THURSDAY 28th November, 2019
Tax-free backpay legal
No.105835
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…Finance Minister, GRA head knock ‘Grinches’who want to take away public servants’ happiness …say action underpinned by section 105 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01
‘Badal bags billions’
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…Jordan says Robert 13 Badaal benefitted from billions in tax concessions
The two $21M Mobile Counselling Units that were commissioned on Wednesday (Carl Croker photo)
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Gov’t commissions two mobile counselling units
Bank of Baroda to expand services
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Aishalton barber capitalises on HEYS support
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
Tax-free backpay legal
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
Commissioner General of GRA, Godfrey Statia
Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan
…Finance Minister, GRA head knock ‘Grinches’who want to take away public servants’ happiness …say action underpinned by section 105 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01 MINISTER of Finance, Winston Jordan has defended his decision to give public servants a tax-free retroactive salary increase, in light of Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram’s claim that only the National Assembly, by the passage of primary legislation has the power to make any payment exempt from tax. Ram, in a letter which was published in Stabroek News, said such a power has been exercised only twice since 2004 when the relevant law – section 13 of the Income Tax Act – was amended to make the salary of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice exempt from tax. The other instance was an amendment to the section in 2016 to exempt the income of artistes during festivities certified by the Minister of Tourism. “Giving the people back pay tax-free is legal…I take my advice from a tax expert and I am assured that everything is above board…I am also reassured that everything is above board by the AG (Attorney General),” said Minister Jordan during an interview with Social Activist, Mark Benschop on Benschop Radio, on Tuesday evening. Minister Jordan said Government paid back pay, which was tax-free, and promulgated the same regulation which was tabled in Parliament. Jordan
asserted that the only reason the regulation was not tabled in Parliament this year is because there is no Parliament, but it was tabled last year. In addition, the minister said Government has been doing well because of public servants and the administration has not forgotten them like the Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) regime which, he said, seemed to not like public servants. Jordan said when the APNU+AFC Government was elected to office in 2015 the minimum wage was a mere $39,540. Government has since increased that by 77 per cent to $70,000. “It took the PPP nine years to raise it to that and took us less than four years to raise the minimum wage to $64,200 and now $70,000… So the same increase, we did in half the time,” said the Finance Minister, adding that Government is continuing do its best for public servants by even granting them the tax-free retroactive increase. “Ram never commented then…it seems as though public servants have to go through Grinch-like behaviour from people who should be smiling at this time,” said the minister. Ram, in his letter, had contended that not even a President can exercise the power which Minister Jordan exercised. “In other words, the regulations made by Mr. Jordan are invalid
which means that any power they purport to exercise or benefit or obligation they seek to impose is illegal,” he said.
DECISION UNDERPINNED BY LAW Meanwhile, in defending Minister Jordan’s actions, Commissioner General of GRA, Godfrey Statia said the Finance Minister acted on the advice of the Commissioner General and pursuant to Section 105 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01. Statia in a letter to editor said, Section 105 of the Income Tax Act provides as follows: “the minister may make regulations, subject to negative resolution of the National Assembly, to provide for the remitting wholly or in part of the tax payable by any
person or category of persons on such income, in respect of any year of assessment, and in accordance with such conditions as may be specified in the regulations.” Statia said this section was amended by Act No. 13 of 2008 with a marginal note of “power to remit taxes.” It should be noted that marginal notes are short explanatory notes placed in the margin of the bill which may be seen as the title of the section to which they relate. According to the GRA boss, prior to 2003, Section 105 of the Act provided that: “the President may remit, wholly or in part the tax payable by any person in respect of any year of assessment if he is satisfied that it will be just and equitable to do so.” However, in 2003 Section 105 of the Act giving the President the power to remit tax was repealed in the Fiscal Enactment (Amendment) Act No.15 of 2003. However, by Act 13 of 2008, section 105 was reinstated in its current form. “It is clear that the repeal in 2003 intended to remove the power to remit from the President. It is also apparent that, relying on the intent of the section prior to 2003, the new section 105 reinstated in 2008 was intended to do the same thing, that is, to allow for the remission of tax.
“However, this power to remit was given by the legislature to the Minister instead of the President, under the expressed condition that such power to remit by regulation is subject to the oversight of the National Assembly by negative resolution,” said Statia. The GRA Commissioner General said this was made clear by the Hansard of July 30, 2008 when the Bill was presented to the National Assembly by the then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. Statia said Section 22(1) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act Cap. 2:01 provides the expression “subject to negative resolution of the National Assembly” when used in relation to the making of subsidiary legislation shall mean that such subsidiary legislation shall be laid before the National Assembly. It will be laid with all convenient speed after the making thereof and if the National Assembly within such period as shall be prescribed by standing order of the Assembly resolve that the subsidiary legislation shall be annulled the subsidiary legislation shall be void as from the date of resolution. And the subsidiary legislation shall have effect subject to the specified amendments and the subsidiary legislation shall
bassador in Geneva and includes Ms Mariscia Charles from the Ministry of Natural Resources; Mr Darcy Walrond and Mr Carlos Todd, of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission; Felicia
Adams-Kellman, Environmental Protection Agency; Ingrid Sarabo, of Conservation International; and Ms. Cheryl Williams, from the National Mining Syndicate. Over the five-day peri-
od, the delegation will participate in the plenary and contact group discussions for the adoption of articles and agenda items aimed at phasing out and eliminating, where feasible, the use of
mercury in all activities. The countries have recently commenced the development of the National Action Plan for the Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector project with an
Christopher Ram
have effect subject to such amendments. Statia said Section 105 did not at any time (in 2003 or 2008) refer to section 13 of the Income Tax Act, but conferred discretion in the President and then the minister to remit tax. “This section it appears (and it is strongly argued) allows for a discretion to be entertained on a temporary basis for a specific time in contrast to section 13 which provides for permanent exemptions which may apply in every year of assessment… “This was the case in the emoluments of the Chancellor and Chief Justice (referred to by Ram), and “income earned by artistes during festivities which were certified by the Minister of Tourism and approved by the CommissionerGeneral,” said Statia. Further, the GRA boss argued that even in section 13 the Minister of Tourism and the Commissioner General were conferred with discretion. Hence, the conferring of discretion on the subject of remissions by minister is not unheard of under the Income Tax Act. Section 105 adds the same tier of oversight. Ram has completely ignored section 105, and may be essentially ignoring the amendment conveniently.
Guyana attending Minamata conference on mercury A SEVEN-MEMBER Guyanese delegation is currently attending the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Conference on Mercury (COP 3) in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 25 to 29, 2019. Guyana signed and ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury in October, 2013 and in September, 2014, respectively. The Minamata Convention is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and its compounds. The delegation is headed by Ambassador Dr John Deep Ford, Guyana’s Am-
The Guyanese delegation at the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Conference on Mercury. (From Left): Felicia Adams-Kellman,EPA; Darcy Walrond, GGMC; Mariscia Charles, MNR; Carlos Todd,GGMC; Cheryl Williams,NMS; Ingrid Sarabo, Planet Gold Guyana child project- CI- Guyana
Inception Workshop on November 5, 2019. The project was developed through funding from the Global Environment Facility and with technical support from UN Environment and co-executed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean. For Guyana, specific focus is being placed on the Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector. Guyana will be participating in the planet Gold ASGM and the African Group Dental Amalgam events as a panellist and the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean side event on Managing Mercury in the Caribbean.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
Trump invited to attend impeachment hearing or ‘stop complaining’ (BBC) Congress has invited US President Donald Trump to its first impeachment hearing on 4 December. Jerrold Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said Mr Trump could either attend or “stop complaining about the process”. If he does attend, the president would be able to question witnesses. It would mark the next
stage in the impeachment inquiry, which centres on a July phone call between Mr Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In that call, President Trump asked Mr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, currently the front runner to be the Democratic candidate in next year’s presidential election, and his son Hunter Biden, who had previously worked for Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
The probe is looking into whether Mr Trump used the threat of withholding US military aid to pressure Ukraine into investigating the Bidens. The president has denied any wrongdoing and has called the inquirLast week, the House Intelligence Committee wrapped up two weeks of public hearings, which followed several weeks of closed-door witness interviews. Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said the committees leading the probe - Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs - are now working on their report, which will be issued
on 3 December. On Tuesday, the latest transcript of inquiry evidence was released, detailing testimony by senior budget official Mark Sandy. Mr Sandy told the House investigators that two White House budget officials had resigned following the withholding of military aid to Ukraine. He said that one, a lawyer, had expressed concern that the action could be a violation of a 1974 budget law.
What did Jerrold Nadler say? Mr Nadler said in a statement that he had written to Mr Trump inviting him to the
hearing next month. “At base, the president has a choice to make,” Mr Nadler said. “He can take this opportunity to be represented in the impeachment hearings, or he can stop complaining about the process. “I hope that he chooses to participate in the inquiry, directly or through counsel, as other presidents have done before him.”y a “witch hunt”. In his letter to the president, Mr Nadler said the hearing would be an opportunity to discuss the historical and constitutional basis for impeachvment. “We will also discuss whether your alleged actions warrant the House’s exercising its authority to adopt articles of impeachment,” he added. He has given Mr Trump until 18:00 EST (23:00 GMT) on 1 December to
confirm whether or not he will be at the hearing, and if so, to let the committee know who his counsel will be.
What next with the impeachment inquiry? The Judiciary Committee is expected to begin drafting articles of impeachment which are the charges of wrongdoing against the president - in early December. After a vote in the Democratic-controlled House, a trial would be held in the Republican-run Senate. If Mr Trump was convicted by a two-thirds majority - an outcome deemed highly unlikely - he would become the first US president to be removed from office through impeachment. The White House and some Republicans want the trial to be limited to two weeks.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
Kamla: Tougher action needed to end violence against women (TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) In commemoration of the United Nations International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women 2019, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Monday called for tougher action to end violence against women. Persad-Bissessar said in a release that the adverse psychological, sexual and reproductive health consequences of violence against women and girls affect women at all stages of their lives. “We must act to prevent this from happening, not only in our homes and communities but our entire nation.
“The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, issued by the UN General Assembly in 1993, defines violence against women as ‘any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.’” Persad-Bissessar said the effects of gender-based violence leave many permanent physical and physiological scars on women and girls.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the UNC’s Monday Night Forum Debe High School, Debe (JEFF K MAYERS)
T&T: PM blasts UNC over bail bill (TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) The Opposition Leader’s refusal to support the denial of bail for people caught with machine guns as “dangerous” to the people of TT, says the Prime Minister. Dr Rowley took UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to task for that statement, which she made at a public meeting at Sangre Grande on Monday night. He was addressing an indoor public meeting at the Siparia market auditorium on Tuesday night, “I could tell you for a fact that when she was PM, she proposed that persons with handguns should be denied bail,” he told supporters. He said Persad-Bissessar’s suggestion was made when the handgun was the weapon of choice by the criminal element, who were using them to commit murders, robberies and other violent crime. “The normal handgun might carry between six and 15 bullets, and will take a while to be fired, and they are easily manipulated,” he said. “Because the PNM is now saying that our criminals have moved from handgun to Mac 10 machine pistols, to assault weapons now, AR 15s, and they killing us like flies...anyone who finds him or herself in possession of one of these machine guns should be denied bail.” He said police had recently apprehended two people,
one with eightAR-15s and other with five, who were granted bail during their court appearance. “This is the weapon of choice in other countries, where people would take this weapon and go into a school and mow down people. What are we waiting for – until
He made a promise to the local crowd: “The next borough will be the borough of Siparia. As soon as legislation is passed, we will make the next borough the borough of Siparia.” Rowley then took a swipe at one of TT’s newest political parties, Louis Lee Sing’s
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley
they do it in TT, to make it unbailable?” Rowley charged, “This opposition is dangerous to the people of TT.” He said the matter was due for debate in Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting. On the December 2 local government elections, he urged supporters to come out and vote.
Port of Spain People’s Movement, saying it had been created with the sole purpose of opposing the PNM. “Do you know how many parties have formed, resurrect and die and the only thing they good for is to badtalk the PM?” Rowley said he went
against advice and appointed Lee Sing PoS mayor and noted that a highlight of his tenure was creating a “highway” in St James where people could not cross the street without the possibility of being knocked down. This was a reference to Lee Sing’s short-lived 2015 scheme to ease traffic congestion in the city. “The councillors in the corporation were so upset, he wrote a letter to the PNM and gave it to the UNC to read in Parliament. They wanted me to fire him. He now in PoS and his entire agenda for that party is to badtalk the PNM. His party based on latrine.” Lee Sing also worked as mayor to reduce the number of latrines used by residents of PoS. Rowley also addressed the issue of lands owned
by Works Minister Rohan Sinanan and Persad-Bissessar’s call for an investigation as to why a bridge had been built on that land. “I am not defending anyone but that level of stupidity has to be addressed. “Which ministry builds bridges? “She said someone build a bridge on basis that land belongs to Sinanan. ‘It’s because Sinanan own the land, the bridge is built.’ You ever heard more stupidness?” He said Persad-Bissessar never asked whether the bridge was built to connect the roadway. On the UNC’s challenge of the EBC or to the spelling of its CEO’s name, he said, “I want to give her advance notice. Whether it is Cuffie or Cuffy – you have one licking to get.”
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday November 28, 2019
The ‘green, green grass of home’ IT was most refreshing to see so many Guyanese in Antigua and Barbuda turn up for a meeting with Attorney General Basil Williams last Saturday on the island. They were there with their flags, APNU+AFC banners and other slogans to let the minister and other officials and even natives of the island know that they stand with their country. There is something deeply soulful when you see people who left their homeland but find the time to turn up in large numbers in the middle of the day to bat for their country. It is a powerful statement that can only augur well for our Guyanese nationalism, which is constantly being tested; they deserve our gratitude. Fittingly in his opening statements, Minister Williams recognised the contributions of the diaspora and acknowledged that many of them left these shores for various reasons – some to seek greener pastures, others to enhance their education and professional experience. He further assured them that the government which he represents values their contributions, noting that all of them in some way or the other would have contributed and still contribute to our people’s well-being. He also called on them to return to what he referred to as the ‘green, green grass of home’, noting that Guyana is a country perched for economic transformation and assuring that regardless of their political affiliation they will be welcomed. Antigua is one of the Caribbean islands to where many Guyanese had fled during the harsh economic
times under the previous administration, beginning from around the early 2002s. Many of these citizens have remained on the island despite at least two devastating hurricanes and with the impending oil and gas industry, they might be indeed willing to return to this country. Often we do not give enough credit to our diaspora for the role they have played and continue to play in our country’s socio-economic, cultural and political fortunes. We know of the critical role of remittances to the economic survival of many families. We know of the boost to businesses and the economy at large when diasporans visit in large numbers. But we have not always as a country acknowledged their worth along with the intangibles that they contribute to our country. In a minority of instances, migrants to other lands marginalise or erase memories of their homeland. But the majority of migrants display a heightened patriotism to their countries of birth. Maybe it is the sense of isolation in a foreign land or the feeling of “otherisation” that drives that heightened sense of nostalgia which over time becomes a collective patriotism. One remembers the role of the Caribbean diaspora in England in the breakthrough of the West Indies cricket team in the 1950s and during the period of West Indian dominance of the game. They were always at the grounds in their numbers, transforming them into Caribbean spaces of freedom; there was also their role in channelling West Indian music to the European con-
tinent, taking reggae and calypso to far places. In similar vein, one of the most patriotic diasporas in North America has been the Caribbean diaspora. They display a cultural fidelity to the Region that is reflected in the many carnivals and other cultural festivals that have become part of the North American cultural landscape. In almost every major North America city there is a Caribbean Carnival and a radio programme that spreads the culture to the Caribbean diaspora and the wider society. The Guyana Folk Festival, for example, which is organised by the Guyana Cultural Organisation is an annual meeting place for Guyanese. Politically the Guyanese diaspora has been a critical source of fundraising and moral support for our political parties. The interest showed in the past three elections is a case in point. Supporters of the winning coalition actually organised a massive victory rally in New York that matched the one held locally. This development is of course aided by the internet, which affords instant access to local news and information. In fact, the diaspora in some instances receive such information in a more timely manner than those of us at home. We once had overseas voting that allowed our diaspora to formally participate in the political process from where they are. That initiative earned a bad name and may not be recoverable. There continue to be discussions and initiatives aimed at formally bringing our diaspora into our mainstream again; this must continue to happen.
Min Jordan’s decision was guided by Section 105 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01 Dear Editor, PERMIT me to respond to Mr Christopher Ram’s letter in the Stabroek News of November 25, 2019, by immediately referring to the relevant law. The Honourable Minister of Finance acted on the advice of the commissioner-general and pursuant to Section 105 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01. Section 105 of the Income Tax Act provides as follows: “The Minister may make regulations, subject to negative resolution of the National Assembly, to provide for the remitting wholly or in part of the tax payable by any person or category of persons on such income, in respect of any year of assessment, and in accordance with such conditions as may be specified in the regulations. This section was amended by Act No. 13 of 2008 with a marginal note of “Power to remit taxes.” It should be noted
that Marginal notes are short explanatory notes placed in the margin of the bill which may be seen as the title of the section to which they relate. Prior to 2003, Section 105 of the Act provided that “The President may remit, wholly or in part, the tax payable by any person in respect of any year of assessment if he is satisfied that it will be just and equitable to do so.” However, in 2003 section 105 of the Act giving the President the power to remit tax was repealed in the Fiscal Enactment (Amendment) Act No.15 of 2003. However, by Act 13 of 2008, section 105 was reinstated in its current form as stated above. It is clear that the repeal in 2003 intended to remove the power to remit from the President. It is also apparent that, relying on the intent of the section prior to 2003, the new Section 105 reinstated in 2008 was intended to do the same thing, that is, to allow for the remission of tax. However, this power to remit was given by the legislature to the Minister instead of
the President, under the expressed condition that such power to remit by regulation, is subject to the oversight of the National Assembly by negative resolution. This was made clear by the Hansard of July 30, 2008, when the Bill was presented to the National Assembly by the then Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, MP. [ Section 22(1) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act Cap. 2:01 provides the expression “ subject to negative resolution of the National Assembly” when used in relation to the making of subsidiary legislation shall mean that such subsidiary legislation shall be laid before the National Assembly with all convenient speed after the making thereof and if the National Assembly within such period as shall be prescribed by standing order of the Assembly resolve: (a) That the subsidiary legislation shall be annulled the See page 7
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday November 28, 2019
GAWU frets over attacks by Guyana Times Dear Editor, OUR union was taken aback by what we saw as an unsubstantiated attack on our organisation. The Eyewitness column which appeared in the November 25, Guyana Times took what we consider as an unnecessary and clearly despicable swipe at the GAWU, apparently for our disclosure of a meeting we had with the GuySuCo on November 20, 2019. We at the outset must tell the Eyewitness, whomever he, she or they are, that as a responsible organisation we are duty-bound to inform our members, through appropriate means, of our engagements with employers. It would be an indictment on us should we have important information and hold it close to our chest. Moreover, we believe too,that the public should be aware of the plans of the GuySuCo, recognising that it is owned by the people of Guyana. Certainly, the GAWU, the sugar workers and many Guyanese are interested in seeing the sugar industry coming out of the troubled times in which it has found itself. Apparently, in the Eyewitness’ mind, we should remain deaf and mute. We wish to assure, nevertheless, that such attributes are not in our character and we have expressed, without fear or favour, our views on many matters in recent times. Some of those sentiments were published in the Eyewitness’ media outlet. In fact, on the same day of the column, our union’s statement on the state of sugar production received prominence in the newspaper. We are at a loss to see where we, using the columnist’s phrase, ‘big up GuySuCo.’ Our statement provided an account of the deliberations between our union and the sugar company. At no time did we praise the company. The Eyewitness, if he, she or they, were following our public statements would recognise that we have been seeking for quite a long time to engage the GuySuCo regarding its plans. In fact, in the opening sentences of our statement, we made that very point. Also, if the columnist had carefully read our statement, he, she or they, would have noticed that we asked GuySuCo for a copy of its plan to fully assess what it proposes to do. We did not swallow, hook, line and sinker all the sugar company disclosed, but rather we seek to independently consider what the corporation has in mind. We should add, that some of the initiatives identified by GuySuCo were also put forward by our union to safeguard
the industry during our engagements with the government. We cannot endorse those suggestions conveniently. Our union is criticised for apparently not shutting down the streets in Georgetown to protest the closure of estates, though the columnist acknowledges our organisation’s organised protests and public activities throughout the sugar belt. We are at a loss to see how this would have made a meaningful difference. The government was adamant in the closure of the estates and refused to listen to the genuine concerns of many persons and organisations. That aside, since then we have seen many protests on different matters, taking place in the city, none of which we recalled led to a shutdown. Additionally, the issues championed by those protestors hardly impacted on the administration’s posture or decision-making. We wonder why we are being singled out by the Eyewitness. We are criticised for apparently not saying anything regarding assistance of the State to the displaced sugar workers. This for us is most funny. We have consistently championed this issue through several means. Ultimately, we are not in the decision-making seat but that has not daunted our calls. We have come to learn that time will ultimately be the final arbiter. People tend not to forget those who perpetuate and initiate injustices against them. We are sure that those in the sugar belt, like many Guyanese, will decisively make their views known when they have the opportunity. Regarding the transfer of SILWFC potable water responsibilities to GWI, it appears as if the Eyewitness wasn’t aware that this responsibility has been transferred for more than a decade now. While our union opposed the transfer, we represented to SILWFC the provision of a water subsidy for sugar workers. That subsidy is granted once a worker submits the relevant information. Over the years, we should add, we have represented that the subsidy be increased to offset the costs incurred by the workers. The Eyewitness, it seems, read our statement with an unhinged mindset. A careful examination would see that our union did not mention Plantation White Sugar, we said explicitly White Sugar. We said so against the background that GuySuCo told us that it would be producing white and not plantation white sugar. We understand, the former is of a higher quality than the latter. Of course, this would be cleared up if GuySuCo shares with us the requested information. The columnist also questions whether CARICOM would
Min Jordan’s decision... From page 6 subsidiary legislation shall be void as from the date of resolution; (b) That the subsidiary legislation shall have effect subject to the specified amendments, the subsidiary legislation shall have effect subject to such amendments.] Section 105 did not at any time (in 2003 or 2008) refer to section 13 of the Income Tax Act, but conferred a discretion in the President and then the Minister to remit tax. This certainly appears to be an additional section allowing for the remission of tax. This section it appears
(and it is strongly argued) allows for a discretion to be entertained on a temporary basis for a specific time in contrast to section 13 which provides for permanent exemptions which may apply in every year of assessment, e.g., the emoluments of the Chancellor and Chief Justice (referred to by Ram), and “income earned by artistes during festivities which were certified by the Minister of Tourism and approved by the Commissioner- General.” (also referred to by Ram). Further even in section
13 the Minister, the Minister of Tourism and the Commissioner- General were conferred with discretion. Hence, the conferring of a discretion on the subject of remissions by Minister is not unheard of under the Income Tax Act. Section 105 adds the same tier of oversight. Ram has completely ignored section 105, and may be essentially ignoring the amendment conveniently. Regards Godfrey Statia Commissioner-General
be able to defend its decision to implement the CET on extra-regional refined sugar imports. We again are confused why the Eyewitness would also not be supportive of the decision to protect indigenous industries. Moreover, all the studies on white sugar in Guyana going back to the late 1990s and early 2000s had always predicated a refinery’s success on CET protection. It is not something that is amiss, but rather is a practice regularly embraced by countries and groupings, globally. The unhinged mannerisms of the Eyewitness are further exposed when the columnist wrongly contends that the sugar bond monies cannot be used for operational expenditure. Some amount of the disbursements released so far was used to support the sugar company’s operational expenditure and the halt put in place by the banks were removed months ago. A cursory glance of news on the matter would confirm this. Regarding the issue of funding, more holistically, our union did not ignore this obvious elephant in the room. On this the GuySuCo, said that the bond proceeds were also borrowed to finance the white sugar plant and the co-generation plants as well. The sugar corporation said it was optimistic that the funding would soon be released. On this matter, we did wish them luck. We want to tell the Eyewitness that the venom, he, she or they, apparently has for our union will not cause us to change our stance. We are committed to a successful sugar industry; a feat we do not believe is out of reach. We will continue to express without hesitation our viewpoints on matters as we have been doing all the time. Our membership and for those who know us, know of how much and how hard we work in the interest of not only GAWU’s members, but all workers of Guyana. We genuinely believe that the workers of our country, contrary to statements by the ruling party, have been left back and very far back for that matter. The GAWU is committed, within its means and ability, to continue to uphold and champion the calls of the working class who are a decisive and significant bloc in our country, as in all countries. Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General-Secretary GAWU
MNR responds to letter alleging illegalities in forestry sector Dear Editor THE Ministry of Natural Resources takes note of a November 22nd, 2019 Stabroek News Letter to the Editor headlined, ‘Illegalities in forestry sector must be addressed.’ The letter raises concerns on the monitoring unit of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) alleging illegal logging activities overlooked in some communities. While the ministry welcomes these concerns
being raised, it should be also known that GFC records have shown that overall, the compliance/ monitoring system of the GFC is working as it was intended and has even increased over the years, thus leading to improved compliance. Nonetheless, the work of improving the various aspects of monitoring and compliance continues. An Independent Forest Monitoring (IFM) Audit report is publicly available on the GFC website
at https://forestry.gov.gy/ independent-forest-monitoring/. In the interim, we invite the writer to make contact with the ministry to arrange a meeting whereby these concerns could be raised, documented and properly addressed. Other persons interested in raising concerns are also encouraged to engage the ministry. Regards Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday November 28, 2019
State-of-the-art shore base for 2021 opening
…as InterOil Group, Mings Products and Services unveil project CONSTRUCTION of a state-of-the-art Oil and Gas (O&G) Shore Base Inc., unlike anything Guyana has ever seen before, will begin in the coming months. This development is the ISIKA Shore Base Inc. which was formed on November 20, 2019, following a joint venture between InterOil Group and Guyana’s Mings Products and Services (MPS). It will be built on 330 acres of land along the Essequibo River with approximately 1,500 feet of waterfront and will include industrial areas, offices, warehouses, workshops, spool base, a liquid mud plant, equipment and construction laydown areas for all O&G related activities. ISIKA’s technical area will be able to accommodate a large facility for the storage of gasoil and gasoline, water and sewage treatment plants and a power plant to ensure continuous power supply to the entire shore base. In addition, there will be a facility for helicopters to support movements to and from the shore base and a fully-integrated residential area which will include a convention centre, clinic, restaurants, a supermarket and banks. Compared to Georgetown, the ISIKA Shore Base will have several major advantages such as being developed on land above sea level --- a significant factor considering
the country’s climate challenges. News first broke of the planned operations at the Guyana International Petroleum Exhibition (GIPEX) 2019, where ISIKA Shore Base Inc. had a booth on exhibition with representatives from the companies from which it was formed. According to a release from the companies, InterOil Group has 40 years of experience in the O&G industry and has participated in the construction, operations and management of similar projects in West Africa and the SONILS Logistic Base in Angola. It is presently operating the Kaombo ultra deep project shore base for Total, ExxonMobil, Sonangol, SINOPEC and GALP. It also owns and operates a fleet of construction barges operating mainly in West Africa and Qatar. Meanwhile, MPS has 30 years’ experience in the provision of high-quality services operating as the exclusive distributor for industrial equipment from Japanese companies such as Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation Inc. MPS owns and operates a modern fleet of heavy equipment such as ‘Doosan’, ‘Komatsu’, ‘Caterpillar’ and ‘John Deere’ and is the distributor of a range of construction and building product. “InterOil Group will bring international
operational and organisational expertise, technology and training, while the MPS Group will ensure local ownership and technical support for a fully integrated oil and gas shore base dedicated to Guyana,” the release stated. The companies have assured that the shore base will provide great opportunities for local Guyanese companies to participate in O&G local content-related activities, generating needed employment, skills development and technology transfer. “This will allow all the Major international operators in the Guyana basin to execute their work programmes in Guyana, resulting in significant cost savings and benefits to the country. In fact, in support of the local content development initiatives, InterOil Guyana Inc and ISIKA Shore Base Inc. are fully committed to working with international and domestic companies in maximising local content in their operations in a sustainable manner, through the use of Guyanese human resources, materials, equipment and services,” the release stated. As of November 27, the tendering process for civil, marine and dredging works have been completed with the top ten international constructions firms from India, China, Brazil and Europe. Rothschild & Co, an independent international Financial
Advisory and Investment Bank, has been appointed as the financial advisor to structure the financing of the ISIKA Shore Base. Phase 1 is expected to be completed within the fourth quarter of 2020 and full operation within the first quarter of 2021. ISIKA boasts that its logistics management on the Essequibo coast will be “significantly better” than in the congested Georgetown areas. It was explained that the natural draught of the Essequibo river, in addition to dredging operations mainly for the ocean silted part, will assure a minimum of 8 meters (26 feet) draught CD (at Low-Water-Level) in Phase 1. The jetty facilities and the entire navigation channel are designed for a final 12 metres (40 feet) draught CD which will be completed in the execution of Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the development. The companies assured that it will be driven by values centered around people, quality, health, safety and international environmental standards. The release stated: “The ISIKA Shore Base is being developed for many strategic and operational reasons and is a significant long-term tangible local content asset for the Guyanese Oil & Gas industry.”
Elderly father of 10 remanded Man remanded for for unlicensed firearm attempted murder
Carl Vanrosum
MAGISTRATE Faith McGusty on Wednesday remanded an 80-year-old Trader to prison for possession of an unlicensed firearm. Carl Vanrosum of Mocha, East Bank Demerara, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge. Particulars of the charge stated that, on November 25, 2019, at South Road, he had in his possession one .38
revolver without being the holder of a firearm licence. Attorney at law Stanley Moore, who is representing Vanrosum in the matter, told the court that his client found the gun in a dump heap and was taking it to the police. Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman objected to bail for Vanrosum. Blackman told the court that on the day in question, the police acting on information went to South Road where they made contact with Vanrosum. Black-
man added that Vanrosum had a black plastic bag in his hand and on searching the bag, the police found the firearm. Vanrosum reportedly acknowledged ownership of the firearm, adding that he has had it for some time. Consequently, he was arrested and was later charged. Magistrate McGusty, after listening to the prosecutor, remanded the father of 10 to prison and adjourned the case to December 11, 2019.
CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Wednesday November 27, 2019, remanded a 26-year-old Mechanic to prison, on an attempted murder charge. Feraz Narine of Grove appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge. Particulars of the charge stated that, on November 21, 2019, at Diamond, he wounded Teon Archer with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm. Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers objected to bail being granted to Narine, based on the nature of the offence, and told the court that, on the day in question, Narine and Archer had a physical confrontation. Jeffers added that Narine pulled out a knife and stabbed Ar-
Feraz Narine
cher about his body. Archer was picked up and rushed to the Diamond hospital and was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in a critical condition.
Narine was arrested and charged. Magistrate McLennan, after listening to the Prosecutor, remanded Narine to prison until December 10, 2019.
9
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday November 28, 2019
Fight intensifies against child labour By Tamica Garnett
Described as a critical step towards tackling and eliminating child labour in Guyana, the Ministry of Social Protection on Wednesday commenced a three- day “Child Labour Inspection Training” for labour officers and other stakeholders at the Public Service Ministry Training Division. The event was a joint collaboration between the MoSP, United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Delivering the feature address at the event, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, stressed the government’s zero tolerance for child labour.
“A nation can neither achieve nor sustain prosperity on the backs of its children,” Ally declared. She added: “There is no room for children without care and protection or facing any kind of violation, or deprived of their childhood. The exploitation of children must never be tolerated under any circumstances, or for any reasons. When children are exploited for economic gains of others, everybody loses. Children loose, their family loses, the nation loses. When even one child is exploited, every one of us is diminished.” Ally emphasised that the government is committed towards putting all necessary measures in place, wherever
needed, to combat the issue. Equipping labour and other social officers with the necessary knowledge to identify and deal with child labour is an essential part of eliminating the scourge. “An effective and efficient labour inspection system is an essential paradigm of any civilised government. In order to make labour inspection more efficient in the fight against child labour it is imperative that labour inspectors be familiar with the problem and aware of the possible consequences for children. The appropriate training of inspectors is a critical dimension of effective enforcement.” The ILO defines child labour as work that deprives children of their childhood,
Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally (sitting third from left); UNICEF Deputy Representative, Irfan Akhtar (third from right); ILO Child Labour Coordinator, Resel Melville (second from right); and Minister with Responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott (right) along with other officials and participants of the Child Labour Inspection Training (Elvin Croker photo)
their potential, their dignity and is harmful to their physical and mental development. Work that does not interfere with the child’s health, personal development or schooling is not considered to be child labour. According to a UNICEF 2016 report, the total child labour prevalence in Guyana for children five to seven years is 18.3 per cent. UNICEF Deputy Representative, Irfan Akhtar, congratulated the government on progress made in putting focus on the fight against child labour in Guyana. “Guyana is very committed to protect the rights of child by implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in country context. We
are extremely pleased to note that the ministry continues to take proactive approach and series of initiatives to ensure that both policies and actions are implemented to protect the child rights. Congratulations to you honorable minister. We are very proud,” Akhtar commented. Minister with Responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, who also made remarks at the event, impressed on the participants the important role they play in combatting child labour. “I feel compelled to remind participants that their contribution to the end of child labour is not to be taken lightly. It is a task which this government has repeatedly embraced since our assumption to office and even before that,” Scott noted.
The training comes just a few months following the government’s launch of the National Policy on Child Labour. Minister Ally also noted the importance of policies to protect children. “The protection is only achievable through the development of policies that have enforcement mechanisms such as carrying out child inspections, advocacies and awareness campaigns through various forums. That is why the child labour policy, launched earlier this year, marked an important milestone in the fight against the worst forms of child labour in Guyana,” she said. ILO Child Labour Coordinator, Resel Melville also spoke at the event.
A section of the participants at the Child Labour Inspection Training (Elvin Croker photo)
MORE EYES ON BROADCASTERS
…as Broadcasting Authority rolls out Citizen Monitoring Programme CONCERNED citizens can now play a role in reporting violations, such as obscene language and prohibited sexual and violent displays, aired by television, radio and cable broadcasters, as the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority, on Wednesday, rolled out its pilot Citizen Monitoring Programme. The programme, which was launched at the GNBA headquarters on Lamaha Street, will be open to all, and entirely voluntary, with interested persons being able to sign up using forms available on the Authority’ website. The Authority will also provide information to the citizen monitors on what will constitute the violations that they will be monitoring broadcasters for. A complaint form will be provided for the infractions to be recorded, and submitted. “The citizens of Guyana will be able, in keeping with the Broadcasting Act, to draw to the attention of the Authority the shortcomings and infractions committed by our Broadcasters and also to indicate whether, in the various broadcast operational zones, citizens are receiving unhindered access to information,” noted GNBA Chairman, Leslie Sobers, as he delivered remarks at the launch. It was during a Stakeholders Luncheon last December, attended
GNBA board member Dr. Rovin Deodat
by representatives from several licensed broadcasters, that the GNBA had noted that getting broadcasters to be compliant with the guidelines on content continues to be a challenge for the authority. Broadcasters are guided by the Broadcasting Act of 2011, GNBA being the regulatory body of that Act. The Act empowers the GNBA to implement a number of sanctions to infringing broadcasters, ranging from fines to suspension of broadcasting licences. Broadcasters are prohibited from airing certain types of material, including indecent language, sexually
suggestive acts, gruesome or violent scenes, during certain periods of the day, particularly prime time. Notwithstanding restrictions, many broadcasters continue to be in violation of this. “There’s an indication that infractions are on the rise and we are in the process of looking at those,” Sobers said. In 2018, the GNBA began implementation of a colour-coded letter system, whereby broadcasters were sent yellow, green or red written letters based on the severity of their infractions. However, monitoring the airwaves to pick up the infractions is still an area that needs to be boosted. Red infractions attract a fine of $50,000-$100,000, while orange infractions range $25,000-$50,000 and yellow entails fines between $10,000-$25,000. Broadcasters can also be fined $50,000 for failure to provide a recording when ordered to do so. Repeat offenders are liable for suspension or revocation of licences. This initial pilot programme will run for six months before being reviewed in June 2020. Following that, a core group of citizens will be selected for further training as long term monitors. “We are launching this initiative to test the ground to find out who are the people and where they are located who are interested in becoming citi-
GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers
zen monitors,” said Rovin Deodat, a GNBA Board member. “In this initial phase we [will] assess the kind of feedback we have and out of that we might find people who are capable and efficient in doing this type of work. Then we select those and give them some more skills and insight into what they’re doing.” Deodat assured those present that every report made by citizens will be investigated to ensure the validity of the report, ensuring that malicious reports do not lead to broadcasters being sanctioned. “When we get these complaints we treat them as we treat the ones we get from our own monitoring
department. We check to ensure the complaint has legitimacy, it’s not about someone being vindictive. Once we’ve gotten that its legitimate then we follow through,” Deodat affirmed. It was pointed out that after an infraction is cited, it is sent to an investigation department for verification of its validity. Sobers explained that, notwithstanding several stakeholders’ engagements, infractions continue to be an issue with broadcasters. The programme is being implemented with the particular aim of focusing on those broadcasters operating outside of the primary zone, which mostly encompasses those broadcasters operating out of Georgetown. “Right now we have about a dozen monitors who can only monitor so much, and once we step out of the primary zone we enter areas we are not capable of monitoring right now. We will have more eyes, more ears, and more minds working on monitoring and ensuring that broadcasting lifts its standards and we don’t allow trash to permeate the minds of our people,” Deodat said. This pilot programme forms part of the GNBA’s over “Strategic Plan”, which also involves more engagement with stakeholders, and educating broadcasters on the legal framework within which they operate.
Dream big dreams 10
GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
― Minister Broomes urges students of Morgan Learning Centre
MINISTER within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, has urged youths of the Morgan Learning Centre to pay serious attention to their education and dream big. This admonition was given on Wednesday during a presentation she made at the said school.
ucation was the ultimate key to a successful life and noted that the onus was on self to take this journey seriously. “This is a foundation that you are setting. It’s a wonderful thing to be given an opportunity to do something for yourselves. Nobody can take education for you; you have to get it for yourself. And sometimes it seems so hard and we fight against
forts were being made to rid society of this curse. “When this time is over and you finish with your exams, I wanna encourage you to look forward to working… The reason why I’m preaching education, it’s a message from the President, and I believe in it. So that when you’re ready for the world out there, long gone the day of handouts. I’m moving
Students of the Morgan Learning Centre paying keen attention to Minister Broomes
Broomes visited the private learning institution to donate books to its library and while there, she took the opportunity to encourage the students to study diligently. She emphasised that ed-
it but it’s a blessing. Make good use of this opportunity,” Broomes told the packed auditorium of students. She also said the issue of youths not wanting to work seemed to be a curse and ef-
through the schools because I gotta talk to you, tell you to dream, set your goals and set them high. Because where Guyana is going, we have to be more focused. You have to dream and dream
big. Don’t worry with a lot of things. We have to start thinking about fitting in this big vision, this big Guyana,” the minister said. The students were each given an exercise book, compliments of the Office of the President. They were then told that Guyana is known as the Land of Giants.
the presence of the minister at their school. Broomes told Guyana Chronicle that since her portfolio is youth affairs, it is only fitting that she engages the youths across the board, starting from the school level. “If I deal with youth affairs then their affair is my
Over the past couple of months since the new post was assigned to Broomes, youths across the country have been engaged. It was also observed that every school the minister visits, she dresses in their uniform colour to make the students feel as though she was a part of them.
Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes
Minister Broomes spent the rest of her stay at the school engaging with the students and listening to their concerns. Light moments were shared giving autographs and taking photos, as the students were thrilled at
affair. And if I don’t come here to hear what are their affairs, then my affairs will be wrong. I then will be pushing my own agenda and not their agenda. So it is important that I come to meet with them,” she said.
Broomes promised to continue putting the best interest of the country’s youth at heart and to ensure that she continuously encourages and motivates them to be assets to the country.
Berbice man gets 17 years for killing elderly man By Jeune Bailey Van Keric TWENTY-nine-year old Lincoln Odell, who confessed to killing octogenarian, Fitz Herbert Grimes, in 2017 after the elderly man refused to give him money, was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Wednesday. The murder occurred back in June 2017 at Race Course, Springlands, Corentyne. At the sentencing hearing at the Berbice Assizes on Wednesday, Probation and Social Services Officer, Ms Felicia Gordon, who investigated Odell’s background, said the accused told her the elderly man was “weak, punishing and ready to go home.” Prior to his death, the
octogenarian/pensioner had opened his home to Odell, whose life was filled with neglect and deprivation. But although his guardian had given him the opportunity to attend school, and learn a trade, he opted to be a school drop-out and a consumer of illicit drugs. It was while he was going to the community to purchase drugs, that he befriended Grimes, the only father figure in his life, who welcomed him and had attempted to transform his life, which was spiralling downward. Odell, at that time, had four convictions ranging from breaking and entering to simple larceny. While addressing the court yesterday, the accused expressed regret, blaming the incident on “smoking.”
Said Odell:” I am sorry to the Court and the deceased family. I was smoking.” Odell, represented by
Attorney at law, Siand Dhurjon, had appeared, initially, before Justice Brassington Reynolds in October at the Berbice Assizes where, at
Murder convict, Lincoln Odell
his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. Odell is among 14 prisoners at the New Amsterdam prison who have submitted statements indicating their willingness to plead to the lesser count of manslaughter. According to the facts presented by State Prosecutor Seeta Bishundial, the accused was a regular visitor to the pensioner’s home. At the time of the visit, Grimes’ caretaker, along with her 11-year-old son, were at the house. Shortly after, the caretaker left to visit a nearby shop, leaving her son and the accused downstairs. Soon after, the accused went upstairs. Out of cu-
riosity, the child followed, and, on peeping through a crack on the wall, he saw the accused choking the pensioner with one hand while cuffing his face with another. On witnessing the incident, the child ran outside, screaming for murder. His father met him, and after he confided in the parent, they returned to the scene as the accused was exiting the house. Two neighbours, on hearing the scuffle next door, looked through their window and saw the accused coming out of the house with bloodied clothing. The accused had chased the child and ran behind him with a cutlass, but the lad escaped. Odell was apprehended and handed over to the police.
‘Don’t skew the news’ 11
GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
―GNBA calls on broadcasters to be objective in elections media coverage
THE Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) is calling on broadcasters to remember their need to be impartial in news reporting and advertisement allotments to political parties, in light of the impending March 2, 2020 elections. The Broadcasting Act of 2011 stipulates the GNBA, in its capacity to issue broadcasting licenses, to ensure that “programmes dealing with controversial public policy, or matters of political and industrial controversy, must meet standards of fairness and balance, accuracy, maintaining a proper balance and respect for truth and integrity and always ensuring that opposing views are not misrepresented” During a press conference on Wednesday, GNBA Chairman, Leslie Sobers, noted that of much concern was the political bias by broadcasters in this season. “Broadcasters… though they may be sympathetic to the policies, plans and projections of a particular political party, their obligation to the Guyanese people is a professional, non-partisan approach to information dissemination, as contemplated by the Broadcasting Act,” Sobers said. “In this regard the Authority will be paying keen attention to what pertains
on the airwaves in the run up to National and Regional Elections.” The GNBA is currently putting much focus on better monitoring of the airwaves during the upcoming elections sea-
The GNBA also launched a Citizen Monitoring Programme that will further increase its monitoring capacity overall. Sobers stressed that requesting the broadcasters to act in fair-
to establish an association that they don’t want. All broadcasting agencies, media houses would be expected, if they are preparing a news item, or a commentary, that they do that fairly so you don’t skew your news in such a manner to cast a shadow on what the other side is proposing or doing or talking about. That would be moving the broadcaster out of the realm of nonpartisan activity.” Sobers reminded that at the heart of journalism and reporting was the need for objectivity. “We know that we advocate that as journalists and broadcasters your news cast, whether straight
news or a feature, must be objective. So we expect our broadcasters would do that with fairness and impartiality but when it comes to whether they would carry a political ad that’s entirely up to them,” Sobers noted. GNBA Board member, Jocelyne Josiah, said the GNBA is already observing such partisanship among broadcasters. “We’ve already begun to see some pretty disturbing instances of that. Even in the news story they would insert their own opinions rather than letting the voice of the person speak for itself or giving an accurate summary of what they said. What we are
looking at here is the professionalism of the broadcasters and they operate within the tenants of the act. Fair and balance reporting, impartiality on the part of the broadcasters. Station by station,” Jossiah said. Sober noted that in cases where bias media houses do air ads of political parties they do not agree with, the airing should be fair. “If the broadcaster agrees to air the programme of the political party, it’s that they don’t specifically try to put it at a time when people are not viewing but put it at a time when there is wide coverage,” Sobers said.
GNBA Chairman, Leslie Sobers
son, and is in discussions with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) for a tripartite Media Monitoring Unit; the Authority has also met with representatives of the European Union (EU). The EU’s visit was part of an exploratory and fact finding mission to determine whether they should propose additional monitoring support to Guyana for the upcoming General and Regional Elections.
ness was by no means a command from the GNBA. “It’s not a case where we can say to any broadcaster that you have to air the advertisement, or representation of any political party. But the act says if it’s going to be done there must be fairness, impartiality and no misrepresentation,” Sobers explained. “There is a limit to what you can command a person to do. To command persons to do a particular thing would be commanding them
The GNBA Lamaha Street Headquarters
Men on gun and ammunition charges remanded, woman accused of obstruction granted bail THREE men were, on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, remanded to prison by Magistrate Faith McGusty, on gun and ammunition charges, while a woman, accused of obstructing a policeman from carrying out his duties, was granted bail. Gregory Boyce, 31, a vendor, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charges which were read to him. The first charge stated that, on November 21, 2019, at lot 69 Remus Street, Agricola, he had, in his possession, one .32 pistol when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. The second charge stated that, on the same day and at the same place, he had live rounds of ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman told the court that, on the day in question, police, acting on information, went to the location mentioned in the charge. When Boyce saw the police, he ran and, at the time, he had the gun in his hands. Blackman added that the police gave chase and apprehended him. He was arrested and charged. Eson Gibson, 19, also pleaded not guilty to charges which were read to him. The first charge stated that, on November 21, 2019, at lot 80 Brutus Street, Agricola, he had in his possession a .38 pistol, when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. The second charge stated that, on the same day and at the same place, he had three .380 live rounds of ammunition, when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. Keanu Heyliger, 20, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him. Particulars of the first charge stated that, on November 21,
2019, at Remus Street, Agricola, he had in his possession a .32 Taurus revolver when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. The second charge stated that, on the same day and at the same place, he had five 7.65B live rounds of ammunition and one .32 live round of ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. Police prosecutor Seon Blackman told the court that, on the day in question, police ranks were carrying out an exercise in the area when they saw Heyliger with a weapon in his hand. When Heyliger saw the police, he ran and jumped into nearby bush. Blackman added that the police gave chase and Heyliger was caught. A search was conducted and the gun was found in his possession. He was arrested and later charged. Emma Harvey, 42, also pleaded not guilty to the obstruction charge. It is alleged that, on November 21, 2019, at 80 Brutus Street, Agricola, she obstructed Godwin Thomas, a police constable, who was acting in the execution of his duties. According to information, while Constable Thomas was arresting the men, Harvey obstructed him from preforming his duties. Prosecutor Blackman objected to bail being granted to the four defendants based on the nature of the offences and the penalty attached. Magistrate McGusty, after listening to the prosecutor, remanded the men to prison and granted Harvey $30,000 bail. The matter was adjourned until December 4, 2019.
‘Felonious wounding’ charge replaces ‘attempted murder’ charge QUINCY Evans of Gordon Street, Kitty, who was, months ago, charged for attempting to murder Joshua Williams, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and heard that the attempted murder charge was withdrawn and a felonious wounding charge was issued. Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, read the new charge to Evans, which stated that, on August 28, 2019, at Gordon Street, Kitty, he wounded Joshua Williams with the intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm. Evans was not required to plead to the charge. Magistrate McLennan stated that, based on the advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the attempted murder charge was withdrawn. According to informa-
tion, on the day in question, the two men had a misunderstanding and Evans armed himself with a sharp instrument and ‘chopped’ Williams to his chest and
Quincy Evans
shoulder. Williams was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and was discharged three days later. H e n c e , E v a n s re mained on $120,000 bail. The matter was adjourned until December 3, 2019.
12
GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
Republic Bank experiencing ‘IT’ problems …Min Jordan clarifies that current issues not related to lack of money …chides bank for not having a ‘plan B’
By Navendra Seoraj REPUBLIC Bank Guyana has been heavily criticised over the past few weeks by its customers because of “inefficient” services which are being offered by the bank, especially since its transition to a new banking platform early this month. As the complaints continue to pile up against the financial institution, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan sought to give some clarity to what is going on with Republic Bank’s systems. “The situation has to do with their (Republic Bank) IT (Information Technology) systems and not a lack of money… the issues is the ability to get the money on time and in a manner that other banks are offering a service,” said Minister Jordan during an interview with Social Activist Mark Benschop on Benschop Radio, on Tuesday evening. Republic Bank had transitioned to its new banking platform on No-
vember 4, 2019. The company, in a press statement subsequent to its transition, had said: “as with the introduction of any new system, we are experiencing some challenges. We recognise the impact to our service delivery and wish to assure you, our valued customers and stakeholders,
possible to make the transition to the new system less onerous than it is at the moment. “I do not know that they can do much more beyond what they are doing, but it is not a case that they do not have money…it is just the IT problem and the changeover to a better system,”
from the inception. With the absence of a plan B, he believes that the company will begin to “feel the pressure” because the current inefficiencies will result in fallout between the bank and its customers, who might even switch to other banks. “Well, as I said, they
Republic Bank’s Camp Street office
that we are committed to resolving these challenges in the shortest timeframe possible.” Minister Jordan has also confirmed that the bank is doing everything
said the minister. Although the bank has been working to rectify the problem, Minister Jordan said the company should have established a contingency plan or “plan B”
know unless they come good they will lose some of their customers…I do not think customers will stand for long lines and frustration…Republic Bank will have to do a
selling job to maintain their customers because it is not as if Republic Bank is the only bank in town, customers have a choice… Republic Bank has to do all they can to make certain customers do not exercise that choice of leaving the bank,” said the Finance Minister. He also believes that the inefficiencies in Republic Bank’s IT system justify government’s decision to deny the application for Republic Financial Holdings Limited, the parent company of Republic Bank Guyana, for the purchase/acquisition of the operations of Scotiabank in Guyana. Minister Jordan said: “our position of not having them take over Scotia proves to be a correct one…I do not think their IT structure that they have could have handled such a merger…this is one of the reasons the governor told me they could not accommodate them together.” Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga, was reported
Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan
as saying that Republic Bank’s application was denied owing to concerns about “concentration” and “competition” which would have negative impacts on the country’s financial system. Dr. Ganga said had Republic Bank been allowed to forge ahead with its planned takeover of Scotiabank’s operations here, it would have resulted in systemic effects. Meanwhile, in response to the current inefficiencies, Republic Bank had apologised for the inconvenience caused to customers as it transitioned into a new banking platform. “We do apologise for any inconvenience caused and take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition. We thank you for choosing Republic Bank and assure you of an enhanced customer experience as we look forward to being of continued service in the future,” said the company.
Child killed as car ‘ploughs’ into school children By Clifford Stanley A seven-year-old pupil of the Lachmansingh Primary School at Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice, died on Wednesday afternoon when a speeding car careened into a crowd of pupils and parents standing along the roadway. Nifram Nezamodeen of Bush Lot Village was flung into a trench on being hit by the car and his unconscious body had to be retrieved after a frantic search. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Fort Wellington Hospital. His mother, Ameera Dinaram, aged 25, who was holding his hand at the time of the collision, received head injuries and had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after receiving treatment at Fort Wellington. Tr a n s f e r r e d t o t h e GPHC also were the dead
boy’s sister, Asriya Nezamodeen, aged 8, and another resident of Bush Lot, Parvattie Kooblall, 45. Kooblall’s daughter, Tahela
Deceased: Nifram Nezamodeen
Kooblall, aged 8, and another child, Ayanna Arokium, also aged 8, were, up to last night, patients at the Fort Wellington Hospital under observation. The children are all pupils of the Lachmansingh Primary
and were picked up and being escorted home by the adults. They were standing alongside the road waiting to cross at the time of the accident. An eyewitness said that he saw the vehicle heading east at a fast rate of speed but on the southern side of the road. “The driver made a sudden turn back to the correct lane on the northern side of the road and he lost control,” the eyewitness said. There was near chaos in the aftermath of the accident as people rushed to assist the injured. It was then discovered that the seven-year-old, who had taken the brunt of the impact, had been flung into a road side drain. Searchers retrieved his limp and unconscious body. The large crowd at the hospital included officials of the Education Department of the Region and senior officials of the Administra-
tion including the Regional Executive Officer, Ovid Morrison. Education officials said that the Welfare Department will visit the Prima-
ry School today to offer counselling services to the classmates of the dead pupil of the school and see what other assistance can be given. The driver of the
motor car, who was said to be the sole occupant of the vehicle, is currently in police custody assisting with investigations into the fatal mishap.
The Nezamoodeens in happier times: The mother-- Ameera Diaram right, deceased Nifram centre, and daughter Asriya, 8, at left. Mother and daughter are hospitalised as a result of the accident
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
BADAL ‘BAGS’ BILLIONS …Finance minister says Pegasus owner benefitted from billions in tax concessions …to soon release full list of all the incentives By Lisa Hamilton PRESIDENTIAL Candidate of Change Guyana, Businessman Robert Badal has benefitted from “billions of dollars” in tax incentives although one of his main mantras in his election campaign is the “burden on the taxpayer”.
should his party be elected. “Excessively high taxation has been a feature and consequence of large governments under the PPP and Coalition governments over the past three decades…over that period government transferred hard earned income from the Guyanese people to government coffers with not much to show in terms
Presidential Candidate of Change Guyana, Businessman Robert Badal
Very soon, a list of all such concessions will go public, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan has promised. On Benschop Radio on Tuesday on the topic of concessions, questions were asked in regards to Badal and Jordan did not mince his words. “Mr. Badal has benefitted from billions of dollars of tax incentives. Billions of dollars. In fact, I’m now asking my people to total up how much are these concessions, but I know they run into billions of dollars,” he stated. QUANTIFY IT At a recent press conference, Badal, one of Guyana’s newest party leaders, promised to create an effective tax policy to promote economic growth
of development,” he said earlier in November. However, Jordan said that much of Badal’s remarks on taxes are surface level and fail to examine the intricacies involved. “It seems these days [it is] fashionable that if you don’t get what you ask for in full, then you can go form a party and spout whatever you think you will do. I would like those people who think Mr. Badal is the next [leader] to ask him to quantify –not just talk to say we will lower taxes –quantify what it means and how you are going to replace the lost revenue. Quantify it,” Jordan said. The failure to provide a plan runs similar to the floating of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential candidate,
Irfaan Ali that, once in power, the party will create 50,000 new jobs. Ali has failed to provide a satisfactory response to the media on how exactly this would be achieved. At another press conference, the Change Guyana party had promised immediate reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) from 14 per cent to 12 per cent if elected. The Finance Minister said:
“You can’t just spout these things by sitting down in front of some TV or in your hotel and say ‘oh, we gon do this, we gon do that’ [and] when you get into government, different story.” Just recently, Jordan had cause to label the cries of the private sector of “heavy taxation” as a “ruse” to hide what is going on in that sector. He advised that persons investigate whether the sector is truly
“heavily taxed” as the government has significantly reformed the taxation system in favour of the private sector. Jordan contended that the revenues which government has been getting since 2015, has come from an expanded base and not new taxes on the private sector. He believes that contrary to what is being said by the private sector, government has done a lot to improve the sector and
promote business. The Finance Minister referred to the tax amnesty which was proffered in 2018 to allow taxpayers who had defaulted to sort it out with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The period of amnesty for taxpayers, both corporate and individual, would ensure that they are able to get in order, the filing of true and correct tax TURN TO PAGE 17
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
Bank of Baroda to expand services …holds talks with gov’t on rural banking
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, paid a visit to Export-Import Bank of India, along with Dr. Gobind Ganga, Governor of the Bank of Guyana (EXIM Bank photo)
ONE year after opting to close its operations in Guyana, prominent Indian financial institution, Bank of Baroda, has signalled its intention to expand in the area of rural banking and offer other services. The bank had engaged Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga, in discussions on how the bank can consolidate its operations here. Those discussions were held at the Bank of Baroda’s Headquarters in India, where Guyana is represented by Minister Jordan and Dr. Ganga. “We have been engaging the officials of the bank and we have discussed ways how the Government can assist,” said Minister Jordan during an interview with Social Activist, Mark Benschop on Benschop Radio, on Tuesday evening.
The minister said the discussions were fruitful, so he anticipates that the Bank of Baroda will remain in the local market for years to come. Bank of Baroda was founded in the city of Baroda (now Vadodara), Gujarat, Western India in 1908. Since then it has become a global presence with locations in 24 countries worldwide. The Bank of Baroda (Guyana) Inc. was one of the earliest overseas branches of the Bank of Baroda. It was established in Georgetown, Guyana on March 31, 1966, less than a year after the formation of the Bank of Guyana, and prior to Guyana’s independence. In 1999 the branch in Guyana was converted to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank of Baroda. In 2012 the bank established a branch in Mon Repos on the East Coast of De-
merara. It now has two branches in Guyana. The bank controls about three per cent of the banking market shares in Guyana. In all, the bank has 9,583 branches worldwide with 69 million customers. It was reported that the bank’s local subsidiary’s total business stood at $14.56B at the end of September 2018, down from $20.576B at the end of March 2017 and $21.09B at the end of March 2016. In December, according to a Request for Proposal (RFP), the bank said that it was seeking investment bankers for the sale/disinvestment of its entire 100 per cent stake in the Bank of Baroda (Guyana) Inc. (BOBGI) operations. That decision has since been rescinded and it seems as though the bank is on track to stability in the local market.
Grove ‘wedding house’ manslaughter trial …accused to be sentenced today
A 34-year-old man will know his fate today when Justice Jo-Ann Barlow passes sentence for the killing of Aliston Henry, who was beaten to death at a ‘wedding house’ in 2017, at Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Earlier this month, Rajen
Dindial, a former resident of Section ‘C’ Block Y, Golden Grove, EBD, was found guilty of manslaughter. Dindial was charged for the capital offence of murder, but was found not guilty by the jury. However, the jury found him guilty of the lesser count of manslaugh-
ter.
Evidence in the case was led by State Prosecutor Sarah Martin, while Dindial was represented by attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, who asked the court to have a probation report prepared on his client before sentence is passed.
According to reports, on September 3, 2017, at Sarran Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara, while at the wedding house celebration, Henry had a misunderstanding with Dindial and pushed down a portable toilet which was nearby. Consequently, Dindial became annoyed
Timber exports rake in US$18.8M at mid-year DURING the first half of 2019, Guyana raked in US$18.8 million from timber exports while log production grew this year by 6.8 per cent with 61 concessions awarded to small and medium-scale local operators in the past few weeks. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, made the announcement on Wednesday during a Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) REDD+ Readiness Project workshop for representatives of the National Steering Committee of Community Forestry Organisations (NSCCFO). Speaking on timber exports, the Minister said: “While this is marginally down from the corresponding period last year, demand on the local market has been increasing which is fueled, of course, by the expansion in the construction sector. It tells us that we may not be exporting as much but certainly production and the use in the domestic sector is on the increase.” It is this increase, he noted, that is evident in the 6.8 per cent log production growth this year. Meanwhile, the 61 concessions were awarded to operators in forest-based communities as well as local cooperatives. The minister said that
while there are challenges existing in the sector, the ministry remains committed to engaging operatives of the sector to finding long-term solutions. Over the past decade, the forestry sector has contributed between US $40M – US $60M in export value. Some two years ago, it was highlighted that Guyana’s forestry base is equipped with over 1,000 different species of wood but only 30 of these are used. Minister Trotman had acknowledged that studies show that some of the Lesser Used Species (LUS) are comparable to traditional commercial timber species and the Ministry and its stakeholders have since been working to expand the usage of LUS. In 2018, $120M was set aside to commence a forest inventory to effectively manage the nation’s forestry resources, the last inventory having been done in the 1950’s. To further assist the sector, from January 1, 2018, VAT charges have been exempt for logs and rough lumber to the sawmilling industry, which serve to improve the cash flow of operators by at least G$80M as logs and roughsawn wood account for over 75 per cent of Guyana’s national production.
and dealt Henry several lashes with a wooden paddle. The injured Henry was then taken home by public-spirited citizens and, subsequently, to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he succumbed to his injuries several days later.
Rajen Dindial
Rape accused freed through absent witnesses …judge directs jury to return not-guilty verdict JUSTICE Simone Morris-Ramlall on Wednesday directed a 12-member mixed jury to return a formal not-guilty verdict for Cevim Chapman, who was charged with the rape of a girl under the age of 16. The judge’s directive resulted in Chapman being freed of the charge, which read that on November 10, 2010, he engaged in sexual penetration of the 10-year-old. When the trial resumed on Wednesday, the prosecutors informed the court that witnesses in the matter could not be located; hence the judge’s directive to the jury to return the formal not-guilty verdict. According to reports, Chapman is known to the victim and her family. On the day in question, Chapman allegedly visited the child’s home while she was alone and raped her. The matter was reported to the police and he was arrested and charged.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
Aishalton barber capitalises on HEYS support
TWENTY-three-year-old Ananias Stephen, a barber who is a single father from the village of Aishalton, Deep South Rupununi, says he is determined to work hard in an effort to change his fortunes to one of great success. Ananias, who is a participant of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs flagship youth programme, the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS), operates a mobile barbershop in the village. According to the Ministry
thing”,” he said. He credited the longevity of his business to the tremendous support he has been receiving from the village noting that “I does cut plenty, plenty hair when is school time, everybody coming for me to cut dem hair, so I does be busy.” When asked about the effects of the off-peak season on his business, Ananias said he usually makes adjustments to suit the times.“Is a mobile barbershop, so I does carry all this here in a bag to the front near my friend Adela who got the
Ananias as he styles the hair of a customer
of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Ananias says barbering has long been his passion and when the HEYS Programme was introduced at Aishalton, he made good on the opportunity. “I doing this since I was twelve, but I didn’t had no tools you know, so when the HEYS come, I learnt plenty things and I see I could real get this thing going. So when I get my money, I went and buy my lil set-up and start doing my
snackette in front, and I does cut people hair right there and sometimes people does call me and I go by dem, sometime three or four a week,” he said. The single-father to twoyear-old Delvan Stephen acknowledged that although it can be challenging at times, parents also support him. “I have my son, I got to take care of him but I get help from my mother and father. I live with them here and sometimes
Sophia shopkeeper murder …three police witnesses testify; trial adjourned to December 2
THE trial pertaining to the murder of ‘D’ Field, Sophia shopkeeper Shawn Anys, who was killed during a robbery in 2015, continued on Wednesday before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member mixed jury at the High Court.
Jamal Forde
Jamal Forde, 25, formerly of South Ruimveldt, is currently on remand for the murder of Anys, who was shot and killed on May 1, 2015 at ‘D’ Field, Sophia.
The state is being represented by prosecutors Mandel Moore and Abagail Gibbs. On Wednesday three police witnesses testified and the matter was adjourned until December 2, 2019. Odel Roberts, 24, of Sophia is currently on remand for the murder of Anys also. According to reports, Anys, who owned and managed a small grocery shop at his home, was confronted by the bandits just before 23:00hrs. The man was in his home when he heard his dogs barking and decided to venture out of the house to investigate. He was then confronted by two armed men who forced him into the house and shot him, while demanding money and valuables.The gunmen eventually escaped with $40,000 in cash along with jewellery. Anys was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
when the cutting lil slow, I does do carpentry work to bring the extra money you know,” he said. He said that “all this is for my son”. Ananias, who was among twenty HEYS participants from the village, said he was grateful to the government for rolling out the social empowerment programme that seeks to empower young people all across the country. He remains optimistic that, in a couple of years, he would be the proud owner of a comfortable barbershop with all its amenities. He said would also like to
be an example to other youths in the village as he challenged them to never give up, but thrive to achieve whatever they set out to achieve. Ananais recently received his stimulus grant of $50,000 and, immediately, he purchased a complete barbering set and a backup power supply. The HEYS Programme continues to empower indigenous youths all across the Hinterland with an investment of approximately $2.3Billion by the government. Numerous success stories have been told about the programme.
Ananias Stephen with his two-year-old son
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
Wife of De Ramos in shock ― remembers husband as a risk-taker and ambitious father
By Telesha Ramnarine THE wife of the late 33-yearold Dillon De Ramos, Mrs. Abi Sam De Ramos, said she was overseas when she got the news of her husband’s death on Tuesday and initially refused to believe it. Mrs De Ramos was at the Florida US Immigration Office on Wednesday morning in the process of applying for approval to travel to Guyana, when she spoke with the Guyana Chronicle.
day morning when she was busy caring for their son who needed therapy. “I had to take our seven-year-old to therapy in Orlando, so I was busy for most of the day with the driving back and forth. Our seven-year-old son is autistic,” she related. Abi said she was already in bed with her son when she saw that one of her husband’s friends from New York kept calling her phone. “I eventually answered and he asked me to check my messages.
Abi Sam De Ramos with her husband in happier times
De Ramos, of Lot 85 Dennis Street, Campbellville and Senior Superintendent, Brian Eastman of 15 Norton Street, Wortmanville, said to be best friends since high school, died in an accident at Sophia Public Road, in the vicinity of Rubis Gas Station, Tuesday night. Police said De Ramos was the driver of PTT 6775 when the accident occurred. He reportedly lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a concrete fence. Reports suggest he died on the spot. Eastman was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. De Ramos’ wife recalled that the last time she spoke with her husband was on Tues-
When I called Dillon’s phone, a stranger answered and told me he died. I didn’t believe that, so I called two of our managers to tell me what was really going on.” Reflecting on the qualities she loved most about her husband, Abi said: “He was a risk-taker; he liked to push the envelope. He was the life of the party. Our boys loved him. When he was around, they had no time with me. He was a great partner and husband. My husband was an amazing man.” In just a matter of four months, De Ramos said she and her husband would have celebrated nine years of their marriage. “We met, fell in love,
and got married 17 days after meeting. And that’s exactly how he did everything. If he saw something he wanted, he went after it with all he had.” BRILLIANT AND DEDICATED Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said it is mourning the death of Superintendent Eastman and conveyed condolences to his family, relatives and friends. The GPF described Eastman as a very brilliant and dedicated officer with great potential who made significant contributions towards the development of the organisation. In a statement to the press, the GPF said investigations revealed that the vehicle was proceeding west along the southern side of the road, reportedly at a fast rate, when the driver lost control of the said vehicle. It careened off the southern side of the road and collided with a concrete fence. As a result of the collision, the GPF said both driver and occupant received injuries to their heads and other parts of their bodies. This fatal accident came one day after there were several others over the past weekend and also when the country is observing Road Safety Week. At the end of October,
Senior Superintendent, Brian Eastman
BADAL ‘BAGS’ ... returns and payment of their true and correct taxes. On the programme, he also spoke on the topic “Tax concessions in other areas. On Monday in a statement, Badal said that Exxon has been “exempted from paying taxes for the life of the project” while the private sector and citizens cannot get the same. Speaking to the same, Jordan said that while certain entities have been suggesting that there is a disparity in the concessions given to foreigners versus local companies, locals have the opportunity to get the same if they win a contract with the foreign company. In the case of ExxonMobil
--- which has dominated certain media entities --- he explained that a subsidiary of ExxonMobil is just that and not defined in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) as either foreign or local. Explaining further, he stated: “If a local company bids for a contract with Exxon and gets that contract, everything it supplies to Exxon will be in accordance with the PSA because what is given to Exxon must also be given to subsidiaries… once you are a local company and you would have won that bid for Exxon, you can import all [specified materials] for Exxon duty free or tax free in accordance with the PSA.” He added that Exxon’s
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investment in the face of high risk cannot be compared to other ventures. “When you look at the investment that Exxon has done, when you look at the risk that Exxon has taken in deep waters and these types of things when nobody wanted to go even though we were giving them all the concessions, how can you compare concessions given to Exxon with not another Guyanese company that is going to drill for oil but some investment in some other place where they already have lights, water, power and all these different [things]?” he questioned.
some 85 persons, among them six children, had been killed in road accidents for 2019 – an increase, when compared to the deaths recorded in 2018, Coordinator of the National Road Safety Council, Ramona Doorgen, disclosed recently, even as she called for an end to the reckless use of the country’s roads. According to the Guyana Police Force, the leading causes of traffic mishaps in the country are speeding and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Other major causes are driving while distracted by use of a cellphone, pedestrian inattentiveness, and failure to heed traffic signs and warnings. Though there are established speed limits across the country – 50 km/h in the towns and along sections of the East Bank Demerara (EBD) corridor – Doorgen said some drivers are in the habit of exceeding the speed limits, thereby putting their lives and the lives of others at risk. Speaking directly to drivers, through the online platform, Doorgen pleaded with them to drive within the speed limits.
Dillon De Ramos was a beloved husband and father
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
Gov’t commissions two mobile counselling units THE Ministry of Education, on Wednesday, commissioned two new mobile psychosocial units worth $21 million which will now add to the efficiency of the first mobile unit in providing counselling to children across Guyana. The units were put on display outside the Ministry’s Brickdam office where, in remarks to the gathering, Education Minister Dr. Nicolette Henry reiterated the government’s intention to provide all Guyanese children with the care and attention they deserve. “It is my hope and my desire that these units will operate not only in Georgetown, but will go beyond Region Four and reach other students who are most in need and most vulnerable and live in perhaps some of the most difficult parts of this county,” she said. Speaking to the motivation behind the units, Dr. Henry said that the government has noticed that many students need support which the home isn’t always well prepared to provide. In November 2018, the first mobile unit was launched targeting nursery to secondary-school-age children in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice). A follow up by the Guyana Chronicle in April 2019 showed that since the launch of the single unit, over 100 learners had benefitted from counselling which met their psychological and social needs. The main objective of the mobile unit is to increase the learners’ ability to exercise control and
reduce their stress levels; to enhance learners’ resilience; to enable them to use the most effective coping skills to offer a quick response to trauma; and to maximise support available from family and friends.
Minister Henry said that, for the first time, the units will have its own physician on board and she urged those responsible for the units to treat it with care for its longevity. Meanwhile,
Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry (Carl Croker photo)
It is managed by the ministry’s Schools Welfare Unit but involves the input and assistance of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Ministry of Social Protection. In her remarks, the Education Minister said that the success of President David Granger’s vision for the Decade of Development 2020-2029 rests, in a large part, on the education of Guyanese of all ages countrywide. H o w e v e r, w i t h o u t mental and social stability, she noted that education will not be easily received. In this regard, she stated: “I would hope to see us go beyond students and, perhaps in the not so distant future, we should be in a position to offer support to parents who really need support and teachers.”
remarks came, too, from Deputy Chief Education Officer (ag) Marcia Paddy-Andrews. Paddy-Andrews said that Guyana cannot afford to not protect its human resources as “an educated nation is a rich nation”. She said that the units will help to raise awareness and assist welfare departments across the country with dealing with the many issues within the school system. Also attending the commissioning were Health Promotion Coordinator within the Ministry of Education, Deon Brown; Permanent Secretary within the Ministry, Alfred King and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Deputy Country Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Irfan Akhtar.
Ministry condemns city school fight THE Ministry of Education has said that it noted, with concern, a video circulating on social media, involving a male and female student at a city school. In a statement the ministry said it condemns the unfortunate incident at the Richard Ishmael Secondary school involving two students. The Minister of Education, Dr Nicolette Henry, has immediately ordered a detailed investigation into the incident. Preliminary recommendations are being examined which include disciplinary action, anger management sessions and referral for specialised services for persons involved in the incident. The male student can be seen in the video repeatedly hitting the young woman to her head. Other students can also be seen in the video looking on. Meanwhile, the investigation will also include other matters of a similar nature that are affecting the school system and preventing it from adhering to Standard Operating Procedures. At the end of the investigation, the MoE said it will issue a detailed statement.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
Small-scale loggers get training in financial management
SMALL-SCALE loggers in Guyana are being better equipped to manage their financial business affairs with the hosting of a three-day workshop on budgeting and accounting. The workshop was opened at the Regency Suites Hotel, on Wednesday, and is being organised by the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+ Readiness) Project and executed by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The participants are representatives of the National Steering Committee of Community Forestry Organisations (NSCCFO).The workshop served to help them to better equip themselves with the tools for improving financial management and to remind them of their responsibility towards better financial reporting. Some of the topics on the agenda include accounting equation, assets, liabilities and equity; cash books and petty cash; cost categories, labour and materials; preparation of income statement, preparation of balance sheets, cash flow projections and budgets and bank reconciliation. The representatives present came from groups such as the Karia Karia Forest and Agriculture Producers Association; Forest Producers Association; Arima Forest and Agriculture Producers Association; Orealla Logging Association; Rupununi Timbers Association; Berbice Forest and Agriculture Producers Association (UBFAPA) and several others.
production comes from small and medium scale operators of which between 20-25 per cent comes from indigenous and forest-based communities. “This is a significant trade
munity Forest Officers and indigenous villages. Added to this, over 50 community outreach sessions have taken place across Guyana; business plans have
been accepted for the conversion of forestry groups from friendly to cooperative societies and awareness sessions have been conducted on the topic of deforestation
Several representatives of the forestry sector during the workshop (Delano Williams photo)
in trend from the pre-2016 when over 50 per cent of production was coming from the foreign operators and large concession owners. This really is testament to the government’s shift, that is to put first concessions into the hands of associations and away from only big, mighty, multinational giants,” he said. “It is our belief that increasing your capacity to manage in the midst of evolving contexts will better prepare you to embrace the growth and change in the sector and allow you to participate fully as you
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, addresses the gathering (Delano Williams photo)
Addressing the audience, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman said that the forests of Guyana continue to be a large generator of revenue and provides a livelihood for Guyanese. By increasing the capacity in this sector, he explained that they can be better prepared for increased growth. He affirmed that the government is fully committed to not only enjoying the benefits of the sector, but to building capacity with forest operators and protecting communities. Trotman noted that 85 per cent of Guyana’s total forest sector
Insurance Scheme compliance through which 10 groups have submitted evidence of their compliance and conducted Administrative and Financial Management training to Com-
move forward.” MUCH PROGRESS MADE Over the years, working along with stakeholders like the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Minister Trotman said that small and medium scale miners have begun to benefit in a more meaningful way. He highlighted that during the first half of 2019, the Ministry of Natural Resources and its partner agencies have increased the duration of leases granted to small concession holders; trained 62 community forest organisations in National
and degradation to over 500 persons including 181 women in 112 forest-dependent communities. He told the attendees: “While we have recognized the need to build capacity, you have responded with a desire to be trained and a commitment to follow through with evidence by your presence here this morning. It is small yet significant steps like this one that are testament to the partnership that is possible between government and stakeholders to ensure that the sector continues to perform well.” Trotman also stated that he is aware that despite the gains made, some associations still face many challenges. He, therefore, announced that the organisers of the programme will join the Ministry in having a dialogue with these associations on Friday about the future of community forest associations.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 28, 2019
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday November 28, 2019
Brilliant Cornwall 7 for 75... from backpage
nullah (24) posting a valuable 56 for the second wicket to frustrate West Indies late into the session. Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican broke the stand four overs before lunch, however, getting Ahmadi to hole out on the ropes at long-off, after hitting five fours and a six off 81 deliveries. And on the stroke of the break, Cornwall picked up his second wicket when Ihsanullah edged a forward defensive prod to Hope at slip, to leave the home side stumbling on 90 for three. The collapse continued after lunch as Afghanistan lost four wickets for 20 runs in the space of 10 overs, to plunge to 111 for seven. Cornwall accounted for the first three wickets – Rahmat Shah (4) taken low down around the corner by Holder, debutant Nasir Jamal (2) caught low down at slip by Hope and Asghar Afghan (4) caught at the wicket slashing at one that bounced. Cornwall then turned catcher, taking Rashid Khan’s edge inches from the turf at first slip after the Afghan captain was squared up by Holder. Zazai and Hamza held up the Windies charge in an important 54-run, eighth-wicket stand which appeared to be taking Afghanistan to the safety of the tea break. The right-handed Zazai had struck three fours in a 90-ball knock when he shouldered arms to one from Cornwall which would have struck middle stump, and was plumb lbw to the last ball before the interval, as Afghanistan reached tea on 165 for eight. Hamza, who counted five fours off 84 deliveries, kept Afghanistan afloat on the resumption in a 22-run ninth-wicket partnership with Yamin Ahmadzai (18) before Holder and Cornwall finished off the innings. In reply, West Indies lost Brathwaite lbw to left-arm spinner Hamza with the score on 27 and Hope followed 13 balls later, edging leg-spinner Rashid Khan to first slip.
SCOREBOARD AFGHANISTAN 1st innings Ibrahim Zadran c Holder b Cornwall 17 Javed Ahmadi c Brooks b Warrican 39 Ihsanullah c Hope b Cornwall 24 Rahmat Shah c Holder b Cornwall 4 Asghar Afghan c (wkp.) Dowrich b Cornwall 4 Nasir Jamal c Hope b Cornwall 2 Afsar Zazai lbw b Cornwall 32 Rashid Khan c Cornwall b Holder 1 Amir Hamza c (wkp.) Dowrich b Holder 34 Yamin Ahmadzai c Warrican b Cornwall 18 Zahir Khan not out 0 Extras: (b-7, lb-5) 12 Total: (all out, 68.3 overs) 187 Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-84, 3-90, 4-91, 5-95, 6-98, 7-111, 8-165, 9-187. Bowling: Roach 8-1-33-0, Holder 17-10-22-2, Cornwall 25.3-5-75-7, Warrican 13-1-35-1, Chase 5-0-10-0. WEST INDIES 1st innings K. Brathwaite lbw b Amir Hamza 11 J. Campbell not out 30 S. Hope c Ihsanullah b Rashid Khan 7 S. Brooks not out 19 Extras: (nb-) 1 Total: (2 wkts, 22 overs) 68 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-34. Bowling: Yamin Ahmadzai 4-1-9-0, Amir Hamza 8-125-1, Rashid Khan 8-2-24-1, Zahir Khan 2-0-10-0. Position: West Indies trail by 119 runs on first innings with eight wickets intact.
2019 Diamond Mineral...
brand. On behalf of the title sponsors, Brand Executive Larry Wills contended that “the tournament represents 16 great years for Diamond
Mineral Water. We continue to show the support that is necessary for the development of sport in Guyana. There is no letting up from us at this moment. We want to see our sportsmen and women develop”. Treiston Joseph, Corporate Communications Officer of Ansa McAl, was also on hand for the launch and added, “ANSA, it’s an integral part of hockey development in Guyana. We wish all the teams local and foreign a great success.” The newest partner in
South African Racing Tips Vaal 08:20 hrs Urban Rock 08:55 hrs Gemcutter 09:30 hrs Green Top 10:05 hrs Miss Khalifa 10:40 hrs Mythical Bolt 11:15 hrs At Hand American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Jacqueline D Race 2 Southern Brigade
from backpage
the Hockey Family ExxonMobil, through its representative, Nicholas Yearwood, told the gathering, “We are very committed to being a good community partner to sports. We are going to continue evaluating opportunities for partnerships not only in hockey but other disciplines.” Last year’s finalists Queen’s Park return alongside the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force in the men’s class, with George United (players from across different clubs in Trinidad), expected
to compete in female events. Two-time defending champions, Queen’s Park Veterans, as well as threetime champions Fatima will make a return - the latter after being absent last year. Apart from the teams, GHB has also invited officials from Trinidad to assist in the officiating of games. The winners of the Men’s and Women’s championships will take home US$1000 each while the runners-up will pocket US$500. Veterans winners will also take home US$500.
Race 3 Fast Break Race 4 Danzing Dunhill Race 5 Chapalu Race 6 Brockmonoff Race 7 Firenze Fire Race 8 Feel Glorious Race 9 Sanctuary City
Taunton 08:35 hrs Eritage 09:10 hrs Bon Calvados 09:45 hrs Primal Focus 10:15 hrs Battle Of Ideas 10:50 hrs Poucor 11:20 hrs Arquebusier 11:50 hrs Arquebusier
English Racing Tips Lingfield 08:10 hrs Mohareb 08:45 hrs Affluence 09:20 hrs Colonel Whitehead 09:55 hrs El Ghazwani 010:25 hrs Red Gunner 11:00 hrs Naizaga 11:30 hrs My Law
Irish Racing Tips Thurles 08:15 hrs Royal Rendevous 08:50 hrs Stylish Moment 09:25 hrs French Dynamite 10:00 hrs Elfile 10:30 hrs Fan De Blues 11:05 hrs Balkos 11:35 hrs Johnny Sue
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Bailey to become Australia selector - Board MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Former limited overs specialist George Bailey will join Australia’s selectors panel after the conclusion of the domestic Big Bash Twenty20 tournament, Cricket Australia (CA) said yesterday. Bailey, 37, replaces former captain Greg Chappell who retired from his Cricket Australia roles as selector and national talent manager at the end of September. Bailey will draw the curtain on his playing career with Tasmania state and Big Bash side, Hobart Hurricanes, in early February to take on the role of selector full-time, CA said in a statement. He will initially serve as a ‘National Teams Adviser’ for CA and work closely with head coach Justin Langer and selector Trevor Hohns before joining the selectors’ panel in a full-time capacity upon his retirement, CA said. “I am passionate about the long-term success of the Australian cricket team and advancing the cause of Australian cricket in general,” Bailey, who played five Tests, 90 One-day internationals and 30 Twenty20 internationals, said. “I’m confident I can add value to the selection process and that my experience
George Bailey
will be complementary to that of Trevor and Justin. I am really excited to be joining them in the coming months.” Bailey is expected to focus on selections for the Australia T20 team, with Australia to host the T20 World Cup in less than a year.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday November 28, 2019
Australia’s Sheffield Shield to trial new Kookaburra ball
(REUTERS) - Australia’s domestic cricketers will trial a “refined” version of the red Kookaburra ball during two rounds of this season’s Sheffield Shield, Cricket Australia (CA) said yesterday. CA said the difference between the old ball and the new one was an updated lining of the leather designed to increase the resilience of the seam. “In time, we would like to see this ball being considered for future first class cricket in Australia,” Peter Roach, the head of cricket operations Players will then use the British-made Dukes ball as at CA, said in a statement. An updated red Kookaburra ball will be used “After an extensive process of testing in the in the next two Shield rounds before the BBL laboratory, training and match conditions, we break. are confident that given good pitch and weather conditions the refined turf ball will stay harder they have done in the last three seasons after Christmas. for longer, and produce more swing for longer England pace bowler Jofra Archer said earlier periods.” this month he had found it difficult to adjust to the The new ball, designed in response to off-season Kookaburra ball ahead of the first Test in New Zeafeedback from players, coaches and officials, will be land, having used the Dukes ball during the Ashes used in rounds five and six of the Sheffield Shield start- series in England. ing on November 29.
Root has full support of England players, says Stokes (REUTERS) - England’s Ben Stokes described the Test side’s captaincy as one of the most criticised roles and said the team had shared the responsibility for their heavy defeat by New Zealand in the opening Test. England were beaten by an innings and 65 runs at Mount Maunganui on Monday as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. “The pressures of being England Test captain are huge. It can be one of the most criticised jobs in England - sometimes unfairly,” all-rounder Stokes told BBC’s Test Match Special. “There are 11 guys on the field that contribute to a win or loss. It doesn’t all fall on the captain.”
Root’s form has also come under scrutiny since he was named full-time Test skipper in 2017 and the 28-year-old, who has not scored a century since February, said the pressure of captaincy was not an excuse for his batting woes. “He’s England’s best player and he knows he has got the full support of us in the changing room,” Stokes added. “We put our hands up as players when we don’t perform as well and unfortunately Joe cops most of that. But as a playing group, we stick together and we hold our hands up together.” Stokes said England would not be distracted by the departure of coach Chris Silverwood, who will return
Joe Root
home after day two of the second Test starting tomorrow, due to a family bereavement. “Family always comes first, no matter where you are in the world or a situation a team finds itself in,” Stokes added. “We do all the tactical analysis so, once we get going, the onus will be on the players. Chris going home won’t be a distraction to us.”
Australia leaning towards unchanged XI for second Test - Langer MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Australia are likely to field an unchanged team for the second Test against Pakistan starting in Adelaide tomorrow, coach Justin Langer said. The hosts beat Pakistan by an innings and five runs in Brisbane to take a 1-0 lead in the twomatch series, with only the usually reliable Steve Smith failing with the bat. Pace bowler James Pattinson is available for selection after serving a one-Test ban for abusing an opponent during a domestic game but Langer saw little need for change. “The boys all played well (in Brisbane), they had a day off having finished in four days,” he told reporters in Adelaide yesterday. “We haven’t had a look at the wicket yet, we’ll make sure they get through training today. “But my gut feeling is we’ll probably go with the same XI.” Australia’s rejigged top-six performed well at the Gabba, with recalled opener Joe Burns falling
just short of a century and Marnus Labuschagne cementing his place at number three with his first Test ton. Recalled middle-order batsman Travis Head may yet feel pressure to score runs after falling for 24 in Brisbane but Australia had already amassed 500 runs in their first innings when he was dismissed by Haris Sohail. Langer backed Head to perform in front of his home crowd in the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval. “It’s often a really hard time to come in to bat,” Langer said of Head’s 29-ball knock in Brisbane. “But I was impressed (because) he was sharp, he was busy, he played well and got a pretty unlucky dismissal down the leg side. “One of the reasons we selected him in the squad is we knew the second Test was in Adelaide. “We all know he’s a great young bloke, he’s a very good young player and hopefully he does well this week. “There’s no reason he shouldn’t. He’s in good nick.”
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday November 28, 2019
GTM/RCCI/RFA U-17 male, female tourney
Guyana Rush Saints emerge as champions GUYANA Rush Saints male and female teams emerged as the respective champions when the inaugural GTM Insurance Company-sponsored Under-17 tournament, under the auspices of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and organised by the Rupununi Football Association, conclud-
ed last weekend. The three-day tournament, which was played between November 22 and 24, seven male and four female clubs contested at the St Ignatius Village sports ground. The male clubs were Guyana Rush Saints, Surama, Tabatinga, Terminators, Rising
Stars, Shiriri and Far East United Sports Club. On the distaff side were Guyana Rush Saints, Terminators, Tabatinga and Far East United. Tabatinga Football Club ended as runners-up in both segments of the competition. Chief Executive Officer of GTM, Mr Roger Yee and staff, which in-
GTM’s Chief Executive Office Mr Roger Yee (at right) presents Guyana Rush Saints captain Ofancy Winter with the trophy.
Guyana Rush Saints female captain Alicia Isaacs receives the winners’ trophy from CEO of GTM Mr Roger Yee.
cluded Ronald Nandlall, Travis Peters, Rayon Bostwick, Pheon Dryden and Rolando Sugrim, were present for the duration of the tournament. Mr Yee who shared feature remarks at the opening and closing ceremonies expressed his company’s delight to partner with the two entities as it sought to give back to the people by empowering the youths. He (Mr Yee) said he was
particularly impressed with the fact that young females were afforded an equal opportunity to showcase their skills and talent like their main counterparts. He informed that the company would continue to invest and empower youths across Guyana. GTM, he noted, has an excellent track record of supporting sports and athletes in Guyana. The champions, Guyana Rush Saints female and male teams, were duly rewarded with
trophies and medals as were the respective runners-up as well as the referees who officiated throughout the tournament. President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr Daniel Gajie, and the people of Region 9 are very happy for this year’s U-17 tournament sponsorship. GTM has definitely signalled their intention to continue sponsoring football for the youths.
UEFA president backs Russia to be good host for Euro 2020
MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) - Russia will do a good job hosting European Championship soccer matches next year, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said yesterday, days after a WADA committee recommended the country be banned from hosting major events. Ceferin was speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to the country and praised the way Russia organised last year’s World Cup. “The World Cup was organised perfectly,” Ceferin told Putin, referring to the month-long tournament. “It was organised perfectly and I’m sure you are capable of organising top
events.” The World Anti-Doping Agency’s Compliance Review Committee said on Monday that Russia should not be allowed to host or bid for any major sporting event. The WADA recommendations are part of a sanctions package to punish Moscow for having provided the agency with doctored laboratory data. WADA’s executive committee will rule on the recommendations, which also include a four-year ban from the Olympics, on December 9 in Paris. WADA officials have said Russia’s hosting of four Euro 2020
matches, including a quarter-final, as well as the Champions League final in 2021, would not be affected by the recommendations. The recommendations include having the signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code withdraw Russia’s right to host their events for a four-year period and re-assign them to another country “unless it is legally or practically impossible to do so”. UEFA, European soccer’s governing soccer, is not a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code. But the organisation is a continental confederation under FIFA, the global soccer body, which has signed the code.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin
Chelsea thwarted by Valencia in Champions League thriller VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) - Chelsea will have to wait to book their place in the Champions League knockout stage after a freak goal from Valencia’s Daniel Wass denied them victory in an epic 2-2 draw yesterday in which the Spaniards missed a glut of clear chances. Victory for either side would have sent them through and Valencia went ahead at Mestalla when Carlos Soler scored in the 40th minute after team mate Maxi Gomez had missed two gilt-edged chances, but Mateo Kovacic levelled for Chelsea two minutes later. Chelsea’s top scorer Tammy Abraham was carried off on a stretcher with a serious-looking injury before halftime but Christian Pulisic put Frank Lampard’s side ahead in the 50th minute after a lengthy VAR review ruled him onside.
Valencia’s Daniel Wass and Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma after the match. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers)
Valencia forward Rodrigo Moreno missed an open goal later in the half then captain Dani Parejo was denied from the penalty spot by Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniards eventually levelled in the 82nd minute with a remarkable goal from Danish midfielder Wass, who looked set to cross from the right wing but instead flummoxed Arrizabalaga by firing a shot across goal which bounced off the far post and into the net. Valencia should have won the game in added time when Rodrigo failed to connect properly with a cross from close range. The draw means both sides are on eight points after five games but Valencia have a better head-to-head record and they lead Group H, with Ajax Amsterdam third on seven points but with a chance to go top when they visited Lille later yesterday.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday November 28, 2019
BCA/R.Sookraj & Sons Chess Open tournament set for December 1 VICE-PRESIDENT of Berbice Chess Association (BCA) Steve Leung is hopeful that the upcoming R. Sookraj & Sons Outback Adventures Chess Open 2019 will help pave the way for more tournaments in the Ancient County. The University of Guyana (UG) Berbice Campus at Tain Village on the Corentyne will come alive on Sunday, December 1 when the sponsored event
gets underway with registration starting at 09:00hrs. Playing under the Swiss System, contestants will have 20 minutes each and 7 rounds to strut their stuff, with hopes of walking away with cash prizes and trophies which will be up for grabs. Leung said that he hopes to have more monthly Opens heading into the new year, while he confirmed that the next item on the federation’s agenda will
target schools. The VP said that BCA will be working closely with Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) in order to host a Berbice Inter-School competition in January of 2020. He further admitted that since the last tournament held in September this year, the support and the responses, heading into the upcoming tourney, have been great and he hopes more attention will come BCA’s way.
President of the BCA, Krishnanand Raghunandan, (right) receives sponsorship cheque from Operations Manager of R. Sookraj & Sons Outback Adventures, Havendra Sookraj, (centre) in the presence of vice-president Steve Leung (left).
Messi scores in 700th match as Barca ease into last-16 BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored in his 700th match for Barcelona and also set up goals for Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann as the Catalans beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 yesterday to seal a spot in the Champions League knockout stages as Group F winners. Suarez put Barca in front at a packed and rocking Camp Nou in the 29th minute after having an earlier effort ruled out for offside, before the Uruguayan set up Messi on his landmark night four minutes later. Griezmann finished off a pass from Messi to further stretch Barca’s lead in the 67th minute and get a much-needed goal for his confidence after failing to score in his previous six appearances for the club. Dortmund’s England forward Jadon Sancho scored an impressive consolation strike for the Germans in the 77th minute and then forced Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to turn a shot on to the crossbar. But the visitors’ strong finish could not tarnish a therapeutic win for Barca, who had come in for scathing criticism for their recent poor displays against Leganes and Slavia Prague. Ernesto Valverde’s side top the group with 11 points from five games, Inter Milan are second on seven while Dortmund are third, also on seven, with Slavia bottom with two.
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scores their second goal at Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain. (REUTERS/Albert Gea)
England’s Archer says he has moved on from racial abuse (REUTERS) - England fast bowler Jofra Archer has said the racial abuse directed at him by a fan at the end of the first Test in New Zealand was a “real shame” but that he has moved on from the incident. The 24-year-old, who was born in Barbados and represented West Indies at Under-19 level, tweeted on Monday that he had found it “a bit disturbing” to hear racial insults coming from one person in the crowd while he was batting.
The England and New Zealand cricket boards are investigating the incident and Archer received an apology from New Zealand Cricket chief David White, while New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has also said he will apologise to the bowler. “The first thing I want to say about what happened towards the end of the Test at Mount Maunganui is that I’m over it,” Archer wrote in a column in Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer
“I’ve left what happened at the ground and I’ve moved on. I should also say it was just one person who was shouting stuff. But I found the incident a real shame.” Archer, who was fasttracked into the England side and made his Test debut during the Ashes series against Australia earlier this year, said he was fine with opposing fans having a go at him but that there was no room for racism in any walk of life.
“If someone wants to shout at me and tell me I’m bowling badly, that’s fine. I may not agree, but it’s fine. It’s part of the experience of being a touring cricketer,” he said. “To hear racism, though - that’s another matter. There is no time or place for it in any walk of life, let alone cricket. It’s just not called for.” England lost the first Test at Bay Oval by an innings and 65 runs. The second Test begins in Hamilton tomorrow.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday November 28, 2019
BACIF to produce one-of-a-kind trophy for ‘GFF SUPER 16 CUP’ 2019/2020 CASTING and machining specialists, Brass Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry Ltd (BACIF) will be producing a historical trophy for the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super 16 Cup 2019/2020 edition. The first of its kind, production is expected to be a huge hit with the clubs as all and sundry would want their name to be inscribed as the inaugural winner of what will be a prestigious piece of silverware. Recently, GFF president Wayne Forde, who has a long-standing relationship with the entity, met with Managing Director and onetime colleague Mr Peter Pompey and was given an insight into the manufacturing process which is underway at the West Ruimveldt-based foundry. Speaking with GFF, Pompey stated that when he was approached to make such a contribution to the tournament and the sport he could not in any way turn down the offer to be associated with the event. He complimented the federation for the vision to produce a local trophy that would truly represent the value of the sport.
“When Mr Forde approached me I could not have said no, Wayne has a relationship with this company that goes back for many, many years and I am happy to see him coming and directing the fraternity and football in a way that you have never seen before. “We believe that football in another few years would rise and there would be a substantial contributor not only to the social development of the country but to tourism in the context of where the sport can take our nation. “So we’re happy to be a part of this project and we believe that at the end of it all, the trophy will be a spectacle, it would be something that we all can be proud about.” In thanking Pompey and his company for their generous support to the GFF Super 16 Cup by way of this historical trophy, Forde said that the concept of the trophy is that the arches coming together signifies the unity that the GFF aspires for in the fraternity. “The ball at the top is really putting football at the heart of everything that we do, so this trophy will be a lien trophy, a club would have to win
it three times in order to own it.” The trophy would be unveiled on completion at a special event, Forde noted. “More importantly, what this trophy represents is the engineering and craftsman-
ship capacity of our indigenous local industry. I think it is a unique story to have a local engineering company come on board and put together such a spectacular piece of art.” Forde added that there’s a lot of emphasis and dis-
cussion around local content at the moment in Guyana, positing that BACIF’s contribution demonstrates the capacity of a company whose specialty is in a completely different line of production. BACIF has been part
of the Guyanese industrial family for over 60 years, and half of those years ago, president Forde’s engineering career commenced. The GFF Super 16 Cup 2019/2020 edition would be launched shortly.
GFF’s Wayne Forde and BACIF’s Peter Pompey inspect trophy which is almost completed.
DCC will seek to create history at UWI UNICOM International T20 By Brij Parasnath DEMERARA Cricket Club (DCC) will be seeking top honours in the UWI-UNICOM International T20 tournament, which will be contested at the UWI St Augustine Campus Sir Frank Worrell Memorial ground, from January 9 to 19 next year. The Georgetown-based club participated in the 2017 edition and finished as runners-up to the star-studded Cane Farm team that comprised mostly of Trinidad and Tobago national senior players. DCC made a big impact with former Guyana senior player Gajanand Singh, who played as a guest; being the most impressive, consistent, overall performer and was voted Player of the Series while the highly talented West Indies youth player Keemo Paul also showcased his wonderful all-round talent and caught the eyes of many ardent followers of the game. In Monday’s draw, DCC were placed in Group D alongside Barbados Invitational (number 1 seed of the Group) and East Zone Tigers. Queen’s Park Cricket Club head Group A which comprises UWI team and Marchin Patriots, while Georgetown All Stars are seeded number 1 for Group B that also includes Tobago Marlins and Preysal Cricket Club. The real battle for supremacy will be in Group C between Clarke Road United (number 1 seeded) against new reigning Trinidad and Tobago T20 champions, PowerGen Sports Club. Defence Force are the other team in that group and fancy their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals. This will be the seventh edition of the T20 tournament that has changed from being a national to an international series with teams from Guyana and Barbados. And the tournament will have UNICOM as their major sponsor once again for the fourth consecutive time. The champion team with collect the UWI-UNICOM T20 International Challenge Trophy plus TT$40 000 while the runners-up will receive TT$15 000. The two losing semi-finals will be presented with $4 000 each.
Ms Neela Labban (left), Managing Director, presents the UWI-UNICOM T20 International Challenge Trophy to Dr Trevor Alleyne, Deputy Principal of UWI St Augustine Campus at the launch on Monday. (Photo: Brij Parasnath)
Former West Indies vice-captain and 1975 World Cup winning team member, Deryck Murray, is once again the Patron of the tournament. Former West Indies Test opener Bryan Davis made a presentation at the lunch on Tuesday at UWI SPEC conference room where the official draw was made in front of team officials, sponsors’ representatives, tournament officials and media personnel. The organising committee is headed by UWI Deputy Principal Dr Trevor Alleyne (chairman) and is ably assisted by Dr Earl Ottley, who provided a historical review of the previous tournaments. Both officials conducted the draw and were helped by UNICOM’s Managing Director Ms Neela Labban who earlier had pledged her Company’s continued significant financial contributions to making the tournament a success. DCC has been one of Guyana’s major cricket clubs that produced exceptionally outstanding cricketers who have served Guyana and West Indies with distinction over the past 60 years. A few examples are players of the calibre of Lancelot Richard Gibbs, a former world wicket record-holder and one of the greatest off-spinners of all-time; legendary West Indies captain Clive Hubert Lloyd, who successfully led the West Indies to historic triumphs in the first two World Cups held in 1975 and 1979; as well as the pugnacious and attacking Roy Clinton Fredericks who tamed the world’s most celebrated pace-duo of Dennis Lillee and Jeffrey Thompson, whom he smashed to a majestic 169 at Perth during the West Indies tour Down Under, 1975-76. Another illustrious DCC stalwart is Roger Harper, one of the region’s former top all-rounders, a successful Guyana’s senior captain and the current chief selector of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Men’s Senior Selection Committee. The club’s contingent will be seeking to enter their names in the region’s cricket history books with the first lien on the UWI-UNICOM T20 International tournament. The Georgetown All-Stars are making their first foray at the tournament and will also be aiming to make a big impact and gain top honours.
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Brilliant Cornwall 7 for 75 gives Windies edge on opening day
Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall (right) celebrates another wicket with teammates on the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan yesterday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)
2019 Diamond Mineral Water Hockey festival launched
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From left, GHB secretary Tricia Fiedtkou, ExxonMobil’s Nicholas Yearwood, Ansa McAl’s Treiston Joseph, GHB president Philip Fernandes, DDL Brand Executive Larry Wills and a GHB executive.
THE 15th edition of the annual Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival was launched yesterday with five Trinidadian teams confirmed. The tournament, which began last evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) will go until Sunday evening at the same venue. During the launch, Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) president Philip Fernandes recounted the years of the tournament, saying, “I thought it was worth revisiting the roots of the tournament because I think it’s important.” He paid homage to veteran commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira who gave the GHB president the idea, adding, “He
basically brought the inspiration and belief that we could do this thing successfully.” The idea of a tournament for cash prizes made up of teams from across the region was unheard of in hockey at that time, Fernandes said, and they had to thank ‘Reds’ for that, as well as the donation of the first set of cash prizes in 2002. He thanked the title sponsors Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), under the Diamond Mineral Water brand, for being on board since day one as well as Ansa McAl who has been on board in the form of Carib and STAG beers and now Lucozade See page 23
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LUCKNOW, India (CMC) – Off-spinner Rookie Rahkeem Cornwall snatched the fourth-best figures by a West Indies spinner in Tests in the finest outing by a Caribbean side slow bowler in nearly half a century, as the visitors got the better of the exchanges on the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan here yesterday. On a day when 12 wickets fell at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Stadium, Afghanistan were bundled out a meagre 187 after they were sent in, with the burly 27-year-old Cornwall finishing with a career-best seven for 75. The hosts were in command at one stage on 84 for one late in the first session but then collapsed to lose their last nine wickets for 103 runs, with fast bowler and captain Jason Holder making a couple of late strikes to finish with two for 22. Left with just over half a session to navigate, West Indies lost Kraigg Brathwaite for 11 and Shai Hope for seven en route to ending the day on 68 for two – 119 runs behind heading into today’s day two. Left-handed opener John Campbell was unbeaten on 30 at the close and partnered by rookie Shamarh Brooks on 19; the pair having so far shared a third-wicket stand of 34 to stabilise the innings. Campbell has already stroked five fours and a six - a slog sweep over mid-wicket off leg-spinner Rashid Khan – in a positive 49-ball stay at the crease. The spotlight had earlier fallen on Cornwall as he scythed through the Afghanistan innings to give West Indies the upper hand in the contest. Opener Javed Ahmadi top-scored with 39 while debutant Amir Hamza, batting at number nine, chipped in with 34 and wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai, 32. In only his second Test following his debut last August against India, Cornwall bowled with guile and accuracy to undermine the Afghanistan innings. Entering the attack approaching the first hour after new-ball bowlers Holder and Kemar Roach had combined for eight ineffective overs, Cornwall struck in his third over when he had Ibrahim Zadran (17) caught at leg slip by Holder one-handed, diving to his left, off a mis-guided sweep. Afghanistan resisted, however, Ahmadi and IhsaSee page 23
Gayle out of India tour, shutting down for the remainder of 2019
Veteran West Indies opener Chris Gayle
VETERAN West Indies opener Chris Gayle has announced that he is taking a break for the remainder of the year. The 40-year-old batsman has reportedly told the West Indies selectors that he will not be available for the upcoming tour of India starting next month. The West Indies are set to play three T20 Internationals and three ODIs on the sub-continent starting December 6. “West Indies called me to play ODIs, but I am not going to play. They (selectors) want me to play with the youngsters but for this year I am going to take a break,” said Gayle, who has also made it known that he will be available for Australia’s Big Bash or the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2019