demand for housing solutions…it is something we need to study and determine what is driving the demand,” said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CH&PA, Lelon Saul, during an interview on the Department of Public Information (DPI)’s programme, One-on-One. A study done by the United Nations (UN) informed Guyana that the demand, over the next four to five years, would go up to about 4,000 housing solutions a
year, inclusive of renovations. He believes that the formation of new families is a contributing factor to the high demand, but there are people who are trying to acquire additional property. The authority has advised persons, who already own property, to refrain from applying for housing solutions since the authority wants to concentrate on persons who are really in need. “We discovered that persons who were allocated house lots are owners of property, so we repossessed the land…the condition of the allocation is that you should not be the owner of any property,” said Saul. Although some lands have been repossessed, the
authority is finding it difficult to identify persons who have house lots outside of the system. To improve their ability to detect persons, the CH&PA has partnered with the Deeds and Lands Registry and also the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC). The authority believes it is unfair for someone, who already has property, to apply for housing because there are 25,000 applications in the system, and among those are applications from people who are really in need. “We want to address those applications…we will be addressing those that are pre-2015, but we hope to satisfy everyone’s request,” said Saul. The main focus of the au-
CEO of CH&PA, Lelon Saul
thority is on creating housing solutions. Their efforts to create those solutions were augmented through support from the GLSC and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). Saul said they recently
acquired lands from NICIL and is in the process of acquiring land from the GLSC. Lands which were made available through NICIL are in Meten-Meer-Zorg, Mon Repos, Experiment, Ordinance, Vigilance and LBI. Those lands which are yet to be acquired from GLSC are in Bartica, Amelia’s Ward, Wisroc and Kwakwani. “We are looking mainly at housing development in those areas, but there will be industrial and commercial parks because we want to create communities that can sustain themselves,” said Saul. During the first half of 2019, the CH&PA distributed a total of 541 house lots in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Nine, which rep-
resented 54.1 per cent of the target for 2019. According to the Ministry of Finance’s mid-year report for 2019, house lots were distributed in Onderneeming, Recht Door Zee, Zeelugt, Eccles, Providence Gardens, Prospect, Mon Repos, Enmore, Culvert City and Tabatinga. In the second half of the year, it is expected that a further 459 house lots will be allocated. Additionally the authority will develop 4,000 new house lots in 12 areas, with distribution set to commence in 2020. According to the report, the CHPA has spent just over $375 million from its allocated $1.7 billion.
Teen with cerebral palsy gains 10 CSEC passes By Tamica Garnett SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Davindra Bridgmohan was just six months old when he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and his mother, Indira, feared how her son would be treated by the world for being differently-abled, thankfully her worst fears were never realised. Over the years what she discovered was a world of overwhelming support, love and kindness for Davindra, who was able to use this encouragement to complete his education just like any normal child. And just like any normal child, last May/June he sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination. When the results came out earlier this month the Bridgemohan family, and the staff and students of the West Demerara Secondary School, and so many others celebrated Davindra’s success with passes in all 10 of his subjects, with four grade ones and six grade twos. Today the aspiring civil engineer now hopes his story can inspire other children with disabilities to dream big, and feel normal. “Think normal and just do what you have to do, you’re just a normal child, be yourself, and try your best to do what you have to do,” he encourages. “I never come
up against any challenges. I was just always treated like a normal child and it gives me the confidence to do the best and pushes me to do more because I never felt like I was different and I always tried my best.”
Davindra Bridgemohan (third from left), with his family, (from left) sister, Hema; father, Yoganand; mother, Indira; brother, Turundra; and West Demerara Secondary School headteacher, Mr. Harrinarine (Adrian Narine photo)
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, 17-year-old Davindra Bridgemohan is still able to get around with the use of a walker (Adrian Narine photo)
Davindra was all smiles as he tells his story, sitting next to his little brother, sixyear-old year old Turundra. The eldest of three siblings, Davindra has set a great example for his siblings to follow. His 15- year-old sister, Hema, is already look-
17-year-old Davindra Bridgemohan enjoys a game of cricket with his little brother, Turundra (Adrian Narine photo)
ing forward to following in his footsteps when her turn comes around. Davindra attained grade ones in English A, Principles of Business, Agricultural Science and Electronic Document and
Preparation Management (EDPM), while his grade two’s were in Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Industrial Technology and Technical Drawing.
Davindra was overwhelmed by the results. “I was surprised, but I was very happy, because I was very nervous at first especially for the Math, it was very hard, the day I was writing the exam I came home with fever the entire night. But then I got a grade two and found out I passed,” Davindra shares. Davindra may have been surprised by his results, but one person who the results definitely did not surprise is headmaster of the West Demerara Secondary School (West Dem), Mr. Harrinarine. “At the initial assembly for the 2018/2019 academic year I said this year let’s look out for Davindra he is going to do well,” Harrinarine recalls. “What we are seeing here is the optimism that the school placed on Davindra, we saw something positive coming out of this special child, and this is what we have experienced. I always feel that a child that gets an opportunity to come to the West Demerara Secondary has the ability, and so we never doubted his ability to perform well.” Upon writing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), Davindra was originally awarded a place at the St Joseph High School, however, his parents chose to have him attend ‘West Dem’ which was closer to home. Harrinarine said that when Davindra first
came to the school, he did not see his disability. “When he came initially having looked at his Common Entrance results we felt that there is a lot if prospects in this child, so at all times we were looking out for Davindra to do well. I was very positive, I just put aside what I was seeing with him physically and say you know what we are going to make some good story out of Davindra and indeed we did,” the headteacher shared. The school never experienced any issues with Davindra being bullied, or ill-treated by other students. Harrinarine said what he saw instead was Davindra fostering a culture of compassion among the students. “What I want to say about the children around him, and what Davindra did in the classroom, is to help his colleagues to develop patience and compassion. He was in a predominantly male class and he helped those boys to become more loving, more caring. I saw that sort of change within that classroom,” he said. Over the year’s Indira, and Davindra’s dad, Yoganand have done the best they could to give their son the most normal life possible, which was why they took the decision to enroll him in normal public school as opposed to sending him to special Turn to page 18 ►
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
'Laugh of the Marble Queen' wins rave reviews By Vishani Ragobeer THE National Drama Company of Guyana once again put on a well-received production that showcased the depth of Guyanese theatre. On Friday evening, at the Queen's Hall in Port of Spain, Trinidad, the National Drama Company staged 'Laugh of the Marble Queen', a play written by Guyanese creative, Subraj Singh. This play was part of activities for the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) being hosted in Trinidad and Tobago. Singh's play juxtaposed two stories into one unique showcase. On one hand, the audience was introduced to a modern but financially constrained sibling family and on the other, life on a plantation for enslaved Africans. The stage was divided into halves, and the two stories were presented but at key points of the play, there were distinct points of intersection. The play sought to highlight the impact colonialism still has on post-colonial life. It drew focus on tensions that exist among the ethnic groups, particularly the Indo and Afro Guyanese
Guyanese play 'Laugh of the Marble Queen' featured two stories juxtaposed (Vishani Ragobeer photo)
A scene from Laugh of the Marble Queen at CARIFESTA XIV (Vishani Ragobeer photo)
in society. There was also a brief insight into the power struggle in society, among the colonial masters and the enslaved people and then
with the law enforcement and impoverished persons. There was a resounding applause for the play from everyone present.
A scene from Laugh of the Marble Queen held at the Queen's Hall on Friday night (Vishani Ragobeer photo)
It brought an end to the CARIFESTA XIV drama activities and was one of the finest performances by the Guyanese contingent.
Teen with cerebral ...
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school. Davindra’s mother shares that the acceptance he received at ‘West Dem’ was reminiscent of how welcoming persons have been to her son throughout his years at school. “Yes I was afraid at first but when he started nursery school everyone was so nice to him. The headmistress the class teachers would take him, and treat him so nice so I begin to feel comfortable that he was in school and being loved by the teachers,” she related. “The children stuck by him throughout his school days always willing to help. always want to do something for him and he passed through the years.” Indira shares that she was somewhat discouraged when she originally got her son’s diagnosis, but she decided to be optimistic instead. “At six months old he wasn’t doing what he was supposed be doing as a six-month-old. I took him back to the doctor. I was frustrated, very, very frustrated. But then I always said there is hope, maybe the therapy would do something good for him and indeed when he did the therapy I begin to see improvement
because he could’ve ride bicycle, he could’ve done so much things. Gradually as he got older and focus more on the study, then is when I noticed he couldn’t do many things that he could’ve do back then,” she said. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects movement and muscle tone or posture. It's caused by damage that occurs to the immature brain as it develops, most often before birth. People with cerebral palsy can have problems swallowing and commonly have eye muscle imbalance, they also might have reduced range of motion at various joints of their bodies due to muscle stiffness. Some people show normal or near-normal intellectual capabilities. Davindra is able to walk with the use of a walker, and is capable of writing on his own. Davindra profusely showered praises on his teachers for putting in all the extra work necessary to enable him to make it as far as he has. Davindra’s next move is to now continue on the path of his dream to becoming a civil engineer by attending the University of Guyana (UG).
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
Telemedicine project to come on-stream by year-end …equipment installed in four health facilities
…health personnel to receive training before operation commences UNDER the $7B National Broadband Project, the government has installed video-conferencing equipment for use in ‘telemedicine’ applications in four of the thirty health clinics identified for the project. Installation has been undertaken at facilities in Baracara and Orealla in Region 6 and the New Amsterdam and Bartica Regional Hospitals in Regions 7 and 6, respectively, the Department of Public Information (DPI) said in a report. An operational manual has been developed and in the second half of this year, medical personnel in those locations will receive training on the correct use of the equipment. Video-conferencing equipment was also purchased for installation at health facilities in Regions 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 with training slated to be undertaken at the facilities before the end of 2019, the DPI reported. In April, the telemedicine initiative came on stream at the Orealla Health Centre on the Corentyne, allowing the doctors and other medical personnel stationed there to have direct video communication with facilities such as the New Amsterdam Region-
al Hospital and other hinterland health centres. It was highlighted that the service vastly improves the health centre’s capacity to conduct diagnoses and facilitates direct contact with specialists. It allows the staff stationed there to speak in “real-time” with specialists. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, welcomed the project stating that it will open new doors within the health sector. “When this programme is launched, it will cut dependency on the current medevac services for interior residents, especially alleviating Maternal and Child Health issues in the Hinterland regions,” she said. According to the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) office in Georgetown, the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will act as the national telemedicine hub, building capacity in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for the effective implementation of the telemedicine programme. Other benefits will see the expansion of decentralised specialist care from
Beware of scammers
-- CH&PA warns THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is the only government department authorised to allocate housing units and lots and that body is warning members of the public to be wary of scammers who are peddling alternate information. The operation of a fake Facebook profile in the name of President David Granger, informing the public that the Ministry of the Presidency is allocating twenty housing units to interested persons was brought to its attention, the CH&PA said. It lamented information on the page which said that interested persons should make a down payment of $350,000 through GTT’s Money Mobile System to an unknown account. “We are
asking the public not to fall prey to these scammers,” the CH&PA said. It said that there is no such program being run by the Ministry of the Presidency, nor is the CH&PA working in collaboration with any agency on such a program. “Additionally, there is no system in place for persons to make payments for housing units or lots through Money Mobile. All payments for housing units or lots are to be made to the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s Brickdam office or its Regional offices,” the CH&PA said. The agency is asking members of the public to make contact with the body for information on any housing initiatives.
the country’s four main regional hospital providers’ development and the development of a community of practice for telemedicine to provide teaching and counseling around complex cases.
Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes explains to residents of Orealla, in Region Six, how the video-conferencing equipment works.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
Big dent in narco trade, serious crimes …Min. Felix attributes success to improved resources, political will
WITH improved resources and investments in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), since the change in admin-
istration, serious crimes in Guyana have been reduced by 25 per-cent. The figure includes drops in the number
of murders, rapes, burglaries and break and enter and larceny. There has also been a
significant dent in the narco-trafficking industry, with major seizures of drugs over the years. This was declared
by Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, as he delivered remarks, on Friday, at the People’s National Congress weekly press briefing. “Guyana is finally moving in the right direction. Serious crime has been reduced from over 3600 incidents in 2014 to just under 2700 incidents in 2018, a decrease of 25 per cent. The Guyana Police Force has been expanded and given resources and training they need to fight crime. Unlike under the PPP/C, today crimes are solved,” Felix, a former Commissioner of Police, noted. “Special police units have been established to fight organized crime gangs that once controlled our country. Due to these initiatives, there has been a 25 per cent drop in murders from 149 to 111, a drop in reported rapes, burglary and breaking and entering.” Felix said the security sector in Guyana is still recovering from the damage done by the PPP/C during their 23-year reign over the country. “Under the PPP/C, Guyana was infamously known for its narco-economy, violent crimes and endemic corruption. During its time in government, the PPP/C aligned itself with organised crime, using their activities to line their own pockets, while pushing our economy into anarchy,” he noted. 400 unsolved murders “It was under their watch that contraband smuggling was prevalent, narco- trafficking and gun-running were common place, gun crimes were at an all-time high, drug death squads roamed the streets causing over 400 unsolved murders, human trafficking was common place, crimes such as bribery, armed robberies, arson, inter personal violence, murder, piracy, rapes all increased under the PPP/C. The GPF was starved of the resources and training they badly needed.” In drug trafficking industry, Felix said convicting the “big fish” has proved difficult because, as in many other countries, the major players in the industry are well protected; however the country has seen much headway in the seizure of illegal drugs. “On the issue of major convictions for big fish, that continues to be a work in progress. In no country the big fish is caught just like that… it calls for extensive work because of the manner in which big fishes are protected and organized,” he said. Tackling narco trafficking “The National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) was established by the coalition government to tackle drug trafficking. As a result, we have seen an increase in narcotic seizures, with over 800kg of cocaine, 65,000kg of cannabis, 1,900kg of heroin seized in 2017 and 2018. Guyanese authorities initiated 503 pros-
ecutions and convicted 227 individuals for narcotics trafficking during the same period.” Felix said the disconnect between the statistics and the perception by the public that crime is not reducing has much to do with the purposeful emphasis placed on crimes in reports by media houses. “I’m not saying they shouldn’t be published. I am fully in agreement that the people must know but it is the prominence it is given. Crime is an ever-present feature in every society. It’s how we manage it and how the media also manage it. That is the issue for me right now,” Felix said “It is the newspaper articles that headlines crime that generates the fear in this society. I am not saying that should not be published but other countries have more serious crimes; check and see how many of them make headlines in the daily newspaper.” He says the evidence is there to show that improvements are being made in the police force. Intelligence gathering “Look at what the police are doing. They’re setting up cameras in the streets, they’re using intelligence-gathering methods to assist in solving crimes. They’re using public relations methods, they are community-based projects; are all geared at gaining support of the public to report crime and assist the police in solving crime,” Felix said. “Thousands of street lights and CCTV cameras have been installed all across Guyana under the APNU/AFC government. In many regions, the installation of street lights has caused a reduction in petty crimes. Residents across seven constituencies in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region are no longer afraid to venture out at night, thanks to the newly- installed street lights.” Felix says much has been invested in ensuring that the police have the proper resources, and proper measures are put in place to tackle crimes. “All forms of crime is unacceptable and that is why we are endeavouring to ensure that the police force is resourced to a level that would enable it to eventually detect and prevent the commission of crime. We have increased their budgetary activities to give them the capacity to deal with this scourge which is in our society,” he said. “The PNC/R calls on Guyanese to support the APNU/AFC and our plan to crack down on crime and corruption. We are making progress, but it is still only the beginning. There is still so much more that needs to be done to make our communities and our streets safe. A safe, stable community will bring with it a stable climate for the creation of real and meaningful jobs. With your continued support we can take Guyana forward.”
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, August 25, 2019
Broken main affects water supply in city RESIDENTS of several areas in Georgetown were without water for several hours from Thursday night after a main pipeline broke along Cemetery Road. The areas, which include Turkeyen, Cummings Lodge, Festival City in North Ruimveldt, Kingston and Sophia, were affected by the water shortage.
After that, works were then carried out on the main problem which took approximately eight hours before the actual issue was dealt with. “It took us nine truckload of mud to build the revetment so that works could have been carried out. Also,
The damaged 14-inch main at Cemetery Road, Georgetown
According to Guyana Water Inc (GWI) technicians, an old, 14-inch main pipeline was damaged and this was cited as the main reason behind the problem. The breakage at Cemetery Road has been recorded as the fourth breakage in the past seven years due to pipelines that were built in the late 1900s. According to Director of Operations at GWI, Dwayne Shako, many of the pipelines installed at Cemetery Road are approximately 117 years old. “What cause this is that it’s a really old network,” he explained. Several complaints were made by Georgetown residents who were greatly affected by the disruption. “It came as a surprise for me; I arrive at work late because I had to travel two corners from where I live to get some water from a friend, who, at the time, fortunately, had a full tank of water,” Christel Cummings, a resident from Tucville stated. The breakage of the main pipeline occurred over a large canal, making the task for the GWI workers difficult to fix. In tackling the issue, two revetments were built to stop the water on both sides of the canal.
we had to be careful in terms of the safety aspects, because workers were close by where the cutting of the pipe was done,” Shako explained. Looking ahead, new strategies have been implemented by the GWI as the entity looks to upgrade the water distribution network, which involves the replacement of the century-old pipeline to stop water outages from recurring. “We have recently gotten the supplementary provision in which we are going to be replacing lines in Vlissengen Road and Church Street,” Managing Director of the GWI, Dr Richard Van-West Charles stated. Works to upgrade pipelines have already taken place in Albouystown and will be completed in other locations in Georgetown. According to Van-West Charles, by 2022, pipeline breakages will be a thing of the past, because by that time the new water distribution infrastructure will be completed.
GWI workers repairing the broken main
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SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Greyville 08:30 hrs O’Keefee 09:05 hrs Great Dictator 09:40 hrs Cherry Road 10:15 hrs Mastagambit 10:50 hrs Swanking ENGLISH RACING TIPS Goodwood 09:00 hrs Hashtagmetoo 09:30 hrs Queen’s Soldier 10:00 hrs Harrovian 10:35 hrs Luna Magic 11:10 hrs Limato 11:45 hrs Fannie By Gaslight 12:20 hrs Flowing Clarets 12:50 hrs Blue Medici BEVERLEY 09:10 hrs Tukhoom 09:40 hrs Yoshimi 10;15 hrs Harry Love 10:50 hrs Brutalab 11:25 hrs Dutch Coed 12:00 hrs One To Go 12:30 hrs Blyton Lass 13:00 hrs Burtonwood YARMOUTH 09:20 hrs Elhafei 09:50 hrs Gifts Of Gold 10:25 hrs Jovial 11:00 hrs Dark Optimist 11:35 hrs Smile A Mile 12:10 hrs Spanish City 12:40 hrs Global Hope
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Root digs in as England look to steal Test (REUTERS) - CAPTAIN Joe Root’s defiance gave England hope of saving the Ashes series as his unbeaten 75 helped the hosts to 156-3 in their second innings on day three of the third Test at Headingley. Australia sensed victory was in sight inside three days having set England a daunting 359 runs to win after they - 1-0 up in the five-match series and needing only one win to retain the urn - were all out for 246 in their second innings. That meant England were set a target that, if reached, would be the second-highest run chase in Test cricket at Headingley, and two quick wickets put the hosts in trouble at 15-2. Out to avoid a third successive duck, however, Root dug in, putting on a vital 126 for the third wicket with Joe Denly (50), and the skipper was unbeaten alongside Ben Stokes (two not out) at the close, with England needing 203 more runs for victory.
Joe Root and Joe Denly put on an important stand of one hundred. (Getty Images) “With the team we have, we can win games from any position,” Denly said. “We have some dangerous players and some experienced players. “Anytime Joe Root is
scoring runs it puts belief in the side.” England missed a few chances to make early inroads as Australia began the day on 171-6 before Jofra Archer struck to remove
Latham 111 leads New Zealand’s solid response (REUTERS) - TOM Latham led New Zealand’s solid response with an unbeaten 111, against Sri Lanka’s first-innings total of 244 on the third day of the second and final Test in Colombo yesterday. The touring side, trailing 1-0 in the series after Sri Lanka won the opener in Galle, reached 196 for four in their first innings, trailing the hosts by 48 runs on a pitch offering sharp turn for the spinners. Latham and BJ Watling, who was not out on 25, were at the crease and have added 70 for the unbroken fifth wicket to boost New Zealand. Captain and batting mainstay Kane Williamson fell cheaply again, guiding paceman Lahiru Kumara to slip to be out for 20, after scoring just four in two innings in Galle. Experienced batsman Ross Taylor made 23. Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera dismissed Henry Nicholls for 15 to reduce New Zealand to 126-4 at one stage but Latham and Watling kept them at bay for the rest of the final
Tom Latham takes off for a run. (Getty Images) session. Latham, whose highest Test score of 264 not out came against Sri Lanka last December, brought up his 10th Test hundred with a boundary through midwicket off Perera. After rain allowed just 66 overs of play on the first two days, Dhananjaya de Silva struck his fifth Test hundred to help Sri Lanka
post a respectable total. Seamer Trent Boult, who had dropped an easy return catch from de Silva on Friday when he was on nine, dismissed the batsman for 109 to pick up his third wicket of the innings. Boult’s pace bowling colleague Tim Southee was the most successful bowler for New Zealand with figures of four for 63.
James Pattinson, Root taking his 100th Test catch in the slips. England continued to bowl aggressively, with Stokes enticing an edge from Pat Cummins that was caught
by Rory Burns before Marnus Labuschagne’s brilliant innings of 80 ended as he was run-out. Nathan Lyon was last man out and England were soon in trouble when Burns fell in the second over after lunch for seven, David Warner taking his fifth catch of the match. Jason Roy’s miserable series continued as Cummins clean-bowled the England opener for eight, bringing his Ashes average below 10. Root survived loud appeals from the second ball he faced, but settled to help England pass their paltry first-innings total of 67. Denly looked composed as England passed 100 after tea and Root reached his 43rd Test half-century with a perfectly-timed cover drive. Australia looked to have taken the key wicket of Root when he was given out lbw, but the Decision Review System showed an inside edge before it hit
the pad. Denly passed 50 from 134 balls to rapturous applause - his second Test half-century - to continue to frustrate the touring side. Josh Hazlewood beat Root’s bat two balls in a row in the 58th over, with words exchanged between the two, before the fast bowler removed Denly, who got into a tangle from a short ball and lobbed a catch to wicketkeeper Tim Paine. Root, though, proved immovable and he and Stokes will return on day four looking to push England towards an improbable win. “Day three is probably one of the better days to bat on that wicket,” Labuschagne said. “If we show the same discipline tomorrow as we did today, we will definitely reap the rewards.” Australia would retain the Ashes with a win as England could only draw the series.
Felicien is latest Guyana NRA Record Shoot winner
Sherwin Felicien shot a possible at the 500 (35.05) yards range. SHERWIN Felicien won the record shoot last weekend at the Timehri Rifle Ranges. The shoot took place as members of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) prepare for this year’s West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) Caribbean Championships. Shooting just two points off from achieving a perfect day, Felicien shot a possible at the 500 (35.05) yards range; it was one of two possibles for the day. Veteran marksman, Ransford Goodluck shot the other possible on the day at the 300
yards range, 35.02. Leo Romalho has continued to turn in consistent performances ending 2nd overall with 116.09, two behind Felicien whose winning aggregate was 118.10; he was off by one at the 300 yards range (34.01) and a similar number off at the 600 yards range, (49.04). Roberto Tiwari took the third place overall with a total of 115.04 followed by Goodluck, Vice-captain Dylan Fields, Lennox Braithwaite and Peter Persaud in that order.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 25, 2019
Rahane, Kohli swell India’s lead
(ESPNCRICINFO) - UNBEATEN half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane helped India take firm control of the first Test against West Indies in North Sound. By the end of the third day, India were 185 for 3, Kohli batting on 51 and Rahane on 53 with the overall lead swelling to 260. The two had joined hands just before tea and continued their association till stumps, adding 104 for the fourth wicket. Earlier in the day, West Indies were bowled out for 222, 75 behind India’s first-innings total of 297. India had to negotiate a tricky seven-over period before lunch but KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal ensured they went into the break without any damage. When the teams returned, West Indies surprisingly resumed with Roston Chase and Miguel Cummins. While Cummins had to walk off the field - after bowling just two overs - with some discomfort in his thigh, Chase didn’t disappoint his captain and trapped Mayank Agarwal lbw for 16 as the batsman tried to paddle-sweep a fuller delivery. It looked plumb in real-time and perhaps that was the reason Rahul suggested not to review it. However, replays showed
Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli take a moment, West Indies v India, 1st Test, North Sound, 3rd day, yesterday. the ball would have gone on to miss the leg stump. Rahul looked tentative at the other end, even top-edging a pull off Jason Holder towards fine leg but luckily for him, the ball fell short of the fielder. Cheteshwar Pujara, though, used his feet against Chase right from the start and didn’t let the spinner dictate the terms. Rahul too grew in confidence and played a near-perfect straight drive against Shannon Gabriel before late-cutting Chase for another boundary. The duo had added 43
for the second wicket before Chase struck once more. Having hit him for a four the previous ball, Rahul tried to sweep the next one fine but missed it completely and was bowled for 38. In the next over, Kemar Roach castled Pujara with a delivery that seamed back after pitching on a length, and sneaked in through the batpad gap to hit the top of the off stump. India - 81 for 3. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane took the side to tea and it started to look like the two were batting
without any trouble. But Roach returned for another burst and produced some more magical deliveries albeit without adding more wickets to his tally. He almost had Rahane when the batsman was on 17. After Roach’s burst, Rahane smashed Gabriel for back-to-back fours, an on-the-up cover drive followed by a ferocious cut. With India’s lead already in excess of 200, West Indies brought spin from both end in the form of Kraigg Brathwaite and Chase. But with both Kohli and Rahane now set, this made run-scoring even easier. Roach returned for another spell before stumps and almost had Rahane once
more, this time trapping him in front of the stumps but umpire Rod Tucker’s finger didn’t move. Replays showed the ball would have crashed into the middle stump. Rahane, who was on 48 at that time, brought up his second fifty of the match in the next over. Kohli soon followed him and reached the landmark with a pulled four off Cummins, just his second boundary of the innings. The last ball of the day, a fuller one down the leg side by Gabriel and which Shai Hope could only partially stop thereby conceding two byes, told the story of the Test. India were aware to take advantage as West Indies lowered their guard with the Test
slipping away from their hands. Resuming the day on 189 for 8, West Indies overnight batsmen Holder and Miguel Cummins frustrated India with a 41-run stand for the ninth wicket in which Cummins’ contribution was 0. But once Mohammed Shami dismissed Holder for 39, Cummins went for a big heave against Ravindra Jadeja, only to be bowled for a 45-ball duck. But the main destroyer was Ishant Sharma, who finished with figures of 5 for 43. On the second evening, West Indies were 174 for 5 at one stage before Ishant took three wickets in seven balls to reduce them to 179 for 8.
SCOREBOARD
INDIA 1st innings 297 WEST INDIES 1st innings (o/n 189 for eight) K. Brathwaite c & b Ishant 14 J. Campbell b Mohammed Shami 23 S. Brooks c Rahane b Jadeja 11 D. Bravo lbw b Bumrah 18 R. Chase c Rahul b Ishant 48 S. Hope c wkp. Pant b Ishant 24 S. Hetmyer c & b Ishant 35 J. Holder c wkp. Pant b Shami 39 K. Roach c Kohli b Ishant 0 M. Cummins b Jadeja 0 S. Gabriel not out 2 Extras: (b-4, lb-1, w-1, nb-2) 8 Total: (all out, 74.2 overs) 222 Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-48, 3-50, 4-88, 5-130, 6-174, 7-179, 8-179, 9-220.
Bowling: Ishant Sharma 17-5-43-5, Bumrah 18-4-55-1 (w-1, nb-2), Mohammed Shami 17-3-48-2, Jadeja 20.2-4-64-2, Vihari 2-0-7-0. INDIA 2nd innings K. Rahul b Chase 38 M. Agarwal lbw b Chase 16 C. Pujara b Roach 25 V. Kohli not out 51 A. Rahane not out 53 Extras: (b-2) 2 Total: (3 wkts, 72 overs) 185 Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-73, 3-81. Bowling: Roach 12-4-18-1, Gabriel 10-330-0, Chase 25-5-69-2, Holder 10-3-17-0, Cummins 4-0-15-0, Campbell 4-0-10-0, Brathwaite 7-0-24-0. Position: India lead by 260 runs with seven second-innings wickets remaining.
Tough draw for young Guyanese as Caribbean TT singles serve off … Van Lange, Wong win bronze in doubles GUYANA’S young table tennis players will have a tough battle when action gets underway today in the singles competition of the ongoing Caribbean Mini and Pre Cadet Table Tennis Championships, in the Dominican Republic. Several of the Guyanese players were placed in tough groups after the draw. Nevertheless, coach of the side Dwain Dick is hopeful that they can advance. So far, Guyana have won two medals at the meet. Both involved National Boys (18-and-under 15-and-under and 13-and-under) champion Jonathan Van Lange. After winning a bronze with his Titans club-mate Krystian Sahadeo on Thursday in the Teams competition, he won a bronze medal with another club-mate, Colin Wong, in the doubles on Friday. The pair lost to eventual champions, the Dominican Republic-A team 3-1 in the semi-finals.
Guyana remain the only English-speaking nation to have medalled to date in the 13-and-under division at the meet. DRAWS Of the nine Guyanese players at the event, only two are in favourable groups for today’s competition. Van Lange and strong competitor Wong are expected to advance from groups three and seven respectively of the eight groups in the 13-and-under first stage. Van Lange’s group includes Dominican Rafael Cabrera and Puerto Rican player Eliam Davila, while Wong has Trinidadian Sameer Ali and Dominican Andelso Acevedo in his group. Dhanesh Persaud is in the tough Group One, which has number one-seeded player Ramon Vila and silver medal doubles winner Yadier Lopez.
The national team has secured two bronze medals so far at the Championships. Krystian Sahadeo is also in a tough group, given that he has to challenge high-quality players Giovani Centeno (Puerto Rico) and Yoel Mendoza (DR). In the Girls’ 11-and-under category, Jasmine Billingy is in Group Four with two Dominicans and a Puerto Rican, while Akira
Watson is in Group Two with two Dominicans and a Trinidadian, while Samara Sukhai is in Group Five with a Trinidadian, a Dominican and a Puerto Rican. Meanwhile in the Boys’ 11-and-under singles, Malachi Moore is in Group Five and Ebo McNeil is in Group Three.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 25, 2019
Leave it on the line: GMR&SC tells Caribbean leaders laud GBA competitors for today’s 1320 Heat THE Caribbean has heaped praise on the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and its president Steve Ninvalle for successfully hosting the recently concluded Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors tournament. The August 16-18 tournament was hailed as the most important in CARICOM and the GBA came in for special applause from several regional presidents. Guyana gained eight gold and three silver medals to end on 30 points and retain the coveted Champion Country title, held since the commencement of the event in 2016. Johnson St Louis, Grenada Boxing Association president, declared that the creation and hosting of the Schoolboys competition is a clear indication that the Caribbean has realised the consequences to be faced if it ignore its nursery. “As the president of the Grenada Boxing Association I wish to extend sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Mr Ninvalle and the GBA for hosting that event which I believe is critical to the development of the sport here. We are also grateful for the kind gesture of some very special boxing gear being donated to our boxing delegation,” St Louis stated. President of the St Lucia Boxing Association, David `Shakes Christopher, opined that the importance of the Schoolboys tournament cannot be overstated. “Job well done, Mr Ninvalle! To successfully host this four years in a row is no easy feat. This competition is critical for the development of boxing in our region. We never had anything of its kind before and it was through Mr Ninvalle’s vision that it was created. “It is my belief that it (the tournament) is important in the Caribbean and my hope is that the GBA can provide the resources to keep it alive,” Christopher said. “I was in conversation in Lima, Peru with the Minister of Sport, Dr George Norton, and president of the Guyana Olympic Association, K. Juman Yassin. I pleaded with them to support Mr Ninvalle as he is not only doing a fantastic job for boxing in Guyana but also in the Caribbean. He is the leader of the Caribbean and Guyana needs to support him in any way possible. “We in the Caribbean can boast that we have seen levels of development since Mr Ninvalle has been around,” Christopher added. “I would also like to applaud his initiative to provide every participating country with a set of boxing gear. That I consider the true meaning of Caribbean unity spirit.” Cecil Forde, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association, agreed. “The TTBA congratulates Mr Ninvalle and the GBA for hosting another successful Caribbean Schoolboys tournament. We view this tournament as the most important for the development of the sport in the region and will continue to give our support,” the TTBA president added. President of the Barbados Boxing Association, Richard Atwell, declared that from reports he received it was a well-run event. “Congrats to Steve Ninvalle and the GBA. The report is that it was a well-run tournament,” said Atwell. In congratulating the GBA, president of the St Maarten Boxing Association, Shawn Blair, noted that he is personally cognizant of the difficulties associated with hosting such events. “St Maarten has just had an international tournament and as the man at the helm, I can personally tell of the sleepless nights and the days that seem to run for more than 24 hours. “For Guyana to host this four consecutive years speaks volumes about its ability to organise. The reports received speak of high-level organisation. I believe that this Schoolboys tournament has switched on the light on our future and it looks bright. Well done Guyana!” Guyana hosted the first Caribbean Schoolboys and Junior in 2016. This year the tournament was renamed Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Junior after Guyana’s 1978 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
ALL the talk surrounding motorsport this week has been on today’s 1320 Heat event will be put to the test at the South Dakota Circuit. Competitors were back and forth showing off their cars and their impressive times ahead of Saturday’s practice and qualification round but today’s race is a whole different story. For the first time, cars have broken into the 7-second bracket (unofficially) on the quarter mile with the absolute last run of the day featuring the railcar running a 7.9-second time. Though the run featured a false start and an immediate disqualified time, today’s action brings about a mouthwatering prospect of speed. The Trinidadian who last year lost to the Team Mohamed’s GTR Goliath admitted that he is back for revenge and then some.
Shan Seejattan is expected to defend his trophy for fastest reaction time. Still, there is an impressive array of machines for Andy Bissessar and his railcar to fight through - the Trans-Pacific Toyota Alteeza, Shawn Persaud’s Toyota Caldina as well as the ‘Mad Dog’ Toyota Supra just to name a few. Then maybe he can reach the strip record-holder, known to many as ‘Godzilla’, the white Nissan GTR of Team Mohamed’s
Enterprise. In addition to that, there are cash prizes for the fastest 11- and 12-second (DEL ICE CO) machines as well as fastest reaction time (Imran Auto Works) and best burn out (GT Tuners). As it stands, the club has confirmed readiness for the event with all the final touches put in place including reinforced emphasis on
safety and crowd control. “We saw what happened in the last instance with crowd control and we have surely put steps in place to correct that and to ensure that we have a great and safe day of racing. “This is what it all boils down to. Leave all the talking for the line”, the club concluded in a statement.
Grimes ready for his inaugural CAC Championships ONE of Guyana’s top Physique bodybuilders, Yannick Grimes, is ready to take part in his inaugural Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, which is scheduled for October in the Dominican Republic. The Space Gym athlete said that attending the tournament has been a dream of his since he began competing in 2014. Despite limitations, due to expenses and logistics, Grimes has not given up on his dream. “This year I’ve set my sights on it (CAC) and was able to garner sponsorship towards my preparation and travel and now I am locked and focussed on competing.” As Grimes’ career advances, so does his dream, which now is not just reaching CAC, but progressing to the level where he uses it as a launch pad. “I look at CAC as the pinnacle of bodybuilding in the Caribbean, but with there being so many elite pro shows coming now, I want to use this as a stepping-stone towards 2020 where I’ll look to push for higher heights.” He finished third in the Mr Physique division at the GBBFF Senior National Championships, held at the National Cultural Centre earlier this month, so the 32-year-old is no stranger to the stage. He is one of only two persons to
Yannick Grimes, who finished third at the GBBFF Senior National Championships earlier this month, is looking to be at his peak in the Dominican Republic this October. have ever won the title (along with Emmerson Campbell). He has that achievement (Mr Physique 2017) along with a string of podium finishes over the years. These include: third at the 2014 Flex Night International; third at the 2015 Men’s Physique Novices Championship; second place in the 2015 Supligen’s Senior National
Championship (Mr Physique); third place at the 2015 Flex Night Men’s Physique; second place in the 2016 Senior National Championships (Mr Physique); third place (short class) in the 2016 Sports World Classic; third place (short class) 2016 Darcy Beckles Invitational Classic; 2017 Sports World Classic 4th Place (short class); second place in the 2017 Eddy Wilson Tribute International and second place in the Senior National Championships (Physique) in 2018. Grimes started to train for CAC in June, but had to change his routine to prepare for the Seniors (a competition he did not originally plan to attend). I had to switch gear in terms of my training, add supersets and work more on my conditioning.” The personal trainer also worked on bringing out the definition and thickness in his back and shoulders. With more time to train for the October 11-14 event, Grimes, who has been in the gym since 2008, is confident that he can be at his peak on competition day. A number of businesses have stepped up to represent the national bodybuilder, including BK International, Star Party Rentals (mainly Mr Cush), Space Gym (mainly Mr Matos, John Lewis Styles, Windjammer International, Shakie Mining Company, Stefan John, The D & J Group Inc.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 25, 2019
IKD Caribbean Cup thrills hundreds at CASH … Tournament concludes today
THE International Karate Diagaku’s Caribbean Cup got going yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), thrilling the hundreds who attended. The two-day event which wraps up today in Georgetown will see over 200 athletes from Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Venezuela. Vice-Chairman/Vice-Chief Instructor of the Guyana Karate College, Sensei Jeffrey Wong contended that as a host, Guyana is
ready for the event. Of those 200, 107 are Guyanese athletes, combined from the KFC and ASKG colleges. In unofficial results seen by Chronicle Sport, there was a gold medal for Guyana in the 17-19 female GKC in the kata and silver in the Bunkai. There were also gold medals in the seniors’ Over-50 for both kata and bunkai and gold for Guyana’s Aliyah Wong in the individual kata Admission to the event is $500 and today’s event begins at 09:00hrs.
The youngsters were not left out of the action. (Adrian Narine photos)
Hand-in-Hand Insurance Back to School Drive targets orphanages
Ms Shafeena Juman, Marketing Coordinator (bottom left), Ms Shannon Yan (back far left) and Mrs Miranda DaSilva-John (front far right), Business Development Personnel, with the happy children of Prabhu Sharan Orphanage.
DURING the current Back to School season, the Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Ltd hosted a Back to School Drive for children in various orphanages across the County of Demerara. The company proudly donated approximately 100 bags, books, and stationery items to children in Prabhu Sharan Orphanage on the West Coast of Demerara, A Sanctuary Children’s Home on Soesdyke, Linden Highway and Hope Children’s Home in Enmore, East Coast Demerara. The Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Ltd, in keeping with their corporate and social responsibility, is elated to be able to make
these children smile and assist in making their start of the new school year easier and will continue
to commit in the development of youths across various communities in Guyana.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday August 25, 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) Jason Holder & Virat Kohli (QPO, Trinidad, 2016) (2) Sonny Ramadhin 5/26 (Barbados, 1953)
Today’s Quiz:
(1) Who is the first Indian batsman to score a century in a WI/IND Test in the West Indies? (2) Which WI cracked a double ton in the first ever WI/IND Test in the Caribbean?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Over 100 registered for GMR&SC’s 1320 Heat event
OVER 100 competitors have been registered for tomorrow’s 1320 Heat drag racing event set for the South Dakota Circuit. According to GMR&SC president Rameez Mohamed, over 70 cars and 30 bikes have been registered so far for the premier drag racing event locally. “What we have in store for spectators today is a jam-packed day of racing. I can say for sure that there will be no shortage of competitors.” “The Trinidadian guys are here and we are sorry that we could not get Suriname due to the ferry issue but as it stands, we have more than 100 registered competitors on race day.” He noted that what needs to happen though is that competitors need to understand what this number of competitors means.
The Trans-Pacific Toyota Alteeza (GTRidez photo)
“It means that we have to run very efficiently and on time. We can’t have a class unnecessarily held up because we can’t find competitors. I’ve already instructed the chief timekeeper that competitors who fail to make it to the line in a prescribed time will be disqualified and their opponent will be given a bye. “As it relates to those persons who are disqualified, they will not be allowed to re-enter event at any other round as it is unfair to competitors.” Admission to the event which begins at 09:00hrs with free runs is set at $1 000 for kids and adults $2 000. Event sponsors include ISG, DEL CO ICE, R. Kissoon Contracting, Deryck Jaisingh Trucking Service and Machinery Rentals, Mohamed’s Enterprise, BM Soat, Prem Electrical, E-Networks, Trans-Pacific Auto Sales, Cyril’s Taxi, Blue Spring Water, Choke Gas Station, Miracle Optical, Tropical Shipping and Handin-Hand.
Leave it on the line GMR&SC tells competitors for today’s 1320 Heat
See story on page 30
Andy Bissessar’s railcar from Trinidad
Team Mohamed’s Nissan GTR Godzilla is ready for action. (GTRidez photo)
Felicien is latest Guyana NRA Record Shoot winner See story on page 28
Sherwin Felicien shot a possible at the 500 (35.05) yards range.
Rahane, Kohli swell India’s lead See story on page 29
This photo captures the intensity of the action in the senior class.
IKD Caribbean Cup thrills hundreds at CASH
KL Rahul is bowled attempting the sweep.
… Tournament concludes today onSeepagestory31
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019